LIVING THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE

Ephesians 5:18 MEV

Do not be drunk with wine, for that is reckless living. But be filled with the Spirit.

Ephesians 5:18

Ephesians 5:18 MEV

Do not be drunk with wine, for that is reckless living. But be filled with the Spirit.

INTRODUCTION:

1. Imagine what your life would be like if you lived everyday under the complete influence & control of the HS.

Your entire life would be different, wouldn’t it?

You would think differently.

You would talk differently.

Your attitude would be different.

Your decision making & choices would be different.

You would live in victory over the flesh rather than give in to temptation.

Galatians 5:16 KJV 1900

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

NOTE: The HS is the Divine Helper…He helps us to live the Christian life…In fact, He helps us to live a supernatural life.

He supplies us with the power to live the life that God has called us to live.

But too often, we don’t recognize His presence in our lives...except at church on Sunday & Wednesday.

But the HS wants to be involved in your life everyday that you wake up.

2. Jesus said the HS would be our “Comforter, Counselor, & Advocate...”

Jesus said the HS would “guide us into all truth...” ()

3. Paul said the HS “helps us in our weaknesses, for we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” ()

NOTE: We should be hungry & desperate for the HS’s help in our lives…but as I already said - we don’t pay Him any attention accept on Sunday & Wednesday.

And then we wonder - Why isn’t God working miracles…Or why isn’t God using me…Or why am I not leading others to Jesus...

Here’s why - We have limited the HS’s activity in our lives.

1 Thessalonians 5:19 AMP

Do not quench (suppress or subdue) the [Holy] Spirit;

Ephesians 4:30 AMP

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God’s own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin).

Instead of being led by the Spirit, some believers suppress the Spirit in their lives…and as a result, the don’t make much a difference in the world.

4. So tonight, I want to talk about Living a Spirit-filled Life and I want to do so by answering 3 questions.

1) WHAT IS THE FILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?

Ephesians 5:18 KJV 1900

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

OBSERVATIONS FROM THE TEXT

I. This is a command.

In the Greek language this verb is in the imperative mode.

This means being filled with the Spirit isn’t an optional part of the Christian life.

Iow’s, Paul isn’t make a request or a suggestion…he’s saying it’s a mandate.

NOTE: Every believer is to be filled with the Spirit all of the time…and if you aren’t, you are out of God’s will.

II. It’s in the present tense.

In the Greek language the words “be filled” are in present tense & carry the idea of continual action.

Iow’s, it’s not a one-time event or experience.

We could legitimately translate this verse this way: “Be continually filled with the Holy Spirit.”

John MacArthur says we could translate it literally with something like “Be being kept filled with the Spirit.”

The Amplified catches the present tense this way: “But ever be filled and stimulated with the (Holy) Spirit.”

NOTE: Spirit-filled living is supposed to be the normal way of life for the Christian.

We are supposed to live our lives “full of the HS...”

III. It’s in the passive voice.

This is a nuance many people would miss.

In Greek as in English commands can be either active or passive.

However, we’re much more used to active commands, such as: “Go to the store and pick up some milk.” That’s an active command.

If I say, “Fill that hole with dirt”, that’s also in the active voice.

But is in the passive voice.

He doesn’t say, “Fill yourself with the Spirit” but rather “Be filled with the Spirit.”

That’s the key to everything.

To “be filled” means that the filling of the Spirit is a work of God, not man.

He’s not saying “fill yourself” but rather “be filled.”

NOTE: From that, I want to draw two important implications from this truth:

i. The Holy Spirit is ready and willing to fill us at any moment.

ii. We must make ourselves available to him.

Now with all that being said - What does being filled with the Spirit mean?

1. To be filled with the Spirit is to live with your life yielded to the Spirit’s control.

Just as the person filled with wine is under the influence or control of the wine…the person filled with the Spirit is under the Spirit’s control.

NOTE: Drunk people and Spirit-filled people have one thing in common...They are both controlled people.

Go back to the contrast between wine and the Spirit. Drunken and Spirit-filled people have one thing in common. They are both controlled people. Their lives and their behavior are radically changed by that which fills them.

Their lives and their behavior are radically changed by that which fills them.

If a man is filled with anger, then anger controls his life.

If a man is filled with greed, then greed dominates his life.

If a man is filled with love, then love influences all he does.

