Empowered by the Holy Spirit: Baptism and Filling

 

Summary

In our journey through the profound doctrines of the Bible, we have reached a pivotal point in understanding the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. We began by acknowledging the limitations of human understanding and the necessity of divine revelation, which God has graciously provided through nature, history, His Son, and the Scriptures. Our exploration has taken us through the nature of God, the fall of man, and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Now, we delve into the work of the Holy Spirit, particularly focusing on the baptism and filling of the Spirit.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not merely an intellectual concept but a profound experiential reality. It is the initial experience of being immersed into the body of Christ, marked by a deep awareness of God's presence and a transformative encounter with His glory. This baptism is not limited to the apostles or the early church but is the birthright of every believer. It brings a heightened consciousness of the reality of God and a fervent love for Jesus Christ, which transcends mere doctrinal knowledge.

The filling of the Holy Spirit, on the other hand, is an ongoing experience that empowers believers for service and witness. It is essential for effective ministry and a vibrant Christian life. This filling results in a life characterized by praise, thanksgiving, and a deep sense of worship. It is a command for all Christians to seek this filling continually, as it is vital for both personal spiritual growth and corporate revival.

In essence, the baptism and filling of the Holy Spirit are central to living a dynamic Christian life. They are not just theological concepts but transformative experiences that bring the reality of God into our daily lives. As we seek these experiences, we are called to be witnesses of Christ, empowered by the Spirit to live lives that reflect His glory and love.

Key Takeaways:

- The baptism of the Holy Spirit is an experiential reality that immerses believers into the body of Christ, bringing a profound awareness of God's presence and a transformative encounter with His glory. This experience is the birthright of every Christian, not limited to the early church. [27:48]

- The filling of the Holy Spirit is essential for effective service and witness. It empowers believers with authority and boldness, enabling them to testify to the truth of Christ with power and conviction. This filling is a continual experience that should be sought by all believers. [36:35]

- A true Christian life is marked by the fruit of the Spirit, which is cultivated through the filling of the Holy Spirit. This filling results in a life of praise, thanksgiving, and worship, reflecting the character of Christ in our daily interactions. [40:06]

- Revival is characterized by a collective outpouring of the Holy Spirit, resulting in a widespread awakening to the reality of God. While we can experience the Spirit's filling individually, corporate revival is a powerful move of God that transforms communities and churches. [42:14]

- Understanding and experiencing the baptism and filling of the Holy Spirit are crucial for spiritual growth and effective intercession. As we grasp these truths, we are called to pray for revival and seek a deeper relationship with God through His Spirit. [43:33]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:13] - Introduction to the Series
- [00:57] - The Necessity of Divine Revelation
- [01:28] - Authority of the Bible
- [02:03] - Doctrine of God
- [02:57] - The Fall and Sin
- [04:02] - Doctrine of Salvation
- [05:22] - Role of the Holy Spirit
- [07:14] - Importance of Sanctification
- [09:19] - Relationship with the Holy Spirit
- [10:20] - Baptism of the Holy Spirit
- [12:48] - Experiential Knowledge
- [17:47] - Misunderstandings of Baptism
- [22:27] - Consciousness of the Spirit
- [27:48] - The Promise for All Believers
- [33:25] - Filling of the Holy Spirit
- [36:35] - Empowerment for Service
- [40:06] - Christian Life and Worship
- [42:14] - Revival and the Spirit's Outpouring
- [43:33] - Call to Prayer and Revival

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Acts 1:5 - "For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence."
2. 1 Corinthians 12:13 - "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."
3. Ephesians 5:18 - "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit."

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Acts 1:5 reveal about the promise of the Holy Spirit and its timing in relation to the disciples? How does this relate to the concept of baptism with the Holy Spirit? [14:11]

2. In 1 Corinthians 12:13, what does Paul mean by being baptized into one body by one Spirit? How does this relate to the unity of believers? [14:59]

3. According to Ephesians 5:18, what is the command given to believers regarding the Holy Spirit, and how is it contrasted with being drunk with wine? [35:34]

4. How does the sermon describe the difference between the baptism and the filling of the Holy Spirit? [41:57]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the promise of the Holy Spirit in Acts 1:5 connect to the empowerment of the disciples for their ministry? What implications does this have for believers today? [14:11]

2. In what ways does the baptism of the Holy Spirit, as described in 1 Corinthians 12:13, contribute to the unity and diversity within the body of Christ? [14:59]

3. What does Ephesians 5:18 suggest about the ongoing nature of being filled with the Spirit, and how might this influence a believer's daily life and worship? [35:34]

