Spirit Filled

Book of Ephesians  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  1:04:40
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Pre Service - Smiths
Welcome
Call to Worship Eph 5:1-21
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Worship through Song
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Communion - See Communion outline
Worship through Song
Benediction

Introduction

Join me in prayer today as we worship the Lord by the study of his Word.
Go ahead and open your bibles to chapter 5 of the book of Ephesians. We will be in verse 21 today. We finished up the book of James last week and today we are going to go back and finish out the book of Ephesians. We stopped in chapter 5 before the summer and we took a detour through Malachi and James. Both of those book were challenging and filled with much for us to work on and to be encouraged by. Both of these books opened out eyes to areas in the life of the church and the life of the individual that were issues to the people of God. As we look back on what we learned we will see that the detour was beneficial for where were are in the book of Ephesians. Today we are going to recap what Paul has been teaching and building up to. For without the foundation that Paul has been laying the teaching that comes next will likely be miss interpreted and applied.
As a reminder Ephesians is written by Paul to the church in Ephesus. The book has basically to parts. The first half teaches on doctrines of the church and what the church is supposed to bin “in Christ”. He emphasizes that everything the church is is in Christ.
The second half is teaching on practical living in the church. On how Christian believers are to live out their lives. He uses this idea of our walk multiple times. This was a common way in the Jewish culture to describe the idea of living and behaving in a specific manner. This was more than good intentions. This was actively living out what was being taught.

To Walk

He teaches that we are to walk differently than we used to...
Ephesians 2:2 CSB
2 in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient.
Ephesians 4:17 CSB
17 Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thoughts.
But we are to walk or live this way...
Ephesians 5:8 CSB
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light—
Ephesians 5:15 CSB
15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—
This half of Ephesians takes on this walking looks like and it can be said that this entire walk. We are to live differently, to walk in a way that is foreign to the world around us.

Walk Worthy

Ephesians 4:1 CSB
1 Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received,
We are to walk worthy. To walking in a manner befitting of our calling. The calling of redemption from our lost, selfish, spiritually dead state. to the saved, selfless, and spiritually alive state. Believers are called from their state of rebellion with God to the state of adoption into the kingdom of God. This is the calling we recieved Romans 5:8
Romans 5:6–11 CSB
6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. 8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. 10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. 11 And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.
We are to walk worthy of being reconciled and redeemed to God through Christ.

Walk in Love

We are also to walk in love.
Ephesians 5:2 CSB
2 and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.
We are to walk in love, as Christ also loved us a sacrificial offering to God. Without Jesus offering himself up for sinful men in love there is not hope for man. As Christ was motivated by love to die for our sins, we too are to be motivated by love to walk in love as Christ did.
Titus 2:14 CSB
14 He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.
To walk in love is to have the love that Christ has. Not the worldly and selfish love or lust of this world but the agape love. This is the love Paul commends the Ephesians of in verse 1:15, it is the love that God had for us that made us alive.
Ephesians 2:4–5 CSB
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, 5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
We are to be rooted in this love in 3:17, and to know this type of love which surpasses knowledge, so that we may be filled with all the fullness of God 3:19.
We are to bear one another in this love with humility and gentleness in 4:2 ans speak the truth in love in 4:15 which build up the body of Christ in love in 4:16.
We are to walk worthy of our calling and walk in love. The agape love of God that called us, and was demonstrated on the cross for us, and that our lives are to demonstrate and imitate in our lives each and every day.

