Holy Spirit (Part #3)

Show notes -

Ephesians 5:17-18

Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 

(:17) In the Will of the Lord 

1. Negatively "So then do not be foolish" 

2. Positively "but understand what the will of the Lord is"

Do not be drunk with wine, which is , but be filled with the Spirit.

1. A very vivid contrast is given here.
2. Folly vs fullness.
3. A filling that leads to destruction and heartache.
4. A filling that leads to building up and a peaceful, joyful heart.
5. The filling of the Spirit will have as its sum consecration, not a circus.
6. Many things done in the name of the Spirit are not of the Spirit.
7. As we endeavored to say in a previous episode, the Holy Spirit will produce holiness in your life. And evident holiness. A fruitful holiness.

Dissipation - a wasteful way of living.

Filling of the Holy Spirit -

1. Someone full of wine(alcohol) is said to be “under the influence.” Someone full of the Spirit is most definitely “under the influence.” Governed and guided.
2. Wine (alcohol) is a depressant. The Holy Spirit stimulates. He’s not a depressant.
3. “Be filled with the Spirit”: lit., “Be being filled.”
4. This is an imperative. A command. Not optional for a few Christian. It’s a command to all who have been saved.
5. Present, ,passive, imperative,.
6. At this very moment, let yourselves be continuously filled with the Holy Spirit.
7. You yield and surrender, and He will fill you.

Here’s a picture and an outline that I believe illustrates the filling of the Holy Spirit. (2 Kings 4:1-7)

A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.”

2 So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.”

3 Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few. 4 And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones.”

5 So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out. 6 Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.”

And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased. 7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.”

These jars were:

1. Available 
2. Upright 
3. Empty 
4. Open

Religion can reform a person’s life, but it can never transform him. Only the Holy Spirit can transform!  A. W. Tozer