Be Ye Filled With the Spirit

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.”  I John 5:4-8 KJV

“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:18-19

I. What does “filled” with the Holy Ghost mean?

A. Several terms used in the Bible:

1. Received Acts 2:38; 8:27; 10:47

2. Poured out 10:45

3. baptized 1:5; 11:16

4. given 11:17

5. came on 19:6

6. filled 2:4; 4:18; 6:3

B. The specific meaning of “filled” is the Greek word (4137) pleroo (play-ro’-o);

from 4134; to make replete, i.e. (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), or (figuratively) to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc.:

KJV— accomplish, X after, (be) complete, end, expire, fill (up), fulfil, (be, make) full (come), fully preach, perfect, supply.

C. There are two apparent aspects of the Holy Ghost.

1. Receive it for salvation.

2. Be filled with it for power and sustained relationship to God.

II. Every believer ought to receive the Holy Ghost and stay filled with it.

A. Can the Holy Ghost “leak out”?

1. The Spirit can be grieved and quenched.

2. Yielding to the flesh can defeat the spirit.

3. A person can expell the Holy Ghost from his life.

4. O. T. warnings:

a. “My spirit shall not always strive with man.”

b. “Take not thy Holy Spirit from me.”

B. Does God want us to be continually filled with the Spirit or just once in a while?

1. Ephesians 5:18

2. Proverbs 27:7 “The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.” When you are full of the Holy Ghost, you’re not hungry for anything else.

3. Samson lost the power of God in his life, but didn’t realize it.

C. Is it necessary to speak in tongues to be re-filled with the Holy Ghost?

1. Why wouldn’t one want to speak in tongues?

2. Tongues is our “prayer language”

3. Jude 1:17-20 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

D. The keys to living a Spirit-filled life.

1. Think right.

a. John 8:31; 15:7; 15:10

b. God’s will is revealed in His Word.

c. God’s Word is a cleansing agent.

(1) Ephesians 5:25-26;

(2) John 15:3; (Clean through the Word)

(3) Psalm 119:9 (Wherewithal shall a young man…)

2. Pray right.

a. Prayer is a vital communion with God. Matt. 6:6.

b. Prayer is partnership in God’s work. Rom. 15:30

3. Walk right.

a. James 1:22-24

b. John 16:13