'Be filled with the Holy Spirit'

I think being filled with the Spirit means, basically, having great joy in God. And since the Bible teaches that “the joy of the Lord is our strength” (Nehemiah 8:10), it also means there will be power in this joy for overcoming besetting sins and for boldness in witness. – John Piper

rocknanchor said:

I think being filled with the Spirit means, basically, having great joy in God. And since the Bible teaches that “the joy of the Lord is our strength” (Nehemiah 8:10), it also means there will be power in this joy for overcoming besetting sins and for boldness in witness. – John Piper

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Agreed. It is not the show of acrobatics, shouting and gibberish talk!

rocknanchor said:

I think being filled with the Spirit means, basically, having great joy in God. And since the Bible teaches that “the joy of the Lord is our strength” (Nehemiah 8:10), it also means there will be power in this joy for overcoming besetting sins and for boldness in witness. – John Piper

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So true...the Spirit comes to help us to pray and to open our hearts in true worship. Only the Holy Spirit gives life and deepens our experience of God.

quietbloke said:

'O Holy Spirit,we welcome You today. Fill us with Your presence,as we give You the praise. Lord,we are Your temple,for You alone we wait. Holy Spirit welcome to this place. Holy Spirit,come and take Your place,we welcome You,we welcome You.Father we welcome You...'(Mark Beswick)

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Jesus is our joy and when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, he gives us the anointing of joy that was upon the Lord himself...hand in hand with peace because we are accepted and loved by God,
Hebrews 1:9b
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.

Romans 8
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

I thank God for these wonderful words...

My such a rich offering so many fine people of the Lord have supplied leading us to the hour of our ‘rushing wind’, the living God who delights in rewarding the sheep! Hallelujah!

Righttruth said:

Agreed. It is not the show of acrobatics, shouting and gibberish talk!

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Actually, I am intrigued with the prospect of a multi-layered watchman; in search of the pure gift of God while insuring no one forbid the exercising of it, might well be the finest of endeavors.

In truth, the watchmen who guards against those who slap the gift will be dissolved into the flock, and therefore the flock will become the watchmen and will instantly know the advice of a stranger who is in dire need of repentance from pure quench.

Righttruth said:

Agreed. It is not the show of acrobatics, shouting and gibberish talk!

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reading this, I feel that there is an element of criticism, were you thinking about speaking in tongues as gibberish talk? Having been in many churches, a number being Pentecostal, I have not come across the activities that you describe.

musicalpilgrim said:

reading this, I feel that there is an element of criticism, were you thinking about speaking in tongues as gibberish talk? Having been in many churches, a number being Pentecostal, I have not come across the activities that you describe.

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We have all kinds of Pentecostal based churches with varied degrees of exhibition, attitude, behavior and beliefs.

Righttruth said:

We have all kinds of Pentecostal based churches with varied degrees of exhibition, attitude, behavior and beliefs.

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There are no doubt such places, but I believe that the place to look for the truth is the Word of God, and look to the places that follow the Scripture

Acts 19:6 (NKJV)
6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

1 Corinthians 14 (NKJV)
Prophecy and Tongues
1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

1 Corinthians 14:23 (NKJV)
23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?

...I think that this passage by Paul is so relevant to the comments that you make...

Order in Church Meetings
1 Corinthians 14
26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret.

28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.

29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.

30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent.

31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.

32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

That last verse says it all, don't you think?

musicalpilgrim said:

There are no doubt such places, but I believe that the place to look for the truth is the Word of God, and look to the places that follow the Scripture

Acts 19:6 (NKJV)
6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

1 Corinthians 14 (NKJV)
Prophecy and Tongues
1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

1 Corinthians 14:23 (NKJV)
23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?

...I think that this passage by Paul is so relevant to the comments that you make...

Order in Church Meetings
1 Corinthians 14
26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret.

28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.

29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.

30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent.

31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.

32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

That last verse says it all, don't you think?

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Please notice that in the entire book of Acts, there was no requirement of an interpreter. Whereas in notorious Corinthian church, it was people's spirits that were employed without any order and dignity after Paul left. That is why Paul advocated to seek better gifts. It worked and this emotional speaking ended for centuries before it got relapsed in the USA about one hundred years back!

Righttruth said:

Please notice that in the entire book of Acts, there was no requirement of an interpreter. Whereas in notorious Corinthian church, it was people's spirits that were employed without any order and dignity after Paul left. That is why Paul advocated to seek better gifts. It worked and this emotional speaking ended for centuries before it got relapsed in the USA about one hundred years back!

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So then, what is the way of love if it is without any of the gifts, of which, tongues, Paul says NOT to forbid using? Didn’t you catch that or aren’t you that much an authority on the subject? But if we follow your suggestion we would have to divide the Spirit who enabled then, and does so now, completely absurd. So again, how do we follow the way of love without the Spirit? But then if you are in agreement that we should follow the way of love with the Spirit, where is the closure of His gifts when it is told repeatedly, promote, promote, promote?

