Be Filled With the Holy Spirit

PENTECOST
"But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth.”
”­”­Acts”¬ ”­1”¬:”­8”¬ ”­AMPC”¬”¬

"AND WHEN the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all assembled together in one place, When suddenly there came a sound from heaven like the rushing of a violent tempest blast, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were separated and distributed and which settled on each one of them. And they were all filled (diffused throughout their souls) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other (different, foreign) languages (tongues), as the Spirit kept giving them clear and loud expression [in each tongue in appropriate words].”
”­”­Acts”¬ ”­2”¬:”­1”¬-”­4”¬ ”­AMPC”¬”¬

Pentecost - this is the one thing that is lacking the most in Christendom. By definition every church must be birthed through Pentecost, otherwise there is something sorely missing, only mental ascent to Christian doctrine without the power of the Spirit brings death and decay. It is form without substance, a tree cursed by God and dried up to its roots never again to bring fruit. Preaching without the power of the Spirit becomes the letter that kills. It is still the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, just with a religious coating. Its fruit makes us hard and proud and scatters us into various religious camps that fight each other. In the book of Acts, the apostles and Aquila and Priscilla painstakingly made sure, everyone was filled with the Spirit, even if he was a gifted apolegetic like Apollos.

I've been to more than one church who didn't preach or believe in the baptism in the Holy Spirit but yet we're growing, vibrant congregationations. One would prefer it of course, but I don't think without it all will turn to religion and decay. I've seen different.

To quote Paris Reidhead...

I said, "I don't think you're ready. Suppose you consider yourself coming up driving a Cadillac. You've talked about your program, you've talked about your radio, you've talked about your Sunday School and church. It's very good. You've done wonderfully well without the power of the Holy Spirit."

That's what the Chinese Christian said, you know, when he got back to China. "What impressed you most about America?" He said, "The great things Americans can accomplish without God."

The young preacher had accomplished a great deal, admittedly without God. Now he wanted something of power to accomplish his ends even further.

When I received Jesus as my savior in 1972, Charismatic churches were baptizing new converts, and believers were laying hands on these new converts for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. We rarely see this any more, not baptism in water, but the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Why not? For the Baptism of the Holy Spirit will make us to be bold witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ.

I think the biggest problem is that most in Christian circles have abused what they think is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and so to reduce the damage to their reputation, most churches/denominations just steer clear of it all, including miracles, signs and prophetic words.

It all has to point back to Jesus Christ and give Him the glory He deserves, and most of what I see these days is very self-based, glorifying man and getting all he can out of God.

Absolutely, I have been in churches with all sorts of manifestation, but I saw very little holiness.

Abuse or non-use are both wrong.

John 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

Surely God can still show signs and wonders. I was healed from leukemia when I was only two years of age. The doctors told my parents to start planning my funeral, but God had other plans.

I've seen God's hand numerable times throughout my life, in healing, in provision, in protection, etc. No one can tell me that He still doesn't do miracles, signs wonders and if He desires compel men to speak in divers languages to get His point across. Like I said, as long as the focus remains on Him and His glory, that's all that matters.

The churches that have emphasized the gifts of the spirit without teaching on the fruit of the spirit have got into all kinds of extremism. We need both the fruit of the spirit and the gifts of the spirit, and the gifts of the spirit work by the love of God, and one of the fruits of the spirit is self control .

I would like to suggest that this passage is the broader purpose of the filling of the Spirit daily and the gifts of the Spirit either coming occasionally in a meeting or more often in serving the saints is a part of this larger context and crucial necessity of being filled.

For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light -- Colossians 1:9-12 (CSB)

Being filled with the Spirit so that.........knowing His will and His good pleasure......walking worthy......bearing His fruit.......growing through walking with Him in the "knowing of Him" in greater and greater revelations through life with Him......... serving Him in His strength..... being enabled to endure and suffer long the opposition and temptations of the evil one, the world and the flesh and doing so with joy and thankful hearts as we know He is enabling us to attain to our inheritance and hope of eternal life. Being filled isn't so that we can have better tools for the Christian life. Being filled is essential so that we can be His tool and instrument of righteousness so He gets all the glory from His life in us using us and changing us into His likeness in the process. Being filled with Christ.....so we can live like Christ, be protected by Christ (Eph 6:10), become like Christ and be with Christ our inheritance forever. Being filled is critical to eternal life. Being cleansed and forgiven and having a new heart are just the foundation for being filled. ( 1 John 1)

Amen Robert. We should be praying this Apostolic prayer frequently

"For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light” -- Colossians 1:9-12 (CSB)

This prayer, according to Paul in Colossians 1, was non-stop for people Paul called "saints”, "faithful”, "in Christ”…… saints who have faith in Christ, love for all the saints, and confidence in the promise of life forever with God. Professors who don’t share these qualities can’t have much expectation of being filled daily. I suspect the professing church would be challenged to witness some saints walking in this fullness as it would expose their lack and/or inability. Thus, the downward pressure within the larger group to have the true people of God filled or even pursue being filled.

