Religion & Spirituality
“Spirit-filled” is a popular phrase among Christians. Yet it’s given diverse meanings—Spirit-baptism, tongue-speaking, inspired prophecy, ecstatic experiences, etc. Strikingly, ‘Spirit-filled’ occurs only once in all Paul’s writings—in Eph. 5:18. We ask: what does it mean here? It’s not the baptism, second blessing, anointing, or sealing of the Holy Spirit; nor does it involve ‘tongue-speaking,’ or being ‘slain in the Spirit.’ This directive is present, passive, indicative—‘‘Be being filled by the Spirit’--it’s a command to be constantly filled with God’s Spirit. We ask: how do we obey this passive command? In Ephesians the Spirit’s filling is not a private, personal pursuit; rather, together the believers constitute God’s Temple, his corporate priesthood. God’s Spirit fills us as we worship—through speaking, singing, psalm-ing, & hymning God’s word, with thanksgiving, in mutual submission. Our worship is not incidental; rather, it’s instrumental to our Spirit-filling!