The Holy Spirit: The Filling Of The Spirit (Part 5)

Review

Turn to Ephesians 5:18-21.

Last week, we recognized that sometimes we may ask the question, “how can I be filled or controlled by the Spirit?”

But a better question is, “how can I submit myself to the filling of the Spirit?”

We learned that…

Next slide here:

Submission to the Spirit is a deliberate choice you make by faith.

As you make that choice, He will control you/fill you.

The Spirit will not control you if you don’t desire Him to control you.

The Spirit will not control you if you don’t confess known sin.

The Spirit will not control you if you are not dedicated to the Lord.

This is a spiritual decision that spiritual thinking. If you are carnally minded, you will not be interested in being submitted to the Spirit.

Next slide here:

Romans 8:5–6 KJV 1900

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Remember the object lesson with the two water bottles?

When a person makes a deliberate choice to pour out a water bottle, air is going to fill that bottle in place of the water. It is guaranteed. Likewise, when a Christian makes a deliberate choice by faith to submit to the Spirit, the Spirit will control that individual.

Next slide here:

The contrast of the example

The command for filling

Next slide here:

The characteristics of being filled

The question we want to answer is this: what does the Bible indicate are the characteristics of being controlled by the Spirit?

If you look up the controlling of the Spirit on Youtube, you may find examples of…

People barking like dogs

Speaking in a Holy Spirit or heavenly language

Laughing uncontrollably

Fainting or being “slain in the spirit”

Shouting, waving of hands, running the aisle, etc.

You’ll find a lot of things that draws a lot of attention to man and very little to God.

What does the Bible indicate are the characteristics of being controlled by the Spirit? They are found in verses 19-21.

Read Ephesians 5:18-21.

The grammar indicates that there are five characteristics. Paul gives us five participles that express the characteristics of being filled with the Spirit.

What do you think those five characteristics are?

Let’s start listing them beginning in verse 19:

Speaking to yourselves in psalm and hymns and spiritual songs

Singing in your heart to the Lord

Making melody in your heart to the Lord

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

Submitting yourselves one to the another in the fear of God

Next slide here:

Speaking to yourselves…

Singing in your heart…

Making melody in your heart…

Giving thanks always…

Submitting yourselves one to another…

Each of these five characteristics further clarify the idea of being filled.

One person made a wise observation about this. All of these characteristics can be self-manufactured temporarily, but not over time. In other words, all of us can act spiritual for a little while, but consistency in these things over time can only be the result of submission to the Spirit of God.

Next slide here:

Speaking to yourselves in psalm and hymns and spiritual songs

The Spirit of God will always draw us back to and remind us of the written Word of God. That’s His job!

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Application: Whether in word or in song, the Spirit of God will move us to remember Scripture - if we let Him. Beware of filling your mind and life with noise!!!

Next slide here:

Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord

Application: Music is a spiritual thing.

Next slide here:

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

Application: Giving thanks is not natural - particularly “always” and “for all things”. That is spiritual.

Next slide here:

Submitting yourselves one to the another in the fear of God

Application: Before we ever talk about wives submitting to husbands, not this: submission to one another is for all believers.