Are You Spirit Filled Or Still Filling?

  • Welcome to Christian Forums, a Christian Forum that recognizes that all Christians are a work in progress.

    You will need to register to be able to join in fellowship with Christians all over the world.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

JesusIsFaithful

Well-Known Member
Feb 24, 2015
1,765
438
83
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Saved believers may not know this in these latter days but testifying to Spirit filled is testifying that you are saved.

Matthew 9:17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

So should we be bearing testimony of still filling as if the wine is running out, or should we be testifying that we are a new creature in Christ Jesus, and filled and sealed with that Spirit of adoption whereby we can call God Father as a testimony that we are His and thus saved?

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Many used Ephesians 5:18 as if Paul is citing to seek a continual filling of the Spirit, but not so.

Ephesians 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

It is only in wine there is excess for drunkenness to occur but not so with the Spirit. The call to be sober is not to get drunk with wine, but remain filled in the Spirit as in retaining the fruit of the Spirit which is temperance, also known as "self control" hence to remain sober.

There are other calls to believers for sobriety, and it is not done by seeking a continual filling of the Spirit. That is why there is no other calling for a believer to seek after because we are filled as promised for coming to and believing in Jesus Christ at the calling of the gospel.

1 Thessalonians 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

Jesus Christ would not be much of a Saviour if our lights keep going out that we need a filling.

Therefore, what testimony are you going to give? Are you Spirit-filled and thus saved, or is your light continually going out because you are not a new wine bottle able to hold the wine? The latter hardly brings glory to our Lord & Saviour, Jesus Christ. So do consider His words of truth today so that the next time you bear testimony, you are saved because you are Spirit filled as promised at your salvation for coming to & believing in Jesus Christ to hunger nor thirst any more. Indeed, being complete in Christ Jesus is the testimony that we are saved.

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Colossians 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nancy

Nancy

Well-Known Member
Apr 30, 2018
16,761
25,324
113
Buffalo, Ny
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Saved believers may not know this in these latter days but testifying to Spirit filled is testifying that you are saved.

Matthew 9:17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
o should we be bearing testimony of still filling as if the wine is running out, or should we be testifying that we are a new creature in Christ Jesus, and filled and sealed with that Spirit of adoption whereby we can call God Father as a testimony that we are His and thus saved?

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Many used Ephesians 5:18 as if Paul is citing to seek a continual filling of the Spirit, but not so.

Ephesians 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

It is only in wine there is excess for drunkenness to occur but not so with the Spirit. The call to be sober is not to get drunk with wine, but remain filled in the Spirit as in retaining the fruit of the Spirit which is temperance, also known as "self control" hence to remain sober.

There are other calls to believers for sobriety, and it is not done by seeking a continual filling of the Spirit. That is why there is no other calling for a believer to seek after because we are filled as promised for coming to and believing in Jesus Christ at the calling of the gospel.

1 Thessalonians 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

Jesus Christ would not be much of a Saviour if our lights keep going out that we need a filling.

Therefore, what testimony are you going to give? Are you Spirit-filled and thus saved, or is your light continually going out because you are not a new wine bottle able to hold the wine? The latter hardly brings glory to our Lord & Saviour, Jesus Christ. So do consider His words of truth today so that the next time you bear testimony, you are saved because you are Spirit filled as promised at your salvation for coming to & believing in Jesus Christ to hunger nor thirst any more. Indeed, being complete in Christ Jesus is the testimony that we are saved.

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Colossians 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

This scripture tells us/me that the Spirit of God is in the believers heart from the moment of conversion, but, we are told to fan the flames, or stir up The Spirit:
2 Timothy 1:6-7 New King James Version (NKJV)
6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LC627 and bbyrd009

JesusIsFaithful

Well-Known Member
Feb 24, 2015
1,765
438
83
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
This scripture tells us/me that the Spirit of God is in the believers heart from the moment of conversion, but, we are told to fan the flames, or stir up The Spirit:
2 Timothy 1:6-7 New King James Version (NKJV)
6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Thank you for sharing, but have you considered that Paul may not be talking about stirring up the Spirit, but the unfeigned faith in us?

2 Timothy 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

If you read Paul's words of his call to remembrance of the unfeigned faith in us, then that is the gift of God we are to stir up as it is our unfeigned faith that motivates us to share the testimony of our Lord without shame in giving that holy calling through the gospel that Paul is an appointed preacher of, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.


