“Full Of” And “Filled With” The Holy Spirit

Serving – October 2021 – Grace & Truth Magazine

“Full Of” And “Filled With”
The Holy Spirit

Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit. — Acts 6:3 NKJV
Be filled with the Spirit. — Ephesians 5:18

The expressions “full of the Holy Spirit” and “filled with the Holy Spirit” have nothing to do with the indwelling of the Spirit in believers. Since Pentecost, He dwells in every believer; also we see entire groups filled with the Spirit. When the assembly prayed for boldness to speak the Word, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and enabled to spread the Word “with boldness” (Acts 4:31). How is it that our testimony toward both unsaved and believers is often so powerless and faint? We worry about methods and organization, but these believers simply acted according to the commission they had received of God and testified in the power of the Holy Spirit.

These two expressions, “full of the Holy Spirit” and “filled with the Spirit,” resemble each other very much and are often mistaken one for the other. Yet, they are definitely not the same thing. The expression “filled with the Holy Spirit” always stands in connection with a service for God – sometimes with a definite and protracted, or lengthy, commission as with John the Baptist and Paul. However, usually being “filled with the Holy Spirit” is associated with a special temporary service, such as prophesying or witnessing. What significance does this being “filled” have? I believe that Acts 1:8 gives the answer: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me.”

The expression “full of the Spirit” indicates something far more than a passing condition. It tells of a spiritual condition of the soul – one in which there is nothing to hinder the work of the Holy Spirit, and where every feeling, thought, word and deed is constantly controlled by Him. What a glorious condition that is!

By H. L. Heijkoop, adapted.