Filled With The Holy Spirit Series

LIFE AT THE HIGHEST PLANE!

BEING FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT – A MUST

FOR ALL CHRISTIANS!

SERMON #9

Acts 1:8.

Acts 2:1-4.

Acts 4:31

Ac 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (KJV)

Ac 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (KJV)

Ac 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. (KJV)

INTRODUCTION: This portion of God’s holy, inspired word has some very definite principles and responses to the filling of the Holy Spirit. I believe we can use them for doctrine and guidelines for our church in this day and time.

Ac 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (KJV)

We can tell immediately that the Christians that were to be filled with the Holy Spirit, not many days hence, would be witnesses for Christ everywhere they went.

There is a difference in the witness of a Christian that is filled with the Spirit and one that is not filled.

First of all, when I talk about being filled with the Holy Spirit, I am not talking about the indwelling of the Spirit. He comes into our body at the moment of salvation. That is the gift of the Holy Spirit as mentioned in Acts 2:38, the indwelling Spirit: “…and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

1 Cor. 6:19, “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost….”

Rom. 8:14, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

Thus the indwelling Spirit is given to all Christians at the time of salvation, and they are sealed by the Spirit at that time. Eph. 4:30, “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

To be filled with the Spirit of God is a command from God. Eph. 5:18, “….; but be filled with the Spirit.” This means to be controlled by the Spirit of God as one would be controlled with wine. It is a good thing to get the Holy Spirit, but it is far better when the Holy Spirit gets you.

Some people pray that they might get more of God. If I could do that eventually I could get enough of God that I could control Him. What we all need is for God to get more of us. I don’t pray for God’s help anymore. I don’t need help. I need a total take over by God. If, and when that happens, then God will be in complete control of my life.

Apparently the disciples weren’t filled with the Spirit of God when they were cast into prison in this passage of Scripture because in verse 31, after they had prayed they were filled with the Spirit.

Please take what I am saying in the right manner. Some very definite things took place immediately when they were all filled with the Spirit of God. They did not begin speaking in tongues. They did not have a healing service for the sick. They did not begin dancing in the spirit. There was no hand clapping nor was there any other outward manifestation of the fullness of the Spirit. But we can see the following things that took place and as a result of these things the community and the world around them was changed because of their work and ministry.

I. THEY DISPLAYED A GREAT BOLDNESS Vs 29.

Ac 4:29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,(KJV)

A. Spirit Filled Christian Will Have Boldness.

1. Boldness to speak to our neighbor.

2. Boldness to speak to the person setting beside us at the doctor’s office.

3. Boldness to give a tract to the grocery boy as he carries out your groceries.