Being filled with the Holy Spirit.
Reading: Ephesians 5:18.
“And do not be drunk with wine, in which
is overindulgence; but be filled with the Spirit.”
To maintain a strong,
active life, one must be healthy. Good health comes from a precise and a
planned program of physical care. If I follow this plan, I can feel the benefit
in many ways. Someone said, “If I had known I would live this long, I
would have taken better care of myself.” I think all of us can say that
with all sincerity.
For a Christian to have
a healthy Christian life, he/she must be filled with the Holy Spirit of God. In
our text verse Paul is conducting a class on the filling of the Holy Spirit and
the purpose for such a filling.
Andrew Murray put it
this way, taken from a chapter in his book; Deeper Christian Life:
First, “I must have the
Filling.”
Second, “I may have the
Filling.”
Third, “I will have the
Filling.”
Fourth, “I shall have
the Filling.”
These will be my FOUR points today.
1ST POINT: I MUST HAVE THE FILLING.
“Be
filled with the Spirit” Ephesians 5:18.
There are THREE thoughts
I want to give you on this:
A. It is the Command of
God. “Be filled with the Spirit.”
A Christian must come to
the reality that if he/she is going to please God he/she must be filled with
the Spirit. Too many are content with just the feel good factor of being in a worship
meeting.
Too many wrongly think
and practice that the fullness is just for some and not for all. But this is far
from the truth of God's Word. God commands that you be filled with His power
and Spirit, and when God gives a command He will provide the necessary means
for fulfilling that command.
B. It is the great need
of Man. “Be filled with
the Spirit.”
To attempt the work of God with only
the ability of man is foolish. Your greatest need as a child of God is to have
the fullness of the Spirit of God.
If your approach in undertaking
God's plan is to do so under your own power, you will be disappointed.
C. It is a great need of
the Church. “Be filled with the
Spirit.”
If any church attempts any work of God
apart from the fullness of God's Spirit, we will fail. If one attempts a
heavenly work in the power of the flesh, failure will be extended to all. The
success of the work you are doing depends upon God working in us, by His
Spirit.
2ND POINT: I MAY HAVE THE FILLING.
“Be
filled with the Spirit” Ephesians 5:18.
The first point had to
do with duty, “I Must Be Filled.” The second point has reference to opportunity,
“I May Be Filled.” Too many believe that they cannot be filled. Our attitude
should be: “God wants it. God commands it. I must be filled, and I may be
filled!” Andrew Murray.
God longs to give you
and I the fullness of His Spirit so we can live in victory every day for Him
and through Him. How sad it must be to God to witness the level of Christian
power today among His children. There is not a certain time element that we
must first experience. God is willing and ready to fill us as soon as we empty ourselves
of self.
3RD POINT: I WILL HAVE THE FILLING.
“Be
filled with the Spirit” Ephesians 5:18.
“Will” is the
motivation. The drive. The desire. The force. Without that drive, that desire,
that force, or motivation, you will never be filled.
A. “I Will” Means I will
give up Sin.
1. Search your life for
hidden sin.
2. All sin must be removed.
3. Confess and forsake
all known sin.
It does not matter what
it may be; it must go. Whether it be temper, pride, money, lust, or self-fulfillment,
or the fear of man, just say to Christ, “I will be filled.” We sing the words;
“I have decided to follow Jesus!” Well live it!
B. “I Will” Means to
give up Self.
1. Your will.
2. Your pleasure.
3. Your pride.
You must give up any and everything
that stands between you and God. Perhaps there is one here who would say, “I
cannot give all.” Well take a look at the Cross of Calvary and see the
Crucified Christ. Look at Him. When you see Him high and holy, lifted up, dying
on the cross for you, when you see the dying love that God the Father displayed
for us by giving His only begotten Son, how can you say, “I cannot give
all.”
4TH POINT: I SHALL HAVE THE FILLING.
“Be
filled with the Spirit” Ephesians 5:18.
When a Christian gets so
hungry for the power of God that he/she will pay any price for it, then he/she
shall have it. When men/women give themselves to God to be filled and used of
the Holy Spirit, they shall have it. It is to be an act of obedience and
surrender. You must cast yourself before God and trust in Him for the
filling.
You must give yourself
as an empty vessel before God to be filled with His Holy Spirit. When you have
presented yourself in that manner, then ask for His Spirit to fill you, and He
will do it “I shall be filled” is the faith side of the filling. Believing that
God will deliver His promise of the fullness of His Spirit to any believer that
will prepare himself for the filling, and then ask for it.
There is not a certain
feeling that comes over you when you are filled. The filling is not by feeling,
but by faith. And that filling is for doing the work of God.
Conclusion:
Are you filled with the
Holy Spirit of God right now?
