John 1:32-33/ Acts 19/ Ephesians 4:30

Introduction:  The Holy Spirit is not simply a creed or doctrine to be learned. Throughout the New Testament the Holy Spirit is God; a person to be experienced.

I.  Two Views of being filled with the Spirit:

  1. With Salvation: (conversion-initiation)

A common view among Christians is that baptism in the Spirit is an unconscious event that comes to every believer when they place their faith in Christ.

  • Key verses:  I Corinthians 12:13, Romans 8:9
  1. After Salvation:

While we have the Spirit in us as Christians, Jesus invites us to experience being filled with the Spirit.

  • Key verses:  John 20:27, Acts 1:8, 2:4, 19:1-3

II.  Signs of being Filled with the Spirit

  • Boldness (Acts 4:31)
  • Fire (Matthew 3:11) – which represents power, illumination, purification
  • Speaking in other tongues

III.  Speaking in Tongues (an excursus)

  • Three types: gift of languages (Acts 2:4)
    Personal prayer language (Acts 14:2,4)
    In public setting, accompanied by interpretation (Acts 14:13)
  • Why Tongues?
    • Speaking directly to God
    • One is built up
    • The tongue is yielded to God (James 3:7)

The Holy Spirit will never force, never coerce, manipulate or takeover; do something  against your will.

Questions:

  • Does a person need to speak in tongues to be filled with the Spirit?  No.   However, since it is mentioned 5x in the book of Acts, and affirmed by Paul in I Corinthians 14, one should remain open.
  • How do I know if I’m faking it?  Tongues are Spirit-enabled (Acts 2:4)

Other important manifestations of the Spirit’s infilling

  • love (Romans 5:5)
  • weeping / laughter
  • falling out

Beware of “strange fire” (misuses – abuses)
–  Who is it pointing to? Are people exalting the gift above the Giver.
–  Any attachment to salvation (not a Christian unless you speak in tongues)
–  Used as a benchmark of spirituality (ie. FULL GOSPEL/vs “others who are NOT” )

Because it’s been misused, doesn’t mean we should not seek to be filled with the HOLY SPIRIT.
Being baptized in the Spirit is not a one-time event – it is ongoing experience – in Acts 2 they were filled.It happened again in Acts 4 (see Ephesians 5:20)

IV.  The Holy Spirit as a DOVE.

  • Remained on Jesus (John 1:32-33)
  • While the Holy Spirit will never leave us (John 14:16), sometimes we can feel as if the Spirit is not present with us.

WHY?

  • The dove is a shy and sensitive bird.  The Holy Spirit is a thousand times more sensitive than a turtle dove.
  • The Holy Spirit is easily grieved

“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Eph. 4:30, ESV).

How we can grieve the Spirit  (Ephesians 4:31)

  • bitterness
  • anger and rage
  • clamor and slander
  • malice and ill will
  • any sexual immorality (Ephesians 5:1-7)
  • greed

Whenever we engage in any of the above behaviors, a distance is created between us and Holy Spirit.

“Aim at heaven and you will get the earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.”-CS Lewis

V.  How to be Filled with the Spirit
– Yearn for it
–  Ask for it (Luke 11:13)
–  Receive it