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Gereja yang Dipenuhi Roh
Diperbarui: Jum, 18/02/2022 - 11:24 Oleh admin
Gereja yang Dipenuhi Roh
Bruce Hurt, MD

I.Masalah

II. Pola

A. Contoh Gereja yang Dipenuhi Roh dalam Kisah Para Rasul

B. Contoh Gereja yang Dipenuhi Roh di Efesus

C. Teladan Yesus

AKU AKU AKU. Potensi Gereja yang Dipenuhi Roh

IV. Doa untuk Gereja yang Dipenuhi Roh

V. Ringkasan Karakteristik Gereja yang Dipenuhi Roh

Pesan VI tentang Gereja yang Dipenuhi Roh oleh John MacArthur

saya . MASALAH GEREJA YANG DIPENUHI ROH

Saat itu pertengahan musim dingin dan listrik padam oleh badai es. Saat kami mendengarkan radio bertenaga baterai, penyiar berkata, “ Gereja-gereja berikut akan ditutup karena kekurangan daya .” Sungguh pernyataan yang provokatif! Apa yang akan dikatakan penyiar tentang banyak gereja Amerika saat ini? Mereka mungkin tidak akan ditutup karena kekurangan aktivitas , tetapi kekurangan daya adalah masalah lain!

Francis Chan – Tuhan menaruh Roh-Nya di dalam kita sehingga kita dapat dikenal karena kekuatan kita. Sedihnya, kebanyakan orang percaya dan gereja dikenal karena bakat dan kecerdasan daripada kekuatan supranatural. Yang lebih buruk adalah kita baik-baik saja dengan itu…. Saya berani bertaruh ada jutaan pengunjung gereja di seluruh Amerika yang tidak dapat dengan yakin mengatakan bahwa mereka telah mengalami kehadiran atau tindakan-Nya dalam hidup mereka selama setahun terakhir. Dan banyak dari mereka tidak percaya bahwa mereka bisa.” ( Tuhan Yang Terlupakan - Membalikkan Tragis Pengabaian Roh Kudus Kita )

David Platt dalam bukunya Radical memiliki bab berjudul "Awal dari Akhir Diri Kita - Pentingnya Mengandalkan Kekuatan Tuhan (Subbagian berjudul - "Bergantung pada Diri Kita atau Putus asa pada Roh-Nya") - Di sinilah saya paling yakin sebagai seorang pendeta…Saya adalah bagian dari sebuah sistem yang telah menciptakan berbagai cara dan metode, rencana dan strategi untuk menjalankan gereja yang hanya membutuhkan sedikit kekuatan dari Tuhan….Saya takut dengan kenyataan bahwa gereja yang saya pimpin dapat terus berjalan sebagian besar aktivitas kami….tidak pernah menyadari bahwa Roh Kudus Tuhan hampir tidak ada dalam gambar.” ( Radikal- Mengambil Kembali Keyakinan Anda dari Impian Amerika )

Vance Havner - Kita melihat banyak pelayanan dewasa ini tanpa Roh. Ada ketidaktahuan yang mengerikan tentang Pribadi dan karya Roh Kudus dalam tubuh gereja kita yang besar. Bukan apa yang dilakukan untuk Tuhan yang diperhitungkan, melainkan apa yang dilakukan oleh -Nya, pekerjaan Roh-Nya melalui kehendak kita yang berserah. Program, propaganda, semangat, personal, ini tidak cukup. Harus ada kekuatan . Pekerjaan Tuhan harus dilakukan oleh umat Tuhan dengan cara Tuhan. Para Quaker mendapatkan nama mereka dari fakta bahwa mereka gemetar di bawah kuasa Roh. Setidaknya iman mereka mengejutkan mereka!Terlalu banyak dari kita saat ini yang goyah tentang apa yang kita yakini tetapi tidak terguncang oleh apa yang kita yakini! Terlalu banyak orang yang berkumpul di rumah Tuhan yang tidak terlalu percaya pada kuasa Tuhan. Bermula dalam Roh, kita hidup dalam daging ( Gal 3:3 )… Belum pernah gereja memiliki lebih banyak kawat yang direntangkan dengan kekuatan yang lebih kecil di dalamnya. Semuanya sia-sia kecuali Roh Yang Kudus turun (bdk. Zak 4:6 ). Sayangnya, kita bahkan tampaknya tidak tahu bahwa kita tidak memiliki Roh yang berkuasa. Jika Dia menghentikan pekerjaan-Nya, banyak anggota gereja tidak akan pernah tahu bedanya. Seperti Simson, kami tidak menyadari bahwa Dia telah pergi ( Hak 16:19, 20 , 21 ), tetapi kita tetap "mengguncang diri kita sendiri" dalam senam yang ditentukan.

AW Tozer sekitar 50 tahun yang lalu membuat pernyataan serupa “Jika Roh Kudus ditarik dari gereja hari ini, 95 persen dari apa yang kami lakukan akan terus berlanjut dan tidak ada yang tahu bedanya. Jika Roh Kudus telah ditarik dari gereja PB (dalam Kisah Para Rasul), 95 persen dari apa yang mereka lakukan akan berhenti, dan setiap orang akan mengetahui perbedaannya.”

JADI INILAH PERTANYAANNYA … 95% mana yang Anda inginkan dari gereja Anda? Sebagian besar alami atau sebagian besar supranatural? Sekelompok orang yang diberi energi secara manusiawi atau Gereja yang dipenuhi Roh dan diberdayakan? Lagu spiritual populer This is the Air I Breathe dengan tepat merangkum apa yang seharusnya menjadi seruan harian setiap orang percaya…

Hadirat Kudus-Mu hidup dalam diriku

Ini adalah Makanan Harianku

Firman-Mu diucapkan kepadaku

Dan aku, aku putus asa untuk-Mu

Dan aku, aku tersesat tanpa-Mu!

