How to Have a Spirit-Filled Life | Part 1

What's the only way to win in spiritual warfare.

Listen to Adrian Rogers whereof we have an enemy is really as well is cunning, sinister.

He wants to bring devastation be all your help.

Your fate you and your no match for him. The only way you're going to win in this warfare is to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God.

Welcome to love featuring timeless lessons and insights. Ask your teacher and author Adrian Rogers. This Christian life is a blessing if we don't understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit can feel more like a burden secret to a blessed Christian life is being filled with the Holy Spirit, what is that mean exactly and how could we obtain it. If you have your Bible handy turn to Ephesians chapter 5 and look at verse 18. As Adrian Rogers explains how to have a spirit filled life currently is to Ephesians chapter 5 verse verse eight Ephesians chapter 5 in verse 18. Now before we get into the passage I want you to use your imagination what may save you a ridiculous and silly episode but I want you to imagine a man who buys an automobile is never owned an automobile before they don't understand an automobile, but finally gets enough money to buy a brand new automobile and so he is very happy with this automobile. He shows it off to his friends. He shows them the beautiful paint job.

He shows in the salt upholstery.

The Aston said, and then listen to the stereo and he shows him all the amenities of this automobile. But there's one thing you don't understand about he doesn't understand that it has an engine and so everywhere he goes he has to push my ever so often. He's going downhill so we can get him and coaxed her, but that doesn't really do much because he knows he's going to have to push it up the next hill and this automobile that is supposed to be a blessing to him has become a burden to him.

And rather than it carrying him. He is pushing it is very proud very grateful to have it. Most of the time but sometimes he wishes he didn't have it all and then somebody says to him you know there's something you don't understand about this automobile and they show him a thing called an ignition key and said that right in their and turned and he turns it and he hears this surge of power. This is what is left. That's the motor mount put it in drive and push that panel down there and when it does it wrong as a way surge of power and he says why this is one this is why somebody tell me this soon is a pastor really that's kind ago.

I mean, that's a stupid story. Nobody could be that dumb. And you're right unless unless it is the Christian who does not understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Now frame when God saved you, God gave you a faith with an engine and and that many people who are pushing their faith rather than letting their faith carry them and say the salvation that is meant to be a blessing has almost become a burden to them and very grateful to say, but secretly saying this is a difficult thing being a Christian. Well today I want us to discover the ignition key to this thing called Christianity. Look, if you will, in verse 18 and be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess by be filled with the spirit you see that may not drunk with wine, wherein is excess but be filled with the spirit master personal question is not polite to ask personal questions. Most of the time I for example how much money do you make, how much did that dress cost you must post as those kind of questions but I will ask you a personal question, are you being filled with the spirit right now. Are you being filled with the spirit right now and I did not ask, does the Holy Spirit indwell you. He indwells all Christians. I do not ask, do you believe in the fullness of the spirit. I did ask that I didn't even ask have you been filled with the spirit.

I did ask that the question that I ask you is a very personal question.

Are you being filled with the Holy Spirit right now that's that's a personal question is, did you see our friend Steve Holford said we ought to be consciously feel we ought to be continuously filled. We are to be conspicuously filled with the Holy Spirit actually Ephesians chapter 5 verse 18, literally says be being for I want to talk to about the fullness of the spirit and I hope that you can understand that being saved is not a matter what you do for God, but it is a matter what God does through you by the fullness of the Holy Spirit be CO with the spirit now outline today's good be very, very simple, and the first thing I want to give you and I want to think about all the reasons for being spirit filled, and under the heading of the reasons for being spirit filled. I will give you three ways why you ought to be spirit filled the first reason is your obedience. God has commanded this verse.

Ephesians chapter 5 in verse 18 is not a suggestion, it is not a request.

It is a command of Almighty God.

Now look, if you will, at verse very carefully be filled.

That's what we call the imperative mood when something is imperative.

