THE PREREQUISITE TO FULLNESS OF GOD'S SPIRIT


A. WHY ARE SOME PROFESSED CHRISTIANS BLESSED WITH THE FULLNESS OF GOD'S SPIRIT, AND OTHERS ARE DESTITUTE OF THE BLESSING?
  1. One answer must be that the filling of the Spirit of God is, like all other blessings, conditional:
    1. If we fail to meet the conditions we forfeit the blessing.
    2. This fact cannot be overemphasized by the minister of the gospel.
  2. Cleansing is one of the divine prerequisites before we can claim the gift of the Holy Spirit:
B. LET US CONSIDER CLEANSING, METHOD OF CLEANSING, AND THE MEASURE OF CLEANSING
  1. Cleansing:
    1. ". . . let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." - 2 Cor. 7:1
    2. All of us have been defiled by sin and sinful habits - Isa. 64:6
    3. Our Lord gives a graphic picture of the defilement of sin in Matt. 23:27
    4. Paul mentions the soul defiling forces - Gal. 5:19-21
    5. The Spirit of God will not and cannot dwell with the uncleanness of sin. So long as we cherish one sin in our heart, we cannot receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
    6. The Bible makes it clear that emptying of self and sin is a primary condition for receiving the Holy Ghost.
  2. Method of Cleansing:
    1. Sincere confession of sin is the first step in the preparation for receiving the Holy Spirit - 1 John 1:9
    2. Such a confession cannot make any reservations whatever - 2 Sam. 12:13
    3. Confession by Achan - Josh. 7:20; and by Saul were different - 1 Sam. 15:15. This is important to remember all the way!
    4. Uncleanness must be removed. It is not enough for us to confess sin and sinful habits; we must remove them out of our lives with great speed.
      1. ". . . put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth." - Col. 3:8
      2. ". . . be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord" - Isa. 52:11
      3. Jacob recognized the importance of removing the unclean things from his life - Gen. 35:2
      4. Remove the stumbling blocks - Isa. 57:14
      5. Making of some reparations are often indicated - Luke 19:8
C. THE MEASURE AND THE MEANS OF CLEANSING
  1. The measure of cleansing:
    1. God demands a cleansing that reaches from the innermost desire to the utmost deed.
    2. That goes from the core to the circumference.
    3. This cleansing includes -
      1. Body - Compare Ex. 19:10 with 2 Cor. 7:1; 1 Cor. 3:16, 17; 6:19, 20
      2. Soul - Ps. 35:13
      3. Spirit - Ps. 51:10
  2. The God chosen means for the cleansing:
    1. No human device can remove the stain of sin from our lives - Jer. 2:22
    2. There is an open fountain, provided by God, against all uncleanness - Zech. 13:1
    3. The precious blood of Jesus Christ is the God chosen means to cleanse us from all unrighteousness - 1 John 1:7
    4. That blood must be applied through faith in the all-sufficiency of the atonement made for us on Calvary.
    5. Heeding the Word of truth is still another God provided means of purifying our soul - 1 Pet. 1:22
    6. Finally, it is of the utmost importance that we surrender our whole life to God, moment by moment, lay it upon God's altar - Rom. 12:1


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