THE SPIRIT-FILLED BELIEVER Ephesians 5:18-21 Introduction Recently I opened my old High-school year book and flipped to the page where we had the "Agape-fellowship". I was a new Christian. The Jesus-movement was at high tide and things were happening. We not only followed Jesus but we wanted to look like Him. Long hair, loose fitting clothes (we couldn't bring ourselves to wear robes). Some of the people in the group were still serving Jesus, others had become casualties in the Culture wars of the last 20 years. For most of us, we were not the campus crusade for Christ type of people. We had a background of heavy drug use, rebellion, some of had already experimented with witchcraft, "mainlining" (IV drug use) and all manner of sensual wickedness. As I looked at the photo, I saw Sherry (not her real name). She had a life of broken promises and shattered dreams. In the second grade she had come home from the Joshua Circle Elementary to find her father slumped in a chair, gun in hand, blood everywhere, with fragments of hair and bone embedded in the wall. Her mother remarried an alcoholic who physically assaulted and sexually harassed her. I shared Jesus Christ with her and she got saved. With Jesus we had someone to believe in, someone pure and loving, someone who could forgive our sins and wash our shattered lives in the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Jesus could answer the aching questions; who am I? "What am I? Why am I here? What is my significance? Just like we did not give ourselves half-way to drugs, sex, protest, rebellion, we were not about to give ourselves to Jesus in a half-hearted way. Yet we needed something more than just willpower or sheer determination. We needed the presence of the Holy Spirit. The baptism in the Holy Spirit. When I was a young Christian, I was not aware it was such a controversial subject. I did not know that there were Christians who believed that once you "got saved" or were "born-again" you received the Holy Spirit and that was it. There was another group that believed being filled with the Holy Spirit meant you had to "speak in tongues"; a New Testament event and a real and genuine gift of the Holy Spirit. Another group that believed that there was a genuine event, "the baptism in the Holy Spirit", an event subsequent to and distinct from regeneration, which "empowered the believer for service". All I knew was that I needed power to live a life that was Holy and pleasing to God. The rude reality of being a brand new Christian brought with it the rude reality that I was still a sinner, still drawn and attracted to old evil habits and personal failures. When presented with the opportunity to be baptized in the Holy Spirit I jumped on it. Anything that would help me live for Jesus I wanted it. And I received the Holy Spirit by faith. The same way I had received Christ. But what does the Bible say about the baptism in the Spirit for the Believer? The walk of the Believer in chapter 5 will lead to the warfare of the believer in Chapter 6. The walk of the Spirit and warfare of the Believer requires something more than good
intentions, will power and zeal. Christians need to be filled with Spirit, complete in the Spirit, controlled by joy, characterized by thanksgiving and committed to submission. COMPLETE IN THE SPIRIT ( verse 18) 1. "and do not be drunk with wine"... Paul begins with a duty. He is contrasting two different kinds of control, being controlled by alcohol or by the Spirit of God.. Earlier Paul had contrasted two kinds of love; God's love and its Satanic counterfeit, sensuality. So also getting drunk mocks, imitates but cannot approach the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Light and darkness, foolishness and wisdom. No the contrast is intoxication and completeness in the Spirit. First let us deal with the alcohol issue. Should Christians drink alcoholic beverages? The debate has occurred in every era of the church and in every country. Drinking will never be a measure of spirituality. Our spiritual health is concerned with what's going on inside. Can a Christian drink? A better question might be; "why should a Christian drink?" To feel better? To solve problems? Because you just like it? Illust. Amoebic poisoning in India. The long and the short of it: The Bible condemns drunkenness. "Listen my son and be wise, and direct your heart in the way. Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine, or with gluttonous eaters of meat; for the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags". (Prov.23:19-21) It sounds like the writer has been on Colfax Ave. in Denver or Skid Row in Los Angeles. A few verses later we read "Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long over wine, those who go to taste mixed wine (wine coolers). Do not look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup. when it goes down smoothly"(vv.29-31). The Bible does not condemn the drinking of wine but it does condemn, control by wine (or other alcoholic beverages). Christians sometimes get drunk just like they fall into other sins. But they are told to avoid drunkenness. Paul's primary concern here I believe is the religious ritual involved in drink. The temple to Dionysius was a big attraction. It was kind of the "Cheers" bar of the first century. They went they for drunken visions. Perhaps a better analogy would be some of modern dance clubs and discotheques. The cult of Dionysius was a group who believed that man could and would evolve to a higher place of consciousness. They combined wild dancing, singing and drinking, and party like festivities, frenzied music, sexual perversion, mutilation and eating the raw flesh of sacrificial bulls. Most modern drunkenness has a spiritual origin. People want to feel good and cast off inhibitions. They want to break down the barriers of propriety. So they get drunk. With over 30 million drunks (health officials erroneously call them alcoholics) 8 million are between the age of 12 and 17. Recent surveys listed the greatest problem on High School campuses as alcohol related issues. Drunk driving kills more teenagers than the next three causes of death. I might add the second leading cause of American youth is suicide.
