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May 29, 2019 • Chris Papazis

Fuel Bible Study Erased 4 – Be Filled With The Holy Spirit [Part 2] 3 results of being filled with the Holy Spirit from Acts 2 1. They spoke with other tongues 2. They were filled with a joy that was evident to bystanders. This joy is what the Bible calls joy unspeakable and full of glory (1Pet 1:8) 3. They received power for ministry. Q1: What is the ‘Infilling’ or ‘Baptism’ in the Holy Spirit? 1. The Infilling or Baptism of the Holy Spirit is an experience that is available to every believer in Jesus 2. It can be described as an overwhelming inbreaking of God’s presence into the one who experiences it. Just as a cup can get filled to overflowing with whatever is being poured into it, so too believers can and should desire to be filled to overflowing with the presence of God 3. A person who receives the baptism in the Holy Spirit will begin to experience a transformation in their personal lives that will be evident to others 4. As this infilling causes the believer to grow personally, their growth in turn will contribute to the Body of Christ being strengthened and the Gospel being advanced 5. The ultimate purpose of this experience is empowerment for witnessing (Acts 1:8) and a deeper dimension of Christian commitment. It will produce true happiness (Eph. 5:19), gratitude (Eph. 5:20), humility (Eph. 5:21), and fruitfulness (fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) (Gal. 5:22, 23). 6. Along with this baptism, the Holy Spirit gives “Gifts of the Spirit” such as speaking in tongues, healing, etc… These gifts should be exercised in a way that can be described as being ‘done properly and in an orderly manner’ (1 Cor 14:40), should have evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in their use, and should have the result of building up the Body of Christ Q2: Why is it so important? 1. We cannot live the Christian life apart from the power of the Spirit. We cannot be truly loving, patient, kind, etc…in our own strength 2. We cannot truly advance God’s Kingdom apart from the power of the Spirit. Enemy strongholds can only be torn down by the power of the Spirit. People can understand the Gospel only by the power of the Spirit. There is nothing more damaging to the Kingdom of darkness than born-again believers, who know who they are in Christ, are grounded in the Word of God, and filled with the Holy Spirit. 3. Scripture commands it. Ephesians 5:18 “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,” Q3: How do I receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit for myself? 1. Ask – As you go to God in prayer, make your request known and tell Him that you would like to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. We have not because we ask not. Luke 11:13 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?" 2. Remember who you are in Christ – We are not worthy of such a magnificent gift, but at the time we put our faith in Christ for salvation, God made us worthy 3. Confess unconfessed sin and make appropriate life changes – Respond to these promptings from the Holy Spirit. He convicts of sin, but this is never condemnation, rather it is the Holy Spirit’s way of removing hindrances to our relationship with Him. We want to admit it, quit it, and then make appropriate life changes to prevent future failings. 4. Tarry – Wait for it. Lay aside busyness and distraction and focus wholly on the Lord. We are an instant gratification culture. We want what we want, and we want it now. We don’t like to wait. “We are into microwaving, but God is into marinating.” -Dutch Sheets We must slow down and not try and get God to respond to our timetable, but we need to get on God’s timetable. Wait for it! 5. Receive it – The Holy Spirit will show up and begin to do what you asked and start to fill you. At this point there is nothing to do except receive. Allow the Holy Spirit to fill you. Enjoy His glorious presence! 6. Repeat often –Make this part of your daily walk with Jesus. Set aside time every day and ask to be refilled. This will ensure you never neglect the precious Third Person of the Trinity!

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May 22, 2019 • Chris Papazis

2 Part Message answering the following questions: 1. What is the ‘Infilling’ or ‘Baptism’ in the Holy Spirit? (Infilling and Baptism will be used synonymously throughout these messages) 2. Why is it important? 3. How can I receive it myself? So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. – Acts 1:6-9 1. This conversation takes place on Ascension Day 2. Jesus’ last Words again are about the Holy Spirit 3. Power: Dunamis – (miraculous) power, might, strength, and ability.” Dunamis is the mighty miraculous power of God 4. When the Holy Spirit comes upon believers they will receive the mighty miraculous power of God to be His witnesses to the world. They will be able to take this message of redeeming love to the ends of the earth 5. Jesus is not referring to salvation in Acts 1:8 And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. – John 20:22 The disciples had already received the Holy Spirit in John 20:22 which occurred 40 days before Jesus conversation with them in Acts 1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. – Acts 2:1-4 3 elements present when the Spirit moves 1. Praying – Like so many things in the Kingdom, prayer is key 2. Waiting – We need to slow down. God is not on our timetable, we need to get on His 3. Unity – Fighting among brothers and sisters in Christ stops the flow of the anointing 5 Takeaways 1. We can’t live for Christ in our own Strength. We need power from the Holy Spirit 2. The Infilling of the Holy Spirit is an event that occurs after regeneration (salvation) 3. We can and should be repeatedly filled with the Holy Spirit throughout our lives (Infilling not just a “one and done”) 4. The Infilling of the Holy Spirit gives believers joy and strength for ministry 5. The Infilling of the Holy Spirit is available to EVERY believer. (There are no “super saints”. We are all equal at the foot of the Cross!)

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Chris Papazis

Erased 2 – The Mind of God: Revelation, Inspiration, and Illumination "If we find the answer to that, it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason—for then we would know the mind of God" Stephen Hawking - A Brief History of Time 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; Telios - Mature. Refers to that which has reached an end, that is, finished, complete, perfect. When applied to persons, it signifies consummate soundness, and includes the idea of being whole. More particularly, when applied to believers, it denotes maturity. SFLB 7 but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; Musterion - Mystery. "to initiate into the mysteries," hence a secret known only to the initiated, something hidden requiring special revelation. In the NT the word denotes something that people could never know by their own understanding and that demands a revelation from God. The secret thoughts, plans, and dispensations of God remain hidden from unregenerate mankind, but are revealed to all believers. In biblical Greek it is truth revealed. NT musterion focuses on Christ's sinless life, atoning death, powerful resurrection, and dynamic ascension. -SFLB

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April 24, 2019 • Chris Papazis