CONTENTS HOW CAN I

What Some People

Are Saying . . . . . . . . . . . 2 BE FILLED
Who Is WITH THE
The Holy Spirit? . . . . . . . 4
Who Can Be Filled
HOLY SPIRIT?
With The Holy Spirit? . . 6

A
What Is The Filling Of nd just exactly what does
The Holy Spirit? . . . . . . . 7 that mean? If I am filled
How Can I Be Filled with the Spirit, will I
With The Holy Spirit?. . 10 know it? These questions are
Essential One: being asked today by Christians
Be Christ-Centered . . . 11 who want to walk with God and
Essential Two: please Him. Yet some are afraid
Be In The Word . . . . . . 12 they are missing out when they
Essential Three: hear about others who claim to
Be Submissive . . . . . . . 14 have had a special filling of the
Essential Four: Spirit.
Be Confident . . . . . . . . 16
RBC senior research editor
How Can I Tell When Herb Vander Lugt has examined
I’m Spirit Filled? . . . . . . 19
what the Bible has to say about
Two Wrong Answers . . 23
this subject. We pray that this
What Is The Baptism booklet will help many to have
Of The Holy Spirit? . . . 26
a deeper understanding and
Checklist For Being
Spirit-Filled. . . . . . . . . . 29 experience of the Spirit-filled
life.
“A Spirit-Filled Man” . . 30
Martin R. De Haan II
A Final Word . . . . . . . . 32
Managing Editor: David Sper Cover Design: Brian Fowler
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas
Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.All rights reserved.
© 1986,2003 RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, Michigan Printed in USA
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
WHAT SOME the Holy Spirit. They believe
that a Christian can be filled
PEOPLE ARE with the Holy Spirit as he
SAYING lives his day-to-day life.
To them, Richard

E
very follower of Jesus Wurmbrand, who still
Christ should want carries scars from beatings
to obey the biblical he received in a communist
command to be filled with prison camp, exemplifies the
the Holy Spirit. But what power of a Spirit-filled life.
does that involve? Some He tells of singing for joy in
see it as an experience that a cell where he was cold,
is recognized by: sick, and hungry. To many,
• speaking in “tongues” he is a good example of
• feelings of wild ecstasy someone who is Spirit-filled.
• feeling the Spirit take A Christian named John,
them over who died in a Grand Rapids
• being overcome with nursing home a few years
great joy ago, was considered a
• being “slain” in the Spirit Spirit-filled man by those
• having the ability to who took care of him.
prophesy During the last 2 years
• being able to interpret of his life, as cancer
“tongues” ravaged his body, his joy
But other Christians say was irrepressible. He told
they have never had any of everybody he met about
these experiences. They Jesus Christ.
claim that a person does not During the first year,
have to have any of these John asked the aids to
things happen to him to wheel him into rooms
show that he is filled with where people were
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discouraged and depressed. The disciples were
His testimony was used to praying together when
lead many of his fellow they suddenly heard the
residents to the Lord. sound of rushing wind,
After he could no longer be saw tonguelike flames, and
placed in a wheelchair, he spoke in languages they had
talked to people who came never learned. As a result,
into his room. He radiated 3,000 people in Jerusalem
such joy that they couldn’t trusted Christ that very day.
help but feel they were in The apostles were filled
the presence of a Spirit-filled with courage and power,
man. witnessing boldly and
performing miracles. As
time went on, and despite
He radiated persecution, these Spirit-
such joy that filled Christians presented
such a powerful testimony
they couldn’t that even their enemies
help but feel spoke of them as men
they were in who had “turned the world
the presence upside down” (Acts 17:6).
We would all like to
of a Spirit-filled be filled with the Holy
man. Spirit. But most of us
don’t experience the same
victory, the same joy, or the
According to the Bible, same power as these early
the privilege for every apostles. So, this leads us
believer to be filled with to ask, “How can I be filled
the Holy Spirit began at with the Holy Spirit?”
Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13).
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WHO IS THE HE IS A PERSON
The Scriptures give us five
HOLY SPIRIT? clear evidences that the
Holy Spirit is a person, not

