FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT

John 7:37-39

Morning Meditation 7/6/2014

"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 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; because that Jesus was not yet glorified)"

There is no doctrine that is more sorely misused that the doctrine of the filling of the Holy Spirit. Then I must go on to say that there is no truth more sought after than the filling. Then looking a little further, there is no truth more abused than the truth of the filling of the Holy Spirit. There have been in recent days the profession of revival where the Holy Spirit invades a congregation and He is recognized by speaking languages that no one understands, being slain in the spirit, and crawling around on the floor barking like a dog. Then there are those who have what they call a laughing revival. They just begin to laugh and the whole congregation are laughing uncontrollably. This is not of God you can be sure. Let me make a few remarks that will help us understand the real work of the Holy Spirit.

ONE WHO IS FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT IS FULL OF FAITH

Because of this the unsaved will be convicted just by being around the one filled with the Spirit. Jesus said when speaking of the Holy Spirit in John 16:7-11, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged."

I tell missionaries when you go to some far off field in order to preach the gospel, you will find that the Holy Spirit beat you there. I understand that it is not enough for one to be saved to be convicted by the Holy Spirit, but without this work of the Spirit, the gospel preached will fall on heathen ears and be outright rejected. Jesus said, "No man can come to me except the Father that sent me draw him.." One who is filled with the Spirit will be full of faith. He knows he is sent and He knows God is with him in the preaching of the Word. Being full of faith is a must.

ONE WHO IS FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT WILL BE FULL OF THE TRUTH IN TESTIMONY

After Pentecost what was the subject matter of the Apostles preaching? It was a clearly defined message of the gospel. On the day of Pentecost Peter preached the Word and 3,000 souls were saved and baptized into the fellowship of the Church. The way Luke puts it Acts 2:41, "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."

One of the first indications that a person has been truly saved is that he wants his family and friends to hear the gospel and be saved.

ONE WHO IS FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT IS FULL OF POWER

"I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me; and I say to this man, 'Go,' and he goeth, and to another, 'Come,' and he cometh.'" The reason why the centurion had power to command the soldiers under him, was, that he was under the power of Rome, and hence he had all its power at his back. If he failed to recognize his position and his responsibility to Rome, those under him would not recognize him. Thus, as we are under the authority of Heaven, we have authority, and we have no power, save as we recognize the power of God.

"Paul's might lay, not in enticing words of man's wisdom but in "demonstration of the Spirit and of power" (1 Cor. 2:4). Many pray earnestly for power, in, and with their work, and receive it not, because they do not accept the only position in which the power can work. We want to get possession of the Power, and use it. God wants the power to get possession of us, and use us. If we give up ourselves to the Power to rule in us, the Power will give itself to us to rule through us." -- F.E. Marsh

ONE WHO IS FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT WILL CONTINUALLY FEEL THE NEED OF THE SPIRIT

We continually need the Holy Spirit, to have fellowship with the Lord, by His Word, in service. It is only as we meditate on the Word that we are healthy in life, wealthy in experience, and helpful to others. I have heard it said many times, "I just want to be a blessing." The fact is we cannot be a blessing to others. For others to be blessed we must be blessed of the Lord. Therefore we do not study that others will know, we study that we may know. And as we come into the Lord's presence, and are filled with His Spirit, others will be blessed. So we recognize a need to be continually filled with the Spirit.

"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." This is personal revival. We are not the water that refreshes, we are the channel through which the water comes to refresh others. We only bless others by being blessed. It is God who furnishes an unending stream through His Spirit filled child to give others what they need.

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White