The Fullness of the Holy Spirit

Every Tuesday our staff spends extended time in prayer together.  This week we focused on being "full of the Holy Spirit" as we recognize more than anything else we need a greater manifestation of the Holy Spirit in our lives, our families, our church, our ministries, and our community.  Below is the prayer guide we used.

“The work of God is not by might of men or by the power of men but by His Spirit. The philosophies of men fail, but the Word of God in the demonstration of the Spirit prevails.  The resources of the church are in the “supply of the Spirit” [Phil. 1:19 KJV].  It is for the church to explore the resources of the Spirit; the resources of the world are futile.” {Samuel Chadwick}

Obtaining the Fullness of the Holy Spirit [Ephesians 5:18b]

REPENT

If we want to know the presence of the Holy Spirit, we must live a life of repentance.  As soon as conviction comes, repent. Turn from sin and find forgiveness and cleansing in the blood of Christ.

As soon as people cry out for a filling of the Spirit, there will be immediate conviction of sin.  People will be convicted of breaking God’s laws and also of spiritual apathy that has left them weak and powerless.

Several godly individuals have used questions like the ones below to help identify areas of repentance:

Questions to “examine” ourselves:

• Am I slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?


• Am I enjoying prayer and Bible study?


• Do I pray about the money I spend?


• Do I insist on doing anything about which my conscience is uneasy?


• How do I spend my spare time?


• Am I defeated in any part of my life?


• Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?


• Do I grumble and complain?


• Have you exposed yourself to any questionable material (entertainment choices, time with opposite sex other than your spouse, etc.)?


• Are you holding anything back from God that you need to surrender?


• Is there anything dampening your zeal for Christ?

BELIEVE

We must believe in the truth of God’s Word to understand that apart from Him we can do nothing. We must believe that He has promised us Himself in the form of the Holy Spirit so that we can experience Him and His power in our lives.

DESPERATELY ASK

We have not because we ask not (James 4:2).  If God were to respond in proportion to your asking, would He sense your desperate need for the Holy Spirit?  Would He conclude that you could not live without His life in you? Would He be convinced by your persistence in prayer that you want to live a Spirit-filled life (Luke 11:1-13)?