Do Spirit-filled Believers Leak the Spirit?

Here’s another question from a reader I’ve tried to answer. It’s a good one we should all consider the pros and cons for.

Question:

A friend of mine brought up the subject of being filled with the spirit and she reckons that we are filled with the spirit when we are baptised in the spirit (I agree) and that we never need to be refilled again as the Holy Spirit lives in us after this and therefore we have all that we need from that moment on. (This is the bit I am not sure about).  She has steadfastly refused now to sing lyrics which ask God to fill us.  I am really not sure at all about this as I have always believed in the teaching that says ‘we leak’ and constantly need to be refilled!  She says there is nothing in the Bible that says we ‘leak’.   I pointed out to her, even Jesus said, He felt power go out from Him. Is that the same thing?   Did He need to be refilled after that?  Now she has mentioned this subject to me I feel uneasy about the whole thing.

I would be interested to know what do you think/believe and whether you have heard this teaching?

Answer:

I know I shouldn’t be amazed at how God works, but once again I’m excited that He’s already got me started on answering this question. I’ll let you know about that in a bit.

First off, “leak” is a term I’m not really comfortable with since it’s not in Scripture. But that doesn’t mean I don’t use it and it doesn’t mean it’s not correct.

I think your friend is making a mistake that many people do…confusing being anointed with being filled.

Jesus is quoting Isaiah when He says:

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed….
Luke 4:18 (New International Version)

We have the Spirit BECAUSE we’re anointed. John tells us that anointing remains:

As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.
1 John 2:27 (New International Version)

Now the confusion comes in because Jesus taught us the Spirit, like the anointing, teaches us all things:

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  John 14:26 (New International Version)

The anointing remains – in both the old and new covenant. In the Old covenant the Holy Spirit came on a specific person for a specific time or job. In the New Testament, He’s poured out on all flesh. Does that mean we always have all the Spirit we ever can?

We need to look at verses like Ephesians 5:18:

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but ever be filled and stimulated with the [Holy] Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 (Amplified Bible)

The Amplified Version does a decent job with the imperative, present, passive verb for “filled”

• being imperative, God commands us to be filled;
• being present tense, it is to be repeated, it is an ongoing responsibility; and
• being passive, we are to yield to the influence of the Holy Spirit.

If it’s our repeated, ongoing responsibility to be continued to be filled, does that suggest we can “leak”?

I wrote (I’m just being lazy to cite myself) in “How Big Is Your But?”

One day not long ago I was up early to have my time to soak in the hot tub, exercise and spend time with God. It was such a good morning. I had been talking and praising and listening to God. I remembered a season when I constantly felt His power and it seemed like everyone I prayed for was healed. I was saddened a bit at the thought and asked God, “Daddy, why do we leak? Why couldn’t I always be that full.”

I felt His response “Because I want an ongoing relationship with you. I like when we’re together.”

If I ever think I have all I can of God…let’s just say He has a way of blowing away my understanding and experience of Him, as long as I continue to seek Him.

I understand this all can be sloppy language. Since Jesus only did what He saw the Father do (John 6:38) and only said what He heard the Father say (John12:49-50), how do we think He did that? Was it just “He was God” or did He leave us a pattern to follow in His steps? I think so. Notice how often He went away to pray:

And early in the morning, while it was still dark, He arose and went out and departed to a lonely place, and was praying there. ( Mark 1:35)

And immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the multitude away. And after bidding them farewell, he departed to the mountain to pray. ( Mark 6:45-46)

And they came to a place called Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here until I have prayed.” And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled. And He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.” And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground, and began praying. ( Mark 14:32-34)

And when day came, He departed to a lonely place; and the multitudes were searching for Him, and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from going away from them. ( Luke 4:42)

But He Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray. ( Luke 5:16)

And it was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. ( Luke 6:12)

When we do this we get filled and refilled and refilled and refilled. I don’t even think we need to open to it or embrace it. Spending time with God “changes us.” Why? Because we become what we worship (2 Corinthians 3:18). Isn’t that a great description of “being filled”?

[Tweet “We become like what we worship see 2Cor 3:18 @revtrev”]

Do we leak? I think I do. It doesn’t mean I have less of a standing with God – I’m His child and friend (and favorite) regardless of what I do or don’t do. But I can always do things to improve my relationship and experience with Him. Continually being filled is one of those things.

I like the concept of “leaking out all-over others” as it means what God gives me, He gives me to give others. A pond that has no way for the water to exit is stagnant. The best example for this in the world is the appropriately named Dead Sea.

[Tweet “A pond that has no way for the water to exit is stagnant – share what you’ve been given. @revtrev”]

Finally, the songs I have trouble with are probably in the same genre as your friend. I can’t sing anything that has me begging my Daddy for something He’s promised to give me. Often these are the song that cry out to “fill us.”

Look at Ephesians 5:18 WE are commanded to be filled continually. Do we really think God is going to answer a prayer for Him to do something He’s already commanded us to do?

Poetic songwriters often do a disservice to theology. I’m glad at times that God’s more concerned with our heart and actions than the words we parrot because it has a nice melody.

~Trevor

What I’ve Taught on Holy Spirit

Check out my messages and blog posts on Holy Spirit. I’ll keep this updated. Let me know if there is a specific topic you want covered in the comments.

• Learn and Experience All You Can About Holy Spirit https://revtrev.com/live-hopeful/learn-and-experience-all-you-can-about-holy-spirit/
• How to know and experience more of our triune God today https://revtrev.com/living-light/trinity-essential/
• Is Spiritual Growth is on your vision board? https://revtrev.com/living-light/is-spiritual-growth-on-your-vision-board/
• How to be confident you’re being led from Holy Spirit https://revtrev.com/living-light/be-confident-led-holy-spirit/
• God is with us will I be with Him? https://revtrev.com/living-light/god-is-always-with-us-will-i-be-with-him/
• How to understand and and enjoy the Gifts God has for you Today https://revtrev.com/message/how-to-understand-and-enjoy-the-gifts-god-has-for-you-today/
• Buying the Holy Spirit https://revtrev.com/live-intentional/buying-holy-spirit/
• How to Release the gift of words of wisdom https://revtrev.com/livecasts/how-to-release-the-gift-of-words-of-wisdom/
• 70 Functions of the Holy Spirit https://revtrev.com/live-light/70-functions-of-the-holy-spirit/
• How can I Receive the Holy Spirit https://revtrev.com/live-today/how-can-i-receive-the-holy-spirit/
• 3 ways to know it’s the Holy Spirit Speaking https://revtrev.com/live-hopeful/3-ways-to-know-its-the-spirit-speaking/
• How to let the Fruit of Holy Spirit Transform you https://revtrev.com/living-light/how-to-let-the-fruit-of-holy-spirit-transform-you/
• 5 things to know about Spiritual Growth https://revtrev.com/livecasts/5-things-to-never-forget-about-spiritual-growth/
• 11 ways the Holy Spirit Speaks to you https://revtrev.com/live-today/11-ways-the-spirit-speaks-to-you/
• Do Spirit-Filled Believers Leak the Spirit? https://revtrev.com/live-today/do-spirit-filled-believers-leak-the-spirit/
• How to use God’s Gifts for Another https://revtrev.com/living-light/how-to-use-gods-gifts-for-one-another/
• I build myself up reflectionhttps://revtrev.com/livecasts/day-42-i-build-myself-up-reflection-livecast/
• 4 Tips I’ve learned To Hear the Spirit Speak https://revtrev.com/live-intentional/4-tips-ive-learned-to-hear-the-spirit-speak/