Be Continuously Filled with the Holy Spirit January 20, 2019

Vol. 19, No. 3

WORSHIP
SUGGESTED WORSHIP SONGS:
Every Praise, Forever, Everlasting God, Holy Spirit Rain Down, Made Me Glad, Spirit of the Living God

WELCOME
Do you want to be a “world-changer” follower of Christ? What do you think would be necessary for us to do or
have so that we can truly change the world where God’s will is done as it is being done in heaven?

WORD
ACTS 2:1–4
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise
like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them tongues as
of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and
began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

Three factors that enable us to be effective witnesses: we usual confusion we see is the comparison to the
must have a real Encounter with Jesus, we must filling/indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Greek word
Embrace the Mission, and we must have the baptizo has two meanings, literally, to submerge; and
Empowerment of the Holy Spirit. figuratively, to be identified with.
This was demonstrated in the lives of the early In Acts 2:4 it says they were “all filled with the Holy
Christians: they had none of the things which we think Spirit”, it means that the filling of the Holy Spirit has
are so essential for success today — buildings, money, given them the power to witness and serve (Acts 1:8).
influence, and status — yet they won multitudes to As promised by Jesus (John 14:15-17), the Holy
Christ and were effective witnesses, all because they Spirit is able to make believers put to heart and to live
were empowered by the Spirit; and that’s why we have out all that was taught and said by Jesus, making
the faith that we embrace today. them experience the very presence of God.
Today’s focus is on the importance of being filled with Notice, we are not exhorted to be baptized in the Spirit,
the Holy Spirit and His Power. We look into three for this is something God does once and for all when we
realities that will define the importance of the Holy trust His Son. The command to us is clear, we must be
Spirit’s role and how we are to be filled by Him. filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). One bitter pill
we all must admit is that for the most part, we take for
PROMISE OF GOD granted this promise of God. When we are filled, we are
In Luke 24:48–49 Jesus addresses the Holy Spirit as empowered!
“the promise of My Father”. It is therefore freely given and
is not “from us” by the things we are able to say or do. POWER
The Holy Spirit is not a force, nor a ghost, nor some We are often told that the Christian life is not HARD,
element that we take apart from God. He is the 3rd but it is IMPOSSIBLE, apart from the supernatural
person of the Trinity. We do not have three gods, but power of God to live it. As an effect of being filled, we
one GOD in three distinct persons – the Father, the are given the power necessary to live victoriously, and
Son, and the Holy Spirit. When Jesus gave the fulfill the mission God had set out for each one of us.
promise, He used the words ANOTHER HELPER Even before the Pentecost in Acts 2, the Holy Spirit has
(John 14:6). This presents to us the idea of having a already been active during Creation (Genesis 1:1-2) in
HELPER of the EXACT SAME KIND! selected people like the Judges Othniel, Gideon
As a promise, Acts 1:5 presents to us this idea: (Judges 6:34) prophets and kings, like Samuel and
David (1 Samuel 16:13), and in the ministry of Jesus
“You will be baptized with the Holy Spirit…”
(Luke 1:30–37; 4:1,14). Now, there would be two
The Greek word, BAPTIZO, means to be identified, changes: The Spirit would dwell in all people who believe
immersed, and has the notion of becoming ONE. The in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and His
WORD (cont’d)
presence will be permanent, not temporary PURPOSE
(John 14:16–17). We must be filled by the Holy Spirit. To be filled, we
When 120 believers were all filled with the Spirit, have to surrender to Him. We must repent of any sin
they began praising God, not preaching the gospel, and that is why we are told to do this act of surrender
and in the different languages of those present at the moment by moment. As we follow the leading and the
Pentecost (Acts 2:6,8). power of the Holy Spirit, our capacity grows. We are
We can note that Acts 2 talks about the “debut” of the able to pray for others, care for those who are in need,
Holy Spirit — how it was introduced to the world and and share the gospel to those who we know need to
how signs and wonders have happened to get our see the light.
attention. In the time of Acts, it was essential because As we walk in the Spirit, we have the power to be more
the works of the apostles and their teachings needed Christlike, the power over temptations
signs and wonders to authenticate them. The Holy (Galatians 5:16), are enabled to exhibit the fruit of the
Spirit today is still manifested through signs and Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and bring people to Jesus.
wonders, but more often it is through the changed We must therefore be CONTINUOUSLY controlled by
lives of people (Galatians 5 — fruit of the Spirit). the Holy Spirit and live the kind of life that reflect
Just hearing about the wonders of the POWER of the God’s Promise, Power, and Purpose in order for us to
Holy Spirit is not enough. We need to do something be Christlike and a faithful witness for Jesus!
about it!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(Leaders: Please choose questions that are appropriate to the level of spiritual maturity of your members)
1. Self-Check. Have you ever been filled with the Holy Spirit? What were you able to do for the Lord with that filling?
2. Setting It Right. The Spirit needs a holy dwelling place. Are there any sins that are blocking His full control over
your heart?
3. Living It Out. What will you commit to do as you are filled by the Holy Spirit this week? Give specific action points.

WORKS
PRAY CARE SHARE IN ACTION WEEKLY PRAYER POINTS
The purpose for the Holy Spirit’s coming is for all followers of I. Thanksgiving
Christ to be empowered to be His witnesses everywhere • Worship God for who He is, what He has done, and
(Acts 1:8). This week: what He will do in our lives
• Be sure that you are filled with the Holy Spirit II. Country and the World
• Upright and moral governance of Public Servants
• Ask for the Spirit’s guidance as you think of people
and a God-centered Philippines
to Pray, Care and Share with.
• Repentance and Salvation
Go in the power of the Holy Spirit and share the gospel in
III. Church
your Jerusalem (family), Judea (co-workers), Samaria (e.g.
people that society rejects or overlooks), and “the ends of the • That CCF Members would honor and love God and
earth”(people from other cultures). Be ready to share Christ make disciples
in the power of the Holy Spirit, in every opportunity God • Elders, Pastors, Leaders, and Families
opens for you in the next few days! • Ministries and Churches worldwide
IV. CCF Facilities
• Worship and Training Center
• Prayer Mountain
V. Personal Concerns
• Deeper intimate relationship with God
• Righteous living
• Salvation of family and friends