Before you drink as yourself these questions; Is this necessary? In many parts of the world the safest drink might be a beer or wine. But is that true here? Is this the best choice? Is this habit forming? Is it potentially destructive? Will it offend other Christians? You may have the freedom in Christ to drink. Our freedom stops when it begins to harm others. Will it harm my testimony? Is it right? 2. "in which is dissipation" This is a word which means "that which is unable to be saved". This is a term which is used of a person who is lost, hopelessly and incurable sick. It was the term used to describe the prodigal son. Dissipation is a form of selfdestruction. 3. "but be filled with the Spirit". The alternative to self-destruction. Some people confuse the "baptism of the Holy Spirit" with the "filling of the Holy Spirit". The term "baptism of the Holy Spirit" is not found in the Bible. The Bible does speak of a baptism "with", "by", or "in" the Holy Spirit. The phrase baptism with, in, or by the Spirit occurs 7 times in the N.T. (Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:8 Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 1:5; 11:16 I Corinth. 12:13. The First time people were baptized with the Holy Spirit was at Pentecost. John the Baptist predicted that Jesus would baptize believers with the Holy Spirit; I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I... He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." (Matt. 3:11) After Jesus had died physically on the cross and rose from the dead, He spoke of the baptism of the Holy Spirit as something still future. At His ascension Jesus made this prediction: "For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now (Acts 1:5). A few years later Peter spoke of the baptism with the Holy Spirit as a past event that had already happened to Him "And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, 'John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit' (Acts 11:15,16). Paul taught that the baptism places all believers into the body of Christ: "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have been made to drink into one Spirit" (ICor. 12:13) Paul said the same thing to the church at Galatia "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ (Gal.3:27). All Christians receive the Spirit the moment they are saved. This is a non-experiential event. By that I mean no emotion or feeling is connected necessarily with the receiving of the Spirit. Yet all Christians are to be filled with the Holy Spirit. This is not a single event but an ongoing condition. When a revival broke out in Samaria a group of people received the gospel and the Lord. "Now when the apostles who were in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet
HE had fallen upon none of them. They had been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 14-17). See also Acts 9:17 and the conversion of Paul. See most important Acts 19:1-6 Filled by the Spirit continued The Christians in Ephesus were baptized in the Holy Spirit and "spoke with other tongues" already. Why then would Paul ask them to be "filled with the Spirit?" Can you tell if a person is "filled with the Spirit?" How do you recognize them? To be filled meant "to be controlled by". You are under the influence of the Holy Spirit. This does not mean you are out of control and possessed by "another spirit". The spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet. One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is self control. To be complete and controlled by the Spirit means your thoughts and actions are dominated by Jesus Christ. To be filled is translated from the Greek verb which means to "be being kept filled". It is a command that carries with it the idea of conscious continuation. The picture is like a glass of water that is empty. To fill the glass, the air must give way to the presence of the water. To be filled with the Spirit isn't so much asking for more of the Spirit but rather of relinquishing more of you to him. Do you want your head filled with the Spirit? Your heart filled with the Spirit? Your arms and legs controlled by the Spirit? The basic factor is one of obedience. God wants you to walk in power and fullness by yielding to the Spirit's control. How do you do that? The same way you accepted Jesus as