PENTECOST SUNDAY: FILLED, ENJOY GOD 25

PENTECOST SUNDAY: FILLED

everything you wanted to ask about Holy Spirit: but were afraid to ask

Intro: There is a lot of confusion about the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the working of the Spirit of God.  I feel it is essential to present the importance of the Holy Spirit in the life of every believer.

The Stream of the Spirit

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified… And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord (John 7:37-39; Ephesians 5:18, 19) The fullness and flow of the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of power. The difference between power and authority is like sitting at a red stop light with your engine running. You may have the power to go, but until the light turns green, you don’t have the authority. Or if you are at a green light but you are out of gas, you have the authority but not the power. The Holy Spirit gives the power; Jesus’ Name gives the privilege or authority.

Noah’s flood came about was not just rain from the sky, but the breaking up of fountains of the deep. I believe that one of  the last days’ manifestations of Holy Spirit will be that out of our inner beings, there’s going to be a surge of the Holy Spirit that will change the face of the spiritual topography of society as the deep springs break forth and the fountains of the deep places release their treasures.  Noah’s flood is an example of how Holy Spirit operates in us and upon us today.  He indwells us and His anointing falls on us, just like the waters fell from above and broke out from the deep places.

O/T Example: Flood of Isaiah. (Isaiah 59:19), So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.

If change is to take place in our world, it is not going to be accomplished by economic calculations, military advances, diplomatic wisdom or political recourse; not even by ecclesiastical activity, but by the power of the Spirit, So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts (Zechariah 4:6).

If you are uncomfortable with noise, so what. God is not! He is not offended by noise. Around his throne, there is so much shouting, the voices sound like the rushing of mighty waterfalls God may just be offending everything respectable in our Western, rational religious system to raise up bold, pure, fearless believers who will overcome the evil one by loving not their lives even unto death.

  1. Works Acts 1:4-5 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now—Jesus taught that the infilling or baptism in the Holy Spirit would be essential to the work of God.
  2. Baptized Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire—Jesus is the one who baptizes you in the Holy Spirit, this is key, you must first experience Christ, the next step is to let the Spirit of God rest in your life.
  3. Sent John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you– Jesus explained it was essential for Him to go, so the time of the Holy Spirit could carry the work of God forward until His return.
  4. Gift (dorma) Acts 2:38-39 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call This was not a historical one time event as some state, but an on-going event to every generation.
  5. On all flesh Acts 2:17-18 And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy. This is all inclusive—this doesn’t belong just to the Jewish nation, this isn’t just a Pentecostal church possession, the opportunity of receiving the Spirit of God is for everyone.
  6. Seal Ephesians 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14  The Spirit of God working in our lives is God’s seal on our lives. As we operate in the Spirit of God, it is the sign to the unbeliever of God in our lives.
  7. Guarantee Ephesians 1:14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. God gives us the infilling of the Spirit of God—as earnest on the rest of the inheritance.

Work of Holy Spirit in our lives

  • power to witness Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth
  • boldness to preach Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness
  • special gifts 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
  • spiritual fruit Galatians 5:22-23
    Names expressing work of Holy Spirit
    Comforter John 14:26
  • Spirit of God Ephesians 4:30
  • Spirit of Truth John 14:17
  • Advocate -legal term-Lawyer John 14:16
  • Teacher John 14:26
  • Helper Romans 8:26
  1. Symbol of Fire—Purifying Work of the Spirit of God—Matthew 3:11 The blood of Jesus washes our sins away, but the fire of the Spirit of God burns out the wood, hay and stubble. The Spirit of God sanctifies our lives in God. Jesus saves us from sin, The Spirit saves us from our self or the Adamic nature.

WHAT ARE THE PHENOMENA FOR?

  1. Signs of the Lord’s Presence to wake us up and shake us up.
  2. God is Shaking Us to Wake Us Up!
  3. In Ephesians 5:14 Paul says, “Awake sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” This command precedes the exhortation to be filled continually with the Holy Spirit. We are to wake up and seek to be continually filled with the wine of God’s Spirit.
  4. If we haven’t heeded God’s previous wake-up calls, perhaps He is now shaking us to arouse us and get our attention.
  5. To Humble Us
  6. When Randy Clark asked God why He was bringing all the phenomena of “the Toronto Blessing”, God replied that He was looking for people who were willing to look publicly foolish for the honor of His name. Paul Cain said, “God offends the mind to reveal the heart.”
  7. The bottom line issue is one of control. God wants to know who among his people will be willing to play the fool for His glory.
  8. Anointing
  9. The filling of the Holy Spirit is a repeatable experience and one we are commanded to continually experience – And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit Eph. 5:18.
  10. God will sovereignly move on us to impart supernatural ability to do certain things.
  11. 2 Tim. 1:6 I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
  12. Signs are pointers to a destination, not the destination itself. Our destiny is to become conformed into the image of His Son, For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:29). When the Holy Spirit comes in power, He come to make us like Jesus, to heal us and empower us for our particular roles in the mission. The results are what He’s after, not phenomena. If, under God’s sovereignty, He chooses, during seasons of divine visitation, to do His work without phenomena, that is His choice. So also, it is of no benefit to shake or fall and have no long lasting fruit. Ultimately, what God is after is a willing, humble heart. He decides how to sanctify, heal and empower.

