Complete Sermon Notes
Are You Filled With The Holy Spirit?
The most important question a Christian can ask
The Distinct Mark of the Early Church – Spirit-led
In Duncan Campbell’s book, The Price and Power of Revival, he wrote, “How is it that while we make such great claims for the power of the Gospel, we see so little of the supernatural in operation? Is there any reason why the Church today cannot everywhere equal the Church at Pentecost? I feel this is a question we ought to face with an open mind and an honest heart. What did the early Church have that we do not possess today? Nothing but the Holy Spirit; nothing but the power of God.
ACTS 1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
Former account: Luke part 2
Theos – phileo: Lover of God
“Many infallible proofs”
“He through the Holy Spirit” – The Holy Spirit empowered Jesus and the Apostles. We are desperately remiss if we fail to recognize His vital role in our lives.
The Bible had 40 writers, BUT only 1 author
The Bible says that the Spirit intercedes, leads, guides, teaches, and so on (cf. Romans 8:26; Acts 8:29; John 16:13). He enables and empowers us to hunger and thirst for righteousness, and to boldly live for Christ. Spurgeon – “What can a hammer do without the hand that grasps it, and what can we do without the Spirit of God?”
⇒ CAMP OUT HERE FOR A WHILE ⇒
WHY THE NEGLECT OR THE ABUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?
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1. THEOLOGY WITHOUT EXPERIENCE: “The church has theology about the Holy Spirit, but it has no living consciousness of His presence and power. Theology without experience is like faith without works – it is dead” (Samuel Chadwick).
The Apostle’s Creed – “I believe in the Holy Spirit.”
When something is feared it is often avoided –
George D. Watson, “The true saints of God, who have clear heads, and pure, warm hearts, have in all generations had to walk between the two extremes of cold formality on the one side, and wild, ranting fanaticism on the other. Dead formality and the false fire of fanaticism are both Satan’s counterfeits, and he does not care into which extreme the soul plunges [as long as it plunges].
Scripture clearly supports the miraculous work of the Spirit today. We need sound doctrine and the power of the Holy Spirit. As I’ve said before, it’s possible to be “Bible taught,” but not “Spirit led”—straight as a gun barrel theologically, but just as empty. The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:6).
Theology is essential to Christian living, but so is experience.
Fire is self-evident. So is spiritual power!
A.W. Tozer insightfully said, “If the Lord’s people were only half as eager to be filled with the Spirit as they are to prove that they cannot be filled, the church would be crowded out.”
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2. EXPERIENCE WITHOUT THEOLOGY – Example – “Lord I love your drunken glory – kicking people – acting bizarre – toking the Holy Ghost.”
The devil mimics a true work – watch video clip
They allow very odd things but fail to look to the Word…
3 signs of false fire:
A] People act bizarre without repenting.
B] Sound doctrine is called “divisive.”
C] So-called love replaces truth.
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3. THEOLOGY WITHOUT HUMILITY
“Just as water ever seeks and fills the lowest place, so the moment God finds you abased and empty, His glory and power flow in.” Andrew Murray
Are You Filled? Galatians 5 – The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control
