The Apostle Paul wrote, in Eph 5:18And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
This study is a brief consideration of what it means “to be filled with the Spirit,” and “what is the evidence of His filling“.
1. What does it mean to be “filled with the Spirit”?
In the verse Paul uses being filled with wine as an example of someone who is under the control or influence of something or someone else. To be “filled with the Holy Spirit” is to be under the control of the Spirit, or under the influence of the Spirit.
Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
2. All Christians Have The Spirit But Not All Christians Are Filled With The Spirit
You receive and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of God the moment you are saved.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
3. What is the evidence of His filling, of His control, of His influence?
Here’s where the doctrine gets controversial! Some churches and denominations claim “we’re Spirit-filled–and the others aren’t!”
Other churches and denominations say “We’re not a Spirit-filled church, and we don’t want to be!”
Spirit-filled has come to have a certain meaning based upon certain supposed evidence: Spirit-filled to many means speaking in tongues, or acting in some strange manner, etc.
But what does the Bible say the evidence is of the Spirit’s filling?
The Body of Christ today is broken into thousands of different denominations and groups. And each group has their verses in the Bible to prove that they’re right and the others are wrong. And they all point to verses in the same Bible, yet they all disagree with each other. What is the reason for all the confusion? A failure to “rightly divide the word of truth” 2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
The first person said to be filled with the Spirit is found in Exodus 31:1-5.
Exo 31:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: 3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, 4 To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, 5 And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.
The evidence of being Spirit-filled was that he was a master craftsman, a carpenter, a jeweler, a metal worker. Moses was building the tabernacle and God supplied him with a Spirit-filled, Spirit controlled craftsman.
The disciples are filled with the spirit. Acts 2:4-11
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. 5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
The evidence then was the ability to speak in other languages so that Jews in Jerusalem who came from other countries could understand the apostles’ message in their native languages.
The Holy Spirit filled people in other dispensations, but the evidence was different in each dispensation. What is the evidence of His filling in the dispensation of grace? Its not being a master craftsman as in Exodus, or speaking in a foreign language as on the day of Pentecost.
We know this because the Corinthian church spoke in languages (tongues) more than any other Pauline churches (1 Cor 1:4-7) but they were not spiritual believers.
Paul said they were not spiritual but carnal Christians (1 Cor. 3:1-4). The gift of languages (tongues) was never a sign of spirituality or of being “Spirit-filled” in the dispensation of grace. The most carnal church spoke in languages more than any other church.
The evidence of being “Spirit-filled” in this dispensation of grace that we’re living in today is found in Ephesians 5:18-6:9. This is the only place in Paul’s letters where he writes about being filled with the Spirit, and here’s where he gives us the description of a Spirit-filled believer:
Singing and joy are evidences of the Spirit’s filling.
Eph 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
A thankful, trusting attitude is an evidence of the Spirit’s control
Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
The evidence of the Spirit’s control is seen in our relationships
Eph 5:21Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Submitting ourselves to one another in is evidence of being “Spirit Filled” or controlled. When envying and strife sets the tone in our relationships we are walking in the flesh not in the spirit.
Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Spirit-filled wives submit themselves to the LORD FIRST then to their husbands. This is the evidence of being “Spirit Filled” or controlled.
Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Spirit-filled husbands loving their wives just as Christ loved the church this is evidence of being “Spirit Filled” or controlled.
Eph 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
The evidence of being a “Spirit Filled” or controlled child is to find children obeying and honoring their parents! And please note that the only reason you need to give your children when they question your authority is simply this “it is RIGHT”.
Eph 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Spirit filled DAD’S raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, NOT provoking them to wrath. All to often the brunt of raising the children is place upon the mother but please notice that God puts the burden on the father not the mother. The evidence of a spirit filled father is an active demonstration of nurturing and godly admonishing.
Eph 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: 8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
Spirit-filled employees do their work as unto the Lord.
Eph 6:9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
Spirit-filled employers respect and honor their employees.
Conclusion
The Lord Jesus Christ gave the Apostle Paul the dispensation of grace for us today and that included the provision of the Holy Spirit, His control and His influence to renew our minds and to transform our lives.
The command to be “Spirit-filled” is not just for some Christians but it is for all of us, and it is not a momentary experience, but a constant and ever growing influence as we Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
As we approach the “new year” let us do so with a renewed diligence to be filled with… controlled by … the spirit.