"If You're Not Winning Souls For Christ...You Don't Work For God...You're SELF-EMPLOYED!" BUT LISTEN TO WHAT BEING FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST WILL DO!

“Those that are full of the Holy Ghost are fit for any thing, either to act for Christ or to suffer for Him.” - Matthew Henry

“To be filled with anything is a phrase denoting that all the faculties are pervaded by it, engaged in it, or under its influence.” - Barnes Notes

“To be filled with the Holy Ghost implies having the soul influenced in all its powers, with the illuminating strength, and sanctifying energy of the Spirit.” – Adam Clarke

 “To be filled implies that the human spirit within was overwhelmed by, or immersed in, the Holy Spirit.” – People’s New Testament 

“The phrase ‘full of the Holy Ghost’ expresses a continuing character, quality, or condition within believers that results from experiencing the Spirit’s fullness and that enables them to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit, and to speak under prophetic inspiration as the Spirit gives utterance.” –   The Full Life Study Bible 

When you hears statements like; “And the Holy Ghost was upon him”; "he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost”; "as they were moved by the Holy Ghost”; "being full of the Holy Ghost”; "they were all filled with the Holy Ghost”; "be filled with the Spirit” and “in the Spirit on the Lord’s day”; what comes to mind? What do you understand about the infilling of the Holy Spirit or being moved and influenced by the Spirit? 

In Luke 2:25, the Scriptures tell us about Simeon; “And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.” What does it mean when it says that the “Holy Ghost was upon him?” The Bible simply indicates that he was overshadowed by the Spirit and resultantly was enabled to speak things above himself. In other words, a spirit of prophecy came upon him giving him supernatural knowledge. 

In Luke 1:41, we read of Elisabeth; “And it came to pass, that when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.” Here we find that she was given supernatural knowledge to know what had happened to Mary. A knowledge of the character of the child that Mary was carrying was given to her. She understood that her Messiah was at hand. 

In Luke 1:15, we read of John the Baptist; “For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.” From the instant of his birth, he was being set apart, divinely designed, appointed, and qualified for the office of the forerunner of the Son of God by the needful communications of the Holy Ghost.  

In Luke 1:67, we read of John’s father Zechariah; “And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied.” Bring divinely inspired by a spirit of prophecy, he brought forth an utterance. 

In Luke 4:1, we read of the Lord Jesus; “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordon, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.” He was anointed afresh; endowed with supernatural powers and a greater measure of the gifts, graces, and comforts of the Holy Spirit than ever before. Being in that spiritual state, He was easily carried about or thrust forth by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 

In Acts 2:4, we read of the 120 believers on the day of Pentecost; “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” These believers were entirely under the Holy Spirit’s influence and power. They were filled to overflowing with His graces and endued with miraculous powers for the furtherance of the Gospel. They were supernaturally enabled to witness for Christ – to bring great conviction upon the lost in relation to sin, righteousness, and judgment as well as to turn them from sin to salvation. 

In Acts 4:8, we find Peter; “filled with the Holy Ghost.” He was given undaunted courage and resolution, presence of mind, and freedom of speech in order to proclaim the truth to the religious leaders. 

In Acts 6:3, we find one of the qualifications for ministry was being; “full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom.” The seven men selected for this task had to be of a distinguished piety; having the grace of God in their life whereby it was evident that their mind was in Christ and their life indicated the fruit of the Spirit. 

In Acts 7:55, we find Stephen; “being full of the Holy Ghost” having a holy boldness, courage, and fearlessness of mind to face his opposers, see into Heaven, and experience death by stoning. 

In Ephesians 5:18, we find the Apostle exhorting the believers to; “be filled with the Spirit.” In other words, they were to labor in prayer for a plentiful measure of the graces of the Spirit that would fill their soul with great joy, strength, and courage.

In 2 Peter 1:21, we read about how the authors of the books of the Bible were “moved by the Holy Ghost.” This meant that they were carried along strongly in their writings by an influence from above. Their minds were illuminated; giving them a knowledge of divine things and a foresight of future events. They were inspired and dictated to by the Holy Ghost. 

Lastly, in Revelation 1:10, we read about John the Revelator; “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.” He was given a special intensity of spiritual sensitivity to the communion of the Holy Spirit. All connection with the surrounding objects through his senses was suspended. He was wholly taken up with the things of the Spirit whereby he entered into a state of elevated devotion and religious enjoyment. The outer world was shut out while the inner and higher life was taken full possession of by the Spirit. In this message, we have seen the different manifestations of being “full of the Spirit.” 

However, there is another very important manifestation that we as the church have a tendency to overlook or ignore. This one is implied in Matthew 6:33 which says; “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” 

Most people nowadays; when speaking of the Holy Ghost, immediately think of the power gifts such as faith, healings, and working of miracles or the gifts of utterance such as speaking in tongues and prophecy. That is all well and good; and these manifestations are greatly needed in the church today; however, let’s not overlook or ignore the fact that this same Holy Ghost will definitely lead the believer; in following after Christ, to seek above all else God’s kingdom and His righteousness. That means that the believer will be continually absorbed in their search or make a strenuous and diligent effort to obtain them. The Holy Ghost will lead the Spirit-filled believer to seek earnestly to have the rule and power of God demonstrated in his life and church. This believer will pray that God’s kingdom will come in the mighty power of the Holy Ghost to save sinners, destroy the demonic, heal the sick, and magnify the name of Jesus. He will seek to obey Christ’s commands, possess His righteousness, remain separated from the world, and manifest His love toward all. We love to read the book of Acts and, resultantly, find ourselves aspiring for such manifestations in our lives, churches, and ministries. There is nothing wrong with that; however, it seems as though many have the proverbial “cart before the horse” for they are failing to yield to the Holy Ghost in “seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” 

Read again the opening quotes; “Those that are full of the Holy Ghost are fit for any thing, either to act for Christ or to suffer for Him.” 

“To be filled with anything is a phrase denoting that all the faculties are pervaded by it, engaged in it, or under its influence.”

“To be filled with the Holy Ghost implies having the soul influenced in all its powers, with the illuminating strength, and sanctifying energy of the Spirit.” 

Can you really say that you are “full of the Holy Ghost” when you find it so hard to live under the rule of God in your life? What about a church that doesn’t see sinners saved on a weekly basis, the demonic powers over people’s lives destroyed, the sick healed, and the name of Jesus magnified? How can you say that you are Holy Ghost filled when you are not obeying Christ’s commands, living holy, remaining separated from the world, and manifesting His love toward all? 

“Those that are full of the Holy Ghost are fit for any thing, either to act for Christ or to suffer for Him.”  

Are you full of the Holy Ghost?

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