Filling Our Tank With The Spirit" Ephesians 5:15-5:21
What do you do when your gas gauge starts to get low?
• I know this sounds like a pretty simple question
• But when we think about it we really have two options
• First we can stop at the next gas station and get gas
• Or we can try and make it to where we think gas is cheaper
• Now I make a lot of trips back and forth to Lincoln
• And I know from expierience that the gas at the Loves travel Plaza at exit 108
• Is a lot cheaper than gas anywhere around here
• So if I have at least a ΒΌ tank when I leave Franklin
• That’s where I try and make it to before I stop to get gas
Now most of us have done this at least once
• We either want to save a couple of cents
• Or we don’t want to be inconvieneced by stopping when we are in a hurry to get somewhere
• Or maybe we forgot our wallet or check book
• But for whatever reason we are now on a mission to make it to a certain location
• And we’re driving on fumes.
As we drive we constantly watch the gauge and wonder it we’re gonna make it
• We start thinking about running out of gas and all the problems that go along with it.
• And if we do run out we find ourselves sitting on the edge of the road
• Asking ourselves “Why didn’t I just stop and get gas earlier?”
Now it’s a whole lot simplier today than it used to be
• Ttoday we have things like cell phones, and we can text,
• Not to mention that fuel injection on cars allows them to get a whole lot better gas milage.
But BC that’s before cell phones we were left with 3 choices:
You have to walk to the nearest house and ask for help.
You had to go on a search for a pay phone.
You have to walk to the next station.
And once you had the gas and put it in the tank you had to
• Save some to pour in the carburetor,
• Which meant removing the breather.
• And then hoping it would start before it blew up.
But if you were lucky enough to make it to the filling station
• You were relieved
• And when you got back in the car and starting driving
• You starting getting cocky and thinking to yourself, “I knew I could make it!”
Well this is what sometimes happens to Christians
• People sometimes get just a little too cocky with their Christian life
• And they let their Spritual tanks run low.
Now if you find this happening to you lately
• Then I’m here today to be your gauge
• And to warn you that you better be filling up.
Now The first warning I want to give you this morning is that I’m probobaly gonna step on some toes,
I will probably offend a few people,
And I might even make a few people mad.
I’ve done it before and as God as my witness I know I’ll do it again
But you what, that’s exactly what God wants me to do.
• I’m not saying that God wants me to make people angry
• He just wants me to be their gauge and tell it like it is.
With this being said lets turn to Ephesians 5:15-20
• Now some preachers when they preach use the word you
• They direct their sermons at who they are talking to
• But I would rather say we because when I preach,
• I’m not only talking to you but I want to include myself in this as well
• It’s aimed at me just as much as it is at you
Eph 5:15 So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise.Eph 5:16 Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. Eph 5:17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do. Eph 5:18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. Eph 5:19 Then you will sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, making music to the Lord in your hearts. Eph 5:20 And you will always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
What Paul is doing here is to warn us that we need to be careful how we live.
• Are we living the way God expects us to.
• Now notice I said expects and not wants.
• If we look at the way we live as what God wants
• It makes it sound like God has given us a choice.
Ands It’s true at one time we did have a choice
• We had the choice of living however we wanted
• But that was before we accepted Christ
• After we made that commitment
• That choice was forfeited.
• Once we confessed Jesus as our Savior,
• Once we make the commitment to repent
• Once we are buried with Him in baptism,
• It’s no longer what God wants but instead what He expects
The thing is when you want something,
• The want is gone after you get it
• If you want a new car and you buy it
• Then you expect it to do what it’s supposed to do.
Jesus wants us to accept Him
• And then after we do He expects us to work for Him.
• But is that what we’re doing or are we just going through the motions?
• If we are only a Christian on Sunday because we attend church
• Then we are just going through the motions.
God expects us to be Christians everyday of the week, not just on Sunday.
• But what do we do when we arent here worshipping on Sunday mornings ?
In the 10th chapter of Hebrews we are warned
• Not to forsake the assembling of ourselves.
• That means that we don’t skip coming to church
• But the writer of Hebrews isn’t just limiting the statement
• To Sunday morning worship.
• What he is saying is that if anything is happening at the church
• We should be here
Illustration: It’s every athlete’s dream to participate in a contest and win that contest
• Either for themselves or for their team
• But in order for them to win a contest they have to practice.
• Without practice they don’t have much of a chance to win.
• So they spend hours practicing just for the contest.
• As Christians we need to spend as much time as we can
• Meeting together for the purpose of glorifying Christ
• And that’s not just limited to Sunday mornings.
