Spirit Filled: Christian (Part 1)

Ephesians 1:3-14 Spirit Filled Christian (Part 1) Introduction: Good morning. If this is your first time at Refuge Christian Fellowship - Welcome. Last week we began a new mini series called: Spirit Filled. We are exploring what the christian’s relationship to the Holy Spirit is supposed to be. What does it mean or look like to live a life filled with the Holy Spirit. Last week I shared my own experience of feeling caught in the middle of two opinions - Charismatic or Hyper Pentecostal - being Spirit filled means Ecstatic experiences, and physical manifestations only or being Spirit filled means conformity to the person of Jesus a life marked by holiness and obedience and not the ecstatic experiences. What we did is we looked at the the life and person of Jesus and saw how present and persistent the Holy Spirit was in his own life and how that was manifest in both the miraculous and a life of holiness and obedience. As I mentioned before - it seems to me that we either go to one of two extremes - either we seek the experiential aspect of the Holy Spirit meaning physical manifestations and the gifts of the Spirit and leave off the fruit and character of the Spirit - holiness and obedience. OR we cultivate the fruit of the Spirit and never explore the manifestation of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. And when you actually read scripture you find both. and it seems to me to settle for one against the other is simply unbiblical and is to sell ourselves short on the fulness of what God wants to do in our lives. So this morning we want to continue asking the question - What does it mean to be Spirit Filled - looking particularly at the Life of the Christian. But maybe you are here this morning and you are thinking I don’t really care about the Bible, and I definitely don’t care about doctrine and church teachings or the Holy Spirit and being spirit filled whatever that means— But do you want fulness? Do you long for contentment? Do you want to be satisfied? Listen to how Jesus described the Holy Spirit and his work in the Gospel of John. It says, “ On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By 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.” Jesus says that the Holy Spirit is the person who will bring what every human being since the beginning of time has looked and longed for - inner fulfillment - a quenching of the soul’s thirst - and not only a quenching but will themselves become a source of life and refreshment for those around them.. I think this offer alone is enough to get you to listen to what the Bible has to say about the Holy Spirit. 1. Spirit Filled Christian 1. The Holy Spirit Regenerates 1. The first and primary way that the Bible speaks about Christians being filled with God’s Holy Spirit is in terms of regeneration and salvation 2. Regeneration means New-birth or rebirth. Regeneration: is the act of God by which a principle of new life is implanted in an individual with the result that the new governing disposition of the soul is Holy, set apart and of God. 1. Titus 3:4-5 “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” 3. The Bible teaches us that the eternal Son of God, came to earth as the human Jesus, and that he did so in order to rescue Humanity along with the rest of creation from it’s separation from their creator God and from the destruction and breakdown of sin - human selfishness and rebellion. Jesus rescues humanity by assuming the debt and payment of all the sin, evil and destruction of the human race by his sacrificial substitutionary death on the cross. Jesus dies for the sin of humanity - in humanities place. Now the risen and exalted Jesus, (three days later he rose from the dead), grants each person the offer of coming back to God, joining his family and his kingdom. This work of becoming a part of God’s family and God’s kingdom is a work that the Holy Spirit does. Jesus wrought our salvation but it is the Holy Spirit that applies that work to those who believe in the finished work of Christ. These are just some of the things the Spirit does in that work of regeneration and salvation. 2. The Holy Spirit Makes known the Love of God to us - He makes it alive and real to us! 1. Romans 8:14-16 “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” 2. Paul speaks in another place about how it is the Holy spirit who pours out the love of God into our hearts - and again that the Holy Spirit revelation of God’s love causes us to cry back in Love and adoration - Father!! 3. The Holy Spirit indwells the Christian. The Holy Spirit comes and lives inside the individual who has believed on Jesus for salvation. 1. John 14:17 “the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” 2. 1 Corinthians 3:16 “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” 3. 1 Corinthians 6:19 “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” 4. The Holy Spirit baptizes us into the Church - the body of Christ. 1. 1 Corinthians 12:13 “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 2. Ephesians 4:5-6 “one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” 3. He knits God’s diverse people together to be one family, one body. 5. The Holy Spirit seals. Sealing speaks of several things: security, ownership, and a guarantee. 1. Ephesians 1:13 “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise” 2. The sealing of the Holy Spirit authenticates the fact that we are truly God’s people - his prized possession. 6. The continual work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Christian. 1. He fills. Christians are commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Eph 5:18 “ Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” 1. As we saw the christian is in-dwelt by the Spirit at conversion; but the christian is to be continually filled with the Spirit. 