Myth Buster Series: The Filling of the Spirit is Not Commanded

by Dennis Michelson
(Painesville, Ohio)

Ephesians 5:18

1. It Is Commanded (5:18)

The command to be filled with the Spirit is no less of a command than the command to not be drunk.

a. It is to be sought: the baptism of the Spirit, the indwelling of the Spirit, and the sealing of the Spirit become yours when you receive Christ. The old maxim "one baptism but many fillings" holds true.

b. It is a sin to disobey : We preach a lot against drunkeness but little against not being filled with the Spirit.

2. It is Continuous (5:18)

Just as one ceases to be drunk when he stops drinking then persons can cease to be filled with the Spirit when they do not meet the conditions for the filling.

3. It is Control (5:18)

Compare Ephesians 5:18-19 with Colossians 3:16. The one who is controlled by the Spirit of God will be living in obedience (under the control of) the Word of God. This is in contrast to the current teaching that the filling of the Spirit is evidenced by a loss of control.

4. It is Conditional (5:18)

a. There must be departure from all known sin

b. There must be a definite submission to God

5. It is Crucial (Acts 1:8)

The Apostles were commanded to wait until they were endued with power from the Spirit of God. The genuine work of God cannot be accomplished by anyone apart from the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Everything else is of the flesh and not of faith.