Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

"BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT"

1. The Promise:
   1. Joel 2:28; Isa. 32:15-20
   2. John 14:26; 15:26; Acts 2:33
2. The promise secured:
   1. Our Lord's sacrifice on the cross is vouch- safement of the filling of the Holy Ghost - Gal. 3:13, 14
   2. The ascension of our Lord is still another assurance of this heavenly gift - John 16:7, 8; 12, 13
3. The promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit experienced:
   1. On the day of Pentecost - Acts 2:1-17
   2. During the early history of the church of God - Acts 6:3; 8:14-19; 9:17; 10:44; 11:24; 13:9; 19:1- 6

1. That is a command:
   1. The filling with the Spirit of God is imperative.
   2. Not to be filled is sin.
2. The filling of God's Spirit is not, as some would have us think, regeneration:
   1. John 15:3; Acts 8:12-16
   2. Acts 19:1-6; John 14:16, 17
3. It simply means that God's Spirit will fill and control our lives with His presence:
   1. Rom. 8:9-11; John 14:17
   2. 1 Cor. 6:19; 2 Cor. 6:16
4. There is still another wonderful truth implied in the commandment, "be ye filled with the Spirit":
   1. The filling is the work of God, and not our own effort. We yield, and He fills!
   2. This is wonderful - all we need to do is to so relate ourselves to God that He can fill us with this heavenly gift.

1. It is a free gift, without money and without price: Isa. 55:1, 2
2. It cannot be earned, nor do we deserve it, yet it is conditional:
3. We have already shown in our other studies on the Holy Spirit that there are certain basic conditions laid down in God's word that must be met before we can receive the gift of the Holy Spirit:
   1. We must be emptied from all things of which the Holy Ghost cannot approve.
   2. That means that all evil habits and all sinful inclinations will have to come under the axe; they will have to be crucified - Eph. 4:21, 22; Rom. 6:1-11
   3. We must claim the gift of the Holy Spirit through faith, child-like faith - Heb. 11:1-6
   4. We must walk in the Spirit; that is we must obey Him - Acts 1:13, 14; 5:32

1. It brings the presence of Christ into our lives: Matt. 28:20; Rom. 15:33; John 14:26
2. It will create in us the likeness of the Lord Jesus Christ!
   1. What a blessing to be more like the Master! Gal. 1:15
   2. By beholding, we become changed into His likeness - 2 Cor. 3:18; Rom. 8:29; 1 John 3:3; 1 Pet. 2:9- 11
   3. It will bring into our lives the power of Jesus Christ -
      1. Power to live a victorious life.
      2. Power to witness effectively for God.
      3. Power to say "no" to sin - Acts 1:8; Rom. 15:13, 19; Acts 6:8; 10:38; 1 Cor. 2:4; John 14:12