The Fullness of the Holy Spirit
Living without the fullness of the Holy Spirit is
living as orphans. Yet Jesus promised, I will not leave you as
orphans/comfortless: I will send you another comforter who will help you and
teach you all things (John 14:18). You
cannot live the Christian life and effectively serve God by your own strength
(John 4:24). The Christian life can only be lived by dependence on the Holy
Spirit and true worship and service of
God is only possible through the
guidance and power of the Holy Spirit.
1.0 Who
is the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the third member of the Godhead
(Colossians 2:9; Acts 17:29). The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3,4) His role is to execute the plans/commands of
the Godhead – Three in one God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit, 1 John 5:7; Acts
5:3,4). He is co-equal with God the
Father and God the Son. The Holy Spirit is a person. Not just a power or
influence. The Bible uses the personal
pronoun ‘He’ to refer to Him ( John 14:13,14,16; 17). He hears, thinks, feels and decides. The Holy
Spirit draws focus and glory to JESUS (John 16:14; Mathew 16:17,18). The Holy
Spirit alone can do the work of Christ we are seeking to do. He is the one
through whom we experience the Godhead.
2.0 The
Work of the Holy Spirit
- His role in the church and the last days was predicted. Joel
2:28, 29. Luke 4:18 Acts 1:8
- He convicts the world of sin, righteousness and Judgment. John
16:8
- He assures inside that you are saved. Romans 8:16
- He seals our redemption. Ephesians 1:13-14
- He indwells in us to ensure God’s presence. 1 Corinthians 6:19;
John 14:16-17
- He enables us to live
holy lives. Galatians 5:16; Romans 8:12-14
- He empowers for witnessing Christ. Acts 1:8
- He helps us to pray. Ephesians 6:18-20; Romans 8:26-27
- He equips for service and carrying out God’s purpose Colossians
1:29; Phil. 2:12-13; Acts 13:1-4
- He distributes spiritual gifts to each one for edifying the
church. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
- He guides, comforts and teaches us. John 14:16, 26; 16:13
- He helps us to know the difference between truth and what is
false. 1 John 2:20-22, 27
- He produces the fruit of righteousness in us. Galatians 5:22-23
3.0 Receiving
the Holy Spirit
To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be
empowered, controlled and influenced by Him. Ephesians 5:18. The Holy Spirit fills you when you receive
Him by faith. John 7:39. Acts 2:4, 38; 8:15. Receiving the Holy Spirit happens
at a point in time, and maintained thereafter, in the believer’s life. Acts
8:16. The evidence of receiving the Holy
Spirit Acts 1:8 is power to be a
witness. This includes power to live a Christlike life as well as to
effectively demonstrate the love and power of God. Speaking in other tongues
was a recurrent initial evidence that people had received the Holy Spirit in
the book of Acts (Acts 10:45; Acts 19:7 Acts 2:4. 1 Corinthians 14:4, 6, 15, 18).
No eloquence, no
tradition, no action, no commotion, no emotion, no promotion can atone for lack
of fire/unction of the Holy Spirit. It is easy to crowd Him out by rushing
through programs, limiting him to past experiences, insensitivity to His voice,
not creating an atmosphere of consecration, and joyful expectation. Despise and forbid not miracles, prophesy and
speaking in tongues (1 Thessalonians 5:20; 1
Corinthians 14:39).
If He is the New Testament Holy Spirit, His work
today must produce comparable results. If the coming of the Holy Spirit does
not radically change your prayer life, your values, ministry, love and hunger
for God and his word you would better check on it. Go back to God and ask for
the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Their lives were radically changed. Fearful
men were turned to radiant witnesses who changed the course of history. Power,
boldness, joy and enthusiasm invaded their lives. Don’t settle for scratching
the surface. Let us go to the deep (Ezekiel 47:1-15). When you are clothed with His power (Luke
24:49) you become useful in the same way gloves are useful in the hands of a
person. We can shake bridges with God in the way a fly sitting on an elephant
shakes the small bridge with it. He is
the believer’s eternal companion and competitive advantage.
4.0 How
to receive the Holy Spirit
Being filled with the
Holy Spirit is to be controlled and fully influenced by Him (Ephesians 5:18).
