FILLED

           In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13). When we accept Jesus, confess our sins and ask for forgiveness we start to have the Holy Spirit in our lives. Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit.

In Luke 1:41 Elizabeth the mother of John heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Just by hearing Mary’s voice and the spirit revealing to Elizabeth that Mary is the mother of the Lord, filled the baby with the Holy Spirit in her womb. Luke 1:15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. Luke 1:67 Zacharias the father of John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit and began to prophesy. Verse 76, and you child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways. He is speaking about John his son who will prepare the way for Jesus and his ministry. John the Baptist in Matthew 3:11 “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance; but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

Jesus is of the Spirit, Matthew 1:18 “She was found with child of the Holy Spirit.” In Verse 20, the Angel tells Joseph, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 3:16-17 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Baptized by John, Jesus at this moment was filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1) and was led into the wilderness. For forty days he was tempted by Satan and filled with the Spirit he was able to conquer the devil’s temptations. Jesus then begins his ministry in Galilee and performed 40 miracles, from conquering death, raising the dead, turning water into wine, cast out unclean spirits, healed lepers, calmed the storm, healed the paralyzed, open the eyes of the blind etc. Jesus promises the Holy Spirit in John 7: 37-39 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

On the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, with one accord in one place, suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Peter and the Apostles became bold and filled with the Holy Spirit and started to do miracles. Once they received the power of the Holy Spirit, they became witnesses to Jesus in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth as just said in Acts 1:8 by Jesus. When filled with the Spirit it gave the Apostles power over the devil.

There was a man named Ananias and his wife who sold a possession and kept back part of the proceeds. The Holy Spirit revealed the lie to Peter. Acts 5:3-5 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. Peter than three hours later questions Ananias’s wife, who does not know her husband died. She lies to Peter and the Holy Spirit immediately causes her to die. Do not be filled by Satan’s lies, as it will only lead to spiritual/physical death.

Stephen was chosen as one of the seven to serve in Acts 6. He was a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit. He did great wonders and signs among the people. A group from a Synagogue convinced people to lie and say that he spoke blasphemous words against Moses and God. They arrested him and had false witnesses testify against him. Stephen was described in the Bible as having a face of an angel. Stephen addresses the court and the people in Acts 7 and his speech of truth and God’s word causes guilt, “cut to the heart and they gnashed at him with their teeth.” Israel continues to resist the Holy Spirit and persecute prophets. In Verse 55, But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” This angered the people further, they cast him out and stoned him to death. Even in this time of persecution, Stephen was calling on God, “to receive my spirit,” and “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.”

A man named Saul (Acts 9) continued to persecute the Lord’s disciples and was on his way to Damascus to continue his treacherous plan. He got permission from the high priests, who authorized him to capture and persecute Christians. During his journey a light from heaven circled him, he fell to the ground. The Lord speaks to Saul and asks why are you harassing me? Saul asks, “Who are you, Lord?” I am Jesus, whom you are harassing. The people traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice also but saw no one. Saul becomes blind, the other people guide him and he does not eat or drink for three days. God speaks to a prophet names Ananias to go search for the man from Tarsus names Saul. He was a little hesitant hearing all the horrible stories about persecution by this man. Verse 17-20, Ananias went to the house. He placed his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord sent me-Jesus, who appeared to you on the way as you were coming here. He sent me so that you could see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Instantly, flakes fell from Saul’s eyes and he could see again. He got up and was baptized. After eating, he regained his strength. He stayed with the disciples in Damascus for several days. Right away, he began to preach about Jesus in the synagogues. “He is God’s Son,” he declared. In Verse 15-16, God says he has chosen Saul to carry his name before Gentiles, kings and Israelites. He wants to show him how much he must suffer for the sake of God’s name. The Church continued to grow in numbers.

Acts 10:38 You know about Jesus of Nazareth, whom God anointed with the Holy Spirit and endowed with power. Jesus traveled around doing good and healing everyone oppressed by the devil because God was with him. There is a significant difference when it comes to having the Holy Spirit as a believer versus FILLED with the Holy Spirit. God wants us to be FILLED with the Holy Spirit. To be filled with the Spirit is to have the power/knowledge/boldness/vision/prophecy to defeat Satan. There is a war coming between the forces of Good and Evil. As Elijah reigned down fire from Heaven so will the Two Witnesses at the end of days, “Anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire (Revelations 11:4-6).” Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. In Revelations 13:7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome.

A war means there are two sides that will battle and only victor is possible. We are not to sit idle by during this time if we are alive, as we will be at war with Beast. But we know the outcome: The Beast will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen and faithful (Revelations 17:14).” People forget that Jesus states that his Kingdom is not of this earth. He has Legions of Angels at his command and that he is THE KING. A Kingdom is not a religious institution, it is a country/region/territory that ruled by a King. Jesus is returning to make WAR (will discuss in a few weeks) and defeat the forces of Satan and the unbelievers. We are his saints and must be FILLED with the Holy Spirit and be prepared for the Tribulation and the return of Jesus.