Ray Pritchard ( Khotbah - Keep Believing Ministries) mengatakan bahwa "kebutuhan terbesar gereja modern adalah kekuatan rohani" menjelaskan bahwa sebenarnya "kebutuhan terbesar kita adalah mengetahui seberapa besar kebutuhan kita sebenarnya... (dan kebutuhan itu) adalah mengenal Roh secara mendalam. dan secara pribadi. Tidak pernah cukup untuk memiliki kebenaran Kebenaran pada akhirnya harus memiliki kita untuk mengubah kita... Saya ingat beberapa tahun yang lalu mendengar Dr.J. Vernon McGee mengkhotbahkan pidato pembukaan di Dallas Theological Seminary Dia saat itu berada di sekolahnya awal tahun 80-an dan mendekati akhir dari pelayanan yang panjang dan berbuah. Saya telah melupakan hampir semua hal lain yang dia katakan malam itu, tetapi satu komentar tetap melekat pada saya. Dia mengatakan bahwa jika dia memulai pelayanannya dari awal lagi,dia akan lebih memperhatikan Pribadi dan pekerjaan Roh Kudus. Dia akan berkhotbah tentang Roh lebih sering dan berusaha memimpin orang untuk bergantung pada kuasanya setiap hari." ( Bagaimana Saya Dapat Dipenuhi dengan Roh Kudus? )

Demikianlah ulasan tentang Gereja yang Dipenuhi Roh ini diharapkan dapat menyampaikan beberapa informasi , tetapi akan sia-sia jika tidak membawa perubahan yang dikerjakan oleh Roh karena itu adalah kebutuhan yang sangat mendesak dari tubuh Kristus di hari-hari terakhir ini! Pengkhotbah dan pengajar dapat (dan harus) mengkhotbahkan dan mengajarkan Sabda Kebenaran, tetapi hanya Roh Kudus yang dapat menanamkan dan menanamkan Sabda itu ke dalam tanah subur hati kita!

CAVEAT/DISCLAIMER - Penyebutan Roh Kudus saja dapat membuat Anda merinding! Praktik-praktik yang dipertanyakan dan ekstrem emosional dalam Nama Roh oleh beberapa orang telah menyebabkan banyak orang percaya menjauh dari Roh Kudus dan menjadi intelektual yang dingin – mendukung ortodoksi tetapi tanpa ortopraksi sejati! Dengan melakukan hal itu orang-orang kudus ortodoks ini pada dasarnya telah mengabaikan peran penting dan penting dari Roh di dalam gereja yang dipenuhi Roh. Musuh tidak diragukan lagi sangat senang bahwa banyak orang di dalam Tubuh Kristus yang tertanam kuat di salah satu dari dua kubu yang terpolarisasi ini - baik sepenuhnya fanatik atau intelektual yang hambar! Saya percaya "jalan tengah" yang didefinisikan dalam Kitab Suci adalah di mana Tuhan menginginkan gereja-Nya dan tujuan dari pesan ini adalah untuk menguraikan pola Kitab Suci tentang gereja yang dipenuhi Roh .

AC Dixon - Saat kami mengandalkan organisasi, kami mendapatkan apa yang dapat dilakukan organisasi. Ketika kita mengandalkan pendidikan, kita mendapatkan apa yang dapat dilakukan pendidikan. Ketika kita mengandalkan kefasihan, kita mendapatkan apa yang bisa dilakukan oleh kefasihan. Tetapi ketika kita mengandalkan Roh Kudus, kita mendapatkan apa yang Tuhan dapat lakukan.

II . POLA GEREJA YANG DIPENUHI ROH

Mari kita jatuhkan garis tegak lurus dari Firman Tuhan untuk menentukan kebenaran tentang Gereja yang Dipenuhi Roh (dan kita hanya menggores permukaannya saja). Setiap pelayanan yang meninggikan Roh dengan mengorbankan peninggian Yesus Kristus jelas salah karena Tuhan kita sendiri menyatakan bahwa Roh Kudus "akan memuliakan ( doxazo = memberikan pendapat yang benar atau penilaian yang benar tentang Yesus) Aku; karena Dia akan mengambil dari Milik saya, dan akan mengungkapkannya kepada Anda." ( Yohanes 16:14 ). Yesus menjelaskan bahwa "Apabila Penghibur ( parakletos = Roh Kudus) datang, Yang akan Kuutus kepadamu dari Bapa, yaitu Roh kebenaran yang keluar dari Bapa, Dia akan bersaksi ( martureo= bear witness of the truth) about Me ( Not primarily about Himself)." ( Jn 15:26 ) The Westminster Shorter Catechism asks "What is the chief end of man?" and answers "Man's chief end is to glorify God and to menikmati Dia selama-lamanya." Tujuan utama dari Roh Kristus yang mendiami setiap orang percaya ( Rm 8:9 - note , Rm 5:5 - note ) adalah untuk memuliakan Tuhan Yesus Kristus melalui kita, bukan untuk memuliakan diri-Nya sendiri!

( Dari Jensen's Survey of the New Testament- sumber yang bagus )

A. _ CONTOH GEREJA YANG DIPENUHI ROH DALAM TINDAKAN

Jadi mari kita mulai dengan "hari lahir" gereja Kristen dalam Kisah Para Rasul 2 .

Kisah Para Rasul 2:1 + "Dan ketika hari Pentakosta telah tiba, mereka semua bersama-sama di satu tempat 2 Dan tiba-tiba datanglah dari langit suatu suara seperti angin yang keras dan kencang, dan memenuhi ( pleroo ) seluruh rumah di mana mereka berada duduk.3 Dan tampak kepada mereka lidah-lidah seperti api yang menyebar dengan sendirinya, dan mereka hinggap di atas masing-masing.4 Dan mereka semua dipenuhi ( jerawatmi - lihat pelajaran kata Yunani ) dengan Roh Kudus dan mulai berbicara dengan bahasa lain, sebagaimana Roh memberi mereka keputusan." (Thayer menulis "apa yang sepenuhnya menguasai pikiran dikatakan mengisinya.")

