✎ When was the last time you fed a baby oatmeal? Peaches or applesauce? How about my all time favorite green beans or peas? Regardless of what you may be serving when your baby does not want to eat his or her entire body gets engaged in the struggle. The jaws become cast iron letting nothing enter the mouth. Any food that may miraculously make it past the lips is pushed out by an iron tongue. The baby develops great eye coordination at these times when you want it to finish the last few bites, but he or she has had enough. The spoonful headed for the mouth hits the ear instead, a small hand pushes the spoonful into your lap. How many of you have ever been there?
Babies need to eat. Good nutrition is important for the growth and development of every infant. However, no matter how hard we may try, and regardless of how tasty the food may be, UNLESS THE BABY IS YIELDED AND WILLING TO EAT, WE CANNOT “FILL IT” WITH FOOD. When the same baby is hungry or thirsty and is crying out making its desire know, then it is much easier to “fill” the baby.
Similarly, the Holy Spirit does not force Himself to “FILL US.” In the same way that a baby needs to have a desire for food or drink to be willing to eat, we must also crave the presence of the Holy Sprit in our lives in order to be “filled with the Spirit.” If we are to be receive the Spirit, then as we will see today, we must submit our minds, spirits and bodies to Jesus.
+ John 7:37-39 37On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. (NIV)
JESUS OFFERS US “STREAMS OF LIVING WATER.”
Jesus is not the little boy who set up a lemonade stand and offers you a small drink for a quarter; Jesus offers us an inexhaustible or limitless portion of no ordinary drink. We can receive an abundant supply of “living water.”
WHAT IS "LIVING WATER?" John answers that question in verse 39; “when he said ‘living water,’ he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory” (NLT). “Living water” is the Holy Spirit. Jesus offers to fill you an I to overflowing with the Spirit of God.
According to Jesus, this abundant filling with the Holy Spirit is not automatic. Before anyone can be filled, Jesus identifies three prerequisites, three things we should do in order to be filled with the Spirit.
▸ Before we look at what how we can be filled with the Spirit, some of you may be wondering what being filled with the Spirit is. It’s a good idea for us to all be on the same proverbial page and know what we are talking about.
What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit?
[1] Simply put it means to be filled with God, because the Holy Spirit is God. God lives within you and me. The Bible tells us that when a person believes upon Jesus and is rescued from their sin, the Holy Spirit come into that individual.
+ 1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? (NIV)
You are the sacred dwelling place of the Holy Spirit! God is not just “out there somewhere;” God designed you and me to be His home on earth. God lives in you.
When we accept Christ as our savior, God takes up residence in our lives at that very moment. The Holy Spirit comes into our lives and makes an immediate transformation within us; as the Bible says, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come” (2 Cor. 5:17 NIV)! However, being filled with the Spirit is more than just God living within us.
[2] The Bible also teaches us that there is a subsequent spiritual experience called the “baptism in the Holy Spirit” or “being filled with the Spirit.” (These two terms are used interchangeably.)
This second in filling of the Holy Spirit is evidenced by “speaking in other tongues.” The book of Acts records how the early Christians experience this dynamic experience.
+ Acts 2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (NIV)
+ Acts 10:45-46 . . . the Holy Spirit [was] poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. (NIV)
+ Acts 19:6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. (NIV)
As believers today, we need God to equip and empower us by filling us with His Spirit in the same way as these New Testament Christians. If they needed to be filled with the Spirit in order to fulfill God’s purposes in and through their lives then how much more do we?
God is ready and willing to fill us with His Holy Sprit, or to baptize us in the Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. Our Father God is always prepared to “give good gifts to those who ask Him” (see Matthew 7:11).
What is our part to receive the Holy Spirit? What do we need to have? What are the prerequisites that Jesus said were needed by those who would be filled with the “living water” of the Holy Spirit?
1. WE NEED TO BELIEVE IN JESUS–WE NEED AN OPEN MIND TO BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT.
Jesus said, “If you believe in me, come and drink!” (John 7:38 NLT). We must believe in Jesus; accepting Christ as our personal Savior and being forgiven of our sin makes it possible for us to receive the baptism of the Holy Sprit. However, to be filled with the Spirit requires more than just believing in Jesus for salvation.
Some Christians today acknowledge Jesus as their Savior and believe that the Holy Spirit comes to live within them, but they are not open minded about being filled with the Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. Think back to that little baby who didn’t want to eat; you can’t force feed a baby, nor can you force fill a believer with the Holy Spirit.
If believing in Jesus for salvation is not enough to be filled or baptized with the Spirit, then what else do we need to believe about Jesus? What then do we need to believe? How should our mind be open if we are going to be filled with the Holy Spirit?
