John K. Jenkins Sr - Living the Spirit-Filled Life

This Ephesians 5:15 verse says, "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be unwise but understand what the will of the Lord is." Somebody say, "Understand what God's will is!" And here's what the will of God is : Do not be drunk with wine. Look at your neighbor and say, "Stop drinking." Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit. Turn to that same neighbor and say, "Be filled with the Spirit of God." Filled with the Spirit! Now, this is not a suggestion from God ; it's not an option ; it's a command! Be filled with the Spirit. What we need-and what I'm praying for-is that we don't have religious people in church but Spirit- filled people in the church. We need Spirit- filled individuals. We've got a lot of folks who can do the church thing, but I'm praying that God will give us people who have the Spirit of God ruling and governing every aspect of their lives. What I try to tell people is that when the Spirit is governing in your life , He tells you where to go, what to do, what to say, who to be with, and who to leave alone . He talks with you, walks with you , and communicates with you through His Word. The reality is that for you to live a victorious life, you need to be Spirit- filled. Can I get an amen from somebody ? As a matter of fact, when you get down to verses 22 through 33, He tells you why you need to be filled. Wives need to submit to their own husbands ; they need to be filled with the Holy Ghost to do that. If you aren 't filled with the Holy Ghost, you can't submit to your husband. You need the Holy Ghost to help you back down and shut it down. That 's my thing right there! You need the Holy Ghost to bring it on in, because we know, ladies, that you know the answer to the dilemma before he even knows there's a question on the table . He also says you need the Holy Ghost to be filled with the Holy Ghost in verse 25, where it says, "Husbands, love your wives." You brothers need the Holy Ghost to love her the way she wants to be loved ! I need God to fill me with His Spirit to love my wife the way she needs to be loved . It's been a lifelong journey for me to learn; it's a moving target. A few people know what I'm talking about. Let me say that I know a lot of you know what I'm talking about , but a few of you are willing to admit it. It 's a moving target, but it's okay. God gives me the power, fills me with the Spirit, and gives me the desire and the will to love her. And so , He tells us right here why we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. A wife needs to be willing to submit to her husband; that takes the Holy Spirit. A husband needs to love his wife the same way that Christ loved the church. Jesus loved the church so much that He was willing to die for it. I thought the ladies would say amen real loud on that point right there! Amen! That 's why we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. So that's my prayer , my longing to God-that we would be filled. Now, I don't want you to hear me say "get the Holy Spirit," because the reality is that when you accepted Jesus, the Holy Ghost came to live inside you. You don't have to-I'm not preaching to get the Holy Ghost ; if you're saved, you have the Holy Spirit. The Bible says in Romans that if you don't have the Spirit of God, you are not one of His disciples. When you got saved, the Holy Spirit came and took residency in your heart and spirit . The question is not whether you have Him, but does He have you? Oh, I wish I could get a few more amens on that point! That 's really the ultimate question-how much of you does the Holy Ghost have? The desire of God is for the Holy Ghost to have all of you-all of your heart, all of you, your spirit . When I was growing up in First Baptist Church of Glenarden, we used to say things , and I used to get scared because if someone started jumping, shouting , and "hucking and bucking," there was a day we got filled or overcome with something . Sometimes it was the Spirit of God; sometimes it wasn't. Sometimes it was just emotions , and people hollered, screamed , wailed , and beat up everybody on their row. But the Holy Ghost is a gentleman. He never forces Himself on you, and He doesn't make you do anything. Amen? He'll suggest, "Go ahead and raise your hands and worship Him." He'll say, "Step out in the aisle and go ahead and cut a dance for Him." He'll suggest for you to open your mouth and give God some praise !