THE FILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT PART 4 OF 6

Text- Ephesians 5:15-21

INTRODUCTION

Last Wednesday night we began a study on the Holy Spirit's ministry within the church and looked at what the Bible says concerning the Baptism of the Holy Spirit which.

In that lesson we learned that through the power of the Holy Spirit, the church, received on the day of Pentecost the ability and understanding needed to carry out the great commission.

Tonight I would like us to continue with our study of the Holy Spirit's ministry within the church and look at what the Bible says about the "Filling of the Holy Spirit."

While the church as a body received the baptism of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, as individual members we still need to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

While the early church received the baptism of the Holy Spirit it is evident that there were some members who were filled with the Holy Spirit and some who were not.

Acts 6:1-3, "Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. [2] And the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. [3]  "But select from among you, brethren, seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task."

The fact that the apostles wanted the church to choose men who were filled with the Holy Spirit shows us that there were apparently some among the members of the church that were filled with the Holy Spirit and some who were not, even though the church had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

As we study this topic, I would like us to understand three things concerning the filling of the Holy Spirit.