The Filling of the Holy Spirit

In Ephesians 5:18, the apostle Paul tells us to “be filled with the Spirit.” The world “filled” translates the Greek verb πληρόω pleroo, which is a present passive imperative. The present tense implies ongoing action, which means the filling of the Spirit is enduring. The passive voice means we are to receive what the Spirit’s work in our lives. And the imperative mood means it’s a command to be obeyed. To be filled with the Spirit does not mean we have more of the Spirit at one time and less at another; rather, it means the Spirit has more of us. To paraphrase Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer, the filling of the Spirit means the Spirit is fulfilling in us all that He desires. And one of the chief characteristics of being filled with the Spirit is an attitude of gratitude in which we give thanks to God and worship Him (Eph 5:19-20).