How to Have a Spirit-Filled Life | Part 2

What is our only hope in these evil days listen to Adrian Rogers.

Is there anybody who would deny that these are evil days where up against the organized, mobilized, demonized forces of now there is a will there has never been a greater date a greater age, a greater opportunity to preach the gospel of Jesus. And right now and are people who are looking waiting and wondering thought. Can we find a way. Is there an answer and there is an answer and the answer is in Christ all we need a generation of spirit filled people to love one of today's message acclaimed pastor and Bible teacher Adrian Rogers began to teach us how to have a spirit filled life being filled with the Holy Spirit is a command from God, to obey, as well as a blessing to enjoy. It is also our obligation as followers of Jesus because on our own. We don't have the strength to do all the Bible commands.

If you want to truly worship God and if you want victory in spiritual warfare. Pay close attention today. Not what are the requirements of being filled with the Holy Spirit. If you have your Bible turn to Ephesians chapter 5. Look at verse 18. As Adrian Rogers delivers the conclusion of this powerful message, how to have a spirit filled life. Now before we get a passage I want you to use your imagination what may save you a ridiculous and silly so but I want you to imagine a man who buys an automobile. But there's one thing to understand about he doesn't understand that it has an engine and so everywhere he goes he has to push and rather than it carrying him. He is pushing it is very proud of very grateful to have it. Most of the time but sometimes he wishes he didn't have it all and then somebody says to him you know there's something you don't understand about this automobile and they show him a thing called an ignition key and said that right in their and turn and he turns it and he hears this surge of power. This is what is left.

That's the motor now put it in drive and push that panel down there and when it does it way surge of power.

He says why this is one this is why somebody tell me this soon frame when God saves you, God gave you a faith with an engine and and there are many people who are pushing their faith rather than letting their faith carry them and say the salvation that is meant to be a blessing has almost become a burden to them and their grateful to say, but secretly is a business, not a difficult thing being a Christian.

Well today I want us to discover the ignition key to this thing called Christianity. Look, if you will, in verse 18 and be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess but be filled with the spirit you see that may not drunk with wine, wherein is excess but be filled with the spirit master personal question is not polite to ask personal questions. Most of the time I for example how much money do you make, how much did that dress cost you must post as those kind of questions but I will ask you a personal question, are you being filled with the spirit right now. Are you being filled with the spirit right now and I did not ask, does the Holy Spirit indwell you.

He indwells all questions I asked do you believe in the fullness of the spirit. I Dennis I even asked have you been filled with the spirit. I didn't ask that the question that I ask you is a very personal question. Are you being filled with the Holy Spirit right now that's that's a personal question is to see our friend Steve Holford said we ought to be consciously filled. We ought to be continuously filled.

We are to be conspicuously filled with the Holy Spirit actually Ephesians chapter 5 verse 18, literally says be being fair. I want to talk to about the fullness of the spirit and I hope that you can understand that being saved is not a matter what you do for God, but it is matter what God does through you by the fullness of the Holy Spirit be Seo with the spirit power outlined today's good be very, very simple, and the first thing I want to give you and I want to think about all the reasons for being spirit filled, and under the heading of the reasons for being spirit filled. I want to give you three ways why you ought to be spirit filled the first reason is your obedience. God has commanded this verse.

Ephesians chapter 5 in verse 18 is not a suggestion, it is not a request. It is a command of Almighty God. Now look, if you will, at verse very carefully. We feel that's what we call the imperative mood when something is imperative. That means it is necessary I might save you is imperative that you do this by this is not optional equipment. This is not a suggestion, it is a command from God and the Christian who is not spirit filled is living in rebellion against God is a second reason not only our obedience but our obligations and thought about the obligations that he owes as a Christian, thought about what the Bible commands you to do.

How are you going to do what the Bible commands you to do. You don't have the strength to do what the Bible commands you to do.

For example, we are in chapter 5, verse 18. Let's just continue to read look in verse 19 and that speaks of all worship life verse 18 says be filled the spirit and then verse 19 says, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things on the God and the father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and our worship life we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Why, because God is a spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

How important it is that I be filled.

