All right, I want to talk to you this morning about an extremely important topic for any church,
but I think especially for our church, and that is the need to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit.
The need to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit.
I think being part of a church plant, it has, it is, and it will bring things to the surface, okay?
Because there's not a whole lot of places to hide when you're in a church this size.
And there's not a lot of other people to do stuff, so it puts weight on all of us.
And so the combination of the proximity and the weight brings things to the surface, right?
That's a, as they'd say in the coding world, that's a feature, not a bug, okay?
That's a good thing.
That's a good thing that our proximity brings things to the surface,
and the level of shared responsibility brings things to the surface.
But really, when it comes down to it, you don't need a church plant for that.
You have life for that.
And life itself brings things to the surface.
At some point in time, all of us is faced, just like Judah was saying before we took of the Lord's table.
We get to that place where there's nothing left of us.
We get to that place where our work is not sufficient.
Our energy is not enough.
Our strength doesn't last, right?
And the question is, what do you do in that moment?
Where do you go in that moment?
This last week was a particularly heavy week.
It's been a while since I've had a week like this, but, you know, sometimes they come.
And all in the same day, got one message on my phone about someone who we'd been walking with in church discipline
and just seeing someone what looked like good fruit and growing.
And he messaged to say that he had been actually lying to us and he was in secret sin and it was way worse than he had said.
And on top of that, he started doing some other sins that he shouldn't have been doing.
So I was like, okay, that's really heavy, but, you know, we'll deal with this.
I think it was less than a half hour later, got another message from another person who we'd been walking with,
confessing something in the darkness that was not exposed as far as sexual sin.
I thought, oh, wow, okay, that's two in a row.
And then a few hours later, I got a third message from another guy about some stuff,
some pretty egregious sins that had come up.
And three in one day.
And it was right in the midst of a lot of good things that were happening,
a lot of things that God was doing.
And clearly the devil was attacking.
I think there's been a lot of spiritual battle this last week,
but I've been reminded of where to go.
Because in those moments, you're tired, you're weary, you're upset, you're frustrated,
you feel like you're depleted.
And the question is, where do you go?
And I really, I think, was focused because I've been studying this,
so it was providential, to go to the Holy Spirit.
And I actually, we're in the past, a week like this,
I would have been probably battling discouragement all week.
It was pretty much a one-day thing, and it didn't even last a whole day.
Because I went to the Holy Spirit.
And they said, I need to be filled by you.
So when these things happen, the question is, where do you go?
Okay, when you're weak, and you're lacking power, where do you go?
Do you feel like in that moment, you have to consume entertainment so that you feel like you're in control?
That's one of the reasons we gravitate towards entertainment, or even the entertainment,
you could call it, I guess, of adult entertainment, of pornography and such,
is because in those things, we have control.
And you have to be aware that when you feel like you're losing control because you're feeling powerless,
you'll be tempted to certain things that give you the semblance or the illusion of control.
Okay?
If you're not going to God.
When you can't continue, when you have a lack of perseverance, where do you go?
Where do you go?
And you feel like, I can't keep doing this.
I can't do this.
I don't have the will or the energy or the strength to keep going.
In those moments, where do you go?
Where do you go?
When you start, but you don't continue, or you say, I just can't do this,
or you cancel on things or don't show up to things that you committed to because you feel like,
I just can't.
Is that what you do?
Do you cancel?
Do you give up?
Where do you go?
Or do you go to the Holy Spirit?
When you're in sin and you're lacking pleasure, where do you go?
You feel like your pleasure tank, so to speak, is on empty.
It's low.
You're not feeling like you're enjoying much of anything.
Where do you gravitate towards?
John Piper said, sin is what you do when you're not satisfied in God.
Okay?
He said, spiritually satisfied people sin less.
Really, that lack of pleasure is a lack of joy in God.
But if your mind is distorted as to what you really want, you go drinking from cisterns that are broken.
You go drinking from things that are never enough because that's not ultimately what you want.
And then the devil in your flesh say, you just need more of it.
You just need more.
You just need more sensuality.
You just need more carnal pleasure.
The issue isn't what you're going to.
The issue is, you don't have enough of it.
And of course, that's a lie.
Where do you go in that moment?
Do you go to God?
Do you cry out to God and say, I must find joy in you?
When you're lonely, you're lacking a sense of presence.
You feel like you're just kind of going through your life with no one else by your side.
Maybe it's because you're single.
Maybe it's because you're married and you're feeling disconnected from your spouse.
Maybe it's because your friend group is changing or your friends are changing.
You're changing.
You don't know who's changing, but you're feeling lonely.
You're feeling maybe that you have convictions that other people don't have.
You have this sense of loneliness, this lack of presence.
You feel alone.
Where do you go?
When you're out of order, when you're lacking priorities, okay?
Do you escape from that then?
You feel overwhelmed because your whole life's crashing in on you.
It's like, I never feel like I'm getting ahead.
I never feel like I have enough time.
I never feel like I go to bed doing the things I want to do.
I go to bed feeling like I was busy, but I don't really believe that I did what I was supposed to do.
And it just starts, this oppressive weight starts crashing in on you.
And you're feeling it on a regular basis.
And it just feels like the responsibilities won't end.
Where do you go?
Do you go to God?
Or do you try to escape and quasi rest in the wrong things?
When you're afraid, when you're lacking boldness, when you're anxious, where do you go?
Where do you go?
Do you avoid those things that you're afraid of?
When you know you're supposed to share the gospel, but you're afraid, do you avoid?
When you know that there's things that God would have you to do and to take responsibility for, but you're anxious about them?
Do you avoid them?
Or do you go to God and say, God, I need your strength.
