The Spirit-Filled Life

The Spirit-Filled Life

INTRODUCTION Outline taken from "The Holy Spirit in Evangelism" by J. B. Lawrence, chapter 3. At conversion the believer receives the justified life. He is made righteous. This is followed by a consecrated life when we acknowledge the Lord’s ownership, our lives.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20, "Ye are not your own... bought with a price." At the altar of consecration we yield our lives and our wills to the Lord. Matthew 26:39. This is followed by the emptied life when we cast aside evil and selfishness. But we cannot live in a vacuum. Our lives must be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 5:18. "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit." This is a very strong New Testament command.

Someone told Billy Graham about a congregation that disciplined an elder for being drunk. Graham asked, "What would you do with an elder that is not Spirit-filled? Both things are mentioned in the same verse." At conversion the believer is complete in Christ but generally does not enter into the fulness of his spiritual inheritance until much later. By the fact of conversion every believer possesses the Holy Spirit, Romans 8:16.

Illustration of the occupancy of a house. The Spirit may be kept as a guest in the parlor (sala) but never given control of the kitchen, bedroom or storeroom. The Spirit may reside but not preside, be simply a resident and not the president. As we yield the control of our lives He fills us more and more with Himself.

Luke 11:13. ". . . how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?" We are taught here to pray for the filling of the Spirit.

Note Dr. Scofield’s unwise comment on this verse, "To go back to the promise of Luke 11:13 is to forget Pentecost and ignore the truth that every believer is indwelt by the Spirit."

Scofield Bible. Page 1090.

Luke was written long after Pentecost. Pentecost speaks of the indwelling Christ while Luke 11:13. pleads for the filling and fulness of the Holy Spirit. Is this a crisis experience separate from conversion? It need not be, but in many cases it is a harder struggle to surrender our wills than our sins.

The disciples were to tarry in Jerusalem waiting for Pentecost, Luke 24:49.

Acts 2:4 was the fulfillment of this promise when the Spirit came to abide.

Every believer has the Holy Spirit, but the Spirit does not control each believer. The believer still has his stubborn rebellious will. He may pray or not, give or not, witness or not, surrender or not. He may obey or resist and grieve the Spirit. The crowning act of faith is for the believer to abdicate his life to the Spirit. This is not necessary for salvation, but it is necessary to be Spirit-filled. The infilling is received when the believer consciously recognizes the Holy Spirit being in full control of his life, completely governing every detail of life.

Is this wonderful experience a luxury for a few people like Apostles and Stephen?

It ought to be the experience of every believer. Ephesians 5:18 is not an optional command. Saintly S.D. Gordon in "The Ministry of the Spirit" says to be "God-intoxicated men.” The picture in Ephesians 5:18 is a contrast between a man under the influence, completely directed by another power, either wine (earthly) or the Spirit (heavenly).

Egypt always has the Nile but Egypt waits each year for its overflow. Having the Nile is one thing, but having the overflowing Nile is quite another. When the Nile overflows, Egypt is refreshed. Let us know the overflowing Spirit, John 7:38-39 The original Greek language is in the imperative progressive-keep on being filled. Let the filling be constant and continuous. The Apostle Peter was filled with the Spirit in Acts 2:4, and again in Acts 4:8, and again in Acts 4:31. Each day needs its own new fulness.

The filling is for Apostles, preachers, fathers, mothers, young people and labourers.

We each need it for our own benefit in order to be the best possible Christian. Without it we cannot attain to the Lord’s will for us regarding character and service. The filling of the Spirit is an individual blessing. Men are saved and filled individually. The filling must be individually received. I must personally do business with God. The Spirit cannot illuminate our minds, warm our affections, purge our consciences or energize our wills until we surrender to Him and keep surrendered.

Sometimes unwise, extravagant and fanatical things are done in the name of the filling of the Holy Spirit. Because of this many believers shun the filling.

Some say that the ability to speak in tongues is the proof of the Spirit-filling. This is false. Tongues are a sign to the unbelievers of the reality of the Gospel to change lives, 1 Corinthians 14:22. The Church needs Spirit-filled members. If the filling is lacking, the Church is plagued with disorders, dissensions, strife, backbiting, jealousy and scandal.

Let every member of the Church be Spirit-filled, the pastor, elders, deacons, Sunday School teachers, singers, choir members and ordinary communicants.

Our Christian walk is twofold:

(1) Godward and (2) outward to fellowmen. The world expects every Christian to be almost perfect. To live up to the world’s imaginary standard every believer desperately needs the Spirit’s filling.

We cannot be effective witnesses if we are not Spirit-filled. To do the work of the Lord in the energy of the flesh can only lead to disappointment and failure.

Spirit-filled believers, living the crucified life in relation to the world, are an effective means in the Lord’s hands to convict and convince sinners.

The secret of being filled with the Holy Spirit is surrender, surrendering our wills, bodies, possessions and every aspect of our lives to His control.

The infilling of the Spirit is the indispensable qualification for all holy living. The Holy Spirit quickens the intellect, affections, conscience, will and personality. The filling is the secret of abiding, obeying and God-honouring trust in the Word

CONCLUSION We are not reservoirs but channels. We must overflow. Blessings must pour out.

Conversion first, then filling and overflowing. This is beautifully pictured in Bible pictures of the working of the Holy Spirit.

Remember the filling is not a once-for-all experience. It must be repeated daily.

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