1. All throughout the book of Acts we see the Apostles and the church filled again and again with the Holy Spirit 2. This signified not only being controlled by the Spirit, but also being equipped for the task at hand - being filled with wisdom, power for service, boldness to preach the Gospel, and power to perform miraculous healings and deliverances. 3. Being filled with the Spirit also includes, joy, peace, hope and many other qualities that describe inner contentment and satisfaction. It also means, loving others - God’s family specifically - other Christians but also loving all people because they are made by God and loved by God also 2. He guides. 1. The Christian is commanded to walk in the Spirit and to be led by the Spirit. 2. Galatians 5:16&25 “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 3. Being led by the Spirit enables us not to fulfill the desires of the flesh -our sinful nature or natural inclinations - selfishness, self reliance and pride but instead causes us to obey the Spirit - Love Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) 3. He empowers. The Christian is in a spiritual battle. The flesh against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. The will of who we used to be is wrestling with the new life of Jesus at work in us. The indwelling of the Spirit provides power to choose God’s way and God’s truth as well as the power to put to death the old ways of thinking, speaking and living. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 1. Galatians 5:17 “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 2. Romans 8:13 “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.” The Spirit produces God’s character in us 1. The Holy Spirit produces in us the Fruit of the Spirit and these combat the works of the flesh, the fruit is: “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” He teaches. 1. Jesus said the the Holy Spirit would be a teacher, and a helper, and that he would lead us into all truth (John 16:13-14) 2. 1 John 2:20 & 27 “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.” “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.” 3. When we open up the Bible - the Holy Spirit is present to make God’s word and his truth not only understandable, and discernible, but real and applicable to our lives. He teaches us God’s ways and applies them to our lives. He brings Freedom 1. “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Cor 3:17) 2. The Holy Spirit in applying the Gospel to our hearts brings a new and profound freedom - freedom from sin, freedom from meaninglessness, freedom to love God, freedom to love others, freedom to choose righteousness and resist sin, freedom to receive all that God has for us… He convicts 1. He convicts us of sin, and things that are not compatible with following Jesus, and being members of God’s family and citizens of his kingdom He equips the Church 1. He equips the Church with spiritual leadership and gifting so we can glorify God and encourage and help each-other and the list goes on of all that the Sprit does in the Life of the Christian. 9. The primary objective of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Christian is to form the life of God in us - the way God thinks, and feels, and acts. His ways, his truth, his love and character (The characteristics described in the SM) are being formed in us through the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us the provision of divine power to execute the Christian way of life and to seek and build the kingdom of God in the places he has called us. It is through the Holy Spirit that we assimilate our great salvation. 2. Do I have the Spirit? 1. Many times studying the Holy Spirit’s work brings people to wonder - Do I have the Holy Spirit? Am I really a Christian? 1. According to the Bible - Every person that has committed their life to Jesus Christ or as we often call - has been born again has received the Holy Spirit - Jesus in John 3 describes new birth as a spiritual birth by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the means by which we become Christians. 2. But often our experience as Christians is that we don’t “feel” that we have the Spirit, we don’t sense his presence or work in our lives. I hate to even use that word “feel” because I think western culture is obsessed with feeling, rather than, and over Truth. So I think a good question to ask is - If all christians are filled with the Holy Spirit - why am I not experiencing the Spirit? Why does my life or lifestyle seem inconsistent with the Holy Spirit’s work and the life of Jesus? Why don’t I desire the things of God? Why is my life defined more by sin than by righteousness? 3. Quenching and Grieving the Spirit 1. Paul the Apostle says in Ephesians 4:30 to not grieve the Holy Spirit - another passage speak of quenching the Spirit, and another of resisting the Spirit. 1. Bryan Chappell says, “The same Spirit who convicts my heart of sin, generates in me love for God, gives me new birth, provides my apprehension of the beauty of grace in the world, and seals my redemption until the coming of my Lord—this same Spirit who loves me so intimately and perfectly, I can cause to grieve.” 2. Notice scripture does not say that we lose the Spirit or that he leaves us, but that he can be suppressed/quenched, grieved, and resisted. 3. I think that this is the case with most Christians - We don’t feel or experience the Spirit because he has been resisted and ignored, grieved and suppressed - whether it is through habitual, unrepentant sin in our own lives or sin done to us, or sin done in our presence that defiles us. It could simply be apathy to the things of God. It could be that we have for so long ignored his conviction - that it has stopped. It could be a failure to operate according to the Spirit’s power and rely on our own strength and ability to cope with life - all of these can grieve and suppress the Spirit and his work in our lives. 