6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

So basically as I read his words in context, he is referring to applying our unfeigned faith in Him to preach the gospel as stirring up that gift of God.

May I ask where you had picked up that application from, if not from your own reading, and what was the meaning to use it in stirring up the Spirit? How does one stir up the Spirit? Just asking in case you were not convinced that it was our unfeigned faith that was to be stirred up & not the Spirit.

 

Enoch111

Well-Known Member
May 27, 2018
17,688
15,996
113
Alberta
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
That is why there is no other calling for a believer to seek after because we are filled as promised for coming to and believing in Jesus Christ at the calling of the gospel.
I believe you may be treating the gift of the Holy Spirit as the filling (or fulness) of the Spirit. But they are no identical in Scripture.

While everyone who obeys the Gospel receives the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38) whereby the Spirit comes to indwell the believer, Christians are required to "grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Pet 3:18).

If everyone was automatically filled with the Spirit (which means that all were consistently walking in the spirit and speaking the Word of God boldly), then there would be no reason to "grow in grace". Christian maturity and being filled with the Spirit are synonymous.

ACTS 6
3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.


But because there must be progressive sanctification, the fulness of the Spirit is associated with being fully controlled by the Holy Spirit and not by "the flesh".

Also, Pentecostals and Charismatics have a different understand of "Spirit-filled" Christians. They believe that if you are speaking in tongues you are Spirit-filled. But since not all will speak in tongues, that idea is not scriptural. (And we won't even discuss the concept of prayer language vs tongues since that is a totally different subject).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Helen

Nancy

Well-Known Member
Apr 30, 2018
16,761
25,324
113
Buffalo, Ny
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Thank you for sharing, but have you considered that Paul may not be talking about stirring up the Spirit, but the unfeigned faith in us?

2 Timothy 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

If you read Paul's words of his call to remembrance of the unfeigned faith in us, then that is the gift of God we are to stir up as it is our unfeigned faith that motivates us to share the testimony of our Lord without shame in giving that holy calling through the gospel that Paul is an appointed preacher of, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.


6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

So basically as I read his words in context, he is referring to applying our unfeigned faith in Him to preach the gospel as stirring up that gift of God.

May I ask where you had picked up that application from, if not from your own reading, and what was the meaning to use it in stirring up the Spirit? How does one stir up the Spirit? Just asking in case you were not convinced that it was our unfeigned faith that was to be stirred up & not the Spirit.


1:6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. <---I understood this to be receiving the Holy Spirit, not faith.
I Timothy 4:14 - Do not neglect the gift which is in you, [that special inward endowment] which was directly imparted to you [by the Holy Spirit] by prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon you [at your ordination]. I don't recall hands being laid to receive "faith" as it is of, course a gift of the Spirit already living in you. I;m not sure where I 1st heard this, i have heard and read many takes on so many things it makes my head spin sometimes so...I am not certain either way if this is talking about the Spirit or our faith. lol...not so sure how vital it is even to know which lol.!


 

bbyrd009

Groper
Nov 30, 2016
33,943
12,081
113
Ute City, COLO
www.facebook.com
Faith
Christian
Country
United States Minor Outlying Islands
So should we be bearing testimony of still filling as if the wine is running out, or should we be testifying that we are a new creature in Christ Jesus, and filled and sealed with that Spirit of adoption whereby we can call God Father as a testimony that we are His and thus saved?
my reply would be "yes." New wine goes into new skins because it still needs to ferment. We are described in other passages as "two men," in a bed, or in a field, and "one taken and the other left" is a process imo, usually one of years i guess
 
  • Like
Reactions: Helen

bbyrd009

Groper
Nov 30, 2016
33,943
12,081
113
Ute City, COLO
www.facebook.com
Faith
Christian
Country
United States Minor Outlying Islands
through the laying on of my hands
which imo means "git bizzy" and not "emo prayer event."

For this reason I remind you to keep alive the gift that God gave you when I laid my hands on you.

For this reason I remind you to keep alive the gift that God gave you when I got my hands on you.

would likely be the slang for today, but we even still say "laid my hands on" in a secular context
 

JesusIsFaithful

Well-Known Member
Feb 24, 2015
1,765
438
83
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
I believe you may be treating the gift of the Holy Spirit as the filling (or fulness) of the Spirit. But they are no identical in Scripture.

