The overall organization of Romans was as follows: Chapter 4, Faith Conquers Sin; Chapter 5, Grace Conquers Sin; Chapter 6, The Gospel Conquers Sin; Chapter 7 & 8, The Holy Spirit Conquers Sin.
The grand majority of Paul’s mentions of the Spirit are in Chapter 8, 14 of 22
The mandate is for us to serve in the newness of spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
Chapter 7 covered the meaning of serving in the oldness of the letter.
And we introduced Chapter 8 with 3 points: The Introduction to the Holy Spirit; The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit; and the Ignorance of the Holy Spirit.
I’d like to stay within this last heading, The Ignorance of the Holy Spirit
I had no idea there was so much in the Bible about the Holy Spirit of Almighty God.
I had no idea how ignorant I was of the wonderful promise of the Holy Spirit.
As we enter Chapter 8, the first verse gives us the concept and the victory in serving God by walking after the Spirit.
Remember, to keep all this in the context of the mandate, that we serve God in the newness of spirit. This is about serving God.
I believe it would behoove you and me to learn more of the Holy Spirit before we undertake this concept of walking after the Holy Spirit.
It would benefit us to know everything we can about the person, the ministry, and power of the one we must follow or walk after.
So in doing so last time, we touched upon the subject of Ephesians 5:18, “… be ye filled with the Spirit.” Which is the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Baptism with the Holy Spirit is Distinct from Baptism into the body of Christ
Every sinner ought to be baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ.
1 Cor 12:13. “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we bond of free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
That’s Romans 6, Baptized into Jesus Christ, the body of Jesus Christ, baptized into his death, burial and resurrection.
Yet every saved person ought to be baptized by Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit.
In the Gospel of Luke, John the Baptist said, “I indeed baptize with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose, he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire;
In the Gospel of John, John the Baptist said that the same one that sent him to baptize with water said unto him, “Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.” John 1:33
Baptism with the Holy Ghost is distinct from the indwelling of the Holy Ghost.Every sinner after they’re saved is given the Holy spirit
I want us to understand very clearly that the when someone is saved, according to the scriptures, they are placed into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit. They are made a member of the church that Jesus said he’d build and the gates of hell should not prevail against. And upon this, Jesus gives us his Holy Spirit to dwell within us forever. John 14:16,17 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
This is also known as the earnest of the Spirit 2. Cor 1:22 “Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts” See 2 Cor 5:5
This is also knows as the seal of the Spirit Eph 1:13 “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”
So the indwelling of the Spirit, the earnest of the Spirit, the seal of the Spirit; these are distinct from the baptism with the Holy Ghost that John the Baptist spoke of.
The indwelling, the earnest, and the seal of Spirit is what you get when you believe from the heart the Lord Jesus Christ.
When you cast yourself on the mercy of God, when you put your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, you are indwelt, your are sealed, and given the earnest of the Spirit.
This is not the baptism WITH the Spirit.
Baptism with the Holy Spirit is the same as the filling of the Holy Spirit
The most readily recognized examples of this baptism, is of course, Pentecost.
After Jesus was raised from the dead, the bible says that he appeared to the disciples for 40 days, and spoke of the things pertaining to the kingdom and said, Acts 1:4,5 “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”
And then of course, on the 50th day, the day of Pentecost, this baptism took place, Acts 2:1-4 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost,”
They were all filled with the Holy Ghost.
Every saved person ought to be baptized by Jesus Christ with the Holy Ghost
It’s God’s will to be filled with Holy Ghost
Rom 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit
I want to say this: The more I study this and it seems to me that to walk after the Spirit, is a direct result of being filled with Spirit. Therefore, if we are to serve in the newness of spirit and walk after the Spirit, we must then be filled with the Holy Spirit.
To walk after the flesh, or “in the oldness of the letter”, with only the law in your mind, and sin in your flesh, will always result in failure. If you’re saved, yes, you have the Spirit of God dwelling in you, you have received the earnest and sealing of the Holy Spirit. But unless we learn to walk after the Spirit, and cease from to walking after the flesh, we will go day after day, and year after year, with no fruit, no victory, no life, no power and never no never accomplish anything for glory of God.
Jesus told the disciples, Luke 25:49 “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”
“Don’t go into all nations until you’re endued with power; Don’t baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit until you’re endued with power; Don’t teach them all things I’ve commanded you until you’’re endued with power.”
