Once we have the Holy Spirit, how are we to be filled with the Spirit? What does that mean? The Greek word most often used in this context (plḗthō) means to be completely full, up to capacity.

If you have the Spirit, the only way not to be full to capacity is if something else is in there too. So maybe there’s a sense that being filled with the Spirit is as much about letting go of other things as it is about waiting for the Spirit to fall afresh.

Here are the 24 occurrences of plḗthō in the New Testament:

• full of people (Mt 22:10, Lk 5:7)
• sponge full of vinegar (Mt 27:48)
• filled with the Spirit (Lk 1:15, 1:41, 1:67, Ac 2:4, 4:8, 4:31, 9:17, 13:9)
• the time was fulfilled (Lk 1:23, 1:57, 2:6, 2:21, 2:22)
• filled with anger/fear/jealousy/envy/confusion (Lk 4:28, 5:26, 6:11, Ac 5:17, 13:45, 19:29)
• all things accomplished (Lk 21:22)
• filled with wonder (Ac 3:10)

From Bible Hub:

• 4130 plḗthō (or pimplēmi) – properly, fill to the maximum (full extent), “the limit” (CBL). 4130 /plḗthō (“full”) implies “filled to one’s (individual) capacity.”

• This root (plē-) expresses totality, and implies full quantity (“up to the max”). DNTT (1,733) notes its cognates (plērēs, plēroō, plērōma) all come from the root (plē-/plēthō) meaning “full in quantity.” Thus 4130 /plḗthō (“to fill or complete”) refers to “that which is complete in itself because of plentitude, entire number or quantity. . . . the whole aggregate,” WS, 395,96).

• 4130 (plēthō) may be a by-form derived from the same root as pimplēmi. All these terms (cognates) emphasize the idea of “maximum (full extent).”

In Ephesians 5:18 – “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit” – the Greek word is 4137 plēróō, which is used 51 of 88 times as fulfilled/accomplished/completed/finished, and 26 times as filled.

It could be more like: be fulfilled by the Spirit, not by alcohol. Asking God to fill us with his Spirit is a lot like saying “no” to everything else, to make room. It’s a prayer of repentance.