Conversely, where is the foolish response to spiritual things we are repeatedly told will scoff, scoff, scoff?

musicalpilgrim said:

33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

That last verse says it all, don't you think?

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Yes, and thank God that dark cloud has lifted!

rocknanchor said:

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.

(1 Corinthians 13:13, 14:1)​

So then, what is the way of love if it is without any of the gifts, of which, tongues, Paul says NOT to forbid using? Didn’t you catch that or aren’t you that much an authority on the subject? But if we follow your suggestion we would have to divide the Spirit who enabled then, and does so now, completely absurd. So again, how do we follow the way of love without the Spirit? But then if you are in agreement that we should follow the way of love with the Spirit, where is the closure of His gifts when it is told repeatedly, promote, promote, promote?

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Paul says that the diverse tongues is a spiritual gift, not the gibberish talk promoted by person's spirit. It is not related to the Holy Spirit.

• For us > It begins to take effect = The Spirit’s Mortal Connection
• For Him > It begins to take effect greater = The Spirit’s Divine Connection

He the Holy Spirit is unfortunately daily maligned from the pulpit. But He was sent from Jesus to us to be so very very much, and additionally can be so easily quench. Notice the mix of response from man recorded in the word, either beneficially accepted or despised and refused,

Can be vexed – Is 63:10
Can be grieved Eph 4:30
Can be tempted Acts 5:9
Can be provoked – Ps 106:33
Can be quenched I Thess 5:19
Gives man power – Mic 3:8
Can lead man – Rom 8:14
Quickens – Jn 6:63
Can flow out of us – Jn 7:37-39
Proceeds from both the Father and the Son – Jn 15:26
Known only by Christians – Jn 14:17; Rm 8:9
Abides forever Jn 14:26
Witness to being saved Rom 8:16
Helper of prayer Rom 8:26
Has the mind of God Rom 8:27
Works through believers Rom 15:19; ICor 12; Heb 2:3-4
Gives gifts ICor 12:1-11
Baptizes into Christ ICor 12:13
Changes us II Cor 3:18
Approached by faith Gal 2:1-5, 14
The secret victory Gal 5:16, 18-26; Rom 8:1-13
Gives access to God Eph 2:18
Strengthens our inner man Eph 3:16

Interspersed in that list are your references to the very will of God. If you still remain unconvinced tongues is to be included, this too Jesus said to cast our care on Him and surrender to the Spirit's inspired word through the Apostle and His final conclusion,


I will “pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding” also.

How about you? Is the un-intelligible prayer Paul speaks of here still ungodly “gibberish” so manu scoffers maintain? Isn’t this according to the will of God, or has the movement of "cessation" of gifts from the last Apostle overtaken the Pentecostal Church? Careful!

“, , several notable early church fathers—such as Justin Martyr (100-165), Irenaeus (115-202), Tertullian (160-220), and Origen (185-254)—recorded that the spiritual gifts, including speaking in tongues, were still active in the church in their days, long after John had passed away around 100 AD.”

- https://www.charismanews.com/opinion/45405-is-speaking-in-tongues-from-god-or-the-devil

While true as a solitary gift for private use and isn’t on par with prophesy, fundamentally, without question specifically for the user and him alone, I ask to consider; if we could see for only a moment what happens when that gift reached its fullest potential from those spoken “mysteries” while in use being directed to God, I can’t quite say with certainty can you?, ,what limits should be expected from the user’s impact on the church when that potential was finally secured?

In reality, isn’t it allowable to expect more? Shouldn’t we no matter how possible we think, expect such edification to “enliven” some other manifested gift or talent in that Christian that would impact the church? For if it’s true that the lesser gift might enable more for the church, personally, I would think advantageous, even honorable before the Father to be made up of the fullest expectance possible, albeit cares and defenses intact.

We know the Apostle did well-say, if all spoke in tongues they would think of that Church as mad-men, right? No, not fully right! For keep one thing in mind, tongues is the outcome, not the initiation. For how soon we forget when the Holy Spirit entered, in too many instances what happened?, , they “all” spoke with tongues. Of course, this is not to be confused with the other possibility that all might not (1 Corinthians 12:30), and furthermore not to be confused with my central point, all in this case are not "mad". Outcome verses initiation. They receive from the Lord AS HE WILLS, and as we know two things will remain evident in true spiritual worship – orderliness without confusion.

Dear ‘Righttruth’, don’t be drawn into the many faces of the ill-informed scoffing crowd we were forewarned would appear.

First of all, if you want to promote the right truth, it will be best to cite the reason for your conviction and conclusions. The reason for mentioning this is your refusal to counter the truth in the word. Mine and MusicalPilgrim’s and so many others premiere justifications from the word for promoting “tongues”. Like my quoting the fourteenth chapter of first Corinthians of which you have swept aside,

Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to
prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues.

(1 Corinthians 14:39)

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I think, basically, we need to distinguish between what happened on Pentecost and what was happening in notorious Corinthian church after Paul left.