The spirit because all is vain, unless the spirit of the holy one comes down.

I've told you many many times.

I can preach truth, but only the Holy Spirit can impart and I am so dependent upon him, and we all are when we're witnessing on the street when we're witnessing in the business whether we're witnessing in the classroom, whether we're witnessing in the Lord from the pulpit are from the choir all that we might be filled with the spirit of God. I give you two reasons to be spirit filled one is our obedience. Number two is obligations to give you the third reason our opportunities.

Is there anybody who would deny that these are evil days is antibody night if that was true. In Paul's day, how much more through it.

It is in our day. We are up against the organize mobilize demonized forces of hell, and it comes in every way.

Sometimes it's a frontal attack. Sometimes it is very subtle but there is a war and if you don't know there's a war raging today friend you are deaf, dumb and blind to spiritual things. Now there is a will, but there has never been a greater day, a greater age, a greater opportunity to preach the gospel of Jesus than right now there is more hunger for the gospel now than ever before. There is more openness to a gospel than ever before. You say Pastor Rogers I thought you said things were getting bad they are, what you say is the world getting better or worse. Yes, as the night grows darker the Saints grow brighter and the hungers are more intense and there are people who are looking and waiting and wondering can we find a way. Is there an answer and there is an answer and the answer is in Christ all we need a generation of spirit filled people because of the opportunities today. We had better not let this opportunity slip through our hands like sand falling to the ground. I hurtled up to Charlie Howard so years ago in Jacksonville Florida something that stabbed me in my heart. He was a great Bible teacher, Dr. Charlie Howard said I'd rather be Peter, James and John asleep in the garden of Gethsemane than to be a Christian asleep in these pregnant times in which we live, old friend. We need to wake up, you say is there chance to win this world to Jesus Christ. If there were only 5000 if we were all the Christians there were just 5000 right here and each one of us got spirit filled, and became a witness and suppose we want each of us three people this coming year next year to be 20,000, and that rights my arithmetic right 20,000 just three years but now I suppose that we also taught them to win souls to be spirit filled and not only were we makers of disciples, but were makers of disciple makers, and so the next year each one of them went story and teaches them to do the same thing they do know by that simple progression spirit filled Christians is 23 year did you know that in 20 years.

Every soul on planet Earth would be saying all of us would know the Lord Jesus Christ. That's an incredible thing. I mean in such a short time. If we would only Christians that ever lived right just write it only winning three and teaching our converts to win three year BC Christianity has not failed adjust him and try it a we we have not. I went when all sales go back and read the directions and the key to all of this is to be spirit filled so that we might reproduce ourselves why and what are the reasons for being spirit filled number one obedience number two obligation number three opportunity are now let's talk a little bit about the requirements for being spirit. Here's the second point, the requirements how are we to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Now this is a command and everything that God requires of us. He teaches us what to do now.

He says be filled with the spirit do not think of the Holy Spirit as a substance.

The Holy Spirit is a person don't refer to the Holy Spirit as it referred the Holy Spirit as him. Jesus said when he is calm. He will teach you all things you and say about me today. It wore a maroon tile who you say he did. He did this or heated that don't depersonalize the Holy Spirit don't think being filled with the spirit as if you are some kind of hassle and the Holy Spirit is some kind of a liquid. I don't think of your being a battery in the Holy Spirit, an electrical charge know the spirit is a person and you are a temple, let me be a key verse here. First grant is chapter 6 and verse 19 lot know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. Now to be filled with the Holy Spirit number one means a complete commitment to him. That is, you have opened up the door of the temple you have welcome him in and you have given him the key to every closet and every room every so often will have guest in our home and will say my house is your house. Make yourself at home. Here's a key to the front door. Here's a key to the second car. If you have one. There is a refrigerator here. The linens, here's your room. You got to run the house. Make yourself at home you ever done something like that. You know, and then you suppose you were to come home some evening and your houseguest is not in the bedroom that you assigned to him, but he's in your bedroom.

