A phenomenon transpires when the words "Spirit-filled" get thrown around.
I'm a people watcher, I've always been. I enjoy going to public places in observation of the differences among people - it's entertaining and even humorous at times.
Did I just see a guy wearing that shirt with those pants? There goes the Red Hat Society. That kid is sagging his pants down to his knees! Why have the big/dark/thick rimmed glasses become popular again? And when it comes to glasses, why do all these kids wear the same LMFAO sunglasses? Oh, and what's the tattoo on that guys arm say?
I've always found it amusing to note the different reactions displayed when the words, "Spirit-filled" is said. This is an incredibly fascinating phenomenon.
Eyebrows become raised with suspicious concerns as people think, "Uh oh, you're one of those people." Nods grow with exaggeration when people want you to know they're Spirit-filled. Eyes glaze over and drift off into the mid to far distance which lets you know that this person has no idea what you're talking about. A look of anticipation comes over people's faces as they sit on the edge of their seats waiting to hear exactly what you mean.
So many looks, so many understandings.
Spirit-filled - a phrase that brings up all sorts of ideological and experiential baggage.
What is it and what does it do?
In the book of Acts, we see that Jesus tells his disciples to "wait for the gift my Father promised." He said, "John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…"
And then one day, as the disciples all met in one place to celebrate Pentecost (a Jewish holiday recognizing God giving the Law to the Israelites on Mt. Sinai), they became Spirit-filled. Luke, the author of Acts, explained it like this, "Suddenly a sound like a blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them." All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in their native languages as the Spirit enabled them. Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Egypt, Arabs, and others were able to hear "the wonders of God" in their own languages.
The early church became Spirit-filled. And not long after, 3000 people accepted Jesus to be the Anointed one from God (the Messiah, the Christ).
Acts 2:42 characterizes this Spirit-filled community (church) and what it devoted itself to in these four ways:
1. The apostles' teaching.
The apostles had just finished spending close to three years with Jesus. Many of them left their jobs, homes, and families to learn under this rabbi (Jesus was a rabbi in early Judaism). When Luke says "apostles' teaching," we must recognize that the apostles were teaching what they learned from Jesus, and that Jesus spend much of his time teaching what is now known as our Old Testament. And Jesus didn't stop at the Old Testament, he came proclaiming the inauguration of the kingdom of God. Those that were Spirit-filled devoted themselves to learning from Jesus.
2. Fellowship.
The Greek word here is koinonia. This word has meanings conveying community, oneness, communion, united participation, partnership, union, being of one mind, and so on. Imagine 3000+ people devoted to koinonia. The thing is, koinonia wasn't just explicatory of their relationship to one another, it was also explicatory of their devotion to following Jesus' teachings on the kingdom of God. They became devoted to one another as their ultimate priority was the kingdom. Those that were Spirit-filled devoted themselves to fellowship (koinonia).
3. Breaking of Bread.
The early church made eating together one of the things they devoted themselves to. Eating together was a way to share their time, their homes, their lives and their love. Breaking of bread also has indications of the Lord's Supper. Not only did they eat together, when they did, they took time to pause and reflect on what their Christ had done through the work of the Cross. Furthermore, they celebrated the fact that Jesus was now with them in Spirit. Those that were Spirit-filled devoted themselves to the breaking of bread.
4. Prayer
For the early church, prayer wasn't simply a private/personal act; prayer had a communal element as well. Praying together bonded the community as one as they conversed with the Lord. Jesus instructed his disciples on how to pray (not necessarily what to pray). It is important to note that the early church's devotion to Jesus' teachings would have included the Lord's prayer. Those what were Spirit-filled devoted themselves to prayer.
As noted by Luke, the book of Acts portrays the "fruit of the Spirit" in the context of the church. They were filled with the Spirit, not only individually, but as a community as well. As they became Spirit-filled, they devoted themselves to the apostles' teachings and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. This was the fruit of the Spirit for the church.
Have many of us misunderstood the meaning of "Spirit-filled?" Possibly.
Before we throw the baby out with the bathwater, may we remember what the Spirit did to the church. May we realize that it had implications for the community - far greater and not limited to personal spiritual experiences. May we allow the Spirit in our churches and may we see its fruit.
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