That means it is necessary I might save you is imperative that you do this by this is not optional equipment. This is not a suggestion, it is a command from God and the Christian who is not spirit filled is living in rebellion against God.

Now it is in the present tense. So that's the reason I ask you not have you been filled but are you feel. Please feel right now in the present tense. Now it is plural in number. That means be being filled. That is, the command is not just simply to the pastor or to the minister of music or to the soloist or to the missionary.

The promise is to you and your children and as many as the Lord our God shall call every boy and girl who knows Jesus to be spirit. Every evangelist ought to be spirit filled every layman, every lay woman ought to be filled with the Holy Spirit, be ye all filled with the Holy Spirit. It is, it is plural in number, it is passive in balls. What is that mean he doesn't say get he says me feel, it is not what we do. It is what he does in us and through us. Now it's very interesting this first look at it carefully. It says be not drunk with wine, but be filled with the spirit we camp on the first part of that verse.

Don't be drunk with wine and I don't think a person ought to be drunk with wine, but I want to say something to you that it is a greater sin not to be filled with the spirit than to be drunk with wine, and I know that most of you disagree with me right now. I know that most of you disagree you say no no no no getting drunk that's that's far worse than not being filled the spirit, but I will disagree with you. It is a greater sin not to be filled this. That is to be drunk with wine. The Bible teaches that the sins of omission are greater than the sins of commission.

It is a greater sin to fail to do what you ought to do than to do what you ought not to do. Why is that because if you doing what you ought to do. You cannot be doing what you ought not to do. But if you doing what you ought not to do.

You will not be doing what you want to do. I'll never say that again so I hope that you you I hope that you the same location is a greater sin than the sin of omission. For example, I've had far more difficulty in the church is not pastoral people not been filled with the spirit and I have people been brought in a true carnality. That's the great issue in the problem in the church that if brother Whitmire were to come up with this platform this morning to lead the singing and blessed.

Suppose he staggers up here and I suppose his eyes are red and blurry and I suppose his tongue is taken less suppose he stumbles around a little bit in which I believe Jim Whitmire is sex somebody helping when you get up close to him and he reached with alcohol. He's gone broke. We set Whitmire's drop now has never happen and it will never have to fear it will not happen. Will it know you will not absolutely be honest out of any doubt it will not happen, but how many times may a person come to the platform not filled with the spirit you say listen, it would mean more wrong for him to come up you're not spirit feel that would be for him to come up here and you see if he's still the spirit.

He's not going to get because being ground is the devil, substitute for being spirit for why what I'm trying to say to you, friend is say, believe me, I'm not.

I'm not putting a premium on getting drunk or I'm not making life and getting brought. The Bible says no be brought I'm just simply say that. Why should we be spirit filled number one old media. It is in character. The Bible says it is imperative that you be filled. It is a command to obey as well as a blessing to enjoy is a second reason not only our obedience but our obligations and thought about the obligations that yours is a Christian thought about what the Bible commands you to do. How are you going to do what the Bible commands you to do.

You don't have the strength to do what the Bible commands you to do. For example, we are in chapter 5, verse 18.

Let's just continue to read look in verse 19 and that speaks of all worship life verse 18 says be filled the spirit and then verse 19 says, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things on the God and the father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and our worship life we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Why, because God is a spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth been in the worship service. That's what people are trying to worship God in the flesh is just carnality is just some kind of a circus. It is some kind of a program how tedious and how tasteless that is. But you've been in worship services were those who are leading worship filled with God's blessing Holy Spirit and the congregation. The people are singing praises to God, and their worshiping God in spirit and in truth, the only way you can truly worship God is to worship him in the spirit but not only in your worship life within your life. Look in verse 22 wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as unto the Lord now, the Bible teaches that a wife is to respect and love and be submitted to her husband as if he were Jesus Christ to say you mean that to like devil, that's right, you are to submit under him. I didn't say that God said it right here, one in this day of each person standing up for himself or herself as a person going to do that while that's not human nature to do that and I don't know wife in the world who can submit to her husband without being spirit field proven submit to her husband without being spirit feel she might do grudgingly, but that's not the way we do submit to the Lord Jesus gladly wonderfully happily where submit this does not mean that the wife is inferior to the husbands. Many women are superior to their husbands.

