Filled with the Spirit

.... As we have previously noted, an alternate term for the baptism with the Holy Spirit is to be ‘filled’ with the Holy Spirit, but this brings us to another vital question. How long is this ‘filling’ supposed to last? Does it constantly remain, does it waiver in intensity, or does actually come and go? And remember, that the Holy Spirit is One with the Father and the Son, so the answer to this question has a direct bearing on the Person of God.
.

.... Let’s look to Scripture for the answer, beginning with the words of John the Baptist. And let’s use the Amplified Bible to obtain the fullest possible meaning:

.... "For since He whom God sent speaks the words of God – proclaims God’s own message – God does not give Him His Spirit sparingly or by measure, but boundless is the gift God makes of His Spirit!"

(John 3:34 Amplified)

.... John described the gift of the Holy Spirit as ‘boundless’ which means this gift is without duration or limit. And Jesus too, in speaking to the woman at the well, described the infilling of the Holy Spirit as being limitless, either in scope or duration:

.... ‘Jesus answered her, "All who drink of this water will be thirsty again. But whoever takes a drink of the water that I will give him shall never, no never, be thirsty any more. But the water I will give him shall become a spring of water welling up (flowing, bubbling) continually within him unto (into, for) eternal life".’

(John 4:13,14 Amplified)

.... Throughout the New Testament, being filled with the Holy Spirit is described, metaphorically, as a flowing river, fountain or spring:

.... "He who believes in Me – who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me – as the Scripture has said, 'Out from his innermost being springs and rivers of living water shall flow (continuously)'." But He was speaking here of the Spirit, Whom those who believed – trusted, had faith – in Him were afterward to receive. For the (Holy) Spirit was not yet given; because Jesus was not yet glorified (raised to honor).'

(John 7:38-39 Amplified)

.... It is evident, therefore, that the gift of the Holy Spirit is boundless and flows continuously, just as the Person of God Himself is unlimited and eternal – for that’s exactly who the Holy Spirit is. Yet some Christians hold the mistaken believe that we will eventually ‘run dry’. When this occurs, they believe we must be ‘re-filled’ with the Holy Spirit. But what do they base this on? We will disccuss that in our next posting.

To proceed to the next lesson, click here

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 16