Nuggets 84: Be Filled with the Spirit

  • B. Shelburne
  • Oct 28, 2007
  • Series: Nuggets

It was my junior year in college.  The course was "Life of Christ 1."  The regular teacher was wonderful, but he had to be away for a week and this gave me a chance to associate with another legend, R.C. Bell, who came in as substitute.

That week we came to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7.  Brother Bell said, "This sermon is about a different kind of life lived on the kingdom level.  The standard taught by Jesus here is not possible by ordinary human ability.  This kingdom life can only be lived by the help of the Holy Spirit and the fruit he bears in our lives."

If you want to please Jesus but are disappointed with yourself, maybe this is what's missing.  We received the Holy Spirit as a gift at baptism.  But we are still commanded as Christians to "be filled with the Spirit," a choice we must continually make.  How do we obey this command?  How do we become more filled with the Spirit, more full of his help? 

1. By being careful to repent whenever we need to.  By asking God to convict us of our sins.  We are the "temple" in which the Holy spirit lives.  If we want the Spirit to live in us, we should honor Him by making his temple as clean and inviting as possible.  When you are about to receive a beloved guest, you do that for their room in your house.  Scripture says intentional sin in our life "grieves" the Spirit.

2. By regular time with God's word and prayer.  God's word is inspired by his Spirit.  It is the "sword" the Spirit uses to work in our lives.  If we neglect or take lightly God's word, there is no way the Spirit is going to do much in us.

3. By asking for the Spirit in prayer.  How often have you done that?  Jesus says you can.

4. By associating with other Christians who are filled with the Spirit.  We all know people who make us better just from being with them.  Jesus says the influence of the Spirit flows from such people like living water for the thirsty.

Matthew chapters 5-7;  Galatians 5:19-23;  Romans 8:13;  Acts 2:38;  5:32;  Ephesians 5:18;   1 Corinthians 6:19,20;  Ephesians 4:29-31;  6:17;  Luke 11:13;  John 7:37-39

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Copyright 2007 by G.B. Shelburne, III.  May be freely reproduced or forwarded for non-commercial purposes provided content is unchanged and this copyright notice is included.  These shepherding messages are sent to members and friends of New Beginnings Church (www.nbchurch.com), to students and alumni of South Houston Bible Institute (www.shbi.org), and to other interested persons.

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