Savior. By grace through faith. If you are unwilling to obey this single command, "be filled with Spirit", you will not be able to obey any other command. Make no mistake. It is a command. This is not some option but rather a necessary part of being a Christian. "and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:4). Being filled with the Holy Spirit gave the young disciples the power to witness and declare the gospel. But there is yet another reason. To live out the Christian life in our homes, jobs, relationships, schools. Being filled means that the Holy Spirit has complete control of our being. Perhaps you have never reached a point of personal crises, of personal failure where you felt the need to surrender completely to God. Surrender to the Spirit means no attempts to please self. Look at Paul's much neglected evidences that a person is filled with the Spirit. Paul says that such a person is controlled by joy; characterized by thanksgiving and committed to submission. I thought the evidence was speaking in tongues! Many people filled with the Spirit do speak in tongues. But no one who is truly filled with the Spirit can fake or counterfeit these important qualities. CONTROLLED BY JOY (verse 19)
1. "speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs" The heart full of the Spirit will be a heart filled with joy. Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit. Christians will sing songs note to one another. The song in the heart is a reflection of the soul. What are you singing about? Here I believe Paul is talking about public worship. You will note that songs are sung to encourage each other as well as worship the Lord. One of the consequences of the Spirit filled life is an attitude of joy and worship. The first thing Paul mentions is not mountain moving faith, great skill in teaching, the ability to move the hearts of multitudes people. Its a song in the heart. What is more expressive of a contented soul, a happy heart? The believer who walks in the Spirit has joy in the heart that is often manifest in the form of a song. I don't think it an accident that many of the former revivals of the past, including the Jesus Movement, were marked by music and songs. The youth were found with a "new song". Lend an ear, to a love song, to a love song, if you will listen, with your heart." Who more than the Christian has a legitimate reason to sing? In the book of Revelation the four living creatures around the throne sing a continual song to the lamb. When God delivered the children out of Egypt, all the people came together and sang a song to the Lord (Ex. 15:1-18). Jesus and his disciples sang a song after they celebrated the last supper. Paul practiced what he preached; "about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them" (Acts16:25). The primary audience were other Christians, but every now and then, the world became the audience. I think it interesting that Christian music is never described as evangelistic yet it will sometimes have that effect. Christian music must be careful at the turn of this century. We must ourselves some difficult questions. Is the music generating worship or entertainment? Edification or indulgence? Are Christian musicians less likely or more likely to struggle with pride or humility? Christian fan clubs don't really seem to have Jesus as the object of devotion. Being popular and talented doesn't always provide a serious spiritual gage. For a thousand dark years (500-1500 A.D.) the church did not sing for the most part. The songs were sung and performed by professional musicians. With the reformation came a new song of joy. You cannot sing a new song from the heart unless there is a new song in the heart. Otherwise you are just mouthing the words. "Our music cannot be like the music of the world, because our God is not like their gods. Most of the world's music reflects the world's ways, the world's standard, the world's attitudes, the world's gods." (John MacArthur) The great danger of Christian music is that if the world hears that our music is not so different from the world they may be inclined to believe that being a Christian is not so different from being in the world. It is not the method or beat, it is the message. I hear less Jesus and more self on a regular basis. Christian music should be Christian.
