Should I be Filled With the Holy Spirit? John 14:16-17
NKJ And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
Amplified And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever-- 17The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you.
On four occasions Jesus used this unusual Greek word (parakletoa, “Called alongside,” (advocate) to describe the Holy Spirit! The same term occurs in Greek literature, where it refers to a legal counsel. Another accurate description is someone who strengthens (an encourager). Jesus was an advocate and so He describes the Holy Spirit as an advocate also. The Holy Spirit became available to Jesus’ disciples after His death. The Holy Spirit continues the work of Jesus and His presence in the life of believers!
Jesus makes this definition of the Holy Spirit in verse 16-17 another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby) that He may remain forever. 17The Spirit of Truth, and He lives in you.
In Acts 2:4 the Bible say’s everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and they all spoke in tongues. The Spirit’s wisdom, energy and power were the driving force behind the church’s work and witness!
In Acts 4: 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
#1. The Holy Spirit gives you boldness!
Acts 9:17,20 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”20). Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.
#2. The Holy Spirit gives ability to preach (All to prophesy.)
Acts 13:9-12 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? 11 And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
#3. The Holy Spirit brings discernment, words of knowledge.
Acts 19:1-6 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
#4. The Holy Spirit gives tongues. ( Romans 8:26-27, Jude 20)
We must understand that He is a living person, not an inanimate power! Moreover, He comes for one purpose- to reveal Jesus Christ!
Listen to Romans 8:9 NLT But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (Remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to Him at all.)
The Holy Spirit was given to you to maintain Jesus’ presence in the world! (The Holy Spirit’s one desire is to reveal Jesus Christ to you and through you.)
John 16: 12-15 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
He will speak the same things Jesus spoke about while on earth, He will guide you into all truth, He will honor Jesus, He will take what is Jesus’ and declare it to you!
Many resist being filled with the Spirit because they have this strange idea that He will make them act strange, and always be a little weird. (Sometime He’s strange, but He’s an intimate and trustworthy companion.)
John 14:26 Amplified But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.
The Spirit personally imparts to us the very life of Jesus. The Bible is clear: Without Him, it is impossible to know God or to live effectively!
John 16:7,13 NLT But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. 13. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.
The Holy Spirit was sent to become the ultimate solution. To give you answers, comfort, to reveal Jesus to you, to help you, to teach you and to guide you!
Think about the African impala, this animal can sour 10 feet high and 30 feet out with just one jump. However, studies show that if you place an impala in a 3 ft. cage without a roof the impala won’t jump. Why? Because the impala cannot see where its feet are going to land. (The impala lives by sight, so it’s easy to keep them caged!)
Today allow the Holy Spirit to have free course in your life! The question shouldn’t be- should I be filled, but can I be filled now? Yes!