I need your power.
I need your boldness.
When you're empty, you're feeling like you're lacking a sense of fullness.
Like you just don't have enough in the tank.
Where do you go?
Do you fill up with other things?
With food?
With drink?
With entertainment?
With isolated fruitless consumption?
Where do you go?
Or do you go to God and say, God, fill me up.
I want to be filled by you.
You see, a lot of times when we go through life or in particular thinking about this church plant, you look at different people.
And you think, oh, some people, they can handle a lot.
But the question is why?
Those people you see who can handle a lot, you know why they can handle a lot?
If it's truly handling a lot?
Because they're filled with the Spirit.
Some people get burnt out.
Why?
Because they've not been continually filled with the Spirit.
Some people in leadership, they end up lowering the standard of leadership because they've not been continually filled with the Spirit.
Right?
They stay in leadership, but because they're not dependent and being filled continually by the Holy Spirit, rather than going to God or getting out of leadership, they stay in leadership and lower the standard to where they're at.
Some people avoid responsibility and leadership altogether because they have no category for the filling of the Spirit.
And so they have to choose a life of less responsibility and less demand.
Now, that's my take on it.
And I think it's right.
You might have other takes on it, but I want you to ask the question if they're a lie.
We can make all kinds of excuses and say, oh, no, they can handle a lot because of their personality.
They can handle a lot because they're stationed in life.
What if that's not true?
What if it's actually that the people who can handle a lot and stay steady and stay faithful are actually broken, weak people like you and I who have just been filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit?
What if people who are burnt out, what if the only cause isn't just that they're doing too much or the wrong things because those are possible, but actually that a lot of people who are actually trying to do the right thing are burnt out because they went to the wrong place?
They're not filled with the Holy Spirit.
They're not empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Yes, they love God.
Yes, they're Christians.
They have the Holy Spirit because no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit, but they're not empowered by the Holy Spirit or they were empowered by the Holy Spirit.
And since then, they have not continually been filled.
Where are you at in this?
Where do you stand with this topic?
Ephesians 5, 15 to 21.
It says,
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time because the days are evil.
Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Holy Spirit.
That's a command of God right there.
Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.
Why would they put those two together?
Essentially, getting drunk on wine is where we would go instead of going to the Holy Spirit.
Getting a sense of escape or pleasure or getting a sense of feeling like I don't have to deal with these things.
Rather, a sense of false comfort.
Right?
Rather than going to the Holy Spirit, your comforter, to be comforted, to be empowered, to be filled.
Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.
Give thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Jesus said in Matthew 22, 29,
He tells the Sadducees that they're wrong.
And He tells them they're wrong because of two reasons.
One is a reason we're probably fairly familiar with.
One that we've maybe even pointed out to people.
One is maybe a wrong that we don't think about as much or don't point out as much.
But let's remember, Jesus is pointing this out.
He's saying that these are two ways to be wrong.
Matthew 22, 29, Jesus answering the Sadducees says,
You are wrong.
He says because.
What is the reason they are wrong?
Because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.
So two reasons.
First one is the one we would be familiar with, right?
You're wrong because you don't know the Scriptures.
Well, yeah, I get that, right?
I mean, I've told other people maybe they're wrong.
Maybe bring a little bit of correction.
Like, I don't think you understand the Scriptures or you know the Scriptures there.
Let me inform you of what you don't know.
That's the obvious one, right?
But when was the last time you have thought that you or somebody else was wrong
because they didn't know the power of God?
Have you ever been convicted of not knowing the Scriptures?
Probably.
And when that happens, what do you do?
If you think, Oh, man, I don't know the Scriptures the way I should.
Or in this particular instance, I was off.
I didn't know what God's will was.
I didn't know what God's truth was.
I didn't know what God wanted in this situation.
And then I went to the Scriptures or someone pointed me to the Scriptures.
And so, you know, and if you feel like you're wrong, you say,
Well, I'm going to go figure out what the right thing is in the Scriptures.
I'm going to study the Scriptures.
What about when you're wrong because you don't know the power of God?
What do you do then?
You need to go to the Holy Spirit and receive the power of God.
You need to go to God and say, Jesus baptized me with your Spirit.
Fill me with your Spirit.
Okay?
There's two ways to be wrong.
It's not just not knowing the Scriptures.
And this is very convenient for people who are cessationists.
They get rid of one of the other ways that God says you can be wrong.
This is God speaking.
He said you can be wrong because you don't know the power of God.
Let me ask you a question.
I want you to be honest with yourself.
Do you know the power of God?
Do you know it?
Some of you know the Scriptures really well.
Do you know the power of God as well as you know the Scriptures?
Or are you in error?
Are you wrong because you don't know the power of God?
You could quote chapter and verse.
You know how to maybe preach a sermon or instruct some other people, give counsel.
You know how to get a new church plan up and running.
But let me ask an extremely important question.
Do you know the power of God?
If you don't, you're wrong.
You're dead wrong.
Well, come on, man.
I know the Scriptures.
I've been a Christian for a long time.
I don't care what does the Scriptures say.
He said they were wrong because they didn't know the power of God.
If you're wrong because you don't know the power of God, where are you going to go?
Maybe some of us need to repent this morning.
Maybe some of us need to go to God and say,
God, I have been wrong for a long time.
I have not known the power of God.
I have done my Christian walk in every other way but in the power of God.
And I just thought it was not the best.
I never actually thought of it as sin.
I never ever thought of it as not being right or being wrong.
Jesus said you're wrong because you neither know the Scriptures nor the power of God.
This is not something we can pass over.
This is not just something we say, well, that's for the charismatic.
