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Ephesians
can be divided into two main sections. In Chapters 1-3, Paul
deals with the Christian’s position in Christ (doctrine). In
Chapters 4-6, Paul deals with the Christian’s walk in Christ
(duty). He begins with a general statement – “I
therefore…beseech you that ye walk worthy of the
vocation wherewith ye are called” (4:1). As God’s people, we
are to walk in unity (4:1-16), in purity (4:17-32), in
charity (5:1-6), as children of light (5:7-14),
circumspectly (5:15-18), and in victory by putting on the
whole armour of God (6:10-24).
The Christian’s walk refers to his spiritual life,
and that life must be characterised by being filled with the
Holy Spirit and not being drunk with wine (5:18).
Be not filled with wine
“Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess.” This is a
warning against being drunk and that wine can be
intoxicating. The fact that Paul gives this warning to the
church at Ephesus implies that there were believers who were
drunk with wine.
People drink to forget their troubles or to make
themselves happy, not knowing that alcohol is a depressant
that inhibits a man’s ability to control himself. There are
many passages in the Bible that warns about being drunk (Prov
20:1; 23:29-34; Isa 5:11; Hab 2:15-16; 1 Cor 6:9-10; 1 Pet
4:3). Drunkenness is a hindrance to a person’s being filled
with the Holy Spirit.
Drunkenness is also a counterfeit of being filled
with the Holy Spirit. Ephesus was known for its worship of
Diana (Acts 19). Ephesus is also known for the worship of
Dinoysus, the god of wine. The worship of Dinoysus included
wine which was consumed in huge quantities as a means of
communing with the gods.
+ The worship of God is one of order and not chaos (1
Cor 14:40).
+ Beware of things that will drive you to excesses
and riotous living (Luke 15:13).
+ Christians are to be sober, mentally alert and
spiritually vigilant (1 Thess 5:6-8; 1 Pet 1:13; 5:8; Lev
10:8-9; 1 Tim 3:3; Tit 2:2-6).
Be filled with the holy spirit
The Christian is not to be drunk with wine but be filled
with the Holy Spirit because we have been redeemed, and we
have been “sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise” (1:13),
united to God “through the Spirit” (2:22), “strengthened
with might by his Spirit in the inner man” (3:16), united
together in “one Spirit” (4:3-4), and “renewed in the spirit
of your mind” (4:23).
The filling of the Holy Spirit is not…
·
Baptism by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:13). The baptism by the
Holy Spirit joins believers to the body of Christ.
·
Indwelling of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 3:16; Rom 8:9). The
indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the act of the Holy Spirit
taking residence in the heart of the believer. It marks you
as belonging to God.
·
Sealing of the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13; 2 Cor 1:21-22; Eph
4:30).
These three works of the Holy Spirit are universal,
instantaneous, permanent, non-experiential one-time events.
It is also the work of the Holy Spirit.
A. Command to be Filled
There is no command for us to be baptized by the Holy
Spirit, or to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit; or to be sealed
by the Holy Spirit. But we are commanded to be filled with
the Holy Spirit because there is no other way to live.
·
It stands at the top of all other commands. No Christian can
do God’s will apart from being filled with God’s Spirit.
·
It is in the present tense, meaning to say that it is a
continuous activity. Paul also describes it as walking in
the Spirit (Gal 5:16).
·
It calls for present obedience. We must live each day being
filled with the Holy Spirit.
·
It is given in the passive voice. The filling of the Holy
Spirit is something that is being done to us.
B. Preparation to be Filled
When God gives a command, we have to obey. It also
presupposes that we are able to obey.
To be filled means [1] to be full, to have
completeness (Col 2:9-10); [2] to be soaked (Matt
27:48); [3] to be under the control of something (Luke 5:26;
6:11; Acts 5:17; 6:5; 13:45). To be filled with the Holy
Spirit means that our lives are full of Him, and that we are
under the control of the Holy Spirit.
Thus, as Christians, our lives must be
under the control of the Holy Spirit. This calls for us to
yield – to surrender our will, talent, time, and
possessions. Specifically, it calls for us to be saturated
with the Word of God. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you
richly in all wisdom…” (Col 3:16).
+ Are you yielding to the Holy Spirit in
your life by saturating yourself in and obeying the Word of
God?
C. Results of Being Filled
The Spirit-filled person is the one who fully understands
and enjoys the benefits of that work of saving grace that
has been wrought in his heart. And he shows it in his life.
·
The Spirit-filled Christian is a singing/joyful Christian
(5:19).
·
The Spirit-filled Christian is a thanksgiving Christian
(5:20).
·
The Spirit-filled Christian is a submitting Christian in his
various relationships (5:21).
Conclusion
The non-believers are under the bondage of sin. There is no
Spirit of God in them.
+ The only deliverance from slavery to sin is through
Christ Jesus.
The Christian has a choice and a command to be filled with
the Spirit.
+ The way to live the new life in Christ is to be
filled with the Holy Spirit. |