Dari diagram kita melihat gereja sebagai tubuh Kristus ( Ef 4:12+ ) lahir ketika Roh turun ke atas orang percaya dan semua dipenuhi. Perhatikan bahwa " semua " dipenuhi dan semua mulai berbicara sebagaimana Roh memberi mereka ucapan. Seperti yang dikatakan Ray Pritchard, "Pemenuhan Roh pada dasarnya bukanlah pengalaman emosional, dan itu tentu saja tidak diperuntukkan bagi beberapa orang Kristen super. Itu tidak lebih dari kehidupan Kristen yang normal ketika Roh Kudus memegang kendali." ( Ibid ) Seperti yang dibahas lebih lanjut di bawah ini sedang diisimenggambarkan orang-orang percaya ini sebagai dikendalikan oleh Roh. Kita melihat rasa kenyang ini di tempat lain di mana kita mengamati bahwa apa yang mengisi seseorang mengendalikan mereka. Maka orang Yahudi "dipenuhi dengan amarah, dan mendiskusikan bersama apa yang mungkin mereka lakukan terhadap Yesus (mengisi tindakan yang memberi semangat!."). ( Luk 6:11 , bpk Luk 4:28 , 29 ). Yesus telah pergi tetapi (sebagaimana dibahas di bawah) Dia telah memenuhi janji-Nya kepada para murid untuk mengirimkan Roh yang akan menjadi wakil-Nya dan Agen pemberi kuasa mereka (dan kita). Ingat itu…

Betlehem adalah Tuhan bersama kita.
Kalvari adalah Tuhan bagi kita.
Pentakosta adalah Tuhan di dalam kita.

Jadi mari kita lihat efek yang diberikan Roh pada gereja mula-mula, sambil mengingat bahwa Kitab Suci ini memberikan pola bagi gereja yang dipenuhi Roh di zaman kita…

Acts 4:1-4 + ( context= penganiayaan) Dan ketika mereka (Petrus dan Yohanes) berbicara kepada orang-orang, para imam dan kapten [penjaga] kuil dan orang-orang Saduki, mendatangi mereka, 2 menjadi sangat terganggu (karena mereka mengajar orang-orang dan mewartakan dalam kebangkitan Yesus dari kematian.3 Dan mereka menangkap mereka, dan memasukkan mereka ke dalam penjara sampai keesokan harinya, karena hari sudah malam.4 Tetapi banyak dari mereka yang telah mendengar pesan percaya; dan jumlah orang menjadi sekitar lima ribu (cp 3000 jiwa diselamatkan dalam Kisah Para Rasul 2:41 ) …

Kisah Para Rasul 4:18 + Dan ketika mereka telah memanggil mereka (Petrus dan Yohanes), mereka memerintahkan mereka untuk sama sekali tidak berbicara atau mengajar dalam nama Yesus. 19Tetapi Petrus dan Yohanes menjawab dan berkata kepada mereka, “Apakah benar di hadapan Allah untuk memperhatikan kamu daripada kepada Allah, kamulah hakimnya; 20 karena kami tidak dapat berhenti berbicara tentang apa yang telah kami lihat dan dengar .” (Mengapa mereka tidak dapat berhenti berbicara? Karena mereka dipenuhi dengan Roh, Dia yang akan memberikan kesaksian tentang Yesus [ Yoh 15:26 ]! Dan bagaimana tanggapan gereja terhadap penganiayaan dan penderitaan berikutnya? Mereka mengadakan doa dan layanan pujian!) …

Kisah Para Rasul 4:24 + “Dan ketika mereka mendengar ini, mereka mengangkat suara mereka kepada Tuhan dengan sehati ” (Jangan menyerah gambar ini -- gereja yang dipenuhi Roh adalah gereja yang bersatu. Kata yang digunakan Lukas di sini adalah homothumadon atau homothymadon yang sarana temperamen yang sama dan membantu kita memahami Roh yang menempa kesatuan Gereja pertama) …

Kisah Para Rasul 4:29 + "Dan sekarang, Tuhan, perhatikan ancaman mereka, dan berilah hamba-hamba-Mu dapat berbicara kata-kata-Mu dengan keyakinan penuh ( keberanian - parrhesia ), 30 sementara Engkau mengarahkan tangan-Mu untuk menyembuhkan, dan tanda dan keajaiban terjadi melalui nama hamba-Mu Yesus yang kudus." 31 Dan ketika mereka telah berdoa, goyanglah tempat di mana mereka berkumpul bersama, dan mereka semua dipenuhi dengan Roh Kudus (fakta bahwa hal ini diulangi menunjukkan bahwa Kis 2:4 + pengisian tidak permanen, peristiwa satu kali saja), dan mulai mengucapkan firman Tuhan dengan berani ( parrhesia ) ( mempengaruhi ucapan ).32 Dan jemaah orang-orang yang beriman itu sehati dan sejiwa ( menciptakan kesatuan ); dan tidak satu pun dari mereka mengklaim bahwa apa pun yang menjadi miliknya adalah miliknya; tetapi segala sesuatu adalah milik bersama bagi mereka ( merangsang kemurahan hati ). 33 Dan dengan kekuatan (mega) yang besar ( dunamis ) (Perhatikan bukan hanya kekuatan tetapi kekuatan yang besar ! Jawaban Tuhan mengingatkan kita pada Ef 3:20 + di mana kita Paulus mengingatkan bahwa Dia "dapat [melihat Tuhan Mampu ] untuk melakukan dengan sangat melimpah melebihi semua yang kita doakanatau pikirkan, sesuai dengan kuasa [Kekuatan apa? Bukan Kekuatan impersonal , tetapi Pribadi yang menyediakan kekuatan , Roh!]=-terus menerus "memberi energi"] di dalam diri kita!" apakah kita benar-benar percaya ini?) para rasul memberikan kesaksian tentang kebangkitan Tuhan Yesus (penggenapan Kisah Para Rasul 1:8+ ), dan kasih karunia ( charis ) yang melimpah ada pada mereka semua.

