How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit
What the Holy Spirit does and brings to our lives is all about love.
Every Christian has the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9) but not every Christian is filled with the Spirit.
There are five categories of people in this regard:
1. Longing (Pentecost – Acts 2:2–4)
2. Receptive (Samaria – Acts 8:14–23)
3. Hostile (Paul – Acts 8:1,3; 9:1–2)
4. Uninformed (Ephesus – Acts 19:1–6)
5. Unlikely (Gentiles – Acts 10:44–47)
About this fifth category, a Gentile environment, we read in Acts 10:44–46 44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. 44彼得还在说话的时候，圣灵降在所有听道的人身上，45那些受了割礼、跟彼得一同来的信徒，因为圣灵的恩赐“恩赐”或译：“恩赏”也浇灌在外族人的身上，都很惊讶；46原来听见他们讲方言，尊 神为大。
Question 1
What happened to Cornelius, a Roman military leader, and his household when the Spirit came upon them (verse 46)? Who were the circumsized believers in verse 45?
They experienced the love of God
‘… the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. Then Peter said… ‘they have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”’ (Acts 10:44–47)
• There were physical manifestations
• Everyone’s experience is different
• What matters is God’s love being poured out into your heart (Romans 5:5)
• Pursue the person, not the experience (Ephesians 3:14–19)
Let’s read Romans 5:1-5 1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Question 2
Read the passage also in your native language. What is the way we receive hope (verse 5)? What preceeds hope in many circumstance? Notice, the sequence in verses 3 and 4.
They expressed their love for God
‘For they heard them… praising God’ (Acts 10:46). Emotion is a part of faith and love for God. You can do that with your whole body. Raising hands was a traditional form of prayer, back then, and nowadays.
They received a new love language
‘For they heard them speaking in tongues’ (Acts 10:46).
a) Not all Christians speak in tongues
- Not the mark of being a Christian
- Not necessarily a mark of being filled with the Spirit
- There are no first- or second-class Christians
- It is not the most important gift
b) What is the gift of tongues?
- Human or angelic language (1 Corinthians 13:1)
- A form of prayer (1 Corinthians 14:2)
- Builds up the individual
- Transcends the language barrier (1 Corinthians 14:14)
- The speaker is in full control
- Public use requires an interpretation
c) Why is it helpful?
- Worship (1 Corinthians 14:15)
- Praying for oneself (1 Corinthians 14:2,4)
- Praying for others
d) Why ask for the gift of tongues?
- Paul encourages its use (1 Corinthians 14:5,18,39)
e) What are the barriers to being filled with the Holy Spirit?
• Doubt: ‘I don’t think I will receive’
• Fear: ‘What will happen to me’
• Inadequacy: ‘I’m not good enough’
Jesus says in Luke 11:13b … how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! … 何况天父，岂不更把圣灵赐给求他的人吗？
Close in prayer. Especially the believers can ask for being filled with the Holy Spirit.
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What the Holy Spirit does and brings to our lives is all about love.
Every Christian has the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9) but not every Christian is filled with the Spirit.
There are five categories of people in this regard:
1. Longing (Pentecost – Acts 2:2–4)
2. Receptive (Samaria – Acts 8:14–23)
3. Hostile (Paul – Acts 8:1,3; 9:1–2)
4. Uninformed (Ephesus – Acts 19:1–6)
5. Unlikely (Gentiles – Acts 10:44–47)
About this fifth category, a Gentile environment, we read in Acts 10:44–46 44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. 44彼得还在说话的时候，圣灵降在所有听道的人身上，45那些受了割礼、跟彼得一同来的信徒，因为圣灵的恩赐“恩赐”或译：“恩赏”也浇灌在外族人的身上，都很惊讶；46原来听见他们讲方言，尊 神为大。
Question 1
What happened to Cornelius, a Roman military leader, and his household when the Spirit came upon them (verse 46)? Who were the circumsized believers in verse 45?
They experienced the love of God
‘… the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. Then Peter said… ‘they have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”’ (Acts 10:44–47)
• There were physical manifestations
• Everyone’s experience is different
• What matters is God’s love being poured out into your heart (Romans 5:5)
• Pursue the person, not the experience (Ephesians 3:14–19)
Let’s read Romans 5:1-5 1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Question 2
Read the passage also in your native language. What is the way we receive hope (verse 5)? What preceeds hope in many circumstance? Notice, the sequence in verses 3 and 4.
They expressed their love for God
‘For they heard them… praising God’ (Acts 10:46). Emotion is a part of faith and love for God. You can do that with your whole body. Raising hands was a traditional form of prayer, back then, and nowadays.
They received a new love language
‘For they heard them speaking in tongues’ (Acts 10:46).
a) Not all Christians speak in tongues
- Not the mark of being a Christian
- Not necessarily a mark of being filled with the Spirit
- There are no first- or second-class Christians
- It is not the most important gift
b) What is the gift of tongues?
- Human or angelic language (1 Corinthians 13:1)
- A form of prayer (1 Corinthians 14:2)
- Builds up the individual
- Transcends the language barrier (1 Corinthians 14:14)
- The speaker is in full control
- Public use requires an interpretation
c) Why is it helpful?
- Worship (1 Corinthians 14:15)
- Praying for oneself (1 Corinthians 14:2,4)
- Praying for others
d) Why ask for the gift of tongues?
- Paul encourages its use (1 Corinthians 14:5,18,39)
e) What are the barriers to being filled with the Holy Spirit?
• Doubt: ‘I don’t think I will receive’
• Fear: ‘What will happen to me’
• Inadequacy: ‘I’m not good enough’
Jesus says in Luke 11:13b … how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! … 何况天父，岂不更把圣灵赐给求他的人吗？
Close in prayer. Especially the believers can ask for being filled with the Holy Spirit.
Save this worksheet by pushing the EMAIL-button
CLEAR EMAIL