Filled with the Spirit

BALLOON

Introduction

Did you ever have “that guy” on your team that made your team so much better than it it had been?

Nathaniel Zook

Without the this passage, the rest of the Book of Acts makes no sense.

Without the events found in this passage, the rest of the Book of Acts would be ordinary.

Worse yet, the human efforts of the apostles may have been mildly successful in growing a group of followers around a set of common beliefs.

I fear the whole of the Book of Acts may look similar to how A W Tozer describes the Church today:

We may as well face it: the whole level of spirituality among us is low. We have measured ourselves by ourselves until the incentive to seek higher plateaus in the things of the Spirit is all but gone…. [We] have imitated the world, sought popular favor, manufactured delights to substitute for the joy of the Lord and produced a cheap and synthetic power to substitute for the power of the Holy Ghost.

-A. W. Tozer-

We must be careful not to view a narrative section of Scripture as paradigmatic for the Christian life today, but through the narrative, we can learn something about the nature and character of God (here specifically the Holy Spirit) and our relationship with Him.

The Holy Spirit has been promised to dwell with every NT believer and to fill them in increasing measure that they might be empowered to be Christ’s witnesses to carry out His mission for His glory.

The Spirit is promised (1:5)

Acts 1:5 (ESV)

5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

This is not the first time the Holy Spirit was mentioned or promised.

There are almost 100 references to the Holy Spirit before we even get to Acts chapter 2.

Joel 2:28–29 (ESV)

28 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. 29 Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.

Matthew 3:11 (ESV)

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Acts 1:5 (ESV)

5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

God keeps His promises.

Acts 2:1–13 (ESV)

1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.

We don’t know where they met - some say in house (probably not THE upper room) - some say Temple courts.

We do know WHEN it happened:

Pentecost

Middle of three annual Jewish feasts and typically known as Feast of Harvest or the Feast of Weeks

took place 7 weeks / 50 days after Passover, which was when the grain harvesting began

(pentēkostos means ‘fiftieth’) after the Passover, which was when the grain harvesting began.

2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.

All throughout the OT wind and fire were used as representations of God’s presence.

Ezekiel blowing on the dry bones

Moses and the burning bush

Pillar of fire

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The Spirit fills believers (2:1-4)

I think it is important that we take a few minutes to explain a couple of the phrases used with relation to the Holy Spirit and the believer.

It is important and will have implications for us later.

Here in verse 4 we have the phrase “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit”

In chapter 1:5 the disciples are told they will be “baptized with the Holy Spirit”

And then there is the phrase you may have heard of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

People use these phrases in different ways and sometimes to mean very different things.

Baptism with the Spirit

Phrase occurs seven times in the New Testament:

Matt 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, John 1:33, Acts 1:5, Acts 11:16, and 1 Corinthians 12:13 Most describe John the Baptist prophesying about Jesus sending the Holy Spirit

Matthew 3:11 (ESV)

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Some would understand the baptism of the Spirit as a separate event following conversion.

Would understand one to become a believer only later to be “baptized with the Holy Spirit” leading to a life with more blessing and greater power for ministry.

Would point to the disciples being believers with Jesus only later to receive the Holy Spirit.

Also seen in Acts 8:12

Acts 8:12 (ESV)

12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Acts 8:14–17 (ESV)

14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

Also in Acts 10:45-46

Acts 10:45–46 (ESV)

45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared,

Another (although somewhat different) example in Acts 19

Acts 19:6 (ESV)

6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.

Without being able to dive too deeply into each of these, let me summarize this way:

it is clear from the verses that use the phrase “baptized with the Holy Spirit” that it refers to the initial pouring out of the Holy Spirit on and around Pentecost.

Paul, in 1 Cor 12:13, understands for believers after Pentecost that baptism with the Holy Spirit to occurs at conversion as we are in a sense participating in that initial event through our faith (just as through faith we participate in Christ’s death, resurrection, etc.).

The other receiving of the HS following conversion in Acts actually describes the initial giving of the HS that started with the disciples on the Day of Pentecost and is limited to that time. (8 - Samaria, 10 - Cornelius (Gentile) following Acts 1:8)

Baptism with the Spirit - refers to the initial pouring out of the Holy Spirit in a new way around the time of Pentecost in which every believer participates in through faith.

This means:

If you have trusted in Jesus you have the Holy Spirit.

There are not two tiers of the Christian life. There are not ordinary Christians and Spirit-baptized Christians, carnal Christians and spiritual Christians.

When you come to faith in Jesus, you receive the Holy Spirit:

Indwelling of the Spirit - describes the permanent presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of every believer.

This is huge! the OT followers of God did not have this experience.

