Filled with the Spirit

There are many verses and passages in the New Testament which speak of being filled with the Holy Ghost. Unfortunately, most people who look at this subject only look at a couple of passages in the book of Acts and try to apply what happened on the day of Pentecost to what they think is the typical filling of the Holy Ghost. A closer examination of this subject reveals that the vast majority of time that the scriptures speak of being filled with the Holy Ghost has nothing to do with speaking in other tongues or uncontrollable movements of the body.

We first begin to read about being filled with the Holy Ghost in Luke chapter 1. It began with a prophecy by an angel, Gabriel, to the priest, Zacharias, that before the birth of his son that his son would be filled with the Holy Ghost: Luke 1:15 “For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.” Obviously, while John was in his mother’s womb and was filled with the Holy Ghost he did not begin to speak with other tongues, or to roll on the floor, or to shake uncontrollably. Rather we see that when he was filled with the Holy Ghost he was filled with joy and leaped in his mother’s womb: Luke 1:41 “And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.”

There are some significant points that we can make to the above passage:

1. While the babe was filled with the Holy Ghost and leaped for joy, we know that the babe had been born of the Spirit while in his mother’s womb because joy is a fruit of the Spirit. Now John did not hear a gospel preached while in the womb, nor did he have an offer of salvation while in his mother’s womb, nor did he accept the Lord as his personal savior while in his mother’s womb, yet he was born of the Spirit while in his mother’s womb. Obviously, this birth of the Spirit had no human instrumentality involved, but was the sovereign and independent work of the Holy Spirit giving spiritual life to one of God’s elect.

2. Elizabeth, the mother of John, also was filled with the Holy Ghost and the evidence of her being filled with the Holy Ghost was her abundant joy for the mother of her Lord coming to visit her.

3. We are not told that Mary was filled with the Holy Ghost, but by all evidence she was as she was moved to prophecy at the meeting with Elizabeth: Luke 1:46 “And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 51 He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; 55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.”

Moreover, when John was born, his father Zacharias also was filled with the Holy Ghost: Luke 1:67 “And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, 68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, 69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; 70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: 71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; 72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; 73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, 74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. 76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; 77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, 78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, 79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. 80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel.”

Based on the above examples, we see that the filling of the Holy Ghost can fill people with joy and move people to prophesy. There are several scriptures that associate the filling of the Holy Ghost to filling the people with joy:

1. John 15:11 “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”
2. Acts 13:52 “And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.”
3. Rom. 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
4. 2 John 1:12 “Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.”

As we have already noted, being filled with the Holy Spirit sometimes led people to prophesy:

1. On the day of Pentecost not only did the apostles speak with other tongues, but they prophesied: 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.”

2. Acts 4:31 “And 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.”

Furthermore, we see that when the disciples were filled with the Holy Ghost they were moved to speak with great boldness under circumstances that we would not naturally expect someone to be bold:

1. Acts 4:8 “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Peter, a fisherman, was telling the rulers of the people and the elders of Israel that they had slain Jesus and God had raised him up and that they had set him at nought and God had made him the head of the corner. If was by the boldness of the filling of the Holy Ghost that Peter spake so boldly, knowing that God was with him.

2. Acts 4:31 “And 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.” This took place after the disciples had been arrested and beaten and warned not to speak in the name of Jesus. They could speak with such boldness because of the filling with the Holy Ghost.

3. Elsewhere we read where the preachers preached in power and demonstration of the Spirit. We need the filling of the Holy Ghost if we are to preach with power and demonstration of Spirit. A gospel sermon is more than just a dry lesson, but it is to be delivered through the leadership and empowerment of the Holy Ghost.

Evidence of the filling of the Holy Spirit are manifest in several other ways in the scriptures:

1. Acts 6:3 “Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.” In this verse we see the filling of the Holy Ghost linked with wisdom.

2. Acts 6:5 “And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:” Here we see faith linked with the filling of the Holy Ghost.

3. Acts 6:8 “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.” Here we see the filling of the Spirit linked with faith, and power, and great wonders, and miracles.

4. Acts 9:36 “Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.” Here the evidences of Dorcas being filled with the Spirit was that she was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
5. Acts 11:24 “For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.” In this verse, Barnabas is identified as a man full of the Holy Ghost and the evidence was of his faith and labors in the Lord.

6. Rom. 15:14 “And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.” The evidence of these brethren being filled with the Holy Spirit was that they were full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able also to admonish one another.

7. Phil. 1:11 “Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.” The evidence of these brethren being filled with the Holy Ghost is that they were filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

8. Heb. 10:22 “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” When we are filled with the Holy Spirit we can draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.

9. Rom. 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” Here we have the filling of the Holy Ghost associated with hope, joy, and peace in believing.

Now, let us look at what happened on the day of Pentecost: Acts 2:2 “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” First, the house was filled with the Holy Ghost, then the apostles were filled with the Holy Ghost. The manifestation of their filling with the Holy Ghost was that they began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now they did not speak in unknown tongues, but with other tongues. The tongues or languages were known as we see them speak and men from seventeen different regions heard them speak in their own native language wherein they were born. What was spoken was well known by both the speakers and the hearers as we hear them say: “we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.” There was no unknown tongue here.

Next we learn the significance of these signs: Acts 2:16 “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 19 And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:” Notice, the words, “This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel…” He did not say that this is a “part of that,” but he said “this is that.” In other words, it was a sign for the time then present that Joel did prophecy about. A sign is used to identify a particular time or to identify a prophet as being authentically sent of God. For instance, there were signs that specifically identified the apostles: Paul said in 2 Cor. 1212 “Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.” If all preachers both past and present could perform signs and wonders and mighty deeds, then this would not be a sign of the apostles. In other words, signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds are what identified the apostles from all the other ministers and showed that God had indeed chosen them as apostles.

Finally, we are given instruction as to how that we may be filled with the Spirit: Eph. 5:18 “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” Paul said that we can be filled with the Spirit by speaking to ourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, then by giving thanks always for all things unto God and by submitting ourselves one to another in the fear of God. Brethren may you all be filled with the Spirit.