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 you have 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, the apostle says four things flow from us when we are filled with the Spirit: fellowship, worship, gratitude, and humility.
“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 and society.
“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, Spirit-filled 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. They are serve and support others.
What practical steps can we take to be filled with the Spirit? Here are five:
- Abide in the Word, and let the Word abide in you. Study and meditate on what scripture teaches. “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8.5-6)
- Obey what scripture says. I believe the Holy Spirit empowers you as you step out in obedient faith. The Spirit doesn’t just cause obedience; often the Spirit responds to obedience. Reading the Bible is studying the things of the Spirit. Meditating on scripture is setting your mind on the things of the Spirit. Obedience is doing the things of the Spirit. “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1.22)
- Pray. Talk to the Lord. Praise him and thank him. Seek his wisdom. Knock and ask. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 5.16-19)
- Confess and repent. If you sin, acknowledge it and turn away from it. Do not grieve the Spirit. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1.9).
- Worship. Yes, worship flows from the filling of the Spirit, but it’s also a catalyst for the filling of the Spirit. Have you noticed that when you are in a spirit of worship that your desire to obey God deepens?
“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.” (Psalm 95.1-6)
Again, 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. You don’t need more of the Spirit. The Spirit needs more of you. I pray that you hold nothing back from his directing and empowering presence. I pray that you submit to his love and lordship in every dimension of your life.
The Lord is calling.