So that's for, you know, those people.
You know, my friend who's like, that's all they talk about.
You know, that person.
I'm more of a, you know, more holistic, nuanced kind of person.
Maybe you just make an excuse for being wrong.
You have to know the power of God.
Paul knew the power of God.
1 Corinthians 2, 4 to 5.
When speaking to the Corinthians, he said,
My speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom.
You might think, oh, guys, plant a church in Corinth.
Of course, what they need is plausible words of wisdom.
That's what they need, right?
And he comes to them and says,
My speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom.
But actually, what they were in is in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.
Demonstration of the Spirit and of power.
Why?
So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Do you see why this is so important?
We don't want to get people through these doors and get people into our lives as a church
so that they can have more rest in the wisdom of man.
But if all you do is come with plausible words of wisdom,
but you don't have a demonstration of the Spirit and power, you don't know the power of God,
the end result is that people don't,
their faith rests in the wisdom of men, not in the power of God.
That's not what we want.
We're aiming to have a people whose faith rests in the power of God.
How do you do that?
You have to have a demonstration.
You need a demonstration of the Spirit and power.
And this is what Paul did.
And I'd say, well, that's Paul.
I mean, I ain't no Paul.
Right.
You ain't no Paul.
But the same Spirit that lived in Paul is the same Spirit that lives in you.
Do I need to say that again?
The same Spirit that lived in Paul, let's add another one, that raised Christ from the dead, lives in you.
So why can't we have a demonstration of the Spirit and power?
We most certainly can.
Do you believe that this morning?
Do you believe that?
1 Corinthians 4, a couple chapters later, verses 19 through 20,
Paul says, I'll come to you soon if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people, but their power.
Speaking of these people who are dogging on Paul, saying he's not really an apostle.
They're like, we're the super apostles.
We're the real apostles.
He says, okay.
When I get there, I'm going to find out not the talk of these arrogant people.
I don't care about the talk of these arrogant people.
I'm actually looking to see if there's any power.
For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk, but in power.
Kingdom of God doesn't consist in talk, but in power.
You know, people like to talk more than ever before.
And I'll have people, I'll give them counsel.
Had someone the other day, gave them counsel in the midst of what seems extremely obvious,
I think, to anyone from the outside, that this person's life is a mess.
And whatever he's doing is not accomplishing that which would bring about the fruit of the spirit
and the fruit of a life, a godly life.
And so I gave him counsel, which I believe is godly counsel,
in which I have seen bear fruit in a lot of people's lives with powerful results.
And I got this verbal diarrhea pushback about pop psychology and brain stuff and all this thing.
That's just like, listen, if you study pop psychology
and that leads you to God in a way that gives you the fruit of the spirit,
then praise God.
But if you have a bunch of talk that has no power, I will not praise God for that.
Okay?
That's not okay.
If your talk is just talk and there's no power.
Like if you have talk, but there's power with it, okay, I'm thinking,
maybe this is the kingdom of God.
But when all it is is talk, when all it is is talk but no power,
well, it's this and it's this book I read and it's this study that happened
and this video I watched on YouTube and this new preacher that I've been listening to.
And you keep talking about this.
You're always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.
You have a form of godliness, but you deny the power.
You basically, what you're doing is it's just talk.
And I don't care about talk.
And neither does Paul because Paul says,
he then brings the definition of the kingdom of God, one of them.
And he says, the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.
So if we're talking kingdoms, that talk better have power
or that's not the kind of talk we're talking about.
But it rolls right off the tongue.
And it's very easy to tell other people like these guys.
They're saying, Paul, Paul, you're not so great.
You're not such a big deal.
And he said, hey, at the end of the day, I'm not going to argue with these guys.
I'm looking for one thing.
He goes, I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people, but their power.
Where's the power?
Jesus said, you're an error.
You don't know the power of God.
Paul says, I don't care about their talk.
I want to know where there's power.
Paul says in 2 Timothy 3, verses 4 through 5,
he's speaking of the end times.
He says, these people will be lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.
Having the appearance of godliness but denying its power.
And then he says, avoid such people.
Avoid such people.
Now, I hope I'm making a point here by just bringing,
and it's not my point, I'm just bringing up scriptures here.
But are you seeing a pattern here?
He's saying that if there's no power in these people,
they have the appearance, which I'm assuming meant that there's some talk there.
They have the look of it.
Maybe they're church-going folk.
They go through the motions.
They're the kind of people that somewhat blend into the church culture.
But he's saying there's one thing they're lacking,
and this is one that you should be looking to in such a way that if it's not there,
you should go so extreme that you should actually avoid such people.
What is it?
They have the appearance of godliness, but they are denying its power.
The appearance of godliness but denying the power.
Are you seeing how the Bible delineates between what we most often say is,
oh, yeah, that person's a Christian.
Are they?
Where's the power?
Oh, that's just some Christians.
No, no, no.
That is Christians.
That is Christianity.
He's saying if you have some kind of appearance of godliness,
but you're denying the power,
you should avoid such people.
These people are lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.
The reason they don't have any power is because they're not going to God to get their pleasure.
They're going to the world to get their pleasure.
And so they have a form of godliness.
They kind of look the part, but they deny the power.
In the quote-unquote, and I use that extremely intentionally,
quote-unquote churches are filled with people like this.
That's why the vast majority of Christians are not,
or professing Christians, are not in fact Christians.
When you just ask simple questions like,
do you believe that Jesus is the only way?
Do you believe that Jesus is God?
Do you believe that the Bible is the word of God?
God, all of a sudden, the numbers of people who profess to be Christians drops 90%.
