How TO BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT?

Dr. Bill Bright | 14 Minute Read

Every day can be an exciting adventure for the Christian who knows the reality of being filled with the Holy Spirit and who lives constantly, moment by moment, under His gracious direction.

THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF PEOPLE:

1. Natural Person (Self-Directed Life)

(Someone who has not received Christ.)

Self is on the throne, directing decisions and actions (represented by the dots), often resulting in frustration. Jesus is outside the life.

“A natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised” (1 Corinthians 2:14).

2. Spiritual Person (Christ-Directed Life)

(One who is directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit.)

Jesus is in the life and on the throne. Self is yielding to Jesus. The person sees Jesus' influence and direction in their life.

“He who is spiritual appraises all things...We have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:15).

3. Carnal Person (Self-Directed Life)

(One who has received Christ, but who lives in defeat because he is trying to live the Christian life in his own strength.)

Jesus is in the life but not on the throne. Self is on the throne, directing decisions and actions (represented by the dots), often resulting in frustration.

“And I brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to carnal men, as to babes in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still carnal. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshy, and are you not walking like mere men?” (1 Corinthians 3:1-3)

THE PROMISE & THE PROBLEM:

God has promised and provided for us an abundant and fruitful Christian life.

Jesus said, “I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22, 23).

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

Why is it that most Christians are not experiencing the abundant life?

Carnal Christians cannot experience the abundant and fruitful Christian life. The carnal person trusts in his own efforts to live the Christian life:

1. He is either uninformed about, or has forgotten, God's love, forgiveness, and power (Romans 5:8-10; Hebrews 10:1-25; 1 John 1; 2:1-3; 2 Peter 1:9; Acts 1:8).

2. He has an up-and-down spiritual experience.

3. He cannot understand himself - he wants to do what is right, but cannot.

4. He fails to draw upon the power of the Holy Spirit to live the Christian life.(1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Romans 7:15-24; 8:7; Galatians 5:16-18)

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