Gospel of John [Joh 16:12-15]. The Doctrine of the HS, part 32. Historical references to those filled with the Spirit; Eph 5:18.

Title: Gospel of John [JOH 16:12-15]. The Doctrine of the HS, part 32. Historical references to those filled with the Spirit; EPH 5:18.

 

 

The nature of the filling of the Holy Spirit.

 

It is clear in each instance that the Spirit of God is ministering to the individuals concerned [14 times in Scripture] in entire freedom from hindrance.

 

We see that every instance of the filling of the Spirit fully sustains the premise that this ministry is found only in Christians yielded to God.

 

ACT 9:1 Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,

 

ACT 9:2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

 

ACT 9:3 And it came about that as he journeyed, he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him;

 

ACT 9:4 and he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" 

 

ACT 9:5 And he said, "Who art Thou, Lord?" And He said, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,

 

ACT 9:6 but rise, and enter the city, and it shall be told you what you must do. " 

 

ACT 9:7 And the men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but seeing no one.

 

ACT 9:8 And Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.

 

ACT 9:9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

 

Paul was filled with the Spirit after Ananias laid hands upon him. If we assume Paul to have come to saving faith on the Damascus road then this delay was likely for the confirmation of Ananias as messenger of God. And again we see a yielding to the will of God. Paul was told to go to Ananias and he complied.

 

ACT 9:17 And Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

 

Laying his hands upon him identified the greatest persecutor of the Church with a humble messenger of the Church. Saul, the name of the tall king, is now to be known as Paul, his Roman name, Gentile name, which means "little."

 

ACT 9:18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he arose and was baptized;

 

ACT 9:19 and he took food and was strengthened.

 

The first mention of his name Paul is also the next mention of him being filled with the Holy Spirit.

 

The East was flooding the Roman Empire with its new and wonderful religious systems, which, culminating in Neo-Platonism, were the great rivals of Christianity both in their cruder and in their more strictly religious forms. The Romans were a very superstitious people and so superstition was very widespread, and wonder-workers of all kinds, whether impostors or honest exponents of some new faith, found their task easy through the gullibility of the public. Babylonia was the home of magic. Magos or Magi was a name applied to the priests of the Persians, which for some there was real science being performed, but for others they degenerated into baser arts designed to fool the people and pad the pockets of the charmers.

 

One such man was Bar-Jesus who was in the company of Sergius Paulus the proconsul of the island of Cyprus. This is the first recorded Roman official to be evangelized and he does become a believer.

 

ACT 13:4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

 

ACT 13:5 And when they reached Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; and they also had John [Mark] as their helper.

 

ACT 13:6 And when they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus,

 

ACT 13:7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.

 

ACT 13:8 But Elymas the magician (for thus his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

 

ACT 13:9 But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze upon him,

 

ACT 13:10 and said, "You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord?

 

ACT 13:11 "And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time." And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand.

 

ACT 13:12 Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord.

 

Barnabas is described as full of the Spirit.

 

ACT 11:19 So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone.

 

ACT 11:20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.

 

ACT 11:21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.

 

ACT 11:22 And the news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch.

 

ACT 11:23 Then when he had come and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord;

 

ACT 11:24 for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.

 

ACT 11:25 And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul;

 

ACT 11:26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it came about that for an entire year they met with the church, and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

 

All the disciples at Antioch in Pisidia were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

 

ACT 13:49 And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region.

 

ACT 13:50 But the Jews aroused the devout women of prominence and the leading men of the city, and instigated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.

 

ACT 13:51 But they shook off the dust of their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.

 

ACT 13:52 And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

 

Every historic instance of the filling of the Spirit illustrates the principle that only Christians yielded to God are filled.

 

The filling of the Spirit is commanded of every believer. As a present imperative it is to be constant and daily.

 

There are no commands to be baptized by the Spirit, indwelt by the Spirit, or sealed by Him. Yet, being filled is a command.

 

EPH 5:15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise,

 

EPH 5:16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

 

EPH 5:17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

 

EPH 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

 

"be filled" - present passive imperative of plhro,w[pleroo] = to be filled, to be made full. Present imperative = keep on being filled.

 

The verb pletho is used in every instance except ACT 13:52 and EPH 5:18, where pleroo is used.

 

Pletho - "What wholly takes possession of the mind, is said to fill it."

 

Pleroo - "to pervade, to take possession of" [Thayer's Greek English Lexicon]

 

EPH 5:19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

 

EPH 5:20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;

 

EPH 5:21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.