And I guarantee those people who do not believe that Jesus is the son of God,
who do not believe that Jesus is the only way,
and who do not believe that the Bible is the word of God,
you better believe they're going to have a form of godliness that denies the power.
This cannot be in Christ's church.
Do you hear me on this?
This is non-negotiable.
We can't just go through the motions and have a nice Sunday service
and do life together, enjoy food, enjoy different things in life without power.
Powerless living is not an option in the church.
Paul goes so far as to say, avoid such people.
We must have power.
And I know, because I talk to you, and I hear you,
and I talk to my wife who's talking to maybe some of the ladies about going through your day
and all this stuff.
I know that every single one of us hits those times where we lack what?
Power.
Where do you go?
Are you okay with it?
Are you fine with it?
Do you just chalk it up as, well, it's just a bad day,
just a bad week, just a bad month, just a bad year?
I don't know.
Or do you say, this is unacceptable.
I'm a Christian.
I'm a follower of Jesus.
Jesus came to do something.
He came to baptize us with power.
Colossians 1, 28-29, Paul says,
Him we proclaim, speaking of Christ,
Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom,
that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
And then he says this,
For this I toil, struggling with all His energy that He powerfully works within me.
So he's struggling.
He's wrestling, not with his own energy,
not with his own strength,
with Christ's energy.
And it's not just a little drip of it.
It's not just a little flash in the pan.
No.
That He powerfully works within me.
Okay?
Do you trust God for that?
When you get up and you're thinking,
Oh my gosh.
Kids were up all night.
I got to go to work today.
I got to manage a home today.
I'm supposed to get together with so-and-so today.
I was supposed to get this done today.
I got nothing left.
What do you do?
Do you struggle in your energy?
Or do you struggle with all His energy
that He powerfully works within you?
Do you believe that?
Do you believe for Christianity like that?
Do you believe that?
Listen, I'm not talking about some charismatic,
superficial, hallelujah Christianity.
Okay?
I'm not talking about, again,
the charismatic form without the power.
I've seen that.
I've seen it.
I've seen the charismatic form without the power
and I've seen the charismatic form
with demonic power.
And they called it the power of God.
Okay?
I've seen it.
I've experienced it.
I don't want to have anything to do with that.
But I most definitely want to have something to do
with the charismatic power of God.
I just don't want the phony baloney old-time religion.
I want the real deal.
I want His power energizing me
as I go about my day.
Energizing me as I try to preach to everyone
and see them become mature in Christ.
That's what I need.
That's what I want.
Do you want that?
Do you need that?
Don't say you want it
and don't say you need it
if instead of going to God,
you're going somewhere else.
Prove it.
Prove it with your actions.
The Bible says that to repent
and to prove your repentance by your actions.
Okay?
That's what the Bible teaches.
Repentance and wisdom,
the Bible says,
is proved true by her actions.
Okay?
So we can say it all we want,
but where do we go in those times?
It's easy to go there
when we're singing songs on a Sunday morning.
We got everybody up here leading us in song.
It's easy to go to Christ then.
Right?
It's easy to go to Christ.
It's a prayer meeting.
It's easy to go to Christ
when everybody else is doing it.
What about when you're not feeling it?
What about when you're all alone?
What about when your day's not going well?
What about when it feels like
everything is against you
and the earth feels like
it's subjected to futility?
It is.
Then where do you go?
Do you take the edge off
with something else,
with something sinful,
with something socially accepted,
but a civilian affair
that keeps you outside of the battle?
Where do you go?
Let's look at the plain reading of Scripture.
Just the plain reading of Scripture.
We don't need to get complicated here.
It starts with the promise
to be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
All three synoptic Gospels
and the Gospel of John.
All four Gospels.
They all include this.
John the Baptist.
He's the guy.
Isaiah was prophesied about him.
He said,
this is the guy
who's going to make straight
the pass for the Lord.
He's going to prepare
the way for Jesus.
Right?
He comes.
He baptizes with water.
And when they come to him
and he's talking to them,
he begins to tell them
of the one he is pointing to.
He begins to tell them
of the one that he is preparing
the way for.
And he says the same thing
in all these Gospels.
They all documented the same thing.
And it's significant.
Matthew 3.11.
I'll read all of them.
Matthew 3.11.
I baptize you with water
for repentance,
John the Baptist.
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 with fire.
So again, baptism.
We're talking like John the Baptist.
People are coming out
to the Jordan River
and they are being immersed
in water.
Okay?
And then he's saying,
using the same language,
they're being baptized
by being immersed
in this river.
He's then used
the same language
to say,
oh, but there's coming
someone else
who will baptize you
in the Holy Spirit.
You'll be immersed
in the Holy Spirit.
Mark 1.8.
I have baptized you
with water,
but he will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit.
He's making the comparison.
You see how I'm dunking
these people in the water?
You're going to be immersed
in the Holy Spirit
by Jesus.
Luke 3.16.
John answered them all,
saying,
I baptize you with water,
but he who is mightier
than I is coming.
The strap of whose sandals
I am not worthy
to untie.
He will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit
and fired.
John 1.33.
I myself did not know him,
but he who sent me
to baptize with water
said to me,
he on whom you see
the Spirit descend
and remain,
this is he
who does what?
Who baptizes
with the Holy Spirit.
Acts,
before I get to that,
one more comment.
clearly this is something
that's for us.
Clearly this is something
that marks what Jesus does.
We have a lot of things
we think of
when we think of Jesus.
We think he does this,
he does that,
all these things.
When you think of Jesus,
how often do you think of him
as the one who baptizes
with the Holy Spirit?
Who immerses people
with the Holy Spirit?
I'm not talking about
immersing you with a feeling.
