Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: Dr. Billy Graham in the Holy Spirit has a chapter entitled "How To Be Filled With the Spirit." In it he says, "It is interesting that the Bible nowhere gives us a neat, concise formula for being filled with the Spirit." (Holy Spirit p. 160).
He suggests that perhaps it was because the believers in the early church did not need to be told how. "They knew that the Spirit-filled life was the normal Christian life." (Google image, Dr. Billy Graham)
Dr. W. Graham Scroggie, esteemed Baptist pastor and expositor from Edinburgh, cautioned seekers regarding the nature of the experience. Basing his observations on many years on the convention circuit and his own experience, he warned that " 'to be filled with the Spirit' is not necessarily a drastic experience . . . a strange and strongly emotional experience.
Emotions may be deeply manifest, and may not be. This may depend partly upon the temperament of the person. The genuineness is not based on the external, but on what God does deep within our nature. It is not necessarily accompanied by ecstatic joy."
Dr. Scroggie added, "In my own experience it was 'joy unspeakable and full of glory.' The joy became a pain and as I walked up and down the streets of East London in those days . . . I had to ask Him to modify it, for it seemed as though my soul would rend my body." (Scroggie, Filled With The Spirit, 16-18).
He refers to this joy as an accompaniment rather than as an evidence. It is not something that "dehumanizes." We do not become superior people; we become full of the Spirit, not domineering or superior to others.
We are still our own selves with our own personalities, but they are now purified, beautified, and empowered.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Used by permission of the author and Duewel Literature Trust, Inc., Greenwood, Indiana. Creative reading style by Jean.
Ablaze for God
#107 How to be Filled with the Spirit
by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
(pp. 307-308) ZondervanPublishingHouse
Let's pray-
Father, because Your desire is for us to be filled with Your Spirit, may we open our hearts and minds to receive Him. We're not to expect a necessarily drastic experience, but one of a deep emotional experience, a witness that He has taken up full residence.
Some us will speak in new tongues as the Spirit gives utterance, and some will know when You've given them an inner witness of the filling.
There will be a change in our thoughts, behavior and conversations. The actual filling experience may depend partly upon the person's temperament.
The genuineness is not based on the external, but on what You do deep within our natures. It may be accompanied by ecstatic joy, but not always.
We will still be our own selves with our own personalities, but we will be purified, beautified and empowered by Your Holy Spirit within us!
As there is no specific way to receive the filling of Your Spirit, may we see that being filled is to be the normal way of life for us as Your children.
Thank You for baptizing us afresh in Your Holy Spirit, and may we walk humbly with You the rest of our lives bringing honor to You and to Jesus. Amen.
Some us will speak in new tongues as the Spirit gives utterance, and some will know when You've given them an inner witness of the filling.
There will be a change in our thoughts, behavior and conversations. The actual filling experience may depend partly upon the person's temperament.
The genuineness is not based on the external, but on what You do deep within our natures. It may be accompanied by ecstatic joy, but not always.
We will still be our own selves with our own personalities, but we will be purified, beautified and empowered by Your Holy Spirit within us!
As there is no specific way to receive the filling of Your Spirit, may we see that being filled is to be the normal way of life for us as Your children.
Thank You for baptizing us afresh in Your Holy Spirit, and may we walk humbly with You the rest of our lives bringing honor to You and to Jesus. Amen.
Today's Bible verses-
Gal. 4:4 - 6 (NKJV) "But when the fullness of the time
had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born
under the law, (v.5) to redeem those who were under
the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (v. 6)
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit
of His Son into your hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!' "
1 Cor. 1:18 (NKJV) "For the message of the cross
is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us
who are being saved it is the power of God."
Acts 4:31 (NKJV) "And when they had prayed, the place
where they were assembled together was shaken; and
they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke
the word of God with boldness."
Gal. 4:4 - 6 (NKJV) "But when the fullness of the time
had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born
under the law, (v.5) to redeem those who were under
the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (v. 6)
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit
of His Son into your hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!' "
1 Cor. 1:18 (NKJV) "For the message of the cross
is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us
who are being saved it is the power of God."
Acts 4:31 (NKJV) "And when they had prayed, the place
where they were assembled together was shaken; and
they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke
the word of God with boldness."
~ Samuel Chadwick- "The carnal can argue, but it is the Spirit that convicts. Education can civilize, but it is being born of the Spirit that saves. The energy of the flesh can run bazaars, organize amusements, and raise millions; but it it the presence of the Holy Spirit that makes a temple of the living God.
The root trouble of the present distress is that the church has more faith in the world and the flesh than in the Holy Ghost, and things will get no better till we get back to His realized presence and power. The breath of the four winds would turn death into life and dry bones into mighty armies, but it only comes by prayer."
[Taken from Herald of His Coming newspaper, November 2016, p. 7. Used by permission.]
~ Mark Bevis- "Physical construction zones can be frustrating with their different sights and sounds, but all of this is necessary for a new structure to take shape. The same is true concerning spiritual growth. None of us are perfectly shaped Christians the moment we are saved. Salvation is the end of our old self and the beginning of our new self. We become a dwelling place for God the moment we are saved, but we must remember many delays, messes, and detours may be necessary during our growth."
Today's guest post-
Ron Hutchcraft- That's what I want to be. Because an awful lot of people don't really like the kind of Christian they're seeing. And that's a big deal. Because it's keeping them from Jesus.
The woman I loved since I was 19 was that different kind of Christian. You could tell by the mountain of tributes I received after she went to be with Jesus a little over two years ago. Those tributes had a common theme - "she made me feel..." They would finish the sentence with words like "loved...heard...accepted...
Today's question-
Why was it Jesus came when He did?
Because God works things together for our good, He had a particular time in Mind for Christ's birth. Things had to come together in history to make the perfect timing for the arrival of the baby Jesus.
All through the Old Testament, we have Scriptures that point to His coming. We can find these woven throughout the first half of our Bible, as many prophets spoke of His coming. Daniel 9:24 being one, which says, "And to anoint the Most Holy."
In the fulness of time, "God sent forth His Son . . . " Gal. 4:4 - 6 (NKJV) [See above].
You were born for such a time as this, my friend. God's plan includes you and your family to be a part of what the coming of the Lord Jesus accomplished so many years ago!
God had a plan, church! Fear not, Jesus has come!
Why was it Jesus came when He did?
Because God works things together for our good, He had a particular time in Mind for Christ's birth. Things had to come together in history to make the perfect timing for the arrival of the baby Jesus.
All through the Old Testament, we have Scriptures that point to His coming. We can find these woven throughout the first half of our Bible, as many prophets spoke of His coming. Daniel 9:24 being one, which says, "And to anoint the Most Holy."
In the fulness of time, "God sent forth His Son . . . " Gal. 4:4 - 6 (NKJV) [See above].
You were born for such a time as this, my friend. God's plan includes you and your family to be a part of what the coming of the Lord Jesus accomplished so many years ago!
God had a plan, church! Fear not, Jesus has come!
Upcoming posts-
#108 Simple Steps to be Filled with the Spirit
13th- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
Grace to Stand Alone
15th- Saturday's post by George Shaw
#109 Hunger and Thirst for the Spirit's Fullness
18th- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
#110 Surrender Totally to Christ's Lordship
20th- Thursday's posts by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
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