‘Is your church a Spirit-filled church?’
I remember being asked this once about our church in Naperville, and my response was, ‘Yes, we are.’ But, my hunch is the person asking the question and my understanding differ on what it means to be a “Spirit-filled church.”
For those in the Pentecostal tradition (of which our church is not), I imagine a ‘Spirit-filled’ church is probably thought of as one where members speak in tongues, ‘words of prophecy’ are given from the stage, and perhaps there are dramatic expressions of the Holy Spirit manifestations (healing; being ‘slain in the Spirit,’ etc.).
But how does the Bible speak about a Spirit-filled Christianity? What does a church look like when its members are filled with the Holy Spirit? What does God’s Word say?
Eph 5:18-21:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Here in Ephesians we hear both the command to ‘be filled with the Spirit’ (18b) and the expression of what that looks (19-21). As we consider ‘What is a Spirit-filled church,’ let’s allow what the apostle Paul teaches in 5:19-21 to inform us. I believe that when a church has leaders and members doing these things, we can have greater confidence that this is a ‘Spirit-filled church.’
Here are 4 marks of a Spirit-filled Church:
1 A SPIRIT-FILLED CHURCH IS A SPEAKING CHURCH (19a) addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
In a church where members are filled with the Holy Spirit, there will regular speaking of Christ and the gospel to each other. God’s Word will ‘dwell richly’ in their hearts and conversations among members will often include and center on God and the gospel (Col 3:16). This will not only come from the pulpit, but the church will have a culture where this regularly happens.
2 A SPIRIT-FILLED CHURCH IS A SINGING CHURCH (19b) singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
In a church where members are filled with the Holy Spirit, there will be much singing to God! The congregation will aloud together on Sunday mornings, and members will sing at different time with each other or alone during the week.
3 A SPIRIT-FILLED CHURCH IS A THANKFUL CHURCH (20) 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
In a church where members are filled with the Holy Spirit, there will be much thanksgiving. In the place of grumbling or complaining, there will be gratitude. This is evidence of the Holy Spirit filling and empowering believers to walk in holiness.
4 A SPIRIT-FILLED CHURCH IS CHURCH MARKED BY APPROPRIATE SUBMISSION (21)
21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Christians are not called to submit to everyone in every situation, but they are called to submit in appropriate situations in God-honoring ways. We are called to submit to governing authorities, leaders in the church, wives to husbands, children to parents, and all to one another (choosing the preference of each other [Phil 2:1-4]). A Spirit-filled church is marked by members who humbly submit, in appropriate contexts, in love for another.
Of course all of this assumes that Christ is exalted and the gospel is proclaimed–certainly marks of being Spirit-filled. In addition to this and the categories from Ephesians 5:19-21, I would also say that a Spirit-filled church is marked by members who are are serious about putting away sinful attitudes and actions in the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:13-14 “if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”), are filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22-23), and committed to hear the words of the Spirit, which are found in Scripture: 2 Tim 3:16.
Is yours a Spirit-filled Church? Use these categories to assess.