1. We need to believe Jesus’ teaching about the baptism in the Holy Sprit APPLIES TO ALL BELIEVERS.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit is a valid and desirable gift for all believers today. It is not true as many Christians say that being filled with the Holy Spirit was only valid for the first century Christians.
No where in the Bible does Jesus say that the baptism in the Holy Spirit was only for the disciples and the early church. On the contrary Jesus said, “And these signs will accompany those who believe. . . they will speak in new tongues” (Mark 16:17 NIV). Jesus said that if we believe in Him can have the supernatural experience of speaking in an unknown language known as the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
The Apostle Peter, who spent 3 ½ years with Jesus and was among those in the upper room to first be filled with the Holy Spirit said, “The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far away—whomever, in fact, our Master God invites” (Acts 2:39 MsgB). Peter said it was for everyone! Why would he say that if Jesus had told him otherwise? The promise of the infilling of the Holy Spirit is for you and me; it is for today!
Jesus told His disciples that they needed to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. It was not enough for the disciples to know that Jesus was alive again; Jesus wanted them to receive the gift of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
+ Acts 1:4-5 4[Jesus ] told them, "Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you what he promised. Remember, I have told you about this before. 5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. (NLT)
The Bible has not left out any important details. Jesus told His disciples that they needed to be filled with the Spirit. Likewise we also need to be filled with the Spirit today!
2. We also need to believe that Jesus wants to fill us with the Holy Spirit.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit or baptized in the Spirit is not a denominational issue; it is not the Pentecostals versus the Baptists or any other group. The Assemblies of God does not have a “corner on the market.” JESUS WANTS TO FILL ALL BELIEVERS.
Why does Jesus want His followers to be filled?
A. Jesus wants believers to have SPIRITUAL POWER.
Jesus said, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8 NIV).
When you are filled with the Holy Spirit you will sense God’s great love for you; it’s like a great big hug from God. You will be edified and encouraged in your faith in Christ; you will have a great joy in the Lord. These are all great things, but none are the reason you are baptized in the Holy Spirit.
With the baptism in the Holy Spirit you are empowered to be a witness of the risen Christ. It isn’t just so you can feel good; it’s so others can be forgiven and feel good too.
Each of us need the strength, courage and boldness that the Holy Spirit alone can provide us. Only with the power of the Spirit at work within our lives will we have strength to stand for Christ regardless of the circumstances.
✎ In Acts 4 Peter and John are brought before the same religious leaders who had Jesus crucified. Peter and John were imprisoned and threatened, but they fearlessly stood for Christ. The Bible even tells us that the religious leaders noticed the courage of Peter and John and took note that these men had been with Jesus. What made Peter and John different? Where did they get this spiritual power? It came from having been filled with the Holy Spirit. After Peter and John’s release they returned to the other believers. The Bible says that when they prayed together, the house was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God boldly (See Acts 4:13-31).
We need God’s Spirit to likewise empower us!
B. Jesus wants us to have SPIRITUAL PURITY.
Nothing will compromise our witness for Christ more than sin. Jesus wants us to live a holy life free from the entanglements of sin.
John the Baptist taught that Jesus would baptize with the “Holy Spirit and with fire” (Matthew 3:11-12). The fire of the Holy Spirit will purify our lives of sin; it will burn away the impurities so the purity of Christ in us can be seen.
Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would “convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8 NIV). As we said last week, the Holy Spirit will make sin obvious in our live and give us the desire to live for God. Instead of satisfying the desires of our flesh, we can have the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in our everyday lives (see Galatians 5:16-26).
Having an open mind, believing that Jesus wants us to be filled with the Spirit and desires to fill us is only the beginning. Jesus gave two other prerequisites.
2. WE NEED TO HAVE A SPIRITUAL DESIRE–OUR SPIRIT MUST BE WILLING AND THIRSTY.
Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty.” What is your spiritual desire today? Are you satisfied, or are you thirsty?
Jesus was surrounded by religious people; individuals who believed in God. However; Jesus knew that it required more than just what you believe. If you are going to be filled with the Spirit, then you have to be thirsty; you have to have a spiritual desire that yearns to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
It takes more than just believing that Jesus will fill us with the Holy Spirit; we need to earnestly desire to be filled. Belief and desire are not the same thing; the two are as different as night and day.
