Not All Christians are “Filled with the Spirit”

Read: Acts 6:1-7 (Part 3)

Not Everyone is “Filled with the Spirit”

“Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty…” (v.3)

All of God’s people receive the Holy Spirit, but not everyone is “filled with the Holy Spirit”. When we realize that the Holy Spirit is a PERSON of the Godhead, this begins to make more sense. When we repent, “believe”, and are baptized as those who have been “added” and “saved” by the Lord we receive the Holy Spirit… all of him. Seeing as the Holy Spirit is a “person” of the Godhead (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), when he comes to us is not as if we only receive a proverbial torso… or leg… or a portion of this person that is the Holy Spirit. In Christ the Holy Spirit fully comes to us… personally… undivided. So this begs the question, what does it mean to be “filled”?

Anyone who has flown in a plane, ridden on a bus, or been to a crowded sporting event can understand the phenomenon of being surrounded and in close proximity to a bunch of strangers. I mean, haven’t you ever sat down in your seat and were literally rubbing up against the person next to you? Now, in those moments… would you say your life was “filled with” that person? Not at all! You see, it is fully possible to have a person… all of a person… present, near us, so close that we are “touching” them and yet… we are not “filled with them”. If we press this further it remains true: you may be seated next to someone at a concert, in the movies, on a bus, plane, or train and have a brief conversation with them. Maybe you exchange names, talk about the weather, or high five when your team scores. You may even see each other at the baggage carousel when you are waiting for your luggage or in the parking lot and “smile and wave”, but even then you would never say that your life is “filled” with that person! We must never mistake the fact that the Holy Spirit is present and near to everyone who believes as being the same as being “filled with the Holy Spirit”. When we mistakenly see the Holy Spirit as if he is some “force”, or impersonal “power”… then we may be tempted to wrestle with this concept. If we talk about the Holy Spirit impersonally then we will begin to wrestle with being “filled with the Spirit” because we will mistakenly think it is like we are receiving more or less of a mystical power… like we are some sort of “battery” with an increased or decreased charge.

This becomes more clear when we see that the people are charged with identifying those who are “filled with the Spirit”. (v.3) This was an entire room of “disciples”. They all had the Holy Spirit dwelling within in them… and yet there were some who could be identified as being “filled with” the Spirit. This goes to show us that having the person of the Holy Spirit next to us like a stranger or pseudo-stranger on a plane, bus, or at a crowded event - even if we exchange some pleasantry and “smile and wave” at him once and awhile - does not constitute being “filled with” him in our lives! Those leading within the C/church ought to be “filled with the Spirit”! Particularly those meeting needs within the community, otherwise they will run the risk of serving out of their own strength and resources… and in the end… our own strength and resources will FALL SHORT. The world around us is in desperate need of the SUPERNATURAL ministry and work of the Lord that can only be born out by the Spirit filling us and overflowing into the world around us. This leads us to one other thing.

Being filled with the SPIRIT is OBSERVABLE. Notice the charge that the Apostles give: “Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you…” It is not as if they told the community to pick out individuals based on something they could never observe or verify! Being “filled with the Spirit” is obvious to those around you. It is able to be seen and verified. It works its way into the world. When you are in meaningful and intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit it will manifest in real, observable, verifiable, and measurable ways in the world around you that the community can and will affirm. You may not even realize it at first… but the community around you will begin to tell you the ways they see the Spirit working in you and through you (at least they should be doing this) … they will validate your being “filled”. (Remember you can be “saved” and not “filled”, we are not talking about salvation here!) When you interact with the Holy Spirit and are in relationship with him, he begins to bring you into the gifts he has given you. (This is Spirit-giftedness / spiritual gifts cf. 1 Cor. 12) To use the previous imagery: if you end up marrying the “stranger” you were seated next to on the plane… then your life becomes “filled with” that person. Being filled was never about having all of that person present and near you as much as it was about relationship, intimacy, and meaningful interaction.

What will your life moving forward be like? Are you interested in settling for the Holy Spirit being the stranger you are seated next to, whose leg and arm brush up against yours awkwardly, who you have surface level conversation with, and smile and wave when you notice each other out in the parking lot? Or are you hungry for more? You have been given the Holy Spirit if you are in Christ. He is there… within you… All of him! His desire is to “fill” your life with his presence and lead you into opening and using the gifts he has brought for you! When this relationship grows, it will lead to real, tangible, quantifiable changes and ministry that extends outside of you. People will notice and affirm. It will begin to positively impact others. When you are “filled with the Spirit” the world around you is blessed, needs are met, people are healed, wisdom is shared, biblical truth is taught, people respond to the Gospel. This happens because you are using your gifts and the Spirit is leading you into the work God is doing! (Look back at Peter and the crippled beggar in chapter 3.) Be “filled”. Do not settle for a wave in the parking lot or a random arm brushing up against… do not ride through life pressed up against the fully present Holy Spirit like a stranger in the seat next to you! I am hopeful and excited for what lies ahead this year as you are “filled with” the Spirit. The same Spirit that led Christ is in YOU. Love you guys. - JDP