Sunday 08/19/18
Series: For edification
Message – Being Filled with the Spirit Pt. 2
Podcast: Download (177.9MB)
Being Filled with the Spirit
6 points from last week are:
- Being Filled is to be influence and under the control of (led by, guided by, driven and motivated by…the Holy Spirit)
- Being Filled “THEY SPOKE HIS WORDS”
- Being Filled “They felt and responded with His Heart”
- Baby leaped
- Elizabeth rejoiced
- Being Filled “they were led”
- Jesus was led into the wilderness – Luke 4:1-2 “(1) Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, (2) being tempted for forty days by the devil…”
- ..and so, being filled is a potential sign of maturity or at least an action of maturity. Romans 8:14,
“For as many as are habitually led by the Spirit of God, these are the mature sons of God.”
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- I say “potential” because things in the spirit are in many ways very much like things in the flesh. Most people have experienced times when a juvenile family member may surprise us with an act of statement which reveals a hidden maturity lying somewhere just under the surface – which does not see the light of day very often. This can happen spiritually as well. They are “ah-ha” moments where we see and respect God more appropriately than usual and the Spirit, Who exists just under the surface gets the “mic” so to speak.
6. In all of our examples so far, everyone had been in a heart attitude of reverence for God, love for Him and surrender to His will on some level. This seems obviously significant!
Our next example is the famous one found in Acts chapter 2.
Acts 2:1-39, “(1) When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. (2) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. (3) Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. (4) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
So first notice the attitude of heart these these people had in the upper room. One place, in one accord and Chapter 1 verse 14 it adds that in that environment of agreement they were praying.
It is then that the Spirit came upon them (baptism) and then filled them. This is the Spirit within and the Spirit upon as I mentioned earlier.
Also notice that they SPOKE AS THE SPIRIT GAVE THEM SPIRITUAL WORDS.
(5) And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. (6) And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. (7) Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? (8) And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? (9) Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, (10) Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, (11) Cretans and Arabs–we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” (12) So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?” (13) Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”
I’m actually… quite literally embarrassed to tell you that these verses, as well, have been used to support being drunk in the Spirit.
However, you are reasonable people with intelligent minds – so you tell me –
Were these men speaking with slurred speech which was hard to understand and is there any evidence that they had any impairment of motor control?
Ok, so while some accused them of it, the MAJORITY were amazed and perplexed. If you have any doubts – listen to the words of Peter and judge for yourselves if he was acting like a rambling, slurred speeched drunk man…
(14) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. (15) For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. (16) But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: (17) ‘AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THE LAST DAYS, SAYS GOD, THAT I WILL POUR OUT OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL FLESH; YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS. (18) AND ON MY MENSERVANTS AND ON MY MAIDSERVANTS I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT IN THOSE DAYS; AND THEY SHALL PROPHESY. (19) I WILL SHOW WONDERS IN HEAVEN ABOVE AND SIGNS IN THE EARTH BENEATH: BLOOD AND FIRE AND VAPOR OF SMOKE. (20) THE SUN SHALL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS, AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD, BEFORE THE COMING OF THE GREAT AND AWESOME DAY OF THE LORD. (21) AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS THAT WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED.’ (22) “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know– (23) Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; (24) whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. (25) For David says concerning Him: ‘I FORESAW THE LORD ALWAYS BEFORE MY FACE, FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, THAT I MAY NOT BE SHAKEN. (26) THEREFORE MY HEART REJOICED, AND MY TONGUE WAS GLAD; MOREOVER MY FLESH ALSO WILL REST IN HOPE. (27) FOR YOU WILL NOT LEAVE MY SOUL IN HADES, NOR WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO SEE CORRUPTION. (28) YOU HAVE MADE KNOWN TO ME THE WAYS OF LIFE; YOU WILL MAKE ME FULL OF JOY IN YOUR PRESENCE.’ (29) “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. (30) Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, (31) he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. (32) This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. (33) Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. (34) “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, (35) TILL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES YOUR FOOTSTOOL.” ‘ (36) “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
Pretty impressive speech for a drunk guy hu?
Someone tell me, what is the overwhelming topic of Peter’s message? WHO is being revealed and pointed to? JESUS!
Let’s read the final words here…
(37) Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (38) Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (39) For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
Notice that when the Spirit of God speaks, He…
- Starts with Jesus
- He talks about Jesus
- He makes MUCH of Jesus
- He reveals our spiritual condition of need and guiltiness
- He points to Jesus as our answer
- He leaves us with a sobering decision to MAKE HAVING conditioned our hearts for a proper response.
Pay attention to the response of their hearts and mouths. They…
- Were cut to the heart
- Asked, What must we do?