He said, “You cannot accomplish God’s will until you’re endued with power from on high.”
If we’re ever going to accomplish the will of God, if we’re ever going to do the works of God in this life, we’re never going to get it done until we’’re endued with power from on high.
This is exactly where we are in Romans 7 & 8.
We’ll never do right without God’s power.
For to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
HOW TO PERFORM. To be filled with the Spirit and walk after the Spirit.
Every saved person ought to be baptized by Jesus Christ with the Holy Ghost.
Paul said in Ephesians 5:18 “Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”
What makes this verse so important is the verse right before it Ephesians 5:17 “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”
It’s God’s will that every saved person be filled with the Holy Ghost.
People think that Paul is saying we shouldn’t get drunk. He’s not saying that we shouldn’t get drunk, he’s just telling us that it’s not wine that ought to be drunk with.
When you’re drunk with wine or alcohol, you not you’re natural self. You don’t act normal. You’re under the influence.
When you’re filled with the Holy Ghost, you don’t act normal either. You don’t act natural either. You’re under the influence of the Holy Ghost. And did you know that is exactly what that word baptism means: under the influence of, submerged in.
1 Cor 2:14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
We have got to get out of that natural state, that carnal state. Our natural and normal state is to walk after the flesh. Hey, I’m tired of living a normal life. I don’t want to live a normal, natural life. I want life supernatural. I want life more abundantly.
There’s only one way to know and receive the things of God and that’s through the Spirit of God. 1 Cor 2:11 “…even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.”
And we’ll never receive or know the things of God unless we get out of that natural state of existence, that normal state of existence. And there’s only one way to do this: Be filled with the Spirit.
Peter understood this. On the day of Pentecost, some people said, “These men are full of new wine.” And Peter stood up and said, “These are not drunken, as ye suppose!”
“Oh no. This isn’t wine you’re seeing, it’s that which was spoken by the prophet Joel. I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh!”
Acts 2:33 “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.”
“This abnormal behavior that you see and hear is not wine, it’s Spirit of God.
If we are to serve in the newness of spirit and walk after the Spirit, and cease from our natural and normal state of walking after the flesh, we must then be filled with the Holy Spirit of God.
Ephesians 5:17,18 “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”
It’s God’s will that every saved person be filled with the Holy Ghost
This is the Age of the Holy Ghost
1) Mary was filled with the Holy Ghost
The angel Gabriel came before Mary and said, “Thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son. Mary, you’re gonna have a baby, and it’s gonna be a boy!”
And Mary said, “How shall this be. This is not natural. This is not normal. I know not a man?”
Luke 1:35 “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:”
Mary was filled with the Holy Ghost!
2) Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost
Luke 1:39-41 “And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted 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:”
And she said this, Luke 1:44 “For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.”
I want you to see this: If we’re ever gonna have real joy, it’s gonna come from somebody else living on the inside.
Jesus said, John 7:38-39 “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given……”
Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost
3) Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost
We know the angel of the Lord appeared before Zacharias and told him “You and your wife Elizabeth are gonna have a baby, you’re gonna name him John.”
And the angel struck him dumb because he didn’t believe him. He said, “I’m too old.”
Well, of course the baby was born, everybody was telling his wife to name him Zacharias, after his father.
And she said “No, his name is John!” So they said, let’s go ask his father.
So Zacharias asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, “His name is John!”
Luke 1:67 “And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spakr, and praised God… And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him. And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost,……”
If God is ever gonna loose these tongues of ours and have us speak, we’re gonna have to be filled with the Holy Ghost.
King David, the man after God’s own heart, who wrote most of the Psalms in your bible, on his death bed, his dying words, he said these words:
2 Sam 23:2 “The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.”
Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost.
4) John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Ghost
Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost; His wife was filled with the Holy Ghost
And lo and behold, they had a baby boy that was filled with the Holy Ghost.
John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Ghost!
Luke 1:15 “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.”
How are our children ever gonna get full of God, if Mommy and Danny aren’t filled with the Holy Ghost?
How are our families ever gonna do the will of God and honor God, if Mommy and Daddy aren’t filled with the Holy Ghost?
John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Ghost
5) Simeon was filled with the Holy Ghost
Luke 2:25 “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.”
Simeon was filled with the Holy Ghost.
The bible says, “And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple……”
He was walking after the Spirit!
