Filled to Overflowing
Filled To Overflowing
Just before Jesus Christ ascended, as recorded in John
20, he instructed his disciples about a new dimension
of their glorious walk which would come to pass on the
day of Pentecost.
John 20:22:
And when he had said this, he breathed on them [The
word “them” is incorrectly supplied in the King James
Version and should be deleted. The word “on” is
the word “in.” He breathed in] and saith unto them,
Receive ye the Holy Ghost [The Greek text uses
the words lambanō pneuma hagion,* “bring into
manifestation holy spirit.”].
At the first hour of prayer on the day of Pentecost
when the apostles “breathed in,” they confessed with their
mouth the Lord Jesus believing God had raised Him from
the dead, and thus were born again of God’s Spirit, and
spiritually filled to capacity. The word “receive,” lambanō,
indicates that the apostles manifested the gift they
had just received spiritually in all of its overflowing fullness.
To be born of the Spirit—to be born again or to be
born from above—is to be spiritually filled to capacity
(plēroō), while the fullness in manifestation of that birth
is to be filled to overflowing (plēthō). Salvation brings
plēroō, a capacity fullness; manifesting the holy spirit
brings plēthō, overflowing fullness. This study is basically
focused on plēroō and plēthō which describe every
facet of knowledge available to us regarding the new
birth.
Plēthō is a later form of the word pimplēmi, a derivative
of pleos. Both plēroō and plēthō are derivatives of
the basic root word, pleos, which means “filled.” Pimplēmi
meant “to fill to capacity and overflow.” In Greek
literature, pimplēmi is used of a river overflowing its
banks. It is also used in describing the full moon when
it is overflowing in all of its brilliance. Plēroō means
“to fill only to normal capacity,” like a river filled in its
natural or normal flow; plēthō means “to fill to overflowing
in abundance.”
Luke 1:57:
Now Elisabeth’s full [pimplēmi, plēthō] time came
that she should be delivered; and she brought forth
a son.
Elisabeth was plēthō for she delivered the child—the
delivery is the overflowing.
Colossians 2:9:
For in him [Christ] dwelleth all the fulness [plerōma,
from plēroō, full to capacity] of the Godhead bodily.
Christ was filled to capacity with the fullness of the
Godhead. The fullness of God overflowing out of Jesus
Christ made it possible for Jesus to say, “He that hath
seen me hath seen the Father.” Jesus Christ declared the
Father; he made known God. Jesus was overflowing with
God’s presence, power and Word and thereby declared
God.
Another example dealing with “being filled,” besides
the two Greek words plēroō and plēthō, should help to
clarify our subject.
Matthew 5:6:
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after
righteousness: for they shall be filled [chortazō].
Matthew 14:20:
And they did all eat, and were filled [chortazō]. . . .
The word “filled,” chortazō, is the Greek word used
in both instances in Matthew. This kind of “filling,”
chortazō, has variations depending upon the appetite of
the individual being filled.
There is an illustration that teaches the new birth and
the manifestations very beautifully. Assume that a glass
represents the natural man; the liquid inside the glass
represents spirit. When the spirit comes in (when a man
confesses with his mouth the Lord Jesus believing God
raised Him from the dead), this man of body and soul is
filled (plēroō) to normal capacity in his whole being.
This is the new birth filling, “he breathed in.” Then
“Receive ye [lambanō, receive to the degree of manifesting]”
is to be filled (plēthō), which is the overflowing
fullness. Biblically, the filling with the new birth (plēroō)
is always to be associated with the overflowing (plēthō)
in manifestation.
On the day of the ascension Jesus spoke to the twelve
apostles.
Acts 1:5:
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be
baptized with [in] the Holy Ghost [holy spirit, the
gift] not many days hence.
The “baptized with holy spirit” is the filling of the
new birth, plēroō, filled to capacity.
Acts 1:8:
But ye shall receive [lambanō, you shall overflow,
plēthō, manifest] power, after that the Holy Ghost
is come upon you: and ye [then] shall be witnesses
unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and
in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
The overflow comes with the operation of the manifestations
of the spirit.
John 7:38, 39:
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said,
out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe
on him should receive [lambanō, receive into
manifestation]: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given;
because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
The word “belly” in verse 38 is the figure of speech,
metonymy,** meaning “innermost being.” The word
“flow” is rheusousin from the root word rheō. The obsolete
form of rheō meant “to speak.” From this same
root comes the word rhēma meaning “that which is
spoken.” “Out of his innermost being shall be spoken
rivers (not trickles) of living water.”
This relates directly to the fullness (plēthō) of the
holy spirit as seen in verse 39. The giving of the gift,
the new birth, the filling with the spirit, Christ in you,
was on the day of Pentecost.
