Sermon Central
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It Is Good To Be Filled With The Holy Spirit
Contributed by Robert Doran on Jun 1, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: This is a sermon for people who are afraid of and or do not understand the infilling of the Holy Spirit. I use Bible passages from both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament.
Sermon for Ellzey United Methodist Church June 3rd 2007
Acts 2:8 & 9
“It is good to be filled with the Holy Spirit “
In our day good Christian people have different opinions and teachings about the infilling of the
Holy Spirit.
There is what I call Pneuma-phobia.
This means fear of the Holy Spirit. We can be afraid of what or who we do not understand.
The cure for the fear of the Holy Spirit is good Biblical teaching.
We don’t have to rely on the scholars when we can read and study the Bible ourselves.
The Holy Spirit was not sent so that we can use Him as a badge of superiority.
The Holy Spirit was not sent to separate believers from one another and cause division.
Let us then consider several Biblical facts about the infilling of The Holy Spirit.
1) The infilling of the Holy Spirit was foretold
Listen to the prophet Isaiah who lived hundreds of years before Christ.
Isaiah 44:1”But now listen, O Jacob, my servant, Israel , whom I have chosen.”
vs.2 “This is what the Lord says –he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you:
Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun whom I have chosen.”
vs. 3 “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit
on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendents”
The prophet Isaiah saw in the future God pouring out the Holy Spirit, His Spirit, on future generations.
Could Isaiah have seen our generation having God pour out His Spirit on us?
On the day of Pentecost Apostle Peter answered critics who were accusing the believers in the upper room of being drunk by quoting from the Hebrew Bible prophet Joel.
Joel 2:28 is quoted “In the last days I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.”
Another way to put it is this
From now on I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
So we can see that The Holy Spirit outpouring
The Giving of The Holy Spirit
The infilling of the Holy Spirit was fortold
This means the holy Spirit infilling was promised.
In Matthew 3:11 John The Baptist says”He (being Jesus) will Baptise you with the holy Spirit and fire.”
It was fortold that Jesus will fill you with the Holy Spirit!!!!
We don’t need to fear the infillibg of the Holy Spirit after all God has promised it for you and I today.
2)The infilling of the Holy Spirit was commanded
John 20:21 “Again Jesus said’ Peace be with you!”
As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’
vs.22 And with that he breathed on them and said,’ receive the Holy Spirit.”
It
was fortold that Jesus would fill us with the Holy Spirit and there you see Jesus breathing on the Apostles and telling them be filled with the Holy Spirit.
We do not need to be afraid of being filled with the holy Spirit because Jesus the lover of our souls, our savior has commanded us has earnestly entreated us to be filled with the holy Spirit.
On the day of Pentecost the promise of the infilling of the Holy Spirit was fulfilled!
50 days after Death, burial and resurrection Jesus filled the 120 people in the upper room with the Holy Spirit.
Now Jesus could be with whosoever believes because the infilling of the Holy Spirit is from Jesus and the Holy Spirit is our link ,our connection with Jesus.
How many of you surf the internet.
When you get on the computer you have to connect to the internet.
Depending on what your connection is will determine how fast your computer connects to the internet.
The Holy Spirit is our connection with Jesus.
Access is instant
The only thing that blocks that connection is us.
We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
People who are filled with the Holy Spirit radiate joy and love and peace.
By the infilling of the Holy Spirit we have power to overcome sin.
By the infilling of the Holy Spirit our walk ,our communion our relationship with Jesus is real and vital and living.
By the infilling of the Holy Spirit you and I can do the work of the ministry with power , authority and success.
In the 1700’s John Wesley was about to get on his horse to go and preach the Gospel in another town.
His horse was sick and would not stand up.
John Wesley put his hand on his horse ,prayed for God to heal his horse and God did!
The horse stood up and shook and was ever whit whole.
In the last century many accounts of people being healed,delivered and receiving loved ones raised from the dead are all because of the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
Let us pray.
