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 ESV

And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in 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 ESV

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in 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 ESV

Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, 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 ESV

in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit 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 ESV

But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.

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

Being filled with the Spirit often leads to words of praise

Acts 2:4 ESV

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in 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