On Pentecost, it was the direct prompting of the Holy Spirit that made people speak in an existing foreign language unknown to the speaker but recognized by some of the people who were present there. No interpretation was required. Unfortunately, in Corinth, immature believers were speaking emotionally, creating a confusion! Nevertheless, Paul wanted to give a long rope to the new and ignorant believers, and, therefore, advised not to forbid that which may become a rude shock to them.

Now to your point, are tongues of the Holy Spirit? Let us stroll awhile along that battered path.

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The emotional bursts and utterances cannot be of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit always conveyed directly to others without depending on an another person for interpretation!

Don’t even attempt to diminish the word of faith here so many are tempted into. The receiving can be as simple as a prayer or as formal as a Church service. The spiritual oversight is advised of the Lord here to maintain the Apostle’s humble example/tradition which becomes the Christian’s laying on of hands (Catholic – Confirmation, Orthodox - Chrismation), is noticeably, a universally accepted practice.

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Right. But speaking unknown tongue definitely is not a sign of the Holy Spirit. Nothing is unknown to the Holy Spirit!

So what about Paul? He didn’t receive the Spirit at the hands of the Lord nor another Apostle, but a simple Christian who was Ananias who was used of the Lord just like you or I may someday encounter,

“He stood beside me and”, , “laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

(Acts 22:13, 9:17)

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Notice Paul did not speak in an unknown tongue immediately after baptism.

Interspersed in that list are your references to the very will of God. If you still remain unconvinced tongues is to be included, this too Jesus said to cast our care on Him and surrender to the Spirit's inspired word through the Apostle and His final conclusion,

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As I had mentioned earlier, diverse tongue is a spiritual gift.

“What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also, , For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.”

(1 Corinthians 14:15, 14)

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Please see Paul is saying that his spirit prays, not the Holy Spirit. Notice the danger in that mind being unfruitful!

I will “pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding” also.

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Yes, human understanding!

“, , several notable early church fathers—such as Justin Martyr (100-165), Irenaeus (115-202), Tertullian (160-220), and Origen (185-254)—recorded that the spiritual gifts, including speaking in tongues, were still active in the church in their days, long after John had passed away around 100 AD.”

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Again they may be referring to diverse tongues.

While true as a solitary gift for private use and isn’t on par with prophesy, fundamentally, without question specifically for the user and him alone, I ask to consider; if we could see for only a moment what happens when that gift reached its fullest potential from those spoken “mysteries” while in use being directed to God, I can’t quite say with certainty can you?, ,what limits should be expected from the user’s impact on the church when that potential was finally secured?

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Spiritual gifts are for common good, not for self-edification!

Righttruth said:

I think, basically, we need to distinguish between what happened on Pentecost and what was happening in notorious Corinthian church after Paul left.

On Pentecost, it was the direct prompting of the Holy Spirit that made people speak in an existing foreign language unknown to the speaker but recognized by some of the people who were present there. No interpretation was required. Unfortunately, in Corinth, immature believers were speaking emotionally, creating a confusion! Nevertheless, Paul wanted to give a long rope to the new and ignorant believers, and, therefore, advised not to forbid that which may become a rude shock to them.

The emotional bursts and utterances cannot be of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit always conveyed directly to others without depending on an another person for interpretation!

Right. But speaking unknown tongue definitely is not a sign of the Holy Spirit. Nothing is unknown to the Holy Spirit!

Notice Paul did not speak in an unknown tongue immediately after baptism.

As I had mentioned earlier, diverse tongue is a spiritual gift.

Please see Paul is saying that his spirit prays, not the Holy Spirit. Notice the danger in that mind being unfruitful!

Yes, human understanding!

Again they may be referring to diverse tongues.

Spiritual gifts are for common good, not for self-edification!

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Ahh, well thank you very much for your scathing (scripturally un-founded) reception, but as you can tell no one here is interested in man’s opinion that wanders from the truth, we seek what the Lord describes as the “good” (Acts 15:28) conclusions of but a “few” (Matthew 7:14).

It doesn’t appear you are interested! , , this is a member-warning. If in your next response you wish to tempt the forum with your relativistic (scripturally un-founded) viewpoint, you will find yourself being reported.

This is all evident in the glossing of proofs the Holy Spirit has given us that you have ignored by not countering with the truth and I testify that this forum doesn’t put up with those who drag out this same warmed-over feature, the allurement of carnality.

For those still wanting neutrality to have the predominant limelight are also in opposition to the truth the Lord delivered.

", ,for whoever is not against you is for you." But more is certainly expected of everyone "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”

quietbloke said:

In the Bible we are instructed to 'be filled with the Spirit' continually. 'Do not get drunk on wine,which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit' (Ephesians 5:18) Would you like to share on this experience?

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I don't get it.
You actually feel different when the "holy spirit" is inside of you? While praying or all the time? Is it a state of mind that makes you feel something like euphoria?