How Can I Be Filled With the Spirit

1

2
(No Transcript)
3
How Can I Be Filled With the Spirit?
4
How Can I Be Filled with the Spirit?
be filled with the Spirit Ephesians 5 18
The Holy Spirit is Gods gift to every believer
but all are not necessarily
equally filled or full
The presence of the Spirit
The person of the Spirit
The power of the Spirit
5
How Can I Be Filled with the Spirit?
The Experience of the
Early Church

• Pentecost - the initial outpouring of the Spirit
  Acts
  2
• Samaritan believers - as the good news bursts
  beyond the limits of the Jewish people group
  Acts 8
• Paul - transformed and filled Acts 9
• First Gentile believers Acts
  10
• Group of Ephesian believers Acts 19

6
How Can I Be Filled with the Spirit?
Experiencing Power

• Pentecost
• language of a rainstorm!
• image of fire
• encounter with love

He has embraced us
C. H. Spurgeon
7
How Can I Be Filled with the Spirit?
Released in Praise

• spontaneous praise - the whole person thrilled
  about their experience of God

Why is it that if a cinema comedy produces
laughter, the film is regarded as successful if
a theatre tragedy brings tears to the audience,
the production is regarded as touching if a
football match thrills the spectators, the game
is reviewed as exciting but if the congregation
are moved by the glory of God in worship, the
audience are accused of emotionalism?
Letter in The Times
8
How Can I Be Filled with the Spirit?
Receiving a New Language

• Tongues is the same word as that for
  languages
• May be a human language - or not
• Not all Christians speak in tongues
• Tongues is not a proof of being filled with
  the Spirit
• It has brought blessing to many
• but it also puzzles some!

9
How Can I Be Filled with the Spirit?
Receiving a New Language

• a form of prayer which builds up the individual
  Christian
• it transcends the limitation of human language
• it helps in praise
• it helps when praying under pressure
• it helps when praying for other people
• it is not selfish to want it!

10
How Can I Be Filled with the Spirit?
Receiving a New Language
I prayed 15 minutes a day in the language of
the Spirit and still felt nothing as I asked the
Spirit to help me intercede for those he wanted
to reach. After about six weeks of this I began
to lead people to Jesus without trying. Gangsters
fell to their knees sobbing in the streets, women
were healed, heroin addicts were miraculously set
free. And I knew it all had nothing to do with
me.
11
How Can I Be Filled with the Spirit?
Common Hindrances to Being Filled with the Spirit
"So I say to you Ask and it will be
given to you seek and you will
find knock and the door
will be opened
to you. For everyone who asks
receives he who seeks finds and to him who
knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you
fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give
him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg,
will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you
are evil, know how to give good gifts to your
children, how much more will your Father in
heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask
him! Luke 11 9-13
12
How Can I Be Filled with the Spirit?
Common Hindrances to Being Filled with the Spirit
Doubt - Jesus affirms six times that God will
respond! Fear - will it be good? Jesus affirms
that God will not let us down Inadequacy Some of
us find it hard to believe that God will give to
us - but the only requirement is to ask
13
How Can I Be Filled with the Spirit?
Seeking the Filling of the Spirit

• Choose to follow Jesus
• Ask forgiveness for anything in the way
• Turn from any area of life you know is wrong
• Ask God to fill you - and go on seeking
• If you would like the gift of tongues, ask for it
• Start praising
• Believe that what you receive is from God
• Persevere - language takes time to develop
• If you have asked for any other gift, look for
  opportunities to use it - use develops gifts
• Be re-filled

14
(No Transcript)