HOW TO BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

Ephesians 5:15-21

INTRODUCTION

a. This is the third in a series of eight sermons on "Concepts You Should Know"

b. Last week I closed the sermon with the most important thing I have learned as a Christian to enhance my daily living - The concept of "Spiritual Breathing"

c. That concept is the beginning point for today's sermon

d. A man who drank heavily was converted to Christ and lived victoriously for several weeks. One day as he passed the open door of a tavern, the pungent odor drifting out aroused his old appetite for liquor. Just then he saw this sign in the window of a nearby cafe: "All the buttermilk you can drink -- 25 cents!" Dashing inside, he ordered one glass, then another, and still another. After finishing the third he walked past the saloon and was no longer tempted. He was so full of buttermilk that he had no room for that which would be injurious to him.

e. Isn't that the idea for us today - to be so filled with God that the devil has no room to operate

f. Let me say that I know this is one of the most misunderstood and abused concepts in scripture

g. Today I want to try to answer some of the questions and in a simple way give you the truth

I. ANSWERS TO COMMON MISUNDERSTANDINGS

a. To be filled with the Holy Spirit is not same as the Baptism of the Spirit

1. Some teach this as a "second" act of grace - Bible teaches that when you become a Christian you are baptized by the Spirit into God's family

2. We are baptized once at salvation - filled many times

b. The filling of the Holy Spirit does not make me a "Holy Roller" and is not part and partial of the modern Charismatic movement.

1. Spirit does things decently and in order

2. Is not "out of control"

c. The filling of the spirit does not mean I will speak in tongues

1. Only one gift and not for all

2. Emphasis of some as a sign gift but is not Biblical to expect or require it of anyone

d. The filling of the Spirit does not make me better than others

1. It will lead to maturity but is never to be the source of pride

II. WHY DID GOD SEND THE SPIRIT TO US

a. John 16:8 - To convict the world of sin righteousness and judgment

b. John 16:13 - To Guide us into truth

c. John 14:16 - To Comfort us and give us peace

d. John 14:26 - To Teach us all things concerning Christ

e. John 15:26 - To Testify concerning Christ and bring glory to Him

f. Acts 1:8 - To give us Power to witness

III. HOW TO BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

a. Ephesians 5:18 - is a command - "Be filled with the Holy Spirit"

b. The word "filled" means "controlled by"

c. The tense of this command is one that means to be continually being filled - a constant action - over and over

d. Dwight L. Moody once demonstrated the principle like this: "Tell me," he said to his audience, "how can I get the air out of the tumbler I have in my hand?" One man said, "Suck it out with a pump." But the evangelist replied, "That would create a vacuum and shatter it." Finally after many suggestions, Moody picked up a pitcher and quietly filled the glass with water. "There," he said, "all the air is now removed." He then explained that victory for the child of God does not come by working hard to eliminate sinful habits, but rather by allowing the Holy Spirit to take full possession.

e. It is a filling from the inside out -

1. It is giving control to the Spirit

a. Like being in the driver's seat of a car

2. Only one can drive at a time - you or the Spirit but not both

f. Begin where we left off last week

1. Spiritual breathing

a. Exhale - confession of sin

b. Inhale - giving control of life to Holy Spirit (filling)

g. Never again do I have to live a defeated dejected life

LET'S ALL TAKE A BREATH THIS MORNING AND LEAVE HERE READY FOR THE WORLD

BOW IN PRAYER

HYMN # 116 "BREATHE ON ME"