Do you really want to be filled with the Holy Spirit and receive all that He gives? We said in earlier studies that 
1.  WE MUST BE THIRSTY, 
2.  WE MUST BELIEVE THE PROMISES OF GOD, 
3.  WE MUST BE SURE OF OUR SALVATION.
4.  We need to answer the question "WHO IS GOING TO BE EXALTED"?

We need to remember that the Person of the Holy Spirit is not a toy that we can play with. He is God. We cannot play spiritual and emotional games with the Person of Holy Spirit so that we get liver-shivers and goose bumps lest we find ourselves falling away from the faith. A walk with God and a walk in the Spirit is a serious thing. You can't fall away from something you never had.

1 Timothy 4:1-2 ESV Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, (2) through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,

I cover the five evidences or proofs of genuine salvation, which all true believers must manifest, in my book "THE FIVE WITNESSES OF SALVATION." This is a great read for those interested in witnessing to the lost properly and witnessing to suspected lost church members.
 
It is a normal part of New Testament life for a believer to examine himself and test himself to ensure that he is still in the faith. I have shook all over under the power of the Spirit. I have fallen to the ground like a dead man under the power of the Holy Spirit because I was unable to stand. I have cried and laughed under the power of the Holy Spirit.

However, a consistent daily walk in the Holy Spirit does not consist of these things alone. The reason I say this is because I have seen Christians run from one Holy Spirit service to another getting their emotional, mental, and physical "Holy Ghost" fix.  

We need to always remember that the number one work of the Person of the Holy Spirit is to lead us consistently to the Lord Jesus Christ and to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. If we get any glory or seem to have a "more holy" attitude, then we need to examine ourselves and examine what spirit we are operating in.

John 15:26 ESV "But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.

John 16:13-14 ESV When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. (14) He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

1 John 4:2 ESV By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

2 Corinthians 13:5 ESV Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

We need to be careful when we are around signs, wonders, miracles and healings that we remember it is not about us and it is not about the signs and wonders. We need to know and understand the work of God among us. We can be close to the things of God and the presence of God yet our heart can become hardened from God Himself. The object of our worship and praise is also the subject of who our god is. If we worship experiences then that becomes our god. To be a true Spirit-filled believer, we must at all times focus on our relationship and fellowship with the Father, made possible by the work of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross and the indwelling Holy Spirit. Even those who walked with Jesus daily battled with having a hardened heart towards the things of God.

Mark 6:51-52 ESV And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, (52) for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

Do you really want to be filled with the Holy Spirit and receive all that He gives? We said that... 
WE MUST BE THIRSTY, 
WE MUST BELIEVE THE PROMISES OF GOD,
WE MUST BE SURE OF OUR SALVATION, and answer the question
WHO IS GOING TO BE EXALTED. 

The Holy Spirit does not exalt Himeself. The number one ministry and work of the Holy Spirit is to take us to the Lord Jesus Christ. The number one ministry and work of the Lord Jesus Christ is to take us to the Father.

The Person of the Holy Spirit always points us to our Lord Jesus Christ and to truth. The Holy Spirit's job is to bring glory to the Son. The Son's job is to bring glory to the Father.

Yes, it is a joy experiencing the gifts, the power, the anointing, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, but these things are not the main reason that He was sent to be with us. There are many who exalt the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit and miss His main ministry and work in pointing us to the Son. 

The motivation of the heart determines a lot when we are seeking after the Father.  Are we thirsty for the Father or for what He can give or how He can make us feel? King David cried out after his sin because he knew that he had sinned against God and he also knew the joy of the Father's presence was now missing.

First he cried out for God's mercy and love and that the Father would cleanse him of his sin.
Psalms 51:1 (ESV)  To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
Psalms 51:2 (ESV)  Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!

