1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance
It matters to God, what you are filled with.
God has given us all so much! If you are still young, thank God, for you won’t always have your health, strength, and strong mind. Give God thanks, for all you still have. Then, you won’t need to be filled with your own fleshly ways. Behavior is an indication or measure of what you are filled with. Even some unbelievers often can show a thankful heart, of what they are given. A backslider often displays what they are filled with, that is not of God, just as a true saint lives that, from which God has filled them with.
If it doesn’t end well, ..it matters not that before, it ‘was’ spiritually well. We are still in an unfinished race. God is faithful to give us that which we need, to finish all that He has directed us in. God can and will (if you allow Him to), help you to learn to finish, …most importantly this spiritual race. You might have started, any one of many projects, but it is that which is truly finished, which is of value. Spiritual benefit only comes when you truly finish..an ending well, …of that which you spiritually strive for.
The Holy Ghost is a completer that makes us perfect. Want to be spiritually perfected? Finish the race God has given you to “run!” There are “some” things you can expect from a spirit filled life. It will be only that which is biblically founded through God’s direction. You can expect some things of your behavior, illustrating, your being filled with the Holy Spirit. That expectation will cover a “series” of things from a Holy Spirit filled life.
II Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. The Lord ‘will’ establish and settle you. This is of course to only those, who are committed to God filling them with Himself. What are you filled with? It is reasonable to expect, to have some spiritual “abilities.” It is not about getting “something strange” as speaking in a “jibber jabber” (unknown tongues), and then to have behavior that is not at all holy. We should expect, with the Holy Ghost, to stay in this race, maintaining the experience God gave us. If you can’t point to something that is a clear sin, yet you strive for obedience in your experience, don’t listen to the enemy’s accusations! Saints notoriously have tender hearts, who can often ‘feel’ discouraged. But God is faithful to establish (verse 3) and keep you from evil.
Philippians 4:12,13 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. You should have an expectation to ‘abound’ and to also see humbly your need. The Holy Spirit has a “spring,” to help you rebound from the disappointments. You should then have that ability to rebound. If you are weak, God doesn’t condemn you, but will give you the ability to overcome in spite of it.
Acts 5:27-29
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27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, 28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. These were people that before the infilling of God’s Spirit, could not have had its capability. Bro Goble shared of a woman (at a funeral so. CA COG), whose husband claiming Salvation had not been filled with the Holy Spirit and ended up leaving her and the children. It was essentially “tied” to his not being filled with God’s Spirit, to faithfully embrace his natural responsibilities. This woman’s “saintly advice” then, was for all that are saved, to ensure that they become ‘fully consecrated’ with the infilling of the Holy Ghost, early in their experience. It will give you more holy expectations. Regardless of the diverse circumstance and requirements, being consecrated fully with God’s Spirit, will give you the ability to stand for truth.
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Galatians 2:11-14 11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. 13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. 14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? Peter had become “carried away” with the dissensions, in regard to respecter’s of persons. Paul here shares how he needed to correct him. Verse 14 Here it speaks of Peter’s behavior regarding what was told in Acts 15th chapter. Peter was ultimately able to see his error and need to be humbly corrected, through a more consecrated filling of God’s spirit.
Acts 15: 6-8 8 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. 7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; Peter had not previously “lost” the Holy Ghost, when handling things in a more carnal manner, but rather through the Holy Ghost, later, was made to see and correct his mistake. The Holy Ghost made him aware of his behavior of error, to then humble and correct his mental attitude. Verse 7,,8 Peter ask them not to question what the Holy Ghost helps in souls to consecrate, (even to change) for God’s perfect will.
Acts 1:4-8 4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Many are not easily “shown”, but God will give all saved souls the power to implement the gospel, regardless of your limitations, physical or otherwise. God can help even the very weakest saint, for all real strength comes from Him (through the Holy Ghost). What are you filled with? God’s plan is of course known to start with mankind first fully repenting, then going on to complete consecration through the Holy Spirit. The saints of old recognized (as they should have), their weaknesses of the flesh. This enabled them to fully see the need for a full infilling of the Holy Ghost, to empower them to overcome all the fleshliness which would hinder the Spirit’s manifestations in their lives. We today still need and should have, the same expectations
I Corinthians 7th chapter deals in everyday “matters” through the Spirit. There are many, many, needed instructions here for marriage, espousals (engagements), in how to carry ‘that’ out in our faith for our everyday life. Often problems in our everyday life, is like a “tsunami.” God will be faithful to carry you, through the Holy Spirit. In the case of our young sister from So CA, who is now deceased, …she had lived a joyful life. Yet she was taken early. It is sometimes so hard to understand. Why them? God though, knows all things, and knows best. He will give us a ‘vision’ to handle things like that. God in one scripture opened one’s eyes to the spiritual chariots ‘needed,’ when the enemy seemed to have the advantage. II Kings 6:17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. Our physical eyes cannot see the help God is surrounding us with. We need a “vision” to see what the fleshly eyes cannot see. What are you filled with? If with the Spirit, you should “see” the spiritual expectations.
Acts 5:1-11 1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. Here there was a group of believers, of which also two with them, had started out well. But those two, Ananias and Sapphira, did not “end well.” They obviously did not have a true “vision” of the church, which all God’s children must have to keep true spiritual expectations, and not “fleshly” ones. Bro Goble share how often he is confounded regarding the pettiness to divide “amongst” the Church of God congregations. The world needs to be able to “see” the true Church of God in its holiness. When they do, they will be spoiled for anything else.
Acts 7:54-56 54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. No matter the persecutions, you will be determined to please God, when filled with His Spirit. All “else” will be set aside. God will show you more and more ways to please Him. As Bro Mc Cranie in the revival exhorted us, “How will it be ‘this’ year? You can refuse to continue with the “status quo.” It won’t change, unless you do the things you need to do, differently than before. What Spirit are you filled with?
Acts 2nd chapter. Consider what happened in the upper room. You can be full of many things, fear, anger, love, etc. If you consider what it means being “full of”, that position leaves no room for anything else. An ‘illustration’ is of an elephant being in your path. You don’t move until ‘he’ moves! Bro Goble shared about his own human fear, until the elephant completely left the path he was in. Bro Goble then exhorted, “Being ‘filled’ with the Holy Ghost, means there’s no room, but to only please God. Thinking of nothing else, but to please Him, making sure God is pleased with me. It’s not about a popular belief that during the church service, you have an “electrical charge,” then return to your sinful habits. To be filled with the Holy Ghost, fully occupies your everyday thinking and behaving. What are you filled with?
A backslider in heart is filled with his own ways. Even saints, being human, need to examine their hearts to stay consecrated, or if not already, then become Holy Ghost consecrated. If fully consecrated, there will be recognition, of an ongoing presence of the Holy Ghost, to be and stay filled with. Again, what are you filled with?
Description: A gospel message to examine what your heart is filled with. Scriptures that locate whether or not, your personal ways and spirit are in control, or that of the Holy Ghost. An exhortation to guide you, to that of truly Holy Spirit filled life.
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