There is some confusion on the difference between the “Baptism of the Holy Spirit” and the “Filling of the Holy Spirit” among Christians. This is understandable because at times Scripture uses the terms interchangeably. Sometimes the distinctions are not all that clear in the text. In contrast to the Baptism of the Spirit, which is true of every believer, the Filling of the Spirit is available to every believer, but not experienced by every believer. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is what happens to every Christian, but the Filling of the Spirit happens to those who obey, submit, and surrender to the Spirit. Where the Baptism of the Spirit makes the Spirit resident in our lives, the Filling makes Him president of our lives. Where the Baptism was not available in the Old Testament, the Filling was. For example, in Exodus 31:3 the craftsmen for the Tabernacle were moved by the Spirit of God to accomplish their task of building the Tabernacle. In Judges 3:10, the Holy Spirit came upon Othniel in order to judge the tribes of Israel. In Judges 13:24-25, Samson was given the Spirit of the Lord for many incidents that God had planned for him. Over and over again in the Old Testament we see special people being filled with the Holy Spirit for service to God.
What Does It Mean to Be Filled with the Spirit?
All believers came into spiritual life through the agency of the Holy Spirit. The process goes like this: The Holy Spirit convicts a person of their sin, while they are drawn by the Father to Christ. Faith and repentance are gifts energized by the Holy Spirit as He does His regenerating work of salvation in the heart of the sinner. At that same moment, the believer is indwelt and sealed by the Holy Spirit as He places them into the body of Christ. Also at the same moment, the Holy Spirit begins a purifying work in the life of a believer called sanctification. Old things begin to pass away and new things begin to take root. It is a life-long process of becoming like Jesus, but the begins at salvation. Once a person is saved they cooperate with the Holy Spirit to live the Christian life. They now have a responsibility to continue to live on a spiritual level relying on the Spirit to overcome temptations. They strive to live by the power of the Holy Spirit and discipline themselves by working out their own salvation with fear and trembling, while at the same time understanding that the Spirit is working in them to produce holiness and righteousness. God doesn’t create robots to act a certain way. Believers must submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit in order to live right. All of this post salvation work of the Spirit is what it means to be “Filled with the Spirit.” It is akin to walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16) and being led by the Spirit (Galatians 5:18). But too often believers don’t do that, rather they begin in the Spirit and then resort to the flesh to live their lives (Galatians 3:3). When that happens, 1 Thessalonians 5:19 says, they, quench the Holy Spirit. Literally that means to put out the fire, pushing the Spirit aside and treating Him with indifference (Ephesians 4:30).
Be Filled with the Spirit
So if the Baptism of the Holy Spirit places the believer into the body of Christ at the moment of salvation then the Filling of the Holy Spirit is the perpetual power that is resident in the believer’s life as he or she yields to God. Ephesians 5:18 is speaking to Christians who have already been baptized in the Holy Spirit, Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit. According to this verse and many others, to be Filled with the Spirit is something that Christians should experience after salvation. Strong believers such as the Peter (Acts 4:8), Stephen (Acts 6:5), Barnabas (Acts 11:22-24), and Paul (Acts 13:9) were said to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:53). In Acts 4:31, speaking of the disciples being together, states, When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Scripture Reference
And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship
The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel.
24 Then the woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson; and the child grew up and the LORD blessed him.
25 And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people
The statement found approval with the whole 1congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit
22 The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch.
23 Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord;
24 for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.
But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him
And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
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