Baptism vs Being Filled

When we are baptised, we are given a down payment of the Holy Spirit. He has sealed or marked us as his own and given us a promise that we will be with Him one day if we continue to faithfully walk with Him (2 Corinthians 1:22).

But the bible also speaks of being filled with the Holy Spirit. This is different from that first down payment we receive when we are saved. Being filled with the Holy Spirit can happen many times in the life of a believer. There are examples of the apostles being filled with the Holy Spirit multiple times (Acts 2:4; Acts 4:31). From my understanding thus far, being filled is where the Spirit of God enters and enables a believer to do what is needed, optimally (in the best and most favourable way). At that moment, this believer is solely focused on the will of God.

The Results of being Filled  

The examples of people being filled with the Holy Spirit, show them being able to do far beyond their normal ability. They were filled to do the will of God successfully. For instance, God filled Bezalel, son of Uri with the Spirit of God and so that he had the expertise to work with Gold, Silver and Bronze for building the tabernacle of God (Exodus 31:1-5; Exodus 35:30-35). God filled the prophets and all the persons who contributed to the bible with His Spirit to be able to create such an intricate, complex and beautiful literary work of art. The bible is made up of so many complex language structures with hidden patterns and so much depth. It has so much meaning to it that for an entire lifetime, we can learn something new every day (Micah 3:8; Isaiah 61:1; 2 Samuel 23:1-2).

John the Baptist being Filled

Even before John the Baptist was born, he was filled with the Spirit of God (Luke 1:13-17). The angel of God said that he would turn many of the children of Israel to God and that he would prepare the way for the Lord (Matthew 3:1-3). Every account of John showed him doing the work of God and dedicating his life to this. He lived a minimal life in the wilderness, preaching of repentance. When Jesus came to be baptised by John, John understood that it was Jesus who was the rightful one who would baptise us all. Jesus spoke highly of John, saying that no one would be greater than him. He was filled with the Spirit, and so all that he did was for God, preparing the way for the Lord (Matthew 11:7-18).

The Apostles being Filled

When the apostles were first filled with the Holy Spirit, they began speaking in many different languages which they previously did not know (Acts 2:4). The bible tells us that the apostles were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:52). The apostles were chased and beaten, and yet still they continued with joy. It is only being filled with the Holy Spirit that can explain how they continued to do God’s work with joy in pain. The apostles, being filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke the word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31). They continued to encourage and preach the gospel wherever they went, being filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 11).

Great Examples of being Filled

There are a few apostles who demonstrated being Filled with the Spirit well. When Paul’s heart was changed from his evil ways, Ananias laid hands on him, and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Through this, he immediately regained his sight and was baptised. Soon after he proclaimed, Jesus as the son of God. Knowing who Paul was and that he was against Jesus, this was so amazing for him to have an immediate change of belief. And all who heard him were amazed because they knew who he was previously (Acts 9:17-22). Paul, being filled with the Holy Spirit, proclaimed the gospel boldly and confronted anyone who tried to interfere with the gospel being shared (Acts 13:9-12).

Peter along with other apostles being filled with the Holy Spirit boldly proclaimed the gospel, and when people realised that these were uneducated, common men, they were astonished (Acts 4: 8-14). This realisation caused the people to accept Jesus, and they refrained from opposing the apostles.

Stephen was reported as a man full of faith and the Spirit, and he performed great signs and wonders (Acts 6:5; Acts 6:8). In Acts 7, Stephen gave this great speech relating the entire story of God and his people. He then asked the Jews if they would continue to resist the Holy Spirit as their fathers did. They then proceeded to kill Stephen but being filled with the Holy Spirit Stephen died without resisting, while asking for forgiveness for the people that stoned him.

Do we have a desire to be Filled with the Holy Spirit, to do God’s will?

Summary

• We are baptised by the Holy Spirit once, and this is a down payment.
• We can also be filled with the Holy Spirit, repeated.
• Being filled with the Holy Spirit enables us to God’s work at an optimal level.
• Being filled with the Holy Spirit means that we can walk with the Spirit (Galatians 5:16).
• The Holy Spirit takes what we have and optimises it to do the will of the Father.

All photos by Kyle