Eternity Daily Bible Study No. 252

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Apologies for the irregular devotionals, I have been exceptionally busy with “face to face” ministry. 
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Living In Christ – 13

BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT

Ephesians 5:18-21
(18)  And do not be drunk with wine, in which is excess, but be filled with the Spirit,
(19)  speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
(20)  always giving thanks for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
(21)  submitting yourselves to one another in the fear of God.

This section on being filled with the Spirit follows the earlier verses on the constructive use of time. They say that the Christian is not to lead a wasted, dissipated drunken life but rather a Spirit-filled, joyful, worshipful and thankful and respectful life.

“And do not be drunk with wine” – why? Because in it is “excess” or “dissipation”. All pleasure should be pursued wisely and in moderation – whether it is alcohol, television or sport. Evangelicals may not often be alcoholics but they can sometimes be excessive day-dreamers, TV watchers, and gossips or infatuated with “working out” hour after hour n the gym. When a legitimate pleasure becomes a huge waste of time, or even a destructive addiction (and you can even get addicted to running) then its time to put it away in the name of the Lord.  Addiction to alcohol can ruin years of a person’s life, and Christians should avoid it at all costs.

“But be filled with the Spirit” – we are to be intoxicated with the presence of God, with His love being poured out in our lives and so affected by it that others mistakenly think that we have had too much sweet wine.

Acts 2:11-17
(11)  Cretans and Arabians, we hear them speaking the great things of God in our own languages.
(12)  And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying to one another, What does this mean?
(13)  But others mocking said, These men are full of sweet wine.
(14)  But Peter, standing up with the Eleven, lifted up his voice and said to them, Men, Jews, and all who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
(15)  For these are not drunk as you suppose, for it is the third hour of the day.
(16)  But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel:
(17)  "And it shall be in the last days, says God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.

The joy in the life of a Christian is not to be from God not from a substance and it is to result in glory being given to God.

This joy is to affect how we think, and the “self-talk” that goes on in our minds so that we speak to ourselves in “psalms and hymns and spirituals songs” and our heart is renewed as we sing and make melody in our hearts unto the Lord. The heart of the Christian is to be full of song, a happy place where God rejoices to dwell.

When we are filled with the Spirit a happy, God-centered, and melodious self replaces the gloomy, self-centered, addictive self. The darkness is banished and the soul is filled with light and joy.

Instead of railing against the world like a disappointed drunk the Spirit-filled Christian celebrates life and loves God and lives respectfully and is in right submission to those with whom he or she deals in life. The Christians submits to laws and governments and employers in a respectful bit not obsequious or craven manner. They submit not out of weakness or a docile nature but out of fear of God who orders our world with justice. And yet, when God directs, they can take a costly stand as well. 

“always giving thanks for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” this is a key to powerful praying for gratitude is at the very heart of true prayer. We can give thanks for the sunlight, the fresh air, the birds, the earth we dwell on and of course for God Himself and for our salvation. There is enough to be thankful for to keep us going even on the worst of days. We can even thank God for our trials for they help perfect our character (Romans 5:1-5)

Our life is from the hand of God and we need to thank Him for it. We also need to trust that no trial is too great or any night of the soul too long or too dark. To give thanks in the midst of injustice, illness, death or divorce is very difficult. At such times the world seems to be wrong-sided, fallen and awful.  Yet misery is never a good solution.  Find something to be thankful for, even something small and trivial. No matter how down I have been I have always been able to give thanks for my food! Cultivate thankfulness in the midst of trials and you will gain a soul-strength that is mighty and awesome.

In our prayers we give thanks “to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”. This is the proper order of prayer – to God the Father and in the name of Jesus.

Well then how do we become filled with the Spirit? It’s a command, it is something we must have a part in, something we must do. It is quite simple:
1. First come before God in thankful and faith-filled prayer.
2. Then confess any conscious sin and ask God to take charge of your life.
3. Ask to be filled with the Spirit that is - invite the Holy Spirit to fill you and control you.

Pray a prayer something like this: Heavenly Father I come to you in the name of Jesus Christ and thank you for saving me and loving me, please forgive my sins, take control of my life this day and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Amen

If you pray this each morning you will find your days quite different and much more joyful.

Blessings,

John Edmiston johned@aibi.ph

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