♫ 2025/10/12 St. Paul's Presbyterian Church

Please Stand for the Word of God

Facing the people, the leader greets them in the Lord's name. The Greeting should be explicitly Christian, declaring that the Lord is present and empowers our worship.

Welcome & Scripture Reading

“Good morning, beloved family in Christ. As we gather in this sacred space, we come not as strangers, but as children of the same God—welcomed, loved, and called to worship. May this time together renew our spirits and draw us closer to the heart of God.”

📖 Scripture Reading – Psalm 100:4 “4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” (NIV)

Opening Prayer

“Gracious and loving God, We come before You with hearts full of gratitude. Thank You for the breath in our lungs, the joy of community, and the gift of this new day. As we enter Your courts, may our praise rise like incense, May our thanksgiving echo through this sanctuary, And may Your presence fill every corner of our hearts. We dedicate this service to You—our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”

Chorus He that is in us

Chorus 16 Father in heaven how we love you

Chorus 8 I just want to praise You

Exhortation

 Dear friends, the scriptures urge us to acknowledge our wickedness before almighty God our heavenly Father and to confess our many sins to Him, that they may be forgiven through His infinite goodness and mercy in Jesus Christ our Lord. We should always humbly admit our sins before God, but especially when we meet together to give thanks for the great benefits we have received from Him, to praise and worship Him, to hear His holy word and to ask what is necessary for our bodies and souls. Therefore let us come before the throne of our gracious God and say together :

General Confession said together.  

Almighty and most merciful Father, we have strayed from Your ways like lost sheep, we have left undone what we ought to

have done, and we have done what we ought not to have done. We have followed our own ways and our own desires and we have neglected and broken Your holy laws. Have mercy on us Lord.

Restore those who repent and confess their sins according to Your promises declare in Jesus Christ our Lord. Grant, merciful Father, for His sake, that hereafter we may live a righteous and obedient life,  to the glory of Your Holy Name. Amen. 

Assurance of forgiveness said by the minister standing.

Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, does not desire the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live.  He has given authority and commandment to His ministers to declare to His people that He pardons and forgives the sins of all who truly repent and believe His holy gospel.  Therefore, let us ask Him to grant us true repentance and His Holy Spirit, that we may please Him now, and that the rest of our life may be pure and holy so that at the last we may come to His eternal joy through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed by thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, In earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, For ever and ever.  Amen. 

Gian-Marco

will now read the Old Testament reading to us from the NIV pew bible.

He begins with “Hear the Word of God as it is written in The Psalm Psalm 113 The OT Ruth 1:1-19 He ends with “This is the word of God”. Congregation: “Thanks be to God”

Monte

will now read the New Testament reading to us from the NIV pew bible.

She begins with “Hear the Word of God as it is written in The Epistle 2 Timothy 2:3-15 The Gospel Luke 17:11-19 She ends with “This is the word of God”. Congregation: “Thanks be to God”.

Hymn 1 As the deer

Sermon 7 SPIRITUAL INTOXICATION!

Prayer Gracious God, As we open our hearts to Your Word, stir within us a desire to do our best for the Lord. Let Your truth remind us that we are called to love, to lift up the weary, and to stand with the broken. Prepare us now to receive Your message, so we may leave here not only inspired, but ready to serve with humility and care. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen

(Scripture Portion:  Ephesians 5:1–21 “1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” )

In Ephesians 5: 18 a contrast is made between the person who is under the influence of alcohol and the person who is under the controlling influence of the Holy Spirit.   We as Christians are not to be drunk with the wine that comes from any earthly vineyard but with the new wine of the Kingdom which comes from the heavenly vineyard,  from Him who is the True Vine (John 15: 1).   There is a purpose in setting these two commands in contrast.   It was a pagan belief that God dwelt in the blood of the grape, so that in drinking wine man was drinking God into himself.   Drunkenness was therefore held to be a sacrament in which a man was supposed to be under the control of the god who filled him.   Paul reminded the Christians at Ephesus of this pagan belief, and then he pointed them to the true way of being God-possessed.   Concerning the Spirit-filled life, let us notice the following truths:

(1) The Spirit-filled life is a command. In Ephesians 5: 18 there are two commands, both of which require obedience;  they are not optional, they are imperative.

(2) The Spirit-filled life is a command to every Christian.   The experience of the Holy Spirit’s fulness is not for a select company of believers, but for every born again person.   Notice the word “all” in Acts 2: 4 and 4: 31.

