Lk1

What does it mean to be "filled with the Holy Spirit"? This is a critical biblical question in which many today would disagree. It is too big of a question to leave unanswered.

Luke 1 begins with the story of John the Baptist. Actually, it begins with the story of John's parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth. The angel Gabriel came to Zechariah and told him what was about to happen. He told him that he and Elizabeth would give birth to a prophet who would be "filled with the Holy Spirit".

Later in this chapter, when Elizabeth saw Mary, who was pregnant with Jesus, her baby John "leaped" in her womb and Elizabeth was "filled with the Holy Spirit." After John was born and they were considering what to name him, Zechariah's mouth, which had been mute for over 9 months, was opened and he said, "his name is John." Immediately after this Zechariah was "filled with the Holy Spirit".

Both Elizabeth and Zechariah were "filled with the Holy Spirit". Both knew that something significant had happened to them. Both knew that they were being called of God to fulfill a specific ministry. But what does this mean?

Paul writes to the Ephesian christians, "don't be drunk with wine, but be filled with the Holy Spirit". Are we filled with God's spirit? Do we even know what that means?

Something to think about.