What we believe series
How to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Acknowledgement - Dr. Henry Schorr, Centre Street Calary AB)
February 24, 2008 Part 8
Matthew 3:11-17
o Were in a series about what Christians believe. What do Christians believe about God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit?
o I have met many Christian pastors, theologians, and teachers who have differing understandings of the filling or empowerment of the Holy Spirit than I do.
o Many are highly respected in their field
o We have some Christians in our church that have been taught differently than I am teaching today.
o God wants us to be graceful and learn from one another.
o We are not here to discourage one another
o Let us make a commitment that we will not let these things divide us. I have made that commitment. Do you agree?
o The Apostle Paul had the same concern. He was first and foremost a church planter.
o He received opposition his entire life.
o He sought to bring harmony, not division to the local church. All division is a work of the flesh. Paul wrote the works of the flesh (evidence of not being Spirit led) is factions and dissension.
o He implored the church at Corinth not to be divisive
o He implored the church to keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit.
o Have you ever wondered ‘what does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit????”
o I battled that question for a long time
o Before I answer what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit lets do a quick review. First
1. Believe that the Holy Spirit is God
o The Holy Spirit is not a force
o The Holy Spirit is a person
o The Holy Spirit was active in creation of the world
o The Holy Spirit was active in the creation of man (let us)
o The Holy Spirit speaks (Acts 15:28)
o The Holy Spirit points us to Jesus (John 15:26)
o The Holy Spirit guides the church
o The Holy Spirit is all knowing
o The Holy Spirit is all powerful
o The Holy Spirit is present everywhere
o If you’re a Christian the Holy Spirit lives in you right now
o You do not need to walk an aisle, you do not need to have special spiritual gifts, you do not need to speak in tongues to have the Holy Spirit, although you may have or do some of those things
o Remember it is one thing for you to have the Holy Spirit
o It is another thing for the Holy Spirit to have you
o But understand the Holy Spirit is God
2. Believe that the Holy Spirit is available to you
o You have all the potential to live a Spirit filled life just like Jesus and the Apostles did
o The Holy Spirit has not changed; God is the same yesterday, today and forever
o There was a lot of confusion and frustration about the Holy Spirit in the early church and that has not changed
o I believe many Christians and churches live a frustrated or less than fulfilled life because they are not Spirit filled and Spirit led
o When we owned our first house back in the day I decided to replace the eaves trough and down spout
o In those days I was not Handy Randy
o Tearing the old ones down was easy
o But putting the new ones up was complete frustration
o The truth is I had no idea how to fix the problem
o But I got really frustrated for nothing
o I had friends and all the resources to get it fixed properly
o I just chose not to access them
o Finally I relented and called someone who knew what they were doing
o The tradesman showed up with his truck and tools
o A spirit of despair was replaced with bountiful hope
o It was absolute joy to sit back and watch him whistling while he worked
o There was nothing phony about this guy, he actually enjoyed what he did
o The eaves trough seemed to float into place
o They went up like magic
o Frustration turned to laughter
o The problem was fixed with precision
o Putting up that eaves trough on my own strength with the wrong tools is a picture of how many people and churches live the Christian life
o When we first embrace Jesus as savior people notice some obvious changes. We have a new:
o Love for God
o Joy and a peace within
o Passion to follow Jesus
o Improved attitudes
o A desire to read the Bible
o A desire to attend the local church
o That is the Holy Spirit working in your life
o But it does not take very long for a breakdown to come
o Sin and trouble storms upon us like a tornado
o Or it might be a problem with jealousy
o It might be a relational problem
o Maybe a breakdown in marriage
o Perhaps financial issues
o The eaves trough falls down again
o The joy and enthusiasm we once had turns into frustration
o So we read the owners manual, the Bible, looking for a fresh answer
o And that is a great start
o And we have a well meaning friend that says, you can do this
o Just pull up your socks and get going
o I can do this; we begin to say to ourselves
o And so we call that time a rededication to Jesus, even though the term rededication is not in the Bible
o But then were down again so we have this idea
o I will cell phone God and ask Him for advice
o We say please fill me with joy
o We say please give me a hunger for the Bible
o We say please give me a desire to go to church
o We say please give me answers for my struggles
o We live fruitless lives because we do not understand nor tap into the vast resources available to us today through the Holy Spirit
o And we believe the lies of the devil who comes to steal, kill, destroy
o The lie of the devil is this ‘our problems are larger than what they actually are (in other words he blows them way out of proportion)
o Second lie is that my available resources, answers through the power of the Holy Spirit and God’s word are insufficient to solve the issues in my life, family and church
o Then we move into unbelief, which is really doubting God’s faithfulness
o The Greek word for unbelief is apistos, which means not worthy of confidence, untrustworthy, a thing not to be believed
