The Spirit-Controlled Life

THE SPIRIT-CONTROLLED LIFE

SO BE CAREFUL HOW YOU LIVE. DON'T LIVE LIKE FOOLS, BUT LIKE THOSE WHO ARE WISE.

MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY IN THESE EVIL DAYS.

DON'T ACT THOUGHTLESSLY, BUT UNDERSTAND WHAT THE LORD WANTS YOU TO DO.

DON'T BE DRUNK WITH WINE, BECAUSE THAT WILL RUIN YOUR LIFE. INSTEAD, BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT,

SINGING PSALMS AND HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS AMONG YOURSELVES, AND MAKING MUSIC TO THE LORD IN YOUR HEARTS.

AND GIVE THANKS FOR EVERYTHING TO GOD THE FATHER IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

AND FURTHER, SUBMIT TO ONE ANOTHER OUT OF REVERENCE FOR CHRIST.

INTRODUCTION

Good Evening, Southpointe.

When we are studying the Word of God, then we should not just read one verse and make a doctrine of it.

A person could get the idea after reading this portion of the Ephesian letter that the Christian life is simply a matter of personal discipline.

Some might assume that all a person needs to do to be a Christian is to stop lying or becoming angry or stealing or speaking incorrectly or in other words, that he must simply live a good moral life.

But we know that being a Christian is more than being disciplined, and it is more than just being religious.

The Christian life is life that should be lived.

So it should be an accepted fact that one cannot recognize a Christian by what he does not do.

There are so many religions that are more demanding and more disciplinary, than Christianity.

But let’s look at what apostle Paul say:

But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.

The old man is lost and needs to be saved, redeemed. He is not merely weak, sick or suffering from sin but He is dead, I mean deep in sin.

His conscience is not a reliable guide. His good reputation is not enough.

When

We know that man’s mind is warped and think perverted thoughts, hearts that are filled with ungodly emotions.

We are determine to serve ourselves.

The old man is living beneath his privileges as a child of God.

The old man grieves and quenches the Spirit.

So many today struggle with these issues.

The Spiritual man is one who thrive to live a life in Christ in their daily walk.

The Word and the Spirit are constantly changing us as Christian.

The Holy Spirit that live in us, He does not come just to make us happy or holy but to make the Lordship of Jesus a reality in our life.

How does that happen? I want to give you some insight here.

The Total personality must be submitted to the Spirit.

So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise.

The King James version said this:

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

Both of this version are saying we are to be very careful how we live: walk circumspectly, to be careful.

These words suggest that we are to pick our way carefully as we take each step.

This careful walk requires wisdom.

You see, the unwise have their eyes on people and events but the wise keep their eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ.

So as we walk thru this world, Apostle Paul through the Holy Spirit reminds us in verse 16 to redeem the time.

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

The Greek word from which redeem is translated that we are to buy up all the time, or all the opportunities, to serve the Lord.

Since every moment counts, we are to make the most of every opportunity.

So how do we fulfill this?

We understand that this deals with us living a lifestyle, so how do we fulfill this:

Three words. Understanding, heart, and submitting.

Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

The word Understanding has to do with intellect.

We as believers are to understand what the Lord’s will is.

Our mind is involved in living the Christian life. God doesn’t expect any of us to put our minds into neutral when we were saved.

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Christianity is not anti-intellectual.

Satan attack will come on our intellect in many different ways.

Satan tempt to speak into our mind that we can’t every understand the Bible, or anything about our faith.

We must guard our minds.

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Satan has always tried to make us think that God is just to big and you will never be able to understand Him. But Apostle Paul tells us to understand what the will of the Lord is.

So come by studying the Word of God and spending time in His presence. Getting knowledge.

And the next Word heart which speaks of the emotion.

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

The word heart in verse 19 has to do with our emotions. Now many times in the scripture the word heart speaks of the mind, but here it clearly points to our emotions, for it links the heart with singing and making melody.

Satan will attacks the child of God on the emotional level. We are very emotional beings and we want to have pleasant times and good feelings.

But Satan will suggests to us that we cannot enjoy the Christian life.

The sad thing is that so many Christian today have fell into that mold and lie.

They have the theme that I am suffering for Jesus, and their theme song is I shall not be moved.

We must come to a place in our walk with God to realize that the Joy of our Lord is our strength. That we should be joyous people.

And the last word is Submitting which refers to the will.

The word submitting in verse 21 suggests that our wills are involved.

Satan speak to us many times and tells us that there is no way we can possibly live the Christian life.

But we must submit to the truth:

Phip 4:13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

So these are some things that I believe it is so important to live the Christian life.

But again we got to ask ourselves how do with do this:

I believe the answer is that we must totally submitted to Jesus Christ in mind, heart and will.

Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,

Speak about the wine, it is referring drinking but I believe it also deals with the things of the world.

When the Holy Spirit comes in. He comes with one agenda: that is to make the lordship of Jesus a reality to us.

The individual who is Spirit-filled and Spirit-controlled is one who knows the lordship of Jesus.

I am not just speaking of speaking in tongues but does Jesus rule in your life?

The fact that you spoke in tongues in times past makes no impression on either God or Satan. All these verses are speaking of current events, not ancient history.

You see, the filling of the Spirit in verse 18 clearly speaks of being filled in a continuous sense.

A Spirit-controlled life is a life that makes Jesus Lord of your life.