PART 3 RECOGNIZING A SPIRIT-FILLED PASTOR

What is the New Testament perspective which will assist the pastor or believer in being continually filled with the Spirit?

PART 3 RECOGNIZING A SPIRIT-FILLED PASTOR

CHAPTER 4

The New Testament Perspective Which Will Assist the Pastor Or Believer in Being Continually Filled with the Spirit

As a New Testament saint, we are no longer under obedience to the tenets of the Mosaic Law. This doesn’t mean we are free to sin, but what it does mean is that our life is no longer to be in subjection to commandments, at least not those under the Law. Unfortunately, for many believers the leadership of many Spirit-filled churches still advocates that some tenets of the Mosaic Law (e.g. tithing, observance of certain days; the giving of firstfruits, observing the 7^th day Sabbath, etc.) are to be kept in order to please God. Learning how to rely on the ministry of the Holy Spirit along with obedience to some aspects of the Mosaic Law becomes common place in most Christian churches.

I believe that the plan of God for the New Testament saint has been declared to us by means of the scriptures which are contained for the most part in the book of Acts, the Epistles, and the book of Revelation, along with a small number of scriptures from the Gospels. So, let’s take a look at those scriptures which will unveil to us the protocols to follow which will allow for the pastor or any believer to be continually filled with the Spirit.

 

Let’s begin by restating what it means to be filled with the Spirit.

Be filled with the Spirit:

Ephesians 5:18

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.

Paul is instructing the believers at Ephesus that they should not be continually controlled by the consumption of wine, but be continually filled with the Spirit. What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit? To be filled with the Spirit means the Holy Spirit fills the believer with Himself. This filling enables the believer to be able to experience the Spirit’s presence (power) and manifest His fruit (e.g. love, joy, peace, etc.). This fruit is a divine love, a divine joy, a divine peace, a divine longsuffering, a divine gentleness, a divine goodness, a divine faith, a divine meekness, and a divine temperance; and not a human love, a human joy, a human peace, etc.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against such there is no law.  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. (Galatians 5:22-24)

This fruit expresses a Godly nature to others. Divine love evidences self-sacrifice for the benefit of the one loved. Divine joy is reflective of a rejoicing within that is not dependent on outward circumstances. Divine peace seeks reconciliation between offending parties. Divine longsuffering patiently endures wrong while under ill-treatment without anger or thought of revenge. Divine gentleness treats others with politeness, making them as happy as possible. Divine goodness gives graciously without strings attached. Divine faith is being faithful to God’s promises. Divine meekness involves compliance to the teaching of the word. Divine temperance involves a mastery of one’s desires and impulses.

What are the protocols which when followed will cause the Holy Spirit to continually fill the pastor or believer with Himself?

 

Be on the Lookout for a Spirit-Filled Church

Not forsaking the assembling of the saints:

Hebrews 10:25

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Many will say that in order to be continually filled with the Spirit a believer must continually attend church for reading, exhortation, and worship. I would say that in some cases this could be the furthest from the truth. Why did I say this, because not every church will provide the kind of teachings, which will cause the pastor or believer to be filled with the Spirit? Most churches will say when a believer volunteers to participate in the activities of the church (e.g. Bible study, usher, teaching catechism, collecting offerings, cooking for bake sales, etc.) that they are operating in the Spirit. Operating under the influences of the Spirit has nothing to do with volunteering to participate in a church activity. What causes a believer to be able to operate under the influences of the Spirit?

 

As you read on, you will become aware as to what should transpire in a Spirit-filled church that would provide for the assembly the opportunity to be filled with the Spirit.

Listen for the Declaration of the Pure Gospel

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: (Acts 17:30)

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13)

Without the declaration of the gospel there will be no salvations. The members will be religious, but not godly. There will be no corporate anointing. The gifts of the Spirit will not be received and thus will not be evidenced. God will be left out from operating in the assembly even though He might be mentioned in the teachings of the church. The gospel is good news. The gospel is comprised of repenting (acknowledging one’s sins) to God the Father and believing in Jesus as to who he is and what he has accomplished.