The bible says when the parents after the custom of the law brought Jesus into the temple, that Simeon took the child Jesus up in his arms and blessed God and he said this:
Luke 2:29 “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word.”
The peace of God comes only from the Spirit of God. (1 Chron 12:18)
The fruit of the Spirit, is Love, Joy, Peace!
Perfect peace lies only in knowing and being in God’s perfect will.
Ephesians 5:17,18 “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”
When we are filled with the Spirit of God; anddo the will of God; when we accomplish all that God would have us to do, then we can depart in peace.
I want to say this: There’s no peace in leaving this world, and appearing before the judgment seat of Christ knowing that you haven’t done all that God wanted you to do.
God help us to take this thing seriously.
Simeon was filled with the Holy Ghost!
6) Jesus was filled with the Holy Ghost
Luke 4:1 “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,”
Mark says that the spirit “driveth” him into the wilderness
Matthew says that Jesus was “led up of the Spirit” into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
This is a perfect example of Romans 8, walking after the Spirit
This is a perfect demonstration of what being full of the Spirit can accomplish.
The Spirit of God can give us victory over that old devil and temptation.
But what I’d like us to see today is not so much that Jesus was full of the Spirit, but in order for Jesus to be full of the Spirit, he had to be thus filled with the Holy Spirit.
I would like us to take one step back in the scriptures and see when was it exactly when Jesus was endued with power for his ministry.
If we take one step back in the scriptures, that will land us directly in the Jordan River, at the Baptism of Jesus Christ.
Jesus was yes, baptized with water by John, but what I want us to see also was that Jesus was not only baptized with water, but…
Jesus was also baptized with the Holy Ghost.
I want to spend a little time here, you probably haven’t ever heard it put like this.
I want to paint a different picture in your mind than what the Catholics and the Jehovah witnesses have regarding the baptism of Jesus Christ.
I want to read all 4 accounts of this:
Matthew 3:16 “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and , lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:”
Mark 1:10 “And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:”
Luke 3:21-22 “Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him,…”
John 1:32 “And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
There’s been many paintings and depiction of what happened that day in the Jordan River. And there’s always a white dove floating down from the sky, and maybe a bright light in the sky.
But by the account that we are given, I don’t think what was seen that day could ever be captured on canvas.
Heaven was open
The bible says in three of the four accounts that heaven was opened. And the best we humans can come up with to put down on canvas is a bright light.
My friends, heaven was opened in such a way that the Spirit of God Almighty came down from heaven. Heaven was opened in such a way that the voice of God the Father was heard down here on earth. “This is my son in whom I am well pleased.”
God had opened up a window to the celestial kingdom where he sits enthroned. Where the angels are and the seraphims and the glory of God is. The Spirit of God came from heaven itself, not the clouds.
Isaiah 57:15 “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place…”
God opened up eternity and let down the Eternal Spirit! God opened a window to the glorious world of eternity, the high and holy place!
There was no bird coming down from the sky
No where in the scriptures does it say that the shape of a bird came down from heaven.
All four gospels say, like a dove, like a dove, like a dove, like a dove.
And all four gospels, the word like in the original Greek is an adverb.
In Matthew, Mark, and John there is no mention of the bodily shape in which the the Holy Ghost came down. They simply say that John saw the Holy Ghost descending like a dove.
An adverb modifies the verb. The verb is to descend. The manner in which the Holy Ghost descended was in the same manner that a dove would descend.
If I told you that “so and so” moved like a turtle, does that mean that “so and so”” turned into a turtle. No.
If I told you that “so and so” bolted out of here like bat out hell, does that mean that “so and so”” looked like a bat. No.
And it doesn’t mean that in the bible either.
Only Luke’s account of the Jesus baptism says anything about the bodily form in which the Holy Ghost took. And in that account, “like a dove” is still an adverbial phrase.
“Like a dove” is not modifying the bodily form, but the descending.
Why did they say the Spirit descended like a dove?
What was is it about a dove descending that would cause John to say, “I saw the Holy Ghost descending like a dove!”?
If it wasn’t the form of a dove than what was it?
Jesus was filled with the Holy Ghost
7) The disciples were filled with the Holy Ghost at Pentecost
The day of Pentecost was very similar to what we saw at the Jordan River
At Jordan, heaven was opened, At Pentecost heaven was opened
At Jordan, we heard the voice of God, At Pentecost we heard a sound as of a rushing mighty wind.
