Barriers to being filled with the Holy Spirit…

• It's not for today

Joel 2:28 (ESV)
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh

John 14:16 (ESV)
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,

Acts 1:4-5 (NIV)
4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 2:4 (ESV)
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

• It’s not from God

Acts 2:12-13 (ESV)
12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

• It’s not for everyone

Joel 2:28-29 (ESV)
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, and your young men shall see visions. 29 Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.

Acts 4:4 (ESV)
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Welcoming the Holy Spirit…

• Do you want what Jesus wants?

Matthew 16:21-23 (ESV)
21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

• Do you trust Jesus?

John 16:7 (ESV)
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

​John 14:12 (ESV)
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

• Have you reached the end of yourself?