The historical events of Pentecost, including the new
birth with its various overflowing attributes, are recorded
in Acts 2.
Acts 2:1, 2 and 4:
And when the day of Pentecost was fully [sum-
plēroō] come, they were all with one accord in one
place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as
of a rushing mighty wind [heavy breathing***], and
it [their breathing in] filled [plēroō] all the house
where they were sitting.
And they were all filled [plēthō] with the Holy
Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as
the Spirit gave them utterance.
The word “filled” in verse 2 is plēroō, meaning “filled
to capacity.” As the disciples breathed in, the sound of
their breathing filled to capacity, plēroō, the temple. The
disciples were filled to capacity, plēroō, as they breathed
in because verse 4 says they were all filled, plēthō, and
began to speak (the overflowing), one of the nine manifestations
of the spirit.
If language would permit, God could have taken the
first four verses of Acts 2 and condensed them into one,
for the new birth and the manifestations are to be as
one. The filling of the apostles of verse 2 is plēroō, the
inherent, new birth filling; the filling in verse 4 is plēthō,
the external manifestation or the overflowing of the
inherent filling. The manifestations of the spirit are the
overflowing power in the life of the believer which in
turn produces the “fruit of the spirit” of love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and
temperance.
Beginning on Pentecost and effective thereafter, believers
immediately upon being born again by God’s
Spirit were to overflow. They were to not only have the
natural, normal filling to capacity, (plēroō), but also the
overflowing, (plēthō). The Apostle Peter demonstrates
such an example.
Acts 4:8:
Then Peter, filled [plēthō] with the Holy Ghost [the
gift of holy spirit]. . . .
Peter was filled to overflowing, expressed by the usage
of the word plēthō rather than plēroō, operating all nine
of the manifestations. Thereby Peter knew all those matters
recorded in Acts 4 which are a continuation of the
activities recorded in Acts 3.
After Acts 4:8 documents that Peter was filled with
the holy spirit, Acts 4 continues by telling of events that
occurred to Peter and John.
Acts 4:31:
And when they had prayed, the place was shaken
where they were assembled together; and they were
all filled [plēthō] with the Holy Ghost. . . .
The assembled people were filled to overflowing. Because
of the manifestations of the spirit, namely speaking
in tongues, interpretation of tongues, and prophecy, that
prayer meeting was genuinely powerful and edifying to
the believers, all of whom were exhorted and comforted.
It does not say in Acts 4:31 that the believers were
refilled. There is never a leaking out of the spirit or a need
for a second filling. The believer is always filled (plēroō)
to normal capacity; but the filling to overflowing (plēthō)
begins when the believer initiates the manifestations.
Acts 8 contains the first record in the history of the
Christian Church of new Christians’ being born again
without immediately manifesting the holy spirit. Because
this Samaritan group did not manifest, Peter and
John were summoned from Jerusalem. Acts 8 tells of
the course these two apostles pursued to remedy the
situation.
Acts 8:15:
Who, when they were come down, prayed for them,
that they might receive [lambanō, manifest] the Holy
Ghost [holy spirit, the gift].
The believers in Samaria were filled (plēroō), but they
were not filled (plēthō) to the end that they were manifesting
the holy spirit.
Acts 8:16:
(For as yet he [holy spirit] was fallen upon none of
them: only they were baptized in the name of the
Lord Jesus.)
To be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus has nothing
to do with water but everything to do with being
filled (plēroō), having Christ in you the hope of glory,
which is the new birth.
Although the Samaritans had received the new birth,
they had not as yet been filled to overflowing. The usage
of the phrase “as yet he was fallen upon none of them”
means grammatically and Biblically that the spirit was not
overflowing in manifestation.
Acts 8:17:
Then laid they [Peter and John] their hands on them,
and they received [lambanō, they manifested pneuma
hagion] the Holy Ghost [the gift, holy spirit].
With this, the gift started overflowing, running over
on the outside.
Another example of “salvation fullness” coming before
“manifestation overflow” is recorded in Acts 9 in the
account of young Saul (whose Greek name is Paul).
Acts 9:17:
And Ananias went his way, and entered into the
house; and putting his hands on him [Paul] said,
Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared
unto thee in the way as thou earnest, hath sent me,
that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled
plēthō, overflow] with the Holy Ghost [pneuma
hagion, holy spirit, the gift].
Paul confessed the Lord Jesus as his Savior on the
road to Damascus, but he did not overflow, he did
not receive, lambanō, into manifestation. When Ananias
came into the house of Judas to minister to Paul, he
called Paul “Brother Saul,” indicating that Saul was a
spiritual brother. Ananias’ purpose for visiting Paul was
“that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled
[plēthō] with the Holy Ghost.” Paul was born again
(dechomai, plēroō, filled to capacity), but he was not
filled to an overflowing abundance (lambanō, plēthō)
until Ananias ministered to him. Paul soon overflowed
with the manifestations of the spirit, however, for I Corinthians
14:18 says of Paul, “I thank my God, I speak
with tongues more than ye all.”
