OUR PRINCIPLE OF POWER-SPIRIT FILLED.

SERIES: FOR THESE THINGS LIVE.

TEXT: EPHESIANS 5:15-21; JOHN 20:22

The people of God are people of principle and truth. Last Sunday but one we looked at the principle of Christ centeredness as a principle of life. This morning let us look at our second core value-not only are we Christ centred, but we are also spirit filled-This is our principle of power.

Let us look at Ephesians 5:15-21 together.

COMMON ERRORS THAT PEOPLE MAKE ON THE SUBJECT OF BEING FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.

1. It is an emotional reality.

• The first thing that comes to mind when people hear about the filling of the Holy Spirit is that it is an emotional experience.
• When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, people laugh, cry, faint, wiggle, warble and whistle.
• However, the reality of being filled with the Holy Spirit is not primarily an emotional reality.
• There may be an emotional experience but the emotion is not primary.

1. It is for certain group of people.

• Many Christians believe that the filling of the Holy Spirit is for Pentecostals, charismatics and some weird Christians.
• The Bible commands every Christian to be filled with the Holy Spirit-Eph. 5:18.

1. It is controversial and therefore better off ignored.

• The filling of the Holy Spirit is not controversial-It is simply a matter of obedience.
• The filling of the Holy Spirit is an imperative. It is not optional it is an obligation.
• It is not an experience for a particular group of people.
• Filling of the Holy Spirit is a birth right for all believers.
• The greatest untapped energy in our world is not in the fields of Kuwait or in deep sea wells of oil in the pacific, but in the untapped power and gifts of the Holy Spirit.
• Ephesians 5:18, “Don’t get drunk with wine, because that will only ruin your life, instead let the Holy Spirit fill and control you” (NLV).

WHAT IS THE FILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?

• To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be controlled and guided by the spirit of God.
• When someone is drunk with wine or beer, he is intoxicated with alcohol, that person is controlled.
• This person’s speech is affected, he walks different.
• God wants us to be intoxicated with Him.
• As dear children of God, our principle and source of power for living is the filling of the Holy Spirit.
• To be filled with the Holy Spirit is when you come to a place of being totally submitted to God, you are completely submitted to the leadership of Jesus Christ.
• If a man is filled with anger, then anger controls his life.
• If a man is filled with greed, then greed dominates his life.
• If a man is filled with love, then love influences all he does.
• Therefore if a person is filled with the Holy Spirit then he is controlled by the Holy Spirit.
• Believers who are not controlled by the Holy Spirit do not lose the Holy Spirit, but they lack the power, direction and manifestation of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
• Believers who are not surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ do not lose Jesus Christ, but they lose the fullness of the blessings that come from obedience.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT BEING FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.

1. It is a command-It is something that we must do.
2. It is continuous-It is something that must happen continually, moment by moment.
3. It is in the passive-we cannot do it for ourselves-Eph. 5:18.

• Filling of the Holy Spirit is not something we do for ourselves, rather Jesus does it for us.
• We must position ourselves, but meeting a certain criteria to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

THE INDWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT-John 14:17.

• The Holy Spirit indwells every true child of God.
• Every believer, every saved child of God has the Holy Spirit-John 20:22.

THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT-Acts 8:12.

• The baptism of the Holy Spirit has to do with identification with Christ.
• The baptiser in the Holy Spirit is Jesus Christ.
• The element into which this baptism is done is the Holy Spirit.
• The candidate for baptism of the Holy Spirit is the child of God.
• Baptism of the Holy Spirit is for all saved believers-Acts 8:14-17.

THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

• The anointing of the Holy Spirit is special unction given you by the Holy Spirit for specific purposes and ministries-Isaiah 61:1.
• Jesus Christ was anointed for the ministry the father send Him to do.
• To be anointed for special ministries and assignments we must abide in Jesus Christ-1st John 2:27.
• The filling of the Holy Spirit will replace your death with His life.
• The filling of the Holy Spirit will replace your weakness with His strength.
• The filling of the Holy Spirit will replace your talents with His gifts.
• The filling of the Holy Spirit will replace your understanding with His revelation.

HOW TO BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.

1. Be sure that you are born again, saved.
2. Confess every known sin in your life, yield.
3. Hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness.
4. Ask in prayer by faith, receive the filling of the Holy Spirit, power, guidance.

CONCLUSION

• Filling of the Holy Spirit is not a once for all exercise, you are filled all the time, every day, moment by moment.
• Expect God to manifest His power and authority through you.
• For these things live.