✎ As Jesus taught and ministered in and around Jerusalem, word began to spread among the people about His great miracles. A woman who had been treated for many years by the finest doctors that money could buy for her illness, but she was still sick. When she heard about Jesus, she believed that Jesus could heal her. This woman didn’t just believe; she was desperate. She had a need that no one else could help her with. A desire was born in her heart that said, “if I can just touch the hem of His garment, then I will be healed.” Her desire compelled her to risk public humiliation and disgrace as she pressed her way through the crowded streets to find Jesus. Finally perhaps even as she was falling to the ground, she reached out her hand and touched the hem of Jesus’ garment as he walked the crowded streets. Belief combined with her desire made her well when she was at last able to touch Jesus. (see Mark 5:24-29)
What can we learn from this woman’s story about desire? She knew that she had a need which only Jesus could meet and she was willing to do whatever it took to touch Jesus.
Our desire for the baptism in the Holy Spirit does not come from our belief in Jesus. You can believe all the right doctrine, but still not want to be filled. Desire grows out of the awareness of your desperate need for God in your life.
Only when we recognize how weak we really are in and of ourselves will we have the desire to call out to Jesus and ask Him to fill us with His Spirit. Desire is born out of humility that knows apart from Jesus I am nothing; He is my all in all, my everything.
When we see our need and have a desire for God, then we will be willing to do whatever it takes in order to be filled. Desire will give us a thirst that nothing in this world will ever satisfy; only the Spirit of God can satisfy the longing of our heart’s desire.
God fills believers who truly want to be filled, who crave the fullness of God’s Spirit in their lives. God is not going to disappoint you; He will fill you!
If you believe in Jesus, and if you have a desire for Him to fill you with His Spirit, then you are almost there. You only need one more thing to be filled with His Spirit.
3. WE NEED TO RECEIVE–WE NEED YIELD OUR BODIES TO THE SPIRIT.
Someone has said, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” That horse is like the baby who doesn’t want to be fed. Until the horse is thirsty it won’t drink; until an infant is hungry it won’t eat.
Before Christ can fill us with the Holy Spirit we need to have a desire to be filled, but desire or thirst alone is not enough; you have to be willing to drink–you have to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.”
✎ I may be thirsty; I might even let you know that I would like something to drink. You can even fill a glass with ice cold water and give it to me; you might even get carried away and put the glass to my lips and begin to pour the water into my mouth and all over me, but you can do nothing to make me drink it. I have to be willing to swallow if my thirst is going to be satisfied.
God will not “make you” speak in tongues; the Holy Spirit will not force you to speak. However, you will speak in other tongues as the Spirit enables you as Acts 2:4 says, they all spoke in tongues as the Spirit enabled them. God gives us Spirit inspired speech.
As we come to Jesus with the desire to be filled, we must choose to yield our bodies, specifically our tongues to God in order for Him to fill us with the Holy Spirit. The Bible says we should “offer the parts of your body to Him” (Romans 6:13 NIV). Our tongue is the instrument which God empowers to speak an unknown language.
Let me put it to you in the simplest way I know; you cannot be filled with the Holy Spirit if you are unwilling to speak. If you “lock your jaw” like the baby that doesn’t want to be “filled” with food, then you will remain silent and God won’t fill you. Only as you choose to open your mouth can God give you the Spirit inspired words to speak and be filled with the Spirit.
One final thought about receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Many who desire to be filled with the Spirt focus on speaking in tongues. The ability to speak in an unknown language is result of being filled in the Spirit, but “tongue talking” is not the purpose of being baptized in the Holy Spirit. The reason God fills you with His Spirit is to empower you to bring glory to Jesus as His witness.
Your willingness to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit should not focus on the gift but the giver. DON’T THINK ABOUT SPEAKING IN TONGUES; THINK ABOUT JESUS!
Think with me for a moment about the process of being filled with the Holy Spirit. [1] You have receive Jesus as your savior and you believe that Jesus wants you to be filled with the Spirit. [2] You recognize that you need to be filled; you have expressed your desire to the Lord saying, “fill me; I am thirsty for more of You.” [3] You are willing to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit coming to Jesus who has offered “living water.” But now notice something about what Jesus said.
Jesus didn’t say, “If you are thirsty, come and be refreshed by my living water;” Jesus said, “If you are thirsty, COME TO ME and drink.” Jesus emphasis is not upon what He will give you to drink; the focus is on Him as the one who provides you with what will satisfy your thirst. “Come to me! Come to me and drink!” Jesus is the baptizer and He will fill you as you look to Him.
Have you received the Holy Spirit since you accepted Jesus as your savior? Do you believe that Jesus wants you to be baptized in the Holy Spirit? Is it your desire to be filled? Are you ready to yield control and speak as His Spirit enables you?
Jesus will fill you with the Holy Spirit today!
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Portions are taken from a teaching series 50-Days to Pentecost, by John Palmer.