I was hoping to convey that there is no other supernatural filling of the Spirit for saved believers to seek after when they are Spirit-filled since they had been saved. Some would use Ephesians 5:18 as if continual filling is necessary when it is just a call to be sober as in refraining from getting drunk.

While everyone who obeys the Gospel receives the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38) whereby the Spirit comes to indwell the believer, Christians are required to "grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Pet 3:18).

If everyone was automatically filled with the Spirit (which means that all were consistently walking in the spirit and speaking the Word of God boldly), then there would be no reason to "grow in grace". Christian maturity and being filled with the Spirit are synonymous.

ACTS 6
3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.


But because there must be progressive sanctification, the fulness of the Spirit is associated with being fully controlled by the Holy Spirit and not by "the flesh".

I believe all believers are Spirit-filled so that we are all accountable for what we sow towards; the fruits of the Spirit or the works of the flesh. If we were not always Spirit-filled, then there can be no accountability to what we sow towards when we are still in this sinful fallen flesh.

Acts 6 th reference was looking for seven qualified mature and honest men in Christ that will take care of the neglected widows in daily ministration. The only measure one has in being full of faith and of the Holy Ghost is not having any traits linked to the works of the flesh but to the fruits of the Spirit. Indeed, a mature believer or one that has been a believer for a long time, can fall away into carnality, and so that is why they look to one full of faith and with the Holy Ghost as abiding in the Lord Jesus Christ to take care of the widows among the congregation and the christian community.

Also, Pentecostals and Charismatics have a different understand of "Spirit-filled" Christians. They believe that if you are speaking in tongues you are Spirit-filled. But since not all will speak in tongues, that idea is not scriptural.

Some actually believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of tongues can be received apart from salvation. They have their own testimonies about receiving this "second blessing" much later in life as saved believers as a real palpable event, but I'd say it is not of Him at all..

Other denominations suggest that there is a continual supernatural filling of the Spirit to be sought after while some refer to Ephesians 5:18 as in principle; and not really referring to having another supernatural encounter with the Holy Ghost that the deceived & the seduced can attest to.

(And we won't even discuss the concept of prayer language vs tongues since that is a totally different subject).

Well, often times than not, those who claim a separate palpable encounter with the Holy Ghost later in life as a saved believer will assigned tongues of supposedly both kinds ( speaking & praying ) to that moment from which I have grounds to discern as not of Him at all. Some will say I am throwing the baby out with the bath water, but knowing God's gift of tongues is for speaking unto the people, and not identified by an apostate calling, I know there is no baby in that bathwater that I am throwing out. That means they do not have the real God's gift of tongues when gained by apostasy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nancy

JesusIsFaithful

Well-Known Member
Feb 24, 2015
1,765
438
83
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
1:6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. <---I understood this to be receiving the Holy Spirit, not faith.
I Timothy 4:14 - Do not neglect the gift which is in you, [that special inward endowment] which was directly imparted to you [by the Holy Spirit] by prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon you [at your ordination]. I don't recall hands being laid to receive "faith" as it is of, course a gift of the Spirit already living in you. I;m not sure where I 1st heard this, i have heard and read many takes on so many things it makes my head spin sometimes so...I am not certain either way if this is talking about the Spirit or our faith. lol...not so sure how vital it is even to know which lol.!

I see your point about the laying on of hands, and verse 7 indirectly testifying to the Holy Spirit in us, I would believe.

I reckon I was thrown of when in verse 5 Paul calls to remembrance of that unfeigned faith in them, and so when he had said "wherefore", I had read that to mean reminding them of that unfeigned faith in them to stir up, but now I read that as reminding them of their unfeigned faith, and by that unfeigned faith to stir up the Holy Ghost in the ministry in preaching the gospel.

2 Timothy 1:5When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. 6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

I do not believe it is a faith to apply as if to kick the Holy Ghost in the rears, or to get Him moving, but to apply faith that the Lord will minister when they go forth to minister so that they are motivated by unfeigned faith in serving Him in the ministry.

So you are right, that the gift of God has to be the Holy Ghost in that verse with the laying on of hands, since Paul was reminding them of their unfeigned faith in how to stir up that gift of God.

Hebrews 11:1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report....6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Kind of like how James was exhorting believers to apply faith when praying to the Lord for an answer.

