“Filled With the Spirit”
1 Corinthians 12:13
Ephesians 5:18-21
Introduction:
1. We need to know the difference between the baptism and the filling of the Holy Spirit.
2. 1 Corinthians 12:13, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free, and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
3. Some people think you have to be super-spiritual to have the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This was written to a very carnal group of Christians, and Paul said they were baptized into Christ. You don’t have to be super-spiritual to be baptized with the Spirit. You just have to be saved!
4. At the moment of salvation, the sinner is baptized into the body of Christ. This is the baptism of the Spirit. At that moment, we get all of the Holy Spirit, we will ever get. The real question is, “Does He have all of you?”
5. I have caught myself looking for my glasses before while I was wearing them. Embarassing. Any of you done that before? That is what many are doing today. They are looking for something they already have – the Holy Spirit. If you are saved, you have the Holy Spirit, and if you do not have the Holy Spirit, you are not saved.
6. Over 100 years ago, a group of pastors assembled to choose an evangelist for a city-wide campaign. Almost all of the pastors agreed D.L. Moody should be the evangelist. One pastor objected. He said, “You men make it sound like Mr. Moody has a monopoly on the Holy Spirit.” After a moment, one of the other pastors spoke up, “Mr. Moody doesn’t have a monopoly on the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit has a monopoly on him.” Does the Holy Spirit have a monopoly on you? That is the meaning of being filled with the Spirit.
7. Notice these differences between the baptism and the filling of the Spirit:
a. Baptism happens once; filling happens over and over.
b. Baptism happens to all believers; filling only happens to obedient believers.
c. Baptism is never commanded; filling is commanded.
d. Baptism means the Holy Spirit is a resident; filling means the Holy Spirit is president.
e. The Greek word for baptized is in the past, while the Greek word for filled is in the present continual tense.
8. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is like an adrenaline rush! Mothers have been known to pick up a car with a child underneath it. You can do unusual things when you are filled with adrenaline that you could not normally do. Being filled with the Spirit enables you and I to do things for the Lord that we cannot do in our own strength.
9. We can’t live the Christian life the way the Bible tells us to live it without being filled with the Spirit. “In everything give thanks.” 1 Thess. 5:16 “Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:5. “Pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you.” Matt. 5:44. We need to be filled with the Spirit to live this Christian life.
10. There are three kinds of people in the church:
a. Those who come to church but do not know the Lord as Savior. The Holy Spirit doesn’t indwell them.
b. Those who are saved and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, but never give Him control of their lives.
c. Those who have given their life over to the Holy Spirit’s control.
11. Let’s examine verse 18.
a. It is in the imperative mood – be filled! A command; not a suggestion.
b. It is in the plural form. That means it is for every Christian, not just the pastor or deacons.
c. It is in the passive voice. This means the object has something acting upon it from the outside. We don’t fill ourselves. The filling comes from an outside source. We are to put ourselves in a position where the Spirit of God can control us.
d. It is in the present tense. The baptism is in the past tense, but this is in the present, meaning that it is a repeated event. “Be being filled with the Spirit.”
12. How do we do that?
I. There must be a craving.
a. Like a football coach might say, “You’ve gotta want it.”
b. Some people don’t really want the filling of the Spirit because they are afraid of becoming too fanatical. They might say something or do something different than everyone else.
c. Being filled with the Spirit begins with a holy hunger to walk on a different level than you are used to walking.
d. Dissatisfaction with your walk with the Lord and a desire to walk closer to Him.
II. There must be a cleansing.
a. Confessing sin is important, but denouncing it is critical to being filled with the Spirit.
b. It is being willing to let go of any sin – anything that is not pleasing to God.
c. The Holy Spirit is not just a title. That is who He is, and He doesn’t enjoy living in an unclean environment.
III. There must be a commitment.
a. This means we allow God to call all the shots for our lives.
b. We are sensitive about quenching the Spirit and grieving the Spirit. Do you know what the differences are?
i. 1 Thess. 5:19 says, “Quench not the Spirit.” Have you ever quenched your thirst or quenched a fire? What are you doing? You are putting it out – smothering it. You quench the Holy Spirit by not doing what He says for you to do. Witness, serve, help, encourage, give, etc.
ii. Ephesians 4:30 says, “Grieve not the Holy Spirit.” This is when we do something He tells us not to do. Watch that bad program, listen to that music, cheat on that income tax, etc.
c. Being filled with the Spirit entails doing what He says to do and not doing what He says not to do! He is the President, not just a resident.
IV. There must be a confidence.
a. That means that you ask for His help all day.
b. If you try to do something in your own power, you will not have His fullness.
c. “I can’t even walk without you holding my hand.” Galatians 5:16, “Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.”
Conclusion:
1. When we are filled with the Spirit:
a. It will make a difference in our speech. (vs. 19, 20)
b. It will make a difference in our song. (vs. 19)
c. It will make a difference in our submission to authority. (vs. 21)
d. It will make a difference in our sensitivity to our mates. (vs. 25, 28)
