After over 30 years of being a Christian, I have come to realize how difficult and demanding it is to live the Christian life. Recently, as I preached through the last three chapters of Ephesians, I discovered many practical admonitions that seemed almost humanly impossible to achieve. In the center of all those, you find Ephesians 5:18 which says, "Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit." I concluded that verse is the key to the last three chapters. The demanding Christian life can only be lived as a believer is Spirit-filled.
It is not to difficult to live for the Lord at church where everyone is encouraging you and you are enjoying the haven that church services provide. But, it is an entirely different story at home and at work. We are to carry our Christianity there, too, you know. That is why every believer must learn to be Spirit-filled.
Being Spirit-filled is like an adrenaline rush. When adrenaline is pumping through your body, maybe as a result of fear or anger, you are able to do things physically that other times, you are not able to do. This is true of being Spirit-filled as well. When the Spirit of God is controlling us, we are able to do spiritually what we could not do otherwise.
Paul shares a contrast between being Spirit-filled and drunk. He says not to be drunk with wine. A drunk person is controlled by alcohol. Paul suggests that instead of being controlled by alcohol, we should be controlled by the Holy Spirit. You might say it like this, "Don't be filled with spirits; be filled with the Spirit." That is exactly what being Spirit-filled is; it is allowing the Holy Spirit to be in complete control of your attitudes, your words, and your actions.
A drunk person is more courageous when he is drunk. A Spirit-filled person will also be more courageous in witnessing and taking a stand for Christ than when he is not allowing the Spirit to be in control. Some people get alot happier when they are drunk. When we are Spirit-filled, we will have the joy of the Lord in our life that is not dependent on circumstances.
The matter of being Spirit-filled is commanded in this verse. It is not an option; it is an obligation. I remember when I was growing up, my dad used to say something like, "I am not asking you to do this; I am telling you to do it." That is what God is doing here. He is not asking us to be Spirit-filled; He is telling us to be. If I am not Spirit-filled, I am being disobedient to God. It is a sin not to be Spirit-filled.
If I will just be obedient to this command to be Spirit-filled; it will allow me to be obedient to all God's other commands simultaneously. If I am being filled with the Spirit, I will have no trouble living in unity with my fellow believers, restraining my temper, forgiving those who hurt me and showing kindness to them, loving my wife unconditionally, or any other command that in the last three chapters of Ephesians seem almost humanly impossible.
There are wonderful results of being Spirit-filled. You find many of these mentioned in Galatians 5:22, 23, a list we refer to as the Fruit of the Spirit. However, there are three additional results mentioned in Ephesians 5 right after the command to be Spirit-filled.
One result is when a person is Spirit-filled, they will surround themselves with Godly music. Paul said, "Speaking to yourselves in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." Nothing is said of music that speaks of getting drunk, running around on your spouse, rebelling against authority, or partaking in illicit drugs. Most secular genres of music contain lyrics that promote such a lifestyle, which grieves the Holy Spirit of God. We must learn to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit as we make music choices and make sure He is not grieved by the music we choose. The music we listen to should glorify God and encourage us to be like Jesus in every way.
Another result of being Spirit-filled is to be thankful at all times and for all things. Paul mentions this in verse 20. This is one of the concepts that for me is humanly impossible without the Spirit being in control. I am inclined to complain and focus on the negative. I am trying to get to the place in my life where, instead of complaining that roses have thorns, I can be thankful that thorns have roses. A Spirit-filled Christian will learn to be thankful in all things and at all times. He will fill his heart with gratitude so that there is no room for Satan to fill it with complaining.
The third result of being Spirit-filled is to be submissive. Verse 21 speaks of "submitting ourselves to one another in the fear of God." The word "submit" speaks of teamwork and encourages us to place ourselves in rank of authority. A football team has to have all players submitting to the coach, and in some cases, the quarterback for the offense to click. If the running backs and wide receivers disagree with the play call and refuse to do their job, the offense suffers. The same happens in the home, when the wife will not submit to her husband as a the leader or the children rebel against their parents. It also occurs in the church when people try to usurp authority and impose their will on others in the church. A submissive attitude is a result of being Spirit-filled.
Are you a Spirit-filled Christian? Do you recognize the Holy Spirit's presence in your life? Are you sensitive to His leading and allow Him to control your thoughts, words, and actions? Begin today to call out to God for a fresh anointing of His Spirit and yield your will completely to Him. Soon, you will discover just how strangely simple it becomes to live this demanding Christian life!
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