Walk as Children of the Light

For we are not to walk in darkness anymore.
Ephesians 5:8–9 CSB
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light—9 for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth—
We walk in many ways in the church. We do many thing in the name of the Lord. We pray, serve, give, minister, study. We gather, fellowship, worship in the name of the Lord. But many of the things we do in the name of the Lord can be done by anyone. There are many false religion that do these things better in larger scale than we can imagine. They may even claim to be doing them in the name of “a lord” or “a god”. But they do not do them in the name of the one and only true God. In the name of the one and only savior Jesus Christ. See Paul does not list all of the things we think of when we think a Christians walk with God. If you were to take a survey of people on the most important things Christian do these list would include much of what was just listed.
But Paul’s list is different. He list goodness, righteousness and truth. These are true attributes of a walk with God. Not the other are not important but the don’t always reveal the heart of a person.
Goodness
Out of the 271 times Greek word are translated into good or goodness only 4 times is this word used. It is the word agathosyne. It is used in the fruit of the spirit in Galatians and in Romans to describe believers full of goodness. It is the quality of moral excellence, especially not stagnant, but actively working itself out. This is the fruit of a person of high moral excellence that continues to grow over time. It is different than just doing good things from tile to time. This is a quality of character.
Righteousness
It is the word used to describe the attribute of God’s righteousness. Righteousness is the adherence to what is required of a standard or moral standard. God gives the standard and he never changes it and he always fulfills it. This is the righteousness of God. This is also the righteousness that was credited to Abraham and other in the bible. It was demonstrated when God
Romans 3:21–26 CSB
21 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets. 22 The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction. 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24 they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. 26 God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
God’s righteousness is given to man through saving faith in Jesus Christ. That without that belief we could never achieve this type of character.
Romans 10:10 CSB
10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.
Purity of the Truth
The sense of this Greek word is translated as the truth of the gospel the good news of Jesus.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 CSB
13 But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
Living in the light, to put on the new self, the one that is created according to God’s likeness will reveal that we are his children because, goodness, righteousness and purity of truth will be a part of a believers lives. All of which cannot be manufactured by the unregenerate. Only those that have been given these through the Spirit will live this way.
This life Paul is calling the people to imitate and to become in Christ hinges on one single phrase. This phrase is foundational and critical in every aspect of a believers life. That without this imperative life a Christian will never walk in the way that Paul is speaking of. That phrase is in Eph 5:18
Ephesians 5:18 (CSB)
18 ...., but be filled by the Spirit:

To Be Filled

Be filled with the Spirit. To walk in that ways that we already discussed we must be filled with the Spirit of God. The third person of the Trinity. What does he mean to be filled with the Spirit?
We see the first record of this after the resurrection of Jesus in the disciples on Pentecost.
Acts 2:2–4 CSB
2 Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. 3 They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them. 4 Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them.
As Jesus , promised the advocate, the councilor came upon the believers and from that moment on the Holy Spirit dwelt and dwells in a true believer. This is not how the experience of God’s people before this. There were moments where the Spirit would fill a person and they would do great things for God but now a new para dime exists. The actual Spirit of God indwells believers.
1 Corinthians 3:16 CSB
16 Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you?
Without the Holy Spirit and the power of the Spirit they would not have endured. They would have fought and fractured and sin would have continued to abound in the flesh of man. They would have become discouraged and they would have been beaten.
We see in acts 5 the power of the Spirit in the believers. As people were coming to believe the religious leaders got jealous and arrested Peter and others. God released them from prison in the night and they went back to proclaiming the Good News of Jesus and then they got arrested again. The leaders said “Didn’t we strictly order you not to teach in this name?” But the responded with
Acts 5:29–32 CSB
29 Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people. 30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had murdered by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted this man to his right hand as ruler and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”
Many wanted to kill them on the spot but Gamaliel a teacher, stood up and basically tells them that other have come and have raised up followers and they eventually die out. If the apostles are blaspheming God and this is not the work of God then it will die out but if it is the work of God then they will find themselves fighting against God himself. So.
Acts 5:40–42 CSB
40 After they called in the apostles and had them flogged, they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. 41 Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be treated shamefully on behalf of the Name. 42 Every day in the temple, and in various homes, they continued teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
Arrested twice. Confronted by leaders. Flogged and released. How did they leave? Did they leave with their tails between there legs? Did they hide in secret in the shadows? No they went out rejoicing. Rejoicing that they were counted worthy. To be treated shamefully on behalf of Jesus. And they continued to teach the good news in the temple and in homes. This is the walk that Paul speaks of. This is what filled with the Spirit can look like.
Though a believer receives the Spirit at the moment of salvation a believer must allow themselves to be filled by him. Only one who allows the Spirit to fully fill them will they themselves walk in the light, in love, worthy of the calling.
There is a difference between having the Spirit and being filled with it.
Ephesians 4:30 CSB
30 And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by him for the day of redemption.
We can be saved, we can be sealed for eternity, and we can still sin, and we can grieve or quench the Spirit in our lives. In MacArthur's commentary he states of all of the ways that man and the Holy Spirit interact. to be filled in the only command.