I'm not talking about
immersing you with some
invisible force.
I'm not talking about
being immersed in an emotion,
although emotions
can accompany it
and often do.
I'm talking about
a promise to be immersed
in the person
of God himself,
the third person
of the Trinity.
We're talking about God.
He's literally saying,
I mean,
the implications of this,
it's kind of like,
just picture him.
Guys,
do you understand
what's going on here?
I'm baptizing you
with some created thing
called water.
You get wet with it,
you get soaked with it,
it's water.
There's nothing magic
about water.
Everybody knows about water.
There's nothing
really even more common
than water.
Like,
it's got to be one of those
common things on the earth.
Most of the earth is water.
Most of your body is water.
If you want to talk about
the base level commonality,
he's literally saying,
I'm baptizing you
with water.
Now,
as you think about that,
let me take from the common
to the supernatural
and remind you,
there is one coming,
his name is Jesus,
and he will baptize you
with God himself.
You will be soaked,
immersed
with God.
Do you think of that?
When you think of Jesus
and you think,
oh,
I'm going to pray right now
and there's a little,
you know,
crust in your eyes
and you can barely read
the pages of your Bible
because you're not quite up yet
and the coffee hasn't,
you know,
worked its effects yet
and you're thinking,
I've got to do my time
with the Lord
and pray this morning.
Do you think,
I'm going to the one
who baptizes
with the Holy Spirit?
Do you believe that?
Do you think like that?
John the Baptist
is telling us,
listen,
you have to think like this.
This is,
this is not some side thing
about Jesus.
This is what the guy
who was preparing the way,
I mean,
there's barely anything
that John the Baptist says,
right?
He's not documented
in the scriptures
as saying much,
right?
There's not much in there.
But this is the guy
who Isaiah prophesied
is the guy
to make way
for the guy,
like for the,
for the Messiah.
So you'd think
what he has to say
about him
is probably
pretty significant.
It's probably
pretty important.
What does
John the Baptist,
the forerunner,
the one prophesied
by Isaiah,
what is the one thing
he says about Jesus?
He says,
he will baptize
in the Holy Spirit.
Is this not important?
It's important.
Now,
just to get
our terminology right
when we look
at the Bible,
it's important to know
that baptism
in the Holy Spirit
and filling
of the Holy Spirit
are synonymous.
The greatest example,
this is Acts 1,
verse 5.
Jesus says,
John baptized with water,
but you will be baptized
with the Holy Spirit
not many days from now.
Okay?
So he's getting
more specific.
He's quoting
what John said,
but then he puts
a time frame on.
He says,
hey,
this is coming
and it's coming
not many days from now.
Well,
what was not many days
from now?
Pentecost,
right?
So if we go to then
where it talks
about Pentecost,
it says,
when the day of Pentecost
had arrived,
Acts chapter 2,
they were all together
in one place.
Suddenly a sound
like that of a violent
rushing wind
came from heaven
and it filled
the whole house
where they were staying.
They saw tongues
like flames of fire
that separated
and rested
on each of them
and then it says,
then they were all
filled
with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak
in different tongues
as the Spirit
enabled them.
Now,
wait a second.
Acts 1 verse 5,
Jesus said,
you will be baptized
with the Holy Spirit.
So you'd think then
that Acts chapter 2,
when that happens,
they would say,
and they were baptized
in the Holy Spirit.
That's not the language
it uses.
Acts chapter 2 verse 4
says they were all
filled with the Holy Spirit.
Are those two different things?
No,
it's the same thing.
They're describing
the same event
with two different words
but it's the same thing.
Okay?
So you can use those
synonymously.
You don't have to seek
like these separate experiences.
Just know God wants
to immerse you
on the outside
and fill you on the inside.
I think he's basically
just saying like,
let's get everything.
You know,
like,
we're going to immerse you
on the outside
and we're going to fill you
on the inside.
That's what the Holy Spirit does.
Okay?
And one of the biggest obstacles
of this
is when people think,
oh,
you know,
there's kind of three views
that either,
well,
that's only at conversion
that you get filled
with the Spirit
and never again.
Which I think is one
of the biggest hindrances
to this.
Others say it's at conversion
but there's subsequent fillings
which is similar
to what the view
I would have
and what I'm teaching
right now.
But the third one
is what I would view
and I believe
is what the Bible teaches
and I'm going to show you
is that it's after conversion
and then there's
multiple subsequent fillings.
Now,
that doesn't mean
you don't have the Holy Spirit
when you get saved.
Romans 8 verse 9 says
anyone who does not
have the Spirit of Christ
does not belong to Him.
So,
let's make this totally clear.
If you don't have the Spirit,
you don't belong to Jesus.
So,
I'm not saying
that when you get saved
you don't have the Spirit.
You most definitely
have the Spirit
because otherwise
you don't belong to Him.
And He said
in 1 Corinthians 12,
3,
no one can say
Jesus is Lord
except by
the Holy Spirit.
Okay?
But,
just because you have the Spirit
doesn't mean
you are filled
or empowered
with the Spirit.
And that is
a subsequent thing
you will see
in multiple instances.
First one,
Acts chapter 2.
The disciples
were Christians.
They were believers.
They were converted
before Pentecost.
This was a subsequent filling,
a subsequent baptism.
Jesus called them His
before
the Antioch
came.
There's multiple instances
of Jesus describing them
in ways that you'd say
that's most definitely
describing Christians.
Second,
Acts chapter 8
verses 4 through 18.
The Samaritans were saved
before they received
the Holy Spirit.
I'll read it.
Now those who were scattered
went about preaching the Word.
This is Acts chapter 8 verse 4.