4. The sermon mentions that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is an experiential reality. How does this experience differ from mere intellectual understanding of doctrine? [12:00]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt particularly aware of God's presence. How did this experience impact your faith and actions? How can you seek more of these experiences? [27:48]

2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of being filled with the Spirit for effective service. What specific steps can you take to seek this filling in your own life? [36:35]

3. Consider the role of the Holy Spirit in your personal spiritual growth. How can you cultivate a deeper relationship with the Spirit to enhance your daily walk with Christ? [43:33]

4. How can you actively participate in fostering unity within your church community, recognizing the diverse gifts and roles within the body of Christ? [14:59]

5. The sermon calls for a life marked by praise, thanksgiving, and worship. What practical changes can you make in your daily routine to incorporate more of these elements? [40:06]

6. Revival is described as a collective outpouring of the Holy Spirit. How can you contribute to a spirit of revival in your church or community? What specific actions can you take? [42:14]

7. Identify one area in your life where you feel the need for spiritual renewal. What steps can you take this week to invite the Holy Spirit's transformative work in that area? [43:33]

Devotional

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Quotes

"Now the difficulties I feel generally arise because on all sides we are all a little bit too prone to be dogmatic. The confusion certainly arises because of that. You will find men equally saintly looking at these things and they don't say quite the same thing. That is inevitable with certain aspects of truth." [00:10:20]

"May I say again as we resume our work for another session, my whole object in going through these biblical doctrines is not simply to enlarge my own knowledge or yours primarily, certainly not in an intellectual sense. I am concerned about these things for one reason only, and that is that a deep and a real experience of the power of Salvation is dependent upon our knowledge of these doctrines." [00:11:52]

"Now therefore let us start like this: where are these terms used and how are they used and by whom are they used? Well, this term is used, you remember, by John the Baptist. You will find it, for instance, in Luke 3:16 and its parallels. The people had listened to the preaching of John at the Jordan, and they, we are told, mused in their hearts of John whether he were the Christ or not." [00:12:48]

"Well, when we were dealing with this doctrine of the Holy Spirit right at the very beginning, I emphasized that what happened on the day of Pentecost was primarily that the Christian church was instituted and proclaimed as instituted as the body of Christ. You had Believers, you had regenerate persons, yes, but they only became the one body of Christ on this occasion, baptized into the one body by the Holy Spirit by the one spirit." [00:22:27]

"Now this surely is something concerning which we should pause for a moment and meditate very deeply and very seriously upon it. This is an experience, as I understand this teaching, which is the birthright of every Christian. The promise, as the Apostle is unto you and not only unto you but to your children and to as many as are far off." [00:27:48]

"Now my friends, there is no essential difference between the church today and the early Christian church, and you can't read your New Testament about the early church without seeing that these were spiritual people, people with a spiritual reality. They were not formal church members; there was a Living spirit, and they knew in whom they had believed and they rejoiced in these things." [00:33:25]

"Well, clearly there are two things that inhere it which obviously go with this term. It's clear that it is something which happens which gives Authority and power and ability for service and for witness. You see, the apostles were given it there at the very beginning, and as the result of it was that they began to speak with other tongues and Peter, filled with the spirit, preached his sermon." [00:36:35]

"That is why we are commanded, you see, to be filled with the spirit. It's a command to every single Christian: be not drunk with wine wherein is excess but be filled with the spirit. We are commanded, we are exalted to be filled with the spirit, and that is why we are commanded this, in order that our Graces May grow, in order that the fruit of the spirit May develop in us and may be evident to all." [00:40:06]

"What's a Revival? Well, a Revival is God pouring out his spirit. It's this tremendous filling that happens to numbers of people at the same time. You needn't wait for a Revival to get it. We are commanded to seek it and to have it and indeed to make sure that it's there one by one, but at times of Revival, God, as it were, fills a number of people together." [00:42:14]

"And it is only as you and I as individuals have the knowledge of the reality of these things and know their power and their glory and are concerned about being always filled with the spirit that we shall not only thank God but pray to him for Revival and ask him to come upon the church again as he has come in ages past." [00:43:33]

"May he open our eyes by his Spirit to the truth of the baptism of the spirit and the infilling of the Holy Spirit." [00:43:44]

"Now it seems to me that a definition, therefore, which I would put to your consideration is something like this: the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the initial experience of just that. Yes, you can have many further experiences of that, but the first experience of this, I would suggest, is the baptism of the Holy Spirit." [00:30:39]

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Transcript
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