And if a person is filled with the Spirit, the HS will influence that person’s words, thoughts, & actions.

However, the HS can’t influence you if you don’t cooperate with Him.

NOTE: The HS wants to guide you but He want force you…You have to cooperate.

You have to surrender to Him & let Him lead you.

Or if you choose to do things your own way, He won’t stop you.

The HS doesn’t turn us into robots that automatically obey God…We have to choose to yield & be led by Him.

2. To be filled with the Spirit is to live with the Word of God permeating every area of your life.

with the Word of God permeating every area of your life.

is a parallel with .

Colossians 3:16 KJV 1900

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Both texts are followed by joyful singing, thankfulness to God, and instructions about wives and husbands, children and parents, and slaves and masters.

But in , rather than saying, “be filled with the Spirit,” Paul says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.”

H. A. Ironside said (In the Heavenlies [Loizeaux Brothers], p. 269),

There is an old rule in mathematics that says, “things equal to the same thing are equal to one another.” If to be filled with the Word is equal in result to being filled with the Spirit, then it should be clear that the Word-filled Christian is the Spirit-filled Christian. As the Word of Christ dwells in us richly, controls all our ways, as we walk in obedience to the Word, the Spirit of God fills, dominates, and controls us to the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.

NOTE: To be a Spirit-filled Christian, you must be growing in your understanding and application of God’s Word.

The Word & the Spirit go together.

Or as Tim Hill says it - “You can’t be more spiritual than you are scriptural.”

3. To be filled with the Spirit involves an ever-deepening relationship with God through the Spirit.

This means that the HS helps us grow in our relationship with God.

He lives inside of us & He reveals to us those areas that we need to surrender to His control so that we continue to grow spiritually.

the Spirit reveals new areas that you need to surrender to His control. So your capacity for being filled with the Spirit expands over time

Rather, it’s a relationship with the Triune God through His indwelling Spirit.

the Spirit reveals new areas that you need to surrender to His control. So your capacity for being filled with the Spirit expands over time

4. To be filled with the Spirit includes God giving us power for service.

Luke 24:49 NKJV

“Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

Acts 1:8 KJV 1900

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Luke 24:49 MEV

And look, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Acts 2:4 KJV 1900

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

The early church was filled with the HS & empowered to do the work of ministry.

They preached the gospel & souls were saved.

They healed the sick & cast out devils.

And if God is still the same today…then He wants us to be filled & empowered to do great things for Him today.

2) HOW CAN I EXPERIENCE THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE?

I have already covered a lot of this in explaining what the filling of the Spirit is and is not. I must be very brief:

1. You need to understand certain facts.

If you have believed in JC as your Savior and Lord, God has given you the HS to indwell you.

He now commands you to be filled with the Spirit, which primarily means living with every area of your life yielded moment-by-moment to the HS.

2. You must recognize and acknowledge your need for the HS.

Iow’s, you won’t seek the HS’s power until you recognize your own inadequacy and need.

.

As long as you are content to live in your own strength, you will never seek after Him.

3. You must confess and forsake all known sin and yield every area of your life to God.

NOTE: The Holy Spirit will not fill a dirty vessel.

I’m not saying that we will be perfect at all times…but I am saying that we must be striving to live right b/c “purity precedes power...”

Spirit-filled believers are sanctified, set apart believers.

). We must present ourselves to God as those alive from the dead and yield our minds and bodies to Him as instruments of righteousness ().

1 John 1:9 KJV 1900

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

NOTE: We must practice confession of sin often if we want to walk in power & experience the Spirit’s fullness in our lives.

4. You must ask God to fill you daily.

Luke 11:13 KJV 1900

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

You could pray something like this...

Heavenly Father,

I ask you to fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I might live a life pleasing to you. I want my life to bring glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. I am empty and I need to be filled.

You must walk by faith, not feelings.

Please empower me so that I can be salt and light in my world.

I pray this in faith believing that you will answer my prayer as you have promised.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

5. You must walk by faith, not feelings.

Walking implies repeated, moment-by-moment reliance on the Spirit of God ().

NOTE: The flesh will wage war against the Spirit, and there will be times that we don’t FEEL that spiritual…and in those moments, we have to continue to walk by faith.

In those situations, we have to acknowledge our own weakness and we have to lean on the HS for strength.

Our enemy will entice us and wage war against us.

