An interesting question has been raised out of my sermon preparation on Acts 3-4 this week. What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit? I understood that the filling of the Spirit first occured at Pentecost, and following on from that is the new privilege, in the last days, of all followers of Jesus.
However in Acts 4, just a few days after Pentecost, both Peter and the other believers are again filled with the Spirit. Peter is filled with the Spirit to enable him to speak boldly to the Sanhedrin about the power of the name of Jesus. Then all the believers are filled with the Spirit, with an accompanied shaking of their house, and they are all enabled to speak boldly about Jesus.
Why do the believers need to be filled with the Spirit again if they are already filled? and should we be expecting additional filling of the Holy Spirit for special events in our lives?
Love to hear your thoughts.
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Check out Martin Lloyd-Jones' book Joy Unspeakable - I'm reading it at the moment.
ReplyDeleteIf time is short, the chapter you will want to read is Chapter 4 ("Filled with the Spirit").
His answer to your last question would be yes. (Well, I dare say he'd caution us against expecting it, but he would say its a reality that might happen)
In the first few chapters he sets out the following proposition from Scripture: you can be a regenerate believer who has the Spirit, without being Spirit-baptised. Then in chapter 4 he argues, again from Scripture, that "filled with the Spirit" means a different thing in Acts 4 than in Ephesians 5:18.
I really can't do it justice - I recommend the Doctor's book!
Hi Hayesy,
ReplyDeletethanks for the pointer. I'll have to see if I can get my hands on a copy of Joy Unspeakable. It sounds like an intriguing argument because on the face of it, in Acts 4, Peter and the believers are already baptised by the Spirit (in Acts 2), but are then filled with the Spirit to enable them to speak boldly.
The main difference I've noticed between Acts and the Epistles is that the work of the Spirit seems to change focus from enabling bold proclamation to enabling Godly living. Not quite sure what to make of that.
I'm sure I got a tract from a guy in the city while sitting at a bus stop which told me the answer...
ReplyDeleteHi Andrew,
ReplyDeleteI haven't had the opportunity to go to Bible college so you'll have to tell me whether the form of the verb relating to being filled is meant to be a one off event or an on-going thing.
Or is it something to do with receiving the Holy Spirit, as in having someone come to the front door of your house vs receiving them into the living areas of your home?
Thanks Kutz, it's great to have a theological student at church to help with the tough questions....
ReplyDeleteLaetitia, according to John Stott the 'be filled' command in Ephesians is an ongoing command.
He also suggests that being baptised with the Spirit is the experience all Christians have when they first turn to Christ. But being 'filled' with the Spirit, as in Eph 5, is something that may or may not happen increasingly depending on our growth in faith in Christ.
No problems. Got any more tough ones, just send 'em my way and I'll forward them to Smiley. He knows about this sort of stuff.
ReplyDelete