TITLE: This is the ‘Spirit Filled” Life
TEXT: Eph.5:15-21
THEME: Whats the big deal about the Holy Spirit
INTRODUCTION: Does being filled with the Spirit really make a difference?
ILLUSTARTION: Billy Richards and church member
A pastor friend related this story that recently happened in his church.
A church member and her husband came to see him. She was very distressed and upset.
‘I have worked for this company for 25 years, she began, ‘ I have given my whole life to it, and now they are firing me. I don’t know why, I am being fired, but I think it is because I am a Christian. I don’t know if I should take it to court or not.’ Astor what should I do?’
My friend, calmed the lady down, and suggested that he go and talk with her supervisor.
The next day, Bill visited the woman’s place of work and went to the office of the general manager.
Pastor Bill asked about his church member and her dismissal, the manager replied that he could not talk about the issues because it was a private company matter, but he was free to talk with any of the other workers who worked under this lady.
When the pastor casually spoke with the other workers, not one had a positive thing to say about her. Some even used foul language to describe how they felt about her behavior and actions which were less than Christ honoring.She would arrive to work late,but fudge her time card. She would leave early but add extra minutes to gain overtime. She would verbally abuse her fellow workers, and even spread rumors about them.
She was even seen to take things from work home with her.
A couple days later, the woman and her husand returned to the Pastors office. She asked my friend what he had been able to learn.
Pastor Bill looked at the lady and said to her, “You are an embarrassment to the name of Christ. You have called yourself a Christian.”, and even boasted about being Spirit filled, but everyone at your place of work says that you are negative, proud, steal from the company, and lazy’
You are not being persecuted, you’re being prosected
My friend was never one to pull punches. His point to this woman was, if you claim to be a Spirit filled follower of Jesus, then it will make a difference.
Over the years, I have since come to understand that many Christians fail to understand that the Spirit filled life as never meant to be a static experience. The Spirit filled life is intended for every believer to experience every day they live. Being filled with the Holy Spirit makes a difference in how you work, where you live and how you worship.
Over the past several weeks we have been studying the necessity of having a relationship with the Holy Spirit.
For those who have not been here for all the study, allow me to once again summarize what we have learned together,
The Holy Spirit is not an it or force. He is your best friend. He is God. Furthermore, The Holy Spirit is God’s promise to the believer, as well as God’s power in the believer.
Not only does He want to live in you, but He desires to immerse you into His Spirit and ing every day under give you power to life for Jesus, witness about Jesus, and do the works of Jesus.
Charles Stanley correctly writes, ‘The holy Spirit makes possible your ongoing Christian life and enables you to both experience Christ and to have a relationship with the Father. The Holy Spirit enables you to have a sense of victory in your Christian walk. You need him at work in you and through you if you are to fulfill your earthly destiny in Christ and become the person that God created you to be.
What exactly is the Spirit Filled life? If I were to define what the Spirit filled life is, I would say, The Spirit filled life is living every day under the control and leadership of the Holy Spirit resulting in right relationship first to God, then with other people.
Turn now in your Bibles to Ephesians 5:15-21, and read along with me as we discover the difference living the Spirit filled life makes,
( Read Eph. 5:15-21)
The first thing we discover is that WE ARE CALLED TO LIVE AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT
The top of Chapter 5 begins by saying,
1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God… 8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
Here Paul begins with three strong directives,
• ‘be imitators of God’
• ‘walk in love”
• ‘walk as children of the light’
It is clear that the Christian life is one which is honoring to God and demonstrates Christ likeness. Those who imitate God, do both as they walk in love and walk in the light. Paul therefore warns,
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,.. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.( 15, 17)
So the 100,000 dollar question is, What is the ‘will of God?” We are told clearly and succinctly in the next verse,
18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
The second thing we discover is, SPIRIT FILLED LIVING IS A CONTRASTED WITH SELF LIVING
I have heard it taught that Paul is comparing being spirit filled with ‘Divine intoxication.” It’s as if the believer is virtually out of control while under the influence of the Spirit. When drunk with wine, a person is physically filled with alcohol; when filled with the spirit, one is spiritually inebriated.”
However, the context of this verse tells us that Paul is not making a comparison, but a CONTRAST.
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. INSTEAD, be filled with the Spirit.
Paul further emphasizes this by adding that drunkenness leads to dissipation, ruin, debauchery, and corruption. It is living ‘hopelessly out of control.’
By contrast, the Spirit filled believer is NEVER out of control. On the contrary, the Bible states that the fruit of the spirit filled life is ‘self control” ( Gal.5:23)
John Stott correctly observes,
We can indeed agree that in both drunkenness and the fullness of the Spirit two strong influences are at work within us, alcohol in the blood stream and the Holy Spirit in our hearts. But, whereas excessive alcohol leads to unrestrained and irrational licence transforming the drunkard into an animal the fullness of the Spirit leads to restrained and rational moral behavior, transforming the Christian into the image of Christ.’