He sitting there at your rolldown desk. He's taken a key and unlocked the desk and rolled it back and is going through your income tax returns and he's reading your old love letters that you hope your wife and and and and reading your direct easement, may I help you. Are you looking for something management for this love letters are who I knew I really thought you made more money than that and I bought you you you feel the back of your neck getting hot in and you say will not allow to say this, but that's really none of your business, what you doing that because my personal papers and he said will I don't understand you. You said this house with my house but you told me to make myself at home is just what I'm doing. Say I did mean that I did mean that I want. If we done the same thing Holy Spirit. I want to cannot some people today is at Holy Spirit. My body is your temple come in and bless me and filled me and take control of the question is have you given him the key that every clause I mean is that any area in your life that is off balance to the Holy Spirit and you given them the key to your business life. Have you given him the key to your date life. Have you given him the Kenya social life. Have you given him the key to your financial life given to Jesus Christ every key now. There must be a complete commitment to the Holy Spirit is a person and be filled Holy Spirit just simply means.

Lord, I am committed to you how many times we want to be filled Holy Spirit for the wrong mode of fighting proud self. You will be filled Holy Spirit to be superior Christian by ambitious self says I'm filled Holy Spirit.

I'll be a great Bible teacher, a great singer great preacher great evangelist, but God is not interested in that the Holy Spirit has one ministry and that is to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ with the burning ambition of your heart and in your life is to exalt the Lord Jesus and you have given him the key to every room in your field Holy Spirit. When I listen not only must they be complete commitment, but there must be a continual control. A continual control. This verse of Scripture literally says be be filled with thought about it.

Why did he say be not drunk with wine. When success but be filled with the spirit. Why did he say don't steal, but be filled with the spirit, are why didn't he say don't commit adultery but be filled with despair. Why did he take the particular sin of drunkenness and use that in contrast, well, I've already answered by the question.

He does it. By contrast, as I've said, being filled with the spirit and being drunk with wine are apathetic on the day of Pentecost. The apostles were accused of being drunk with wine and Peter said will not drunk with wine, as you suppose, that is, they were welcome Holy Spirit. So God is using the Holy Spirit's fullness in comparison to drunkenness, not only in contrast but in comparison, not only in contrast but in comparison because being filled Holy Spirit is a lot like being drunk. Have you ever seen a man drunk under control of another substance. Everything about them is change the way he talks the way walks the way he thinks.

Sometimes he may be given to incredible generosity by inviting house to bring.

Sometimes he may be very bellicose.

I can whip any man in the house.

Sometimes he is tongue is very loose. He will say things up will tell his boss off you just all kinds of things he's under control. He's he's dominated by the influence of intoxication. Now when a man is filled Holy Spirit. He is controlled by the Holy Spirit is walk. His talk is generosity is courage. It's all change by the Holy Spirit of God, but I here's the question how does a man get drunk when he drinks, but the question is how does he stay drunk. He has to keep drinking in that right. He has to key drinking. That's the reason he says don't be drunk with wine, with me being filled now to get it. Don't be drunk with wine but me being fair and that's a problem with many folks who happen spirit but they sobered up. We need to continually be dependent upon the Holy Spirit. There is a complete commitment, a continual control where your same moment by moment. Lord, I'm yours.

And then thirdly, there is a conscious claiming. Actually, you must just claim this fullness.

Just like you receive the Lord Jesus by faith as you receive the Lord Jesus. So walk in him. How did you receive him by faith.

How do you walk by faith.

You just simply say Lord I thank you. I open myself up and I thank you Lord that right now you are killing me and I claim my faith.

I don't for a feeling I am claiming the feeling now do that and you will be filled with the Holy Spirit of God. Now here's the last thing very quickly.

I've talked to you about the reasons I've talked to you about the requirements. Let me talk to you about the results. This passage of Scripture gives three basic results of being filled Holy Spirit and they show in all of our relationships of life is very easy for you to tell whether or not you are being filled Holy Spirit of God, because you see it in your relationship number one to God. Number two, the circumstances, and number three other people now want you look first of all in your relationship to God. There will be a spirit of adoration. Look, if you will, in verse 19 verse 18. He says be filled in verse 19 he says, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord all I can tell when I'm spirit to I just constantly want to be praising God constantly singing singing to the Lord and say my Jesus, I love the I'm part mine for the all the follies of sin.

