SPIRIT FULL IN 2022

We have been talking about having FULLNESS in the year 2022. God wants to bring FULLNESS into each of our lives and this church.

The Lord is calling us to be:

Faith FUll

Spirit Full

Fruit Full

Last we talked about faithful - being full of faith that leads to faithfulness!

We said that was a fruit of the Spirit! Which we will talk about fruitfulness more next week,

In order to be fruitful and productive we need as much of the SPIRIT being poured into our lives as possible.

The Lord wants to POUR HIS SPIRIT INTO OUR LIVES IN GREAT MEASURE, BUT WE are not always willing to receive it in great measure.

Where great measure is received, it must be given out so it can make room to receive more!!!

Luke 6:38 NLT

38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

Matthew 10:8 NLT

8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!

Notice, the giving is in reference to - the LORD HAS FREELY worked in our lives, healing, salvation, revival, but have we given back, and yet we want to receive more?

Being SPIRIT FULL is to allow the SPIRIT TO POUR OUT OF OUR LIVES UNTO OTHERS...

This is the principle of the SPIRIT OF GOD coming in FULLNESS.

1. Fullness of the Spirit Gives Power to Fulfill the Great Commission

On the DAY OF PENTECOST, the BIRTHDAY OF THE CHURCH, the SPIRIT was poured out upon the disciples and believers in the upper room --- for those who tarried --- who waited and sought and desired — the purpose was to empower them to bring Jesus to others.

The outpouring was not given for selfish experience, but for empowerment to pursue the will of God and advance the Kingdom of God.

Acts 1:8 NLT

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 2:4 NLT

4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

Jesus wants us to be FULL so we can be empowered to be the church.

We refer to living in the LAST DAYS, BUT we have been living in the LAST DAYS since the DAY OF PENTECOST - it is the days where the church is to be active in proclaiming the GOSPEL OF CHRIST and fulfilling the MISSION Jesus gave us.

Matthew 28:19–20 NLT

19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

We were commissioned (not optional) to GO INTO THE WORLD WITH THE GOSPEL and then EMPOWERED TO GO by the HOLY SPIRIT, and that season has not ceased!!!!

Acts 2:16–18 NLT

16 No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel: 17 ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. 18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike— and they will prophesy.

The SPIRIT is what BIRTHED THE CHURCH and CONTINUES TO BIRTH THE VISION OF THE CHURCH ---

THe COMMISSION HAS NOT CHANGED NOR HAS THE POWER TO FULFILL THAT VISION...

The CHURCH HAS CHANGED! We have grown apathetic, self absorbed and distracted from the will and plan and COMMISSION OF GOD!

We no longer see the power of the SPIRIT work because we do not care about the GREAT COMMISSION of the ONE WHO GIVES THE SPIRIT — JESUS CHRIST!

Both the Baptism of the HOly SPirit as seen in Acts and the GIFTS of the HOLY SPIRIT which flow through those baptized in the SPirit are all for the working and operation of the church that is fulfilling the COMMISSION OF CHRIST.

Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost.

Luke 19:10 NLT

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

That is what HE has entrusted us to do, but all of our wants, desires, pleasures and plans have become more important to HIS BODY than reaching the lost.

2. Fullness of the Spirit Brings Unity and Strength to the Church

One thing that has begun and that is going to increase is PRESSURE on the church!

Pressure of persecution, to conform to the world, to reject truth...

We can stand strong when we allow the SPIRIT OF GOD to glue us together under the pressure to become a SUPPORT for the KINGDOM OF GOD.

2 Corinthians 4:6–15 NLT

6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. 8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. 11 Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. 12 So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you. 13 But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.” 14 We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. 15 All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.

The church is called to be the SUPPORT BEAM for the Kingdom of God in every community! To be the place the sinner can find new and eternal life, hope in Christ.

If you look at Microlam Beam - they are used to support the weight of roofs and structures and hold walls up in building.

They are compiled of multiple layers of wood veneer - each layer is thin, insignificant and even filled with imperfections - but then they are treated with GLUE and under pressure become one beam that has strength to support whole structures.

The Holy Spirit in the same ways takes our insignificant lives with all their flaws, weaknesses and imperfections and glues us through HIS POWER together in unity, using the PRESSURE of this world to make us ONE IN HIM - the foundational SUPPORT for the body - the church!

If you look at the early church in the book of Acts, when the pressure came on, they ran to prayer and received the SPIRIT

Acts 4:23–31 NLT

23 As soon as they were freed, Peter and John returned to the other believers and told them what the leading priests and elders had said. 24 When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— 25 you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant, saying, ‘Why were the nations so angry? Why did they waste their time with futile plans? 26 The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.’ 27 “In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed. 28 But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will. 29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. 30 Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.

Church, when the pressure hits, the FULLNESS of the SPIRIT is the glue that makes us strong - and a support to our community and those around us.

3. Fullness of the Spirit Satisfies the Thirsty Soul

There is no experience worst than extreme thirst! When the dryness of the mouth, the dehydration in the body causing headache, weakness and nausea kick in - we know we have need of water NOW!

What disguises thirst is liquid that is not hydrating.

Caffeinated drinks often leave us thirstier that satisfied.

John 7:37–39 NLT

37 On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’ ” 39 (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

Jesus has promised a stream of water that will satisfy the greatest longing.

Matthew 5:6 NLT

6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.

John 6:35 NLT

35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Who doesn’t want more? There is a reason why buffets were popular before Covid, that which you desired most of you could have more of!!!

My trick was to not eat the carbs - but to focus on the proteins.

Seafood, oysters on the half shell, lobster claws, shrimp, and the filet mignon...

Brazilian Steak house, skip the salad bar and bring on the meats...

Eat protein and it will stay with you, eat rice and you will be hungry in an hour.

If your going to pay for it, get the good stuff, not potatoes and rice.

If you go and fill up on the fillers of life, there is no room for that which is the best!!!

Ephesians 5:15–20 NLT

15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We fill up our lives with so much of the fillers of life we have no room left for the PURE LIFE GIVING SPIRIT OF GOD THAT EMPOWERS, UNIFIES AND SATISFIES!

Being SPIRIT FULL is to be satisfied by the very presence of GOD down deep in your inner man and overflowing to those around you!

CONCLUSION

This year, the Lord wants to FILL US WITH HIS SPIRIT in a greater fullness than we have ever known

Ephesians 3:19 NLT

19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

The Lord wants to empower us to fulfill His commission, He wants to bind us together as the body of Christ, the church united by His Spirit even more so as the pressures of this world come upon us, and He wants to satisfy our longing spirit by overflowing our lives with His presence.

Will you open up to the Lord to allow Him to make 2022 a SPIRIT FULL YEAR in your life?