I would like to also point out that this filling doesn't happen automatically. These saints were exemplary or maybe just examples of true Christians. Yet, Paul was praying constantly for the filling daily for them. Entire daily dependence on God to give His Spirit in fullness so that His people could be His people in truth, deed and character and be protected from temptation and the evil one (Lord's prayer, Luke 11). Perhaps Mike, Paul’s prayer in Colossians is not an Apostolic prayer but just a fuller explication of the Lord’s Prayer.

The truth that this filling is critical, can't be presumed, must be prayed for constantly, and a Christian isn't a Christian without it as a consistent description of their walk is really important and the lack of focus on it is quite detrimental to one's hoped for salvation.

The churches that have emphasized the gifts of the spirit with without teaching on the fruit of the spirit have got into all kinds of extremism. We need both the fruit of the spirit and the gifts of the spirit, and the gifts of the spirit work by the love of God, and one of the fruits of the spirit is self control .

Agreed and Amen. Just don’t forget the wisdom of God, the knowing of God, the mighty power to keep us and the transforming work in all the above. :).

Since being filled is really about the Trinity, I thought some or all might enjoy abd be blessed by this song which I worshipped to after the back and forth on being filled.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qULnbRmU0F8&list=OLAK5uy_kg_jgHio9eiIpAO1Cz2mHCjO_1YxfRH98&index=4&pp=8AUB

AbideinHim wrote:
The churches that have emphasized the gifts of the spirit with without teaching on the fruit of the spirit have got into all kinds of extremism. We need both the fruit of the spirit and the gifts of the spirit, and the gifts of the spirit work by the love of God, and one of the fruits of the spirit is self control .

Yes we do need both but those against speaking in tongues always say, "You NEED the fruit of the Spirit as much as the gifts!” My goodness, if I’ve heard that once, I’ve heard it 1000 times but do you know who else NEEDS the fruit of the Spirit in their lives? Those doing the accusing! Where’s their goodness? Their kindness? Their gentleness? Their faithfulness, peace, patience, joy self-control and love??? I’m just saying! 😊 :) This is a two-way street we got going here!

I don’t know who said it but "The gifts of the Spirit prove that God can USE human beings but the fruit of the Spirit prove that God can CHANGE human beings.” And that is the truth!!

Any (and all) abuse of the Holy Spirit’s gift does NOT disprove the Holy Spirit still giving His gifts out to man-kind. The Holy Spirit is baptizing inmates in jail! They are hungry to be overcomers!! And God is meeting them behind the iron bars!! I stand amazed!!

Before the Bible was readily available years and years ago, God still filled His people with His Spirit. My friend’s great-great-great grandfather was a circuit rider (who prayed in tongues) and people tried to stone him with fruit, sticks and rocks and whatever they had handy when he rode into town. They didn’t understand the power of God then and they still don’t today.

I am a true believer that a Christian cannot live an overcoming life without the power of God and I feel that way because of what Christ has done in me since baptizing me with His Holy Spirit 44 years ago.

This was not intended for anyone person, so please do not personally take offense!

God bless us all as we read the word of God without fear and unbelief,
Lisa

PS: I love Jason Upton, Robert!

Posing a question.

Are you "filled with the Holy Spirit” as contemplated and commanded if all you do is speak on tongues or have some other gift ? Are you filled if all you have manifest is power, or some wisdom or solely love or joy ? I don’t see the Spirit divisible that way in terms of being "filled”. I’m not suggesting you can’t have gifts without fruits or boldness without joy. I’m only asking can you be filled if you don’t have all available and manifest. As an example can I be said to have love if I don’t have joy. Are the fruits of the Spirit divisible when I’m filled ?

Maybe filled with the Spirit is different than the truth of manifestation of some aspect of the Spirit. That is why Paul commands us to keep being filled as that is a steady state Christianity where the Spirit life is filling you fully and constantly and different manifestations (gifts, power, endurance, etc) are brought forth situationally or to meet need.

I've been to more than one church who didn't preach or believe in the baptism in the Holy Spirit but yet we're growing, vibrant congregationations. One would prefer it of course, but I don't think without it all will turn to religion and decay. I've seen different.

I am a believer in baptism of the Holy Spirit, but I agree with you. I have seen churches like this. My answer is just because they did not preach or emphasis the baptism of Holy Spirit, it does not mean they are missing it. For example an uneducated person may not know how digestion works, still he might have better digestive system than a doctor who can explain digestion better!

I have heard the testimony of men who did not believe in Baptism of Holy Spirit and still received it.

Jesus said we will have power, if we are powerless in our Christian life then we need to ask for power. He will empower us even if we believe in terms like Baptism of the Holy Spirit or not.

Some time back I heard a Baptist preacher say that we do not increase in the amount of Holy Spirit anymore than what we received at the time of born again (my paraphrase). I met him and questioned him about scriptures that speak about being filled with the Holy Spirit which are written to believers. He gave me a twisted explanation which I could not fully comprehend. Can someone explain me how this Baptist theology works?

Ephesians 5:18 - Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

Acts 9:17 So Ananias went to the house, and when he arrived, he placed his hands on Saul. "Brother Saul,” he said, "the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming
here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

From then on Paul spent the rest of his life preaching and defending the Gospel and suffering for Christ
Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Philippians 3:7 But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. 8More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.…

In Christ alone my hope is found

Markus

I have felt so.under attack spiritually and I so need jesus