Acts 10 informs us about Peter’s ministering for the
first time to a Gentile household—the house of Cornelius
in Caesarea.
Acts 10:44-46:
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost
[pneuma hagion, holy spirit, the gift] fell on all
them which heard the word.
And they of the circumcision which believed were
astonished, as many as came with Peter, because
that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of
the Holy Ghost [pneuma hagion].
For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify
God. . . .
The overflowing, indicating the operation of the manifestations,
is evidenced by the words “poured out.” The
last verse quoted specifically informs us that the over-
flowing was manifested by speaking in tongues: “For
they heard them speak with tongues.”
Acts 11 contains Peter’s defense of his actions in going
to the house of Cornelius and there presenting Christ
and His gospel to the Gentiles for the first time.
Acts 11:15:
And as I [Peter] began to speak, the Holy Ghost
[pneuma hagion, holy spirit, the gift] fell on them,
as on us at the beginning.
Just as we saw earlier in John’s and Peter’s experience
in Samaria, according to Acts 19, Paul had the same experience
at Ephesus. He found disciples who were born
again, who were filled to capacity (plēroō) spiritually,
but lacked the overflowing, (plēthō).
Acts 19:6:
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the
Holy Ghost [pneuma hagion, holy spirit, the gift]
came on them; and they spake with tongues. . . .
Again, this is a fullness to overflowing by people in
the church, born again of God’s Spirit.
Ephesians 5 contains an interesting usage of the word
plēroō. Again it refers to that depth of quietness to which
we are to be filled.
Ephesians 5:18:
And be not drunk with wine. . .but be filled [plēroō]
with the Spirit.
This verse indicates to us that “filled with the Spirit”
is the new birth, Christ in you the hope of glory. Be filled,
plēroō, in the innermost part of you, which is Christ in
you, to capacity.
Let us observe the usage of the Greek word plēthō,
filled to overflowing, in a few other Scriptures which do
not deal specifically with the new birth.
Luke 1:41:
And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the
salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb;
and Elisabeth was filled [plēthō, overflowed] with
the Holy Ghost [pneuma hagion, holy spirit].
Elisabeth was “filled to overflowing” demonstrated
by her giving a word of prophecy, as the following verses
in Luke 1 disclose.
Luke 1 also tells of Elisabeth’s husband, the father of
John the Baptist.
Luke 1:67:
And his father Zacharias was filled [plēthō, overflowed]
with the Holy Ghost [pneuma hagion], and
[he] prophesied. . . .
Zacharias was filled to overflowing. He prophesied.
On the lake Gennesaret, Luke 5 records that Jesus told
Simon to let down his “nets for a draught.”
Luke 5:7:
And they beckoned unto their partners, which were
in the other ship, that they should come and help
them. And they came, and filled [plēthō, overflowed]
both the ships, so that they began to sink.
They had so many fish in the boats that the boats were
full to overflowing and sinking.
There can obviously be no overflow until a vessel is
filled to capacity. We note in Acts 6:3 that when seven
men were elected from among the disciples, The Word
says, “Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven
men of honest report, full [plērēs—adjective form of
plēroō] of the Holy Ghost [pneuma hagion]” They were
men filled to capacity. Acts 7:55 says, “But he [Stephen],
being full [plērēs] of the Holy Ghost,” filled to capacity.
Acts 5 also gives an account of the apostles teaching
in Jerusalem.
Acts 5:28:
Saying. . .behold, ye [the apostles] have filled [plēroō]
Jerusalem with your doctrine. . . .
The apostles’ doctrine had penetrated Jerusalem to the
point that the city was “filled to capacity” with The Word.
Colossians 1 contains a wonderful prayer for believers—
to be filled to capacity.
Colossians 1:9:
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it
[your love in the spirit], do not cease to pray for
you, and to desire that ye might be filled [plēroō]
with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and
spiritual understanding.
Be filled to full capacity. This is my prayer for you
and all of God’s people. I desire it to be your prayer for
me also that we might be filled to full capacity “with the
knowledge of his will” and then overflowing with the
abundance thereof.
The only way we can have a knowledge of God’s will
is to know God’s Word. Filled with the knowledge of
His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding is first
and primary for every believer. Then the overflowing
will be a mighty blessing. This is how the teachings of
the apostles penetrated all of Jerusalem. The whole city
became filled to capacity with the Word of God because
the knowledge of God’s Word was dwelling within the
apostles, and they overflowed [plēthō] as they spoke that
Word of God with boldness, operating the manifestations
of the spirit, especially speaking in tongues.