As far as what constitutes sin, the government of our country doesn’t decide what sin is, God does. The bible declares what sin is. Sin doesn’t just constitute what we do, but also relates to our thoughts and speech. If when you attend an assembly of believers whose teachings encourage adultery, fornication, pedophilia, homosexuality, lesbianism, etc. as acceptable lifestyle choices then what you have is a church that condones sin and not one that teaches how to be filled with the Spirit.

In regards to professing belief in Christ, remember Jesus is God incarnate, period end of story. Any teaching that denies this reality will inhibit the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

 

You Should Inquire as to What Are the Names of the Leadership Positions of the Church You Are Attending

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (Ephesians 4:11)

The names of the leadership positions in the church are apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers. Some churches believe that the offices of apostles and prophets are no more thus operating under the evangelist-pastor model.

There is no such office name in the church called priest. This word relates to a position that was delegated to perform certain duties relating to the tabernacle and temple of the Jews under the institution of the Mosaic Law. There were three groups of people that were assigned to minister in the tabernacle and temple. These were the Levites (they set up and tore down the tabernacle (the tent-like structure) and made the shewbread on the Sabbath. Numbers 1:51; 1 Chronicles 9:32); the priests, the sons of the high priest who assisted the high priest (they assisted in offering animal sacrifices, burning incense, and lighting the lamps. Leviticus 1:5); and the high priest. The high priest office was initially given to Aaron, Moses brother, by instructions from the Lord. If Aaron had sons, then at some point the eldest of them would become the next high priest, and so on. Hebrews 9:6-7

The name priest connotes an allegiance to a religious system designed to engage the members in ceremonial and ritualistic observances along with an emphasis on good works in order to hopefully win God’s favor.

 

Listen Closely to the Teachings of the Church in Regard to There Being an Emphasis on

Observing Certain Aspects of the Mosaic Law for Spiritual Growth

For many churches, there is not a distinction between the protocols for spiritual growth for the Jews under the Mosaic Law and the protocols for born again believers under the dispensation of grace. Some of the commands which were issued for the Jews to obey under the Mosaic Law are included as having to be obeyed for the New Testament saint. The question I ask is how far or how much of the Law has to be obeyed by the Christian in order to satisfy the leadership of the church? It depends, every church that mixes grace and the Law decides how much of the Law is to be obeyed (e.g. tithing, firstfruits, observing the 7^th Day Sabbath, circumcision, observing certain dietary laws, observing certain days of the year, observing yearly feasts; etc.) along with deciding how the members should dress, whether they are allowed to see movies, whether they are they allowed to own a home, whether jewelry can be worn, and even as to whether they can occasionally drink an alcoholic beverage.

What I have noticed in some of these churches is that refusal to obey these observances can result in verbal condemnation from those in leadership. Failure to tithe is equated with robbing God of his due. Drinking is considered as participating in an evil desire which results in a loss of testimony before unbelievers. Owning a home is considered a hindrance in not giving all of one’s attention to the ministry.

 

The following scripture is an example of what was going on in the church of Galatia in regards to the keeping of the Law.

Are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Galatians 3:2-3

This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

The apostle Paul was addressing the believers in the church at Galatia. He started out by saying, Are you so foolish (irrational)?Having begun in the Spirit (of the initial entrance of the Holy Spirit into the hearts of the Galatian Christians when they put their trust in the Lord Jesus⁷) are you now made perfect (the state of spiritual maturity) by the flesh (by means of self-effort) in an attempt to obey an outward legalistic system of works)? The Galatians were turning away from the teaching and the reality of the ministry of the Spirit and were attempting to adhere to a religious system, the Mosaic Law, that kept them busy with ceremonial performances, observance of days and festivals, distinction of meats, and other matters of ceremonial prescription⁸.

The answer to the question, are you now made perfect (spiritually mature) by the flesh (by means of self-effort) in obeying any aspect of the Mosaic Law, is no?

