Be Continually Filled with the Holy Spirit | Bible Verses to Help You
To be “filled with the Holy Spirit” proceeds from being "baptized with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1:5; 2:4) and means to be continually empowered, guided, and influenced by the Spirit of God, not just once, but as an ongoing experience in the believer’s life (Ephesians 5:18).
IN SHORT:
Believers are called not only to receive the Holy Spirit, but to live in a continual state of spiritual renewal and empowerment. The Bible shows that this ongoing filling produces boldness, victory over sin, effective ministry, and a Spirit-led life. Christians are encouraged to stir up this gift through prayer, faith, and obedience, allowing the Holy Spirit to actively work in and through them.
Key Takeaways:
- • Being filled with the Holy Spirit is not intended to be just a one-time event, but an ongoing experience.
- • The Bible teaches believers to “keep on being filled” (Ephesians 5:18).
- • Spiritual power, boldness, and effective ministry flow from this continual filling.
- • The Holy Spirit’s presence in the believer must be stirred up and actively maintained.
- • Prayer, faith, and obedience are key to walking in the Spirit’s fullness.
Key Scriptures:
Ephesians 5:18; Acts 2:4; Acts 4:31; John 14:12; John 7:37–39; 2 Timothy 1:6
Welcome to Original Pentecostal
Sermons and Bible Studies
by Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D.
Brief Bio: Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D., is a Pentecostal Bible teacher with more than 50 years of Spirit-filled ministry experience. His sermons and Bible studies are personally written and drawn from decades of service as a church planter, senior pastor, Bible college teacher and Dean, and as a trainer of ministers internationally in the Pentecostal tradition.
Introduction to Being Filled with the Spirit Continuallly
Jesus spoke in John 14:12 of believers doing the “works that He did” and even “greater works.” Where are those greater works today? The early Church believers, in the Book of Acts, healed the sick, cast out demons in Jesus' name, and even raised the dead. What did they have that we have overlooked? I believe that a big part of the answer to that lies in their awareness of their need to be continuously full of the Holy Spirit of God.
'Be Filled with the Spirit' — a Biblical Command. Stay Stirred Up!
- •• Various Greek scholars and bible commentators point out that the Greek present imperative tense is used in this verse. It has the connotation of a continuous replenishment, an ongoing state of being filled.
- • It has been suggested by some that an awkward but appropriate translation our main Bible verse (above) would be something like: “go on being filled...” or "keep on being filled with the Spirit" or "continue to be being filled with the Spirit..." (awkard-sounding in English, I agree, but it gives the general sense).
- •• I try each summer to keep two thirds of an acre of grass alive in my yard! To do so, I must water it ... again and again and again! If I don’t water it repeatedly, it dries up in our hot, dry southern Oregon climate. I never allow my lawn to get parched.
- • Explanatory note: I am not trying to make a sharp distinction between the very similar words continuously (meaning non-stop) and continually (essentially meaning again and again and again...). The Scriptures use both with regard to the Holy Spirit. For example, Acts 13:52 - "And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit." At the same time, some Greek scholars, as noted above, say that the "be filled" in Ephesians 5:18 has the continuous sense of "go on being filled" with the Holy Spirit of God.
• My lawn watering example is intended to capture the sense of both continually filled and continuously filled. In southern Oregon's hot, dry summers I had to water my lawn continually (again and again!) in order to keep moisture in its life-giving roots continuously (that is, nonstop).
- •• In
Acts 2:4 , it says, “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit” on that first New Testament Day of Pentecost, with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues. But then again inActs 4:31 , it says of many of the same Spirit-filled believers, “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” Huh?- • This is an illustration of
Ephesians 5:18 — those who had received their personal Pentecost in Acts 2 here experienced a stirring up, a rekindling , a continual filling — presumably another of many times of stirring up the Spirit — just like my lawn, which again and again needs watering. It can’t just go on last week’s watering, or my lawn will dry up.
• I am not suggesting that this is an entirely new baptism with the Holy Spirit for those who have already received it. The Scripture says (1 John 2:27) that "the anointing you received from him remains in you." There is a biblical principle that applies: "...I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is IN you..." (2 Timothy 1:6). Some other translations say to "stir up the gift of God." But they all remind us that the Lord's gift is IN us, not something that comes and goes. The Amplified Bible reminds us (Romans 11:29) that "God's gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given...]." Our job is to stir up the baptism with the Spirit that is in us and, as Jesus urged us, to "keep your lamps burning" (Luke 12:35).
• And of course there may have been some in the room in Acts 4 who had not been involved in the initial Acts 2 Pentecostal outpouring of the Spirit of God. So verse 31's "They were all filled with the Holy Spirit" would be a first-time experience for them. From then on, like the others (and like us today), they should be diligent to "keep their lamps burning" and to "stir up" that precious empowerment of the Holy Spirit that is "in them."
- • This is an illustration of
- •• What is the environment, the context, for this ongoing empowerment, this stirring up, in
Acts 4:31 ? Let's see.