Now those who were scattered
went about preaching the Word.
Philip went down
to the city of Samaria
and proclaimed to them
the Christ.
And the crowds with one accord
paid attention to what was
being said by Philip
when they heard him
and saw the signs
that he did.
For unclean spirits
cried out with a loud voice,
came out of many
who had them
and many who were paralyzed
or lame were healed.
So there was much joy
in that city.
But there was a man
named Simon
who had previously
practiced magic
in that city
and amazed the people
of Samaria
saying that he himself
was somebody great.
They all paid attention
to him from the least
to the greatest
saying this man
is the power of God
that is called great.
And they paid attention
to him because
for a long time
he had amazed them
with his magic.
Verse 12.
But when they believed
Philip as he preached
good news about
the kingdom of God
in the name of Jesus Christ
they were baptized
both men and women.
Okay?
So pause there.
These guys
were converted.
Right?
They heard the good news.
They heard the gospel
of the kingdom
in the name of Jesus Christ
and then they got baptized.
You only get baptized
if you're a Christian.
Right?
So these guys
are saved.
Even Simon himself
believed
and after being baptized
he continued with Philip
and seeing signs
and great miracles
performed
he was amazed.
Now when the apostles
at Jerusalem
heard that Samaria
had received
the word of God
they sent to them
Peter and John.
So this is clearly
afterwards
because they're
hearing
in another city
with no cars
you know
no mass transportation
that hey
some people in Samaria
got saved.
So let's send
Peter and John
to them
who came down
verse 15
and prayed for them
that they might receive
the Holy Spirit
for he had not yet
fallen on any of them
but they had only
been baptized
in the name
of the Lord Jesus.
Then they laid
their hands on them
and they received
the Holy Spirit.
Read the plain text
of the scripture.
Could it be any more
obvious than that?
Clearly
these people were saved
had not been filled
with the Spirit.
They send Peter and John
they lay hands on them
it says
specifically
the Spirit
had not fallen on them
but then they lay
their hands on them
and then they received
the Holy Spirit.
Clearly
this was a post
salvation
experience.
Clearly.
Third example
Acts chapter 9
the chapter after
speaking of Paul
verse 17
to 19
Paul was converted
before he was filled
with the Holy Spirit.
He's on the road
to Damascus
he gets knocked
off his
whatever
it was a horse
or meal
whatever he's on
he gets knocked down
Jesus
confronts him
and
Paul gets converted
and then in
verse
17
Ananias
departed
and entered
the house
and laying
his hands
on him
he said
brother Saul
the Lord Jesus
who appeared
to you on the road
by which you came
has sent me
so that you may
regain your sight
and
be filled
with the Holy Spirit.
He came to
show him
he needs to get
filled with the Spirit.
This is clearly
after he was converted.
Fourth example
last one
Acts chapter 19
1-7
We got 12
Ephesian men here
and they believed
before the Holy Spirit
came on them.
Verse 1
It happened
that while Apollos
was at Corinth
Paul passed
through the inland
country
and came to Ephesus
There he found
some
disciples
and he said
to them
Did you receive
the Holy Spirit
when you believed?
Funny question
to ask
if you don't
get the Spirit
or
it's a funny
question to ask
if it happens
at the same time
then why would you ask?
Did you receive
the Holy Spirit
when you believed?
If the Holy Spirit
if you're filled
with the Holy Spirit
when you believed
that's a dumb question
okay
Did you receive
the Holy Spirit
when you believed?
And they said
No
We have not
even heard
that there is
the Holy Spirit
and he said
Into what then
were you baptized?
They said
into John's baptism
Paul said
John baptized
with the baptism
of repentance
telling people
to believe
in the one
who has come
after him
that is Jesus
On hearing this
they were baptized
in the name
of the Lord Jesus
okay
so
getting a little
correction there
getting the full story
there
they get baptized
again
but this time
in the name
of the Lord Jesus
then after that
Paul lays his hands
on them
the Holy Spirit
came on them
and they began
speaking in tongues
and prophesying
there are about
twelve men in all
so after they're saved
they
have hands
laid on them
the Holy Spirit
comes on them
and they began
speaking in tongues
and prophesying
Martin Lloyd-Jones
once wrote
There is nothing
I'm convinced
that so quenches
the Spirit
as the teaching
which identifies
the baptism
of the Holy Spirit
with regeneration
or new birth
he says
you got it all
well if you have
got it all
I simply ask
in the name of God
why are you
as you are
if you've got it all
why are you
so unlike
New Testament Christians
you got it all
got it at your conversion
well where is it
I ask
in the same way
I would ask
what I was asking
before
where's the power
we have to think
biblically about this
you have to think
in biblical language
and you're praying
you're trying to get
in faith about this
think in the language
of the Bible
the Bible says
the Holy Spirit
was poured out
think of water
being poured out
from above
the Holy Spirit
is poured out
speaks of the Holy Spirit
falling
so the Holy Spirit
is poured out
the Holy Spirit
falls on us
those then
who the Holy Spirit
falls on
are baptized
so poured out
falling
and then immersed
in the Holy Spirit
while you're being
immersed
you're also
being filled
so it's not just
that you're being
soaked and immersed
on the outside
you're being filled
on the inside
or as it says
in John chapter 7
and 1 Corinthians 12
you're drinking
of the Spirit
so you're drinking
in that which is
falling on you
being poured out
on you
which you're being
baptized into
you're also now
being filled with
and drinking
of the Spirit
and rivers of the Spirit
are flowing
out of your heart
and which you could
say then
is your mouth
speaking
because the mouth
speaks
according to Luke
chapter 6
from the overflow
of your heart
this is why
they would speak
in tongues
and prophesy
spirits being poured
out
spirit is falling
it's hitting them
