Ephesians 5:18
“Be filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18)
Basically, when Scripture speaks of being filled with the Spirit, the term is used in three different ways. So if you asked me if I’m filled with the Spirit, I’d have to respond, “Yes” or “You tell me,” or “Sometimes,” depending on the definition you had in mind.
In the three different ways listed above there might be a parallel between Spirit-fullness and, for example, Judas being full of the devil, an unholy spirit (see John 13:2). The chief idea seems to be that he was under the devil’s control. Although the devil “entered in” to Judas and the Spirit “indwells” our bodies, the idea of being filled is not physical like a tank of gas. We’re talking about a relationship between two persons, and in that relationship, one might allow the other to dominate. That kind of “full”—full control—is the first meaning of being filled with the Holy Spirit. If you asked me whether I’m filled with the Spirit and you have that in mind, I’d say,
“Yes, so far as I know my own heart I’m unconditionally yielded to the will of God.”
But there’s another meaning. When a child is said to be full of mischief, we mean that those characteristics are highly visible. Everyone is aware of the mischief. Most of the Scripture references to being full of the Spirit indicate some evidence, some outcome of that filling. Not just an illness healed or miraculous speaking in an unknown language, however. When the disciples acted courageously instead of fearfully, preached with life-transforming power, sang while chained in a filthy dungeon, met a crisis with faith, people saw that unexpected—even miracle—behavior and concluded, “The only way to explain that is to recognize Holy Spirit power at work.” So, if that’s what you mean when you ask if I’m Spirit filled, I’d have to say, “You tell me!” People in Scripture do not claim to be Spirit-filled. It’s always, “they, filled with the Spirit,” or “he, filled with the Spirit.” The evidence was visible.
But there’s a mystery to being filled that defies analysis. It has something to do with an inner surge of feeling. Joy is often associated with being filled with the Spirit, for example (Acts 13:52). That’s what some people have in mind when they speak of being filled—an ecstatic inner sense of God’s presence. If that’s what you have in mind when you ask, I’d have to respond, “sometimes.”
If you choose a phrase like, “John is full of whisky.” That’s a good example of being filled, because Paul seems to tell us not to get drunk on wine but on the Spirit! (Ephesians 5:18) Well, at least he tells us to fill up on the Spirit…
What happens to someone who drinks alcohol? “Under the influence,” we say, and the change of control is clearly evident to everyone. He doesn’t have to tell you when he’s drunk. Not if he’s full of it. His talk tips you off, his walk proves it. Isn’t that parallel to what happens to one filled with the Spirit? You are under the controlling influence of another so that influence is very evident, it’s the dominant characteristic, something others are aware of and it creates powerful feelings.
Notice something about these three meanings. Whether or not I’m fully yielded to the Spirit, whether he or I am in control is something only I may know for sure. The same is true of any feelings resulting from that relationship. But the outward evidence, the result of the Spirit’s full control is something only others may be able to evaluate. How would you answer the question, “are you filled with the Spirit?”