Holy Spirit-Inspired Signs, Wonders, and Bold Speaking Came As They Prayed for Those Things in Their Ministries
- •• This Holy Ghost stirring of these Spirit-filled believers came as they prayed to God for MORE — (1) bold preaching ... (2) healings ... (3) miraculous signs and wonders — all in Jesus’ Name.
•• If they had been content to rest passively in their initial, Acts 2:4 Holy Spirit anointing, they would not have asked, and they might not have received — “Ye have not because ye ask not” (James 4:2).
•• Jesus said, “Believers, you will do the works I do.” Well, these first-century believers did those works! How? — Many of that group, perhaps even most or all of them, had already received the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4). But they understood their need to stay full of the Holy Spirit — to "go on being filled" — in order to effectively preach the word of God confirmed by the supernatural spiritual gifts.
We Can Do the Works of Jesus Because He Gives Us the Holy Spirit to Empower Us
- •• How and why can we do the works Jesus did and greater? He says, “...because I am going to my Father... [and] He will give you another Counselor ... the [Holy] Spirit...” And one result of our receiving the heaven-sent gift of the Holy Spirit baptism is an empowerment of us to do His works, especially by the enablement of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
•• So you see how totally dependent we are on having the fullness of His Spirit in order to do His works.
•• How are you doing today? Do you find yourself somewhere between your own personalActs 2 andActs 4 ? Somewhere between that first anointing and the current state (perhaps declining) of the anointing's expression in your life?- • I first received that Acts 2 anointing, that mighty baptism of the Holy Spirit, in 1971. That outpouring of the Holy Spirit on me personally was a starting point, not the end.
• I’ve needed a lot of Acts 4 replenishments since then. I (and you) need an ongoing renewal of Holy Ghost power in our lives and our ministries.
• How can we stay continuously filled with the Spirit of God daily, hourly, moment to moment? Let's read on...
Thirst for the Abundant Living Water of the Holy Spirit
- •• We need to thirst for this living water — for a flowing river, not just a glassful ... for Holy Ghost fire, not just a flickering candle.
•• We need to believe Jesus, and to believe in Him.
•• We need to come to Him. He is the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8). Take advantage daily of His blessed gift to you of speaking in tongues, of praying in the Spirit.
•• We need to drink deeply. Don’t just sip; drink!
As the Prophet Did, Seek for a Greater Measure of the Spirit Operating in You
- •• Let that be our prayer:
- • “Lord, thank you for that
Acts 2 filling with the Holy Spirit. Lord, help me now daily to stir up, to fan into flame, that abiding anointing of the Spirit in my life and ministry. My prayer today is for a double portion of your Spirit, twice the measure of any of my previous experiences. In Jesus’ Name.”
- • “Lord, thank you for that
Frequently Asked Questions About Being Filled with the Holy Spirit
Below are answers to some of the most common questions about what the Bible teaches regarding being continually filled with the Holy Spirit.
• What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit?
Being filled with the Holy Spirit means being empowered, guided, and influenced by God’s Spirit in your daily life. It is not just a one-time experience, but an ongoing condition of spiritual fullness. Ephesians 5:18 teaches believers to “be filled,” indicating a continual action. This means allowing the Holy Spirit to direct your thoughts, actions, and ministry. A Spirit-filled life reflects Christ’s power and character.
• Is being filled with the Holy Spirit a one-time event?
No, the Bible shows that being filled with the Holy Spirit is both an initial experience and an ongoing one. In Acts 2, believers were first filled, but later in Acts 4 they were filled again. This demonstrates the need for continual renewal and empowerment. The command in Ephesians 5:18 supports this ongoing experience. Believers are called to keep being filled with the Spirit.
• How can a believer stay continually filled with the Holy Spirit?
Believers remain filled with the Holy Spirit through prayer, faith, obedience, and regular fellowship with God. Stirring up the gift of the Spirit, as taught in 2 Timothy 1:6, is essential. Worship, Scripture, and yielding to God’s will also help maintain this fullness. The Holy Spirit already dwells within believers, but His influence must be actively embraced. A consistent relationship with God keeps the Spirit’s work flowing.
• What are the results of being filled with the Holy Spirit?
Being filled with the Holy Spirit produces boldness, spiritual power, effective witness, and victory over sin. It enables believers to operate in spiritual gifts and serve God effectively. The early Church demonstrated these results through miracles and bold preaching. A Spirit-filled life also reflects Christ-like character. It brings both power for ministry and transformation in daily living.
• Why is continual filling with the Holy Spirit important?
Continual filling is important because spiritual life can grow weak without ongoing renewal. Just as believers need regular nourishment physically, they need spiritual refreshing. The Bible shows that even Spirit-filled believers sought fresh empowerment. Staying filled keeps believers effective in ministry and strong in faith. It ensures that God’s power is actively working in their lives.
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Pentecostal Sermons and Bible Studies
by Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D.