Filled with the Holy Spirit

A Christian friend had a good question today regarding the holy spirit not being given “by measure” to Jesus Christ in John 3:34 and 35. Here’s what it says.

John 3:34,35:
For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

John the Baptist is talking here about his cousin, Jesus the Christ. What does it mean that God doesn’t give the spirit “by measure” to Jesus?

Before Christ came, certain men and women had God’s spirit by measure. They were limited in what they could do spiritually. But Jesus Christ was filled with all the fullness of God.

Colossians 2:9,10:
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.

Born-again believers are complete in Christ. We have received his fullness by God’s grace.

John 1:16:
And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

It is “Christ in you” that makes you complete.

Colossians 1:27:
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Together, as the body of Christ, we are filled with the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:19:
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Each believer is filled with God’s spirit by faith. We have the measure of God’s gift in Christ.

Romans 12:3:
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Ephesians 4:7:
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Filled: Inside and Out

The Greek New Testament uses two different words for “fill” when it comes to the gift of holy spirit. One means to be full on the inside. The other means to show forth this fullness on the outside. As a Chemistry teacher, I enjoyed demonstrating to students what “saturation” means. It is the point at which a solution of a substance no longer dissolves that substance [full on the inside]. At that point, the substance comes “out of solution” as a precipitate [shows on the outside].

The Greek word plēroō refers to a filling up to the point of saturation—completely filled. This is true of the holy spirit.

Acts 13:52:
And the disciples were filled [plēroō] with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

Ephesians 5:18:
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled [plēroō] with the Spirit.

When Paul and Barnabas taught at Antioch, people received the faith of Jesus Christ. They were filled with the holy spirit, and this brought them joy. We are encouraged not to be excessively drunk with wine, but to be filled with the holy spirit.

The Greek word plēthō refers to a filling where something comes out and is manifested. This is also true of the holy spirit. At the time of the miraculous births of John the Baptist and Jesus, people were filled with the holy spirit and showed it forth by speaking for God. An angel had promised Zacharias that his son would show forth holy spirit from the time of his birth.

Luke 1:15:
For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled [plēthō] with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.

When Elisabeth heard Mary’s greeting, she was filled with the holy spirit and showed it outwardly. She prophesied that Mary would have a son, God’s chosen Messiah.

Luke 1:41:
And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled [plēthō] with the Holy Ghost.

Later, Zacharias also prophesied about Jesus the Messiah, and about his own son, John, who would be the “prophet of the Highest.”

Luke 1:67:
And his father Zacharias was filled [plēthō] with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied.

Jesus was born and carried out God’s mission to save mankind. After his resurrection and ascension, his followers were filled with the holy spirit and showed it forth outwardly by speaking in tongues.

Acts 2:4:
And they were all filled [plēthō] with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

After being born again on Pentecost, Peter boldly spoke what God told him to say. He was filled with the gift of holy spirit, and showed it forth by his free will to speak up.

Acts 4:8:
Then Peter, filled [plēthō] with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel.

This happened for other believers who followed Peter’s example. They were filled on the inside with the holy spirit when they got born again. Then they decided to show it forth by speaking with boldness. God energized His spirit and gave them the words to speak.

Acts 4:31:
And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled [plēthō] with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Paul believed on Jesus Christ when they met on the road to Damascus. Paul was filled on the inside, but there was more available. God sent Ananias to heal Paul of blindness and to help Paul show forth the power of the holy spirit that he had within.

Acts 9:17:
And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled [plēthō] with the Holy Ghost.

Paul learned to show forth the holy spirit that he had within. On the island of Cyprus, Paul confronted an evil sorcerer. Paul showed forth the power of the holy spirit and the sorcerer could no longer deceive the deputy of the island.

Acts 13:9,10:
Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled [plēthō] with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him.
And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

Jesus Christ fully meets all our needs. He brings salvation, eternal life, and the power of the holy spirit that we can show forth today. Let’s thank our Father for filling us with His spirit when we made Jesus our lord (Romans 10:9,10). And let’s show forth the power of the holy spirit, filled on the outside to carry out our Father’s will today.