 

Be Attentive in Hearing as to What Those in Leadership Say Are the Goals of the Teachings of the Church

While I would agree that an assembly of believers should be: helping the fatherless and widows in their affliction; an example to the community of helping others by visiting them in the hospital; willing to provide financial assistance for both believers and unbelievers for various needs etc. However, these should not be the sole goals of the teachings of the church. If this is all that is emphasized then the church has simply become a charitable organization.

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (Ephesians 4:12)

The emphases of the teachings of those in leadership should be for the perfecting (mending, repair, or correcting all that is deficient) of the saints, for the work of the ministry (the work of Christian service; ministering work), and for the edifying (to cause to grow strong) of the body of Christ so that every member might become mature or fully grown.                             

As the believer learns how to address their areas of weakness, they will operate in the filling of the Spirit more and more which will serve as the motivation behind their choosing to be actively engaged in Christian service (ministering work), and thus because of such they will progress in becoming spiritually mature.

 

Listen as to What Comprises the Content of the Teachings of the Leadership of the Church

When you attend to the gathering of the saints what is the content of the messages about? Are you learning about what God has done through his Son in regards to sin? Are you learning about the importance of Christ’s resurrection? Are you learning about what it means to have your sins forgiven? Are you learning about the gifts of the Spirit? Are you learning about the filling of the Spirit? Are you learning about who you have become at salvation and all of the blessings you have received at this point in time?, etc.

For many churches, these are not the topics of discussion. Believers are told to press forward, don’t miss church, attend to this gathering or that gathering, don’t do this and don’t do that. Certain words are to be recited while attending worship service, standing and sitting at certain times are pre-arranged, and the message is founded on doing good toward one’s neighbor and engaging in political issues.

 

The apostle Paul directed one of his pastor’s, whose name was Timothy, to give attendance to certain things. Let’s take a lookand see what these were.

Till I come, give attendance:

1 Timothy 4:13

Timothy is commanded to put his mind on:

�-� “reading” the public reading of scripture.

�-� “exhortation” …the explanation of the scripture passages that are read, making their meaning and relevance clear to the gathered congregation⁹…

�-� “doctrine” the act of teaching a systematized body of teaching.

When you attend church those in leadership should: publicly read scripture, explain the passages that are read, and teach on a systematized body of teaching so that you may know about the many topics of the faith including how to grow spiritually in order to evidence Christ-likeness.

 

Is There a Declaration Made to the Assembly in the Teachings as to What the Purpose and Ministry Is of the Holy Spirit in the Life of the Believer?

You should know what the purpose and ministry of one of the members of the trinity, the Holy Spirit, is, who resides in you. When you know, what these are, hopefully you will desire for his ministry to be more operational in your own life. What is the ministry and purpose of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer?

The Holy Spirit:

�-� Along with the word of God is the basis for worshipping God, providing divine power and divine perspective. John 4:23-24

�-� Communicates to us truth that he hears from God the Father. John 16:13                                    

�-� Communicates to us for our own benefit and for the benefit of others by means of prophecy, visions, and dreams. Acts 2:16-17

�-� Can direct us by words that are intelligible to our mind to go up to a certain person and engage in dialogue. Acts 8:26-40

�-� Can warn us about not going to a certain place by using other members of the church to convey his directive. Acts 21:4

�-� Can deliver us from the dominion of the sin nature with its affections and lusts, and free us from reliance on any of the demands of the Mosaic Law (following the Ten Commandments, observing the 7^th Day Sabbath, tithing, etc.). Romans 7:7-8

�-� Is the evidence that we belong to Christ. Romans 8:9

�-� Makes us spiritually alive so that we can live under His influences. Romans 8:11

�-� Stops completely the corrupt inclinations and passions of the body, as we endeavor to cherish and cultivate his influences. Romans 8:13

�-� Gives us witness of His presence with our human spirit, when he produces in us the effects of his influences, these influences being his love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. Romans 8:16

