Ephesians 5:18 – Let’s Meet God – Bible study

Ephesians 5:18 Lets Meet God We are Christians. Christians worship one God, but the one God manifest Himself in three unique Persons. Some say that we are polytheists. Poly means many. The meaning god. They say we worship many gods. We dont. He is just one God, but He does manifest Himself in three Persons. The three individual Persons of the God are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Tonight, lets meet God. I. The Members of the Godhead are Unique A. Each Person in the Trinity has His own unique roles. 1. From what I can see of the Father, He is the Architect, the Planner, the One who brings all things together. 2. From what I can see of the Son, He is the One who physically interacts with physical. If it is God in a physical form, it is most likely the Son. (a) I believe it was Jesus who appeared to Abraham and then walked into Sodom. (b) I believe it was Jesus who appeared to Joshua and announced Himself as the Captain of the Lords Hose. (c) I believe it was Jesus who walked with Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. 3. From what I can see of the Holy Spirit, He is the One who spiritually interacts with the physical. (a) Once Jesus ascended to the heavens, the Holy Ghost took over. (b) He moves inside the believer, not as much inside physical body of the believer as inside the spiritual being of the believer. (c) The Holy Spirit connects us to the Father and the Son. (d) He is our Link with them. B. Because the three members of the Godhead have different roles, we are commanded to do different things with each Member. 1. Let me emphasize again, we do not have three gods. (a) I can see how this would be confusing. (b) There are questions I have about the nature and person of the Godhead. (c) I dont understand, but I believe these things because of what I read in the Bible. 2. What are we commanded to do with each Member of the Godhead? (a) We are commanded to glorify the Father. Matt 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (b) We are commanded to exalt the Son. Joh 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. (c) We are commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Eph 5:18 but be filled with the Spirit; Note: I dont think any Member of the Godhead is distributed if we get things a bit wrong. (1) I dont think God the Father or God the Son will be terribly displeased if we exalt the Holy Spirit. (2) I dont think God the Son or God the Holy Spirit will be terribly displeased if we ask the Father to fill us. (3) But if we are going to study the Bible, we might as well learn what it says and what it suggests is that each Member of the Godhead is different and we have different responsibilities to each. C. There are ways to obey these commands. 1. If you want to glorify the Father, obey Him. Talking about God is not glorifying Him. It is just talking about Him. The best way to glorify God is to do what He tells us to do when He tells us to do it and how He tells us to do it. 2. The way to exalt the Son is to talk about Him. Tell everyone you meet who Jesus is, what Jesus did for you, and what Jesus will do for them. 3. But the most difficult relationship to have with God (at least it has been for me) is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. II. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. A. The best I can tell (I will likely say that several more times tonight), the Holy Spirit does four major things for us. 1. He is our Teacher. Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 2. He is our Comforter. 3. He is our Convictor. John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 4. He is our Guide, the One who makes a way for us. Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth. B. I am not thinking that the word "guide" is a synonym for teach. 1. I dont think Jesus was saying the same thing here that He said in \#John 14:26\. 2. I think the idea is that He will make a way for us to get to the truth or to the place where we need to be. 3. Another way to say it, "I think the Holy Spirit is our Enabler." 4. Every believer of every age has needed Gods Spirit to enable them. (a) Othniel needed the Holy Spirit to take Debir and become a judge over Israel. (b) Gideon to defeat the Midianites. (c) Samson to have his strength. (d) David to have wisdom and military power. (e) Isaiah to see the Lord, high and lifted up. (f) John the Baptist to prepare the way for the Lord. (g) Paul to endure the suffering and to carry the gospel to a Gentile world. (h) John to receive the Revelation. (i) And even Jesus to do the miracles He did while on earth needed the fullness of the Holy Ghost. C. Three of the four things I mentioned that the Holy Ghost does are the very things we complain most often about the church and world we live in lacking. 1. We say the world lacks sense. Is that because they have turned from the Teacher? 2. We say they dont know right from wrong. Is that because they have turned from the Convictor? 3. We say the church lacks power. Is that because we have turned from the Enabler? D. Perhaps before we spend any more time asking God to send a revival, we should spend some time asking God to fill us with His Spirit! III. What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit? A. Frist, I am not sure I know. B. Second, it seems to me that it has to mean more than to be indwelt with the Holy Spirit. 1. The Bible makes it very clear that the Holy Ghost takes up residence INSIDE every believer. 1Jo 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. 1John 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. Ro 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 2. With His indwelling, certain spiritual abilities automatically come. (a) Some prayers will be answered. (b) Some peace with be given. (c) Some understanding will be had. 3. However, this is not the filling and the fullness of the Holy Ghost. 4. It is just being on the outer perimeter of the Holy Spirits presence. 5. No. There must be more. (a) More power to be had. (b) More effects to be seen. (c) More assurances to be felt. C. The best I can tell, being filled with the Holy Ghost seems to be at least one of these four things, preferability all of them. 1. Having unusual prayers commonly answered. 2. Having unusual knowledge and understanding. (That is largely what marked an Old Testament prophet. He/She knew that could not be known.) 3. Having unusual fruit in soul winning. 4. Having unusual abilities: (a) Samson had his unusual strength. (b) Moses, Elijah, Elisha, and Paul could do miracles. (c) The New Testament church could speak in tongues. D. Folks, I am going to tell you that we need those first three abilities again like nobodys business! IV. What will it take to be filled with the Holy Ghost? A. First, I am not sure I know. 1. Do you realize that God did not give a formula, at least not one I have found? 2. To be honest, I am hesitate to make any suggestions, but I will as long as we understand that this is just the starting point. B. What should we do? 1. We must consciously seek God. a. Not just the Holy Ghost, but the Godhead. b. To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be joined to God. c. Of course we already are, but we are seeking something more, something more deliberate, more meaningful. d. I dont know if you have ever considered by the relationship between God and the believer is at first determined by God. (a) It is good. (b) But it is basic. e. After that basic relationship is established, it then becomes the Christians responsibility to keep it and to deepen it. f. Beyond the salvation, the relationship you and I have with God is determined by us. g. We must seek God. 2. We must consciously speak to God. a. God may sometimes seem far away; but He never is; and He always wants to hear from us. b. God may not be a big Talker but He is a great Listener. c. That is what prayer is. d. I notice before the Holy Spirit filled the first set of believers, they locked themselves into the Upper Room and prayed for seven solid days. (1) 50 days between Passover and Pentecost (2) 3 in the grave (3) 40 days in appearances (4) 7 in the Upper Room 3. We must consciously surrender to God. a. Anything and everything He asks us to give up or to do, we must readily give to Him. b. Rebellion and stubbornness are bricks walls to being filled with the Holy Spirit. V. Any other council? Yes. A. Be prepared to spend time before Him. B. Be determined to see this through to the end before you start. C. Be dependent upon Him. (If we dont have to have Him, we wont be filled with Him.