Itu dia – gereja yang dipenuhi Roh! Mari kita rangkum apa yang kita amati tentang tubuh orang percaya yang dipenuhi Roh:

(1) Mereka akan mengalami penganiayaan

(2) Mereka akan berdoa bersama

(3) Mereka akan dipenuhi dengan Roh

(4) Mereka akan dipenuhi dengan keberanian suci ( parrhesia ),

(5) Mereka akan bersatu dalam hati dan jiwa,

(6) Mereka akan bermurah hati

(7) Mereka akan mengalami kuasa-Nya ( dunamis ) untuk mewartakan Injil ( euaggelion )

(8) Mereka akan mengalami kasih karunia yang melimpah ( charis ).

Sebelum Pentakosta, para murid seperti kelinci. Setelah Pentakosta, mereka seperti musang! Memang “ Petrus si penyangkal ” (Yesus = Mat 26:34 , 3 penyangkalan Petrus = [1] Mat 26:69-70 , [2] Mat 26:71-72 , [3] Mat 26:73-74 ) berdaya dan diberanikan oleh Roh secara supranatural diubah menjadi " Peter sang Proklamator !" ( Kis 2:4 , 14 , 36-38 + , Kis 4:8 + = "Petrus dipenuhi Roh Kudus"). Sebelum Pentakosta para murid merasa sulit untuk melakukan hal-hal yang mudah ; setelah Pentakosta mereka merasa mudahuntuk melakukan hal-hal sulit . Pentakosta adalah kejadian sekali seumur hidup, yang " mengubah segalanya ". Dan ingat bahwa jika Pentakosta tidak pernah diulangi , juga tidak akan ditarik kembali . Dengan kata lain, meskipun sudah berlalu 2000 tahun, kita masih berada di era Roh Kudus dan gereja yang dipenuhi Roh! Ada potensi bagi setiap gereja untuk diberdayakan oleh Roh untuk memuliakan Nama Yesus (bdk. Yoh 16:14 )!

Perikop Kisah Para Rasul lainnya yang berhubungan dengan gereja yang dipenuhi Roh…

STEPHEN - Acts 6:3+ "But select from among you, brethren, seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task… 5 Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit… 7 And the word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith. 8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people… Acts 7:55+ But being full of the Holy Spirit, he (Stephen) gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God… 60 And falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" And having said this, he fell asleep.

Comment: These passages reveal a number of interesting results or effects of Spirit-filling. For example notice that Acts 6 mentions men full of the Spirit and then describes the effect -- "the word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly" (Acts 6:7+)

Orang percaya yang dipenuhi Roh (seperti Stefanus) diberi kuasa secara supernatural untuk menjadi saksi Yesus Kristus ( Kis. 1: 8+), shining brightly even before those who are filled with hatred (Acts 7:58+, Acts 8:1+ = Saul/Paul) Spirit filled believers are supernaturally enabled to forgive even those who persecute them! Finally note that being filled with the Spirit enables one to die with a peace that surpasses human understanding.

SAUL/PAUL - Acts 9:17+ (Three days after Saul/Paul's conversion) And Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.… 20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”… 22 But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this [Jesus] is the Christ.

BARNABAS - Acts 11:22-24+ And the news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. Then when he had come and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.

Comment: Spirit filled believers like Barnabas encourage the church to "to remain true to the Lord with a firm resolve of the heart."

PAULUS - Kisah Para Rasul 13:9-10+ But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze upon him, and said, "You who are full (what a dramatic contrast full of the Spirit vs full of deceit!) of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord?"

Komentar : Orang percaya yang dipenuhi Roh dipersenjatai dengan kuasa Roh untuk peperangan rohani (bdk. pengisian dalam Ef 5:18 which is necessary to carry out Eph 6:10-17. Because the verses are so far apart and are separated by a chapter break, many expositors miss the fact that we are just as dependent on the Spirit to fight an invisible foe as we are to sing to one another!)

Acts 13:52+ And the disciples were continually filled (pleroo in the imperfect tense = over and over filled) with joy and with the Holy Spirit. (cp "joy of the Holy Spirit" = 1Thes 1:6) Acts 14:1 And it came about that in Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner (Spirit empowered) that a great multitude believed, both of Jews and of Greeks. 2 But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles, and embittered them against the brethren. 3 Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly (enabled by the Spirit) with reliance upon the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands.

Norman Brown summarizes - From these passages, it is clear that the results of filling vary with individuals and circumstances. But apart from special manifestations, there are always certain results: (1) the experience is Christ-centered, not Spirit-centered (cf. John 16:14); (2) the Spirit will reproduce—not imitate Christ in the believer (Gal. 4:19+); and (3) the Spirit will impart His own spiritual power (cf. Acts 1:8+). In connection with these results, it is important to note that tongues is not a universal evidence of the filling of the Spirit. Many times in the book of Acts, Christians are described as being filled with the Spirit without any textual mention of tongues as being its manifestation (Acts 4:8, 31+; Acts 6:5+; Acts 9:17+; Acts 13:9+). To argue for the necessity of tongues in relation to filling—in spite of these silent passages—is to break basic rules of hermeneutics… The sum of the teaching of the passages in Acts seems to be that the Spirit-filled life is the normal condition of the believer. Spirit-filling is intended for all Christians as a part of the will and purpose of God for their lives. The evidence in Acts suggests that the filling with the Spirit is both an act and a process; both an event and a life… In order to be filled, the Christian must meet the scriptural conditions of yieldedness. Accordingly, Ironside states, “We cannot be filled by deciding to claim it by faith. Neither are we filled by praying for it (Ed: But we can pray to know the "surpassing greatness of His power" Eph 1:18,19+ and that we be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man" Eph 3:16+) … We are only filled with the Spirit as we yield ourselves to God and walk in obedience to His Word… When the Christian meets the conditions for being filled, the Holy Spirit, like an overwhelming force, immediately occupies as much of that person as is relinquished to Him. While the former sin nature is still present, it has been reckoned dead, and the new nature—energized by the Spirit—is capable of producing the fruit of the Spirit (cf. Gal. 5:22, 23+). (The Filling Of The Holy Spirit In The Book Of Acts)