o Unbelief in the Holy Spirit cripples our spiritual walk personally and as a faith community
o With unbelief we no longer hear the Holy Spirit is speaking into our lives and faith community
o Please understand what I am communicating
o Jesus asks us to believe that He is fully God and that he sent the Holy Spirit to empower us
o The power of Jesus can heal anyone or perform any wonder in our church or faith community
o The Holy Spirit can spark a revival which can fill this church to capacity
o But it is not dependent on whether my faith is great or small (mustard seed)
o Jesus is not asking us to believe in our ability to exercise unwavering faith, although he gives me extraordinary faith (he really does)
o He is asking us to believe that He is able to do whatever He chooses, whenever he chooses and in whatever way he chooses
o The Apostle Paul was a spirit filled Christian
o A Spirit filled Christian does not let obstacles, discouragement, or resentment defeat the mission that the Holy Spirit has given him
o Like the Apostle Paul I do not have the time to stay discouraged
o Paul said this one thing I do, forgetting what is behind, I press on
o No doubt Calvary has had some struggles but we will like the Apostle Paul press on
o Paul received a vision from the Holy Spirit to plant churches
o Paul pressed on relying on the Holy Spirit
o Without tapping into the Holy Spirit’s power were caught in a bad cycle
o We hit the wall again; call God on the cell phone again
o We see God as the great dispenser of things we need
o We ask for power and for a period of time it seems to work
o We ask for a quart of joy
o Although there is a lot of activity going on nothing really changing
o Oh we may read the Bible some, attend church, give a little, serve a little
o But we resign ourselves to going through the motions
o No passion, power, zest for God
o Were tired and wore out because we are focusing too much on circumstances and less on the power of God
o When we do that the family and ministry is in no man’s land
o We begin to believe the Christian life does not work
o Have you had moments when you believe the Christian life does not work
o So you think I just cannot live the Christian life
o The truth is we cannot live the Christian life in our own power
o We cannot live the Christian life individually nor corporately with our own strength
o If we try to live the Christian life in our own power individually or as a faith community were going to be as frustrated as I was trying to fix my eaves trough and down spout
o We must become a Holy Spirit people, letting the Spirit empower our lives
o God offers us the Holy Spirit to direct our lives and church, today, now
o Unless we pray and listen to the Holy Spirit we will hear some other voice
o The message to the churches in Revelation was ‘he who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches’
o Why do you think I believe the most important meeting of our church is the Prayer Summits?
o Because it is through Spirit led prayer that we can hear God’s direction for Calvary
o It is Spirit led prayer that focuses on lost souls, hurting and struggling people
o The Holy Spirit is available today and wants to live the life of Christ through us
o God is not watching us from a distance like Bette Midler sings “God is watching us. God is watching us. God is watching us from a distance.”
o No sorry Beth you have it all wrong
o The Holy Spirit does not watch me from distance
o The Holy Spirit is like the home repair man who came down and did the job for me
o Remember the rich young ruler was offered a full and abundant life
o But he refused to submit to the Lordship of Christ for every area of his life
o This week at our Board meeting we prayed and asked for the Holy Spirit’s direction
o He clearly spoke to us through the Board that we need greater prayer focus in our church – you will hear about very soon
o Our desire is be a church that willfully submits to the direction of the Holy Spirit giving Him room to work in our faith community
o The Holy Spirit reproduces the character of Christ in and through me
o Take for example the issue of changing someone’s life
o Can you actually change the life of someone else
o This often happens in marriage counseling
o They both show up and they are intense
o Usually the man wants to change the woman
o He is intent on that without being willing to look at his own issues
o The truth is you cannot change another person
o It is not your job to change someone else
o It is the work of the Holy Spirit
o So the man in my situation is frustrated
o What he wanted to hear me say to his wife is if she would only listen to him, follow his agenda, then things would be great
o Things are not great because he is harsh and dogmatic and not listening to the Holy Spirit at all
o Similarly without the Holy Spirit directing our lives and church we miss the changes he wants to do in and through us
o There is no power without the Spirit’s direction
o This week my SUV would not go over 50KM per hour
o I pressed down hard on the accelerator but the RPM would only get up to four
o I was just wasting gas
o When we try to do anything on our own strength we go nowhere
o The Holy Spirit wants to reproduce the character of Jesus in and through us (fruit of the Spirit)
o Paul said it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me, and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and delivered himself for me
o Like Paul you do not need a rededication to God but you need to live a Spirit filled life, really a Christ centred life
o It is surrendering my ego and laying down my agenda at the cross
o It is allowing the Holy Spirit to control my thoughts, actions, and setting the priorities in my life and ministry
o What did he mean by ‘I no longer live’
o Did he physically die at that point?