I know mine is superior to me.

She said that I don't want to be, will not come down for anything she did say that she get me at home, saying that she said that men and women before the Lord, are all equal, and yet the Bible says that wives are to submit to their own husbands, one is not in human nature to do that and then you say why does the Bible always tell the hard things to women what it really does continue to read look, if you will, in verse 25 husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for now the wife is to submit to the husband as if the husband were Jesus Christ. But the husband is to love the wife as if he were Jesus Christ and out as Christ loved the church what he loves the church, sacrificially, he died for the church. He gave himself up for the church. Husband ought to love his wife so much that he is willing to die for her and shows it by the way he lives for her and, incidentally, most women wouldn't have any difficulty submitting to husband loved enough to die for her and showed it. By the way he lives for her. I may carry on site said that a man came to him one time for counseling and… Such a problem is that my problem is my wife.

He said you having difficulty.

He said no no difficulty at all is that I just love her so much I worship.

I adore her. I just I think about all the time I I'm just afraid that maybe I love her so much.

It's a sin… Inside said will be lovers, much as Jesus loved the church voice that I wouldn't say that patient will get with it longer, not husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church. I can't do anything as Jesus did, I will have the ability to do anything Jesus did.

The only way that I can do what Jesus has done is for Jesus and me to do it in that right. But the Holy Spirit of God to love Joyce through me. That's the reason Joyce doesn't mind being second in my life because Joyce knows that when Jesus Christ is enthroned, and I'm spirit filled. I will love her better than I could. If she were number one in my life when she's number two in my life.

She receives far more love than if she were number one. Because God is loving her every now and then some man will come inside you.

I just I don't love my wife. I just know love as if at some excuse to separate or divorce.

That's no excuse because everything that God commands you to do. You can do one of God would save me eight men jump over this building I can jump over this building, what, God would command me to do something I cannot do when God says husbands love your wives. That means you can do but you can only do it through his power. What I say in your worship life, you need to be spirit building your wedded life, you need to be spirit filled, and then in your work life, you need to be spirit to just keep on going come about in chapter 6 and look if you will, in verse five servers. The word literally as slaves, be obedient to them that your masters according to a flash with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart is on the Christ. What that means in plain English you serve your balls as if he were Jesus Christ. Yes, I can't do it why he's he's not a Christian. He's not right with God. How can I serve him as if he were Jesus Christ continue to reverse six chapter 6 verse six. Not what I services men pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart with goodwill doing service as to the Lord and not to men you worked for him as if he were Jesus Christ. And when you go to work you want to come through the same enthusiasm for that man and that business as you had for this church and this business when you came in this goal. That's what the Bible says. The Bible says you serve him as if he were Jesus Christ, I will let you know the secret of our people would begin to live like that on Monday, people would start believing what I preach on Sunday. You know it all people would save Christians on the job and what a better place can there be to witness for Jesus Christ and the job. Your job is your template devotion.

It is your lampstand will witness what better place to let your light shine. The boss would say you I don't understand these Christians why they hear own time.

They work with a smile on the face.

They're very careful there honestly wouldn't steal a thing I could trust them with the entire business why they seem to be devoted to the business as if they own the business, wife you would like. I think on the Lord the way they serve. When a man goes to the employment agency and eating some bodywork formula site by the way, if you have any spiritual Christians send mobile similar to those of the kind of people. I will will that's not in human nature to do that human nature is to get by with as little as you can and get as much as you can get all you can and cannot get it on the lid and poison. The rest is the motto that most people have rather than think I'm going to give myself I'm going to serve well. How are you going to do that I will have what it takes to do that.

