Be Filled with the Spirit
Eph 5:18-21
10-14-07 

One of the most important directives in a Christian’s life is the imperative that you be filled with the Spirit of God.  You see, when you get saved, the Spirit of God baptizes you into the body of Jesus Christ [1 Cor 12:13; Eph 5:30-32; Rom 6:3-5].  The baptism by the Spirit of God is not some subsequent event, as taught by the Charismatics, reserved only to those who evidence his presence by speaking in tongues.  From the instant you receive Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God indwells you [Jn 14:16-18].  You have all of him that you are ever going to have the moment you trust Jesus Christ as your Savior.

Nevertheless, in spite of his presence within you, you still need to be filled with the Spirit of God.  Notice how the Christians in the book of Acts were repeatedly filled with the Spirit [Acts 4:8; 4:31; 13:9; 13:52].  Here’s an illustration to demonstrate this truth.  You are a vessel for the Lord and the Spirit of God is like water in you.  When you are “cool” the water is settled at the bottom of the vessel.  When you are “fired up” for the Lord, it’s like the water has turned to steam that permeates the entire vessel.

Our text instructs us to be filled with the Spirit of God.  So, we need to examine it carefully to determine how to fulfill this command.  In order for us to be filled with the Spirit, we need:

To get the sin out – 18 – here the sin is identified as drunkenness.  Truthfully, any sin that fills our vessel is going to occupy a portion of us that the Spirit of God cannot fill.  In Eph 4:25-32, we saw several things that “grieve the holy Spirit of God.”  They are lying [25], anger [26], giving place to the devil [27], stealing [28], lack of good works [28], corrupt communication [29], bitterness [31], not forgiving others [32].  In 1 Thes 5:19 we find that we can “quench” the Spirit.  We can do that by retaliation [15], not rejoicing [16], not praying [17], being unthankful [18], despising preaching [20], holding on to some bad things [21], and by even appearing evil [22].  So, we need, through the Spirit of God, to mortify these deeds of the body [Rom 8:13].

To sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs – 19 – music has a powerful effect on your spirit.  That’s why very worldly music has been introduced into Christianity making those who enjoy it believe that the sensation they get from the music is the Holy Spirit.  In fact, they are merely stimulating the flesh and their human spirit.  By contrast, the right kind of spiritual music actually causes the Spirit of God to fill you.  That’s why a good song service is such a vital part of going to church.  Unfortunately, most congregational singing is dead because the congregation is feebly repeating words that no longer minister to them.  They sing in a way that does not glorify God.  Sing out; sing from the heart; sing unto the Lord.

To be thankful – 20 – it’s much easier to be thankful when everything is going your way.  It is much more difficult when you are stricken with affliction, suffering persecution, overwhelmed with necessities, buried under distresses, and overcome with discouragement.  Nevertheless, to be filled with the Spirit, we need to thank God in all if these circumstances.  And, of course, if we face these difficulties while filled with the Spirit of God, we will get through them much better than if we try to “go it alone.”

To submit to one another in the fear of God – 21 – real submission, as one preacher said, is doing for another that which you do not want to do.  Anything short of that is not submission.  The best example is Jesus when he went to the cross.  In Gethsemane, he confessed that he did not want to take the cup.  Nevertheless, because he was submitted to God’s will, he went to the cross [Phil 2:8].  And he did that because he feared God [Heb 5:7].  Likewise, we need to fear God and be submissive.  And that is very difficult in today’s society because we are permissive rather than submissive. 

If you do these things, you will fulfill the command to be filled with the Spirit of God.  In so doing you will find the ultimate joy and power of the Christian life.

 

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