in such a way
that they are
immersed in it
baptized in it
they are drinking
of the Spirit
and they are filled
with the Spirit
and then out of their heart
rivers of living water
are flowing
which he's speaking
of as the Spirit
which then come
out of your mouth
which is why
they would worship God
and why they would
speak in tongues
and why they would
prophesy
because that's what
happens
when you are filled
with the Spirit
and when you are
filled with the joy
of the Spirit
do you think of it
in that language
again that's all
that's not
none of that's my
language
that's Acts 2
it's Acts 10
that's all those
verses in the Gospels
it's John 7
1 Corinthians 12
Luke 6
this is all Bible
language
it's all Bible
language
build your faith
with it
what is the evidence
of it
how do you know
this is an important
point
Acts 2
33
being therefore
exalted
at the right hand
of God
and having received
from the Father
the promise
of the Holy Spirit
he has poured out
this
that you yourselves
are
seeing
and hearing
okay
this whole thing
of not knowing
whether you've been
filled with the Spirit
it doesn't make
any sense
biblically
when people got
filled with the Spirit
it was definitive
it wasn't a question
it wasn't
I don't know
don't know if I've been
filled
you don't hear any of
that in the Bible
that language
about the Holy Spirit
and infilling
does not exist
in the Bible
if you don't know
you probably haven't
been filled
or you don't understand
what it looks like
to be filled
okay
because
there's something
demonstrable
you see
a difference
you hear
a difference
something is there
to confirm it
now sometimes
it's tongues
doesn't always
have to be tongues
it was at Pentecost
was in multiple
other times
okay
but not everybody
has to speak
in tongues
sometimes it's prophecy
Joel 2
says when
I will pour out
my spirit
and when I pour
out my spirit
one of the things
that will show
is that people
will prophesy
I was telling someone
the other day
when I was a younger
man
I went to
kind of a missions trip
to Juarez
in El Paso
Texas
and we had
an all night
prayer meeting
one night there
and God poured
out his spirit
on us
so that a group
of us
who were only
supposed to
take one shift
ended up
staying up
the whole night
and prophesying
over every group
that came in
I've never
experienced
anything like that
since
all I can say
and I have no
explanation for it
because I'm not
prophetically gifted
even
but I prophesied
over people
all night
that night
and so did
all the other
people in that
group
what was it
it was an outpouring
of the Holy Spirit
it was
it was awesome
it was so fun
what was that
that was
there was evidence
we were crying out
for God to pour
to the spirit
he did
and then we
prophesied
all night
okay
the evidence
is also power
gifts
Luke 24
49
Jesus said
stay in the city
until you are
clothed with power
from on high
he said
I'm sending you
the promise
of my father
upon you
stay there
until you
are clothed
with power
okay
Acts 1 verse 8
you will receive
this power
when the Holy Spirit
has come upon you
you will receive power
stay there
until you are
clothed with power
you might say
well yeah
I have been
filled with the spirit
do you have power
no
you have not been
baptized with the spirit
filled with the spirit
you will notice power
power to do things
you couldn't do before
you will notice
and that can manifest
in multiple ways
okay
one of the
very specific ways
that it manifests
is in boldness
Peter denied Christ
gets filled with the spirit
and then what does he do
gets very bold
like wait
like night and day
like is this the same guy
isn't it the guy
who was denying
at the fire
now this guy's preaching
that we killed
the author of life
that's the same guy
same guy
one was filled
with the spirit
one was not
okay
Acts
uh
Acts 1
it says when he
confronted the people
that day
in Acts 4
it says Peter
filled with the
Holy Spirit
how they know
he's filled with the spirit
because of how bold
he was speaking
in fact everyone
noticed
in verse 13
chapter 4
it says
when they saw
the boldness
of Peter
and John
and perceived
that they were
uneducated
common men
they were astonished
and they recognized
that they had been
with Jesus
Acts 4
31
when they had prayed
the place in which
they were gathered
together was shaken
and they were all
filled with the Holy Spirit
and continued to speak
the word of God
with
boldness
another evidence
that you become
his witnesses
Acts 1
verse 8
when the Holy Spirit
comes on you
you will be my witnesses
you will witness
on behalf of Jesus
you will have boldness
to preach the gospel
you will testify
of the greatness of Jesus
and you won't be afraid
another example
Acts 13
52
the disciples
were filled with joy
and with the Holy Spirit
accompanying the filling
of the Holy Spirit
is joy
talked to a couple
people this week
they said
a few people
this last week
they said
I have to confess
my Christianity
has been one
that has not had joy
said you need to be
filled with the Spirit
when you are filled
with the Spirit
you are filled with joy
Romans 15
13
says
may the God of hope
fill you with all joy
and peace
in believing
so that by the power
of the Holy Spirit
you may abound in hope
one of the ways
this power manifests
in your life
is that you abound
in hope
so much so
that you have joy
that's what abounding
in hope is
abounding in hope
is when God's power
overcomes all the power
of your negativity
and your bad experiences
and all your hurts
and all your life
that's gone wrong
the power of the Holy Spirit
gives you abounding hope
which manifests itself
in joy
and that joy
is power
because
Nehemiah 8.10
says the joy of the Lord
is your strength
lastly
one of the evidences
of being filled with the Spirit
is your countenance changes
when Stephen got filled
with the Spirit
they said his face
looks like the face
of an angel
sometimes you can actually
see a difference in people
you don't look the same
what happened to you
I think I got filled
with the Spirit
you get filled with the Spirit
so many different ways
I've gotten filled with the Spirit
worshipping the Lord
many often times
I've worshipped the Lord