What is a Spirit filled church? A Spirit filled church was the normal experience for the church in Acts and is to be the expected experience of every church of every age! And so in simple terms a Spirit filled church is composed of Spirit filled believers, irrespective of their position in the church or their degree of maturity. Every believer has received the Holy Spirit at the moment of regeneration, for as Paul explained "you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him." (Ro 8:9+, cp 1Cor 6:19+) So the moment we were born again by the Spirit, the Spirit comes in as resident, but when we allow (yield, surrender to) Him to fill (control) us He becomes "president" so to speak! In other words, the Spirit comes not just to reside in us, but to preside over us! As Wayne Detzler says "The Christian church can only adequately fulfill its function in the world when every member knows this Spirit fulness."

THOUGHT - God has sovereignly made His provision available. Our responsibility is to make His place available. Are you willing to allow Him to preside and to guide your life? Your answer determines whether you will experience His filling or not! And remember, Scripture teaches that when we believed we received all of the Spirit we will ever possess. The question now is how much of each of us will He possess (fill, control) each day?

It is one thing for you to have the Holy Spirit.
It is another thing for the Holy Spirit to have you!

B. EXAMPLE OF A SPIRIT FILLED CHURCH IN EPHESIANS

Let’s look at Paul’s command to be a Spirit filled church, noting that the verb filled is plural which indicates this command is for the entire church…

Ephesians 5:15+ Therefore be careful (present imperative = command calling for this to be their lifestyle - something only possible as we yield to the Spirit) how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, 16+ making the most of (exagorazo in present tense = continuously redeeming) the time (kairos), (why?) because the days are evil (poneros). 17+ So then do not be foolish, but understand (suniemi in the present imperative) what the will of the Lord is. 18+ And do not get drunk (methusko) with wine, for that is dissipation (asotia), but be filled with the Spirit, 19+ speaking (present tense) to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing (present tense) and making melody (present tense) with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks (present tense) for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21 and be subject (present tense) to one another in the fear of Christ.

Comment: Be filled in Eph 5:18 is not a suggestion, but a command (it is every believer's responsibility) in the present tense calling for Spirit filling to be our habitual practice, our lifestyle so to speak. It follows that no believer understands (or is in) the will of God who is not filled with His Spirit (Eph 5:17+) The present tense also underscores the fact that filling is not a one time event but is a repeated action. The implication is that each morning we need to wake up with a sense of our desperate need for Spirit to fill us. The passive voice indicates this filling is not something we do, but something we allow the Spirit to do in us. Our part is to acknowledge our need and willingly surrender our will to the Spirit. I would add that given that the Spirit is Holy, we also need to "keep short accounts" and continually confess our sins when He brings them to our mind (1 Jn 1:9+ where confess = present tense = as our lifestyle, our habitual practice). Finally, the verb be filled is in the plural which indicates this command applies to the entire church (as we say in Texas it applies to "Y'all"). Every church (and every member) is to be a Spirit filled church. To not be Spirit filled is to disobey God's command, which of course is a sin!

Charles Swindoll - I don’t know of a more important verse in the New Testament for the Christian than Ephesians 5:18—honest, no exaggeration. This verse tells the believer how to live an authentic, empowered life.

Ray Pritchard describes how we are to be filled with the Spirit -- "We need two things—emptiness and openness. You can’t fill a jar that’s already full, and you can’t fill a jar that is not open. There must be a sense of need—“Lord, I’m empty and I need to be filled by your Spirit.” There must be a willingness—“Lord, I’m open to you. Let your Spirit fill me now.” The filling of the Spirit is really as simple as that. As long as we are conscious of our need and as long as we are willing to yield to the Lord, we can be filled with the Lord because His power is available to us all day long." Pritchard has coined the term "fillability" to describe our need and desire adding that "when your need to be filled with the Spirit becomes your great desire, you will be filled. Over and over again. Instantly. Every time." (Ibid)

Let's summarize what a Spirit filled church looks like according to Ephesians 5:15-21…

(1) The members are continually speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. As an aside, this "fruit of filling" enables one to discern whether he is filled with the Spirit, for out of the mouth comes that which fills our heart (cp Mt 12:34). When the Spirit fills (controls) our heart, wholesome speech proceeds from our mouth. On the other hand, when unwholesome speech proceeds from our mouth (Eph 4:29+), we can be know that we have grieved the Spirit (Eph 4:30+) and at that moment are not controlled by Him, but by our sinful flesh! How were your words today? If unwholesome, then confess them to the Lord, so that you do not continue to grieve the Spirit.

As an aside, there are some commentaries that combine speaking and singing ( #2) as one effect, but in the Greek sentence these are separate and distinct participle verbs. Furthermore, when one compares the parallel passage in Col 3:16+ speaking in Eph 5:19 parallels "teaching and admonishing", which is is distinct from singing.

(2) The members of the body continually sing and make melody with their hearts to the Lord. He is to be our audience to Whom we seek to please as we sing, not others in the body.