(3) To be filled with the Spirit is more than being indwelt by the Spirit.  The Christians at Ephesus were “sealed” by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1: 13;  4:30), and thus they were indwelt by the Holy Spirit, as every Christian is (1 Corinthians 6:19), but we may be indwelt and not filled by Him;  we may possess Him without His possessing us.

(4) To be filled with the Spirit is not a matter of excess, but of sanity.  The word “excess” means “riot”.  The most spiritually sane people in the world are those who are filled with God’s Spirit.  The Lord Jesus is our example.

(5) The Spirit-filled life is to be the normal experience of God’s children.   Ephesians 5: 18 means “Go on being filled…”   God’s plan for every one of His children is that they may be filled with the Holy Spirit so that they may live lives that are glorifying to Him in all their personal (Ephesians 5: 15-21), domestic (Ephesians 5: 22-33 and 6: 1-4), and business (Ephesians 6: 5-9) relationships.

(6) Being filled with the Spirit is not our getting more of Him;  it is His getting more of us.  The Holy Spirit is a Person, and to be filled with Him means to allow Him to take full possession of our personalities.

(7) The Spirit-filled life is marked by certain definite and easily discernible characteristics.  Just as a drunken man can easily be recognised, so can a Spirit-filled Christian be recognised;  the same characteristics are true of both.  What are they?  -  look up those that are mentioned in Ephesians 5:14–21 “14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” , and then consider the following.

1. A Drunkard is Possessed by an Immense Sense of Well-being.

So is a Spirit-filled Christian!   He is exhilarated, exuberant.   The Greeks have a word for it – “Euphoria”, which means “an immense sense of well-being”.    The first Christians were accused of being drunk (Acts 2: 15);  the early disciples were noted for their intense joy  -  look up Acts 13:52 “52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” .

2. A Drunkard is Recognised by his Face.

So is a Spirit-filled Christian!   Many of our faces are shadowed instead of shining!   There should be a radiance about us, as there was with Moses (Exodus 34: 29);  with Stephen (Acts 6: 15);  with the Lord Jesus (Luke 9: 29)  -  and look up Psalm 34: 5, and compare Psalm 40: 3 with Ephesians 5: 19-20.

3. A Drunkard has a Characteristic Savour about him.

So does a Christian!   You can smell a drunkard! – now look at Ephesians 5:2 “2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” .   Our Lord Jesus Christ was as holy incense before the Father and before the world;  Christians, by being filled with His Spirit are to be,  and may be, the same.   The Spirit-filled life is God’s provision for making our lives beautiful, graceful and gentle.

4. A Drunkard can be Detected by the Way he Walks.

So can a Spirit-filled Christian!   Our walk is our manner of life, and according to Ephesians 5:15 “15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,” a drunkard’s walk is careless, whereas the walk of the Spirit-filled man is very circumspect – that is, disciplined and consistent.   The drunkard cannot walk straight, but the Spirit-filled Christian is enabled to live before God and the world in a way that is upright and honest in every respect.

5. A Drunkard is Betrayed by the Way he Speaks.

So is a Spirit-filled Christian!   Many a drunkard has a stammering tongue, and often his speech is impure and foul.  A Spirit-filled Christian will be very careful in the words he uses and in the matters of which he speaks, and, of course, a Spirit-filled Christian will be a testifying Christian  -  look up Acts 4: 20!

6. A Drunkard is not Responsible for his Actions.

Nor is a Christian!   A drunkard does many foolish things because he cannot help it, and a Christian, if he is filled with the Holy Spirit, will produce from his life fruit which is supernatural (Galatians 5:22–23 “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” ), and works which are, humanly speaking, impossible – see what Peter said in Acts 3: 12.

7. A Drunkard is Known by the Company he Keeps.

So is a Spirit-filled Christian!   A drunkard will make his way quickly to the bar;  the Spirit-filled Christian will seek the fellowship of God’s people  -  look up Acts 4: 23.

How can we become Spirit-filled  -  possessed and controlled by the Holy Spirit?    Think of the drunkard again.   How does he become a drunkard?   By drinking, and drinking and drinking again – and this drinking for us involves three things:  (l) A Real Thirst (Isaiah 44: 3;  Matthew 5: 6;  John 7: 37-39);  (2) A Great Capacity (Psalm 81: 10);  and (3) A Simple Faith (Luke 11:13;  1 John 5: 14-15).

Notices Mr. John Oberholzer

Collection

Praise God from whom all blessing flow

Prayer

Hymn 76 O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder

Benediction

Doxology - Now unto him.