Expert: Cooper P. Abrams III - 7/4/2011

Question
when do you believe that people are filled with the Holy Ghost, I know we that our hearts are sealed with the Holy Spirit at the time of our Salvation. But I also see the filling of the Holy Ghost at the day of Pentecost. How do you fell about this?

Thank You
Sandy

Answer
Hi Sandy,
  Thanks for writing and your good question.  There is a lot of misinformation about the filling of the Holy Spirit as you welll know.  However, the Bible is clear as to what it is:

   The question then is what does the Bible say is the filling of the Holy Spirit?  The Bible teaches that the Filling of the Spirit is not the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Whereas the believer is not told to be Baptized with the Spirit, he is told that he is to Filled with the Spirit. "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;" (Ephesians 5:18)

          This verse instructs us not to be drunk with wine, which is excess; but be filled with the Spirit. The verse is using the example of one being drunk or under the control of alcohol to similarly illustrate that a Christian should let himself be controlled by the Holy Spirit.

         Paul's use of the example of "be not drunk with wine" is a reference to the first century idea that alcohol was the "drink of the gods" and its affect on man was the power of God, which enabled the drinker to receive greater spiritual awareness or inspiration. Paul dismisses this idea as debauchery which is what the phrase "wherein is excess" means. Paul illustrates by using the example of one who is letting alcohol control him, in contrast to the Christian who is to let the indwelling Holy Spirit control him.

         The phrase "filled with the Spirit", means "to be under the influence of". Examples in the New testament of being filled with the Spirit are as follows:


1. Jesus, in Luke 4:1, said he was "full of the Holy Spirit."
2. Stephen, was "full of faith and the Holy Spirit" Acts 6:5, 7:55.
3. Barnabas, also was full of the Spirit. Acts 11:24.
4. Peter, preached in Acts 4:8 "filled with the Holy Ghost."
5. The first deacons, in Acts 6:3, to be qualified must be men "full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom."

         Nowhere in scripture does God command a person to be Baptized with the Holy Spirit, however, God does command that we be filled with the Holy Spirit. Letting oneself be filled with the Spirit is reference to the fact that the Christian has two natures (Rom. 6 and 7). One is the old or carnal nature and the other is the new nature or spiritual nature of Christ that comes with the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  The Christian can let himself be controlled by the old nature and sin (1 John 1:8-10), or can allow the Holy Spirit who indwells him, control him.(Eph. 5:18)   Who is controlling us is determined by our submission to the Holy Spirit or to the lust of our carnal flesh. In Acts 13:8-10, Elymas the sorcerer who was a false prophet, is said of Paul to have been "full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil". Paul, in Romans 1:28-29, says that man, "being filled will all unrighteousness, fornication, . . ." etc., willingly gave up his knowledge of God. These verses show that man in different degrees can let himself be controlled by his carnal nature.

   It is possible and should be the goal of every believer to let the Lord direct their lives at all times.   That means knowing God's word and letting the Holy Spirit apply it to our lives.
For example:   Note what God's says about overcoming sin in our lives.
    "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."  (1 Corinthians 10:13)
     This is God's promise to us in that He is actively working to help us get the victory over temptation.   Thus the believer, knowing God's promise in the power of the Holy Spirit accepts God's provision for escaping the temptation and overcomes it.  In this he is filled with the Holy Spirit.
     I hope this helps.

Cooper P Abrams III
Romans 12:1-2
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