B
efore we can discuss just a mystic force or strange
being filled with the power.
Holy Spirit, we need 1. The Holy Spirit is
to know who the Holy Spirit spoken of as “He.” Jesus
is. Some people insist that referred to the Holy Spirit
the Holy Spirit is an as “He.” He promised His
influence—a power or disciples: “I will pray the
source of God-given Father, and He will give you
spiritual energy. Others another Helper, that He [the
see Him as a ghostlike Holy Spirit] may abide with
force, entering or leaving you forever” (Jn. 14:16).
us at will. Others picture 2. The Holy Spirit has
Him as a kind of cosmic intelligence. He knows the
magician, elusive and “deep things of God” and
vague, who drops reveals them to us (1 Cor.
mysteriously into our 2:10-11). Only a person has
lives to make religious this kind of intelligence.
things happen and then 3. The Holy Spirit
leaves just as quickly as makes decisions. He
He came. gives gifts to the Lord’s
The Bible makes it people, “distributing to
clear, however, that the Holy each one individually as
Spirit is a person who lives He wills” (1 Cor. 12:11).
within every Christian. It Only a personal being can
also teaches that He is make decisions.
God, the Third Person 4. The Holy Spirit
of the Trinity. has emotions. He feels
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love (Rom. 15:30) and grief was God. When Ananias’
(Eph. 4:30). An influence sin was exposed, Peter told
cannot feel emotions like him that he had lied to the
these. Holy Spirit. He went on to
5. The Holy Spirit is say that this lie had not
active. He does things only been “to men but to God”
a person can do: (Acts 5:3-4).
• speaks (Rev. 2:7) 3. The Holy
• intercedes (Rom. 8:26) Spirit is called “Lord”
• teaches (Jn. 14:26) (2 Cor. 3:17-18).
• leads (Rom. 8:14) 4. The Holy Spirit
• appoints (Acts 20:28) possesses qualities that
• empowers (Acts 1:8) belong only to God:
eternality (Heb. 9:14), the
HE IS GOD ability to be everywhere at
The Holy Spirit is also the same time (Ps. 139:7-
referred to in the Bible as 10), sovereign power
God. He is the Third Person (Lk.1:35,37), and the
of the eternal Trinity, one knowledge of “the things of
with the Father and with the God” (1 Cor. 2:10-12).
Son. The following factors The Bible teaches that
show His deity: the Holy Spirit, who lives
1. The Spirit’s name within every Christian, is a
appears as equal with the person and that He is God.
Father and the Son in the Admittedly we can’t grasp
formula for baptism and the great mystery of how the
in some of the New Holy Spirit can live within
Testament prayers us. But we don’t have to
(Mt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14). understand it. We just have
2. The apostle Peter to trust that what the Bible
said that the Holy Spirit says is true.
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WHO CAN BE who gives life” (Jn. 6:63).
When the Spirit
FILLED WITH gives this new life, He
THE HOLY also enters into the new
SPIRIT? Christian to live within him
permanently—to indwell.

T
he filling of the Holy Anyone who does not have
Spirit should be the the indwelling Holy Spirit is
desire of every not a Christian (Rom. 8:9).
Christian. But listening to Even though the indwelling
how some people talk, one of the Spirit is not the same
could get the idea that it is thing as the filling of the
reserved only for privileged, Spirit, only someone who
spiritually sensitive, special is indwelt can be filled.
people. We are convinced, So, the first prerequisite
however, that the filling to being Spirit-filled is
of the Holy Spirit is for to be a Christian.
everyone. But there are two Second, the filling of
important prerequisites. the Holy Spirit is only
First, to experience the for those Christians who
filling of the Holy Spirit a want to be filled. Although
person must be a He dwells within all
Christian—he must be Christians, He does not
born again. This new birth fill them just because He is
is given by the Holy Spirit. present. To be obedient to
When Jesus told Nicodemus the command to be filled
that he had to be born with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18),
again, He referred to it as a person must want the
being “born of the Spirit” Spirit’s filling and then be
(Jn. 3:6). He later told His willing to yield to His
disciples, “It is the Spirit control.
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WHAT IS THE have yielded to Him, letting
Him take over our lives.
FILLING OF THE We often speak of
HOLY SPIRIT? something that so fills

B
efore we can answer a person’s mind that it
the question “How strangely influences
can I be filled with everything he thinks and
the Holy Spirit?” we must does. For example, a person
know what the filling of the can be filled with:
Spirit is. The filling of the • anger
Spirit is the influence or • fear
control the Holy Spirit • jealousy
exercises over us when we • remorse
yield ourselves to Him. The • sorrow
Spirit of God, who has given • pride
us new life and who has • love
taken up residence within • anxiety
us, wants to fill our lives The Bible itself uses
with His goodness and the word “filled” in the same
power. He wants us to let way (see Lk. 6:11; Acts 5:17;
Him take control of our 13:45).
lives. Even so, He does not To be filled with
use His power as God to something, therefore,
overwhelm us; rather, He means to be under its
fills us only as we submit control. This truth is stated
to Him. clearly regarding the Holy
In this sense, then, Spirit in Ephesians 5:18.
being filled with the Spirit Do not be drunk
means that we have placed with wine, in which is
ourselves under His dissipation; but be filled
influence and control. We with the Spirit.
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 Paul used this analogy something or someone
because a person who outside themselves.
becomes intoxicated with On the Day of Pentecost,
alcohol places himself under people who heard the
its influence or control. apostles speak in languages
Similarly, a Christian who they had never learned
submits to the leading of the accused them of being
indwelling Holy Spirit puts drunk. Moreover, in the
pagan ceremonies of Paul’s
day, worshipers often got
A Christian drunk to have a “religious
who submits to experience.” The analogy,
therefore, had some
the leading of background in Paul’s
the indwelling thinking. And if you stop
Holy Spirit to think about it, a group
puts himself of Spirit-filled Christians
under His singing with great
enthusiasm may have a
influence or superficial resemblance to a
control. band of pagan worshipers,
drunk with wine, singing
praises to their gods.
himself under His influence The similarity, as already
or control. Both the person indicated, is only on the
who consumes enough surface. A person who is
alcohol to become drunk drunk with wine, and
and the Christian who therefore under its control,
yields to the Holy Spirit suffers impaired judgment.
have placed themselves He says and does things he
under the control of normally wouldn’t do, and
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he often can’t remember toward everything.
what he did. On the other To be filled with the
hand, a person filled Holy Spirit, then, is to be
with the Holy Spirit, so influenced by, controlled
and therefore A person who A person who by, or
under His is drunk is filled with permeated
with wine: the Spirit:
control, • walks different • walks different by Him that
enjoys • talks different • talks different we will reflect
improved • acts different • acts different God’s moral
• thinks different • thinks different
judgment, • feels different • feels different character
acts in a and be
sane and Alcohol’s The Spirit’s strengthened
control control
responsible results in results in by His
manner, and impaired improved power. We
judgment.
rejoices in the judgment. will be
memory of what he said and loving, joyful, peaceful,
did while under the control patient, kind, good, faithful,
of the Holy Spirit. gentle, and self-controlled—
We are greatly virtues that Paul referred to
influenced by whatever as “the fruit of the Spirit”
it is that “fills” us. If we are (Gal. 5:22-23).
filled with anger, we will be
influenced to such an extent
that we will say and do
things we may later regret.
A person who is filled with
anger against God may
become so controlled by
his hatred that he becomes
irreverent, blasphemous,
defiant, and rebellious
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HOW CAN I happy that it influences
everything she does.
BE FILLED When Paul told us to be
WITH THE filled with the Spirit, he was
HOLY SPIRIT? telling us to let Him so fill
us that everything we think

