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What Does It Mean To Be “Full Of The Spirit”
?A Surprising Encounter at Bible College
Once upon a time, I found myself at a hyper-charismatic Bible college, ready for what I thought would be a typical lecture. Little did I know, I was about to embark on a theological rollercoaster. The professor, with an almost theatrical flair, delved into the “Baptism of the Holy Ghost.” We were knee-deep in Acts 6, where the apostles appointed deacons who had to be “full of the Spirit.” But hold on, this wasn’t your average Bible study session.
The Professor’s Radical Assertion
The professor passionately argued that deacons—yes, those Greek waiters and table servers—had to be tongue-talking Pentecostals before they could even think about passing plates in church. Can you believe it? According to him, being “full of the Spirit” meant you had already experienced the Holy Ghost baptism, evidenced by speaking in tongues. And he didn’t stop there. With a fervor that could rival any Pentecostal revival, he declared to his students, “You cannot be a door greeter at my church if you do not speak in tongues! I promise you, this is not an exaggeration.
Revisiting Pentecostal Terminology
Growing up in a classical Pentecostal tradition, I understood phrases like “Full of the Spirit,” “Filled with the Spirit,” and “Baptized in the Spirit” to be synonyms. They all referred to a secondary experience with the Holy Spirit after conversion, where one would begin speaking in tongues for the first time. However, after careful study, I found this not to be the case. Each of these phrases has specific meanings and uses in scripture. In this blog, I will focus on the phrase “full of the Spirit.” If you’re interested in what it means to be “baptized in the Holy Spirit,” you can click HERE. To read about being “filled with the Spirit,” click HERE. For now, let’s dive into our study on being “full of the Spirit.”
The Importance of Contextual Study
When studying theology, it’s important to examine every reference to a word or phrase in order to understand its meaning fully. Too often, we assume we know what a word or phrase means, but this kind of presumption can lead us into all kinds of problematic theology. For our study today, we will need to examine every reference to “full of the Spirit” in Scripture. Notably, only Dr. Luke uses this phrase in the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. By systematically analyzing each passage, we can determine the consistent theological concept. This methodical approach ensures a thorough understanding of the term within its scriptural framework.
Scriptural Analysis: “Full of the Spirit”
As we have studied, “filled with the Spirit” exclusively means “carried along to proclaim the gospel,” as this is the only way Luke uses it in his writing. Does Luke also use “full of the Spirit” in such a rigid way? Not necessarily. It appears that “full of the Spirit” can refer to a person who is currently “full,” and thus able to proclaim the gospel boldly. But it could also describe an individual’s character. Let’s look at the references:
- Luke 4:1: And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness.
- Acts 6:3: Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.
- Acts 6:5: And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.
- Acts 7:55: But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
- Acts 11:24: For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
Momentary Filling or Character Description?
As I read the text above, I understand some of these verses to be speaking of the momentary filling of the Holy Spirit to speak the gospel boldly. For example, Acts 7:55 speaks of Stephen being “full of the Holy Spirit.” In this passage, he sees Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father. He proclaims this in front of a hostile audience and is stoned to death. It is likely that “full of the Spirit” here is used to describe a present tensing of being “filled with the Spirit,” as we have already studied.
Full of the Spirit: Character Traits
The other examples we see are likely character descriptions of individuals. A clear example of being “full of the Spirit” can be found in Acts 6, where we encounter the first threatened split in the body of Christ. The Greek widows were not receiving their fair share of food, leading the apostles to take action. In Acts 6:3, the apostles instruct the brothers to “choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.” The responsibility would then be turned over to these men, allowing the apostles to focus on prayer and ministry of the word. Here, “full of the Spirit” appears to be a more flexible term compared to “filled with the Spirit,” indicating a character description rather than a temporary empowerment.
Deacons: Spiritual People
To be full of wisdom means to possess a lot of wisdom, to be a very wise person. Similarly, to be full of the Spirit means to be characterized by the Spirit, exhibiting traits like love, joy, and patience—the fruit of the Spirit. These qualities are essential for resolving the controversy among the early believers.
Jesus: A Model of Spiritual Fullness
Think of it like this: deacons are to be spiritual people. Not in the “new age” sense, but their lives are to be marked as those who are walking in close union with the Holy Spirit. Look at Jesus in Luke 4. Jesus is not preaching the gospel to anyone in the wilderness, right? So why would “full” be the present tense of “filled” if He was not preaching to hostile audiences? It is more likely that these verses are describing Jesus’ character. Imagine the verse saying something like “Jesus, full of faith and wisdom, was driven into the wilderness”; that would merely be describing the kind of person that was entering this season of testing. In the same way, this verse is likely describing the character of Jesus as a man marked by his relationship with the Holy Spirit.
The Significance of Spiritual Fullness
So why is this important to study? Consider the example mentioned above. Some individuals possess fantastic character, remarkable giftings, and are called to serve the body of Christ. Yet, they might be kept from these positions simply because they haven’t had an experience of ecstatic tongue speech. So, what does it mean to be full of the Spirit? It means living a life characterized by wisdom, joyful worship, constant gratitude, and mutual submission. It’s about allowing the Spirit to influence and guide every aspect of our lives, shaping us into a community that reflects the love and grace of Christ. When we talk about being “full of the Spirit,” it’s not about a mystical, once-in-a-lifetime event or an elite badge worn by a select few. Rather, it’s about embodying a lifestyle that reflects the fruit and character of the Holy Spirit in our daily actions and interactions.
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