Spirit-Filled

There is a phrase made popular by the Charismatic Renewal Movement in the ’50s through the ’90s that is used to describe someone who has experienced something beyond basic Christianity. This phrase: “Spirit-filled,” can mean many things. The range extends from being able to speak in tongues, to being considered a Charismatic or Pentecostal, or to simply expecting the Spirit to speak to the person.

The implication is that the Spirit-filled believer has had an encounter that may be called “baptism in the Spirit,” and is therefore still filled with the Spirit from that event. Since some of the people Luke described as having been filled with the Spirit in chapter 2 of the Acts of the Apostles were filled again in his description of what happened in chapter 4, it is easy for me to believe that we need to be filled frequently, not just once.

Experientially, I have seen the same indications; people who have been filled with the Spirit return to other influences after a period of time, and have refreshing re-fillings on more than one occasion. Either we leak, or we push Him away, or in some other way His influence over us diminishes to the extent that it needs to be renewed.

My suggestion, then, is that we use a term that looks like Galatians 5:16 and 5:25 – Spirit-led.

I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar, about which I tell you in advance—as I told you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit.
(Galatians 5:16-25 Holman Christian Standard Bible ®©)