What is Stott saying? I remember when I was a boy, we had one of those unexpected moments when ‘God showed up” in church. Without invitation, prodding or pleading, people ran to the altar and many were touched by the Spirit of God. Some spoke in tongues. A few danced in the presence of the Lord. A number shouted. There were those who wer so overwhelmed by the Spirits fullness, they could’nt help but laugh for joy, and walk AROUND THE AUDITORIUM as if they were drunk.
I will always remember my pastors wise and firm words to the church that night. “Around the altar and in this room, we are invited and encouraged to experience all that the Lord has for us. But what truly matters, is that once you leave this building, you walk a straight line from now until next Sunday.”
Good advice to heed.
We choose how we will walk.
From this passage it is clear that,
I AM COMMANDED TO BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT
In fact, there are two commands given in this one statement, the first is negative, Do not get drunk on wine, and the second positive, be filled with the Spirit.
Our world balks at the thought of being commanded to do anything. We like to sanitize this word by replacing it with words such as Let me give you this suggestion….or here is another option for you. Our human nature recoils at the thought of being told to do what to do or how to do it.
In as much as living the Spirit filled life is a choice we make, it is clear from this passage we are commanded to be filled.
What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit? I want to give you four thoughts gleaned from a writing by Andrew Murray. TO be filled with the Spirit means that,
First, "I Must Have The Filling."
Second, "I May Have The Filling."
Third, "I Will Have The Filling."
Fourth, "I Shall Have The Filling."
Firstly, to be filled with the Spirit means "I Must Have The Filling." God is not just making a suggestion here. He is commanding us to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We must have this enablement to live lives honoring to God.
It is the power of the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit that distinguishes us as God’s people. The command is not “try harder.” Trying harder is no substitute for being filled with the Spirit. It is His influence working in us and through us that brings victory.
Secondly, TO be filled with the Spirit means that "I May Have The Filling."
…” It applies to all the body of Christ. The command is not a privilege reserved for some, but a duty resting upon all.” ( STOTT)
Thirdly, to be filled with the Spirit means I Will Have The Filling.’
The verb can be translated, “Let the Spirit fill YOU”. The believer is filled by the Spirit, not by himself. That is, there is nothing the believer can do to prove his worthiness to be filled or work to be filled. It is God who performs the filling at the will and surrender of the believer. Sometimes the filling of the Spirit is illustrated using an empty glass and filling it with water. This is not altogether an accurate illustration, because the word used here is a different word. It is the Greek word pleroo which carries with it the idea of pressure, and permeation. As pressure, it was used for the wind that drives a sail boat. So the filling of the Spirit mobilizes that wind which is in us so that we may be propelled forward in our Christian walk.
This same word was used for permeation. As salt permeates meat to flavor and preserve it, so the Holy Spirit both preserves and flavors Christian Life.
One more idea generated by this word pleroo is the idea of control. Whenever a gospel writer wanted to get the idea across that someone was dominated by emotions he used the word pleroo. So we become familiar with the term, The Spirit controlled life. This is what Paul meant when he said be filled with the Holy Spirit.
The last thing we learn is that the command to be filled is a continuous process. I Shall Have The Filling. Literally it means to “Be BEING Filled…” we must be continually filled with the Spirit.
Its something God has to do in us. We can’t make it happen. But He is ready and willing. If we will; He will. God wants us full of the Spirit now. The good news is if that’s what He wants and even commands, then if we will yield ourselves to Him He will fill us.
To be filled with the Spirit means, letting the Spirit of God lead you, empower you, & control you & influence you, completely, continually!
THE CONSEQUENCES OF BEING SPIRIT FILLED IS RIGHT RELATIONSHIPS WITH GOD AND OTHERS
What happens when we are filled with the Spirit? Following the command to be filled with the Spirit, Paul describes 4 results that flow from the believers life. The first and fourth affect our relationships with others, and the second and third deal with our relationship with God.
The first consequence or result is we will, Speak to one another with CARE, v.19-20 His filling affects our speaking.
When a person is Spirit-controlled, he/she will have a conversation & a communication that is God-honoring to those closest to them.
"one another" especially includes the people you work with, go to school with, other Christians, your spouse and your family members! If you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you "speak" to each other in song— Specifically, Paul is describing elements of a first century worship service.
In practical terms, a Spirit controlled life means that you will be positive, uplifting, communicating, joyful people!
You will be speaking about God, even singing about God & to Him together. God is talking about constructively communicating to one another. "Speaking" not yelling!
