Author’s note: Forty-seven years ago tonight (12/6), Jerry and Debra prayed for a young high school kid to be filled with the Holy Spirit after a house church meeting. That young man’s life was changed forever, and he uses this moment to publicly thank the Lord for His wonderful gift!
Just this week I watched as a major prophet in the USA was convicted by the Holy Spirit, and confessed to it publicly, for not praying in tongues much! Our teaching of praying in tongues for hours daily is a sure word for this day and time. May we all be so convicted, repentant and transformed by the miracle working power given us as we pray much in the Spirit!
FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive (Grk. LAMBANO) the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 NKJV
The Church in the book of Acts has never been surpassed, let alone equaled in its impact in on the world around it. From the Mediterranean Sea to the fertile crescent of the Middle East, to perhaps as far as the United Kingdom on the north and India on the east, the gospel penetrated the then known world. The believers were known by the unbelievers as ‘those who were turning the world upside down’ (Acts 17:6).
We don’t get too many examples of the radical changes that the new born again ones experienced, but we have the example of the Apostle Paul. Paul was a Pharisee, a member of the Sanhedrin, which indicates that he was also married at one point, and was a rabid persecutor of believers. He was perhaps in line to be High Priest. But I believe the Lord had people interceding for his salvation because encounters like his on the road to Damascus don’t just happen every day. They happen because people pray for them to happen, and may have been in response to Paul’s own prayers (Mt. 5:5).
In the first week of Paul’s new life in Christ, which started with his salvation, he was physically healed, delivered of demons, filled with the evidence of speaking in tongues, water baptized and had a prophetic word spoken over him, giving vision and purpose to his new life. Shortly afterwards he was mentored by one of the original Twelve.
So, where are those who are turning the world upside down today? If we could follow these seven steps with our new friends, we could rapidly produce ‘world turning warriors’ who could shake the nations. A systematized approach with a Spirit led personal touch could produce amazing transformation…
Let’s consider just one aspect – being filled with the Spirit.
One argument I run into from born again ones who don’t speak in tongues is, “I believe I am already filled with the Holy Spirit.” That argument is true. What they fail to understand is that there are two great realities of being filled with the Spirit, one of which is being filled to capacity, the other is being filled to overflowing fullness.
Jesus illustrated this overflowing fullness brilliantly in John 8:38 and 39.
“…He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive (Grk. LAMBANO); for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:38-39 NKJV
‘Rivers of living water’ – that is the overflowing fullness that every born again one is to manifest. Then John explains as the gospel writer that Jesus was referring to what would happen on the day of Pentecost, after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension, i.e. His glorification, when the Twelve spoke in tongues.
Now the word of God emphasizes this fact of the two realities of being filled with astonishing precision. In fact, there are two sets of Greek words used with divine precision in the Greek New Testament.
There are two words translated ‘receive’ with regards to the Holy Spirit: DECHOMAI and LAMBANO.
DECHOMAI refers to a subjective internal reception which occurs at the moment of the new birth. LAMBANO is the receiving into manifestation, the demonstration, the evidencing of that which you have already received internally. You’ve noticed that I have highlighted this emphasis in Acts 2:38 and in John 7:38 of LAMBANO as it relates to the Holy Spirit’s gift of tongues. Every born again one has DECHOMAIed the Holy Spirit, while not every born again one has LAMBANOed, even though they have the potential in them. Do you understand?
He will also be filled (Grk. PLETHO) with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. Luke 1:15 NKJV
And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled (Grk. PLETHO) with the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:41-42 NKJV
One time I was ministering, the Holy Spirit had fallen on the meeting, people were drunk in the Spirit, miracles, healings were happening, and I picked up this baby. The baby is instantly out – fallen under the power! Normally you would think that the baby would start crying. But no! I’m carrying this baby around – he’s a little sack of potatoes on my shoulder – ministering to people, just having a good time. Finally, the mother comes up. I hand her the baby, I never touch her, and she and the baby go gently and gracefully down under the power, and they were out for a long time. PLETHO! God is so much fun…
And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled (Grk. PLEROO) with wisdom; Luke 2:40 NKJV
There are two Greek words regarding being ‘filled’ with the Holy Spirit: PLEROO and PLETHO.
PLEROO is used of being filled to the fullest, like a glass of water filled to the very brim, or what happens when I pour in the Half-n-Half at Starbucks, full but not overflowing. This is the state of every born again one. PLETHO indicates the overflowing fullness that Jesus and Peter referred to. You have the Holy Spirit fully within – PLEROO. But when you speak in tongues, or operate the other gifts of the Spirit, He manifests in overflowing fullness – PLETHO. A person can live their whole lives being full – PLEROO – but never overflowing – PLETHO. PLETHO is where the manifested power is! Do you see it?
Every born again one can be filled – PLETHO – filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit. The world is honestly waiting for the demonstration of Jesus Christ in signs, miracles and wonders. A PLETHO believer can heal the sick and raise the dead. I’ve seen it with my own eyes, my own hands. Nothing is impossible for a PLETHO believer. Are you filled to overflowing?
Remember dear ones, we must be about our Father’s business…