o His agenda was no longer centre stage
o He lived by faith, a life completely yielded to the Holy Spirit
o If your life lacks meaning and purpose; if you find yourself frustrated by your family, work, friends, your husband or wife, the church, lost your joy, you need to know what it means to live a Spirit filled life
o If I was to ask you who would you like to be most like I am sure many of you would say Jesus
o Jesus is God but fully human – chose to put his divine prerogatives aside
o We may admire someone like Superman or Luke Skywalker or Spiderman but they are not real
o Jesus was real, fully human
o Bullets and lasers did not bounce off his chest
o Knew loneliness
o Hardship
o Misunderstanding
o Feeling a little low, rejected
o They rejected Jesus even though he did many miracles
o Have you ever wondered where Jesus got the power to do what he did
o In the gospels ‘Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove’
o Jesus became full of the Holy Spirit
o Jesus was led by the Spirit because he was spirit filled
o Then filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit he was led into the desert for a time of temptation
o Jesus did many miracles
o Jesus desire for us is to live in utter reliance on the Spirit the same way he did
o Jesus is the supreme example of what a life can become when fully yielded to the power of the Holy Spirit
o So he received the Spirit
o Was led by the Spirit
o Was empowered by the Spirit to teach
o Was empowered by the Spirit to do miracles
o We are empowered also when living a Spirit filled life
o He is the supreme example of a human who lived 100% under the direction of the Holy Sprit
o As I have said it is one thing for you to receive or be baptized by the Holy Spirit
o It is another thing for you to be filled and led by the Holy Spirit
o Being filled by the Holy Spirit is not a one time issue
o It is a life journey; often I pray Holy Spirit anoint me, fill me, use me
o John the Baptist prophesied that people would receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit by Jesus himself (Mark 1:8)
o Water baptism, which is important, does not change us
o Inner baptism or spirit baptism does change you and save you
o Assures us eternal life
o But does not necessarily guarantee us a victorious life
o Being filled with the Holy Spirit does (Eph. 5:18)
o When I was a child I grew up in an alcoholic environment
o My relatives were under the influence or controlled by alcohol
o Sometimes they were really under the influence
o I remember as a little guy going to the beer store with one of my relatives
o The whole trunk was full of empty beer bottles
o The adult took the empties in and got several full cases of 24
o The Apostle Paul says ‘Do not become drunk on wine, which leads to wild living, but rather be filled with the Spirit
o Well then how do we become filled with the Spirit
o Surrender your entire life and future to the Lordship of Jesus
o We become filled with the Holy Spirit when were wholly surrendered (Romans 12:2)
o You are filled with the Spirit when you put no conditions on what you surrender to Him (Rich young ruler)
o So when you trust Jesus as your savior you have the Holy Spirit
o The question I have is how much of you does the Holy Spirit have
o Charles Simeon was a preacher in one location for 54 years
o His ministry was one of difficulty and opposition)
o He knew that the Holy Spirit had called him, in fact his Bishop appointed him to lead the Trinity church in Cambridge
o But the parishioners did not want Simeon.
o Simeon stayed . . . for fifty-four years! And very gradually he overcame the opposition.
o The first thing the congregation did in rebellion against Simeon was to refuse to let him be the Sunday afternoon lecturer at their second Sunday service.
o Imagine serving a church for twelve years which was so resistant to one’s leadership that they would not let one preach Sunday evenings but hired an assistant to keep you out!
o Then he felt led to start a Sunday evening service and many townspeople came.
o But the churchwardens locked the doors while the people stood waiting in the street. Once Simeon had the doors opened by a locksmith, but when it happened again he pulled back and dropped the service.
o Then the church locked the pew doors on Sunday mornings. The pew holders refused to come or to let others sit in their personal pews. Simeon set up seats in the aisles, nooks and corners at his own expense. But the churchwardens took them out and threw them in the church-yard.
o When he tried to visit from house to house, hardly a door would open to him. This situation lasted at least ten years.
o But Simeon let his steady, relentless ministry of the Word and prayer and community-witness gradually overcome the resistance.
