Once Filled, Always Filled???

[riverpastor]

Ephesians 5:18 - Stop getting drunk with wine, which leads to wild living, but keep on being filled with the Spirit. (ISV)

Ephesians 5:18 - Don't drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. (The Message)​

FILLED:
Greek Strong's #4137
πληρόω
plēroō
play-ro'-o
From G4134; to make replete, that is, (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), or (figuratively) to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc.: - accomplish, X after, (be) complete, end, expire, fill (up), fulfil, (be, make) full (come), fully preach, perfect, supply.

• Acts 2:4 - And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
  
• Acts 4:8 - Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
  
• Acts 4:31 - And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
  
• Acts 13:52 - And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

There is a continuing theme throughout the book of Acts which describes the disciples as being "filled" on more than one occasion.

Question is, if you've been filled once, are you filled forever?

Undoubtedly, most of us would agree that once you are filled, you still have the infilling.

But, why does Luke write about "multiple fillings"???

Or does it really mean that we can have more and more of the infilling when we need it? Or are we like buckets with holes in them that leak out what has filled us up?

 

[Trish1947]

It seems that we have the infilling..but unless you "stir up that gift within thee," then you are not "filled", (overflowing)?

 

[JimB]

Well, I for one certainly do not believe you are once filled always filled. I believe infillings are for power like fuel is for an automobile. You fill her up and as you use it you need to constantly refill your tank.

\o/

 

[Andry]

RP - good topic!

But a question for you: Do you think these are just semantics? Do Christians - let's leave out the filled or not filled debate for a moment - do Christians have the Holy Ghost in them as a natural part of the gift of salvation? I think yes - label it what we will: God is inside us, Jesus is inside us, the Holy Ghost is inside us, the Kingdom of God is inside us, etc. etc. If that is the case, then God's grace and mercy abounds and is poured into us and from us to others - to impact not only our lives, but those around us, our circumstances, our relationships.

In Lamentations 3 says that the mercies of God are new every morning - because of the faithfulness of God. Therefore, it means that everyday is saturated with exactly the kind of mercies that are needed to deal with that day.

God has never promised us any grace for tomorrow, but He’s promised us grace for today. The mercies of God don’t come new every tomorrow - they come new every morning. So I believe that I have sufficient mercies in my life today, to deal with everything that I will encounter. There’s nothing that I will face today that I am not equipped to deal with because God made a designer garment by His mercy today to fit exactly the situation that I will face.

We can handle it.

The only time we can’t handle it is when we start trying to bring tomorrow into today, or when we bring yesterday into today. So our history and our future become such an influence that they make it incapable of us releasing the mercies that were given to you for today. And as I move into every tomorrow it just becomes today and those same mercies flow every day, so the deal is if I keep walking in the now-presence of God I will never be lacking in what I need to deal with what I encounter. The life of God, the power of God is flowing into my life, and I stop worrying so much about being "filled" or not being filled and understand that because of God's faithfulness, he gives us grace - even if (which IMO is) that grace is manifested sometimes as being filled with the Holy Spirit.

 

[riverpastor]

I understand what you're saying, Jim. And it's a good point. We have fuel for the journey, and the way to "fill up" is something that concerns me.

Do we fill up by going to church or reading our Bibles or praying X amount of times per day, or tithing???

OR

Do we fill up by getting into God's Presence and receive this "fuel" by faith?

 

[riverpastor]

Amen, andry. I agree with you. Yes, we have the gift of the Son through the Spirit residing in us at the point of salvation for us all.

And the semantics of "filled" is what the question relates to, so...

When we are specifically talking about being "filled", do we, can we, should we, take a progressive step towards making ourselves available to the Holy Spirit within to "re-fuel" and become "CRAM" full of the Holy Spirit?

I believe that everything in the Kingdom has a purpose, even relationally how we cooperate and respond to the Presence of the Holy Ghost within us...

 

[bobznew]

Well, I for one certainly do not believe you are once filled always filled. I believe infillings are for power like fuel is for an automobile. You fill her up and as you use it you need to constantly refill your tank.

\o/

Good point. But I think we can even take it a step further...

It appears that what Paul meant in Eph. 5:18 was "be CONTINUALLY filled with the Holy Spirit".

I live in New Orleans, where the streetcar still runs down St. Charles Ave. Above the streetcar is an arm that connects to a power line. So, that streetcar is CONSTANTLY receiving its power. It is in CONTINUAL contact with its source of power.

I think that we, as God's children, are designed to be like the streetcar. We should CONTINUALLY be in communion with Him. He is the source of OUR power.

 

[riverpastor]

ohhh, bobznew...

So good!

 

[JimB]

I understand what you're saying, Jim. And it's a good point. We have fuel for the journey, and the way to "fill up" is something that concerns me.

Do we fill up by going to church or reading our Bibles or praying X amount of times per day, or tithing???

OR

Do we fill up by getting into God's Presence and receive this "fuel" by faith?

Well, it all comes back to the grace issue. Do we “work” to be filled or is it a “grace” thing? Is it works or grace? Since the verse “Be filled with the Spirit” sounds like a command, I would tend to think it is works. But, when I think about it, it sounds more like an encouragement than a command.

