Ephesians 5:17-21
“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
Simply said, being filled with the Spirit is not about how much of the Spirit you have. It’s about how much of yourself have you given to the Spirit. God indwells you through his Spirit. So give all of yourself to him and to his Spirit who resides within you. Not some of you, all of you. Are you holding anything back? Is there some area of your life where you are resisting the work of the Spirit?
You don’t need more of the Spirit. The Spirit needs more of you.
Paul’s illustration is simple. It’s like the choice we make about what we consume and the impact that it has on our thinking and action. We have all seen what happens when people are drunk. Not a pretty sight. In contrast to drunken behavior, Paul says four things flow from us when we are filled with the Spirit: speaking, singing, saying thanks, and submitting.
“Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.” This is fellowship. When believers get together and are filled with the Spirit, they talk to each other about scripture. They share what they are learning about life in Christ. They talk about the principles of the kingdom and how those principles apply to life and work.
“Singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.” This is worship. When Spirit-filled Christians gather for worship, they sing songs of praise and worship.
“Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This is gratitude. It is an ever-present quality of Christ-centered people.
“Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” This is humility and service. People who are Spirit-filled are world-class teammates. They connect, align, and collaborate at work. They communicate and cooperate at home. They put others before self. They are givers, not takers.
What a powerful picture of the Spirit-filled life!