Be filled translates the present passive imperative of plēroō, and is more literally rendered as “be being kept filled.” It is a command that includes the idea of conscious continuation. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is not an option for believers but a mandate. No Christian can fulfill God’s will for his life apart from being filled with His Spirit. If we do not obey this command, we cannot obey any other—simply because we cannot do any of God’s will apart from God’s Spirit. Outside of the command for unbelievers to trust in Christ for salvation, there is no more practical and necessary command in Scripture than the one for believers to be filled with the Spirit.

I wish I could continue down the path to further develop the filling of the Spirit. Just in Ephesians Paul speaks of the spirit 14 times but we must move on to our main scripture for the day. Yes you heard me correct. Stand with me as we read our main scripture today.
Ephesians 5:18–21 CSB
18 And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit: 19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.
You see this is a pivot point from the call to walk filled with the spirit. He starts in verse 19 to show what some of a Spirit filled life looks like. We already sat under teaching on verse 19 and 20 last May and today we come to verse 21.
Ephesians 5:21 CSB
21 submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.
Paul is going teach on the family next on husbands, wives, children, slaves and masters. These are some of if not the clearest and richest bible verses on the life of the family. And even though they are not widely contested in conservative theological circles. They are grossly contested in the culture of out country and church. They have been used by men to abuse and control and many even in the church have missed the point of them.
The family is the core of the body of believers. Jesus is the head and each and every believer is an important member but the body of Christ has an order. Like all aspects of our lives. Some form of order is required for things to function. Parents what would you think if your children had equal authority in your home. What would you eat and do? Teachers how would class work if you were an equal with students? What would work look like if there was no organisational structure of authority. Every group of people need structure the issue is that the world and many in the church have rejected the order that God has established.
That order has been rejected because the church does not know how to be filled with the Spirit and to walk worth of their calling. And it boils down to the family. As the family goes so goes the society.
Take a breath.........
As the Fathers and men have not taken their place in the home as God has designed, wives, children, and slaves in the context of scripture have lost their way and been left to step out of their God given roles. I have been burdened with the state of men in the global church. Men are attacked by the schemes of evil on every side. Everything we see and hears tells us to be something that is different than what God has designed and we are letting it happen. Where have all of the dad’s gone?
Statistics
The reason I when into so much detail to get to this verse is that Paul presupposes all of this when he uses the word “submitting”. This word is a military term and means to willingly summit to authority. This is not mandatory submission. It is a willful act to do so. The mutual act of submission that he is speaking of and will define next week is predicated on living filled with the Spirit. Without this background the hearer will make up their own definition of submission. The family unit that Paul speaks of in the Church is mutual submission of Spirit filled people. Goodness, Righteousness, purtiy of truth, Love

Conclusion

Today as we prepare to come to the Lord’s table for communion. I ask that each person to take a moment and examine where they are at. Do you find yourself trying to live up to these standards and have you realized that in your own power you will not be able to achieve them. But through humility and obedience. Through reading God’s word and prayer that you will be filled with the Spirit and he will manifest these in your life. But you have to stop trying to live in two worlds. Church on Sunday and the world the rest of the week. Maybe you are not a believer but you would like to talk to someone about it, I would love to get together with you sometime to hear your story and to hear where you are with God. In order to live this way we must willingly submit to his authority in our lives before we can give it to others.
Pray
Communion
Romans 15:13 CSB
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
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