FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT...WHAT?

Ephesians 5:18

"Do not get drunk on wine...instead, be filled with the Spirit."

What does Paul mean when he tells us to be filled with the Spirit? Just what does it mean to be filled with the Spirit? There are many examples in the Bible of people upon whom the Spirit of God came to enable them to do something special and powerful. But that is not what we are talking about.

We are not talking about an experience. We are talking about a way of life! The verb tense Paul uses indicates that he means we are to continue being filled with the Spirit. It is an ongoing way of life. When a person’s mind is completely taken over by someone or something we say he is filled with that person or thing. For example, a person whose mind is filled with his work is a workaholic. A sports fanatic has his mind filled with his favorite team or athlete. New parents’ minds are on their newborn so we say they are filled with their baby. A girl who has fallen in love is full of her boyfriend.

One of my lexicons says a person can be “filled with the powers and qualities of another.” When one person is completely taken up with another person he can become influenced and shaped by that person. You see this among children. When a boy idolizes another boy in the neighborhood you might see him trying to act like him and do the things he does.

Now Paul says, “Don’t be under the influence of wine but make sure you are under the powerful influence of the Holy Spirit.” In other words, our personalities are to be influenced by the Spirit of God. Our minds are to be taken up with him. Our hearts are to be filled with him. Our wills are to be influenced by him. Just as a drunk surrenders himself to the control of the alcohol so we are to surrender ourselves to the influence of the Holy Spirit.