Filling with Holy Spirit

People filled with the Holy Spirit before the ministry of Jesus Christ

In the OT

Ex 31:3 Bezalel filled with the Spirit for artwork on the tabernacle; Dt 34:9 Joshua filled with the Spirit to succeed Moses

In the events surrounding the birth of John the Baptist

Lk 1:15 John the Baptist filled with the Spirit from birth; Lk 1:41 Elizabeth filled with the Spirit and speaks words of praise; Lk 1:67 Zechariah prophesies about the life of John and God’s salvation

Jesus Christ is full of the Holy Spirit

Luke 4:1 KJV 1900

And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

See also Lk 10:21; Jn 3:34; Ac 10:38

NT terminology

Ac 1:5 While these terms are virtually synonymous when used of initial experiences of the Spirit, “filled” is also used to designate subsequent experiences and renewings of the same divine power, while the other terms are not.

“Be filled with the Spirit”: an apostolic command

Eph 5:18 The present tense of the verb implies the need to be regularly filled and re-filled with the Spirit.

“Filled with the Spirit”: a conscious experience of God’s power

Acts 2:4 KJV 1900

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

See also Ac 4:31; Ac 9:17

“Full of the Spirit”: a consistent quality of Christian character

Acts 6:3–5 KJV 1900

Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

See also Ac 11:24; Ac 13:52

“Filled with the Spirit”: the inspiration to speak words of witness, challenge or rebuke

Ac 4:8 Peter testifying before the Sanhedrin; Ac 7:55 Stephen testifying to the Sanhedrin, seeing the glory of God; Ac 13:9 Paul rebuking Elymas

Characteristics of the Spirit-filled life

The Spirit of Christ should rule believers’ lives

Romans 8:4–6 KJV 1900

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

See also Ga 5:16; Ga 5:25

The Spirit produces fruit of Christlike character

Ro 15:13; 2 Co 6:6; Ga 5:22–23

The Spirit brings liberty

Romans 7:6 KJV 1900

But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

See also 2 Co 3:17; Ga 5:1

Being filled with the Spirit often leads to words of praise

Acts 2:4 KJV 1900

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

See also Ac 4:31; Ac 10:44–46; Ac 19:6; Eph 5:18–20

Characteristics linked with the fulness of the Spirit

Skill:

Ex 31:3; Ex 35:31

Wisdom:

Dt 34:9; Ac 6:3

Joy:

Lk 10:21; Ac 13:52

Faith:

Ac 6:5; Ac 11:24