The Spirit-Filled Church

Exposition

Ephesians 2:19–22 ESV

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Author: Paul

Audience: All the Saints

Content: The church has been built together to exist as a dwelling place for the Spirit.

Context: We are built up by God as one body that collectively gives glory to God.

Comparison:

Application

The Holy Spirit is given to the whole church.

Ephesians 1:13–14 ESV

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

John 16:7–8 ESV

7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:

The Holy Spirit works powerfully among the gathered saints.

Nehemiah 8:5–6 ESV

5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

Acts 10:44–45 ESV

44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 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.

After Peter’s arrest in Acts 12:.

Acts 12:12 ESV

12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.

Acts 16:25–26 ESV

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.

The Holy Spirit causes all awakening and revival.

1 Corinthians 2:1–5 ESV

1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Acts 2:2–4 ESV

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

How can we be filled with the Spirit?

The Holy Spirit does not confuse speech.

So we do not misinterpret what it means to be “filled with the Spirit,” we must strike down modern Pentecostalism. Continue reading in Acts chapter 2:

Acts 2:5–8 ESV

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?

In Ephesians 5 we are told to be filled with the Spirit, I don’t want to rob from that Sunday’s message, but there is an image that should be called to mind by this word “filled.” The literal meaning of the GNT is that we are supplied with the Spirit. We deny ourselves self-centered pleasures, replace those carnal urges with the urging of the Spirit, and build the church, proclaiming the Word to one another with Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs.

The filling we are speaking of is not a glass being filled with water. The glass remains the same. Instead, picture a ship floating in the water, moved to and fro by the waves of the ocean. But then the sails are raised and the wind FILLS the sails.

The Holy Spirit is nowhere in scripture described as an experience for the individual believer, but always accompanies an evangelistic movement of God.

This is not a sign of being filled with the Spirit, this is a sign of being led to a doctrine of God serving man.

1 Corinthians 14:4 ESV

4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.

1 Corinthians 14:6 ESV

6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

1 Corinthians 14:14 ESV

14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.

1 Corinthians 14:23 ESV

23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?

The Holy Spirit does not condone sinfulness.

1 Corinthians 11:28–29 ESV

28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

1 Corinthians 11:30–32 ESV

30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

Acts 5:1–6 ESV

1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

The Holy Spirit does not contradict scripture.

We don’t get to say “I feel like God wants...”

God’s Word speaks for itself. As Paul exhorted the Romans, “Let God be true though every one were a liar...”

2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

How to be Spirit Filled

Modified from A.W. Tozer’s “How to be Filled with the Holy Spirit”

Recognize the presence of the Spirit.

Seek to glorify your Savior in your words and actions.

Strive to walk in increasing righteousness.

Sanctify your inner thoughts.

Pray for sensitivity to the Spirit’s direction.