Be Filled With The Spirit

Ephesians 5:1-20

Pastor Barry Kerner

This morning I want to read a passage from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Ephesians 5, verses 1-20. I’ll be reading from the New Living Translation

 

Ephesians 5:1-20 NLT

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Imagine you had a glass that was half filled with water. Now suppose someone asked you how much water was in your glass. It would be pretty easy to answer them wouldn’t it. You’d just look at your glass and being either an optimist or a pessimist would answer them either, “my glass is half full,” or “my glass is half empty.”

 

Suppose though someone asked you, “Are you filled with the Spirit?” what would you say? It’s not such an easy question to answer. If you examined yourself, would you be able to hazard a guess as to how much of the Holy Spirit you have in your life? Would you be able to say your life is filled with the Spirit? Maybe you’d answer that you don’t have much and that you need more of Him. Or, maybe you could answer that a lot of the Holy Spirit is evident in your life but you could stand to be topped off. The question may make us uneasy as we think about it.

 

In these days of uncertainty it may seem that our world is spiraling out of control. And as we struggle to hold on to what we’ve known and have felt comfortable with it may feel like that control is slipping though our fingers. In this hour of all-but-universal darkness one cheering sliver of light appears: within the fold of conservative Christianity there are to be increasingly found believers whose religious lives are marked by a growing hunger after God Himself. They are eager for spiritual realities. They will no longer stand for truth as defined by a world blinded by sin. They seek the perfect truth which can be found only through His Holy Word and His Holy Spirit. As A. W. Tozer wrote in his book, The Pursuit of God, “They are athirst for God, and they will not be satisfied till they have drunk deep at the Fountain of Living Water and filled with the Holy Spirit of God.”

 

One of the greatest preachers of the 19th century, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, said, “The grand thing the church needs in this time is God’s Holy Spirit.” The same holds true today. More than anything else, we need to rediscover the Holy Spirit and learn anew to depend on him.

 

 

In John 4 Jesus and a Samaritan woman were at a well discussing thirst and that it may be quenched with water. In response to a question she asked, Jesus contrasted the water of the well with God’s Living water as He answered, “Everyone who drinks this well water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

 

Back to our question. Would you be able to say that you are filled with God’s Holy Spirit. Are you full of the Living Water which Jesus offers? Is the state of your soul empty or full.? Is your life one of carnality or spirituality?

 

In 1 Corinthians 2:9 through 3:4 the Scriptures distinguish between the “spiritual” man and the “carnal” man; 2 Corinthians 10:2 and Galatians 5:16 contrast those who “walk in the Spirit,” and those who walk “according to the flesh.” Romans 6:4 compares those who walk “in newness of life,” and those who do not; John 15;1-11  those who “abide in Christ,” and those who do not; and 1 Corinthians 3:3 and Colossians 1:10 those who walk “worthy of the Lord,” and those who “walk as men.”

 

God wants us to live a Holy Spirit filled life and to walk in that life.

 

Notice Ephesians 5:14: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead.” This verse is often spoken to sinners, but it was not written to sinners. It was a call to one of the best churches in the New Testament at Ephesus. Some of the Ephesians were in a spiritual slumber. They were morally good but spiritually unenlightened. They were religious but un-anointed. It is perfectly possible for a good, faithful, loyal church member to be spiritually asleep.

 

When you go to sleep tonight, the fact that you are unconscious and out of the running for a while is not bothering you. You know that normally you will wake up again. You are not dead, but you are cut off from your environment, all but that which is reflex—breathing and a few other things. Likewise it is possible to be a Christian, to be in the church and yet be asleep spiritually.

Paul contrasted between being filled with wine and being filled with the Spirit.

 

A person under the influence of wine experiences altered behavior. He may say or do things he would not ordinarily do. Emotions may be heightened for a brief period, causing the person to experience anger followed quickly by elation followed quickly by depression. If the person drinks enough wine, his mental processes will be affected and his decision making ability will be radically altered—almost always with a negative result.

