Living a Spirit-Filled Life



Living a Spirit-Filled Life

Eph. 5:18-21

18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

I. The Command to be Spirit-Filled

Paul’s Target Audience

The command is addressed to Christians

They were …

‘saints’ and ‘faithful’ (1:1)

Made alive, raised up, and seated together with Christ (2:5-6)

Sealed with the Holy Spirit (1:13)

The Command’s Characteristics

It is an imperative, not a suggestion.

It is a continuous filling, not a one-time filling. (present tense imperative)

It requires submission. We must choose to allow the Holy Spirit to fill us. (passive voice verb)

The Identity of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is not a power.

The Holy Spirit is not an experience.

The Holy Spirit is a Person.

Spirit-fullness is a relationship between us and the Holy Spirit.

This relationship begins in salvation, but it is not complete until we are “filled” with the Spirit.

II. The Contrast between Drunkenness and Spirit-fullness

Drunkenness

Produces debauchery and dissipation

Characterized by self-indulgence

Spirit-fullness

Produces power to love God and live a holy life

Characterized by self-control

III. The Comparison between Drunkenness and Spirit-fullness

The element drunkenness and Spirit-fullness share is control.

A drunkard is under the influence/control of alcohol

A Spirit-filled person lives under the influence/control of the Holy Spirit

The essence of being Spirit-filled is living consciously under the control of the Holy Spirit.

How does the Holy Spirit control us?

Weak Illustrations

“God is my co-pilot” – He’s not really in charge.

“God is my pilot” – I’m passive. He does everything.

Better Illustration

Car & Backseat Driver – I do all the driving, but He tells me how to do it.

How does the Holy Spirit speak to us?

Through the Word of God (1 Cor. 2)

Through our Conscience (Rom. 9:1)

Through the Peace of God (Col. 3:15)

Through prompts and checks

**The Holy Spirit’s leadership is always in harmony with the Word of God.

IV. Characteristics of a Spirit-filled Life

Your Will is affected

The Spirit-filled person lives continually submitted to the leadership of the Spirit.

Your Talk is affected

Speaking to yourselves in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs

Your Music is affected

Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord

Your Attitude is affected

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ

Your Actions are affected

Submitting yourselves one to one another in the fear of the Lord

Your power to resist temptation is strengthened

Gal. 5:16 Walk in the Spirit and you will by no means fulfill the desires of the flesh

Life is a series of choices. At every decision point, a Christian has the ability, through God’s grace, to choose to do what is right. (1 Cor. 10:13)

Consistent victory over sin is the result of choosing to obey God at each decision point in our lives.

Moment-by-moment submission to the Holy Spirit is the key to moment-by-moment victory.

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