INTRODUCTION

1. The Chastening period was over

2. A newfound faith had emerged

3. The filling of the Spirit took place

 

THE OCCASION OF FILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled.

64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. Luke 1:63-64

1. It was contingent upon Zacharias’ obedience to the Lord

2. Full obedience was required

a) Remembering the word of the angel Gabriel

b) Naming of Baby John

c) Faith in God had to be restored

3. A special act of God took place

a) The punishment was removed

b) The praise of God came to the mouth naturally

c) The months of being chastened were of importance

d) This was an invisible and long work of the Spirit of God

 

FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: Luke 1:67

28 “And it shall come to pass afterward

That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

Your old men shall dream dreams,

Your young men shall see visions.

29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants

I will pour out My Spirit in those days. Joel 2:28-29

1. The Promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit

a) Pouring out of the Spirit of God

b) Prophecy as a gift would be experienced

2. This Promise was fulfilled in the life of Zechariah

a) As an example

b) As an encouragement

3. Zacharias’ experience

a) This was new

b) This was exhilarating

c) He began to prophesy

4. He had begun to comprehend

a) What it means to be filled with the Spirit of God

b) What it means to prophesy by the power of the Spirit

 

UNDERSTANDING THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD

25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.

26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Ezekiel 36:25-27

1. The work of cleansing

a) Sprinkled clean

b) Cleansed from all filthiness

2. A new work

a) A new heart

b) A new spirit

c) No more a heart of stone

d) A heart of flesh is given instead

3. The Spirit of God

a) He will indwell

b) He will fill

c) He will cause us to walk in God’s statutes

d) He will help us keep His judgments

 

OUR CHALLENGE

1. To desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit

2. To repent of unbelief that hinders

3. To seek cleansing that is vital before filling can take place