I redesign there is a burning passion of blazing emotional love in your heart for the Lord Jesus Christ and you cannot help but praise him. I wonder how people consider the worship service.

Never say never praise never say a man never smile.

Neverland never weep with these people out to what's wrong with them from. They are not filled with the Holy Spirit of God. And so in your life and your relationship to God.

There's a spirit of adoration and then look if you will in the next verse in your relationship, the circumstances, there's a spirit of appreciation giving thanks always for all things unto God and the father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, a spirit filled person is humbly grateful. A flash filled person is grumbly, hateful, best just a different friend when you are filled Holy Spirit. You are just simply thanking God for what he is doing. That's one of the reasons that your praising him is because you are thanking him for what he is doing in your heart and in your life. It doesn't say for some things he says for all things he doesn't say sometimes he says all times giving thanks and God always for all things that I here's the third Mark, here's the third Mark, first of all, your relationship with God is a spirit of adoration in your relationship to circumstances. There's a spirit of appreciation and then in your relationship to other people. Listen carefully. There is a spirit of accommodation look in verse 21 submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God would life be wonderful if we just learn how to do that if I could just submit to you, and you could just submit to me know submission submission S that's not for women. That's for Christians every day. Everyplace way to learn to submit submitting one to another in the fear of the Lord have you learned something of the spirit of submission. Let me take something very quickly you have about all of God that he can trust you with you teach a child to drive.

What's the first thing you show that John the brakes, not the accelerator and the child is not interested in the brakes.

You just say hand me the keys back in that right if he does know how to make it stop done will learn how to make a stop. You don't want.

Teach them how to make it go right.

The key is the fullness of the spirit. But the fullness of the spirit is only to those who are under the control of the spirit and submitted to the purpose of the spirit submission.

If you're not interested in the brakes, God's not going show you the accelerator, but old, my precious friend, if you will learn how to walk with God and faith. If you feel good. He will be filling you and your relationship to God that this be the spirit of adoration in your relationship to circumstances no matter what happens, how bad it is how dark it is just me saying thank you Lord, thank and when you meet your brothers and sisters in Christ, you are going to be say how can I serve you. How can I love you.

How can I accommodate myself to you when this be just, like heaven on earth if we did that denigrate God with the spirit of accommodation toward others every day in every place we learn to submit and serve well in love with finding is one of our greatest honors to come alongside, you would pray with you and for you. Is there something on your heart today go to our website homepage@lwf.org/radio and scroll down to our prayer wall you find the option to either submit a prayer request or pray for others.

This resource is one of the favorite things that we have in the ministry that keep the community praying continually for one another's needs.

We can't wait to hear from you again find the prayer wall@lwf.org/radio now if you like to order a copy of today's message how to have a spirit filled life. Call us at 1877 love God. Now this message is also part of the insightful back to the basics series for the complete collection all 18 powerful messages. You can call that number to order 1877 love God or go online to LWF.org/radio or write us at love worth finding box 38, 600 Memphis, TN 38183. Many of the messages in this series are also featured in our new resource what every Christian ought to know utilize this study tool it LWF.org/radio was Adrian Rogers said we need a generation of spirit filled people as the night grows darker the Saints grow brighter and the hunger intensifies. There are people who are looking waiting one is there an answer. The answer is in Christ.

We hope will tune in next time for more real truth never changes. Right on love worth. We love hearing from listeners around the country and around the world listen to this beautiful testimony from a list. My father was a Baptist preacher for over 60 years and he loved hearing Dr. Adrian Rogers preaching when he passed. We were given his collection of Dr. Adrian Rogers books as we read them we are so aware these messages are timeless and as needed today as when they were first preached bullets are honor to hear how these timeless messages and the resources created have been passed from one generation to the next. I'd love worth finding. We believe the true personal discipleship is more important now than ever.

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