o That is perseverance through the Spirit
o Simeon’s attitude was they can all stand against me but my calling is from the Spirit, not people
o Like Simeon, we trust the Spirit’s calling in our lives
3. Empty yourself so you can be filled
o You can choose to be filled with the Spirit but we must empty our selfishness and pride
o I am just as empty of my selfishness and pride as I choose to be
o Which means I am as filled with the Holy Spirit as much as I choose to be
o When I am not filled with the Spirit I live a life of confusion
o In other words I am of two minds
o I am unstable in all my ways (James 1:6-8)
o Trying to go into two different directions at the same time
o Desires and ambitions must be surrendered with no safety rope attached
o Grew up on Lake Erie
o When I was two they used to throw me off the pontoon; that is how I learned to swim
o Cardinal rule don’t save a drowning man
o Wait until he stops thrashing, or he will pull you under
o Then make a move and preferably with a rope and flotation device
o Similarly were not in a position to be helped by Holy Spirit until we surrender
o Give the Lord your agenda; believe and trust;
o So first know the Holy Spirit is God, second he is available to you, third empty yourself so you can be filled and fourth
4. Confess and repent your sins in your life
o They say if the furnace goes out in this weather keep the taps dripping with water so they do not freeze
o Frozen ice restricts the flow of water in the pipes
o Issue of woman with romance novels (always mad at husband)
o Issue with man of pornography (60% struggle with sexual addictions)
o I am convinced one of the major reasons men do not lead is because they do not have confidence because of their hidden sins
o They have yet to repent, renounce, walk the other way
o So we end up with leadership shortages in our churches; not just lay leaders but pastors
o We have to repent to God and those we have sinned against
o They may laugh at you or reject you
o But a humble life does not worry about that
o Our confession should be made to any individual we have wronged
o In 1905 there was a revival in Wales
o The crime rate dropped, drunks were reformed
o Bad language disappeared and never returned to the lips of many
o There were over 100,000 new Christians
o People were returning stolen goods
o One shipyard put up a sign that said ‘if you stole something and God has forgiven you management does also. Please keep the stolen merchandise; we have no room for in our shipyards.’
o What is it in your life that you need to turn back to God?
5. Ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit by faith
o We become a Christian by faith (Eph. 2:8-9)
o Ask him to become savior
o Believe that what you prayed happened
o Filled with the Holy Spirit of God by faith
o Only need to surrender my life to his control
o Suppose you want to cash a cheque for $100
o You have $10,000 in your account
o You do not go in and kneel down and beg the teller to cash the cheque
o The teller would think you’re off the wall
o No we cash the cheque and ask for the funds that are already ours
o Did you know that being filled with the Spirit is a command of God
o Are you prepared to be filled with the Spirit?
o Are you prepared to surrender?
o When you do you will know unspeakable joy in your life
o Jesus said God his Father will give the Holy Spirit if we ask (Luke 11:13)
o He who is on the floor cannot fall (die to ego) has nowhere to go but up
o I do not fear rejection
o I no longer have to compare myself to others
o When we die to the self-centred part of our self the whole bent changes to please Jesus
o We begin to do what he would do; react the way he would
o Are you prepared to be filled with the Spirit
o Are you tired of flapping like a wounded bird
o Do you want to soar like and eagle?
o Make it your prayer
o You may experience an emotional experience; some do, but do not make it a litmus test of being filled with the Spirit
o When you pray this prayer believe that you are becoming Spirit filled
o Heavenly Father, I have been trying to live my life my way for too long. I have been trying to push my own agenda. I have wounded you, wounded others, and hurt your cause in this area. I lay down my life before you. I choose to die to myself today. I ask your Holy Spirit to fill me and lead me today and into the future. We give this church to you. We ask you to anoint the leaders, that they may be Spirit led and Spirit filled. May they hear your voice and be totally dedicated to you.
o I ask that you would fill me; I choose to believe that you are filling me today
o Begin each day by silently surrendering my desires, ambitions, goals to God
o I ask the Holy Spirit to fill be daily (present imperative)
o Take my life and use it for your glory
o Expand my territory of influence for his glory
o I then step out in faith knowing the Holy Spirit is working through my words and life
o When I speak as I do now I believe the Spirit is changing hearts, lives, and direction for our church because the Holy Spirit leads us
o Without the Spirit’s direction I am just blowing a lot of hot air
o I will close with this (Life Magazine – tornado – picture of a straw through the telephone pole – awesome force of the tornado)
o My word to you is this – the weakest of God’s children when Spirit filled can turn the world upside down and spark a revival in this area
o Same Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead
o He will use you to bring hope to the hopeless, encouragement to the downcast, heal marriages, preach the gospel
o Song: Victory in Jesus
