12/95 BEING FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
BEING IN THE COMPANY OF JESUS CHRIST
EPHESIANS 5:18-21
INTRODUCTION:
At the end of Ephesians 5:18 it says, “ be filled with the Spirit ” . This is the key to living the Christian life. And the reason to be filled with the holy Spirt is so that the Christian can:
1.) Walk in humility, unity, uniqueness, love, light, and wisdom.
2.) Obey God, which is commanded by God (OBEDIENCE)
3.) Meet our responsibilities as children of God (OBLIGATION)
4.) When opportunities arise use them wisely (OPPORTUNITIES)
Many people are confused about what it means to be filled with the Spirit. Some people think:
You must have some kind of ecstatic experience and speaking in tongues to be filled with the Spirit.
That the spirit is present with very little or no impact.
Both are wrong, the filling of the Spirit is a very profound reality. Let us look and study what being filled with the Spirit means in the Christians life.
THE CONTRAST (V.18A)
In verse 18 Paul is contrasting drunkenness & being filled with the Spirit. He’s not contrasting a social issue, however, a theological one between pagan religious ritual & true Christian worship. Pagans use drunkenness to induce what they believed was high religious consciousness to commune with gods. Paul contrasts drunken orgiastic worship with true worship and communion with God brought on by the power of the Holy Spirit.
THE COMMAND (V.18B)
“ be filled with the Spirit ” (1) Is a command, (2) Is imperative, (3) Not a option, (4) Not a suggestion.
MEANING OF BEING FILLED:
What filling of the Holy Spirit does not mean.
Possession of the holy Spirit (read Rom. 8:6-9)
Every Christian possess the holy spirit in fullness the moment he believes, there is no such thing as a Christian without the Holy Spirit.
Baptism of the Holy Spirit (read I Cor. 12:13) The Corinthians were carnal Christians
Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a act by which God puts you in Christ when you believe, theological reality not an experience.
Indwelling of the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 6:19)
Even when the Christian is sinning the Holy Spirit is there, He is defiled, grieved, and quenched. (Rom. 8:23; Eph. 1:13-14,4:30; I Thess. 5:19; Gal. 2:20)
What filling of the Holy Spirit means.
1.) Moment by moment continuous action. When self totally disappears and we yield to the Spirit of God we are filled with the Holy Spirit.
2.) Total control. To be filled with the Spirit is to be
Driven by the Spirit
Moved by the Spirit
Permeated by the Spirit
Controlled by the Spirit
How do we get filled with the Holy Spirit?
1.) Filling involves full surrender
Will, body, time, talent, treasure, and intellect. Surrender everything to God’s control, when we empty self of self, then the Holy Spirit will fill you. Identical to letting the Word of God dwell in you richly.
2.) Results of being filled with the Spirit (Eph. Chapter 5 & 6 also Col. Chapter 3)
Eph. Chapter 5
- 19 Speaking in Psalms, hymns, songs
- 20 Be thankful
- 21 Submit to each other
- 22 Wives submit to husbands
- 25 Husbands to wives
Eph. Chapter 6
- 1 Children obey your parents
- 4 Father’s do not provoke your children
- 5 Servants be obedient
- 9 masters treat servants right
Col. 3
- 16 Speaking in Psalms, hymns, songs
- 17 Be thankful
- 18 Wives submit to husbands
- 19 Husbands to wives
- 20 Children obey your parents
- 21 Father’s do not provoke your children
- 22 Servants be obedient
Who is the author of the Word of God?
2 Peter 1:21 “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
Who is Jesus Christ? (God)
John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Who is the Holy Spirit? (God)
John 14:16 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;”
John 14:17 “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
Being filled with the Holy Spirit does not produce anything ecstatic, but does produce singing, saying thanks, submitting, and right human relationships.
Ephesians 6:10 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”
Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
(The whole armour of God is unsuitable attire for an easy chair) Lester Roloff
3.) Live every moment as if standing in the presence of Jesus Christ.
When peter was in the presence of Jesus Christ he:
Did the miraculous Matt. 14:22-33, Walked on water
Said the miraculous Matt. 16:16, Thou art the Christ
Had miraculous courage John 18:10, Cut off high priests servants ear
When Peter was separate from Jesus Christ he was a failure
When Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4) he:
Said the miraculous Acts 2:14, Preached
Did the miraculous Acts 3:6, Silver and Gold have I not
Had miraculous courage Acts 4:18-20, Did not obey man
1 Corinthians 6:19 “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVES IN THE BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIAN
HAS GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT GOT PERMISSION TO FILL YOU?
Christ The Answer Prison Ministry 