P
aul commanded and do is influenced or
the believers at controlled by Him.
Ephesus—and every But the crucial question
Christian—to be “filled is still, “How?” God’s part
with the Spirit” (5:18). This is clear: He will fill us. But
clause could be literally what is our part? Being filled
translated, “Let the Holy with the Holy Spirit involves
Spirit keep filling you,” or four essentials. We must:
“Keep letting the Holy Spirit (1) be Christ-centered,
fill you.” (2) be in the Word,
But just how do we obey (3) be submissive, and
this command? What must (4) be confident.
we do to let the Holy Spirit We will now look in
keep filling us? How can we detail at each of these four
be filled with the Holy essentials for being filled
Spirit? with the Holy Spirit.
Well, we know what Graphically, we will
it means to be filled with represent the filling of
excitement or happiness. the Spirit as a square. The
Excitement or happiness so four essentials will make
permeates our thoughts and up the sides of this square,
feelings that it dominates indicating the equal
us. When a young woman importance of each one.
first becomes engaged, she
is often so excited and
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 1. BE CHRIST-CENTERED
or husband enjoys seeing
the other receive honor.
Similarly, the Holy Spirit
derives great pleasure from
FILLED seeing us cooperate with
WITH THE Him in glorifying Christ.
HOLY SPIRIT He Himself wants to
remain hidden, so that
nothing diverts our gaze
from the Lord Jesus.
ESSENTIAL ONE: Whenever we focus
Be Christ-Centered our attention on Christ,
The first essential for being the Holy Spirit is in close
Spirit-filled is to center our partnership with us. The
lives on Jesus Christ. He Spirit is pleased when we
must be the focal point are glorifying the Lord.
of our thoughts and We can do this by:
aspirations. In all we do, • Observing the Lord’s
we must be conscious of Supper to remember
following His example and Christ in His suffering
doing His will. When we and death for our sins
are Christ-centered, we are (1 Cor. 11:23-26).
pleasing the Holy Spirit • Making Jesus our
because that’s what He example (Jn. 13:15; Phil.
wants us to do. In fact, 2:5-11; 1 Pet. 2:21-24).
Jesus said, “He [the Holy • Longing to know Christ
Spirit] will glorify Me, for better, so that we may
He will take of what is be more like Him
Mine and declare it to (Phil. 3:10-14).
you” (Jn. 16:14). In a • Not being afraid of dying
good marriage, the wife because we’re looking
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 forward to being with the Lord Jesus. He views
Christ (2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. us as partners with Him
1:21-23; 2 Tim. 4:6-8). in glorifying Christ. Being
• Living in anticipation of Christ-centered, therefore,
the day we will appear is an essential in being
at “the judgment seat of filled with the Spirit.
Christ” (2 Cor. 5:10).
• Being comforted by the
fact that Christ is our 1. BE CHRIST-CENTERED
intercessor in heaven