and I get filled up
I feel the Spirit
reading a biography
of D.L. Moody
I got filled with the Spirit
at an all night prayer meeting
and started prophesying
like I said
I've gotten filled
with the Spirit
in my car
driving alone
and started speaking in tongues
for the first time
on a trip to Walmart
right
like that's the first time
I spoke in tongues
there's no place
this is for everybody
he said
this is for
it's for you
it's for your children
for all who are far off
and everyone
whom the Lord our God
calls to himself
Acts chapter 2
this is for everyone
this can happen anywhere
so what do you do
last thing
I'm wrapping this up here
hang with me
what do you do
if you're saying
Josh you're right
I lack power
Josh you're right
I need to be filled
Josh I'm hearing you
I hear what you're saying
I'm convicted
I go everywhere else
but I don't go for the
I don't go to the Holy Spirit
but I want to
I want to show you
what you do
the Bible's very clear
on this
okay
four things
number one
you thirst
you gotta thirst
okay
God wants to fill up
the thirsty people
this is John chapter 7
Jesus stood up
and cried out
if anyone thirsts
let him come to me
and drink
and he says this
as he was speaking
of the spirit
from rivers of living water
would flow out of them
you gotta thirst
you gotta
you gotta say
God I need you
I need you
like this other stuff
isn't enough
I need you God
I'm thirsty
it ain't doing it
it ain't cutting it
I can't keep going
like this
God I'm thirsty
I need you
number two
if you're thirsty
then you do what you do
when you're thirsty
you ask for drink
you ask
okay
when he speaks
in Luke chapter 11
he says
I tell you
ask
and it'll be given to you
seek
and you will find
knock
and it'll be open to you
for everyone who asks
receives
the one who seeks
finds
the one who knocks
will be open
what father
on father's day
listen
what father among you
if his son asks for a fish
will instead of a fish
give him a servant
a serpent
or if he asks for an egg
will give him a scorpion
if you then
who are evil
know how to give good gifts
to your children
how much more
will the heavenly father
give the holy spirit
to those who ask
why did he throw that in there
he wasn't talking about
the holy spirit
I love that he did
because do you ever go to God
thinking oh he's not going
to give me a spirit
I don't deserve a spirit
I did too many things wrong
this that or the other
I'm not good enough
I'm not like so and so
I'm not a charismatic personality
you come up with all the excuses
why he's not going to give you
the spirit
and then Luke 11 13 says
if you know how to give good gifts
to your children
how much you know
if you read your father's day
card from someone
and they thanked you
and you think
oh yeah
I give good gifts
to my kids
if you give good gifts
to your kids
how much more
will the heavenly father
give the holy spirit
to those who ask him
you gotta ask
when you're in that place
do you ask
number three
you gotta believe
when you ask
Galatians 3 2-6
says let me ask you this
did you receive the spirit
by works of the law
or by hearing with faith
are you so foolish
having begun by the spirit
are you now being perfected
by the flesh
did you suffer so many things
in vain
if indeed it was in vain
does he who supplies
the spirit
to you
and works miracles
among you
do so by works of the law
or
by hearing with faith
you gotta combine
your asking
with faith
otherwise you're a double man
and you shouldn't think
you receive anything
from the Lord
says in James 1
gotta ask and believe
that God wants to fill you
and that he will
Galatians 3
13-14
Christ redeemed us
from the curse of the law
by becoming a curse for us
for it is written
cursed is everyone
who is hanged on a tree
so that in Christ Jesus
the blessing of Abraham
might come to the Gentiles
so that we might receive
the promised spirit
through
faith
yes
and lastly
last point of how we can
receive the spirit
Acts 5-32
he gave the Holy Spirit
the Holy Spirit
whom God has given
to those who obey him
okay
now you're saying
well that contradicts
what you said before
I thought you said
I don't have to be perfect
you don't
because then nobody
would get the Holy Spirit
but he's saying
he gives the Holy Spirit
to those who obey him
who are not someone
who are hiding in sin
and trying to make excuses
for their sin
there's someone who's
legitimately not making
a habit of sin
they're not continuing in sin
when they're knowledgeable
of their sin
they repent
there are people
marked by obedience
there's no such thing
as a Christian
who's perfect
but there is Christians
who are marked by obedience
and Christians who are
playing games
and listen
it's not just the spirit
he's called the Holy Spirit
and he gives the Holy Spirit
to those who obey
because he is holy
and he will not share
his glory with another
lastly
laying hands on one another
is another
I forgot about that one
laying hands
is another real practical
one you see in the Bible
can you stand with me
for a second here
in closing
I'd like to pray
I know this was long
I apologize
but we need the Holy Spirit
we need the Holy Spirit
okay
we have tasks
that are too large for us
one of them is this church plant
let me just give you
a really encouraging word
you and I cannot do this
can't do it
we can't pull it off
we can start off
thinking like we can
making sure all the tasks
are taken care of
the communion table's ready
and someone leads us
in worship
and make sure someone's
you know
leading in the Lord's table
and preaching every week
and that we have a building
to meet in
and maybe we get a better building
and we can make sure
all that stuff
but listen
you can't pull this off
and I can't pull it off either
there's only one person
who builds this church
ultimately
that's Jesus
and he's the one who baptizes
with the Spirit
and so I would like to
close this in prayer
and I believe
God wants to fill us
on this Father's Day
why not go to
the Father
who gives the Holy Spirit
how much more
will he give the Holy Spirit
to those who ask
and let's ask for him
to pour out his Spirit upon us
can we do that right now
in closing
through the Holy Spirit