�-� Intercedes to God for us by praying according to the plan of God for our life, when we are immersed in our infirmities (trials and troubles; physical, emotional, and spiritual disabilities; the general weakness of the spiritual life). Romans 8:26

�-� Helps us to examine, investigate, and understand the things (the blessings of redemption; the blessings of salvation) that are freely given to us of God. 1 Corinthians 2:12

�-� Has washed (made pure by the Spirit of God), sanctified (the setting apart by the Spirit to be wholly employed in the service of the true God), and justified (accepted as righteous; to be brought into a state of favor with God) us. 1 Corinthians 6:9,11

�-� Distributes different gifts to each member of the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians  12:4, 7-8,11 

�-� Gives gifts to each believer, which are proof of His presence. 1 Corinthians 12:7 

�-� Gives gifts to each believer for the benefit of the church. 1 Corinthians 12:7

�-� Gives gifts (spiritual endowments) to each believer, which are not human talents. These gifts are the gifts of: prophecy, divers kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues, faith, healing, the working of miracles, the word of knowledge, the word of wisdom, discerning of spirits, teaching, exhorting, gives with simplicity, rules with diligence/governments, shows mercy with cheerfulness, helps/ministry. Romans 12:6-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:1,7-10,28

�-� Gives gifts to each believer, which constitutes their appropriate place in the church. 1 Corinthians 12:13

�-� Transforms us on the inside which reveals a gradual change on the outside into the image of Christlikeness when we meditate upon God’s word. 2 Corinthians 3:18

�-� Provides the believer with not a system of works, but Himself in order for us to go on to spiritual maturity. Galatians 3:3 

�-� Provides for us liberty (freedom) from the power of sin and from the threats and demands of the Mosaic Law. Galatians 5:13,16

�-� Produces in our heart a love which is self-sacrificial for the promotion of the spiritual welfare of one another. Galatians 5:13,16

�-� Evidences his working in our life by producing his spiritual qualities within us which reveal to others the life of Christ lived out in us. Galatians 5:18,22-23

�-� Causes us to exhibit His spiritual qualities to others. These spiritual qualities are: love (self-sacrifice for the benefit of the one loved); joy (inner rejoicing which does not depend on circumstances, because it rests in God’s sovereign control of all things); peace [tranquility of mind as a result of a right relationship with God, or to restoration of right relationships between people; the calm, quiet, and order, which take place in the justified soul, instead of the doubts, fears, alarms, and dreadful forebodings (a strong inner feeling or notion of a future misfortune, evil¹⁰); peaceful sense of harmony with God and a compliancy in all things with his providential appointments¹¹]; longsuffering (remaining quiet when persecuted; patient endurance of wrong under ill-treatment, without anger or thought ofrevenge¹²); gentleness (conciliatory to others;unruffled disposition); goodness (graciousgiving, no strings attached; to do good to the body and souls of men); faith (faithful to one’s word and promises; faithful to God’s promises); meekness (compliant to the teaching of theword); and temperance (being able to say no to one’s own desires; mastery of one’s owndesires and impulses). Galatians 5:22-23

�-� Is himself the seal which indicates that we are owned by God.Ephesians 1:12-14

�-� Is the earnest (the down payment; the guarantee of more to come) of our inheritance (the full delivery of all parts of the salvation given¹³). The rest of the payment involves justification (the removal of the guilt and penalty of sin; the bestowal of righteousness), sanctification (producing fruit), and glorification (to go on to be with the Lord and receive a glorified body). Ephesians 1:12-14

�-� Allows us when we pray or worship to have access to God the Father’s presence, being confident that He will minister to us and answer us. Ephesians 2:18

�-� Builds the members of the church together by means of a process of construction, growth, and eventual completion for a place where God lives. Ephesians 2:20,22

�-� Provides divine power in order to strengthen us in our inner man so that we may be able to comprehend the love of Christ in its entire dimension along with experiencing His love. Ephesians 3:16-19

�-� Is the mark that indicates we are owned by God. Ephesians 4:30

�-� Fills us with him-self in our mind, emotions, and will so that we will express the nature of the Spirit-filled life. Ephesians 5:18

�-� Empowers and directs us when we pray for our self or others, if he is filling us with himself. Ephesians 6:11

�-� Produces divine love in us. This accompanied with our obedience to the word of God will enable us to love others with a self-sacrificial love that is free from all evil thoughts and feelings in a continual manner. 1 Peter 1:22

�-� Not only produces His effects in us, but causes us to know that God is working with us. 1 John 3:24

 

Are You Informed by the Teachings of the Church as to What Activates the Ministry of the Holy Spirit in Your Own Life?