At Jordan, the Spirit of God in bodily form descended like a dove, At Pentecost cloven tongues as of fire.
At Jordan, the Spirit of God abode on Jesus, At Pentecost the cloven tongues sat upon each of them.
Act 2:4 “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost…”
8) Peter was filled with the Holy Ghost
Peter and John had healed that lame man at the gate of the temple.
Everybody was filled with wonder and amazement.
So Peter preached Jesus to the people.
Of course the Sadducees were upset, they laid hand on him, and brought him before the high priest.
Acts 4:8 “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,”
And he preached “Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Peter was filled with the Holy Ghost
9) The disciples were filled with the Holy Ghost Again
They eventually let Peter and John go and told them not to teach I the name of Jesus any longer.
They told the council, “We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
They got back to the rest of the church and they lifted up their voice to God in one accord, and praised his Holy Name. The the bible says:
Acts 4:31 “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost,…”
So the disciples were filled with the Holy Ghost again.
10) There were 7 men full of the Holy Ghost
And the church grew. There were literally thousands added to the church.
More people, more trouble. The Grecian widows were being neglected in the daily ministration. They weren’t getting fed.
So the disciples gathered the multitude unto them and said,
Acts 6:3 “Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost..”
Whom they may appoint over the business of the daily ministration.
We need people to help serve tables, and they need to be full of the Holy Ghost.
Being filled with God is not just for the preacher or the missionary, but it’s for everybody in the church. More specifically, everybody in the church that wants to do something for God.
They found seven men: Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, Nicolas were all filled with the Holy Ghost.
The state may require that you get a health permit to serve tables, and we got those.
But God requires that we be filled with the Holy Ghost and wisdom.
Wouldn’t it be something if they could say of us: ____, ____, ____, ____ and all these brethren were filled with the Holy Ghost?
7 men full of the Holy Ghost.
11) Stephen was full of the Holy Ghost
We know the story of Stephen, the bible says he did great wonders and miracles among the people.
They accused him of blasphemy and brought him before the council.
And with glory of God upon his face, he preached the entire history of the Jews before their ears, and he said, “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist” who? The Holy Ghost.
The bible says they were cut to the heart and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
Acts 7:55 “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,”
And took him outside and stoned him to death.
Being full of the God might get you into some trouble down here, but I tell what Stephen got to see, the glory of God.
Moses asked God, Lord show me your glory.
Call unto me and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things which though knowest not. If we’re ever gonna see the glory of God, we’re gonna have to get filled with the Holy Ghost.
12) The believers in Samaria were filled with the Holy Ghost
Phillip went down to Samaria and preached Christ unto them.
The bible says that the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
Unclean spirits, many taken with palsies, and many that were lame.
There was great joy. They got baptized.
When the apostles heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent down Peter and John.
Acts 8:15-17 “Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.”
These people gave heed, great joy, baptized. (explain)
But there was more. John the Baptist said, and he will baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
The believers in Samaria were filled with the Holy Ghost.
13) Phillip was full of the Holy Ghost
We know the story of Phillip and the conversion of the Ethiopian.
What we need to see here is that the Spirit of God was all over this conversion from the beginning to the end.
We’ve learned that when someone is filled with the Holy Ghost, they’re under the influence of the Holy Ghost, They’re outside of their natural, normal self. They don’’t do what they want to do or go where they want to go.
Instead, they’re going where the Spirit of God leads, they’re doing what the Spirit of God wants. They’re walking after the Spirit.
Acts 8:29,39 “Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot…(explain) And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Phillip……”
Phillip was filled with the Holy Ghost.
14) Saul of Tarsus was filled with the Holy Ghost
Saul of Tarsus, brother Paul, met the Lord Jesus Christ on the Damascus road.
I believe Saul got saved between in Verse 6.
Read 3-5
Verse 6 says, “And he trembling and astonished said, “Lord!” and that comma right there is where Saul got saved. Amen. Then he said, ““what wilt thou have me to do?”
And he was led into Damascus and brought before Ananias.
I have no doubt that Ananias was filled with the power of God. The bible doesn’t say anything about it, but I don’t see any other way.
The bible says in Acts 2 when they were filled with the Holy Ghost, Peter said that this was that which was spoken by the prophet Joel:
“It shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, and your men shall see visions!”
