How to be filled with the Holy Spirit

ILLUSTRATION OF CHAINSAW

The lumberjack

Delbert lands his dream job. He gets hired on as a logger. On his first day, the boss man takes him out into the woods, gives him his chainsaw, and says "Usually, our guys can cut down about 100 trees a day. Its your first day, so I'll understand if you're a bit short. Now get to it." And with that, the boss man leaves Delbert for the day. At the end of the day, boss man returns, and asks Delbert how many trees he cut down. Delbert replies "I only cut down 5." The boss man, a bit flabbergasted, says " That is unacceptable. You'll have to do better tomorrow." The next day, the boss man takes Delbert out, gives him his gear and says "Remember, 100 a day is the average." And with that, he leaves for the day. At the end of the day, boss man picks up Delbert, and asks "How many trees today?" Delbert replies "I only managed to cut down 15." The boss man, this time a bit annoyed says "That just won't do. I am going to give you one more day to get your act together, or else, I'm going to have to let you go." On the third day, the boss man take Delbert out, throws him his gear and says "This is your last chance. 100, or you're fired." The boss man leaves for the day, and when he returns, he asks Delbert, "How many today?" Delbert replies, "I did my best, but I only got 20." The boss man, both confused and angry, says "How?!?! Let me see your chainsaw!" The boss man takes it from Delbert, pulls the cord, and the saw roars to life. Delbert freaks out and shouts "WHAT WAS THAT!?!?!"

Ephesians 5:15–18 CSB

15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit:

THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES AS A GIFT.

YOU HAVE ALL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHEN BY LOVING LOYALTY YOU BELIEVE IN CHRIST.

GOD DOES NOT HAVE A SPIGOT THAT HE TURNS ON FOR SOME AND NOT OTHERS.

YOU ARE A LEAKY VESSEL.

YOU CHOOSE TO LIVE UNDER THE SPIRIT’S FILLING. (Make the most of the time)

Somewhere we get in our mind that work, living for God is a curse. Remember that before the Fall, they had a job, it just became more difficult. Idleness and Idle mindedness is a sin. You must study to show yourself approved as a workman. You must labor 6 days and then rest in God. AW Tozer once said, I don’t have statistics to prove this, but perhaps 95% of our problems comes from idleness. A working woman or man may sin, but they will not be as likely to sin as the idle person. The old saying is idle hands are the devil’s workshop. You may wonder why you don’t feel the spirit. How busy do you keep yourself in the things of the Lord? How many opportunities do you let slip by.

I remember Elizabeth Elliot speaking at Chapel. An older lady came in response the message and I heard her say to Elizabeth, “I had been called as a missionary as a young lady, but I didn’t prepare or go.” Elizabeth looked at the lady and said, “well you missed your opportunity and you missed out on God.” You may think Elliot was tough and blunt. Perhaps she was. But imagine the myriad of voices that spoke to the older lady when she was young pulling her away from that.

Ephesians 5:19–20 CSB

19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

The more you allow the Holy Spirit’s presence into your thoughts and hearts, the more you will overflow with His qualities.

Jesus’ presence allows you the freedom to live in the Resurrection power and that’s what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

THE LORD COMMANDS YOU TO PAY CAREFUL ATTENTION TO YOUR WALK.

illustration of a careless walk on a sidewalk

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A BORING WORSHIP SERVICE?

NO.

YOU’VE BEEN BORED.

YOU’VE BEEN AROUND BORED CHURCH PEOPLE.

The Letters to Philemon, the Colossians, and the Ephesians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on the Captivity Epistles The Imitation of God, the Image of Holiness—5:1–21

Philo seems to describe something of what Paul has in mind here: “Now when grace fills the soul, that soul thereby rejoices and smiles and dances, for it is possessed and inspired, so that to many of the unenlightened it may seem to be drunken, crazy, and beside itself.… For with those possessed by God not only is the soul wont to be stirred and goaded as it were into ecstasy but the body is also flushed and fiery … and thus many of the foolish are deceived and suppose that the sober are drunk” (De Ebrietate 146–48).

1 Thessalonians 5:19 CSB

19 Don’t stifle the Spirit.

What is the content and direction of the music you listen to? It affects your heart and walk with God.

YOUR HEART IS GOD’S DESIRED INSTRUMENT OF WORSHIP.

DO YOU GIVE THANKS FOR YOUR FAMILY?

DO YOU GIVE THANKS FOR YOUR CHILDREN?

DO YOU GIVE THANKS FOR YOUR PARENTS?

DO YOU GIVE THANKS FOR YOUR JOB?

DO YOU GIVE THANKS FOR CHRIST’S SACRIFICE AND PRESENCE?

Psalm 145 (CSB)

A hymn of David.

1 I exalt you, my God the King,

and bless your name forever and ever.

2 I will bless you every day;

I will praise your name forever and ever.

3 The Lord is great and is highly praised;

his greatness is unsearchable.

4 One generation will declare your works to the next

and will proclaim your mighty acts.

5 I will speak of your splendor and glorious majesty

and your wondrous works.

6 They will proclaim the power of your awe-inspiring acts,

and I will declare your greatness.

7 They will give a testimony of your great goodness

and will joyfully sing of your righteousness.

These areas will pull us down from God’s lofty heights if you don’t think about your attitude.

BEING FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES NOT REFER TO AN ECSTATIC EMOTION.

BEING FILLED COMES AS YOU RESPOND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT’S GUIDANCE.

WORRY, ENVY, ANGER, GREED, AND OTHERs NEGATE and BLOCK THE SPIRIT.

1 Thessalonians 5:16–19 CSB

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray constantly, 18 give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Don’t stifle the Spirit.

Max Lucado’s story of the Flute.

What distractions keep you from the Spirit’s filling?

How can you better focus your mind and soul?

What music do you listen? How does the build you or not?

What emotional struggles do you need to give to God so you may worship in Spirit?

1 Peter 1:3–9 CSB

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. 5 You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials 7 so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

See Bob George Classic Christianity Forgiven to be Filled Chapter 4 pg. 55

Ephesians 3:14–21 CSB

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. 16 I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, 19 and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 5:19 CSB

19 Don’t stifle the Spirit.