That's not my nature by nature I'm selfish but being spirit filled, you can do that and then look in your life that chapter 6 and verse 10. Finally, my brother and be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God is all still in the context to be filled with the spirit where Nevada we have an enemy. He is real he is malevolent he is cunning and he is sinister he is active.

He is marshaled all of the forces of hell against you and your family. He wants to sabotage her life. The bomb is in place. The fuses laid out the matches strut. He wants to bring devastation to your home, your health, your happiness to your future. Your fate you have an enemy and you know match for him.

He is stronger than you are. He is powerful he is cunning and sinister beyond belief, but the Bible says. Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. The only way you're going to win in this warfare is to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God. And then you're not only in your warlike in your witness life notice if you will, in verse 18 he says, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, he still on the theme of the spirit watching to with all perseverance and supplication for all saints and for me, that utterance may be given to me that I may open my mouth boldly make known the mystery of the gospel how important it is that I be filled with the spirit because all is vain, unless the spirit of the holy one comes down. I've told you many many times.

I can preach truth, but only the Holy Spirit can impart and I am so dependent upon him, and we all are when we're witnessing on the street when were witnessing in the business whether we're witnessing in the classroom when we are witnessing in the Lord from the pulpit are from the choir that we might be filled with the spirit of God. I give you two reasons to be spirit filled one is our obedience to his obligations to give you 1/3 reason our opportunities turn to Ephesians 5. Again look if you will, in Ephesians 5, verse 14 wherefore he saith awake thou the sleepless to arise from the light and Christ shall give the light see them achieve wall circumspectly.

That means looking around circle means around specular means watching, looking not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore, be not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is what is the will of the Lord and be not drunk with wine, where the success would be filled spirit what you say where the key is in verse 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Is there anybody who would deny that these are evil days is anybody.

Now if that was true.

In Paul's day, how much more true, is it is in our day. We are up against the organize mobilize demonized forces of hell, and it comes in every way. Sometimes it's a frontal attack. Sometimes it is very subtle but there is a war and if you don't know there's a war raging today. Randy you are deaf, dumb and blind to spiritual things. Now there is a will there has never been a greater day, a greater age, a greater opportunity to preach the gospel of Jesus than right now there is more hunger.

The gospel now than ever before.

There is more openness to a gospel than ever before.

You say Pastor Rogers I thought you said things were getting bad they are, what you say is the world getting better. Yes, as the night grows darker the Saints grow brighter and the hungers are more intense and our people were looking and waiting and wondering can we find a way. Is there an answer and there is an answer and the answer is in Christ all we need a generation spirit to people because of the opportunities today with a conflicting message.

There has never been a greater day, a greater age greater opportunity to preach the gospel of Jesus to write now and will your part two of this message coming up tomorrow. I hope you can join us then maybe you have questions.

Right now, though, about who Jesus is about what he means to you. How to begin a relationship with God through him. If you would go to discover Jesus page@lwf.org/radio you'll find resources and materials answers to the questions you may have on your heart right now. Again, go to LWF.org/radio and click discover Jesus now if you'd like to order a copy of today's message.

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Thanks for staying with us in God's word today. Remember, as Adrian Rogers said a flash filled person is grumbly hate, but a spirit filled person is humbly grateful you bear the markings of someone filled with the Holy Spirit. Make sure you tune in tomorrow for part two of how to have a spirit filled life right on the way a Facebook friend reached out to us recently with this kind thought about Adrian Rogers saying he has a unique way of making you feel he is right with you makes excellent illustrations to connect the dots so anyone can understand. Thank you for keeping them on the air was our joy to share these timeless messages and new resources and we love hearing how you are using them. Share hope with others say thank you for your gift this month. We want to send you our factors of faithfulness, discipleship to fulfill Jesus command to go into the world and make disciples with the help of this tool using the unchanging insights of Adrian Rogers call the gift one 877 love God or you can give online@lwf.org/radio and again thank you for your generous support of love worth finding