Chapter 4 - The Filling of the Spirit

INTRODUCTION

Henderson writes, “Even though there is an initial baptism of the Holy Spirit that Jesus and others promised we could receive, many subsequent fillings can occur.”

Henderson states, “I want to make it abundantly clear that as those who are empowered through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, I believe we can pray in the spirit or in tongues at will.” He uses 1 Corinthians 14:15 to justify his answer. Do you believe we can speak in tongues at will, as Henderson suggests, or do we speak in tongues only when the Holy Spirit gives us the utterance as in Acts 2:4?

I believe that we speak in tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance. This means that it happens when we are moved upon by the Holy Spirit. It does not become a natural language that we speak at will.

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT

God’s presence in us, filling and controlling us, is what it means for us to walk in the Spirit.

What does Galatians 5:16 say will not happen when we walk in the Spirit? What does that mean?

We will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. That means that we will have greater power over temptation and sin as we walk in the Spirit instead of walking in the flesh.

Read Ephesians 5:18-20. What are some of the things that accompany being filled with the Spirit?

We will speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. We will sing and make melody in our heart to the Lord. We will give thanks to God always and for all things. We can say that being filled with the Spirit will result in worship, thanksgiving, and praise.

EMPOWERED IN A MOMENT

The filling of the Holy Spirit unlocks the use of tongues. It is almost like a pressure valve on something that needs relief and release.

Henderson writes, “There will be times beyond our everyday experience, however, when we also experience dramatic fillings of the Spirit.” Then he goes on to point out three different times in Acts 4 where the early believers received subsequent fillings of the Spirit. List these three scriptures and be ready to discuss what happened in each one and a common theme that resulted in each case.

Acts 4:7-8 - Peter received boldness.

Acts 4:13 - Peter and John had boldness.

Acts 4:31 - Prayer meeting that gave them boldness.

There is also an example of the filling of the Spirit in Acts 13:8-11 when Paul encounters Elymas the sorcerer. How did the filling of the Spirit help Paul address the issue with Elymas?

Paul had boldness to rebuke Elymas and pronounce a punishment from God upon him.

Regarding this encounter between Paul and Elymas, Henderson states, “The private preparation in Paul’s life through the practice of speaking in tongues empowered him in this public moment.”

OUR WALK AFFECTS OTHERS

It is important to realize that the fullness of the Holy Spirit we walk in will affect the people around us.

In Acts 13:50-52, what do the disciples’ experience in Iconium as a result of the persecution and rejection of Paul and Barnabas in Antioch?

It says that the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. The result of Paul and Barnabas being filled with the Holy Spirit was that others were filled. Us being filled can flow out into others as well.

Henderson states, “Praying in tongues is one of the ways that we can keep ourselves and our hearts in a constantly prepared state.” How can we make sure that we are continuously being filled with the Spirit as stated in Ephesians 5:18? What role can speaking in tongues play in keeping us in a constantly prepared state, walking in the Spirit every day?

We need to pray every day. A good practice is seek to operate in the gift of tongues every day. This takes dedication and desire. When we do, we are strengthened every day as we are constantly being filled with the Spirit.