He did not try to blame others or his circumstances for his sins. He took personal responsibility for his sinful words, deed, and thoughts.
Psalms 51:3 (ESV)  For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
Psalms 51:4 (ESV)  Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

Even though he was King and looked upon by others as beyond reproach, he acknowledged that he was born a sinner. In other words David acknowledged there was no good in him. And then proclaimed that the only thing in him that was good was God's wisdom and truth.
Psalms 51:5 (ESV)  Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Psalms 51:6 (ESV)  Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

David did confessed by faith "under the Law," what many believers today fail to do under grace. He made a proclamation by faith that if God forgave him of his sin then he certainly would be forgiven and cleaned and that settled it.
Psalms 51:7 (ESV)  Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Psalms 51:8 (ESV)  Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
Psalms 51:9 (ESV)  Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

David new that we have a sin problem because we have a heart problem. He knew that he needed more than to be fixed or repaired, he needed to be replaced. He asked God for a new heart and a new spirit. Then he cried out for what we need more than anything in our church services and that was for the Father's presence. He knew that salvation belonged to God. David also asked that the Father's salvation be rekindled with the Father's joy.
Psalms 51:10 (ESV)  Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalms 51:11 (ESV)  Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Psalms 51:12 (ESV)  Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

The Father desires that we seek His presence over His power and His grace over His gifts. He will guide us to all truth. The only way to fill a glass with fresh, clean, cool water that is drinkable, is to ensure the glass desiring the water is first emptied and cleaned inside from anything else.  

John 16:8-11 ESV And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: (9) concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; (10) concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; (11) concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

John 16:13-14 ESV When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. (14) He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

TO BE FILLED...
 
1.  WE MUST BE THIRSTY, 
2.  WE MUST BELIEVE THE PROMISES OF GOD,
3.  WE MUST BE SURE OF OUR SALVATION,
4.  DECIDE WHO IS GOING TO BE EXALTED.  

I want to say something else about being thirsty for the things of God and having our thirst quenched.

If I thirst for the filling of the Holy Spirit I will be filled. Once I first drink of the Holy Spirit, (having the Holy Spirit dwelling in me as a result of the NEW BIRTH), nothing will ever quench my thirst outside of His presence. 

I have meet people who claim to have known the Lord and now claim to be atheists or part of a cultic religion. They claimed that Jesus was not enough truth and that now they have real truth. I either have to believe them or believe God's Word that once we are truly saved we will never thirst again. I choose God's Word.

Once we are saved there is a spiritual well deep within us that will spring forth, gush out, when we learn to walk in a Spirit-filled life style. Now, this is true or False. If God's Word is not correct here then can I believe it anywhere? We have a well of life, a well of thirst quenching life, a God-filled deep within us, waiting to come forth to bless the nations.

We talk about getting out of the way so that can come forth, but what does that mean? My new book titled "EXPERIENCING THE BEAUTY OF BROKENNESS" takes about the broken and poured out life, which is a life in the Spirit. It is a 7-day a week for 10 weeks intensive on the life of being broken and humbled before the Lord. It is long enough to get us in the habit of getting our thirst quenched by the daily Spirit-filled life and not attempting to satisfy the flesh through worldly endeavors. 

John 4:13-14 ESV Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, (14) but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

Ephesians 5:18 ESV And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Do you really want to be filled with the Holy Spirit and receive all that He gives?
We said that first WE MUST BE THIRSTY for the things of God.
Secondly, after being thirsty, WE MUST BELIEVE THE PROMISES OF GOD and His Word.
Third we said that WE MUST BE SURE OF OUR SALVATION.

This may seem strange but there are people who are addicted to church and Holy Ghost meetings who have never been born again. 

The fourth thing is to settle this question in our hearts. "WHO IS GOING TO BE EXALTED"?

God the Father wants us to be filled in the Spirit more than we want to be filled in the Spirit. But the manifested presence of God our Father is not for our benefit so that we can have "goose-bumps", "liver-shivers", and "do-dads" running up and down our spine.

The Lord God of the universe desires to be exalted and given honor from our lives. It is not a "feel-good" session. It is a demonstration of the power of God in and through His children for His glory. Being filled with the Person of the Holy Spirit is not for manifesting our spirituality and piety but manifesting the glory of His presence through our weakness with fear and trembling.

