What is "Filled with the Spirit"

Walking Carefully

Ephesians 5:15-20

Three elements of our walk

We should be Care-Full, not Care-Less.

1. Walk with Wisdom (vv 15-16)

Wisdom is the practical application of acquired knowledge.

How you spend your time? Not so much hours-minutes-days, but How you respond to the opportunities that the Lord brings to you?

You need to look for, see, acknowledge and take them.

2. Walk with Understanding (v. 17)

This further expands wisdom. Go to Proverbs and look for all the wise/foolish references. 

Only in the Lord’s will can we accomplish anything good, and lasting. His will is found in the Bible.

1. Know Jesus - be saved

2. Be Filled with the Spirit 

3. Pursue Sanctification

4. Suffer for His sake

5. Be Thankful

6. Be Submissive to Others (next week)

3. Walk in the Spirit (vv. 18-20)

Do not be drunk with wine - is a reference to pagan worship, which involved drinking anddepraved, immoral behavior. 

For us today, the prohibition is about not seeking fulfillment or joy in things other than God.

It’s vital to know what it means to be filled

Be filled - completely full

With - pointing to the cause

Spirit - the third person of the trinity

What being filled is NOT

• An Ecstatic, emotional experience. 

If it looks like something a drunk person might do, it’s NOT being filled with the spirit. The charismatic movement is a good example of what filled is not.

• A Second blessing - later in Christian life

  Speaking in tongues as evidence is false teaching.

• Bland checklist obedience void of emotion.• Something only a select few “spiritual elites” receive.

All believers are commanded to be filled.

What being filled IS

• A command

• A conscious, intentional pursuit

It won’t happen on its own. 

• Moved along - wind in sails. Active and moving.

• Permeated - like marinated meat

• Total control

2. How to Be Filled

First, have a right attitude:

John 3:30 – He must increase, but I must decrease.” 

To be filled with the Spirit

you must be filled with the Word

Notice parallel elements in Ephesians 5:18-20 and  Colossians 3:16-18.

Galatians 5 parallels led, walk, and living in the Spirit. 

You must:

• be open to filling.

• seek filling.

• empty your life of wrong pursuits.

• fill yourself with the Word.

• obey the Word. 

Psalm 37:4 - Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 

When you’re doing all of this, and seeking to delight in the Lord, His will and your will merge into one will as He not only places right desires toward His will in your heart, but also fulfills those desires.

3. What It Looks Like to be filled with the Sprit. 

(vv. 18-20)

Do you see these things in your life?

Pursue these things:

• Horizontal Edification

It’s not a solo pursuit. Then Christian life is mean to be pursued with others. (Ephesians 4:29)

• Sing and making Melody

“From the heart” - Your heart should overflow with joy. 

• To the Lord

Don’t focus on yourself, your needs, desires, wants, or preferences. Our focus is the Lord. 

Finally: 

Thankfulness

Not thankful = not filled with the Spirit.

When should we be thankful? ALWAYS

For what? For Everything!
That’s impossible if you’re not filled with the Spirit.

Thankful to God the Father.

He is our Audience of One

We are to thank Him!!

In the name of our Lord Jesus

Reminding us of the cross. Pointing us to the gospel.