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (Galatians 5:16-17)

Many believe that the ministry of the Spirit doesn’t need to be activated. All a believer has to do they will say is just try to emulate Jesus. Go about doing good for others in order to make their life better. If you do this according to them you will be operating in the filling of the Spirit. What they leave out are the scriptures that convey time and time again that the sin nature can’t do anything for God. They also leave out that just because a person has the Holy Spirit residing within, this doesn’t mean that they will automatically operate in and manifest His fruit. The following verses indicate there is a war going on between the flesh (sin nature) and the Spirit as to which one is in control of the believer.

 

What is that causes a pastor or believer to walk or be filled with the influences of the Spirit?

Whosoever keeps his word:

1 John 2:5

But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

If we continually keep watchful care on all that God has made known to us as his will in regard to his conduct, then we will have love of a divine kind exemplified in us. Many people equate conduct as doing things for God or for his church. This has nothing to do with doing for God or his church. This has to do with manifesting spiritual qualities in our behavior. This can only happen when we keep his word.Another word if we are going to exemplify Christ’s life we have to have a change of mind. This means to know about all that God has done in our life now that we are a Christian. It also means to appropriate divine truths that give us God’s perspective in contrast to human perspective.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. (1 Timothy 6:6-8)

One example is like this. Maybe we are jealous of someone else because of their financial prosperity. God’s word says that godliness with contentment is great gain. So, in order to no longer be jealous we are to initially confess this mindset to God the Father as sin. Then we are to learn the scriptures just mentioned and revolve them around in our mind. It’s not enough for the church to say that we shouldn’t be jealous. We must appropriate these new truths. These thoughts must be the way we are to think concerning this area of human viewpoint. This new way of thinking activates the filling of the Spirit. The Spirit responds to our abiding in newness of thought by filling us with his love.

 

Are You Being Reminded by the Teachings of the Church That You Need to Have Your Mind Renewed?

This sounds like a strange concept, having one’s mind renewed. If you don’t hear about this in the teachings of the church it is probably because the leadership has no idea as to what this means. What does this mean?

Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind:

Romans 12:1-2

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.      

In order to be filled with the Spirit, the believer needs to be transformed by the renewing of their mind. What does this mean? This means to yield oneself as those who are alive from the dead, as thosethat no longer choose to live according to their old sin nature, but according to the Holy Spirit. Another way of saying this is, the believer should be instructed to not to continue to put on form, fashion, or appearance of the sentiments and morals of men, but to appear as new persons with new habits by means of a complete change for the better of their mental processes (the changing into new views and feelings that results in the restoration of the divine image) so that they will be able to test and approve what God’s will is.

What is it that changes the believer’s mental processes into new views and feelings? God changes (transforms) the believer’s mental processes thus making them spiritually minded by means of His Word. As you spend time meditating on it, memorizing it, and making it a part of your inner man, God will gradually make your mind more spiritual. If the world controls your thinking, you are a conformer, if God controls your thinking, you are a transformer¹⁴.

The teachings of many churches will concur that a believer or member will become more spiritually minded by means of obeying God’s word. They will point to obeying God’s word as meaning not to commit certain sins and performing good works. This sounds right doesn’t it, but is it? Is this what these verses are stating?

What these verses are saying is quite different from conventional church wisdom. These verses are saying that in order for a believer to be filled with the Spirit they must have their mental processes changed into new views and feelings that result in the restoration of the divine image.Another word, it’s in the changing of the thoughts of the mind upon new views which will change not only our actions, but also our motives.

