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All Nations Apostolic Tabernacle

A SPIRIT FILLED LIFEWednesday Night Bible Study

June 19, 2013Jennifer E. Faulknor

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Acts 2:1-41 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The Holy Spirit

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Speaking in tongues is the first evidence that you have been baptized in the Holy Ghost.

The Holy Spirit is Christ indwelling in you. The Bible declares that when the Holy Spirit

comes upon you, “Ye shall receive POWER” from on high (Acts 1:8, Luke 24:49)

Power is the mark of a born again Christian who is Holy Ghost filled.

You will need a reservoir of Power to live for God, to live above sin, and to be a true witness on a daily basis.

The Holy Spirit

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Scripture Text1 Corinthians 2:10-13 (King James Version)“ But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

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Scripture Text1 Corinthians 2:10-13 - Amplified Bible (AMP)“Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the [Holy] Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God [the [a]divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man’s scrutiny]. 11 For what person perceives (knows and understands) what passes through a man’s thoughts except the man’s own spirit within him? Just so no one discerns (comes to know and comprehend) the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12Now we have not received the spirit [that belongs to] the world, but the [Holy] Spirit Who is from God, [given to us] that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God. 13 And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language [to those who possess the Holy Spirit].

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1. a. To put into b. To supply or provide to the fullest extent2. a. To satiate b. To satisfy or meet; fulfill: fill the requirements. c. To complete (something) by insertion or addition: fill in the blanks.3. a. To possess and discharge the duties of; hold: fill a post.4. a. To occupy the whole of; pervade:5. a. To spread throughout b. To engage or occupy completely;

Definition of “Filled”

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Being Spirit-filled on a continual basis speaks of the degree of the relationship we have with the Lord.

Just receiving the Holy Ghost is not enough, what do we choose to do with this salvation experience is another issue.

Say for example, you received an inheritance, the property and money of an estate became yours. You could either squander the blessing or use it to accomplish more. In the same way, when we receive the Spirit, we receive an eternal inheritance from God, we have the choice, to allow God’s Spirit to us or not use us.

What Does Spirit –Filled Means?

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The idea of empowered, directed, permeation,and domination is envisioned.

To be Spirit-filled is to, “allow the dominating influence of the Holy Spirit to permeate every part of your life.”

After the infilling of the Holy Ghost with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues, the spirit enables us to live a victorious Christian life of righteousness, peace and joy (Romans 14:17).

What Does Spirit –Filled Means?

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Being Spirit-filled is an exercise of faith that enables Christian to continue to strengthen their relationship with God, experience God's love, power and forgiveness.

Acts 4:31 “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”.

Scripture Text

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In the book of Acts, Barnabas was described as “…a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.” (Acts 11:24).

Being “full of the Holy Spirit” is treated as a measurable and visible description of his character.

We see the same thing in Acts 6:4 where the Church is told to “pick out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom.” 

A spirit-filled life is about measurable character and life choices. One should be able to see evidence that testifies to the Spirit-filled character of an individual or a community of believers. 

A Spirit-Filled Life is Visible

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A spirit-filled life is one directed by God, by which He lives in and through us in the power of the Holy Spirit.

The scripture in Gal 5:16-25; 6:8 speaks of:

A Spirit-Filled Life Is Led By God

Walking by the Spirit

Being Led by the Spirit

Bearing the fruits

of the Spirit

Keeping in line

with the Spirit

Sowing the Spirit

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This emphasis reminds us that everything in the believer’s life is affected by the role of the Holy Spirit. All of these expressions (from Galatians 5 & 6) also fit under the New Testament command: “Be Filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).

But how does one obey this command? What does the Spirit-filled life look like? Is there a way to identify the Spirit-filled

person?

A Spirit-Filled Life Is Led By God

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Ephesians 5:18 “Be not drunk with wine; but be filled with the spirit”.

The contrast with getting drunk: The person who decides to get drunk chooses to allow the alcohol to be the controlling factor in every function of his life (speech, vision, bodily coordination and even the mind are affected when one is drunk).

Contrast of A Drunkard

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In contrast, the Spirit-filled person chooses to allow the Spirit of God to be the controlling influence in all parts of his life (speech, vision, body, mind).

“A person, and in this case, a church community, whose life is so totally given over to the Spirit that the life and deeds of the Spirit are as obvious in their case as the effects of too much wine are obvious in the other” (John Stott).

Contrast of A Drunkard

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Galatians 5:16 states: “This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” 

The question we must answer is “Who or what will we allow to be in control?”

A life which is controlled by the flesh, is a life that is directed by self and for self. It is life driven by selfish ambition and self-absorption. It is life where I demand to be in control. And, since I am in control – I feel easily threatened and I must fight, scheme, manipulate and worry. I do these things to fight for my control (compare the contrast in James 3:13-17).

The Spirit vs. Flesh

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The apostle Paul uses a harvest metaphor to describe our response to the flesh and to the Spirit. Choose the soil that you wish to cultivate and then do your sowing. But expect to reap a harvest from your choice.

“Don’t be misled—You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit” (Gal 6:7-8).

The Spirit vs. Flesh

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Sowing to the flesh is a choice to cultivate and plant thoughts, attitudes and behaviors in keeping with the things described in Galatians 5:15;19-20,24-25.

Sowing to the Spirit is a choice to allow the control of the Holy Spirit to be the permeating and dominating reality in your life. It involves giving yourself – your thoughts, attitudes and actions to producing the fruit of the Spirit:

The Spirit vs. Flesh

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Attributes Of A Spirit-Filled Person

Gal 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, longsuffering(or patience), gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (or self-control)”

Gal 5:19-21: love, joy, peace, longsuffering(or patience), gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (or self-control)”

A Spirit-filled person is:

Full of joy Grateful Humble Submissive

A Spirit-filled person: Manifests the fruits of

the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23)

A Spirit-filled person is not:

Grouchy or grumpyUngrateful or discontentRebellious or arrogant

A Spirit-filled person does not:

Manifests the works of the flesh (Gal 5:19-21)

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Faith (i.e., trust in God and in His promises) enables a Christian to live a Spirit-filled life.

Present every area of your life to God (Romans 12:1, 2).

Your life will demonstrate more and more of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23) and will be more and more conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18).

Your prayer life and study of God's Word will become more meaningful.

How to Walk in the Spirit

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You will be guided by wisdom into all truth (John 16:13).

You will experience His power in witnessing (Acts 1:8).

You will be prepared for spiritual conflict against the world (1 John 2:15-17); against the flesh (Galatians 5:16-17); and against Satan (1 Peter 5:7-9; Ephesians 6:10-13).

You will experience His power to resist temptation and sin (1 Corinthians 10:13; Philippians 4:13; Ephesians 1:19-23; 2 Timothy 1:7; Romans 6:1-16).

How to Walk in the Spirit

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Come Holy Spirit I need You Holy Spirit, Rest On Me Holy Spirit, Move me now Sweet Holy Spirit, Sweet Heavenly Dove

Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me

Inspirational Songs