Paul tells us in verse 16 to make the most of every opportunity,
• Because the days are evil.
• Paul isn’t saying to live it up because tomorrow may never come.
• He is talking about making the most of every opportunity for God.
• In other words live the way that God expects.
• And we do this by Helping others, witnessing to others,
• Giving to others, And being a witness to others.
In order for us to win people to Christ they need to see that Christ is in us.
Illustration: We know what a person is by their uniform.
• We can tell a policemen, or a nurse by they way they are dressed.
• The Bible says when we accept Christ we put on Christ.
• We should put on Christ just like a uniform
• So that people can take one look at us and see we’re Christians.
If we use the Lord’s name in vain, we are not being a good witness
• If we enjoy telling or hearing dirty jokes, we’re not being a good witness.
• If we forward inapropreiate emails or texts we’re not being a good witness
• Anytime we’re doing something that God doesn’t approve of,
• We’re bringing shame to Christianity.
Illustration: We stand during the National Anthem
• And we place our hand over our heart when we recite the pledge of allegiance
• We do this to show honor and respect
• We don’t desecrate the flag of our nation,
• But when we call ourselves Christians
• And we don’t act like it we are bring shame to Jesus
• That’s why you hear people talk about so many hypocrites in church.
We need to make the most of every opportunity because God expects it.
• In Verse 17 Paul tells us we need to understand the Lord’s will.
• But do we understand His will?
• If I were to ask you what God’s will is would you know the answer?
God gave us this small amount of time that we call but do we know why?
• Society thinks were here to make money and to buy stuff.
• But if that’s true why did the people of Israel had it so tough.
• They were God’s chosen people but they roamed the desert for 40 years
• Eating manna, getting bit by snakes,and living in tents.
What kind of lifestyle is that?
• We complain when the cable TV is out, or power goes off,
• Or the radio in our car loses the station.
Who are we trying to kid?
• God created us for a purpose and it that purpose is to serve Him!!!
• In Verse 18 Paul warns us not get drunk on wine because it leads to debauchery.
• Debauchery means over indulgence in sensual pleasures.
• Everyone of us here today knows that if we drink an excessive amount of alcohol
• That we do stupid things
• People do things and say things when they are drunk
• That they normally wouldn’t do sober.
Paul tells us to instead be filled with the spirit.
• The purpose of the Holy Spirit is to lead us
• And if alcohol is affecting the way we think
• Then the Holy Spirit is no longer in control.
Now even though Paul refers here to getting drunk
• We have a tendency to get drunk on other things,
• Or maybe a better way to phrase it is we are consumed by other things.
• Sometimes it is work, sometimes it is pleasure.
Now God expects us to work,
• And despite what the world may say He expects us to enjoy our life as well
• But when we put those things ahead of the Lord then our tanks start running low.
• When attending a sporting event is more important than coming to church to worship Him our tank is running low.
• When Christians get together to fellowship and we stay home
• So we don’t have to miss our favorite show on TV, then our tank is running low.
• When the Holy Spirit is not part of the decisions we make then our tank is running low.
• And you know what the worst thing about it is the Holy Spirit wont stay where He’s not wanted?
If we are not taking advantage of the Holy Spirit
• If we’re not using him for the reason God that gave him to us he’ll leave.
• And when he does Satan moves in
• And takes up permanent residence and has a field day.
In verse 19 Paul says thatwe are to speak to each other
• With psalms, / hymns, / spiritual songs,
• And that we are to sing and make music with our hearts
• And we are doing it all for God.
Why would Paul put this verse in with the ones we have already read?
• Did you ever whistle or sing when you were in a bad mood
• Or when everything was going wrong?
Illustration: If we have a flat tire on the way to work
It would be a little hard to sing, ”Oh what a beautiful morning” wouldn’t it
Paul knows that if we are filled with the spirit
• Then we can handle the things that upset us and most of the time it’s other people.
• So Paul wants us to have a song in our heart
• A song that will make us happy toward each other.
• And when we do we’ll always be giving thanks to God for everything.\
The last thing that Paul tells us is to submit to one another
• Out of reverence for Christ.
• Reverence simply means to have a deep respect for someone.
• Now we should respect others but the key word here is deep
• We should have a deep respect for Christ
• Because He’s the only one who is truly reverend.
Now I’d appreciate it if you respect me
• But I don’t deserve to be reverend, no one does.
• Everything Paul is talking about in these verses
• Refers to our being filled with the Holy Spirit.
• If the Holy Spirit is not leading your life,
• Then your tank needs to be filled before it is too late.
