Words matter
I often find myself obsessing over words and what they mean because of what they can create in people’s lives. Growing up, my parents used to always refer to the verse ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). I believe this to be true; only, not in a superstitious way. I don’t believe that if I say that I’m sick I will become sick. The power that this verse is talking about is the power of words to influence the mind—and the mind is a powerful thing. The mind can influence the decisions we make. Words, once said, cannot be retracted. As Christians we should be careful that our words don’t cause confusion. If we say “Holy Spirit fall down on us,” are we leading people to believe that the Holy Spirit resides somewhere in the sky and comes down to visit only when we ask Him to? Or do we believe that He is always with us? The danger in our words is that we could, without meaning to, lead people into false doctrine. Having said all of that, I wanted to pay particular focus on the phrase ‘filled with the spirit.” I am not claiming that I know all the answers, or that I have anything new to say on the matter, my sole purpose, as always, is to share what I have learnt. Usually, people begin with the Pentecost when they talk about the Holy Spirit. I believe that some background is needed first in order to understand what occurred on the day of Pentecost.
The Holy Spirit’s influence on men in the bible
As a result of Adam and Eve’s rebellion, sin came to live within the heart of men. In Genesis chapter six it describes the increasing wickedness of man. God’s response is to say, “My Spirit shall not abide in/with man forever, for they are flesh…” I’ve heard commentators say that this is referring to the length of days that a man lives and that God was saying that He didn’t think men should have immortality, but I think that’s only part of it. It’s more to do with the opposition between the Spirit and flesh. In Galatians it teaches us of the battle between the spirit and the flesh saying that they are against each other. The flesh wants you to sin, whereas the spirit wants you to obey God (Galatians 5:17). As Christians we have been given a new spirit, but we are still living in a body of flesh; hence there is a life-long struggle to please one or the other. In Romans 8:5 it says “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” The bible also shows how God gives man over to sin if it is what man desires most (Romans 1:28). So if we look back at what occurred in Genesis, men were increasingly living according to the flesh, not the spirit. God’s response was to remove His Spirit from them. He did this because He was grieved by the sin of His people. It says “it grieved the Lord to His heart” (Genesis 6:6). However, Noah was a man who walked with God—God instructed him and enabled him to carry out His work. After the flood, we see that the Holy Spirit rested on individuals, like Noah, that God favoured; not because they were holy, but because His glory could be revealed through them. In Numbers 11:25-26 we read that the helpers of Moses received the same Spirit that rested on him and as a result they began to prophesy. Other men under Moses were filled with the Holy Spirit and received the skill and ability to construct God’s sanctuary (Exodus 31:3). Joshua was filled with the spirit and he was given authority to lead the people (Deuteronomy 34:9). Saul was filled with the spirit on a few different occasions and as a result he prophesied, he changed into a different person (repented) and he burned with anger (1 Samuel 10:6-7; 1 Samuel 10:10; 1 Samuel 11:6). [The last one may surprise some people, but God is by nature an angry God as much as He is a loving God. His anger is righteous because He hates sin.] Samson was filled with the Spirit and he received the strength to pull apart the jaw of a lion with his bare hands (Judges 14:6). There are many more examples of individuals in the Old Testament being filled with the Spirit and sometimes even whole nations were described as being under the guidance of the Holy Spirit for a time. This was the case even up to the time of Jesus. In the gospels we read that the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus like a dove (Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10, Luke 4:1, John 1:32). This was how God empowered individuals, whom He had chosen to do His work. After receiving the Holy Spirit, Jesus was able to perform miracles, signs and wonders.
The Holy Spirit for all men
In Joel 2:28, it was prophesied that in the last days the Holy Spirit would be poured out on all men. Jesus told the disciples that they should wait for the promise of the Father, which was that they would all be baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5). It was not only a miraculous event, but it was also fulfillment of prophesy. The word ‘baptised’ that Jesus used is a Greek word which means “immersed or washed/dipped in.” The idea is that a person is completely covered in or cleansed by something—particularly used in reference to water (Strong’s Concordance). In this case, Jesus meant that a person would be completely covered in and cleansed by the Holy Spirit. So when we come to the fulfillment of what Jesus said would happen on the day of Pentecost, all the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit (which is the same as saying ‘baptised in the Holy Spirit’). As a result of this, the men began to speak in unknown languages and witnessed the gospel to all of the people that heard what was being said.
While this is what occurred on the day of Pentecost, Jesus said that as a result of being filled with the spirit many things would occur e.g. casting out demons in Jesus name, speaking in new tongues, taking up serpents or drinking poisons without being harmed (i.e. God’s divine protection), and laying hands on the sick to be healed (Mark 16:17-20). Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost and he spoke in other languages. He was filled with the Holy Spirit again when he was speaking to the priests and he received boldness (Acts 4:8). He was filled with the Spirit when he was praying with the other believers and he spoke the word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31). Paul was not a believer when the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples but he became a believer later on and when the Holy Spirit filled him, he received miraculous healing (Acts 9:17). He was filled with the Spirit when the disciples were witnessing to the Samaritans and he was able to discern the true motives of a man who was a magician (Acts 13:9).
