A man once went to visit some friends in the English countryside. For years they had lived in an old-fashioned, rundown building. To his surprise, he discovered that the house had been completely remodeled. The people had installed new lights, an electric stove, and many other pieces of modern equipment. But he was even more surprised to see the lady of the house still using a kerosene stove for cooking and oil lamps for lighting. After greeting him, she said, “Don’t look so confused. We’ve had a great change here, but we just haven’t turned on the power yet.”
The application to believers is clear: every saved sinner has had a great change in his standing before God and has received the indwelling Holy Spirit. Yet many haven’t even begun to tap His blessed resources for holy living. He takes up residence in us at the moment of salvation. There are some Biblical terms that must be understood in order to understand what the Bible says about when this happens.
INDWELT BY THE SPIRIT. The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit indwells believers immediately upon salvation as a seal of ownership and a guarantee of eternal life (Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22). Key evidence includes personal conviction of sin, transformed desires toward godliness, and the internal assurance that one is a child of God. If anyone does not have God’s Spirit they are not a believer (1 Corinthians 12:13). There is no such thing as a believer without the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Proof of the Spirit’s presence in our lives is the conviction we feel when we sin (John 16:8-11) and the growing desire to obey God and resist sin (Romans 7:18-25). The Spirit shows us our need of the Father (Romans 8:15) and produces the fruit of the spirit such as love, joy, peace and self-control in us (Galatians 5:22-23).
BAPTIZED IN THE SPIRIT. 1 Corinthians 12:13 teaches: “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” Paul is affirming that all the Christians in Corinth, even the immature and those living in sin (1 Corinthians 3:1-3; 6:12-20; etc.), had been baptized into the Spirit at salvation. Paul says we “were” – past tense, a one-time event at the moment of salvation (Acts 10:44). Baptism in the Spirit is a one-time event that places us into the Body of Christ. It is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at moment of salvation (1 Corinthians 10:1ff; 12:13; 6:19; Ephesians 4:5; Romans 5:5). This makes us part of the Bride of Christ, which defines our unique love-relationship with Him for all eternity. This is only true of believers from the cross to the rapture. What a special privilege we have in this! However just because the Holy Spirit lives in us doesn’t mean we allow Him to fill us and fully minister to us. For that to happen we need to be filled by the Spirit.
FILLED BY THE SPIRIT. Being indwelt (or baptized) by the Spirit is a one-time event at the moment of salvation, but being filled (or controlled) is something that has to happen repeatedly, whenever we sin or disobey. Those who are Christians are commanded to do it: Ephesians 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Both drunkenness and the Holy Spirit are strong influences that work within us. Alcohol leads to unrestrained and irrational license, transforming the person into an animal, but the Spirit leads to restrained and rational moral behavior, transforming the person into Christ’s likeness.
To “be filled” is a command in the Greek, not a suggestion. It is in the plural form as is “do not get drunk.” Both refer to everyone, all of us. The filling of the Holy Spirit is not a special privilege for some but is for every believer. We all have the Spirit from the moment of salvation, but we don’t always let Him fill or control us. The command to” be filled” is in the passive voice which means we don’t do it, but we allow it to happen to us. It is in the present tense which means it is continuous in the present, now and in the future as well. The Greek tense makes it clear is it not a onetime event, but a continuing action, done repeatedly as needed. It is a command to be continually open to allow God to fill us with his Spirit.
Paul’s next words prove this is what he means. Ephesians 5:19-21 says the outworking of being filled will result in speaking and singing Psalm and spiritual songs, giving thanks and submitting to each other. These aren’t things we can do in our own strength. Paul doesn’t use speaking in tongues or some other manifestation as proof of the Spirit’s filling. This only happens by voluntarily submitting to the control of the Holy Spirit and obeying God’s Word as He speaks to us through the Spirit within us. The more we are open to Him, the more He will fill us (2 Kings 4:6). Too many today want to use the Spirit to bring attention and glory to themselves but we are called to let the Spirit use us to bring attention and glory to Jesus.
John’s parents were filled (Luke 1:41, 67), as were the disciples (Acts 2:4; 4:31; 13:52), Peter (Acts 4:8), Stephen (Acts 6:5; 7:55; 11:24), Barnabas (Acts 11:24) and Paul (Acts 9:17; 13:9). One of the qualifications for being a deacon was being filled (Acts 6:3). This same power source is available to guide and help us today.
We are commanded to let the Spirit fill and control us, not something else like alcohol (Ephesians 5:18). Be sensitive to His leading, depend on His guidance and strength and not your own, surrender your will to His, give Him all of you that you can. Walk daily by the leading of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). To walk by the Spirit is to live with moment-by-moment dependency on and sensitivity to the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit. Unconfessed sin will make the Spirit sad (Ephesians 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”) and quench His work in your life (1 Thessalonians 5:19: “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire”). He doesn’t leave, but neither does He assert Himself. He won’t force Himself where He is not wanted. When you sin, you don’t need to be indwelt or baptized in the Spirit again, for He will never leave. But you do need to resubmit to His control and filling.
Ephesians 5:18 “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit”
What change has the indwelling or baptism of the Spirit made in your life?
What is different when you are filled or not filled with the Spirit?
Thank God for His Spirit and all He does in your life.
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India, Africa & Spanish Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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