Filling with the Sprit - refers to time(s) when the Spirit’s power and presence is expressed in increasing measure in the life of a believer for the purpose of living more like Christ and accomplishing more for Christ.

ILLUST - Balloon - small - is it filled with air? YES. (blow it up). Is it filled with air? YES. Is it filled with more air? YES.

It would seem those who have experienced a move of the HS in your life following conversion are indeed experiencing a filling of the HS.

The Spirit dwells with you, but has He filled you?

The effect of the Spirit is obvious (5-11)

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? . . . 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”

This is in effect the curse of Babel reversed!

Where, in Genesis, the people used their one language to make themselves into a god, and so God confused the languages into many thus creating different and separate people groups, now God has, through His Holy Spirit, begun to reconcile all the people groups together through their faith in the gospel and this is displayed through the people of different languages hearing the gospel with one voice.

The effect of the filling of the Spirit is obvious (or should be)

Language barriers cannot stop the Holy Spirit

God has brought these people from all over the world together but they can’t all speak to each other.

They didn’t have Google translate

The Holy Spirit did something amazing: He supernaturally enables the disciples to speak foreign languages. I would love this!

There is a reason I don’t preach in our hispanic service. I’m not sure what my text would be but the only points of my sermon would be:

“Glory to God”

“Where is the bathroom?”

The Spirit dwells with you. Can you (or others) see Him in you?

ILLUST - videos of people with extraordinary talents dressed up as ordinary people in order to amaze onlookers. - body builder dressed as janitor or Jeff Gordon disguised to take car on test drive.

not degrees, not natural abilities, not good looks, not money, resources, fame.

If you have the Holy Spirit (and if you have trusted in Jesus then you do) then you have EVERYTHING you need to do the ministry.

“[But] I am tired of living in a way that looks exactly like people who do not have the Holy Spirit of God living in them. I want to consistently live with an awareness of His strength. I want to be different today from what I was yesterday as the fruit of the Spirit becomes more manifest in me. I want to live so that I am truly submitted to the Spirit’s leading on a daily basis. Christ said it is better for us that the Spirit came, and I want to live like I know that is true. I don’t want to keep crawling when I have the ability to fly.”

Chan, Francis. Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit (pp. 38-39). David C. Cook. Kindle Edition.

Ephesians 5:18 (ESV)

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Continually being filled

What would a life filled with the Spirit look like?

- Attitude of thanksgiving

Ephesians 5:20 (ESV)

20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Humility and love

Eph 5:22, 25

Ephesians 5:25 (ESV)

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

Victory over demonic forces and answers to prayer

Ephesians 6:10 (ESV)

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Praying at all times in the Spirit.

Spiritual gifts

1 Corinthians 12:11 (ESV)

11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

Greater holiness

Romans 8:13 (ESV)

13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

The Spirit’s work can be accepted or rejected (12-13)

The distance between rejecting the Spirit and receiving the Spirit is obedience. Obedience to the Holy Spirit allows for the work of the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit dwells with you. Do you want Him to fill you?

I want to live my life in such a way that the only logical explanation is that the All-powerful, Eternal God of the universe that made everyone and everything has placed His Spirit in me and is working through me.

It is time for us to stop expecting the church to feed us and start asking the Holy Spirit to fill us so we can BE the church.

How to be filled with the Holy Spirit:

ASK God to fill you with the Spirit.

Luke 11:13 (ESV)

13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

James tells us we have not because we ask not.

Are you content to continue on your current trajectory of the Christian life?

“But I am tired of living in a way that looks exactly like people who do not have the Holy Spirit of God living in them. I want to consistently live with an awareness of His strength. I want to be different today from what I was yesterday as the fruit of the Spirit becomes more manifest in me. I want to live so that I am truly submitted to the Spirit’s leading on a daily basis. Christ said it is better for us that the Spirit came, and I want to live like I know that is true. I don’t want to keep crawling when I have the ability to fly.”

Chan, Francis. Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit (pp. 38-39). David C. Cook. Kindle Edition.

OPEN your life through confession, submission, obedience.

Ephesians 5:8 (ESV)

8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

Sometimes we experience a greater move of the Spirit in our lives; however, it is not because we have asked for it and made ourselves open to it; it is instead because things have been stripped from our hands and we have nothing left of our own doing. We are empty through other means (suffering) and by default open to the Spirit’s filling if we turn to Him.

The filling of the Holy Spirit is not magical, automatic, or always immediate, but it is to be expected when we confess sin, submit and yield ourselves to God through prayer, the Word, and obedience.

WAIT to be filled with the Spirit in God’s timing and in God’s way.

Psalm 130:5–6 (ESV)

5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; 6 my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.

Do you want to live like Pentecost is true?

**The Spirit is given to you. Are you given to Him?**