(3) The members are always giving thanks for all things. Notice the two key adjectives - always and all things! A continual "attitude of gratitude" even in the face of trials and/or afflictions is a strong indicator of Spirit filling, for such a genuine response is not natural but supernatural! Notice also that since gratitude is the antithesis of grumbling, the latter response is a sure sign of control by the unholy flesh rather than the Holy Spirit. In Phil 2:14+ we are commanded not to grumble, but the only way this is possible is to work out our salvation in fear and trembling in daily dependence on God at work in us giving us the desire and the power to do what pleases God (see Phil 2:12+, Phil 2:13NLT+ where "God Who is at work in you" = the Holy Spirit!) Did you grumble today? Are you still grumbling and grieving the Spirit (Eph 4:30+)? Then run to 1 Jn 1:9+ and Pr 28:13+! Remember that "The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is Thy faithfulness." (Lam 3:22-23)

(4) They are continually willing to submit themselves to each another in the fear of Christ. When we surrender to the Spirit, He will enable us to willingly surrender our right to be in control in every situation. Spirit wrought mutual submission in the body of Christ will be manifest by a Phil 2:3-4+ mindset (Doing "nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind" regarding "one another as more important than" ourselves, not looking "out for [our] own personal interests, but also for the interests of others."). In short, such submission to one another is not natural but supernatural as the Spirit empowers each member of the body to have an attitude of humility and selflessness.

(5) Notice also that in the context of Eph 5:15-17+ being Spirit filled enables the members of the church to continually…

(a) Walk wisely.

(b) Redeem the opportunities God provides. (See related discussion Redeem the Time)

(c) Understand God's will. (See related discussion - The Will of God).

Comment: Note that each of the preceding verbs is plural which means Paul is addressing the entire church. In addition each verb is in the present tense which calls for these attitudes and actions to be our lifestyle, clearly something we can accomplish only supernaturally as the Spirit enables us!

Note also that the effects of Spirit filling do not cease in Ephesians 5:21, but successively impact our marriages (Eph 5:22-31+), our children (Eph 6:1-4+), our workplace (Eph 6:5-9+), our warfare (Eph 6:10-17+), our prayer life (Eph 6:18+) and our power be a bold witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Eph 6:19-20+). Too many believers forget that in every area of our life, we are continually in desperate need of the power of the Spirit, Who alone enables us to live as more than conquerors in Christ!

Relationship of being filled with the Spirit and "filled" with the Word…

Colossians 3:16-note Let the word of Christ richly dwell (present imperative = command to the entire church [verb is plural] calling for this to be their lifestyle = only possible as we individually yield to the Spirit giving us the desire and the power) within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

RELATIONSHIP OF BEING FILLED…
WITH THE SPIRIT AND WITH THE WORD
THE HOLY
SPIRIT THE HOLY
WORD
Ephesians 5:18, 19, 20 Colossians 3:16, 17
Be filled with
(present imperative) Let… dwell within
(present imperative)
The Spirit
(of Christ) The Word
Of Christ
Speaking to
One Another Teaching and Admonishing
One Another
In Psalms and Hymns and
Spiritual Songs With Psalms and Hymns and
Spiritual Songs
Singing and making melody
with your heart
to the Lord Singing with thankfulness
in your hearts
to God
Always giving thanks Giving Thanks
Click more in depth chart comparison between Eph 5:18-6:9 and Col 3:16-4:1

In summary, being filled with the Word is intimately related to being filled with the Spirit. The corollary conclusion is if you are not daily eating the Word or meditating on the Words you have memorized, you are not likely to be filled with and controlled by the Spirit. (cp John 6:63 where Jesus links the Spirit and the Word). Are you eating (e.g., inductive Bible study) and "chewing the cud" of (meditating on) the Word of Life daily? Spiritual health like physical health depends on adequate intake of good nutrition (cp Jesus' words in Mt 4:4, Job 23:12+)! See discussion on the inestimable (and even eternal - see 1Ti 4:8+) value of Memorizing God's Word. See online memory verse tool to aid your daily intake of the "bread of life" - Memory Verses by Topic.

Charles Spurgeon once said that a Christian’s blood should be “bibline,” bleeding Scripture wherever he or she is pricked or cut (speaking figuratively of course)!

C. EXAMPLE OF JESUS

Let’s test the hypothesis of filled with the Spirit and filled the Word by observing the example of Jesus. Remember that He emptied Himself when He became flesh (Phil 2:6-7-note) and one reason was that He would then give His disciples the example of how a godly man can live in this fallen world. In light of that truth, it is not surprising that believers are repeatedly instructed (even commanded) to follow Jesus ("Be [present imperative = continually] imitators… of Christ" = 1Cor 11:1, "be imitators… walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us" = Eph 5:1-2-note; Christ left "an example for you to follow in His steps" = 1Pe 2:21-note, "walk [conduct yourselves] in the same manner as He Himself walked" 1John 2:6-note, ).

Luke 4:1-4 And Jesus full of (pleres) the Holy Spirit returned from the Jordan (where the Spirit descended on Him = Mt 3:16-17, Mk 1:10-11, Lk 3:21-22, Jn 1:32) and was led about by the Spirit (Mt 4:1 - demonstrating His willingness to submit to the Spirit; cp Mk 1:12 = "impelled Him"!) in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted (peirazo in present tense = continually tempted) by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days; and when they had ended, He became hungry. 3 And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” 4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE (Matthew adds "BUT ON EVERY WORD [rhema = spoken word] THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’” = Mt 4:4, quoting Dt 8:3).’

Comment: If the Lord of glory was willing to submit to the Spirit for guidance, how can we not do likewise! (cp Gal 5:18-note, Gal 5:25NLT-note).

Luke 4:14-15 And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power (dunamis) of the Spirit; and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all.

Comment: If Jesus' taught filled with and empowered by the Spirit, how can any teacher not be desperate to emulate His example, lest their teaching be wood, hay and stubble?

