Listen in as we continue our series on norms in the early church according to the book of Acts. The filling of the Holy Spirit is a prominent theme in the early church and the advance of the gospel. In this episode, we share insights from Acts into how to be filled with the Spirit. 

Spirit-filling is mentioned at least 10 times in Acts. These instances fall into two categories: 

– A general character trait about a person. Examples: The 7 chosen to serve (Acts 6:3-5); Stephen (Acts 6:8); Barnabas (Acts 11:23-24).
– A special filling at a specific moment in time that resulted in special power – often boldness in gospel proclamation.  Examples:

*Acts 2- Believers spoke in tongues, testifying to mighty acts of God; 3000 saved.
*Acts 4:8-12- Peter, filled with the Spirit, preaches with boldness.
*Acts 4:29-31- All believers praying for boldness and signs and wonders; place shaken and they were all filled with Spirit and continued to speak the word with boldness. 
*Acts 7:55- Stephen, full of Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God.
*Acts 13:9- Paul and Barnabas on Cyprus during the first missionary journey, proclaiming the word of God, and this magician/false prophet was opposing them and trying to keep the proconsul from believing. Paul made Elymas blind, resulting in the proconsul believing when he saw what occurred.
*Acts 13:52- Disciples filled with joy and Holy Spirit.

-Eph. 5:18 – “Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.”

Books Referenced:

The Ministry of Intercession by Andrew Murray.
The Baptism and Gifts of the Spirit by D. Martin Lloyd-Jones.