MANIFESTATIONS: RESPECTABILITY VERSUS EXTRAVAGANCE (THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INTEGRITY AND RESPECTABILITY)

In the war between extravagance and respectability, God always, without exception in the Scriptures, judges respectability and exonerates or justifies extravagance.

  1. The ointment poured on Jesus feet is one example. This extravagant expression of love was worth one year’s salary. The disciples said they could have fed the poor with the money. Feeding the poor was a biblical, respectable activity. Jesus, however, blessed the extravagance.
  2. David wildly danced before the Ark of the Lord wearing a priestly, linen garment rather than his royal robes. Michal, his wife, rebuked him for not being respectable. David replied, “You haven’t seen anything yet!” David was blessed of God for his extravagance; Michal, the one who esteemed respectability, was cursed by God with barrenness.
  3. The one hundred and twenty people who appeared from the upper room on the day of Pentecost, were accused of drunkenness. Yet, God vindicated them by filling them with power and using them to carry out the purposes of God in the earth.
  4. Is it possible that we are being deceived? My protection from deception is intimacy with Jesus, not the fear of being deceived.
  5. Some people say, “But some of this stuff is not in the Bible.” Here is our response. The Bible must not be treated like a rule book. There are many issues the Bible does not address. Things not forbidden in the scripture may be allowed as God is using them, no matter how strange they may be to us.
  6. The evangelical church only sees the first century church and the twentieth century church. Unfortunately, we have amnesia when it comes to church history. We act like God has done nothing, taught nothing, showed us nothing in 2000 years. Much church history teaches us wisdom, reveals God’s activity, and teaches us his ways. These kinds of things occur in every great awakening. Such weird things happened during past movings of God’s Spirit like jerking, barking, falling, dancing, shouting. All of these manifestations are in Wesley’s ministry as well as, Whitefield’s, Edward’s, Finney’s, the awakening in Wales, and other revivals.
  7. Why does God do it this way? I don’t know. He offends us, tests us, and humbles us. God delivers us from inhibitions. The Spirit fills us with joy, faith, love, and power. I don’t know why He does it this way, through spiritual phenomenon, but I do know why he is doing it: to make us like Jesus.
  8. Check the fruit. Interview those people so affected by the Spirit. Alan Vincent and myself, have found that almost without exception the experience is good for people. In these encounters, God reveals His presence, power, and love. The awareness of God’s presence and awesome power becomes real to these seekers. The reality of His presence will accomplish many things in our lives: destroy bondages; deliver from habitual sins; heal cultural infections (i.e. rationalism, materialism, faithlessness).

I Corinthians 1:30 Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption. As His presence becomes real, the Lord captures us, constrains us, controls us, and transforms us for His glory.

  1. Here are some helpful thoughts when you are uncomfortable with the current manifestations:
  • Past historical revivals contained these phenomena.
  • Seek a taste for yourself.
  • Check the fruit: interviews will reveal very positive influences and effects on people.
  1. God is Excessive! God is Demonstrative!

Mt. Sinai trembled – Ex. 19:16-18.

  • When God’s presence came, there were dramatic effects, then quiet rest – 1 Kings 19.
  • Jesus on the Cross – effects; the earth shook, darkness, audible voice, tombs opened up, saints walked into Jerusalem – Mt. 27.
  • Wind, fire, noise, energy, inebriation – Acts 2.
  • Place was shaken and they were filled with the Holy Spirit – Acts 4.
  • The first time Saul was filled with the Holy Spirit it was for an anointing in power and prophecy, he was a changed man 1 Sam. 10.
  • Stripped naked and prophesied, a day and a half, this second filling was for humility – 1 Sam. 19.

What is excessive? We measure by our own experience. What is currently “normal” may or may not be normal to God.