2. "making melody in your heart to the Lord" Our songs are to the Lord. The purpose of singing songs and making melody is not to draw attention to ourselves or even to generate warm fuzzy feelings inside our soul. We are not to focus on entertainment but rather on worship and praising the Lord. We always have a single audience. Johann Sebastian Bach, perhaps the greatest musician of all time, said, "the aim of music is the glory of God." In his own life and work he sought to work out that statement. Christian songs should be biblical, and should with power and clarity reflect the truth of God's Word. Much of what passes for Christian music is simple personal sentiment colored with Christian words. David was a man of God and a skilled musician. The two need not be mutually exclusive. CHARACTERIZED BY THANKSGIVING ( verse 20) 1. "giving thanks always for all things" The Christian filled with the Spirit has a heart of joy and a mouth of thanksgiving. What is your attitude concerning thanksgiving? Have you noticed that the least thankful people embrace that position because they think they deserve all that they have. Why should they be thankful? I worked hard to get where I am and be what I am, and possess what I have! Really? Jesus spoke of a rich farmer who was ungrateful about his past prosperity and presumptuous about his future goals. As he looked out over the land he realized he had so much that not even the barns could contain his wealth. (The garage, the attic and the storage bin Self Storage could not contain his wealth.) I call this practical atheism, that fails to acknowledge God. The second is the thanksgiving of the hypocrite. Jesus tells the story of the religious leader who was grateful that he wasn't like the guy next to him (Luke 18:11-12). His thanks was hypocrisy and a sham. The third is the truly grateful. (Luke 17:19) The story of the 10 lepers. The one leper who came back was a Samaritan. He was thankful not only for his healing, but he wanted the opportunity to glorify God. His thankfulness and trust was an expression of his love for Jesus. He not only received a cleansing from disease, the Bible says "Rise, and go your way; your faith has made you whole (or well)" (Luke 17:19) Joni Earecson Tada "giving thanks is not a matter of feeling thankful, it's a question of obedience. 2. "to God the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ" We give thanks to God. Even the things that come through others comes through God. We should be grateful for what others do and should thank them, ultimately it came from God. Thankfulness to others is just a little better than flattery unless we acknowledge the true source: God The ungodly are noted for their thanklessness. But the mark of a Spirit filled believer is thankfulness. The Christian is anxious for nothing, but through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving makes the request to God. We are overflow with gratitude.
COMMITTED TO SUBMISSION (verse 21) 1. "submitting to one another" The filling and the control of the Spirit will lead to humility. The spirit that seeks the welfare of others before self cannot be loud and selfserving and aggressive and committed to having their own way. The rich implications of this characteristic will be discussed as we deal with the subject further in the chapter. 2. Is amazing to me how many so called "Spirit filled believers know little of joy, little of gratitude and little of humility. Humility is the necessary ingredient for submission. What does the Bible mean when it uses the word submission? Be subject to one another. The word is a military term which means to arrange in rank. Spirit filled Christians rank others higher than themselves. The idea is to give up or relinquish rights to another person. This does not mean that you "give in" to employees if your the boss, or "give in" to the children if your the parent. Mutual submission carries the idea that authority and responsibility comes from the Lord Jesus Christ, and if each member fully demands their own will and their own way, God's system will suffer. Jesus does not "submit to us" neither is He subject to us, but he sure "put's up with us". The idea Paul has here is that Spirit controlled people will go out of their way and suffer loss in order to minister, accommodate and serve. Submission to one another means we are modest rather than selfish, humble and unwilling to dispute, forbearance, gentleness, these are the unmistakable signs of a Spirit filled Christian. A missionary in the city of London found a woman who was dying from the last stages of a terrible disease. The room was cold and there was no place to lie except the floor. When the missionary asked if she could do anything the woman replied; "I have all I really need; I have Jesus Christ". Deeply moved the missionary went home and wrote this stanza; In the heart of London City, Mid the dwellings of the poor, These bright and golden words were uttered, "I have Christ, What want I more?" Spoken by a lonely woman dying on a garret floor, Having not one earthly comfort, I have Christ, What want I more.