2. Sin 1. According to Ephesians 4:30 we can grieve the Holy Spirit, and other passages talk about not quenching the Spirit - stopping his flow and his influence in our lives. We might think only of sin in terms of immorality - and yes, if we are engrossed in sexual sin, lying, prejudice, greed, anger and hate, and the like, these will grieve and quench the Holy Spirit; but the Bible also speaks repeatedly of sin in terms of selfishness, self reliance, and pride. In Ephesians 4:30 Paul is speaking of grieving the Spirit in relational terms - by sowing discord and disunity among God’s people through - un-forgiveness, bitterness, backbiting and slander, harsh and critical speech that discourages and tears people down. We grieve the Holy Spirit when we do not think, speak and act in love toward others. 3. Compromise and Counterfeit 1. I Mentioned this last week but if you are not operating in and depending on the Spirit - you don’t just go into neutral - Instead you are compromising the Spirit and counterfeiting the work and power of the Spirit. 1. Relying on Substance - food, alcohol, prescription meds, narcotics, co-dependency, sex -outside of the biblical boundaries, anger; Rather than the Joy, peace and righteousness that we are offered in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17) 2. Listening and conforming our life to the desires of the flesh, and the world instead of the Holy Spirit - what narrative our we allowing to shape our lives?? Who or what has the greatest influence? 1. When we look more like the culture, and prize friendship with the World over friendship with Jesus it grieves the Holy Spirit, it causes him to be jealous for our attention, affections and obedience (James 4) 2. These quench the Spirit 2. Counterfeiting the Fruit of the Spirit 1. Love 1. Definition - To serve a person for their good and intrinsic value, not for what the person brings you. 2. Counterfeit - Selfish affection. Rescuing someone but really rescuing self. Attracted not to person, but to how this person’s love makes you feel about yourself. 2. Joy 1. Definition - Delight in God and his salvation for sheer beauty and worth of who he is. A fixed peace and hopefulness in spite of circumstance. 2. Counterfeit - Elation that comes with blessings not the Blesser! Mood swings based on circumstances. 3. Peace 1. Definition - Confidence and rest in the wisdom and sovereignty of God more than your own. 2. Counterfeit - Indifference, apathy, not caring about something. “I don’t care.” 4. Patience 1. Definition - Ability to take trouble (from others or life) without blowing up or striking out. To suffer joyfully. 2. Counterfeit - Cynicism. Self-righteousness. “This is too small to be bothered about.” 5. Kindness 1. Definition - Practical kindness with vulnerability out of deep inner security. 2. Counterfeit - Manipulative good deeds. Doing things to be seen by others. Self-congratulation and self-righteousness. Doing things to be “good enough” for others or for God. 6. Goodness 1. Definition - Honesty, integrity, transparency. Being the same in one situation as another. 2. Counterfeit - Truth without love. “Getting it off the chest” for your sake. 7. Faithfulness 1. Definition - Loyalty. Courage. To be principle-driven, committed, utterly reliable. True to one’s word. 2. Counterfeit - Love without truth. Being loyal when you should be willing to confront or challenge. 8. Gentleness 1. Definition - Self-forgetfulness. - “not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.” - Lewis 2. Counterfeit - Inferiority: self-absorbed, self-consciousness. 9. Self-Control 1. Definition - Ability to choose the urgent over the important thing. 2. Counterfeit - The slightly surprising counterfeit is a willpower which is based on pride, the need to feel in control. 10. To walk in the Spirit we must crucify the flesh - put it to death, not give it a place in our lives, and instead lean into the Spirit, ask him for help and strength and determine to practice this fruit of the Spirit until it becomes a part of our lives 4. Intentional rhythms 1. Maybe you have experienced incredible seasons in your christian walk - Being filled with hope, joy, love. Filled with the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. A passion for Jesus, and awe and wonder of the Gospel and God’s love and grace for you. rich and fruitful ministry and service for God’s kingdom..etc. But you have plateaued spiritually. that passion that was once there is no longer there, that character and fruit of the Spirit is waning, you feel more tempted than you do strengthened…. 2. I think this is where you have to get back to a rhythm of seeking Jesus and find out where the disconnect is. This is exactly what has been happening with me for the last few months - I’ve fallen out of a Rhythm of intentional prayer, and reading and listening, confession and fellowship, worship thanksgiving and adoration. I think of the Words of Jesus to the Church in Ephesus “Remember therefore from where you have fallen - Repent and do the first works.” (Rev 2:5) Get back to intentional Spiritual Rhythms - Reconnect with the Lord - fervently seek his face… 1. Listen to what David did when he felt dry and thirsty for God “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.” - Psalm 63:1-7 4. Conclusion: I believe that the Holy Spirit has more that he wants to do in the individual and communal life of Refuge - I believe there are ministries, visions, empowerings, words of wisdom, words of knowledge, tongues, gifts of faith and discernment, missions, evangelism, outreach, healings and blessings, etc that the Lord wants to do- But I believe that will only come, as we clean house personally and corporately as we turn away from Sin, spiritually apathy, and compromising with worldliness, and turn our hearts to the Lord renewing our vows to him, basking in his mercy grace and forgiveness that he has shown in making us his people - As we look to him and him alone for our joy, our hope, our power, our truth, our path, our peace, the love that will never leave us or forsake us - Here is the Word of the Lord to Israel in the days after the Babylonian Captivity - The Lord said, “Return to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts.” - Zechariah 1:3