I am a Jesus pusher!!! The Book of Acts begins with “filling” language. Luke describes the Pentecost event in four verses (Acts 2:1-4). His language is filled with Old Testament imagery such as wind and fire. However, his explanation of the coming of the Spirit of Jesus upon the believers revolves around the word filled. It is the standard translation in the event (Acts 2:2; 2:4). In the original language of the Scriptures, Luke uses two different Greek words, painting two different pictures of this “filling.” He introduces the concept of “filling” with the Greek word “pleroo,” (Acts 2:2). This describes Pentecost as an event in which the outside content (God) comes to be inside the container (the believer). The second Greek word (pletho) gives further insight into the “filling,” describing it as a sponge. The picture is one of saturation, permeating, or infiltrating.
God does not indwell us as He lived in the Holy of Holies in the Old Testament. He does not dwell in some remote section of our lives in order to bark out orders or commands. He comes to saturate our lives as He saturated Jesus’ life. He moves into every fiber of our being to totally source our lives. He merges with us for the sake of intimate partnership in living. The language of discipleship (following) does not describe the intimacy, sourcing, and oneness of this new filling! We can be filled, saturated, permeated, and sourced by Jesus. I am a filled Jesus pusher!!!