Remember, the #1 reason the Holy Spirit came and His #1 job was to REVEAL & TAKE US TO JESUS.
The #1 reason the Son came and His #1 job was to REVEAL & TAKE US TO THE FATHER.

1 Corinthians 2:2-5 ESV (2) For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. (3) And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, (4) and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, (5) so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Do you want to be filled with the Holy Spirit and receive all that He gives? We said that first WE MUST BE THIRSTY for the things of God. The next step after being thirsty is that WE MUST BELIEVE THE PROMISES OF GOD and His Word. If I am thirsty for the manifested presence of God and really believe in His promises, what can I expect from God? What is expected of me by God?

(Isaiah 55:1 ESV) "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

(Isaiah 55:2 ESV) Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.

(Isaiah 55:3 ESV) Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.

(1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV) The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

According to Is.55:1-3 that which I need to quench my soul cannot be purchased by my own resources and cannot be earned. I must hear and obey the Word of God. The natural man (LOST) cannot hear or receive the things of God.

I must make sure that I am saved. Paul says that we must examine ourselves. I cannot walk as a Spirit-filled man if all I possess is a false religion and empty profession. There are 5 evidences of salvation that I can apply to my life to ensure that I am saved.

#1. Biblical Testimony-I have a time and experience of asking Christ in my life. Rom.10:9-10, 13
#2. Internal Evidence of the Spirit-The Holy bears witness with our spirit that we are saved. Rom.8:15-16
#3. External Evidence of Fruit-All believers must manifest the fruit of the Holy Spirit, which is the character of God. All unbelievers can never manifest the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Gal.5:22-23
#4. Fraternal Evidence-All true believers will love the brothers. If not, they are liars. 1 Jn.2:9-11; 4:20-21
#5. Paternal Evidence-All true believers will be spanked by the Father if in sin. Heb.12:5-11

These 5 evidences or witnesses to salvation are explained in detail in my book "THE FIVE WITNESSES OF SALVATION"
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If I have these 5 evidences by faith, then by that same faith I can walk daily as a Spirit-filled man.

Ephesians 5:18 ESV And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Acts 11:22-24 ESV The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. (23) When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, (24) for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.

What kind of testimony do you want people to speak concerning your Christian life? What an incredible testimony Paul and Luke had of Barnabas. Barnabas was known as a man full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. Wow, incredible testimony of the life of our Lord Jesus Christ living in and through a man.

The ongoing question has been, "Do you really want to be filled with the Holy Spirit and receive all that He gives?" We said that first we must be thirsty for the things of God. After being thirsty for the things of God we said that we must believe the promises of God and His Word.

I would like to continue on the need to be thirsty for the THINGS of God. It is typical when a person is thirsty to try all kinds of things to satisfy that thirst. I know believers right now who are thirsty and they are trying the things the world offers to satisfy the desire of the soul. They try to quench that desire with things such as improper relationships, religious tradition, emotional or physical bonds with someone, religious activity, or social and economic success.

Our Lord promised that the Father would give us a Comforter who would satisfy all the desires of our body, soul, and spirit. When I feel lonely He will be there to quench that thirst to be with someone. When I feel fear He will be there to quench that thirst for security and safety. When I feel confused or deceived He will be there to quench that thirst for truth.

The key is call upon and trust God, the Holy Spirit to be in us what our Lord Jesus Christ promised He would be.

John 14:16-17 ESV And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, (17) even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

The promises of God are "Yes and Amen". Our Lord Jesus Christ promised that out of our bellies would flow rivers of living waters. Is this true? It is the Word of God, therefore it can not be anything but truth.

2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

John 7:37-39 ESV On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. (38) Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" (39) Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Numbers 23:19 ESV God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

Therefore, if there is no river of living waters flowing out who can we blame? Obviously we need to look at our own lives and realize that something must be wrong if the Word is not working in and through us as our Lord promised that it would. We need to be thirsty to allow the Holy Spirit to fill us and we become a river of living waters.

