FILLING OF THE SPIRIT

Definition of Filling

Ephesians 5:18 “Be ye filled with the Spirit.”

1.          “Be” Greek ginomai meaning to become; continually, action which continues; Present tense; like daily manna;  Imperative in mood, a command.

2.          “Ye” Greek humas is plural in number, every one of you; Passive in voice meaning the subject is acted upon.  The believer is acted upon by the Spirit and we must yield to Him so He can control us.

3.          “Filled” Greek pleroo meaning to make full, as a boat with fish, or net with fish; sponge with vinegar; fully yielded and controlled, through or permeated.

4.          “Spirit” Greek peunma meaning Holy Spirit.

Scriptural References to Filling

1.          Acts 2:4, 11 “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance…speaking in our tongues the wonderful works of God.”

2.          Acts 4:8 “Peter filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them…”

3.          Acts 4:31 “When they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”

4.          Acts 4:36; 11:24-25 “Barnabas having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.  Barnabas was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith:  Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:

5.          Acts 6:3; 8:5-7 “Philip, one of the seven full of the Holy Ghost.  Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.  And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did: unclean spirits came out of many: and many taken with palsies and that were lame, were healed”

6.          Acts 6:5, 8; 7:55 “Stephen, was a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost.  And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.  And Stephen, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.”

7.          Acts 9:17-20; Galatians 1:17 “And Ananias went his way and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.  And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.  And straightway he preached Christ in the Synagogues, that he is the Son of God.  Paul went to Arabia and returned again to Damascus.”

8.          Acts 13:9-12 “Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost caused blindness to come upon Elymas the sorcerer and the deputy believed.”

9.          Acts 13:50-52 “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost.”

Results of Filling

1.          Jesus Tempted: Matthew 3: 16; 4:1 “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon him.  Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.”

2.          Stephen Stoned: Acts 6:5, 59 “Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost…And they stoned Stephen.”

3.          Barnabas Sold Land & Houses: Acts 4:36-37 “And Barnabas, having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”

4.          Peter Preach & Healed: Acts 2:4, 14; 4:8 “They were all filled with the Holy Ghost and Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them:  Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost said unto the elders:”

5.          Philip Went to the Desert: Acts 6:3 “Full of the Holy Ghost…Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them.

6.          Paul Went to Arabia: Galatians 1:17 “I went into Arabia and returned again unto Damascus.”

7.          Paul & Barnabas Persecuted: Acts 13:50 “Persecution was raised against Paul and Barnabas.  And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.”

Evidences of Filling

1.          Ephesians 5:18-19 “Be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord…giving thanks always for all thing…submitting yourselves one to another…Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands…Husbands love your wives.”

2.          Acts 2:4; 4:8, 31; 6:3,5; 7:55; 9:17; 11:24 “Bold Witnessing.”

3.          Acts 2:4 “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

4.          I Corinthians 12:7 “The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.  For to one is give by the Spirit…word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles, prophesy, discerning of spirits; divers kinds of tongues; interpretation of tongues…”

5.          Galatians 5:22-23 “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.”

How To Be Filled

1.          Know that the Holy Spirit dwells in you.

2.          Desire to be continually filled, controlled.

3.          Confess sins; repentant life.

4.          Ask God in faith.

5.          Believe God and his Word. (God would not command you to do anything he would not fulfill.)

6.          In faith, thank God for filling you.

7.          Obey, walk in obedience to the Word, act upon it.