Discussion: Filled with the Spirit
The empowerment of the Holy Spirit is a central theme in Scripture, emphasizing both the transformative and dynamic power of God working through believers. Jesus frequently instructed His followers to wait for the promise of the Father, as seen in Acts 1:4 (NKJV):
"And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, 'which,' He said, 'you have heard from Me.'"
In John 16, Jesus speaks about the necessity of His departure so that the Helper, the Holy Spirit, could come. According to John 16:13 (NKJV):
"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come."
The filling of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life leads us into truth, the very life of Jesus, which is about holiness and power. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is described in Acts 1:8 (NKJV):
"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
I believe this power of the infilling of the Holy Spirit enables us to live:
1. External Power: The working of God through miracles, signs, wonders, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
2. Internal Transformation: Empowering believers to live holy, sanctified lives, reflecting the nature and character of God.
This empowerment allows believers to be witnesses, carrying the testimony of Jesus to the ends of the earth, and glorifying God in the process. Testifying of Him both in nature and power. Both of these elements are essential in displaying God fully to a lost world. True empowerment is not just about miracles but about a life fully yielded to God in purity and obedience. Power without purity is incomplete, but purity without power is also insufficient to fulfil God's purposes.
Dr. Bounds, in Chapter 4 of his book, compares the receiving of the Holy Spirit in Acts 1:8 with Luke 1:35 (NKJV) in a powerful way. This again points to the reality that God intended for us to walk like Jesus walked, in holiness and power, to fulfil the Great Commission.
Dr. Bounds wrote:
“The Greek verb here is eperchomai, and in the entire New Testament there are only two places where the Holy Spirit is said to eperchomai someone/thing:
The Holy Spirit will come on [epeleusetai, from eperchomai] you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. (Lk 1:35)
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on [epelthontos, from eperchomai] you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
Luke has created a parallel between the conception of Jesus and the origin of the church. But why? Let us recall the significance of the virginal conception: it marked Jesus out as new Adam, a new human being whose existence was solely due to God’s initiative. And, as we have seen above, Jesus’ Spirit-initiated and -empowered life constitutes a new way of being human—one of wholehearted dependence on and obedience to God. So the point seems to be this: just as the Spirit came on Mary to conceive Jesus—a new Adam, the Spirit now comes on Jesus’ disciples to conceive the church—a group of people who will (like Jesus) manifest a new way of being human. Thus, the Holy Spirit’s coming means not only empowerment but also transformation; the Spirit will change the disciples so that they are able to live a new, Jesus-shaped life.”
Bounds explains that this represents both the transformative power of God upon human nature and the breaking of sin’s hold on humanity. This aligns with the ministry of Jesus, who, though fully God, was also fully man, living by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit’s work in the believer is not limited to external manifestations but is as much focused on sanctification. Through the Spirit, we are empowered to reject sin, resist temptation, and walk in holiness. A believer’s witness is most effective when it reflects the purity of Christ alongside the power of God. Without this inner transformation, external signs and wonders lose their power in witness.
Jesus is our ultimate example of a life led by the Holy Spirit. Matthew 12:28 (NKJV) states:
"But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you."
In this verse, Jesus reminds everyone that His source of power is the Holy Spirit. His baptism points this out as we read about the Holy Spirit coming upon Him like a dove. Then suddenly we see the following in Luke 4:1 (NKJV):
"Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness."
Here he resists temptation after 40 days of fasting, witnessing the empowerment of the Holy Spirit leading to the ability to resist sin, breaking its power in us. Then later, in Luke 4:14 (NKJV):
"Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region."
Here we see the start of His miracle-working ministry. This pattern—being led by the Spirit and then moving in power—demonstrates the necessity of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life for both holiness and effective ministry. Jesus did not merely operate in power; He lived a sanctified life, fully submitted to the Father, exemplifying the kind of life every believer is called to. His power was rooted in holiness, and His holiness was reinforced by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The infilling of the Holy Spirit is not a one-time event but an ongoing process, as demonstrated in Acts 4:31 (NKJV):
"And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness."
This ongoing renewal strengthens and empowers believers as they yield to the Holy Spirit’s grace. Sanctification is sustained by life yielded to the Spirit. As we continue to be filled, we grow and remain in holiness, developing Christlike character in every area of life. The Holy Spirit does not merely give us strength; He transforms us into vessels that can carry both His purity and power without compromise.
This purifying work of the Holy Spirit is also seen in Acts 15:9 (NKJV):
"And made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith."
Again this reminds us that the Holy Spirit wants to:
- Transform the believer’s heart, enabling them to live in righteousness.
- Equip believers to fulfil God’s mission through divine strength and authority.
God’s nature cannot be separated from His power; both must work together to produce holy living. The Holy Spirit enables believers to walk in obedience, overcoming sin, and displaying the love of Christ in daily life. A believer who walks in both purity and power reflects the full image of Christ, living a life that glorifies God and demonstrates His kingdom on earth.
As Dr. Bounds points out beautifully the three key characteristics of Jesus’ ministry, serve as reminders for us of what the Father intended for each of us. It was:
1. Prayer
2. Resistance to Temptation
3. Ministry in line with Isaiah 61
None of these could have been accomplished without the empowerment, filling, and strengthening of the Holy Spirit. Jesus eagerly anticipated the coming of the Holy Spirit upon believers, as He knew the grace that would be given for the work ahead. Without holiness, no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). At the same time, without power, we cannot effectively fulfil the Great Commission. The Holy Spirit provides both, equipping believers to be sanctified and bold witnesses.