Peter summarizes Jesus’ 3 year ministry in Acts 10:37-38 - "You yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed (chrio) Him with the Holy Spirit (cp Lk 4:18, Isa 61:1-2, Isaiah 42:1, 59:21, Isa 11:2-note) and with power (dunamis), and how He went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with Him."

Comment - Jesus was anointed for ministry with the Spirit and power. His disciples have also been anointed for Paul says "Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed (chrio) us is God." (2Cor 1:21). John referring almost certainly to the Holy Spirit's anointing of all believers, adds that we "have an anointing (chrisma) from the Holy One" (1Jn 2:20-note) and this "anointing (chrisma) which you received from Him abides (or dwells = meno in present tense = continually) in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you (John is not saying we don't need teachers at all - see note); but as His anointing (chrisma) teaches you about all things." (1Jn 2:27-note)

Two important observations:

(1) Jesus defeated temptation filled with Spirit and filled with the Word the "sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God" (Eph 6:17-note). By His victorious example, Jesus has shown us the secret for triumph in times of temptation---the Word and the Spirit (cp Ro 8:13-note)!

(2) Jesus carried out His powerful ministry in dependence on the Holy Spirit and His power (dunamis). How are we carrying out the ministry God has given us -- with the arm of flesh (2Chr 32:8) or the strong arm of the Lord (Ps 89:13, Isa 62:8)?

Comment - Without supernatural power, we can do absolutely nothing of eternal significance (cp Jn 15:16, 15:8). As Jesus said "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me (separate from the enabling power of the Spirit of Jesus) you can do (Greek = absolutely) nothing." (Jn 15:5) Being saved is not a matter of what we do for God, but is what God does through us as we allow His Spirit to empower His ministry in and through us. Stated another way, the human spirit fails us unless the Holy Spirit fills us.

John MacArthur adds "A Christian can accomplish no more without being filled with the Holy Spirit than a glove can accomplish without being filled with a hand. Anything he manages to do is but wood, hay, and straw that amounts to nothing and will eventually be burned up (1Cor. 3:12-15). Functioning in the flesh produces absolutely nothing of spiritual value."

Conclusion: A Spirit filled church follows Jesus’ example –

Filled with the Spirit of Truth
Filled with the Word of Truth
Filled with supernatural power

III. THE POTENTIAL OF A SPIRIT FILLED CHURCH

Let's join the 11 tremulous disciples in the upper room the night before the Cross, the night Jesus told them that He would go away (Jn 13:33, 36, 14:2-4, 12, 28, 16:5). Last words! The last words of anyone are worth listening to especially if they are the last words of Jesus (John 13:1-16:33 = His last words before His crucifixion).

GREATER THINGS
IN THIS CITY

John 14:12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father (cp Jn 7:38-39-note;, Jn 16:7 below).

Examples of greater works (quantitatively, not qualitatively) are seen in the number of souls gathered into the Kingdom in Acts 2:41 = 3000 and Acts 4:4 = 5000. And so most agree that far more souls were saved in the ministry of the apostles in Acts then in Jesus' entire ministry. (See David Platt's comments below on this "church growth strategy.")

In Chris Tomlin's spiritual song God of this City there is a line that echoes Jesus' prophetic promise that "greater things have yet to come, and greater things are still to be done in this city."

Question: Do you want to be a body of Christ in this city about which it is said they “have turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6KJV) for the glory of Jesus the King? I do! Then we must determine to jettison dependence on men's methods and stay desperate for the Spirit's power, for only by His supernatural dunamis can we expect to do "greater things… in this city"!

John 14:16-18 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another (not heteros but allos = another of the same kind!) Helper (parakletos = one who stands by to help or render aid, to enable), that He may be with you forever. [that is] the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, [but] you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." (Post-resurrection = Jn 20:19-21, 22; Then at Pentecost when the Spirit of Jesus came to indwell them)

John 14:26 “But the Helper (parakletos), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

Jn 15:26 “When the Helper (parakletos) comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, [that is] the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me,

John 16:7 But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (parakletos) shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.

John 7:37-39-note Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.’” 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Mt 28:18-20 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples (matheteuo in the aorist imperative = command conveying a sense of urgency! The only command in the "Great Commission!") of all the nations (compare "all the nations" with Jesus' commission in Acts 1:8 and you see our total need for the powr of the Spirit in both passages), baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always (How? The indwelling Spirit of Jesus! cp parallel "Great Commission" passage in Luke 24:46-48, 49, cp Acts 1:4, 8-note), even to the end of the age.”

What was the "church growth strategy" for the Spirit Filled Church in Acts?

David Platt writes "What I love about the picture that unfolds in Acts ins the intentional way Luke makes much of God in the way he tells the story. Listen to the language in Acts 2 when Luke records the results of Peter's sermon at Pentecost. He writes "Those who accepted his message were baptized and about 3000 were added (Ed comment: See word study on prostithemi. Were added is in the passive voice signifying the power to produce this addition came from an external Source!) ) to their number that day." (Acts 2:41+). Did you hear the passive language? They were added. It begs the question, "Who added them?" Go down to Acts 2:47+… and Luke makes sure we get the right answer. There he writes "The Lord added (prostithemi) to their number daily those who were being saved." The trend continues. Acts 5:14+ says, "More and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number." When Barnabas shares the Gospel in Antioch, the result is that "a great number of people were brought (prostithemi) to the Lord (Acts 11:24+). Later, in Pisidian Antioch, a host of Gentiles "who were appointed (Ed: again this is in the passive voice, implying God appointed them - this is often referred to as the divine passive) for eternal life believed." (Acts 13:48+) This is the design of God among His people. He is giving unlikely people His power so it is clear who deserves the glory for the success that takes place. The story of the church continues throughout the rest of the New Testament, and as I read it, I cannot help but long to be a part of this kind of a scene in the church today. A scene where we refuse to operate in a mind-set that depends on what we can achieve with our own abilities. A scene where we no longer settle for what we can do in our own power. A scene where the church radically trusts in God's great power to provide unlikely people with unlimited, unforeseen, uninhibited resources to make His Name known as great. I want to be a part of that dream." (Radical- Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream) (Bolding added)

THOUGHT - Dear reader don't you long to be a part of such a Spirit Filled, Spirit Empowered Church in the twenty-first century! Jesus promised His Spirit would do greater works! God has done great things before and He can do them again. He is looking for churches emptied of self and filled with the Spirit, so that He alone gets the glory!