Ananias saw a vision. Ananias saw a vision where God told him that Saul of Tarsus was coming his way. Ananias was full of the Holy Ghost.
But the bible says that when Saul finally got there, Ananias put his hands on him and said:
Acts 9:17 “…Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath set me, that thou mightiest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.”
And Saul was filled with the Holy Ghost
15) Cornelius and his company were filled with the Holy Ghost
Another turning point in the book of Acts was when the Gentiles were added to the church.
Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian band, was told of God to meet with Peter.
And Peter of course was told of God to meet Cornelius.
Cornelius men came down to Peter and said (Read 10:22)
The bible says, then Peter opened his mouth
I want us to see one of the very first things Peter says
“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost!” and then he preached the Death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 10:44-47 “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?”
I want us to see what the Jews saw there that day. They said hey, we’ve seen this before. This sure looks and sounds like what happened to us at Pentecost.
And when Peter was recounting this to the brethren, when he was telling them what happened with Cornelius, this is what he said:
Acts 11:15 “And as I began to speak, the Holy ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then I remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.”
Cornelius and his company were filled with the Holy Ghost!
16) Barnabas was filled with the Holy Ghost
Tiding had come to the disciples after the persecution that arose after Stephen’s death, the gospel had reached as far as Antioch and that they had believed and turned to the Lord.
So they sent forth Barnabas to Antioch to exhort them to cleave unto the Lord.
Acts 11:24 “For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost..”
And as a result, the bible says that much people were added unto the Lord.
How are we ever gonna get people added to the Lord?
Barnabas was filled with the Holy Ghost
17) Saul was filled with the Holy Ghost again
Later Saul and Barnabas were to isle of Paphos because Sergius Paulus, a deputy of the country, a prudent man desired to hear the word of God.
But a sorcerer by the name of Elymas withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
Acts 13:9 “Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him.”
And Saul rebuked him and blinded him, and the bible says
“Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.”
Serguis Paulus got saved.
Oh but there’s some that seek to turn others away from the faith. That are trying to keep others from getting saved, from knowing the Lord Jesus Christ.
How are we gonna deal with them? How are we gonna get them out of the way so others can hear and receive the gospel?
Saul was filled with the Holy Ghost.
18) Paul and Barnabas and the disciples in Iconium were filled with the Holy Ghost
So Paul and Barnabas end up in Antioch again, and Paul preaches, and multitudes of Gentiles believe and want Paul to preach some more.
But the Jews saw all this and were filled with envy and they stirred up the women and the chief men, persecuted Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coast.
But when they came to Iconium, no double they told the disciples what great work was done in Antioch, and the bible says:
Acts 13:52 “And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.”
So even in the midst of persecution, closed doors, and rejection, God can give us joy and we can praise him if we’re filled with the Holy Ghost.
19) Apollos was filled with the Holy Ghost
Apollos had a lot going for him.
The bible says he was an eloquent man, mighty in the scriptures
He was instructed in the way of the Lord, and fervent in the spirit,
He could speak bodly, and teach diligently.
I’d say, I’d be doing pretty good if I could say that about myself.
But I want you to see his problem, verse 25 “knowing only the baptism of John”
Acts 18:26 “…when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.”
Apollos had been baptized with water, but he had yet to be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
It’s God’s will that every saved person should be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
And the proof is in verse 27. The brethren had written letters to Achaia exhorting the disciple there to receive Apollos when he came.
And the bible says, “… who, when he was come, helped them much which believed through grace:”
If we are ever gonna be a help to the brethren, we’re gonna have to be filled with the Holy Ghost.
Apollos was filled with the Holy Ghost.
20) Certain disciples in Ephesus were filled with the Holy Ghost
Paul was passing through back through Ephesus again, and he came upon these disciples, and he asked them “Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?”
And they answered, “We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.”
And we’re to assume that Paul is asking about receiving the BAPTISM with the Holy Ghost because he goes on and asks, “Unto what then were ye baptized?”
And these disciples are in the same boat as Apollos; they say “All we got was John’s baptism”
So Paul says, “John’s baptism was for repentance. I’m glad you did that. But didn’t John say that we should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus? Because he’ll baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
Acts 19:6 “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them, and they spake with tongues and prophesied.”
Once again, it’s just like Pentecost. It’s just like Cornelius. They were filled with the Holy Ghost.