We can’t trust how we feel b/c our feelings will fail us.

In all of these situations, acknowledge your own weakness and cry out to God by faith, that He would control you and give you His strength.

Faith is also coupled with obedience, so that you avoid and flee from tempting situations.

6. You must dwell in God’s Word.

We have already seen this, but it’s important to saturate your mind with the Word…so that the HS can guide you.

NOTE: As you walk this way, confessing and turning from sin, relying on the Spirit for His power, being obedient to His Word, you will develop a habit of holiness.

At first, like a toddler learning to walk, you will fall a lot.

Get up and keep walking…and pretty soon, walking becomes the norm.

You’ll experience the Spirit’s fullness in an ever-expanding capacity.

He will control or influence your thoughts, your emotions, your words, your attitudes, your schedule, your relationships, your finances, and all of life.

He will fill you as the wind fills the sails of a ship & direct you in His paths of righteousness and joy.

3) HOW CAN I KNOW THAT I AM FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT?

1. The Spirit-filled life produces Christlikeness.

Luke 11:13 MEV

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”

You and those who know you best will be able to see steady, progressive growth.

Like a child’s growth, it isn’t always discernible day by day, but as you look back, you should see definite change toward godliness.

This includes Christlike character.

The fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—will be growing in your life.

You will also be growing in Christlike conduct.

You will experience consistent victory over the deeds of the flesh ().

These sins will be replaced by good deeds of Christlike service and love to others for Christ’s sake.

2. The Spirit-filled life results in heartfelt worship and thankfulness to God, along with godly relationships.

Ephesians 5:18–21 KJV 1900

18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

A. Spirit-filled believers are Joyful

A Spirit-filled person will have a singing spirit & make melody in their heart to the Lord.

The idea of singing is a picture of joy & happiness.

NOTE: A Spirit-filled believer should be a believer who shouts & rejoices & “makes a joyful noise unto the Lord.”

If you’re Spirit-filled, you ought to be happy & have a smile on your face & a bounce in your step.

B. Spirit-filled believers are Thankful

A Spirit-filled person will have a thankful spirit.

Notice the words “always” and “for all things.”

We are to thank God for all things & no matter what happens…All day long we are to give Him thanks.

NOTE: Spirit-filled believers can thank God on their good days as well as their bad days.

Spirit-filled believers can always find something to be thankful for.

Spirit-filled believers understand that God still deserves their gratitude even when things are going wrong in life.

C. Spirit-filled believers are Submissive & Respectful

A Spirit-filled person doesn’t have a spirit of criticism, dissension, envy, divisiveness, or selfishness…They have a spirit of submissiveness.

The same is true for churches: a Spirit-filled church has a body of people who are submissive - meaning that they go out of their way to minister & serve each other.

Philippians 2:3–4 MEV

3 Let nothing be done out of strife or conceit, but in humility let each esteem the other better than himself. 4 Let each of you look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

D. Spirit-filled believers have Spirit-filled Homes

NOTE: Spirit-filled believers treat others the way they would want to be treated.

Spirit-filled believers show respect & honor to others.

Spirit-filled believers will walk in humility, which leads to harmony in the church.

By nature, we want to promote ourselves, but the HS enables us to submit ourselves…and consider others “more important than ourselves...”

Romans 12:10 NKJV

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

Philippians 2:3–4 KJV 1900

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

CONCLUSION:

1. I want to close by asking you, Are you filled with the HS & living the Spirit-filled life?

Can you say at this present moment that you are filled with the HS?

2. I’m not asking if you have been filled in the past…I’m not asking if you can tell me about some experience you had years ago…I’m not asking if you have ever spoken in tongues.

3. I am asking if the HS is real to you tonight…Is the HS working & operating in your life now?

Can you feel His presence?

Can you hear His voice?

Can you sense His power?

4. If the HS pulled out of your life for a week, would you miss Him...Or, would life go on as usual?

NOTE: God has called us to live a supernatural life of daily dependence on the HS.

5. So, tonight if you need to be filled or re-filled…you can receive before you leave.

We must claim the promise of …

John 7:37–39 KJV 1900

37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

JOhn 7:37-

By faith you yield yourself to Christ...by faith ask Him for the fullness of the Spirit…and by faith you receive.

By faith yield yourself to Christ; by faith ask Him for the fullness of the Spirit. By faith receive

Let’s pray!!!