The filling of the Holy Spirit
Every real believer should experience the filling of the Holy Spirit!
Ephesians 5:18-19
[18] And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, [19]addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.
This is not just a command against drunkenness.
1.Drunkenness was the besetting sin of the ancient world - a sin that constantly came as temptation to society.
2.It is still the besetting sin of this hour - all societies today suffer because of the problems of drinking and drunkenness.
Paul was making a comparison though.
1.Rather than filling oneself with wine or drink that will only bring harm, we should seek to be filled by the Holy Spirit.
2.Alcohol will stimulate temporarily and each time it is abused it will energize the flesh, but it will always:
·Let you down.
·Lead you down the wrong path.
·It will eventually end in despair & DTs.
3.Alcohol is NOT what you need. The child of GOD is to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
4.This is to be the experience of the believer!
What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit?
1.The man who is drinking becomes possessed by the wine.
2.He is controlled by the wine in his thinking, speech and actions.
3.You can tell by a person’s behavior that he is drunk - it is obvious to all who observe him what controls him!
In contrast, it is the Holy Spirit who should be the One to possess the believer.
1.It is only a divine intoxication that can fill that need of the believer.
2.This is not excessive emotionalism but that which furnishes the dynamic for:
·Living.
·Accomplishing something for GOD.
3.When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, it means that we are controlled by the Holy Spirit.
4.The Holy Spirit should be in control of our thinking, speech and actions.
5.It should be obvious by our behavior that the Holy Spirit is who controls us!
The walk of the believer & his being filled with the Spirit are closely related
1.Paul says that a believer is to walk carefully & “circumspectly” & “be filled with the Spirit.”
Ephesians 5:15-16
[15] See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, [16] Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
2.These are commands which are given to the believer and this filling is a constant renewal of the believer’s life for strength & action.
The Spirit-filled believer not only walks wisely, but his Christian character is evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23
[22]But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
A believer is never told to be baptized with the Holy Spirit, but we are told that we are “baptized into one body.”
1 Corinthians 12:13
[13]For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free-and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
Was that done by some effort on our part?NO!!
1.It was by our faith in Jesus Christ.
2.The Holy Spirit:
·Regenerates & indwells us.
·Seals us.
·Baptizes us & puts us into the body of believers.
However, the believer needs the filling of the Spirit to serve Christ.
Acts 1:8
[8] But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
1.This was the instructions of Jesus to the disciples. He told them not to leave Jerusalem until they received this power from the Holy Spirit. They needed this power to accomplish the work that they were to do. He did not want them to leave until this was accomplished - they would not have been equipped for the work.
We as believers need to start each day by asking for an infilling of the Holy Spirit.
1.This is something that is desperately needed by believers of all ages.
2.You may have been filled with the Spirit yesterday or last week
·That won’t suffice for today.
·Think of a tank of gas in your car - it may have taken you on your journey yesterday, but today the tank is empty and must be refilled if you are to travel on.
3.When you are filled with the Spirit:
·You will do something for GOD.
·You will be walking in the Spirit
4.That doesn’t mean you will have enough for tomorrow.
·You need another infilling for tomorrow.
·The old gas tank needs another fill up.
This explains why some people can be so mightily used of GOD one day then feel so empty the next day. All Christians have had that experience - do not be surprised or disappointed when it happens to you.
Each day, we need a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit - this will enable us to walk in the Spirit each day in His strength.
As hard as we try, we may stumble & fall at times. When a baby first learns to walk, he does not just stand up and begin walking. He must first learn how to walk.
1.We believers are much the same way as we learn to ‘walk in the Spirit.’
2.We will make mistakes and fall as we learn to walk.
3.We must get up and try again.
4.With each passing day we will learn to walk better and fall less.
5.The day will come we are skilled at walking.
God wants us to learn to walk in the Spirit - He wants us to be filled with the Spirit.
What have you learned?
What is God leading you to do?
Every real believer should experience the filling of the Holy Spirit!