James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Since the just shall live by faith, so ought we to live by unfeigned faith in the ministry just as in praying to the Lord for answers.

I do not believe it is to be applied to stirring up a supernatural event with the Holy Ghost, but applying faith in living that reconciled relationship with God in Jesus Christ as that power is of the Holy Ghost in how and why the just shall live by faith in Jesus Christ.
 

JesusIsFaithful

Well-Known Member
Feb 24, 2015
1,765
438
83
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
my reply would be "yes." New wine goes into new skins because it still needs to ferment. We are described in other passages as "two men," in a bed, or in a field, and "one taken and the other left" is a process imo, usually one of years i guess

Well, if one ferments in a sealed container, then where is the need for continual filling? I reckon by your analogy, when we are not sowing to the works of the flesh but sowing to the fruits of the Spirit and thus being Spirit-filled, we would be fermenting as in being fruitful.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bbyrd009

Nancy

Well-Known Member
Apr 30, 2018
16,761
25,324
113
Buffalo, Ny
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
I see your point about the laying on of hands, and verse 7 indirectly testifying to the Holy Spirit in us, I would believe.

I reckon I was thrown of when in verse 5 Paul calls to remembrance of that unfeigned faith in them, and so when he had said "wherefore", I had read that to mean reminding them of that unfeigned faith in them to stir up, but now I read that as reminding them of their unfeigned faith, and by that unfeigned faith to stir up the Holy Ghost in the ministry in preaching the gospel.

2 Timothy 1:5When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. 6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

I do not believe it is a faith to apply as if to kick the Holy Ghost in the rears, or to get Him moving, but to apply faith that the Lord will minister when they go forth to minister so that they are motivated by unfeigned faith in serving Him in the ministry.

So you are right, that the gift of God has to be the Holy Ghost in that verse with the laying on of hands, since Paul was reminding them of their unfeigned faith in how to stir up that gift of God.

Hebrews 11:1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report....6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Kind of like how James was exhorting believers to apply faith when praying to the Lord for an answer.

James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Since the just shall live by faith, so ought we to live by unfeigned faith in the ministry just as in praying to the Lord for answers.

I do not believe it is to be applied to stirring up a supernatural event with the Holy Ghost, but applying faith in living that reconciled relationship with God in Jesus Christ as that power is of the Holy Ghost in how and why the just shall live by faith in Jesus Christ.

"I do not believe it is a faith to apply as if to kick the Holy Ghost in the rears, or to get Him moving, but to apply faith that the Lord will minister when they go forth to minister so that they are motivated by unfeigned faith in serving Him in the ministry." <---Oh good Lord no, He (Holy Spirit) moves as He wills according to our faith, I am going paragraph by paragraph here lol so, if you already spoke to this, I'm sorry :D

"

Since the just shall live by faith, so ought we to live by unfeigned faith in the ministry just as in praying to the Lord for answers.


"I do not believe it is to be applied to stirring up a supernatural event with the Holy Ghost, but applying faith in living that reconciled relationship with God in Jesus Christ as that power is of the Holy Ghost in how and why the just shall live by faith in Jesus Christ." <---Ditto! Oh, I think we are on the same page :)

BTW-I do not believe I have ever heard the words "...you're right..."ANY where on this forum, lol...and I am not sure I am right anyhow! Just refreshing to hear whether to me or ANYONE on here...lol



 

JesusIsFaithful

Well-Known Member
Feb 24, 2015
1,765
438
83
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
"I do not believe it is a faith to apply as if to kick the Holy Ghost in the rears, or to get Him moving, but to apply faith that the Lord will minister when they go forth to minister so that they are motivated by unfeigned faith in serving Him in the ministry." <---Oh good Lord no, He (Holy Spirit) moves as He wills according to our faith, I am going paragraph by paragraph here lol so, if you already spoke to this, I'm sorry :D


That is with the understanding of it being in according to the Father's will. If our faith is used to move mountains when there are people on that mountains, pretty sure the Father's will say no to that for why the Holy Spirit is not doing it.

