"HOW TO BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT."
Ephesians 5:18
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
Acts 2:1-18
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. [2] Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. [3] They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. [4] All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
[5] Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. [6] When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. [7] Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? [8] Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? ………………..we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" [12] Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"
[13] Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine."
[14] Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. [15] These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! [16] No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
[17] " 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
[18] Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
Introduction:
• I wonder what it would be like if the Holy Spirit did not exist in the world today?
• Imagine this world without the holy spirit and only the forces of Satan.
*THE HOLY SPIRIT IS WHAT CONVICTS US OF SIN....
The Apostle Paul, inspired by God, gives us a double command:
-Be not drunk with wine
-Be filled with the Holy Spirit
• A person can obey the first command and still not be filled!!
• But if you obey the second command, you will automatically obey the first command.
• YOU MAN NOT DRINK ....YET STILL NOT BE SPIRITUAL
Illust.-
People all over the world try and make it to heaven on good works.
They don't drink, smoke, and swear, yet they will die and go to hell like every other sinner UNLESS THEY ACCEPT CHRIST!!
There are benefits to being filled with the Spirit. Being filled with the spirit benefits Christ, the believer, and others!
A PERSON NOT FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT IS LIKE AN EMPTY VESSEL...
1. CHRIST NEEDS VESSELS FOR HIS HOUSEHOLD.
Illust.-
Each of you in your home have vessels (containers) in order to prepare meals, for serving meals, and for purposes of cleanliness.
The home that does not have vessels is handicapped
Paul wrote to Timothy, "In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor."
CHRIST NEEDS VESSELS FOR THE HOUSEHOLD........
Are you a vessel willing to be used by the household of God today?
2. WE ARE THE VESSELS HE DESIRES.
Paul went on to say, 2 Tim. 2:21 “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.”
Song:
A vessel of honor for Cod
A vessel of honor for God
Sanctified Holy so I might be
A vessel of honor for God
A. God uses ordinary people as Vessels you and me...
• to preach the gospel
• for the building of His kingdom
• in bringing men to Christ…HE USES SPIRIT FILLED MEN AND WOMEN ....
The honor of evangelizing the world has not been given to angels but to men
B. We have bean purchased by the Lord and we are the vessels he desires to use...
Paul said, "Present your bodies a living sacrifice unto the Lord."
To present means = to place ourselves at His hand, to be yielded to
Him to be near to Him so that He may lay His
hand on us and employ us in His service...
3. WE SHOULD BE VESSELS UNTO HONOR.
The Lord needs vessels, but he needs those vessels that are clean and pure.
2 Tim. 2:21
If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
-this means the vessel is clean, fit for use and where it should be so that it may be used ....
Illust.
My wife has some glasses to drink out of stored in the china closet.
They are rarely ever touched until special company comes
Then there’s the cups that we use all of the time that says, "HE MAN" or "Ronald McDonald" or “DAD” or “MOM” on them that either the kids had or gave to us.
THESE ARE THE VESSELS OF HONOR THEY ARE THE CUPS THAT TRUELY
SERVE THE PURPOSE TO IT’S FULLEST .....
THE MAN OR WOMAN THAT IS NOT PRESENTED, NOT CLEANSED, BUT SETTING ON THE SELF IS NOT A VESSEL OF HONOR...
BUT A MAN OR WOMAN THAT IS CLEANSED, PURIFIED AND FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT WILL BE "MET" FOR THE MASTERS USE.... A VESSEL UNTO HONOR....
4. THE EMPTYING OF OURSELVES IS VERY IMPORTANT.
Illust.-
D.L. Moody asked a man, "How can I get the air out of this glass?"
Many answers were given: suck the air out by pump, but that would shatter the glass
After many answers were given he TOOK A PITCHER OF WATER AND FILLED THE GLASS.
The way to purify the soul is to drain all the sin out of ones life and to do that YOU MUST BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT ....
BEFORE THERE CAN BE A CLEANSING THERE MUST BE AN EMPTYING...
The emptying of our selves includes:
• emptying our own righteousness
• our own wisdom
• our own strength
• our own will
• our plans
• our own ambitions
• AND OUR OWN WAYS...
When the Holy Spirit comes into our lives there must be a complete rooting out of selfish ways
SANCTIFICATION= means to separate...from evil, from self and to be set apart for holy purposes..for God's use and glory..
5. THERE IS THE CLEANSING PROCESS.
Sanctification should not be confused with regeneration...
REGENERATION=is the first work of grace, the cleansing from the sin we have within our lives.
It is Christ's pardon for our wicked deeds
IN THE EXPERIENCE OF SANCTIFICATION there is a cleansing of inbred sin and the giving of power to withstand the Devil
6. CHRIST CAN AND WILL FILL YOU WITH HIS HOLY SPIRIT.
The filling of the spirit is His incoming...
IT IS HIS WILLINGNESS TO GIVE US ALL THAT HE HAS:
• -Joy
• -peace
• -comfort
• -strength
• -power(an overcoming power)
ALL WE MUST DO IS ASK AND WE SHALL RECEIVE...ONLY IF OUR VESSELS ARE EMPTY...
7. WHEN CHRIST COMES IN YOUR LIFE FULLY...THERE IS AN 0VERFLOW AND AN OUT-FLOW.
Illust.-
There have been times in my personal life where I overflowed with Joy ....
There are times where we are so full of Gods love that it just spills over ....
*THE FILLING IS TO BENEFIT OUR LIVES AND THE OVERFLOWING IS TO BENEFIT OTHERS...
BUT WHEN THE OUTLET BECOMES CLOGGED...THE INLET WILL NOT FUNCTION...
Illust.-
We used to own a trailer...we bought it used and wasps had made their nest in the tubing which brought gas to the heater.
• So when we tried to light the furnace, the gas line was plugged.
• No gas could come into the furnace because nothing was able to come from the gas line.
• When we don't put out what we take in, the line gets clogged ....
MAYBE YOU NEED UNCLOGGING?
• Its about time we stop complaining, bickering and just get unclogged and let the holy Spirit work in your lives.
• I've met a lot of people who claim to be filled with the spirit (Sanctified) …And if being sanctified is what they are...I don't want it.
WHEN WE OVERFLOW, SELF WILL BE HIDDEN
WHEN WE OVERFLOW, CHRIST WILL BE REVEALED
WHEN WE OVERFLOW, OTHERS WILL BE REFRESHED
-Are you a vessel that is up on the shelf?
-Are you the line that has stopped receiving because your line is clogged
"BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT"
This is the secret of the Holy
Not our holiness but HIM
Jesus empty us and fill us
With thy fullness to the brim
