Be Filled With The Spirit

Eph.5.18 - Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you.

What does it mean to be Filled with the Spirit?

The dictionary describes "Filled" as 
-To occupy fully, to take up all of.
 -To add contents to (a container, cavity, or the like) so that it is full.
-To enter (something), making it full.
-To become full of contents.
This means to have a complete measure and quantity of a Substance. 

The Holy Spirit is God's Substance released into the spirits of men as promised in

Joel.2.28 - And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions

This promise of God was totally and fully revealed and manifested after the Ascension of Jesus Christ into Heaven. The disciples of Jesus we're filled with the Holy Ghost in

Acts.2.4 - And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The word baptize means the same as filled. So the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the same as the filling of the Holy Spirit.

Luke.3.16 - John answered them all by saying, I baptize you with water; but He Who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of Whose sandals I am not fit to unfasten. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

When we give our lives to Christ, there is a measure of the Spirit that is released immediately into our lives. At the salvation experience, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in the Believer as the seal of God.

Eph.1.13 - In Him you also who have heard the Word of Truth, the glad tidings (Gospel) of your salvation, and have believed in and adhered to and relied on Him, were stamped with the seal of the long-promised Holy Spirit.

This seal is not the Filling of the Holy Spirit. It is the activation of God's presence in a man. It is the promised Eternal Life we receive. Eternal Life is the presence of the Holy Spirit in the believer. The measure of the Holy Spirit Received at the salvation experience is the perequisite for making heaven at the very second coming of Jesus.

John.4.14 - But whoever takes a drink of the water that I will give him shall never, no never, be thirsty any more. But the water that I will give him shall become a spring of water welling up (flowing, bubbling) [continually] within him unto (into, for) eternal life.

This verse speaks of the measure of the Spirit at salvation. This is what springs forth onto everlasting life.

John.7.37 - Now on the final and most important day of the Feast, Jesus stood, and He cried in a loud voice, If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink!
John.7.38 - He who believes in Me [who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs and rivers of living water.

This other scripture speaks of the Filling of the Holy Spirit and this is what turns into a river of living waters. So after our salvation, we have not gotten all the Holy Spirit there is. We still need to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.



How do I know I am Filled with the Holy Spirit?

The evidence of the Baptism/Filling of the Holy Spirit is the utterance of unknown tongues and this is a compulsory evidence because no account did the Bible record that there was a filling of the Holy Spirit by an individual without tongues flowing out!

Accounts of people getting filled.

1) Acts.2.4 - And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The Disciples spoke in tongues!

2) Acts.8.14 - Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
Acts.8.15 - Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
Acts.8.16 - For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Acts.8.17 - Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Acts.8.18 - And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
Acts.8.19 - Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

This verse may post a controversy that the people at Samaria didn't speak in tongues as an evidence; but notice something. Simeon the sorcerer saw that the people had been baptized in the Holy Spirit, so there was surely an outward expression that amazed Him and made him know something supernatural had happened.

3) Acts.9.17 - And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
Acts.9.18 - And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

Paul's story may be controversial too. But let's check what He wrote in one of his Epistles.

1Cor.14.18 - I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

That means he obviously spoke in tongues at Baptism in the Holy Ghost.

4) Acts.10.44 - While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the message.
Acts.10.45 - And the believers from among the circumcised [the Jews] who came with Peter were surprised and amazed, because the free gift of the Holy Spirit had been bestowed and poured out largely even on the Gentiles.
Acts.10.46 - For they heard them talking in [unknown] tongues (languages) and extolling and magnifying God. Then Peter asked,

The household of Cornelius got filled with the Holy Spirit with Tongues as evidence plus Prophecy because they did magnify God's name.


Are there Restrictions to getting Filled?

Acts.10.45 - And the believers from among the circumcised [the Jews] who came with Peter were surprised and amazed, because the free gift of the Holy Spirit had been bestowed and poured out largely even on the Gentiles.

There are no restrictions in getting filled with the Holy Spirit! NONE! The uncircumcised gentiles got the gift of the Holy Spirit, so definitely everyone can get filled. This Gift is not just for some set of believers. It is for every believer.

Some folks that believe holiness is 'acting' and not 'living' may have an issue here. Every person that's saved now has the righteousness of Christ and that's the perequisite to getting filled. Salvation and Understanding!



How Can I Get Filled?

Acts.2.38 - And Peter answered them, Repent (change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it) and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Rom.4.16 - Therefore, [inheriting] the promise is the outcome of faith and depends [entirely] on faith, in order that it might be given as an act of grace (unmerited favor), to make it stable and valid and guaranteed to all his descendants - not only to the devotees and adherents of the Law, but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, who is [thus] the father of us all.

A) Salvation. READ THIS :What Must I do to be Saved?
B) Receive By Faith.

Jesus has already asked on our behalf (John 14:16). You no longer need to TARRY! The reason the disciples needed to TARRY was because the Holy Spirit was not given yet. But since He's now given...we need to just receive Him!
If we were to TARRY too...then definitely we need to go to Jerusalem to TARRY too. So our prayer now is to receive The Gift of The Holy Spirit by Faith.



It is Your Time to Receive Now!
Say this loudly with Faith in your heart!

"Dear Jesus, I thank you for the salvation of my life. I thank you for your promised Holy Spirit. I acknowledge that you're the baptiser in the Holy Ghost. I believe your word that says "Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled". I Receive the Holy Spirit Now onto my Spirit! I am Filled with the Holy Spirit by Faith! And I receive the Divine Language communication system! Hallelujah."

As you've said these words of faith, open your mouth and speak those spirit-filled words that comes to your Spirit.