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Excellent article explaining the meaning of being filled with the Holy Sprit.
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Be filled with the Spirit! (Ephesians 5:18)
The Greek in this context is not referring to a one off event alone, that many Pentecostals/Charismatics would call the Baptism of the Spirit, but rather to a continual infilling. Therefore a correct understanding of this verse is: be being kept continually filled with the Spirit. Note also that it is more a command than advice. The command is for a continuous filling or the controlling of the Spirit of God in the believers life. Furthermore, because the Greek verb is passive, it indicates that the believer is filled with the Spirit by God Himself, and not that he or she can, or does, fill him or herself.
The word for filled in the Greek, pleero, indicates being moved along by the wind, like a sailing ship, as the word was used to describe a ship at full sail. The word was also used to describe salt being added to meat to flavour and preserve it. It thus denotes the process of permeation within us. We should be so full of the Spirit, permeated by God, that we become like Him and are as the aroma of Christ to those around us perishing. (Note that becoming like and being the same as God are two entirely different things! I totally refute the Latter Rain heresies.) The word pleero also indicates the dominance of the Spirit within, meaning we should be being under the full control of the Spirit, submitting to our Master and NOT using the Spirit for our own ends (as if we really could anyway!). It thus indicates the submitted will of the believer to God alone.
Far too many Christians nowadays see the Holy Spirit as something for them to control, rather than to be controlled by, many considering the anointing no better than a plaything under their control, theirs to yell more, more at, so not just the person manifesting but the Holy Spirit becomes as a performing seal. There are many things wrong with the spiritual manifestations popular in the Pentecostal movement including (but not exclusively) those that were made popular by The Toronto Blessing and Brownsville that I have written on in previous posts, including bad theology, an intentional misrepresenting of church history, lack of discernment, occultism and putting two and two together to make five, but possible one of the worst mistakes that abounds in modern day Pentecostalism and Charismaticism is this – many aim to control the Spirit as lords and masters (often) to further their own empires, rather than be humble servants totally controlled by the Spirit to further Gods kingdom – and His kingdom alone.
Source: http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/2008/01/09/be-continually-filled-with-the-holy-spirit/
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I would also like to mention that the Bible says the Holy Spirit comes to abide in a person when you are born again. When you accept Jesus into your life , believe that He died for you, and ask for forgiveness of your sinful ways you are instantly filled with the Holy Spirit. There is nosecond and third occurrence, etc., of being ‘filled or baptised by the Holy Spirit’ He does not leave you and then come back again for another anointing. There is only ONE anointing and that is Jesus Christ. The filling of the Holy Spirit is a ‘drawing nearer and nearer’ to God through obedienceto His Word. The more we listen to the gentle whispers and warnings of the Holy Spirit the more we are ‘filled’ by Him. Disobedience leads one away from God; you draw away from God.
So lets see:
Obedience = Obeying God’s Word = Repenting of sin = Filling of the Holy Spirit = More obedience = Obeying God’s Word more = Repentance of sin with increasing Reverence in God’s presence = More filling of the Holy Spirit = Who leads us into ALL understanding of the Word of God (Bible) and ALL remembrance of Jesus Christ and who HE IS = Repentance of Sin = Obeying God through listening to His Holy Spirit = God speaking to you more (filling) through His Holy Spirit = Drawing more into God’s presence = Obeying His Word, etc.
Get it? I really hope so.
Thank you for this good posting. May I please add this?
The Nature of Spirit-Filling:
There are three things to note about the nature of Spirit-filling, all based on Ephesians 5:18.
The Meaning of Spirit-Filling
To be filled means, to be controlled. For example, Ephesians 5:18
states: And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit.
(1) Spirit-Filling Is Commanded
First, it is commanded. A believer is never commanded to be
regenerated, indwelt, baptized, sealed, or anointed by the Holy Spirit.
These things happen automatically at the moment one believes.
But he is commanded: be filled with the Spirit.
(2) Spirit-Filling Is Repeated
The second thing about the nature of Spirit-filling is that it is a ministry, which can be repeated.
All the ministries of the Holy Spirit in relationship to salvation are not repeatable; they are once-and-for-all actions which occur at the moment one believes.
But the ministries in relationship to spiritual growth are repeatable as is the case of being filled with the Spirit.
The tense used in Ephesians 5:18 is the present tense, which means, to keep on being filled with the Spirit.
The Greek present tense emphasizes continuous and repeated action.
Because Spirit-filling is repeated, it does not necessarily mean the believer has lost his previous filling, although at times it may mean that.