Since the just shall live by faith, so ought we to live by unfeigned faith in the ministry just as in praying to the Lord for answers.
"I do not believe it is to be applied to stirring up a supernatural event with the Holy Ghost, but applying faith in living that reconciled relationship with God in Jesus Christ as that power is of the Holy Ghost in how and why the just shall live by faith in Jesus Christ." <---Ditto! Oh, I think we are on the same page :)

BTW-I do not believe I have ever heard the words "...you're right..."ANY where on this forum, lol...and I am not sure I am right anyhow! Just refreshing to hear whether to me or ANYONE on here...lol

I have been corrected at one other time in the forum by the scripture from what I can poorly recollect, even though I cannot remember what that correction was, but it has happened. There may be more, but I cannot recall now.

I am open to correction by Him from any one in according to the scripture written in the KJV. Thanks to Him, I care about abiding in Him and in His words to abide in truth as no lie can be of the truth. Believers that seek to be His disciples cannot afford pride to keep us from being corrected if we wish to continue to grow in the word and be fruitful in Jesus Christ.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nancy

bbyrd009

Groper
Nov 30, 2016
33,943
12,081
113
Ute City, COLO
www.facebook.com
Faith
Christian
Country
United States Minor Outlying Islands
fermenting as in being fruitful.
i guess fruitful would be a side effect, ya. i always assumed the analogy was used to indicate an internal change.
where is the need for continual filling?
the need for "continual filling" of the Holy Spirit, i assume? I dislike the way that is made into a...specific ritual, myself, although i participated for years--while avoiding or even outright running from...uncomfortable situations? Situations where others are sinning in some manner? I feared evil iow i guess.

"Filling of the Holy Spirit" is a specific operation in your mind, right, usually done in a "church?" With speaking in tongues prolly? i perceive it a bit diff now, more like an emptying or something, i find myself in a situation where i...have to leave. Without going anywhere i mean. Man, it's hard to explain. It went from your understanding to standing in the midst of a bunch of bikers or something, adversarial types, um, i guess literally fearing for my life, oh bc i was testing God i guess, to...somewhere diff now, "me leaving while i'm still standing here" is the best way i can put it. Um, my fam (who are still basically Pentecostal/Charismatic) remarks that it looks like i'm trying to commit suicide lol; but i've never told them "that is being filled with the Spirit" or anything, being IRL. plus i guess i never really associated the two before

anyway, more rungs on that ladder imo, and i sure don't want to scare anyone off from seeking here, but when i get filled with the Spirit now i become aware that i may be about to die, but that is not what is in the front of my mind in the moment like you'd think it would be. i generally end up making a friend. that i would rather not have even, but nevermind that part lol
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nancy

Nancy

Well-Known Member
Apr 30, 2018
16,761
25,324
113
Buffalo, Ny
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
i guess fruitful would be a side effect, ya. i always assumed the analogy was used to indicate an internal change.
the need for "continual filling" of the Holy Spirit, i assume? I dislike the way that is made into a...specific ritual, myself, although i participated for years--while avoiding or even outright running from...uncomfortable situations? Situations where others are sinning in some manner? I feared evil iow i guess.

"Filling of the Holy Spirit" is a specific operation in your mind, right, usually done in a "church?" With speaking in tongues prolly? i perceive it a bit diff now, more like an emptying or something, i find myself in a situation where i...have to leave. Without going anywhere i mean. Man, it's hard to explain. It went from your understanding to standing in the midst of a bunch of bikers or something, adversarial types, um, i guess literally fearing for my life, oh bc i was testing God i guess, to...somewhere diff now, "me leaving while i'm still standing here" is the best way i can put it. Um, my fam (who are still basically Pentecostal/Charismatic) remarks that it looks like i'm trying to commit suicide lol; but i've never told them "that is being filled with the Spirit" or anything, being IRL. plus i guess i never really associated the two before

anyway, more rungs on that ladder imo, and i sure don't want to scare anyone off from seeking here, but when i get filled with the Spirit now i become aware that i may be about to die, but that is not what is in the front of my mind in the moment like you'd think it would be. i generally end up making a friend. that i would rather not have even, but nevermind that part lol

What I see in your post Mark, is describing my own experience when I praise and worship and pray to HIM-my hands automatically come to waist height only with my palms turned up...kind of like saying "please take back what ever I am holding onto too tight and let your Spirit move within me (stir up?) and place into my hands whatever is Your Will...and, that could be anything! Well, not evil of course, lol. Just my musings :)
-nancy
 

GodsGrace

Well-Known Member
Aug 29, 2017
10,727
5,716
113
Tuscany
Faith
Christian
Country
Italy
Saved believers may not know this in these latter days but testifying to Spirit filled is testifying that you are saved.