The thirst we need is not a thirst in our inner most being that says "we could take it or leave it." It is not a double-minded wishy-washy mentality. A Christian not walking in the Spirit is trying to please God and the world at the same time which cannot happen.

James 1:5-8 ESV If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (6) But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. (7) For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; (8) he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

2 Peter 2:17-18 ESV These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. (18) For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error.

1 Kings 18:21 ESV And Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." And the people did not answer him a word.

Isaiah 29:13 ESV And the Lord said: "Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,

It is a good day to choose to WALK IN THE SPIRIT.

DESPERATION THIRST:
Do you really want to be filled with the Holy Spirit and receive all that He gives?" We said that first we must be thirsty for the things of God. This is the kind of desperate thirst that chooses to walk away from the worldly pleasures of life.

The kind of thirst that would drive us to sell all we have to attain the field with the hidden treasure. The kind of thirst that would cause us to pant like a deer pants for the water. It is a desperation of the soul and spirit that says I must have it or die. It is a thirst that feels we are so in need of spiritual water that our tongue cleaves to the roof of our mouth. God we are thirsty for YOU and YOUR presence.

Psalms 42:1-2 ESV To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah. As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. (2) My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

Matthew 13:44 ESV "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Romans 8:5-8 ESV For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. (6) For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. (7) For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. (8) Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Galatians 5:16 ESV But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Father, forgive us for not having spiritual thirst.

There are a lot of cravings among believers in the days which we live. There are cravings for food, drink, love, popularity, riches, fame, attention, pleasure, and power. I cry every time I see a believer overcome by these cravings and walk away from the Lord. 

Many times the cravings and lust in the heart for the world, the things of the world, and personal satisfaction exceeds thirst for the things of God and for His truth. Those who give in to the lust of the heart use justification and every possible excuse outside of themselves for why they are where they are emotionally, relationally, spiritually, financially, socially, and mentally. We live in a day of excuses and the victim mentality.

I have seen believers ask God for the right thing morality, socially, and spiritually and then when they receive it they use that very thing which was an answered prayer, as an excuse to be a victim to it. We are called to walk in the Spirit without excuses. My spouse, my children, my job, my church and my health cannot be used as an excuse for us walking in the flesh and making decisions outside of the will of God.

It states in the book of James that all lust starts in the heart of man.

James 1:13-15 ESV Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. (14) But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. (15) Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

When we are not in the Spirit we are in the flesh and fulfilling the lust of the flesh. This is the root of wars and fighting among believers.

James 4:1-3 ESV What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? (2) You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. (3) You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

When we walk in the spirit we are pleasing the Father and doing His will. When we are walking in the flesh we are fulfilling the lustful desires of the flesh. These fleshly lusts war against our soul, which is the way we think (our thoughts), the way we feel (our emotions) and the way we choose (our will).

1 Peter 2:11 ESV Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

1 John 2:15-17 ESV Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (16) For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. (17) And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

How I long to see the Body of Christ to thirst after God and make the hard decisions to deny self. I cry out for the command of our Lord in Revelation to be a reality within the lives of many believers before it is to late.

Revelation 3:17-18 ESV For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. (18) I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

Do you really want to be filled with the Holy Spirit and filled with all that He gives? I am not speaking about the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, but being yielded up to a daily walk with the Person of the Holy Spirit. This is also called "walking in the Spirit."

(Ephesians 5:18 ESV) And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

First, we must be thirsty for the things of God. There is a great thirst in the church today among believers, however it is not always for the things of God. It seems to be a thirst for self-gratification, which creates a desire or lust to "use God" for a "spiritual high." There is a thirst for entertainment whereby we seek the new song, the fresh Holy Spirit buzz, or the newest media church seeker-friendly gimmick. Our heavenly Father is not to be used for our sensual desires but He is to be enjoyed in deep relationship and true fellowship. It is His desire to anoint us with His presence in the Person of the Holy Spirit. 

Romans 14:17 ESV For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 5:6 ESV "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

John 7:37-39 ESV On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. (38) Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" (39) Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Isaiah 55:1 ESV "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
TO BE CONTINUED...