 

Likewise, the filling of the Holy Spirit produces a change in behavior. In the Book of Acts, once timid disciples became flaming evangelists for Jesus Christ.

 

They were accused of being drunk.

Peter told the crowd. “These men are not drunk as you suppose. ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people.”

 

They weren’t under the influence of wine. They were under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

 

In Ephesians 5:15-21 Paul mentions a number of practical things related to the filling of the Spirit:

Wisdom for living in this evil age (vv. 15-16).

Understanding of God’s will (v. 17).

A joyful heart filled with singing to the Lord (v. 19)

A heart filled with thanksgiving (v. 20).

An attitude of mutual submission (v. 21).

 

True submission is vitally important because it touches our need to be in control in every situation. When we submit from the heart, we are saying, “I don’t have to have my way all the time.” Only a heart touched by the Holy Spirit can maintain such an attitude in every relationship of life.

 

Fifteen times the New Testament refers to someone being “filled with” or “full of” the Holy Spirit. In Ephesians 5:18 Paul used the verb plerousthe translated as filled.

In the Greek language this verb is in the imperative mode. This means the filling of the Spirit isn’t an optional part of the Christian life. Every Christian is commanded to be filled with the Spirit all of the time. If you aren’t, you are not walking in God’s will.

 

Plerousthe is in the present tense meaning being filled with the Spirit is not a one-time event. It’s something we keep on doing. We could legitimately translate this verse this way: “Be continually filled with the Holy Spirit.” Wuest translates it as “Be constantly controlled by the Spirit.”  The filling of the Spirit is supposed to be the normal way of life for the Christian.

 

The verb is also in the passive voice. This is a nuance many people miss. In Greek as in English commands can be either active or passive. However, we’re much more used to active commands: “Go to the store and pick up some milk, please.” That’s an active command. If I say, “Fill that hole with dirt”, that’s also in the active voice. But Ephesians 5:18 is in the passive voice. He doesn’t say, “Fill yourself with the Spirit” but rather “Be filled with the Spirit.” To be “be filled” means that the filling of the Spirit is a work of God, not man.

 

The Holy Spirit is within us and willing to fill us at any moment we must get out of the way.

In John 3 verses 29–30, John the Baptist said, “Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.”  As we become conformed to the Image of Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit  becomes greater in our lives and our natural self our carnal tendencies become less evident. This is the purpose and plan of of God in sending His Holy Spirit to dwell within us.

 

Finally, Plerousthe is a plural command. Being filled with the Spirit is not just for Pastors, or evangelists or Sunday school teachers, or those serving in ministry. Paul is saying, “Let each and every one of you be filled with the Spirit.” On one hand, that means the command is for every Christian. God intends—and desires—that all his children be filled with the Holy Spirit.

 

It’s also a corporate command. The church as a church is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. That is, the filling of the Spirit is not something for my own personal edification. God’s Spirit imparts life-giving power that transforms the church from a social club or a religious gathering into a living body of Christ. We can see that clearly in the verses that follow:

Being led by the Holy Spirit we are to speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs (v. 19). Being led by the Holy Spirit, we are to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (v. 21).

 

I am to be filled with the Spirit—but I am not to be filled alone. As we allow the Holy Spirit to fill us one by one, our corporate life will be forever transformed. Perhaps this one factor accounts for the difference between a church that is “alive” and a church that is “dead.” Both churches have the same Bible, they may have the same rites and rituals, they may sing the same songs, they may even have the same programs and the same schedule of services. Outwardly they may look very much alike.

But one is alive.

The other is dead.

 

What makes the difference is that one is filled with The Holy Spirit and the other is filled with the world.

 

We need the filling of the Spirit not simply for ourselves but for the reformation and revival of local churches everywhere.

 

Being filled with the Holy Spirit is an issue of control.

 

Go back to the contrast between wine and the Spirit. Drunken and Spirit-filled people have one thing in common. They are both controlled people. Their lives and their behavior are radically changed by that which fills them.

–If a person is filled with anger, then anger controls his life.

–If a person is filled with greed, then greed dominates his life.

–If a person is filled with love, then love influences all he does.