I submit to you that this is NOT the common response to preaching in today’s world. Church has been reduced to “feel-good” therapy session teaching us how loved we are, how accepted we are and that no matter what we do God could never be displeased with us. We never need to be concerned with sin since Jesus paid it all – we only need to revel in God’s love and let Him bless, bless, bless us and get on with living our best life now!
Overwhelmingly the focus is on us…. Not Jesus!
Notice any difference in the words of the message and the response of the hearts – then and now?
So we have 2 additional points we have learned here …
Our next and last example for today is found in Acts 4 let’s turn there now.
To get the whole picture I want to read a good portion of the text beginning in verse 1.
Acts 4:1-22, HCSB “(1) Now as they were speaking to the people, the priests, the commander of the temple guard, and the Sadducees confronted them, (2) because they were provoked that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in the person of Jesus the resurrection from the dead. (3) So they seized them and put them in custody until the next day, since it was already evening. (4) But many of those who heard the message believed, and the number of the men came to about 5,000. (5) The next day, their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem (6) with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John and Alexander, and all the members of the high-priestly family. (7) After they had Peter and John stand before them, they asked the question: “By what power or in what name have you done this?” (8) THEN Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them,
Notice a few things here:
- 1st notice Koinonia, the counsel addressed Peter and John, but the Holy Spirit answered.
- Next, notice Peter was filled UPON being asked to account for their actions (which was also Koinonia) in that the Holy Spirit was the One Who officiated over the miracle.
- Notice that the Holy Spirit speaks to men THOUGH His Own people – those He chose, commissioned and appointed.
“(8) Rulers of the people and elders: (9) If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a disabled man–by what means he was healed– (10) let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene–Whom you crucified and Whom God raised from the dead–by Him this man is standing here before you healthy. (11) This Jesus is The stone despised by you builders, Who has become the cornerstone. (12) There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”
(13) When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and knew that they had been with Jesus.
- Notice the Spirit preached Jesus to them – He is the real and ONLY topic being mentioned and it is being presented to challenge them – “what do you intend to do with Jesus our Messiah?”
- Also notice, that the influence of the Spirit revealed not only facts about Christ Jesus, but Jesus Himself THROUGH His disciples. The counsel “heard Jesus’ words in these men’s mouth”. When the Spirit speaks – He reveals CHRIST JESUS!!!!
(14) And since they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in response. (15) After they had ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin, they conferred among themselves, (16) saying, “What should we do with these men? For an obvious sign, evident to all who live in Jerusalem, has been done through them, and we cannot deny it! (17) But so this does not spread any further among the people, let’s threaten them against speaking to anyone in this name again.” (18) So they called for them and ordered them not to preach or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
The devil was threatened by Jesus revealed in these men by the Holy Spirit – so he attempted to intimidate them. His tactics have not improved over the last 2,000 years. Only now it is more successful since Christendom is populated more by those who have encountered Him only just below the surface and not profoundly.
(19) But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; (20) for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (21) After threatening them further, they released them. They found no way to punish them, because the people were all giving glory to God over what had been done; (22) for the man was over 40 years old on whom this sign of healing had been performed.”
Being filled with the Spirit is for everyone in Christ…
When they left the counsel they went to the company and companionship of their own.
Acts4:23-37, HCSB “(23) After they were released, they went to their own fellowship and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
Let me ask you…what if this situation happened today?
Main protagonist: Two Pastors of a church are brought in by city officials – questioned, told to no longer preach in Christ’s name and threatened.
Church goers: Upon hearing this, what would be the response today? Do not try to conjure worst or best case scenarios just tell me what you think would be the typical response?
The response was unified and GOD focused.
(24) When they heard this, they raised their voices to God unanimously and said, “Master, You are the One who made the heaven, the earth, and the sea, and everything in them. (25) You said through the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David Your servant: Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot futile things? (26) The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers assembled together against the Lord and against His Messiah. (27) “For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, assembled together against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, (28) to do whatever Your hand and Your plan had predestined to take place. (29) And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that Your slaves may speak Your message with complete boldness, (30) while You stretch out Your hand for healing, signs, and wonders to be performed through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” (31) When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak God’s message with boldness. (32) Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common. (33) And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them. (34) For there was not a needy person among them, because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, (35) and laid them at the apostles’ feet. This was then distributed to each person as anyone had a need. (36) Joseph, a Levite and a Cypriot by birth, whom the apostles named Barnabas, which is translated Son of Encouragement, (37) sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”
Next week we will look at the famous example which is often taken out of context found in Acts chapter 6.
This service had content that is NOT written out here, so I would encourage you to listen to it WHILE you read…Blessings!
I hope this teaching will challenge you and encourage you to place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
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