Outflow: Week 3
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to speak in BIG church. I am always thankful that Terry trusts me enough to give me an opportunity to do this.
Here are the notes from yesterday’s message:
Outflow Series (Week 3)—March 15, 2009
What Are You Thinking?
When you hear the name “Holy Spirit” what comes to mind?
Definitions
The Indwelling—Romans 8.9-11
Romans 8.8-11
Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives (dwell) in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
def.– οἰκέω, pronounced oikeō to occupy a house, of the "dwelling" together of those who are married.
Although every Christian is indwelt by the Spirit, unless he is also filled with the Spirit, he will live in spiritual weakness, frustration and defeat.
Ephesians 5.18-21
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Definitions
The Infilling—Ephesians 5.18-21
def.– πληρόω, pronounced plēroō—to fill, replete, level up (as in replenishing something that is hollow).
Be filled translates the present passive imperative of plēroō, and is more literally rendered as "be being kept filled." It is a command that includes the idea of conscious continuation. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is not an option for believers but a mandate. No Christian can fulfill God’s will for his life apart from being filled with His Spirit. If we do not obey this command, we cannot obey any other—simply because we cannot do any of God’s will apart from God’s Spirit.
The continuous aspect of being filled ("be being kept filled") involves day-by-day, moment-by-moment submission to the Spirit’s control. The passive aspect indicates that it is not something we do but that we allow to be done in us. The filling is entirely the work of the Spirit Himself, but He works only through our willing submission. The present aspect of the command indicates that we cannot rely on a past filling nor live in expectation of future filling. We can rejoice in past fillings and hope for future fillings, but we can live only in present filling.
Ephesians 5.18-21
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Signs of a Spirit-Filled Life
•Self-control—Ephesians 5.18
• Worship—Ephesians 5.19
•Thankfulness—Ephesians 5.20
•Humility—Ephesians 5.21
Many Christians find it hard to believe that they have a wealth of untapped power within them—provided by the Holy Spirit.
Shaving cream illustration.
If a person can do this with shaving cream, how much more can the Holy Spirit fill a person with overflowing power and love?
What’s Keeping You from Being FULL?
•Lack of Self-Control
•A Critical Spirit
•A Unthankful Heart
•An Non–submissive Attitude
The application this morning is three-fold:
–First, do you even have the Spirit dwelling inside of you? If not, why?
Romans 10.9-10:
That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
–Are you FULL of the Spirit? If not, why not?
–Are you willing to allow the Holy Spirit FULL access to your life?