Eph 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Living a Spirit filled life will also result in a life that
2. Mutually Submits to one another, vv.21-23
Scriptures says when we’re controlled by the Spirit, we will have mutual submission with one another. This will be further expressed Paul says, in the home, between husband and wife, parent and child, as well as in employer and employee relationships.!
If the world rebels against the idea of being Commanded, then it laughs at the thought of submission.
Chuck Swindoll tells a story about a married couple who had attended a marriage seminar taught by one of those male demagogues determined to show that scripture teaches the man is to be IN CHARGE.
It was the kind of terrible teaching on submission that turns a woman into a doormat. Well, the husband just lapped up the teaching. His wife, howeer, sat there fuming as she listened to hour anfter hour of this teachers diatribe.
When they left the meeting that night, the husband felt drunk with fresh power. While driving home, he said pompously, “Wel what did you think of that?” His wife never utterd a word.
When they arrived home, she got out of the car and followed her husband silently into the house. Once inside he slammed the door and said,
‘Wait right there…just stand right there.’
She stood, tight lipped and starred at him
‘I’ve been thinking about what that preacher said tonight, and I want you to know that’s how things are going to be around here from now on.” Got that? Woman?
And having said that, he didn’t see her for two weeks. After two weeks, he could see her just a little bit out of one eye.”
For the Christian, the primary relationship in life is to the Lord Jesus! When we are in right relationship with Jesus, then the Holy Spirit enables us to live in right relationship with others.
Submission in marriage, is an act of respect for Jesus Christ, not an issue of rights or privileges or "top dog" status. You are yielding to Christ, first!
Submission is a military term that means to line up under the authority of. This isn’t an abuse of authority, but of a gracious working together. It’s a spirit of reasonable sweetness in both the heart of the wife and the husband.
1st Pet 5:5
Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
The key to mutual submission is humility!
The Spirit filled life not only effects our horizontal relationships, it also effects our vertical relationship with God.
3. We Sing To God joyfully.
Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord
Spirit filled people, will express their faith with joy. Sometimes this is expressed with singing, at other times speaking. But the overall characteristic will be a ‘joy unspeakable and full of glory.”
In fact, joy filled Christians do not wait until Sunday to express their songs, they have a daily worship occurring in their lives every day. Whether or not you can hold a note in a bucket, all of us, as Spirit filled believers, can have an inner melody that bubbles up out of our lives. This joy will be further expressed by the continuous desire to live in harmony with other believers.
And finally,
4. A Spirit filled believer gives thanks to God for all things. Ephesians 5:20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
Psalm 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
Notice what Paul says about the When of giving thanks, beginning vs.20. Does he say we are to give thanks only when things are going well? No, Always. Romans 8:28 is the reason behind that thanksgiving.
Knowing that all things work out to the good for those who are in Christ Jesus and are called according to his purpose.
Because of that, the believer is able to give thanks: After a trial. When we have come through the firey trial, we can thank God for His deliverance. On top of that, We ought to thank God for his answers even before the trial begins. God is in control, and we can trust Him.
But perhaps the hardest of all is to thank Him: In the middle of the trial. But it is necessary. The Christian who can thank God in spite of the trials has reached the level of spiritual maturity that few Christians ever reach. Dale Lang is one such person. In his book Jason’s Been Shot, he wrote about his experiences after a crazed teenager opened fire in the hallway of the local high school and killed his only son Jason.
What Canadians once thought ’could only happen in America,’ was now taking place right here in our own backyard to Jason Lang, the son of an Anglican pastor. But God had a plan for this tragedy. This tragedy was used by God as the ’raw material’ to turn their anger and grief into a powerful testimony of His grace, through the act of forgiving their son’s killer.
Since Jason’s death, both Dale and his wife Diane have been asked to speak at hundreds of events across the country, including over 250 high schools, numerous conferences, teachers’ conventions, the National Prayer Breakfast, television, radio, churches and numerous other functions.
And the final line of vs. 20 is the key. We are able to be thankful, because we give thanks in the name of the Lord Jesus who gives us the strength to endure all things.
CONCLUSION:
Does the Spirit filled life make a difference in my life? I believe the answer is an obvious yes. So, then How do I get my life in tune with the Spirit of God?
The Spirit filled life begins with an overwhelming realization that I am absolutely hopeless and helpless apart from the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
Secondly, I must totally surrender my will to God’s will for my life. Until we come to the place of realizing we can’t make it without the Spirit, we will continually be at logger heads with God.
Surrender is essential because the Spirit Filled life is a moment by moment relationship characterized by dependency on the holy Spirit. There is no other way. Any attempt to live this life in any other way is accepting a cheap substitute. God wants the best and has the best prepared for you. He is simply waiting for you to respond to His leading.