 

Be Attentive to Determine If in Some of the Teachings There Is Talk about Putting on the New Man and Putting Off the Old Man

I can’t say enough about how important these teachings are. We should be taught what actions are considered inappropriate for a Christian to evidence, but realize that just trying not to do something is not spiritual growth. Spiritual growth involves changing how we think, which will change how we speak and how we act.

 

With this in mind let’s take a look at what it means to put off the old and put on the new.

And Have Put on the New Man

Colossians 3:8-10,12

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; (Colossians 3:8-9)

Like the apostle Paul, the Spirit-filled pastor is to teach the assembly according to the new truths as espoused in the Epistles, the book of Acts, the book of Revelation, and according to some of the Gospel verses. The assembly is instructed to listen to and apply the following instructions. They are to put off from themselves: habitual anger that includes in its scope the purpose of revenge; wrath (sudden violent anger); malice (the eagerness to harm our neighbor); blasphemy (speech against someone by telling lies or otherwise insulting them); and talk that is abusive and filthy. How are they to no longer exhibit these fleshly behaviors, by just trying not to do them? No.

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Rather they are told to put on the person who they are now are in Christ, in whom a new character in course is being formed by means of knowledge (knowing our self in the light of God) so that they (in their soul) reflect, like a mirror, the wisdom, righteousness, and goodness of God¹⁵. Like them, things that have characterized our pre-Christian life have disappeared, come to an end, and are finished and gone. We now have a new disposition, which is based on a new way of thinking, which is thinking with the mind of Christ.

The mind of Christ is thinking with divine viewpoint as revealed in the scriptures. As we learn to think differently toward our self, others, and outward circumstances, the rich and full experience of God’s love will be realized in our life. Thinking differently can also be referred to as being renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created us. This renewal refers to a new character, which is in the course of formation. The restoration of the image of God in us is gradual and progressive¹⁶.

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. (Colossians 3:10, 12-13)

Therefore put on (to become so possessed of the mind of Christ as in thought, feeling, and action to resemble Him and, as it were, reproduce the life He lived¹⁷): bowels of mercies (a feeling of sympathy for the needs and sufferings of others); kindness (a ready disposition to listen and respond to others; to do good for others); humbleness of mind (the having a humble opinion of one's self, a deep sense of one's (moral) littleness, modesty, lowliness of mind¹⁸; the man who, laying aside haughtiness, and high mindedness, brings himself down to the exercise of modesty, claiming nothing for himself¹⁹);meekness (that temper of spirit in which we accept God's dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting²⁰); longsuffering (putting up with people for a long time; patience under the ill treatment of others); forbearance (having patience with someone as to present offenses); and forgiveness [to forget an offense (meaning not to bring it up again) whenever any of you has a complaint against another believer].          

The Spirit-filled pastor instructs with absolute clarity as to the kind of behavior that is unbecoming of a Christian. This is so that there is no excuse as to the behavior that is not to be exemplified in a Christian. However, the believer is told that just trying not to engage in sinful activity should not be the protocol of a Christian’s walk. If this were the case, we would be just like the Jews under the Mosaic Law who tried their best to obey its many commandments. The believer is instructed rather to appropriate or put on new thoughts that are based on newly revealed truths. If the believer memorizes, meditates upon, and applies these new truths, they will evidence the life that Christ lived toward others. If your pastor clearly teaches about sinful behavior and provides new thoughts which he provokes the believers to appropriate for themselves, then he is being filled with (directed by) the Holy Spirit.

I hope that what was delineated has given you not only a sense of some of the protocols to follow which will allow for the pastor or any believer to be continually filled with the Spirit, but to make a determination for yourself when you are attending the assembling of the saints as to whether the teachings of those in leadership exemplify these protocols.

In the next chapter, I have provided for you a checklist that you can use when attending the fellowship of the saints which will assist you in making a determination as to whether the pastor of the assembly is Spirit-filled.