2. BE IN THE WORD
(Heb. 4:14-16).
• Purifying ourselves from FILLED
sin as we’re living in the WITH THE
light of Christ’s return HOLY SPIRIT
(1 Jn. 3:2-3).
• Looking forward to
Christ’s rule over the
earth (Isa. 2:1-4; Jer.
23:5-6; Rev. 20:1-4). ESSENTIAL TWO:
• Rejoicing in the Be In The Word
assurance that every The Christian who wants
mortal being in God’s to be Spirit-filled should
universe will bow be spending time in God’s
before Jesus Christ Word. His mind must be
and confess Him as so filled with its truths
Lord (Phil. 2:9-11). that Bible passages
The Holy Spirit keeps automatically come to
Himself out of the limelight his mind when he
so that Christ may be encounters the situations
honored. He is pleased of life. Just before Paul gave
when we praise and adore the command “do not be
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drunk with wine, in which “increased in wisdom and
is dissipation; but be filled stature” (Lk. 2:52) like other
with the Spirit,” he wrote: boys. So we can be sure
Therefore do not be that He had to study to
unwise, but understand know the Scriptures. Christ’s
what the will of the Lord familiarity with the Bible,
is (Eph. 5:17). therefore, was an important
How do we know God’s element in His being “filled
will? Primarily through the with the Holy Spirit.”
Scriptures, which came into As noted earlier, Paul
existence when “holy men pointed out the close
of God spoke as they were relationship between
moved by the Holy Spirit” “knowing what the will
(2 Pet. 1:21). of the Lord is” and being
The importance of the “filled with the Holy Spirit”
Bible in the Spirit-filled life when he wrote Ephesians
was demonstrated by the 5:17-18. He made the same
Lord Jesus in His encounter connection in Colossians
with Satan at the beginning 3:16, which says:
of His public ministry. Luke Let the word of Christ
told us that Jesus was “filled dwell in you richly in all
with the Holy Spirit” when wisdom, teaching and
He entered into the admonishing one another
wilderness for testing (Lk. in psalms and hymns and
4:1-2). In response to each spiritual songs, singing
of Satan’s temptations, our with grace in your hearts
Lord answered by quoting to the Lord.
the Scriptures-—specifically The last part of this
Deuteronomy 8:3, 6:13, and verse is almost identical
6:16. Since Jesus took on to Ephesians 5:19-20
our genuine humanity, He where Paul described the
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characteristics of a Spirit- 1. BE CHRIST-CENTERED
filled Christian. In other

2. BE IN THE WORD
words, letting the Word of
Christ dwell in us richly is
an essential in letting the
FILLED
Holy Spirit keep filling us.
WITH THE
If you want to be a
HOLY SPIRIT
Spirit-filled Christian, then,
you must be in the Word of
God. Give the Bible ample 3. BE SUBMISSIVE
room in your life by reading ESSENTIAL THREE:
it, studying it, and reflecting Be Submissive
on it. The Scriptures were The third essential for a
inspired by the Holy Spirit Spirit-filled life is to be
and are “profitable for submissive to God and His
doctrine, for reproof, for Word. Paul indicated this
correction, for instruction attitude of submission by
in righteousness, that the the language he used when
man of God may be he wrote Ephesians 5:18.
complete, thoroughly Translated literally, the latter
equipped for every good part of this verse reads,
work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). “Keep letting the Holy
Read the Bible! Study it! Spirit fill you.” We must
Be instructed by it! Obey its continuously allow
commands! Let it correct the Holy Spirit to fill us.
you! The Word of God has We can do this only when
been given to make you a we possess a submissive
complete, well-equipped attitude toward Him.
Christian. You cannot be The analogy Paul
Spirit-filled without it. used of being drunk with
wine carries the idea of
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submission. Paul wrote: Ephesians 5:18–6:9. When
Do not get drunk with Paul told the believers in
wine . . . but keep letting Colosse to place themselves
the Holy Spirit fill you under the rule of Christ’s
[literal translation]. peace, and to give the Word
A person who is drunk of Christ a dominant place
is under the influence of in their lives (3:16), he was
alcohol. If he is very drunk, calling for a submissive
he is under its control. A attitude. You place yourself
person who keeps letting
the Holy Spirit fill him will
consciously, continuously, A person who
and voluntarily place keeps letting the
himself under God’s
influence or control. No,
Holy Spirit fill him
he doesn’t lose self-control. will consciously,
In fact, he exercises far continuously, and
more self-control than voluntarily place
a person who does not himself under
possess the Holy Spirit.
When a Christian God’s influence
consciously, continuously, or control.
and voluntarily submits
to God, he is freed from
slavery to the sinful under God’s influence and
habits and drives that control when you do these
once controlled him. things. The result of letting
This attitude of the Holy Spirit keep filling
submission is also present you (Eph. 5:18) and letting
in Colossians 3:15–4:10, the peace of Christ and the
a passage that parallels Word of Christ have
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dominance in your life 1. BE CHRIST-CENTERED
(Col. 3:15-16) is the same—

