The Holy Spirit – Are You Spirit filled? [1]

 

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much 

more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? 

Luke 11:13

 Did you know that God’s Spirt is a great and precious commodity – it’s the treasure within us and because it is a treasure, we should diligently strive not to grieve His spirit:

And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30

 The bible tells us that we:

. . . shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  Acts 1:8

So, let’s talk about this precious spirit – it’s purpose and its ministry.  Just a little overview before we delve into it.  The Bible speaks of four different baptisms of which the holy spirit is one.  There is also the:

      ·        The baptism of suffering experienced by Jesus

      ·        The water baptism performed by John the Baptist

      ·        Christian baptism in water and of course the one we’re going to speak on today:

      ·        Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

The word "baptize" means to completely immerse or submerge in something.

After the resurrection and prior to His return to Heaven, Jesus gave important instructions to His followers:

And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high.   Luke 24:49

The promise to which Jesus referred was the Holy Spirit:

And I will pray the Father and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever;  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him; but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you and shall be in you.  I will not leave you comfortless. John 14:16-18

This wasn’t a new promise. The gift of the Holy Spirit had been promised since Old Testament times:

 ...for with stammering lips and another tongue will He speak to this people.  To whom He said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest, and this is the refreshing...   Isaiah 28:11-12

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.  Joel 2:28-29

There are seven passages in the New Testament where the word "baptize" is used in relation to the Holy Spirit. Four of these are the words of John the Baptist recorded in the Gospels:

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.  Matthew 3:11

I indeed have baptized you with water: but He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. Mark 1:8

John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose; He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.  Luke 3:16

And I knew Him not: but He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.  John 1:33

Jesus also spoke of the baptism of the Holy Ghost:

For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.  Acts 1:5

When Peter spoke of events which took place in the home of Cornelius, he quoted the words of Jesus:

Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that He said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.   Acts 11:16

Apostle Paul also used the word "baptize" in relation to the Holy Spirit:

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.  1 Corinthians 12:13

The conclusion here is that we are to be clothed, endowed, submersed – how about this – FILLED with God’s spirit!  The use of the phrase "to baptize into" the Holy Spirit is the same as used to describe Christian baptism in water. In both cases baptism is an outward confirmation of an inward spiritual experience.

God’s Spirit was poured out during a time of Jewish observance called the feast of Pentecost.  His Spirit came down from Heaven and completely immersed [baptized] believers assembled in the upper room of a house in Jerusalem. They had been waiting or "tarrying" for His coming as they had been instructed to do by Jesus. Peter said this experience was the fulfillment of God's promise,

“In the last days...I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh".   Acts 2:17

 This promise was given by the prophet Joel:

 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions;  And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.  Joel 2:28-29

Male and female, young and old were to be included in this outpouring of the Holy Spirit. They were to prophesy, dream dreams, and see visions. God's Spirit was to empower both servants [men] and handmaidens [women]. On the day the Holy Spirit was poured out, Peter said:

Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.  Acts 2:38-39

Peter's words revealed that the promise of the Holy Spirit was:

·        A national promise:                          "Unto you" [the Jewish people].

·        A family promise:                            "Your children".

·        A universal promise:                      "To all that are afar off".

It was for everyone; not just a few select people.  Receiving God’s spirit is a wondrous thing but it comes with some suffering.  Peter let us know that following after Jesus would involve suffering. 

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 1 Peter 4:1

Jesus had already told the disciples that they would be persecuted for His name sake:

But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.  Luke 21:12

When you combine that with the everyday situations of life, money, finances, spouses, jobs, children, etc. trying to live a Godly life in accordance to the word of God can indeed be uncomfortable if not downright stressful.  But God, in His infinite love and wisdom, knew that we could not survive this journey without some supernatural assistance.  The children of Israel in their wilderness experience bears witness to this.  When they didn't feel the power of God’s presence, they quickly forgot Him.  They had all types of sacrifices they were to perform to pardon them from sin.  But, with the final blood sacrifice of Jesus, we no longer have to perform this type of ritual.  God provides us with power from on high so that we never forget who we are and to whom we belong.

Jesus made an important promise to His followers regarding spiritual power:

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:  John 15:26

The power of the Gospel and the power of God’s Spirit are two key principles in understanding the Biblical concept of power. Experiencing both is necessary to receive spiritual power. It’s a vital spiritual experience which we must receive. It’s the power of God’s Spirit promised by Jesus.  Jesus told His followers He would. . .

. . . pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever;  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him; but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.  John 14:16-17

The Holy Spirit would "endue" or literally "clothe" the disciples in spiritual power:

And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. Luke 24:49

Note that this great spiritual power was to be experienced AFTER receiving the Holy Spirit:

But yet shall receive power, AFTER that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  Acts 1:8

The Holy Spirit is power:

But God hath not given us the SPIRIT of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of Him through all the region round about.  Luke 4:14

That "spirit of power" is the Holy Spirit:

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him. Acts 10:38

When we receive the promise of the comforter, we are filled with power; power to:

            ·        overcome the enemy
      ·        live a Godly life
      ·        to witness the gospel of Jesus
      ·        love the way God loves
      ·        to forgive others and ourselves

This promise was not just for the disciples, it’s for all mankind.  If you’ve given your life to God and not received His Holy Spirit in your life, do as the disciples did, pray for the Holy Spirit to fall on you.

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.  Acts 2:1-4

As some would have you believe, this was not just an occurrence that was exclusive to the disciples in the upper room.  A great crowd gathered and wanted to know what was going on.  After Peter explained what was happening and the reason for it, the crowd asked what should they do.  Peter said:

. . . Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.   Acts 2:38-39

Be sure to come back next week where we’ll be discussing the evidence of God’s spirit in our life!

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