A few years ago, when I was witnessing, a man asked me if I was filled with the Spirit. He caught me off guard and I was not sure what to say. I knew the Holy Spirit lived in me, but I was not positive that He was then filling me. Are you filled with the Holy Spirit?

Transition

This evening we are looking at two commands that help us understand how to be filled by the Holy Spirit and its evidence.

Be Not Drunk with Wine

  1. Note first the requirement, v.18
    1. The verb is a passive imperative.
      1. With an active verb, the subject does the action (I threw the ball). With a passive verb the subject receives the action (the ball hit me).
      2. An imperative is a command.
      3. When a verb is both passive and imperative, we translate it “allow yourself to be hit by the ball”.
    2. This command then is “do not allow yourself to be intoxicated by wine.”
      1. The Bible words translated “wine” are generic referring to anything that comes from a grapevine – the fruit, fresh juice, dried grapes, grape paste, grape jam, fermented juice, etc. Grape paste was commonly mixed with water to recreate juice. Fermented juice was used as a medicine. Fermented juice was generally mixed with at least three parts of water before consumed.
      2. For a good explanation of Bible wine, see http://www.pmiministries.com/BIBLE-WINES_William%20Patton.pdf
      3. Two of the clearest Bible warnings about alcohol direct us to abstain from all drinking.

        Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

        Proverbs 23:31-32 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

    3. The only sure way to obey these warnings and to obey the command “do not allow yourself to be drunken” is to abstain totally – do not drink any alcohol.
  2. Note also the result, v.18
    1. Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess. Many people think that “excess” simply means do not drink too much. However, that is not the case.
    2. The Greek word is very rich in meaning.
      1. The word describes an abandoned, dissolute life.
      2. It is a life of incurable unrestraint.
    3. Allowing oneself to be deceived by alcohol leads to a life totally controlled by the evil substance. God uses this illustration to contrast a life controlled by the Holy Spirit.

Be filled with the Spirit

  1. Again note first the requirement, v.18
    1. This verb is also a passive imperative. It is a command to allow the action to be done to you.

      I like this illustration given by Ray Pritchard: Suppose I command you to “be loved.” But if there’s not someone who wants to love you, you can’t obey that command. Likewise, if there’s not someone who wants to fill you, you can’t “be filled” with the Spirit. He’s not saying “fill yourself” but rather “be filled.”

    2. God is commanding us to allow ourselves to be filled by the Spirit. Note that this is a command. It is not an option to be filled by the Spirit. He wants to fill you. He is commanding you to let him fill you. What do we know about this passive command?
      1. The Holy Spirit must live in us before we can obey it. He lives in every true believer (Rom 8:9).
      2. Spirit filling is not getting more of the Holy Spirit, but letting Him have more of us. A person filled with alcohol is controlled by alcohol. A person filled with the Spirit is controlled by the Holy Spirit.
      3. We cannot fill ourselves with the Spirit.
      4. Getting the Holy Spirit to fill us is not just a matter of asking Him to fill us, but allowing it.
    3. The Holy Spirit wants to fill us but He cannot without our cooperation.
      1. Our sin often hinders the Spirit’s filling. The Spirit of God is Holy. He cannot tolerate any sin.

        1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

      2. The Spirit’s holiness requires that we confess and forsake all known sin before He can fill us.

        1 John 1:8-9 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

        1 Peter 1:14-16 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (cf. 2Co 7:1, Tit 2:12)

      3. It is when we are in fellowship with God that the Holy Spirit is able to fill us.

        1 John 1:6-7 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

      4. Thus, to allow the Holy Spirit to fill us, we must have a close relationship with God by daily read the Bible to learn, note what we learn, live what we learn, fellowship with God in prayer, and yield fully to the Holy Spirit’s direction (cf. Eph 4:22-24, James 4:7-10).

        Just as an electric train is powerless if it is not connected to the above power line, so a Christian cannot be filled with the Spirit’s power if he is not in close contact with God.

  2. Now note the result, v.19-21

    When we are filled with the Spirit, God tells us that there will be outward evidence. When this evidence is missing, we can be sure that we are not filled by the Spirit. God describes the result with five participles.

    1. Speaking to yourselves (lit. to each other) in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs. This stresses the words of music. Spirit-filled Christians openly share the joy of their salvation with one another through godly music. Psalms are Bible songs. Hymns are songs of praise to God. Spiritual songs are charged with spiritual truth. They are the opposite of carnal songs. All of these are songs that honour God in word and in tune. Their words must be doctrinally sound as the parallel passage underlines.

      Colossians 3:16 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.

    2. Singing praise to God with the voice.
    3. Making melody in your heart to the Lord. This word describes instrumental music. Perhaps it refers to humming godly songs in your heart.
    4. Giving thanks always for all things … Thankfulness to the Lord is another way to honour Him. He allows all things so we ought to thank Him for all things.
    5. Submitting yourselves This is passive, thus allowing ourselves to be arranged under each other. We are to do this to fear or honour God who humbled Himself for us.

      If the Holy Spirit is filling us, He will put in our hearts a new song that verbalizes Biblical praise to God, rings from our lips, and vibrates in our hearts. We will be quick to thank God for all things. We will unselfishly allow ourselves to be arranged under others.

Conclusion

Are you filled with the Spirit? If you are not, you can be if you will allow Him to fill you. He will not come down to our level; we must rise up to His standard. If sin is hindering – confess and forsake it. If you are not daily having a close relationship with God, make it a priority. If you need help, let me help you. If you lack the desire, beg God to change your heart. Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to fill us!

Song: You Can Have Revival (chorus)
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Filled by the Spirit
18 May 2014 PM – Ephesians 5:18-21 – Eph 14 – Scott Childs