The disciples experienced what it was like to live under the Old covenant and the New Covenant. After Jesus’ ascension into heaven prophesy was fulfilled and the Holy Spirit was poured out on all men who followed Jesus. Before, this wasn’t the case. Now, everyone who repents and names Jesus as their Lord is given the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). The Holy Spirit remains with us from the moment we turn to Him in repentance as a promise of what is to come (Ephesians 1:13). However, we still sin so we can quench or grieve the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30) He convicts us and counsels us about how to walk according to His ways and not the ways of the flesh. A Christian is a person who obeys and follows His directing.
Sanctified to be filled by God
I have heard people say “being saved is not the same as receiving the Holy Spirit.” I would disagree with that statement, but perhaps say that receiving the Holy Spirit is not the same as being filled with or baptized in the Holy Spirit. Being full of God is part of the sanctification process. It is where we reflect more of Him and less of us. This includes joy and hope, as well as the miraculous. John Piper states that, “Nobody stays full of the Spirit all the time—no one is always totally joyful and submissive to God and empowered for service. But this should still be our aim, our goal, our great longing.”
Charles Spurgeon preached often about the Holy Spirit, even going so far as to say that he didn’t believe a preacher should bother to show up on a Sunday if he wasn’t filled with the Holy Spirit. Spurgeon also pointed out that it was the Spirit who convicted us of sin and revealed Jesus to us and in us in the first place. He then guides us in the way of righteousness. He states, “Ask God to make you all that the Spirit of God can make you, not only a satisfied believer who has drunk for himself, but a useful believer, who overflows the neighborhood with blessing.”
Receiving the Holy Spirit and His power
So is being baptized in the Holy Spirit a once off event? Is there a marked moment where a person receives power from the Holy Spirit, or is it simply part of the Christian walk? Most of the people in the bible experienced being filled with the Holy Spirit at the moment of their conversions. I think this may have been the case because at the moment a person first surrenders to God they are the most receptive and obedient. Jesus’ disciples first experienced being filled with the Holy Spirit at a marked time after Jesus ascended into heaven, but also many other times in their lives after that. Occasionally, people received gifts of the Holy Spirit with the laying on of hands, such as with the Samaritans. Laying hands on a person was a custom that was intended to symbolize sharing or bestowing something. In Acts it is seen as a sign of unity—hence there was no impartiality towards Jews or Gentiles. It’s important to remember that laying hands on a person is just an expression. It is not an act that forces God’s hand in any way. We can fall into the area of witchcraft if we are not careful—believing that the power is in a process or even from ourselves. God chooses whom He will give His power to and what gifts He will bestow on them (1 Corinthians 12:11).
Regardless of how or when it occurs, the bible instructs us to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). The only way we can ensure this is by loving God and being obedient to Him. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is not a spiritual experience that has to be sanctioned by your church leaders. But, if it happens in that way, then that’s great! It is God working through us—often in evident ways. For if salvation cannot be foreseen or controlled, but instead relies solely on God’s will (John 3:1-9), then neither can His Spirit. I do long for growth in my life so I can walk every day under the influence of His Spirit. At the moment I am content with small glimpses of what that life is like, but one day I can be certain that Jesus will finish the work He began in me (Philippians 1:6).
How to be sure
I worry for the people that are anxious about whether the Holy Spirit is with them or not and working through them or not. Perhaps their fears come from their church leaders who tell them that there is only one way to know and if it isn’t evident then they have to keep trying. So, I have found some really useful verses and questions that will help to guide you and, hopefully, ease your mind.
The bible mentions many different signs that a believer can be sure if they are truly saved, and therefore sealed with the Holy Spirit, but perhaps the best example is shown in Acts 2:42-47.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Or perhaps ask yourself the following questions (taken from John Piper) so that you can have assurance of the Holy Spirit’s influence in your life. Because it is a mistake to listen to Christians who put emphasis on only one area of the Holy Spirit’s outworking.
- Have I seen the Spirit of obedience at work in my life, subduing sin and inclining me to acts of love?
- Have I seen the Spirit of praise in my life, filling my heart and mouth with worship to Jesus and God the Father?
- Have I seen the Spirit of courage at work in my life, overcoming fear and giving me a will to risk things for the cause of Christ?
- Even though I know that speaking in other languages and the gift of prophesy are no sure sign of God’s grace, yet together with other evidences, they too are precious evidence that the power of God is on me.
(John Piper, 1981).
May you all know God and may He fill your hearts and minds so that you are overflowing with love!
REFERENCES
Murray, Iain, H. (1966). ‘The Forgotten Spurgeon.’
Piper, J (1981). ‘Be Filled With the Spirit.’ Retrieved from http://www.soundofgrace.com/piper81/030881m.htm
Spurgeon, C.H. (1882) ‘The Indwelling and Outpouring of the Holy Spirit.’
Strong’s Concordance. ‘Baptism.’ Retrieved from http://concordances.org/greek/908.htm