Ephesians 5:18-19
[18] And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, [19]addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.
This is not just a command against drunkenness.
1.Drunkenness was the besetting sin of the ancient world - a sin that constantly came as temptation to society.
2.It is still the besetting sin of this hour - all societies today suffer because of the problems of drinking and drunkenness.
Paul was making a comparison though.
1.Rather than filling oneself with wine or drink that will only bring harm, we should seek to be filled by the Holy Spirit.
2.Alcohol will stimulate temporarily and each time it is abused it will energize the flesh, but it will always:
·Let you down.
·Lead you down the wrong path.
·It will eventually end in despair & DTs.
3.Alcohol is NOT what you need. The child of GOD is to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
4.This is to be the experience of the believer!
What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit?
1.The man who is drinking becomes possessed by the wine.
2.He is controlled by the wine in his thinking, speech and actions.
3.You can tell by a person’s behavior that he is drunk - it is obvious to all who observe him what controls him!
In contrast, it is the Holy Spirit who should be the One to possess the believer.
1.It is only a divine intoxication that can fill that need of the believer.
2.This is not excessive emotionalism but that which furnishes the dynamic for:
·Living.
·Accomplishing something for GOD.
3.When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, it means that we are controlled by the Holy Spirit.
4.The Holy Spirit should be in control of our thinking, speech and actions.
5.It should be obvious by our behavior that the Holy Spirit is who controls us!
The walk of the believer & his being filled with the Spirit are closely related
1.Paul says that a believer is to walk carefully & “circumspectly” & “be filled with the Spirit.”
Ephesians 5:15-16
[15] See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, [16] Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
2.These are commands which are given to the believer and this filling is a constant renewal of the believer’s life for strength & action.
The Spirit-filled believer not only walks wisely, but his Christian character is evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23
[22]But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
A believer is never told to be baptized with the Holy Spirit, but we are told that we are “baptized into one body.”
1 Corinthians 12:13
[13]For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free-and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
Was that done by some effort on our part?NO!!
1.It was by our faith in Jesus Christ.
2.The Holy Spirit:
·Regenerates & indwells us.
·Seals us.
·Baptizes us & puts us into the body of believers.
However, the believer needs the filling of the Spirit to serve Christ.
Acts 1:8
[8] But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
1.This was the instructions of Jesus to the disciples. He told them not to leave Jerusalem until they received this power from the Holy Spirit. They needed this power to accomplish the work that they were to do. He did not want them to leave until this was accomplished - they would not have been equipped for the work.
We as believers need to start each day by asking for an infilling of the Holy Spirit.
1.This is something that is desperately needed by believers of all ages.
2.You may have been filled with the Spirit yesterday or last week
·That won’t suffice for today.
·Think of a tank of gas in your car - it may have taken you on your journey yesterday, but today the tank is empty and must be refilled if you are to travel on.
3.When you are filled with the Spirit:
·You will do something for GOD.
·You will be walking in the Spirit
4.That doesn’t mean you will have enough for tomorrow.
·You need another infilling for tomorrow.
·The old gas tank needs another fill up.
This explains why some people can be so mightily used of GOD one day then feel so empty the next day. All Christians have had that experience - do not be surprised or disappointed when it happens to you.
Each day, we need a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit - this will enable us to walk in the Spirit each day in His strength.
As hard as we try, we may stumble & fall at times. When a baby first learns to walk, he does not just stand up and begin walking. He must first learn how to walk.
1.We believers are much the same way as we learn to ‘walk in the Spirit.’
2.We will make mistakes and fall as we learn to walk.
3.We must get up and try again.
4.With each passing day we will learn to walk better and fall less.
5.The day will come we are skilled at walking.
God wants us to learn to walk in the Spirit - He wants us to be filled with the Spirit.
What have you learned?
What is God leading you to do?
Dig Deeper
Below you can use the following links to:
1. Print this lesson
Below you can use the following links to:
1. Print this lesson