Conclusion: The potential for the Spirit filled church is a greater harvest of souls then Jesus Himself is His 3 year ministry. Why? Because the Holy Spirit not just in one person but in every member of the body.

Come, Holy Spirit, God and Lord!
Be all thy graces now out-poured
On the believer’s mind and soul,
To strengthen, save, and make us whole.
--Martin Luther

IV. THE PRAYER FOR A SPIRIT FILLED CHURCH

As we yearn to yield more to the Spirit of Christ we will encounter increased resistance from the world, our fallen flesh and the devil, so let us pray without ceasing (1Th 5:17-note, Eph 6:18-note) for ourselves and for one another Paul's prayer for the saints at the church in Ephesus (Eph 1:18-19). Notice that he is not praying for them to be filled with the Spirit per se, to receive more of the Spirit, to be baptized with the Spirit or to experience what some refer to as a second blessing. No, he is praying for the eyes of their hearts to be opened to the vistas of the great riches they already possess in Christ (cp "every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" - Eph 1:3-note). In short, he is praying for these saints to possess their possessions, to possess what God has already promised them and made available for them in Christ through His Spirit. How do they possess their possessions? Ultimately by faith and obedience. (See study of relationship between faith and obedience) Or as the old hymn says "Trust and obey for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, then to trust and obey." As former Wheaton College president V. Raymond Edman used to say "The Spirit-filled life is no mystery revealed to a select few, no goal difficult of attainment. To trust and obey is the substance of the whole matter." So as a body let us boldly approach the throne of grace (Heb 4:16-note) and pray Paul's great prayer. What might God do with His church if we kept on asking, kept on seeking, kept on knocking (Mt 7:7-note)?

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that (term of purpose or result) you will know (eido = know beyond a shadow of a doubt - an assurance only given by the Spirit to our hearts) what is the hope (elpis) of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing (huperballo = to a degree which exceeds extraordinary!) greatness of His power (dunamis) toward us who believe (pisteuo). These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might (Ephesians 1:18-19-note)

Comment: Hope (elpis) is not "hope so" but "hope sure!" The great doctrine of Biblical hope speaks of the saint's absolute assurance of a future good. We can be absolutely confident that God will do good to us in the future. The writer of Hebrews describes it as "full assurance." (Heb 6:11-note). The surpassing greatness of His power in context is the same power that resurrected Jesus Christ from the dead (see context - Eph 1:19b-note and Eph 1:20-21-note). One wonders if the saints at Ephesus continued to pray this prayer (and similar Pauline prayers - Eph 3:16-19-note) for one another (something that is really only possible as the Spirit enables us), because in the short span of only about 30 years the church was the recipient of some painful words from Jesus - "I have [this] against you, that you have left (aphiemi) your first love. 5‘ Remember (mnemoneuo in the present imperative = command calling for this to be their lifestyle - something only possible as we yield to the Spirit) therefore from where you have fallen, and repent (metanoeo in the aorist imperative = command conveying a sense of urgency!) and do (poieo in the aorist imperative = command conveying a sense of urgency!) the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you, and will remove your lampstand out of its place–unless you repent." (Rev 2:4-5-note) God grant that these words never need to be spoken to your church beloved. Amen

APPLICATION:

What would (could) God do with a truly Spirit filled Church?
What clues do we see in the Spirit filled church in the book of Acts?
Would you like to be part of a Spirit filled Church?
V. SUMMARY OF CHARACTERISTICS OF A SPIRIT FILLED CHURCH

SPIRIT FILLED CHURCHES – Are persecuted churches because the enemy knows from experience (he has read the book of Acts!) they are mighty instruments in the hands of the Almighty God. (Acts 8:1+, Acts 4:29+)

SPIRIT FILLED CHURCHES – Have the Spirit's power enabling them to suffer joyfully, courageously and victoriously (Acts 5:41+, Stephen in Acts 7:55-58+, 1Thes 1:6+).

SPIRIT FILLED CHURCHES – Are praying and fasting churches, seeking God’s will, God’s guidance, God’s glory. (Acts 4:24-30+, Acts 13:2-3+, Acts 14:23+)

John Piper on Fasting - Fasting is an exceptional measure, designed to channel and express our desire for God and our holy discontent in a fallen world. It is for those not satisfied with the status quo. For those who want more of God’s grace. For those who feel particularly desperate for God. (Sharpen Your Affections with Fasting)

SPIRIT FILLED CHURCHES – Manifest a sense of unity in diversity wrought by the Spirit even in times of difficulty and persecution. (Eph 4:3-6+, Acts 1:14+, Acts 2:46+, Acts 4:24+, Acts 5:12+, Acts 15:25+, cp Jn 17:21-23)

SPIRIT FILLED CHURCHES -- Are generous churches (with a heart of charity) whose members are seek to meet the needs (chreia) of others in the body of Christ. (Acts 2:44-45+, Acts 4:34-37+).

SPIRIT FILLED CHURCHES – Exhibit Spirit enabled boldness and power not to DO witnessing but to BE witnesses for Jesus Christ. (Acts 4:31+, Acts 1:8+)

SPIRIT FILLED CHURCHES – Are powerful witnesses to the resurrection of the Lord Jesu