He is the third person of the Godhead - Trinity. There is one God who has
revealed himself as God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit (1 John
5:7; Acts 5:3, 4). Every believer has
the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9) when they receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and
Savior. There however is a second experience/ blessing for ministry
available to every believer (Acts 8:14-17). The promise is for every believer
not just the early church (Acts 2:38-39; Acts 5:32; John 14:15-16. The promise
can be received by laying-on of hands or any other way when certain conditions
are met (Acts 2:4, Acts 10:44, Acts 19:6).
*Be saved (Ephesians 2:8,
9).
*Thirst or desire to be
filled with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 5:6; John 7:37)
*Confess any known sin (1
John 1:9).
*Completely surrender body,
soul, spirit and all to Jesus (Romans 12:1).
*Ask in Prayer. Cast away
fear, procrastination and doubt (Luke 11:13; James 4:2, 3).
*RECEIVE BY FAITH.
Believe God’s promise and he will fill you and it will show outwardly. The evidence of being filled with the Holy
Spirit include concern for the lost (Acts 1:8), the fruit of the Spirit
(Galatians 5:22-23, John 15:16a) and the gifts
of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). Five accounts in Acts had the initial
visible evidence of speaking in tongues - supernaturally enabled prayer
language. (Acts 2:2-4; Acts 8:6-16; Acts 9:17; 10:44-47; 11:15, 16; 14:18;
19:2-6
*Be continually filled. Ephesians 5:18. Ephesians 5:18 says ‘be ye filled
now and continuously with the Holy Spirit.’ The fullness of the Holy Spirit is
maintained by on going turning from sin, surrendering, thirsting, and asking to
be filled (Ephesians 5:5:18, 19). Just
as you, do not let your, car or cell phone, battery run down. This is a continuous experience not just an
event. Daily confessing sin that you
become aware of and asking Him to fill and control your life. Once you are full
of the Holy Spirit your priority is to
cooperate with Him. By being passionate about the things He is passionate about
and hearing his voice and responding in faith (1 Thessalonians 5:19, Ephesians 4:30).
Meet the
above conditions and receive the Holy Spirit by faith today.
The metaphors used in the
Bible in reference to the Holy Spirit
Living Water/Rain John 7:38. Life giving (John 6:63; Rom 8:2).
Sustainer of all things, Thirst quenching. Power, surface cleansing. Softens,
fruitful, deeper, quenches thirst. Eternal life. Sweetness/aroma. Other - Isa
44:3; Ezekiel 47:1ff. John 4:14
Dove Acts 2:1-3.
Symbolizes love, purity,
innocence, modesty, beauty, tenderness and gentleness. Peaceful, lovable. Song of Solomon 5:2; 2:14;
1:15; Mathew 3:16 He is gentle - Need for tenderized hearts., not preparing our
hearts adequately, not glorifying Jesus.
Breath John 20:22
Life from God. We cant do without it and live. Ezek 37
Wind –
Air in motion (Acts 2:1-2). Ezekiel 37:5-14 John 3:8. Suggests universality,
reaching everywhere, life, activity, motion, power. Unlimited, blows away chuff,
Oil.
Acts 10:38; 1 John 2:27; 2 Corinthians
1:21-22. Anoints or sets aside for a supernatural task. Symbol of God’s power,
mastery, presence and favor on the anointed. Lubrication/facilitates,
preserves, softens, maintains self in water.
Seals, Makes service easy, enjoyable and effective. 1 Sam 16:13; Ps
23:5; James 5:14; 2 Cor. 1:21, 22;
Fire. Flames
of fire appeared in Acts 2:3-4. Isaih 4:4; Mathew 3:11; Acts 2:3. Doesn’t only
mean consumption and combustion but energizing, mighty force, illumination,
beautifying, deep purifying and cleansing agent, doing wonders. . Psalm 26:2
Clothing Luke
24:49. Protection. equipped. endued. prepared. covering. branding. dignity and
respect, qualification
Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.
Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center
Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building
204B Bram Fischer drive,
Randburg, Johannesburg , South Africa
No comments:
Post a Comment