2. BE IN THE WORD
joy, mutual encouragement,

4. BE CONFIDENT
praise, and gratitude.
When you have a
FILLED
submissive attitude toward
WITH THE
God and His Word, the
HOLY SPIRIT
Holy Spirit can keep filling
you. This is because:
• You place yourself under 3. BE SUBMISSIVE
the authority of the Bible ESSENTIAL FOUR:
when it tells you to “put Be Confident
off” and “put to death” The fourth essential in being
the sins of the flesh and filled with the Spirit is to be
to “put on” Christian confident. When you have
virtues (Eph. 4:17–5:7; centered your life on Jesus
Col. 3:5-17). Christ, when you are in the
• You humbly confess Word and it is in you, and
your sins so that you when you have submitted
will experience God’s to the Holy Spirit’s leading,
fellowship and cleansing you can know that you have
(1 Jn. 1:9). done your part. And, having
• You submit to others done that, you can be
as an expression of absolutely certain that God
your love for God, has done His part. He has
thus becoming a good responded to you by filling
marriage partner, a you with His Spirit. Because
good citizen, and of that:
a good representative • You don’t need to
of Christ (Eph. 5:2-33; wonder if you are
1 Pet. 2:11–3:17). spiritual enough to
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 be filled with the Spirit. defeatist attitude, it is
• You don’t need to probably because you feel
compare yourself with that you are losing your
other believers. battle with sin. Your lack of
• You don’t need to confidence, though, shows a
keep looking for some failure to trust in the Lord’s
spectacular sign from provision for you and in His
heaven. power to keep His part of
• You don’t need to wait the bargain.
for a great feeling of Look at the apostle Paul.
tingling excitement to Although he was very much
sweep over you. aware of the power of the old
Rather, you can know nature and of the ongoing
with absolute certainty that battle with the flesh, he was
because you are doing your brimming with confidence.
part, God is doing His part. In Romans 7, for example,
he was painfully honest in
You can know with describing the battle between
his old nature (the “law of
absolute certainty sin”) and his new nature (the
that because you “law of my mind”). But he
are doing your then went right on to point
part, God is out that the way of victory is
through “Jesus Christ our
doing His part. Lord.” He then said:
There is therefore now no
And this confidence will condemnation to those
help you live day-by-day in who are in Christ Jesus.
the assurance that you are . . . For the law of the
filled with the Holy Spirit. Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
But if you live with a has made me free from the
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 law of sin and death. For on the Spirit’s power
what the law could not (Eph. 5:18).
do in that it was weak • An acceptance of
through the flesh, God the Spirit’s help in
did by sending His own fulfilling the law of
Son in the likeness of God (Rom. 8:4).
sinful flesh, on account • A deliberate “putting
of sin: He condemned off” of the flesh (Eph.
sin in the flesh, that the 4:22).
righteous requirement of • A willful rejection
the law might be fulfilled of sin (Rom. 6:1-2).
in us who do not walk • A determined pursuit of
according to the flesh but what is right (Eph. 4:24).
according to the Spirit The fourth essential
(Rom. 8:1-4). in a Spirit-filled life, then,
This walking “in the is confidence. This is
Spirit” occurs when we especially true in our battle
are filled with the Spirit. It against sin. But when you
includes the four essentials have done your part—when
we’ve just looked at in a you have repented of all
blend of divine and human known sin, confessed it, and
activity to overcome sin. replaced it with obedience
The walk in the Spirit to Christ—you can be
is a walk of confidence in certain that God has done
God. And this confidence His part in forgiving you
produces spiritual victory and in giving you the power
because of: for spiritual victory. You can
• A continual awareness move ahead with your heart
of the Spirit’s presence filled with confidence and
(1 Cor. 6:19-20). the knowledge that you are
• A conscious dependence filled with the Holy Spirit.
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HOW CAN I giving thanks always for all
things to God the Father in
TELL WHEN I’M the name of our Lord Jesus
SPIRIT-FILLED? Christ, submitting to one

S
ome people say that another in the fear of
the way you can God” (Eph. 5:19-21; cp.
know you are filled Col. 3:16). He also listed
with the Holy Spirit is to nine fruit of the Spirit as
speak in tongues or to just evidence in Galatians
“feel it.” A woman called 5:22-23.
one of the counselors
at RBC Ministries, for FOUR EVIDENCES
example, to say that she FILLED WITH
had times when she was so
filled with the Holy Spirit Joyful Heartfelt
that she couldn’t speak a Fellowship Praise
word of English. She said
that anybody who doesn’t
speak in tongues is not Abounding Reverent
Gratitude Submission
Spirit-filled.
When Paul described
the results of being filled THE HOLY SPIRIT
with the Holy Spirit, According to Ephesians
however, he didn’t mention 5:19-21, a person who is
tongues-speaking or a filled with the Holy Spirit
tingling feeling. But he did will know it because of four
mention “speaking to one evidences in his life: joyful
another in psalms and fellowship, heartfelt praise,
hymns and spiritual songs, abounding gratitude, and
singing and making melody reverent submission. Let’s
in your heart to the Lord, look briefly at each of these.
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 1. Joyful Fellowship. another: “Must I go, and
The first evidence of being empty-handed?”
Spirit-filled is joyful
fellowship with other 2. Heartfelt Praise.
Christians. Paul described The second result of being
it as “speaking to one filled with the Holy Spirit
another in psalms and is heartfelt praise to God:
hymns and spiritual songs” “Singing and making
(v.19). The texts of these melody in your heart to the
songs often take the form Lord” (v.19). The term “in
of mutual exhortation. your heart” is sometimes
Singing with God’s taken as referring to singing
people had its roots in on the inside, singing that
Hebrew worship. Psalms isn’t expressed outwardly.
29, 33, 37, 40, 95, 96, But that is unlikely. It
and 100 are only a few probably means singing
of the songs in which the from a sincere heart, as
Israelites encouraged one expressed in Colossians
another to join together in 3:16, “Singing with grace in
praise, gratitude, and your hearts to the Lord.”
obedience.
Spirit-filled Christians 3. Abounding
love to sing with one Gratitude. The third
another. For example, in evidence of being Spirit-
our hymns we call on one filled is abounding
another to praise the Lord: gratitude: “Giving thanks
“Come we that love the always for all things to God
Lord, and let our joys be the Father in the name of
known.” We comfort one our Lord Jesus Christ”
another: “God will take care (v.20). In his letters, Paul
of you.” We challenge one repeatedly gave thanks to
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God, and he encouraged NINE FRUIT
his readers to follow his FILLED WITH
example (Phil. 1:3; 4:6;
Col. 1:3,12; 2:7; 3:15,17; Love Joy Peace

