Walking in the Spirit - Part I

Ephesians 5:18 KJV 1900

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Last week we talked about the first part of this verse.....

The command is “don’t get drunk”, don’t allow yourself to have your mind or body altered by alcoholic beverages. - that’s a given for a believer.

What about consumption?

No command against it…liberty ! And we need to be careful that we don’t get judgmental about a person’s spirituality based upon this issue -especially this issue alone.

However, while we have liberty....while the Bible may not forbid it...

We have a higher standard to live by…it’s not always about right/wrong.

1 Corinthians 6:12 KJV 1900

All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

Is it the “best” decision? Is it the “wise” decision? Is it the “loving decision? (thinking of others, not just about my liberty)

But the main thrust of this verse is actually much broader than the issue of alcohol....

“Drunk with wine” is contrasted with “filled with the Spirit”

What does it mean to be “filled” with the Spirit?

Luke 4:28 KJV 1900

And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,

They were “controlled” by wrath and determined to kill Jesus.

Acts 13:45 KJV 1900

But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

The Jews were “controlled” by their envy and therefore opposed Paul’s ministry.

We say someone is “under the influence” of alcohol, we are to be “under the influence” of the Holy Spirit.

Don’t be drunk (controlled) with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled (controlled) by the spirit.

Some are controlled by fear.

Some are controlled by their past.

Some are controlled by money.

Some are controlled by their flesh.

This verse says…in the same way that alcohol can control you (the way you talk, the way you walk, the way you act), as believers we are to allow the Holy Spirit to control us (the way we talk, the way we walk, the way we act)

The Principle of being “filled” with the Spirit.

What it is not...

It is not the same as receiving the Spirit or being baptized with the Spirit.

This is a one-time event occurring at the moment of salvation.

We are never commanded to receive the Holy Spirit…but be “filled” with the Holy Spirit.

It is not a spiritual zap into a permanent state of spiritual maturity.

It is not a progression of getting more of the Holy Spirit.

It is not something we do, it is something we allow.

What it is

Galatians 5:16–17 KJV 1900

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Gal. 5:16-23

Either your flesh or the Spirit is controlling you.

It is a command

“imperative mood” - It is not a suggestion, optional.

It is just as much a command as “Be not drunk with wine”

It is for every believer

“plural form” -Addressed to the entire Christian community.

None of us is to get drunk, all of us are to be Spirit-filled.

It is tied to obedience to the Word

“passive voice” - Not something we do, we allow. (we can’t pray it, etc.)

Then how can it be a command?

Colossians 3:16 KJV 1900

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Obedience to the Word allows the Holy Spirit to fill us.

It is an on-going process

“present tense” - Go on being filled.

We are baptized by the Holy Spirit at salvation.

We are sealed by the Holy Spirit at salvation.

Being filled with the Spirit is a day-by-day, moment-by-moment submission to the Spirit’s leading which results in the slaying of self and the mortification of the flesh.

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“filled” - keep being filled; continually be filled.

What it produces...

Fellowship

Ephesians 5:19 KJV 1900

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

“yourselves” - He’s writing to the church at Ephesus. He’s referring to the fact that the Holy Spirit will direct us into public fellowship with other believers in which we would encourage one another.

Most of the songs we sing are sung directly to God as worship.

Psalm 95:1 KJV 1900

O come, let us sing unto the Lord: Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

An example of a song which is directed at one another to exhort one another to worship.

Worship

Ephesians 5:19 KJV 1900

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

The Spirit-filled life demonstrates the “fruit of the Spirit” of which Joy is paramount.

The Spirit’s role is to not draw attention to Himself (tongues, etc.), but to exalt Jesus - He will always lead us to worship.

Gratitude

Ephesians 5:20 KJV 1900

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

The complaining spirit is incompatible with the Holy Spirit!

You can’t be griping, complaining and negative all the time and be Spirit-filled.

The main sin of the Nation of Israel in the wilderness - grumbling, murmuring

Submission

Ephesians 5:21 KJV 1900

Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

The Spirit-filled believer is filled with meekness and gentleness.

He has no problem humbling himself and submitting to others because he is already submitted to God.

A little self-analysis....

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Am I drawn to frequent fellowship with other believers?

Do I find myself regularly praising and worshipping God?

Am I filled with gratitude or am I often complaining?

Do I willingly serve and submit to others with a glad heart?