Hmmm?

What do you think?

\o/

 

[songbird88]

might I submit the Prophetic School translation of Eph 5:18-19



Be not drunk with wine which causes diminishment, better yet; be saturated with and focused in the spirit by speaking to yourselves in odes, hymns, and spiritual songs, making melody in your heart to the Lord.

Ephesians 5:18 - Stop getting drunk with wine, which leads to wild living, but keep on being filled with the Spirit. (ISV)



Ephesians 5:18 - Don't drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. (The Message)

​

FILLED:
Greek Strong's #4137
πληρόω
plēroō
play-ro'-o
From G4134; to make replete, that is, (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), or (figuratively) to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc.: - accomplish, X after, (be) complete, end, expire, fill (up), fulfil, (be, make) full (come), fully preach, perfect, supply.

• Acts 2:4 - And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
• Acts 4:8 - Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
• Acts 4:31 - And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
• Acts 13:52 - And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

There is a continuing theme throughout the book of Acts which describes the disciples as being "filled" on more than one occasion.

Question is, if you've been filled once, are you filled forever?

Undoubtedly, most of us would agree that once you are filled, you still have the infilling.

But, why does Luke write about "multiple fillings"???

Or does it really mean that we can have more and more of the infilling when we need it? Or are we like buckets with holes in them that leak out what has filled us up?

 

[Asaph]

Good point. But I think we can even take it a step further...

It appears that what Paul meant in Eph. 5:18 was "be CONTINUALLY filled with the Holy Spirit".

I live in New Orleans, where the streetcar still runs down St. Charles Ave. Above the streetcar is an arm that connects to a power line. So, that streetcar is CONSTANTLY receiving its power. It is in CONTINUAL contact with its source of power.

I think that we, as God's children, are designed to be like the streetcar. We should CONTINUALLY be in communion with Him. He is the source of OUR power.

Yeah, but too often we are a streetcar named desire!...

Sorry Bob, I just couldn't resist.

My first pastor taught just what you are saying here Bob. That this should be read as "allow yourselves to be constantly continually being filled with the Spirit". So I see it as a yeilding thing.

Asaph

 

[brother daniel]

Amen and today is a good day to yeald to Jesus Christ and his words. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Let us labor to enter in ceasing from our own works as he is instructing us. Jesus Christ is the same , yesterday, today and forever.
Jesus Christ is our Sabbath, let us rest in him now while it is called today.
Thank God, meaning our father in Heaven, that we have this forum where we can go from house daily in prayer, fellowship and the apostles doctrine.
"My cup runneth over" "ABBA" please pour your Holy Spirit on all who come to this table. Thank you for answering our prayers. In Jesus name I pray

 

[riverpastor]

Jim - rhetorical question I posted. I believe it is by grace alone.

But we can also offer resistance to the Holy Spirit and thus quenching His Presence...

And, we can offer a yielded life to Him. Some may see that as a work, others may see it as a grace...

 

[riverpastor]

might I submit the Prophetic School translation of Eph 5:18-19



Be not drunk with wine which causes diminishment, better yet; be saturated with and focused in the spirit by speaking to yourselves in odes, hymns, and spiritual songs, making melody in your heart to the Lord.

Didaskalos??? Is that you???

 

[JimB]

Jim - rhetorical question I posted. I believe it is by grace alone.

But we can also offer resistance to the Holy Spirit and thus quenching His Presence...

And, we can offer a yielded life to Him. Some may see that as a work, others may see it as a grace...

Would this be freewill?
\o/

 

[Johnny Be Good]

Would this be freewill?
\o/

Is it freewill that Asaph offered to his son the other day when he told about how he had noticed his son's temptation/failing obedience in reference to running out into the road like the other kids were doing? Did Asaph remove his son's freewill when he scooped him up and held him tight just before the child was about to run out into the road?

 

[JimB]

Is it freewill that Asaph offered to his son the other day when he told about how he had noticed his son's temptation/failing obedience in reference to running out into the road like the other kids were doing? Did Asaph remove his son's freewill when he scooped him up and held him tight just before the child was about to run out into the road?

If, despite the warnings, the child ran into the street without his father’s physical restraint and was hit by a car, would that have been freewill?

\o/

 

[Asaph]

If, despite the warnings, the child ran into the street without his father’s physical restraint and was hit by a car, would that have been freewill?

\o/

Nope. That would be poor parenting.

Asaph

 

[foursquareman]

I think it's a "dying to ourselves daily" type of thing, which gives the Holy Spirit room to move in power through us.

I like that explanation of "having enough Spirit for today" given on the first page. Reminded me of how God wanted the Israelites to collect the mana. Only enough for one day. It shows a lack of trust in God's providence of the Spirit.

 

[bobznew]

I think it's a "dying to ourselves daily" type of thing, which gives the Holy Spirit room to move in power through us.

I like that explanation of "having enough Spirit for today" given on the first page. Reminded me of how God wanted the Israelites to collect the mana. Only enough for one day. It shows a lack of trust in God's providence of the Spirit.

AMEN, AMEN, and AMEN.

"Give is this DAY our DAILY bread."