4:2; 1 Th. 1:2; 2:13; 5:18;

1 Tim. 1:12; 2:1; 4:3-4). He Long-
suffering Kindness Goodness
told us to give thanks to
God in everything and for
Faithful- Gentle- Self-
everything. ness ness Control

4. Reverent THE HOLY SPIRIT

Submission. The fourth In his letter to the
way we can know we are Galatians, the apostle Paul
filled with the Holy Spirit pointed out that the life of
is reverent submission: a Spirit-filled person will
“Submitting to one another be marked by nine moral
in the fear of God” (v.21). qualities that he called “the
A Spirit-filled person is fruit of the Spirit.” When
humble, gentle, and meek. they are present, it is further
He is not proud, aggressive, evidence that a person is
or self-assertive. His filled with the Holy Spirit.
reverence for Christ is the He wrote:
source of his humility. The fruit of the Spirit
As a servant of Christ, he is love, joy, peace,
possesses a servant’s spirit. longsuffering, kindness,
Therefore, he does not find goodness, faithfulness,
it difficult to submit to his gentleness, self-control.
fellow believers. Against such there is
no law (Gal. 5:22-23).
Let’s look at each one of
these spiritual qualities:
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 1. Love: an attitude that 8. Gentleness:
moves us to put God and a tenderness of spirit that
others ahead of ourselves. A enables us to discipline
spirit that impels us to give, others properly, to endure
to serve, and to forgive. persecution graciously,
2. Joy: a spirit of and to witness to others
gladness rooted in our faith, sensitively.
expressed through song, 9. Self-control: the
and accompanied by an quality that gives us control
optimistic spirit. over our desires, especially
3. Peace: inner serenity those that relate to the body.
derived from God and based If the Holy Spirit is
on the reality of our peace producing these nine moral
with God through Christ’s qualities in your life, you are
sacrifice. Spirit-filled. Paul’s comment,
4. Longsuffering: “Against such there is no
patience in the midst of law” (v.23), means that
difficult circumstances and nothing in the Mosaic law
in our relationships with or any other law opposes
difficult people. these virtues or is needed to
5. Kindness: practicing restrain them. In fact, when
the golden rule of treating a person’s life is marked
others as we expect them by the four evidences of
to treat us. Ephesians 5:18-21 and
6. Goodness: open, the nine moral qualities
honest, pure, and generous of Galatians 5:22-23, the
behavior. demands of the law are
7. Faithfulness: we being fulfilled. When they
can be trusted and are present, they provide
depended on in all our evidence that you are filled
relationships. with the Holy Spirit.
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TWO WRONG to be filled with the Holy
Spirit.
ANSWERS To support their
claim, they point out that