 

When the Holy Spirit fills you, he will have the controlling interest in your life.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit doesn’t mean I have more of the Spirit, it means the Spirit has more of me.

 

Being filled with the Holy Spirit is an issue of Cooperation

Every Christian is filled with the Spirit from the moment of the new birth. The Holy Spirit indwells us from the moment we are saved. New believers often have so much joy and walk so closely with the Lord. For them, it’s the natural thing to do.

That means the central issue is one of cooperation. Am I going to cooperate with the Holy Spirit and let him lead me or I am going to keep on trying to do things my own way?

 

So many of us struggle at precisely this point. We fight the Lord because we want to do things our way.

 

Recall Paul on the Road to Damascus.

 

Jesus’ words to Saul on the road to Damascus: “It is hard for you to kick against the pricks.”

“It is hard for you to kick against the pricks” was a Greek proverb, but it was also familiar to the Jews and anyone who made a living in agriculture. An ox goad was a stick with a pointed piece of iron on its tip used to prod the oxen when plowing. The farmer would prick the animal to steer it in the right direction. Sometimes the animal would rebel by kicking out at the prick, and this would result in the prick being driven even further into its flesh. In essence, the more an ox rebelled, the more it suffered.

 

The conversion of Saul is quite significant as it was the turning point in his life. Paul later wrote nearly half of the books of the New Testament.

Jesus took control of Paul and let him know his rebellion against God was a losing battle. Paul’s actions were as senseless as an ox kicking “against the goads.” Paul had passion and sincerity in his fight against Christianity, but he was not heading in the direction God wanted him to go. Jesus was going to goad (“direct” or “steer”) Paul in the right direction.

There is a powerful lesson in the ancient Greek proverb. We, too, find it hard to kick against the goads. Solomon wrote, “Stern discipline awaits him who leaves the path” (Proverbs 15:10). When we choose to disobey God, we become like the rebellious ox—driving the goad deeper and deeper. Proverbs 13:15 says, “The way of the unfaithful is hard.” How much better to heed God’s voice, to listen to the pangs of conscience! By resisting God’s authority we are only punishing ourselves.

 

To be filled with the Holy Spirit we must become open and empty.

 

Emptiness and Openness

Imagine trying to fill up a jar that is already full of something else. You can’t fill what is already full. Or imagine an empty jar with the lid screwed on tight. You can’t fill that jar either.

Some Christians are so full of themselves, they have no room for the Holy Spirit.

Some Christians have simply closed their heart to the work of the Holy Spirit.

 

The weather has warmed and soon the grass will turn green. In many lawns though the weeds and dandelions will sprout along side of the new blades of grass. If they are not controlled soon they will choke the grass and the lawn will become filled with that which is not desired.

 

Similarly if we allow the things of this would to gain a foothold in our lives soon the Holy Spirit will have no place to grow and that which is not desired will take the place of the Fruit of the Spirit.

 

 Some Christians are so full of themselves that they are closed to anything that God might want to do in their lives. In a sense being filled with the Spirit is an impossibility—at least as far as it depends on us. Only God’s Spirit can fill us. We need two things—emptiness and openness. You can’t fill a jar that’s already full, and you can’t fill a jar that is not open.

 

There must be a sense of need—“Lord, I’m empty and I need to be filled by your Spirit.”

There must be a willingness—“Lord, I’m open to you. Let your Spirit fill me now.”

 

Let me end by putting this matter in a larger perspective. The Holy Spirit is never given merely for our own personal enjoyment. God sends his Spirit to enable us to live for Christ in the world.

 

 It’s not the people “out there” that need to be revived by God’s Spirit. It’s you and it’s me.

The Christian life is not difficult; it is impossible without the Holy Spirit. The human spirit fails unless the Holy Spirit fills. We are commanded to be awake and to continually yield to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, both as individual persons and as the Body of Christ.

 

 

Let us close with this prayer that Paul wrote to the Ephesians but which is appropriate for us here this morning.

 

Ephesians 3:14-21  

14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, 21to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.