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The filling Spirit
On the issue of being filled by the Spirit, the book of Acts is where we see speaking in tongues as a common occurrence thereafter. For example, in Acts 2:4, Acts 10:44-46 and Acts 19:6 we read people who were filled by the Holy Spirit and immediately spoke in tongues. Yet in Acts 4:31, Acts 8:17 records people who were also filled by the Spirit and nothing was said of them speaking in tongues. Instead, in Acts 4:31, we are told they were “filled with the Spirit and they spoke the word in boldness.” Peter, "filled with the Spirit", started to preach (Act 4:8). Paul, "filled with the Spirit", rebuked a false prophet (Act 13:9-10). Elizabeth, "filled with the Spirit", began to praise (Luk 1:41-42). Zacharias, "filled with the Spirit", began to prophesy (Luk 1:67). What is the final lesson about the filling of the Spirit then? That the filling of the Spirit is not limited to tongues, that logic would mean that those who are not given the tongues gift have never been filled by the Spirit. To be filled with the Spirit is to be specially enabled or energized by the Spirit of Christ, at a certain time, to accomplish a certain task for the kingdom of God. It’s not a weird experience for self-gratification and boasting. Unlike baptism of the Spirit, which is a once and for-all phenomenon, being filled by the Spirit is a regular occurrence, hence we are encouraged to “not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Eph 5:18-19). Notice again: not drunk with the Spirit (nothing like that in Scripture), but “filled”, then once you are filled, you will sing in psalms, and hymns in the Lord.
How then can you be filled by the Spirit of God? Well, the popular idea is that you sit and meditate on your “inner self”, repeating a word a thousand times until you are out of yourself. I am sorry, that has nothing to do with the Spirit of the living God, try Eastern mysticism – perhaps. In all instances where the Spirit-filled believers, starting with Acts chapter 2, nothing is said of some self-inducing meditation. You can only pray for the Spirit to fill you, yet when He does, it has nothing to do with you and your emotional status, but more to do with His sovereign act and will. To your prayer closet, you go.
The leading Spirit
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God - Romans 8:14
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law - Galatians 5:18
In simple terms, to be led by the Spirit is to do what God would have you do at a particular place, at a particular time. Yet I have to pause a little here and warn about a very common yet dangerous habit of some brethren who claim to be led by the good Spirit to bring disorder and confusion, especially in the house of the Lord. I have been to some church services where the preaching of the Word was put aside under the theme “there is no preaching of the Word of today, we are following the leading of the Holy Spirit, we can’t stop Him”. As you can discern, such statements are appalling. It is to accuse the Holy Spirit of disorder. Secondly, they are blaming Him for being a dictator who forces His will against us to do things that we do not want. For a start, it’s not being led by the Spirit to do something that is against His Word, such as looking down upon the preaching of the Word, the same that the Spirit uses to sanctify us (Joh 17:17). We live in times when everyone seems to have a right to do anything and say anything, no matter how ridiculous, then blame all that chaos upon the Holy Spirit. Another warning: beware of being led by your desires and confuse that as the Spirit.
To be truly led by the Spirit, dear friends, it is not an emotional buzz that captures and possesses your mind against your will. Again I repeat: nowhere in Scripture do we find that the Spirit of Christ leads believers into mindless zombies, if anything, that is called demon possession. To be truly led by the Spirit is to do that which contributes to the glory of God and the growth and salvation of God’s people; including your own growth and salvation. How then can you yield yourself to the leading of the Spirit? Answer: go to the Word, read it and apply it to your life, then do what you can do; make decisions based on that. In our passage of the letter to the Galatians – Chapter 5 to be exact – Paul contrasts being led by the Spirit and being led by the flesh, then he outlines the results of each. Those who live by the Spirit will be led to produce the fruits of the Spirit, is that too hard to understand?
What is the Anointing?
The Old Testament defined the “anointed” as those who were specifically chosen, and sanctified (made holy) by the Spirit to do a peculiar ministry. For example, Aaron was anointed to be a high priest and David was anointed to be the king of Israel. All the “anointed ones” under the Old Covenant were actually a picture of the Anointed One, who was to come and pour out His Anointing (Holy Spirit) upon His followers. Based on His work on the Cross, the Spirit now comes to dwell inside all who have believed. In other words, Christians are the chosen and sanctified to be God’s holy people. “But you have the anointing from the Holy One and you all know, says the Apostle" (1 Joh 2:20). It means when it comes to the anointing, all believers are equally anointed by the Spirit. I say this because there are popular individuals who like to take the Old Covenant concept of the anointing so as to elevate themselves to the same level as the Anointed One, in the process advertising themselves as the solution to people’s problems. If you ever see such an individual anywhere in your area, remember that Christ is the Anointed One who has equally anointed us to be His people. Among us true believers, there must be no room for a false prophet to control our lives in the name of connecting to “his anointing”. We already have the Anointing.
Conclusion. The Holy Spirit is living inside His own people, the evidence is this: He fills them to accomplish God’s purposes and He leads them to live godly lives because he has anointed them as His Holy people. I end with some advice: when it comes to the working of the Spirit, let us not appeal to our emotions before we study our Bibles; let’s not interpret the Bible based on individual experiences but let us test the genuineness of personal experiences based on what Scripture says. I thank you.
Sinothi Ncube
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