Be Filled with the Spirit was written by prominent theologian and Pentecostalist Steven Jack Land. The author discusses what the nature and evidence of God and spiritual fullness are. Turning to modern realities, Land attempts to expose contradictions and search for categories of evidence of the Holy Spirit through the lens of Pentecostalism.
The article begins with a description of the era in which we live. It is characterized as inconsistent, ruled by vanity and the pursuit of power. In this pursuit, people do not shy away from anything, even violence. According to the author, this instability and chaos lead “to doubt and despair in the hearts of millions of men and women who search for a firm basis on which to build their lives.”1 Land criticizes modern churches on this issue, calling them fragmented and competitive. The author compares churches to nightclubs, circuses, and gas stations because of the desire to create loyal followers at any cost.
Land articulates very interestingly on the theme of the fullness of the Spirit. “It is not how much of the Spirit he has, but how much of him the Spirit has,”2 the reasons. However, Christians disagree about the meaning of baptism or fullness in the Spirit. For example, most Baptists say that the baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs at conversion when a believer is baptized into Christ. Author, like Pentecostals in general, emphasizes the baptism of the Holy Spirit, understanding it as an exceptional spiritual experience, often accompanied by various emotions, at the moment of which the power of the Holy Spirit descends on the reborn believer. Pentecostals are convinced that the power that a believer receives as a result of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is externally manifested by speaking other languages. The author expresses a concern that speaking the languages that are present in different religions and trends often turns out to be fake and does not contain the natural fullness of the Spirit.
The article significantly emphasizes the importance of consistency in matters of spiritual completeness. Only through love and continuous prayer can a person heal the wounds of sin and vice and be filled with the Holy Spirit. However, “The baptism in the Holy Spirit is not meant to issue in words alone, however forcefully delivered.”3 Therefore, in order to gain the ability to speak in tongues, it is necessary to turn to Christ and know his grace entirely, let it pass through yourself, and allow your soul to be filled. Thus, baptism must be associated with a spirit of disgust and begin with the purity of heart, which is the center of Christian teaching. This is not always an easy path and is often filled with pains. However, as Land rightly notes, The way of discipleship is the way of self-sacrificing witness.”4
In conclusion, I want to note that I support Land in his concerns about the lack of something unshakable in the modern world. Unfortunately, many people do not see the meaning of life in a world full of the pursuit of unnecessary material goods and not spiritual fullness. The topic of the articles is very close to me. I also believe that spiritual fullness is not a one-time event but rather a path in the Holy Spirit, the testimony of which should be constantly present in the life of a believer.
References
Steven J. Land. “Be Filled With The Spirit: The Nature And Evidence Of Spiritual Fullness,” ATLAS, 1996.
Footnotes
- Steven J. Land. “Be Filled With The Spirit: The Nature And Evidence Of Spiritual Fullness”, ATLAS, 1996, 109.
- Land, 110.