How to Have a Spirit Filled Life

Ephesians 5:18

Introduction

A man buys a new car. He saved for it, buys it, has it delivered to his home. Then he has it parked in his driveway, washes it, waxes it, shows it off to his friends, even sits in it all afternoon long. But, he doesn't know how to start it, so he has to push it wherever it goes. That is a silly sounding story, but that's how many Christians run their spiritual lives.

They know they are saved, sealed and indwelled by the Holy Spirit, but they have never quiet gotten the hang of, or understood being Spirit-filled. O they have faith, but they end up pushing it around instead of allowing it to carry them through life. For these people, Christianity is a constant battle, it is an everyday struggle.

If you and I are going to experience the fullness of the Christian life, then we must learn how to be filled with the Holy Spirit. It isn't enough just to be saved. That will get you to Heaven, but unless you are filled with the Spirit, you will have a rough road here below. This verse gives the Christian a command. It says, “You be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Too many read these words and say, “Well, the Bible says that we ought not drink.” And, it does! But, it also says much, much more.

While this verse does give us a "don't”, it also give us a "do.” Christianity is far more than a bunch of "don'ts”, there are a whole lot of "do's” to keep you busy as well. In fact, if you will spend your time doing the do's, you won't have time to do the don'ts. Eph. 5:18 tells us not to be under the influence of alcohol, but rather to be under the influence of the Holy Ghost. Today, let's look together at How To Have A Spirit-Filled Life. I want to help you reach your fullest potential for God. I want to help you be Spirit-Filled.

I. Reasons for Being Filled with the Spirit

(⇒ We are to be filled continuously, consciously and conspicuously. Until this is a personal reality in your life, you will never be able to fully enjoy, appreciate or participate in the Christian life. There are several good reasons why we should be Spirit-filled.)

A. Our Obedience to God

1. Eph. 5:18 is a command, not a suggestion, ⇒ Imperative mood! The Christian who is not Spirit filled is in rebellion to God!

2. Present Tense,tells us to be filled now and to remain filled forever.

3. Plural. Means that every Christian has an obligation to be Spirit filled, not just for leaders.

4. (⇒ Baptist have tendency to spend more time on 18a than 18b. Many feel that drunkeness is a tremendous evil. It is a sin, but that's no more so than failing to obey the Lord. In fact, it might not be as bad! (⇒ How would we react if a drunk came to lead the service? Yet, we think nothing of doing the Lord's work in an unfilled condition!)

5. Spirit filling is not the privilege of few, it’s the command for all. It is not the abnormal Christian experience, it is the normal Christian experience!

B. Our Obligation to God

Not only do we owe God our obedience in this matter of being Spirit-filling, we also have an obligation to Him. We are obligated to God in every area of our lives. We must strive to be everything we can be for His glory and to do this, we must be Spirit-filled! Here are several areas where it is especially important.

1. Our Worship life - Eph. 5:19-20 - To experience true worship, we must be sensitive to, and controlled by the Spirit of God - John 4:24.

2. Our Wedded Life - Eph. 5:22-25 (⇒ The wife is to submit to her husband as unto the Lord - “Feminism is dead wrong!”) (⇒ The husband is to love his wife as if he were Christ loving the church.) Neither husband or wife can fulfill their duties to each other until they are living under the influence of God’s Spirit. Until they are, our homes are out of balance! (⇒ Children need God’s filling also - Eph. 6:1-4)

3. Our Work Life - Eph. 6:5-9 We are to do our job as if we were working directly for the Lord. You ought to serve your boss as if He were Christ Himself! Our daily work ought to be carried out with the same enthusiasm that we have when we go the church. Every Christian ought to let his light shine brightly on the job. (⇒ Lazy, slow, critical, dishonest versus honest, careful, punctual, trustworthy, hardworking.) There is a great need for Spirit-filled workers on the job.

4. Our War Life - Eph. 6:10-17 - We are locked in mortal combat with a powerful spiritual foe, the devil. The only hope we have of succeeding in life is to war in the Spirit. ⇒ He is after your home, your family, your marriage, your faith, your health, your happiness, anything he can touch and destroy. Your only hope is to be Spirit-filled!

5. Our Witness Life - Eph. 6:18-19 - To be a good witness demands that we be Spirit-filled. Otherwise, our words will have a hollow ring to them and they will have no power to touch the heart. (⇒ Acts 1:8)

Our Obedience to God

Our Obligation to God

C. Our Opportunity Before God

Eph. 5:14-16 - These are dark days against fierce enemies, but these are also days of great opportunity. The world needs our message and our hope. We have a tremendous opportunity to share the Gospel with a lost world, but to take advantage of this great privilege we must be filled with the Holy Spirit of God.

II. THE REQUIREMENTS FOR BEING SPIRIT-FILLED

A. My Conversion

The filling of the Spirit is an exclusive privilege of the redeemed. Step #1 is to receive Jesus into your heart and life!

B. My Commitment

It is a commitment to a Person. (⇒ He is a Person, not an it!) Open all the doors of your life, (heart, home, marriage, family, job, finances, etc), and invite Him to come in and take control of everything. Then yield to Him, (⇒ Passive Voice). We are to make a commitment to the Spirit of God and to live under His influence.

(⇒ Alcohol - Is an influences and controls every part of a persons personality.)

(⇒ The Spirit of - God will change your walk, He’s change your talk, your courage, and your power!)

(⇒ But, we have to allow Him to do His work and keep it as part of our daily lives by total dependence upon Him.)

C. My Claiming - ⇒ Col. 2:6 - We received Christ by faith and we must have faith that He will also fill our lives. If you have dealt with your sins, opened the doors of your life to the Lord, then claim the filling of the Spirit by faith. (⇒ It’s not about feelings - The tree will be known by the fruit it bears!)

III. The Results of Being Spirit-Filled

A. Relationships Will Change

1. Toward God - Strengthened, filled with praise and adoration. You will have a true spirit of worship. His work will not be a drudgery.

2. Toward Others - Love them, forgive them, submit to them, serve them.

B. Reactions Will Change

Criticism will be replaced with thanksgiving - 1 Thess. 5:18. God will receive the glory and honor due Him!

C. Reality Will Change

⇒ Gal. 5:22-25 - The fruit of the Spirit will be on display in the life of the Spirit-filed Christian! (⇒ Gal. 5:16!)

Conclusion

Can you honestly say that you are Spirit-filled? If not, I challenge you to come before the throne, open all the doors in your life, hand the Spirit the keys and give Him control! It will make all the difference in you Christianity!