Let us ask three questions: 1. What is this filling with the Holy Spirit. It is a definite experience. Picture the scene: Peter and John had been released from prison and had immediately joined the believers in Jerusalem. So, they knew the place, the time and the date when this happened because it was a definite experience; just as it was a definite experience for those present in Acts 2:4, and for Saul in Acts 9:17. It is more than His indwelling and His baptism. These believers were already indwelt by the Holy Spirit. They had also been baptised by the Holy Spirit and had thus been brought into union with Christ Romans 6:4 ; compare 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:5. But the baptism and the initial indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a positional matter; it has to do with our standing. The filling with the Holy Spirit is an experimental or experiential matter, come holy spirit fall afresh on me it is true to say that being filled with the Come holy spirit fall afresh on me Spirit is more than His coming to dwell within us and His baptising us into the body of Christ. It is for all believers. Peter and John and the other members of the early Church were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and this gracious infilling and enabling is for every Christian; no Christian can really live the Christian life or serve God effectively without this. It is not a once-and-for-all experience. The simple comparison of Acts 2:4 and Acts 4:31 makes this clear. There must, of course, be an initial experience of the infilling, but it would be quite wrong to leave the matter at that. We can never lose the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit because He has come to live with us for ever John 14:16-17 ; but when we grieve Him Ephesians 4:30or quench Him 1 Thessalonians 5:19we may restrict His work through us. Also, we need fresh fillings of the Holy Spirit to fit us for every fresh piece of service that we undertake for the Lord. It may be received by faith alone, apart from feelings. Do not be misled by this. After all, the Holy Spirit is sovereign in His work. Look up 1 John 5:14-15. Make sure you are filled and leave God to decide how the fullness of the Spirit will be seen in your life. How does the filling of the Holy Spirit show itself. What are the results, evidences, manifestations. Whether the building is shaken or we are moved with deep emotion is not the important thing. There was boldness to speak the word of God verse 31. We find this so hard; it is because we are timid, reticent and fearful; what is the remedy. It is the filling of the Holy Spirit, who gives authority, power and ability to speak the word Acts 2:4; Acts 4:8; Acts 4:31. There was unity of heart and purpose verse 32. There was a recognition of the lordship of Christ. When they were filled with the Holy Spirit they no longer regarded their property as their own verse 32. I am under His sovereignty, His lordship. My loved ones, my house, my money are all His; so I must use these things in the way that He chooses. The generosity of these believers showed the reality of their fellowship; they also provided for the poor and needy verses 34-37and all this shows us that the filling with the Spirit makes Christians tender-hearted and large-hearted. There was beauty in their lives and characters. How does the filling with the Holy Spirit come. They were moving along in the will of God. The Lord had commanded them to preach the gospel, and this is what they were doing - compare verses 29, 31 and 33. They sought the Lord in earnest, intercessory prayer.
