I am Saved, Now What?
Be Filled With the Spirit
Once you are born again there are other steps to take and other things that God desires to do in your life. One of those things is being baptized in water. Another very important step in God’s will for your life is to be Filled With the Spirit! Being Filled with the Spirit is the Promise of the Father. Jesus prayed in John 14 that the Father would send the Holy Spirit, and that you would receive the fullness of the Spirit. Many people confuse the work of the Holy Spirit in salvation with the fullness or infilling of the Holy Spirit. The 120 disciples on the Day of Pentecost were saved; they had the indwelling of the Spirit. But Jesus commanded them to wait in Jerusalem, they were not to do anything else until they were endued with power from on high.
Acts 2:33,38,39 --- Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear…and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
The Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him…that means the fullness of the Spirit is a good thing. It is the Father’s promise that you receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is not an option but a must for any believer who wants to fulfill God’s will.
Acts 8:12-14 --- But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done. Now when the apostles…heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
We see from these scriptures…that believers throughout Acts continued to be baptized in water…AND filled with the Spirit
What happens in a person’s life who yields to being filled with the Holy Spirit?
1> You receive power for living.
Acts 1:8 NLT --- But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere.
2> You receive power to pray for needs and for other people.
Rom 8:26-27 NLT --- And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.
3> It builds yourself up spiritually and you receive strength from God.
Jude 20 --- But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit…
GN --- Pray in the power of the Holy Spirit…
CEV --- …as the Holy Spirit helps you to pray.
How do we receive the Holy Spirit?
1> Believe the Bible.
Acts 2:4 tells us “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
2> Ask your Father for the Holy Spirit.
Luke 11:13 --- If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
3> Act in faith and begin to pray out in other tongues, using your voice.
1 Cor 14:2,14,15 --- For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.
To receive more teaching on this subject, check out Pastor Shon’s teaching - “I am Saved, Now What?” in the Interact Café or email the church office at info@eastpointe.tv.