It can also mean that a new area of one’s life has been placed under the control of the Spirit.
For example, the Apostles were filled with the Spirit at least three different times (Acts 2:4; 4:8; 4:31).
Stephen was filled at least twice (Acts 6:3 6; 7:55).
Paul was filled at least two different times (Acts 9:17; 13:52).
Barnabas was filled in Acts 11:24.
In none of these cases was the previous filling lost. In every case, a new area needed to be under the Spirit’s control, so in each of those areas, they were filled with the Spirit.
(3) Spirit-Filling Is Passive
The third thing concerning the nature of Spirit-filling is based on the passive voice in Ephesians 5:18, which means someone else is doing the filling.
All the believer does is submitting himself so that the filling can take place; the Holy Spirit does the actual filling.
Elisheva
Just as it was in the days Jesus walked this earth, the “religious” people still are trying to explain away things that are so simple. I have experienced this so called “second experience” called the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Until you taste it and experience it for yourself (which you probaby won’t)because you don’t expect to recieve and aren’t interested, how can you say it isn’t real. The people like you are the ones who wouldn’t believe who Jesus was, and thus crucified him. Being filled or Baptized in the Holy Spirit simply means the oppisite of what you are saying. The Holy Spirit enpowers me for effective service for God. I am a singer and I know my giftings are from God but He enpowers me through His Spirit to sing with power that effects people in a way I could’t on my own. I am nothing without his power working through me. Don’t judge what you don’t understand. By the way, this isn’t a heaven and hell issue but how sad that unless you change your closeminedness,
you will miss out on the wonderful gift God wants you to have to enpower your ministry. God bless you! Cathy
The Saviour never sang the Gospel; just do what he says and stop adding your own methods of spreading the word. Song is to glorify God, not to preach the Word and certainly not CCM!
Like Cathy, I’ve been blessed with Baptism in the Holy Spirit and believe me, it’s an experience you don’t want to miss because it is literally God dwelling within you and with it you have experiences and learn things that are beyond normal comprehension. You get the ‘eyes to see’ and the ‘ears to hear’!
Contrary to popular belief and tradition, Jesus is not the name of the Son of God. ‘Jesus’ is Late Latin (circa 3rd to 7th centuries AD) and is from the Greek ‘Iesous’ which is from the Hebrew ‘Yeshua’. [Source: The New Book of Knowledge Dictionary Vol 1.] Some Bibles have it noted in the footnotes of Matthew Chapter 1.
Acts 4:12 makes it clear that there is no other name that is to be used and there is a very serious reason for this. Compare John 3:18
Firstly, think about it from the point of view of ‘fruits’ or the results of worshipping Jesus. Such as the Crusades and the Inquisitions. WW1 and WW2 were mainly Christians fighting Christians, admittedly for other than religious reasons.
Secondly, where are our prophets? Where are our healers? Where are those who can cast out demons? Where are those who can come up with a new teaching or a new word from God specific to this day and age?
Thirdly, you have specifically warned to “Beware the leaven [teachings] of the Pharisees and the Sadducees [your religious leaders]” Matthew 16:6; 16:11 & 16;12 because there are some ministers of the devil who transform themselves into apostles of Christ and ministers or righteousness. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
Fourthly, the ‘name of Jesus’ does not have any real effect. Oh, we may think so because that is what we’ve been brainwashed into believing but when you compare how the Blood of Yeshua so cleanses you that you CAN have direct contact with the Almighty God then you will understand the difference.
This sounds blasphemous, right? But is it? No! God Himself will tell you as He has audibly told me, “The name of My Son is not Jesus.” John 6:45
I am not bragging. I am simply trying to tell you the truth; so that you can get onto the right track ['sin' means 'missing the mark' or the point] and also so you can use this information for yourself and others.
Pearl Nabi
>> Jesus is not the name of the Son of God……God Himself will tell you as He has audibly told me, “The name of My Son is not Jesus.” John 6:
My goodness, well know we know what spirit you were baptized in that you so eagerly throw away the name of Jesus.
a good site to interact and grow up spiritually…
Anil
Dear Elisheva and Cathy
How great if you continue to be filled withth Spirit always – every moment rather than looking for a occasions to feel being filled. All the Apostels were filled with the holy Spirit and not on few occasions but they lived their life undercomplete control of the Holy Spirit. Each time it is mentioned that they were filled with Spirit means that the Holoy Spirit manifested and empowered them for that situation. The manifestation of the Holy Spirit living in us does not act according to our wish but manifests as He desires and when He desires.