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“If I were Satan and my ultimate goal was to thwart God’s Kingdom and purposes, one of my main strategies would be to get churchgoers to ignore the Holy Spirit. The degree to which this has happened…is directly connected to the dissatisfaction most of us feel with and in the church.” Francis Chan Forgotten God
“We may as well face it: the whole level of spirituality among us is low. We have measured ourselves by ourselves until the incentive to seek higher plateaus in the things of the Spirit is all but gone… (We) have imitated the world, sought popular favor, manufactured delights to substitute for the joy of the Lord and produced a cheap and synthetic power to substitute for the power of the Holy Ghost.” A.W. Tozer Of God and Men (As quoted in Forgotten God)
“Even our church growth can happen without Him. Let’s be honest: If you combine a charismatic speaker, a talented worship band, and some hip, creative events, people will attend your church. Yet this does not mean that the Holy Spirit of God is actively working and moving in the lives of the people who are coming. It simply means that you have created a space that is appealing enough to draw people in for an hour or two on Sunday.” Francis Chan Forgotten God
1 Corinthians 2:3 – 5 1 Corinthians 4:20
“Despite the intimidating power of the massive Roman Empire and the religious leaders, the disciples became men who changed the very history of the world. The Spirit of God brings the most amazing power that can possibly be released upon the world. It was true in the days of the early Church and it is still true today. God wants you to walk in the same power and victory as those world-shaking disciples of two thousand years ago.” Bill Bright His Intimate Presence: Experiencing the Transforming Power of the Holy Spirit
How to Know Whether You Are • Filled by the Holy Spirit • - Do you feel the joy and vitality of serving God? • - Do you desire to spend time with God through prayer and His inspired Word? • - Do your relationships increasingly honor and glorify Christ? • - Are you regularly, faithfully sharing your faith in Christ with non-believers?
- Are you growing in faith and in the knowledge of God daily? • - Is God leading you out into regular, productive ministry? • - Is there evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in your life? • - Are you using your spiritual gifts to serve the body of Christ? • Bill Bright – His Intimate Presence
5 Obstacles to Being Filled with the Holy Spirit • 1. Prideful Self-Reliance: The most basic of sins; it confronts each of us. Our pride places our ego in the center and on the throne of our lives. Do you seek to manipulate people, situations, or even God to achieve your objectives? Do you trust in your own strength, eloquence, cleverness, or ability to meet your needs? This “self-love”, this “me-first” attitude opposes God and His work in our lives.
5 Obstacles to Being Filled with the Holy Spirit • 2. Worldliness: We often become so intrigued with the false treasures of this world that we lose sight of the blessings God has for us. Do we hold on to all that we have and hope for; or do we sign over every present and future material, intellectual, physical, and spiritual possession to Him? Do we seek comfort and significance from things we purchase and possess? Is there something you haven’t surrendered to Him? Marriage, job security, health, kids, finances…
5 Obstacles to Being Filled with the Holy Spirit • 3. The Approval of Others: Undue concern for popular opinion can stand in the way of all that God would like to do in your life. Do you crave attention, recognition, compliments, and significance from those around you? Are you seeking the approval of others or the “Audience of One”?
5 Obstacles to Being Filled with the Holy Spirit • 4. Lack of Faith: Some believers cannot summon the will to place themselves completely in God’s hands. Do you feel anxious? Are you finding peace in the midst of the trials of life? Are you taking steps of courage that force you to rely on God? How could it be that He has yet to earn our complete loving faith? He is all-powerful and all-knowing. He is in control and He loves you.
5 Obstacles to Being Filled with the Holy Spirit 5. Unconfessed Sin: Although Jesus has provided forgiveness for all sins – past, present, and future – we rob ourselves of intimacy with God through our disobedience. The prophet Isaiah offers a description of this regular event in the lives of all believers: “There is a problem – your sins have cut you off from God. Because of your sin, He has turned away and will not listen anymore.” (Isaiah 59:2) We need to confess and turn from our sins, in thought, word and deed.
5 Obstacles to Being Filled with the Holy Spirit • Prideful Self-Reliance • Worldliness • The Approval of Others • Lack of Faith • Unconfessed Sin • Bill Bright – His Intimate Presence
Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “If you are thirsty, come to Me! If you believe in Me, come and drink! For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water will flow out from within.” (When He said “living water,” He was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in Him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into His glory.) - John 7:37-39
Being Filled with the Holy Spirit • Desire to be controlled and empowered by the Holy Spirit. • Confess all disobedience to God • Surrender control of every area of your life to our Lord Jesus Christ. • Ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit. • Expect the Holy Spirit to work in and through you regardless of how you feel.
“Lord, for the future of the church, for the future of the gospel, for Thy way, and also for my own life, I offer myself without condition, without reservation, into Thy hands. Lord, I delight to offer myself unto Thee and am willing to let Thee have Thy full way through me.” Watchman Nee The Release of the Spirit
