Filled with the Spirit - For Power or For Living?
Roger Forster
Roger looks at what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit. With extensive scriptural references throughout this article, he examines the infilling of the Holy Spirit which produces a fruitful life and that which results in works of power.
How do we recognise a Spirit-filled man? Is it when his life is fruitful and fragrant with Christ, or is it when power is present with him to accomplish great works?
There can hardly be a Christian who has not asked himself that question. Perhaps it arises through a sense of his own powerlessness in Christian work; or alternatively, although blessed in public ministry, he must confess to a failing inner life, and maybe its weak expression in his home. Perhaps he knows another Christian who has had ‘an experience’ which is claimed to be the answer to all church problems and spiritual bankruptcy, yet the life of that person leaves him unimpressed.
When seeking a biblical solution to this enigma, a fundamental point is invariably overlooked. The New Testament speaks often about being ‘filled with the Spirit’, but in fact there are two Greek words, synonyms almost, used for our word ‘filled’. The two words, or their roots, mean precisely the same thing, but they are each used in a different context, when referring to the Holy Spirit. Both words occur in the account of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). The first is in verse 2—we might call this the ‘inner’ filling. That is, the house was filled (inside) with the sound or the wind of the Spirit. ‘The second word is used in the fourth verse, where the disciples were filled with the Spirit, and began to speak in tongues. This we will call the ‘outer’ filling, for there was a dramatic outward manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s filling in that moment.
Now, there are eight occurrences in the New Testament of each of these two words meaning ‘fill’ in connection with the Holy Spirit: eight ‘inner’ fillings, and eight ‘outer’. The eight ‘inner’ fillings are always either adjectives (e.g. ‘a man full of the Holy Ghost’, indicating his continual state of life), or they are verbs with the Greek tense meaning ‘continuously being filled’, with the one exception of the verse already mentioned (Acts 2 :2), where the house is said to he filled with the wind of the Spirit. The tense used here is that which indicates a single event, occurring only once, in contrast to all the other cases of inner filling, where, in speaking of people, a continuous state of being filled is implied. For this verse symbolizes the Church - the house of God - which was filled with the Spirit uniquely at Pentecost; if we live in that house we may breathe the Spirit, and be filled all the time with the inner life-giving power to bring forth fruit for God in our characters, as men full of the Holy Ghost.
In contrast, the eight occurrences of the other word for ‘fill’ are always verbs in the tense which means an event at a specific point in time, and with each event there is a public, outward display of the Spirit’s presence.
Summing up our findings then, we have sixteen cases of being filled by the Spirit in the New Testament. Eight times one Greek word is used, and a continuous experience is implied (with one exception noted above), being secret and inner to the person concerned. The other eight occasions use another Greek word, virtually synonymous with the first, but always used in the ‘completed’ tense, implying an outward expression of the Spirit’s presence on a specific occasion.
Let us first consider the eight ‘inner’ fillings. The first we have already dealt with (Acts 2 :2). The others are:
- Luke 4:1 — 'Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit . . . was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness' . . . to defeat Satan! Being continuously filled by the Spirit is the only safeguard to being guided by God, and defeating the enemy’s temptations.
- Acts 6:3 — 'Select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom.' As a man is filled with the Spirit, he will be full of practical wisdom in handling carnal matters. You must he heavenly minded to be of earthly use!
- Acts 6:5 — 'Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit ... ' Faith is the ground by which we go on receiving the Spirit’s filling.
- Acts 7:55 — 'But being full of the Holy Spirit, [Stephen] gazed intently into heaven ... ” as he was martyred! It is the grace we are receiving today which will be the preparation for the grace needed at martyrdom, not some sudden leap of spirituality then.
- Acts 11:24 — '(Barnabas) was ... full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.' Faith is not only the ground on which we receive the Spirit, but is also the continual fruit of the indwelling Spirit.
- Acts 13:52 — 'The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.' Like faith, joy is the means as well as the product of receiving the Spirit’s filling.
- Ephesians 5:18 — ' ... be filled with the Spirit ... ' Here we are commanded to be continually filled, and the following verses of Ephesians 5:19-21 show how we may do so — by maintaining our hearts in a continual attitude of joy, thankfulness and submission.
The initiative in this secret, inner filling is with us, God having already given and filled the Church with His Spirit so that each of us may enter into the blessing of it, just as a house is filled with air for every one to breathe who will.
Now we shall consider the use of the second word in its public and ‘outer’ sense. In doing so, it may help to sort out some of the problems connected with these verses.
- Luke 1:15 — 'He [John the Baptist] shall be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.' This verse does not imply that John continually experienced the filling of the Spirit from before his birth, for the ‘completed’ tense of the verb precludes that interpretation. Also, it would mean that John would have had no need of the saving work of Christ!
- Luke 1:41 — shows us the fulfillment of this prophecy. On the visit of Mary to Elizabeth (John the Baptist’s mother), Elizabeth was full of the Holy Spirit and prophesied, and the babe leaped in her womb for joy at the presence of the incarnate Word in Mary’s womb. When Elizabeth was filled with the Spirit, the baby John within her was also filled, and made his presence felt publicly, while his mother prophesied.
- Luke 1:67 — John the Baptist’s father, Zacharias, was also filled with the Spirit, with the public manifestation of prophecy.
- Acts 2:4 — is another event of ‘outer’ filling with the public manifestation of tongues.
- Acts 4:8 — Peter, 'filled with the Holy Spirit' gives a word of wisdom. Surely no-one would say that Peter was not filled with the Holy Spirit in the inward continuous sense before that time! Yet here there is an ‘outer’ filling with a manifestation of wisdom, which silences the authorities (Acts 4 :14).
- Acts 4:31 — ' . . . they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and {began} to speak the word of God with boldness.' Here, the ‘outer’ filling was manifested by power and boldness in speaking forth God’s word in their gathering together.
- Acts 9:17 — When Ananias laid hands on Saul, the latter was filled with the Holy Spirit, and his healing accompanied this.
- Acts 13:9 — Paul is filled with the Spirit and rebukes Elymas, who is then miraculously smitten by God with blindness as Paul prophesies.
These manifestations are of course those listed in 1 Corinthians 12, and the initiative is with God—cf. 'the Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.'
Thus, quite consistently in the New Testament, both fillings are found. The quiet, continuous, inner, secret filling affects our lives and fruit, and we have the responsibility in obedience. The second, the outward, public event, is initiated by God for His work and ministry.
What conclusions can we draw from this? First, a man’s spirituality cannot he judged by outward manifestations of the Spirit (see Matt. 7:21-23). We might also take note of Balaam, Caiaphas, Judas and King Saul, all of whom were used in outward spiritual manifestations without a deep inward life. In God’s sovereignty, outward fillings can come from shallow lives, like a saucer dripping over the edge. But God is after tumblers - deep ones - filled to the brim. Secondly, only as a man is continually knowing the inward filling of the Spirit in his life, can he be assured that God’s full will is being accomplished in the supernatural manifestations in his ministry. Thirdly, although God can use anyone in spiritual manifestations, my preparation as a Christian for His use in this outward way in His work, is to be filled inwardly all the time. Paradoxically, 'Be filled with the Spirit,' that you may be 'filled with the Spirit'!
Finally, it should be noted that Christ Himself pointed out a danger in being too taken up with outward manifestations, rather than with His working in our lives. To His disciples, when they appeared to be falling into this trap, He said, 'Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.' (Luke 10:20) |
Roger Forster, 27/09/2006 |
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