A
nybody who reads Ephesians 5:18 literally
widely or listens to reads, “Do not be drunk
many preachers with wine; but be filled in
will soon discover that spirit.” Because the word
conflicting answers are spirit is not modified by the
given to the question: “How word Holy, and because it
can I be filled with the Holy has no article, they say
Spirit?” Let’s evaluate two Paul was talking about the
wrong ideas that are being human spirit.
circulated today.
1.“The Bible does Some people say
not command us to
be filled with the Holy that to talk about
Spirit.” Some Christian oneself as being
leaders do not emphasize Spirit-filled
the filling of the Holy Spirit. is a form of
In fact, some even say that
to talk about oneself as
spiritual pride.
being Spirit-filled is a form
of spiritual pride. They Even if we grant the
acknowledge that in the possibility that Ephesians
book of Acts the apostles 5:18 should be translated,
are sometimes described as “be filled in [your] spirit,”
“filled with the Spirit” or we have ample biblical
“full of the Holy Spirit.” evidence for emphasizing
But they say that the Bible the importance of a Spirit-
nowhere commands us filled life. In Galatians
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5:16-26, Paul commanded Spirit who is referred to as
us to “walk in the Spirit” the indwelling “Spirit of
and then told us that such God” and “Spirit of Christ”
a life will produce the “fruit (v.9).
of the Spirit.” Furthermore, the terms
filled and full of do refer to
the Holy Spirit in other
“Walk in the passages (Lk. 1:15,41,67;
Spirit, and you 4:1; Acts 2:4; 4:8,31; 6:3;
shall not fulfill 7:55; 9:17; 13:9), and the
contrast between being
the lust of the drunk with wine and filled
flesh. . . . But if with the Holy Spirit was
you are led by also given in Acts 2:13.
the Spirit, you So, the teaching that
every believer should be
are not under filled with the Holy Spirit
the law. . . . If does not stand or fall on
we live in the one’s interpretation of
Spirit, let us Ephesians 5:18. However,
also walk in we are convinced that this
verse does command every
the Spirit.” Christian to let the Holy
Galatians 5:16,18,25 Spirit keep filling him.
2.“You need to seek
a second blessing.”
In Romans 8:1-11, we Followers of John Wesley,
are told that freedom from the Pentecostals, and the
the power of indwelling sin Charismatics believe
comes to those who walk that the filling of the
“according to the Spirit,” the Holy Spirit is a dramatic
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experience that takes place encounter with the Lord that
sometime after salvation. revolutionizes our way of
The Wesleyans prefer to life. But we have no biblical
speak of it as “entire basis for expecting a second
sanctification,” viewing work of grace or a baptism
it as a second work of of power that brings instant
grace in which the sin holiness. Rather, Paul called
nature is removed on us to “present [literally
and the Holy Spirit takes
control. Pentecostals
and Charismatics refer to The New
it as a baptism of the Spirit,
claiming that it is usually
Testament never
accompanied by speaking tells us to seek
in tongues. or anticipate
The problem with a dramatic,
this view is that the New post-salvation
Testament never tells
us to seek or anticipate a experience.
dramatic, post-salvation
experience. We are justified
the moment we believe ‘keep presenting’] your
(Rom. 5:1). And we bodies a living sacrifice”
receive the new birth and (Rom. 12:1) and to “let the
the permanent, indwelling Holy Spirit keep filling you”
Spirit at the instant of (Eph. 5:18).
salvation (1 Cor. 6:19;
1 Pet. 1:22-23). True, we
may have many wonderful
experiences after salvation.
And we may even have an
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© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
WHAT IS THE as his Savior. Referring to
this time when every
BAPTISM OF THE believer is baptized by the
HOLY SPIRIT? Holy Spirit into the church,
Paul wrote:

T
he baptism of the By one Spirit we were all
Holy Spirit is the act baptized into one body
of the Holy Spirit by (1 Cor. 12:13).
which He places a person Some Christians
into the church, the body disagree. They maintain
of Christ. The first “baptism that the baptism of the Holy
of the Holy Spirit took Spirit is the same as the
place in the upper room at filling of the Spirit. They say
that it takes place sometime
after salvation, and that it is
The baptism of accompanied by the sign of
the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues. Those
who hold this view say that
the act of the their teaching is found in
Holy Spirit by the book of Acts. But the
which He places phrase “baptized with the
a person into the Holy Spirit” appears only
twice in Acts (1:5; 11:16),
church, the body and in neither place are we
of Christ. told that it is something we
should seek sometime after
salvation.
Pentecost when the church The baptism of the
began (Acts 2:1-13). Today Holy Spirit was first
it occurs the moment a announced by John the
person receives Jesus Christ Baptist (Mt. 3:11; Mk. 1:8;
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© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
Lk. 3:16; Jn. 1:33). And church daily those who
the Lord Jesus promised were being saved (2:47).
the baptism of the Holy The book of Acts records
Spirit before He ascended three additional mini-
to heaven (Acts 1:4-5). That Pentecosts. They took place
promise was fulfilled on the with three different groups:
Day of Pentecost, the day the Samaritan believers,
whose religion and ancestry
were part Jewish (Acts 8:14-
A Christian who is 25); the Gentile family of
looking for the Cornelius (10:44-48); and
12 people who had believed
baptism of the in Christ and received John’s
Holy Spirit is baptism but knew nothing
wasting his time about what had happened
looking for at Pentecost (19:1-7). When
Peter saw that the Holy
something he Spirit had come upon the
already has. Gentiles, he remembered
the Spirit-baptism promised
by Christ. He wrote:
the church was born Then I remembered the
(Acts 2:1-13,32-33). The word of the Lord, how
disciples were baptized He said, “John indeed
into the church in the baptized with water, but
upper room. When Peter you shall be baptized
preached later that day, with the Holy Spirit.”
some 3,000 people believed If therefore God gave
(Acts 2:41-42). Then we them the same gift as
are told: He gave us when we
The Lord added to the believed on the Lord
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© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
 Jesus Christ, who was one instant of time. The
I that I could withstand baptism of the Spirit takes
God? (Acts 11:16-17). place at the moment of
By giving visible signs salvation, is not repeated,
in these three instances the
Holy Spirit confirmed the
fact that Jesus Christ was The baptism of
building His church. These the Spirit takes
signs were given during the
transition from the Jewish
place at the
beginnings of the church moment of
to the full inclusion of the salvation, is not
Gentiles. When the repeated, and is
transition was over, the
baptism of the Holy Spirit
not to be sought
was no longer accompanied after salvation.
by visible signs. When a
person trusts Christ today,
he is placed into the church, and is not to be sought after
the body of Christ, that very salvation. The baptism of
moment. Paul wrote: the Holy Spirit, therefore, is
For by one Spirit we were the placing of the believer
all baptized into one into the body of Christ by
body—whether Jews or the Holy Spirit at the
Greeks, whether slaves or moment of salvation.
free—and have all been
made to drink into one
Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13).
The words translated “we
were all baptized” speak of
an action that took place in
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© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
CHECKLIST ❏ People who know me
think of me as a happy,
FOR BEING joyous Christian.
SPIRIT-FILLED ❏ When trouble comes,
I am at peace in my

