Some Questions for You
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Have you ever played the game 21 Questions?
It’s a game that is designed for people to get to know each other. I’ve seen other variations like Chat Pack and others that are designed to help you get conversations rolling with other people.
The sad truth is that we have lost the art of communication in our smart phone saturated culture.
Tonight, I would like to take a moment to ask you some questions. These questions are relevant to your spiritual life.
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
In vv. 18-20 Paul teaches us what the result of being filled with Christ looks like in the believer’s life.
To look at this portrait that Paul pains, we are going to ask a series of questions.
1. What are you filled with? (v.18)
1. What are you filled with? (v.18)
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
You can be drunk with wine
This can also be used as a metaphor for being filled with any kind of impurity
We can be filled with the Holy Spirit
2. What are you talking about? (v.19)
2. What are you talking about? (v.19)
19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
What fills our mouth comes out of what fills our hearts
Paul has already said that there should be no crude joking or slanderous speech or deceptive words (
Jesus said that we talk about what we have in our hearts
34 ... For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Horizontal Aspect of Worship
Another aspect of what Paul is teaching here about being filled with the Spirit is that we are constantly encouraging each other
We so often cut down each other or we look for flaws to expose so we can feel better about ourselves
We need to learn to encourage each other
Vertical Aspect of Worship
Psalms, Hymns, Spiritual Songs
There is no mention of style, but of content
These three terms are not meant to distinguish different types of songs, but instead to include the full range of songs
There is a type of song that is good for worship in a worship service and one that is good, but not for worship. There are also some that are not helpful.
The main point is that we are including each other in a horizontal dimension in our worship, as well as the vertical worship with God.
3. What are you thankful for? (v.20)
3. What are you thankful for? (v.20)
20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Another aspect of a believer who is filled with the Spirit is that they have a Spirit of thanksgiving
Give thanks always
Give thanks for everything
Give thanks for Jesus
4. Who are you submitting to? (21)
4. Who are you submitting to? (21)
21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
The final aspect of being filled with the Spirit is that we submit to one another.
Paul is referring to several types of relationships that we submit in. Wives and Husbands, Children and Parents, Slaves and Masters.
There are two ways we do this.
Leadership
Paul was addressing the issue of division in the Church
We submit to positions and authority as submission to Christ, regardless of the worthiness of the person in our eyes
Some cautions the Scripture gives to leaders and followers:
Don’t think of yourselves too highly and become conceited (Gal. 5:26)
26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Discipleship
Every one of us should have someone that is discipling us and that we are discipling ourselves.
1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus,
2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
Why do we do this?
The reason we submit is out of reverence to Christ.
Conclusion
This filling that we experience as believers is similar to that of the Tabernacle or Temple being filled with the presence of God in the Old Testament.
We are the new temple of the Holy Spirit and so we should be filled with the Spirit.
What fills your life? Are you filled with the things of the flesh and the world or the things of God?
When you are full of the Spirit, you will burst forth with praise and singing, thanksgiving and blessing.
