FULLNESS OF THE SPIRIT

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be FILLED with the SPIRIT – Ephesians 5:18

Closely linked to the Fullness of God’s Word is the FULLNESS of HIS SPIRIT. Paul admonished the Church in Ephesus and believers in all ages: “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:18-19). People have varied ideas about the fullness of the Holy Spirit. To the Pentecostal and Charismatics, the fullness means the speaking in other tongues or some kind of miracle. To others, it may simply be living a yielded spiritual life. The fullness of the Spirit is occasionally associated with rushing winds, tongues of fire, shakings, speaking in other languages, and miraculous manifestations. Acts 2:4 says, “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” At other times, people were filled without such manifestations (Acts 4:8,31; 6:3; 7:55; 9:17; 11:24; 13:9,52).

There are two fundamental evidences of being filled: having unique spiritual power to witness Christ (Acts 1:8); and being divinely empowered to fulfil spiritual roles and social responsibilities, at a personal level, and in family and work relationships (Eph. 5:18-6:9). Note that the Ephesians 5:18 injunction is followed by instructions to husbands, wives, parents, children, masters, and servants. The fullness of the Spirit therefore transcends supernatural manifestations of speaking in other tongues and demonstrating the gifts of the Spirit. These are biblical and relevant, but we are also filled with the Holy Spirit to become more effective in evangelism and be all God wants us to be in life and relationships. What then does it mean to be “filled with the Holy Spirit”? After the 120 believers had spent ten days praying, meeting in obedience to Christ’s Luke 24:49 command, they were “all filled” with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, as promised (Jh.14:16-18; Acts 1:8).

Having the Spirit of God is not negotiable for a believer: “Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His” (Rom.8:9b). This is however separate from being filled. All believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit when they believe (Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30). But it takes yieldedness to God’s will to be filled (5:17). That we are commanded to be filled with the Spirit presumes that we may sometime not be. The word “filled” means “to be influenced by,” just like wine influences and intoxicates. ‘Filling’ describes an experience that can be repeated (Acts 2:4-8). Although the Holy Spirit is not in parts or pieces – the experience of Him may. Your experience of Him may come fragmented and all the fragments must be gathered into a complete fullness. The Holy Spirit wants to be all He can be for you. Don’t quench Him and don’t grieve Him for He wants to come in Fullness (Eph.4:30).

Jesus summarized the steps to being filled with the Spirit: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37-38). Four steps: desire (thirst); repentance from sin (come to me); receiving God’s offer of His Spirit (drink); and acting on the basis of faith in God’s Word (He who believes in me). Being filled by the Holy Spirit is both getting more of Him, and Him getting more of you! It is more than a feeling or an emotional experience, but rather, the yielding of your life to the Lord. The Holy Spirit was not given to you on a rental basis, that is, to pick and choose the times in which you become spiritual. Your home life and work should be as spiritual as your Church experience. Like the Apostles of old, you must seek perpetual re-fillings. They who were filled in the second chapter of Acts were filled again in the fourth. Blessed is that man who never leaves his chamber in the morning without definitely seeking and receiving the plenitude of the Spirit!