Matthew 9:17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

So should we be bearing testimony of still filling as if the wine is running out, or should we be testifying that we are a new creature in Christ Jesus, and filled and sealed with that Spirit of adoption whereby we can call God Father as a testimony that we are His and thus saved?

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Many used Ephesians 5:18 as if Paul is citing to seek a continual filling of the Spirit, but not so.

Ephesians 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

It is only in wine there is excess for drunkenness to occur but not so with the Spirit. The call to be sober is not to get drunk with wine, but remain filled in the Spirit as in retaining the fruit of the Spirit which is temperance, also known as "self control" hence to remain sober.

There are other calls to believers for sobriety, and it is not done by seeking a continual filling of the Spirit. That is why there is no other calling for a believer to seek after because we are filled as promised for coming to and believing in Jesus Christ at the calling of the gospel.

1 Thessalonians 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

Jesus Christ would not be much of a Saviour if our lights keep going out that we need a filling.

Therefore, what testimony are you going to give? Are you Spirit-filled and thus saved, or is your light continually going out because you are not a new wine bottle able to hold the wine? The latter hardly brings glory to our Lord & Saviour, Jesus Christ. So do consider His words of truth today so that the next time you bear testimony, you are saved because you are Spirit filled as promised at your salvation for coming to & believing in Jesus Christ to hunger nor thirst any more. Indeed, being complete in Christ Jesus is the testimony that we are saved.

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Colossians 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Great OP JIF !

My aunt used to tell her priest that she felt empty at times. He'd tell her that she needs to be empty so God
Could fill her up. She liked that.

I believe the Holy Spirit dwells in us and you can't get more filled than that.

I do believe that we can get mixed up between the Holy Spirit and knowledge.
We never stop learning. We're filled with the spirit, but never filled with knowledge.
Some are very happy with little knowledge, and some need more. I think both are OK
And one should not put down the other.

But both have the "same amount" of the Holy Spirit, even though we show it in different ways.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Truth and Nancy

Nancy

Well-Known Member
Apr 30, 2018
16,761
25,324
113
Buffalo, Ny
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
i would say bc that is where we are called to manifest Christ, it is the sick that need the help, not the well, etc

ah; aren't there 12 fruits?

i would say bc that is where we are called to manifest Christ, it is the sick that need the help, not the well, etc

ah; aren't there 12 fruits?

" but the fruit of the spirit is (1) LOVE, (2) JOY, (3) PEACE, (4) LONG-SUFFERING, (5) KINDNESS, (6) GOODNESS, (7) FAITHFULNESS, (8) GENTLENESS, (9) SELF-CONTROL= 9 fruits and this is what I ask for everyday, that these fruits be manifest in me so that I might Glorify Him and share Him with the lost, and believe me in, my neighbor hood...we have all of these poor, lost, very needy, addicted, homeless who are right here, on my very street!
i would say bc that is where we are called to manifest Christ, it is the sick that need the help, not the well, etc

ah; aren't there 12 fruits?
" but the fruit of the spirit is (1) LOVE, (2) JOY, (3) PEACE, (4) LONG-SUFFERING, (5) KINDNESS, (6) GOODNESS, (7) FAITHFULNESS, (8) GENTLENESS, (9) SELF-
 
  • Like
Reactions: Truth and bbyrd009

Nancy

Well-Known Member
Apr 30, 2018
16,761
25,324
113
Buffalo, Ny
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
" but the fruit of the spirit is (1) LOVE, (2) JOY, (3) PEACE, (4) LONG-SUFFERING, (5) KINDNESS, (6) GOODNESS, (7) FAITHFULNESS, (8) GENTLENESS, (9) SELF-CONTROL= 9 fruits and this is what I ask for everyday, that these fruits be manifest in me so that I might Glorify Him and share Him with the lost, and believe me in, my neighbor hood...we have all of these poor, lost, very needy, addicted, homeless who are right here, on my very street!

" but the fruit of the spirit is (1) LOVE, (2) JOY, (3) PEACE, (4) LONG-SUFFERING, (5) KINDNESS, (6) GOODNESS, (7) FAITHFULNESS, (8) GENTLENESS, (9) SELF-
<-----UNLESS you are reading from a Catholic bible?