TOPIC: THE FULLNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
As you walk with God, a man filled with the Holy Spirit, you will come to understand the work of the trinity, with each person doing their part.
I see the Holy Spirit as the worker in the trinity.
In the Old Testament, the Spirit visited them, but in the New Testament, with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, He becomes a resident within us. The only thing we must do is not quench Him.
Matt 3:13-17(NLT)13 Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?”15 But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him.16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”
Why did Jesus, the Son of God, wait for the fullness of the Holy Spirit before beginning His earthly ministry?
Luke 4:1-13(NLT)Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2 where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry.3 Then the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, change this stone into a loaf of bread.”4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.'” 5 Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. 7 I will give it all to you if you will worship me.”8 Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him.'” 9 Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! 10 For the Scriptures say,’He will order his angels to protect and guard you. 11 And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.'”12 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the LORD your God.'” 13 When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came. 14 Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. Reports about him spread quickly through the whole region. 15 He taught regularly in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.16 When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. 17 The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: 18 “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, 19 and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.” 20 He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. 21 Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!”
He faced those temptations fully empowered by the Holy Spirit, whereas Adam and Eve faced temptation without the Holy Spirit.
There is a clear contrast between a person filled with the Holy Spirit and one who is not.
Whatever Jesus did to succeed, He also calls us to do.
Luke 24:49(NLT)49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”
As He resurrected, as a matter of emphasis, He began to remind them the need for the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
After His resurrection, He emphasized the importance of being filled with the Holy Spirit, reminding them of its necessity.
Acts 1:4-8(NIV)4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Success in life and ministry is determined by the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
If this is the case, why do many treat the fullness of the Holy Spirit as trivial?
Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believe?
Acts 19:2-7(KJV)2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. 7 And all the men were about twelve.
1 Cor 2:4-5(KJV)4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
The Holy Spirit is a prerequisite for service to God.
The Holy Spirit came upon Samson – Judg 15:17KJV)14 And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands. 15 And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.16 And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.17 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand, and called that place Ramath-lehi.
The Holy Spirit came upon David – 1 Sam 16:13(KJV)13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
The Holy Spirit came upon Elijah – 1 Kings 18:45-46(KJV)45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.46 And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
The disciples of Jesus did not take for granted their initial filling on the day of Pentecost. Rather, they were continually filled with the Holy Spirit.
You must remember to ask for a continual filling of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 4:29-31(KJV)29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
Stop treating the fullness of the Holy Spirit as an elementary subject.
The fullness of the Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth .
John 16:13(KJV)13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
The fullness of the Holy Spirit is responsible for the gifts of the Holy Spirit – The word of wisdom, the word of knowledge , faith, the gifts of healing , working of miracles , prophecy, discerning of spirits, divers kinds of tongues, and interpretation of tongues: ( 1 Cor 12:7-10 kJV)
The fullness of the Holy Spirit also enables powerful prayer in the Spirit.
Rom 8:26-27(KJV)26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
We can live a life filled with the Holy Spirit .
Acts 6:2-4(KJV)2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
Acts 7:54-56(KJV)54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Paul enjoins us to be filled with the Holy Spirit – Eph 5:18 (KJV)And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;.
The fullness of the Holy Spirit is the complete life of Christ.
This is the key to live a victorious life in Him.
Acts 13:2-12(KJV)2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus:7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
