PLEASE LET OUT WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE LET IN!
Text: Galatians 5:16-26; 6:7-10; Ephesians 5:18-21 W. Max Alderman
INTRODUCTION: In recent years there has been much controversy and confusion as to what it means to be “baptized with the Spirit”, to be “indwelt by the Spirit” or to be “filled with the Spirit”. I wish to impress upon you tonight how important the work of the Spirit is to our Christian experience. If you are a born again, saved believer you are indwelt by the Spirit of the Living God. Christ lives within you. He lives within your Spiritual being. You are a trichotomy. You are made up of: 1. Soul, 2. Body, 3. Spirit. The indwelling takes place within your spirit; the filling takes place within your soul, which is comprised of will, intellect, and emotions. It is important that we have a clear understanding of this, or there will be much confusion. Tonight, with emphasis being given to revival, I am going to show you how important that it is for you to be filled with the Spirit. Perhaps the greatest need for revival is for us to be Spirit filled.
I. THE REQUIREMENT TO BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT.
Ephesians 5:18 tells us: “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”
A. The Importance of Being Filled
It is important because it is the will of the Lord that we be filled: “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” (V. 17)
B. The Imperative to Being Filled
1) to make full, to fill up, i.e. to fill to the full
a) to cause to abound, to furnish or supply liberally
1) I abound, I am liberally supplied
2) to render full, i.e. to complete
a) to fill to the top: so that nothing shall be wanting to full measure, fill to the brim
b) to consummate: a number
1) to make complete in every particular, to render perfect
2) to carry through to the end, to accomplish, carry out, (some undertaking)
c) to carry into effect, bring to realisation, realise
1) of matters of duty: to perform, execute
2) of sayings, promises, prophecies, to bring to pass, ratify, accomplish
3) to fulfil, i.e. to cause God’s will (as made known in the law) to be obeyed as it should be, and God’s promises (given through the prophets) to receive fulfilment
II. THE RESULTS OF BEING FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT. (Vv. 19-21)
Our Christianity has more practical than mystical elements to it as the charismatics would have you to believe. The purpose of being Spirit filled is not so that you can speak in tongues, but it is so that you can exercise practically your Christianity. We do not put a tank of Gas into our automobiles with a sign attached saying: “I am a gasoline filled car” We put gasoline into our car to practically use it. When it is empty we go back to the “filling station” Likewise we are to be filled so that we can empty out Jesus everywhere that we go and then fill up again to do the same. Every relationship that you have ought to be entered into by your being a Spirit filled person so that you can empty Jesus out of your life into the life of someone else. Here are some things that must characterize you as being Spirit filled.
A. There will be a Silent Joy. (V. 19a)
There is an inward peace that comes from having the filling of the Spirit which also implies letting the Word of Christ dwell in you richly… Colossians 3:16. See Romans 12:1,2. As the song says: “In my heart there rings a melody”
B. There will also be a Singing Aloud. (V. 19b)
Your words and the attitude of your heart will be expressed in a most Godly manner when you are Spirit filled. When considering each of our relationships, we must remind ourselves that our speech is vitally important. Colossians 4:6 says “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” I try to practice this verse when I give any man an answer. If I am Spirit filled, I certainly will do so…
C. There will be a Spirit of Thanksgiving. (V. 20)
When I see someone who is always grumbling and complaining with nothing to thank God for, I mark that person as not being Spirit filled. Many good people have allowed themselves to become bitter and they no longer have a thankful spirit… Instead, they become critical of all that’s going on.
D. There will be a Submitting to Others. (V. 21)
Romans 12:10 says it well: “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;” This speaks of becoming less selfish…It is not all about me!
III. THE REASON TO BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT. (5:22-6:9)
As I have already mentioned, there are both Spiritual and practical benefits to being filled with the Spirit. These next several verses give insight to how we may benefit from being filled with the Spirit.
A. Being Spirit Filled Provides a Proper Atmosphere in our Homes. (Vv. 22-6:4)
All of our domestic relationships will greatly benefit from our being Spirit filled. If our homes are strong, there is greater likelihood that our churches will be strong as well. The Spirit filled husband will make a better husband and so will the wife. Their parenting will have proper balance resulting in more stable homes.
B. Being Spirit Filled Provides a Proper Attitude on our Jobs. (Ephesians 6:5-9).
When one knows that there is no secular and sacred for the believer, that there is only the sacred, one will realize that all that we do we do for the Lord.
CONCLUSION: There is much more that can be said about being Spirit filled. For example, you can not exercise your ministry in a Spiritual manner unless you are filled with the Spirit. When you have a clean vessel and you let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, then you are operating as a Spirit filled person.
