August 3, 2014

The Filling of the Holy Spirit

Preacher:
Series:
Passage: Acts 2:1-4, Acts 4:8-13, Acts 6:3
Service Type:

Introduction

  • Some people liken the filling of the Holy Spirit as being like a glass of water
  • We should never think of the Holy Spirit in quantity or measure
  • He is the third person of the Trinity
  • We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit

Acts 6:3

The Historical Context

  • There was a dispute in the church threatening unity
  • The Greek speaking widows were being neglected (the Hebrew speaking widows were receiving aid)
  • Choose 7 men of good reputation and full of the Holy Spirit
    • You can see when people are full of the Holy Spirit
    • You can tell by their godliness and their prayerfulness
    • There are some people who can be identified as being full of the Holy Spirit
    • E.g. Fiona Stewart
  • The doctrine of the filling of the Holy Spirit
    • The Holy Spirit will come to dwell inside you with power
    • God's presence had never been known like this before
    • He will testify of sin, righteousness and judgement
    • He will teach us all things
  • On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came
    • They spoke in tongues
    • There were tongues of flame upon them
    • They were given unusual power and authority
    • An event not to be repeated - though it was repeated in minor ways elsewhere (e.g. In Samaria, the Gentiles, the disciples of John the Baptist)
  • There was repeated filling of the Holy Spirit
    • Other Christians who got baptised
    • Acts 4:8 - Peter was filled again
    • Acts 4:31 - the disciples were filled again
    • Acts 13:9 - Paul was filled with the Spirit
  • There are times of usual anointing with power of the Holy Spirit
    • These are godly people who are walking closely with God and producing much fruit
    • They are self-controlled, there is playfulness, there is kindness
    • Stephen was a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit
    • Acts 7:35 - Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit on this occasion (he received a special filling)

A Few Misunderstandings

  • A two tier Christianity
    • Parts of the church has been unwise over the years - saying some people are Spirit filled and some are not
    • A two tier Christianity develops
    • This is not helpful, we are all one and complete in Christ
    • There is a command to be filled with the Holy Spirit
    • Where Christians are singing to each other and to The Lord (Eph 5:19) - there is a Spirit filled church
    • A spirit filled church knows joy, humility, contentedness
    • We all have the a Spirit, we must all grow and all go on
  • No-where is it commanded that people who are full of the Holy Spirit should display spiritual phenomenon or gifts
    • You will not speak tongues just because you are filled with the Holy Spirit
  • The work of the Holy Spirit is to point people towards Christ
    • We must not place too little emphasis on the Spirit
    • We must not quench the Spirit
    • The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity
  • Never refer to the person of the Holy Spirit as 'it'
    • He is a person, he can be grieved

To be filled with the Holy Spirit

  • Good reputation
    • People look at you and see you are a servant, they see your deeds
    • Example of Barnabas
    • Has the fruit of he he Holy Spirit: love, peace, joy
    • Contentedness, kind, good, faithful, gentle, self-control
    • Dependable
  • Full of wisdom
    • You need to pray - if any man lacks wisdom ask of God
    • They read the word and pray over the word of God
    • They ask God for wisdom
  • Full of faith
    • Looking to what God would do
    • Believing God
  • Eph 5:18-21
    • Do not be filled with wine (v18)
    • There is music in the heart (v19)
    • A thankfulness (v20)
    • A humility (v21)
    • Likes to be with other Christians (v19,21)
  • We must pray continually to be filled with the Holy Spirit
  • Christians have known unusual outpourings of the Holy Spirit
    • Cardiff, Pontefract, EMW meetings
    • Paul knew this power - 1 Cor 2:4
    • David Brenard - preaching to Indians
    • The biographies of Christians
  • We are to seek after God and not spiritual experiences

What hinders being generally filled with the Holy Spirit?

  • Unconfessed sin - Ps 66:18
  • Self sufficiency

Is it Essential to be Filled with the Holy Spirit?

  • Jesus started His ministry by being baptised in the Holy Spirit
    • He was filled with the Holy Spirit and immediately sent out
  • If the apostles did much being filled with the Holy Spirit should we not do the same?
  • There is a command to be filled with the Holy Spirit
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