SUMMARY OF JUDGING CRITERIA

  1. Are the People For Whom the Prays are Being Prayed Asking for more of God Himself, Not Just for More Manifestations? Then they will get God.
  2. Are the People Praying Asking for God and Exalting Jesus? The Holy Spirit will come in answer to their prayers?
  3. Are You Asking for the Gift of Discernment?
  4. Are the Leaders Humble and Exalting Jesus? Is the atmosphere peaceful, even though perhaps noisy? If yes, then these are signs of the Holy Spirit’s presence.
  5. Is the Fruit Good? Then it’s God.

Close: this is just the tip of the iceberg—the Word is full of life on the subject of the Holy Spirit.

Symbolic Acts of the Prophet

This is taken from the book, Developing The Prophetic Ministry by Frank Damazio.

  1. Jeremiah wore a yoke around his neck through the streets to depict the impending Babylonian bondage – Jeremiah 27-28.
  2. Hosea was commanded to marry a harlot, symbolizing Israel’s unfaithfulness – Hosea 1-3.
  3. Isaiah walked naked and barefoot for three years, symbolizing that Egypt and Ethiopia were at the hands of Assyria – Isaiah 20:1-6.
  4. Ezekiel was commanded to lay mock siege to Jerusalem by portraying it upon a tile – Ezekiel 4:1-3.
  5. Ezekiel was commanded to be upon his left side for 390 days and upon his right side for 40 days. The number of days represented the number of years that Israel had disobeyed and forsaken God throughout their history – Ezekiel 4:4-8.
  6. Ezekiel was commanded to eat different kinds of food for 390 days, symbolizing the ceremonial defilement that would come to the Israelites in being forced to partake of Gentile food during their captivity – Ezekiel 4:9-17
  7. Ezekiel was commanded to burn a portion of his hair, foretelling the coming destruction of Jerusalem and its inhabitants – Ezekiel 5:1-4.
  8. Ezekiel was commanded to shave his hair and beard, and then scatter some of the hair, symbolizing the scattering of a portion of the Jewish people to various parts of the earth – Ezekiel 5:1-4.
  9. Ezekiel was commanded to prophesy to a dry bone yard, symbolizing Israel’s spiritual dryness and death. This prophecy foretells the promised blessing upon Israel in and through the New Covenant – Ezekiel 37.
  10. Ahijah, upon meeting Jeroboam, rent his garment in twelve pieces, symbolizing the division of his formerly united kingdom – I Kings 11:30-31.
  11. Jeremiah symbolically gave signs to Israel by:
  12. A marred girdle (symbolizing the negative effect the seventy-year captivity in Babylon would have upon the house of Judah – Jeremiah 13:1.
  13. A potter and the clay (speaking of the judgment of God coming to the house of Judah and the resulting

in a blessing upon them in and through the New Covenant – Jeremiah 18:1.

  1. A cup of the wine of wrath (speaking of the judgment of God being stored up for ungodly nations) – Jeremiah 25:15.
  2. Certain prophets were commanded to give prophetic, symbolic names to their children:
  3. Isaiah’s children­

i.Shear jashub: “A remnant shall return” – Isaiah 7:3.

ii.Maher-shalah-hash-baz: “Swift is the booty, speedy is the prey” – Isaiah 8:1.

  1. Hosea’s children­

i.Jezreel: “It will be sown of God” – Hoses 1:4.

ii.Lo-Ruhamah: “No mercy” – Hosea 1:6.

iii.Lo-Ammi: “Not my people” – Hosea 1:9.

  1. Ezekiel was commanded to prophesy to the mountains. Mountains in scripture represent various kingdoms and nations of the earth – Ezekiel 6:1-3.
  2. Ezekiel was commanded to move by digging through a wall, representing Judah’s being removed into exlle in Babylon – Ezekiel 12:1-6.
  3. Jeremiah was commanded to buy a linen girdle, to put it on but not wash it, and then to go the Euphrates and hide it there in a hole of the rock. Then he was commanded to dig it up, even though it was marred and good for nothing, symbolizing what God was going to do to the pride of Jerusalem and Judah – Jeremiah 13:1-11.
  4. Jeremiah was commanded to take an earthen vessel in front of the ancients of the people and the ancients of the priests, symbolizing the soon destruction of the city of Jerusalem – Jeremiah 19:1-9.
  5. Ezekiel remained dumb for seven days after his call, representing his identification with the miseries and trials of those to whom he would minister – Ezekiel 3:15.
  6. Agabus bound the Apostle Paul with his girdle, symbolizing what the Jews were going to do to him in Jerusalem – Acts 21:10-14.

 

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