A
s you think through innermost being.
the whole topic of ❏ When I become aware
being filled with of sin in my life, I
the Holy Spirit, you may immediately confess it
wonder where you are and ask God to help me
spiritually. Answering the to gain the victory.
following questions honestly ❏ I am gentle in my
will help you evaluate your relationships with other
relationship to the Holy people and patient with
Spirit: God.
❏ I can point to certain
❏ I have submitted to the times when the Holy
Holy Spirit, asking Him Spirit has given me the
to lead me. power to perform a
❏ I am learning from the certain task or carry
Bible through regular a heavy burden.
reading, study, and ❏ I am growing in self-
meditation. control.
❏ I am relying on the
Holy Spirit to help me
overcome my sinful
desires.
❏ I enjoy getting together
with God’s people for
fellowship, Bible study,
and prayer.
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© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
“A SPIRIT-FILLED could ever use a person
like me. Yet, in spite of
MAN” my feelings about myself,

A
good friend of our He blessed my efforts
RBC Ministries and people were saved.
staff says he feels When I was 23
uncomfortable about saying years old and in the
that he is a man who is filled army, I went forward in
with the Holy Spirit. He says a Pentecostal church to
that it would bother him if receive what they called
someone were to introduce the “baptism of the Holy
him from the pulpit as “a Spirit.” But things didn’t
Spirit-filled man of God” change very much. And
before he began speaking. when I attended a Bible
He adds that he struggled school later, I learned
with the concept of being that I already had the
filled with the Spirit as a baptism of the Spirit
young man. He wrote: when I trusted in
For more than 45 years Christ years before. As I
I have wrestled with this reflected, I realized that I
matter of being Spirit- was probably looking for
filled. As a young man the assurance that the
of 18, I often passed out Holy Spirit was really
tracts on street corners operating in my life.
and preached in open This man’s experience
air meetings. I knew I is probably similar to that
needed the Holy Spirit of many young Christians
and I asked Him to who want to please and
help me. But I felt obey the Lord. But he has
so unworthy, and I been serving the Lord for
wondered how He many years. How does
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© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
he feel today? He said: We who know this
Through the years, the man consider him to be
Lord has given me the Spirit-filled. We all feel that
joy of an assured and he is a man of God. He
victorious Christian life. grieves over sin. He submits
He has given me a to the Spirit’s leading. He
satisfying and fruitful studies the Bible diligently
ministry. He has used me and does his best to obey
to help people trust in it. And he is generous and
Christ as their personal compassionate. We all agree
Savior and then to help that he is a man who is filled
them grow in their faith. with the Holy Spirit.
I have seen spiritual
victories won and Satan
defeated. In that sense, Being filled with
I can say that I know the the Spirit is not
blessing of being filled
with the Holy Spirit.
something you’d
But I’m still far normally say
from being perfect in about yourself.
my private life and
in my work. Because
of that, I would still be But he’s probably right—
embarrassed to be called being filled with the Spirit
a Spirit-filled man. I know is not something you’d
that I am sometimes normally say about yourself.
selfish or envious. I It’s like saying, “I’m humble.”
think worldly thoughts. You just don’t talk about
I’m inclined to be too yourself that way. But we can
competitive. Sometimes say of him with confidence,
I feel terribly sinful. “He’s a Spirit-filled man.”
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© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
A FINAL WORD Word, and submissive?
If you can answer yes,

W
e have seen you are Spirit-filled and
that to be filled His fruit will be evident
with the Holy in your life.
Spirit we must be Christ- But perhaps you are
centered, in the Word, not a Christian. If you
submissive, and confident. have never trusted Christ
What about you? If you as your Savior, you cannot
are a Christian, being filled be filled with the Holy
with the Spirit is not an Spirit because He is not
option, it’s a command. Is in you. To bring Him
Christ at the center of your into your life, you need
thoughts and aspirations? to admit your sin and
Are you trying to follow inability to save yourself
His example? Are you (Eph. 2:8-9) and ask
spending time studying the Christ to save you. He has
Bible so that your mind is promised to save all who
saturated with God’s truth desire to turn from their
and His will for your life? sins and call in faith on
Are you yielded and Him. The Bible says:
submissive to God? Are As many as received
you confessing your sins? Him, to them He gave
Are you sensitive to the the right to become
Spirit’s leading so that children of God, even to
you are not quenching those who believe in His
His power in you? Do name (Jn. 1:12).
you have the confident Trust Christ today. Then
assurance that you are you’ll have taken the first
Spirit-filled when you are step to being filled with the
Christ-centered, in the Holy Spirit.
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