Preacher’s Pulpit by Dr. Joe Tims
Holy Spirit #7: The Filling of the Spirit
Luke 11:13
INTRODUCTION
In our study of the ministry of the Holy Spirit we have looked at the commands of God found within the pages of His Word. We are instructed not to grieve or quench the Spirit of God in our lives. On the positive side we are commanded to walk in the Spirit and pray in the Spirit.
Now we want to consider the filling of the Holy Spirit. This is perhaps one of the most misunderstood ideas concerning the ministry of the Spirit today. Many have placed their own distinctions on what this really is. Once again I want to direct our attention to the Bible for what God has to say concerning this very important part of the Spirit’s ministry.
In Luke 11:13 Jesus is teaching us concerning prayer and our relationship to the Father. He tells us in the latter part of this verse that our Heavenly Father longs to give us the Holy Spirit if we will simply ask Him. Absolutely nothing can be accomplished for God apart from the power and work of the Holy Spirit.
Even Jesus Christ performed His great and mighty acts upon this earth through the power and filling of the Holy Spirit of God. When Jesus defeated Satan during His temptation following forty days in the wilderness, He did it through the Spirit.
In Luke 4:1, “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness…” And then after the temptation the Word of God tells us “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee…” Luke 4:14. Zacharias, Elisabeth, and John the Baptist were all filled with the Spirit. The disciples were filled and filled again after their real ministry began.
I. What is the filling of the Holy Spirit?
A. It is a command from God.
(Eph 5:18) “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”
1. This is not optional for the believer God clearly commands us to be filled.
2. We are indwelt by the Spirit of God when we get saved, but God commands us to be filled with the Spirit.
B. It is a daily process, not automatic.
1. To be filled with the Spirit is to be controlled by Him.
2. We must yield ourselves unto Him and allow Him to be in control.
3. Remember, God wants us to ask Him.
C. It should be the normal state of the believer.
1. Unfortunately that is not the case.
2. Many believers live out their lives in the power of the flesh rather than in the power of the Holy Spirit.
3. Realize that it is by choice and not by necessity.
4. God intends for every believer to live a victorious life for Him through the power of the Spirit of God!
5. If our lives are filled with defeat after defeat it isn’t God’s fault.
6. He has given us all we need to live the abundant life.
(John 10:10) “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
II. What are the results of being filled?
A. There will be a difference in our worship.
(Eph 5:19-20) “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; (20) Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”
1. Worship is the spontaneous result of being filled with the Spirit.
2. That means that a Spirit filled believer will have the desire to come and worship the Lord.
3. In our society it seems that people come to church wanting to be entertained rather than wanting to worship
B. There will be a difference in our family. (Eph 5:21-6:4)
1. No other problem brings more heartache than to have problems in the home.
2. The source of the problems cannot be attributed to the day and age in which we live.
3. We can’t blame the “others” crowd.
4. We need to realize that it begins when we fail to yield ourselves to the Spirit of God and allow Him to fill us daily!
5. The Spirit of God will not lead us to sin!
6. We choose to disobey God when we are controlled and motivated by the flesh!
7. Spirit filled husbands will love their wives the way they should.
8. Spirit filled wives will be in submission to their husband’s leadership.
9. Spirit filled children will be in obedience to their parents and will honor them.
C. There will be a difference on the job. (Eph 6:5-9)
1. The Spirit filled workman will do his job with all diligence.
2. He will not be a clock watcher or a men pleaser.
3. He will do his work as to the Lord.
4. The Spirit filled employer will honor Christ by the way he treats those in his employ.
CONCLUSION:
Are you filled with the Spirit? You can be! If you are a child of God then you ought to be! We need Spirit filled worship, Spirit filled homes, and Spirit filled believers in the workplace.
God’s commands are to:
Grieve not the Spirit.
Quench not the Spirit.
Walk in the Spirit.
Pray in the Spirit.
Be filled with the Spirit.
Are we obedient to His commands? If not, why not? We need get it settled with the Lord now.