November 2, 2024 -- Ephesians 5:15-18 -- Be filled with the Holy Spirit

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit…
Ephesians 5:15-18 ESV
 
My time. Free time. Down time. You know all the expressions. The point of the passage is that all time is God’s time. He oversees it all and those who know Him, choose to follow Him every moment of the day. I don’t know about you, but that is one tall order. I am not sure how to accomplish that! Look how the passage helps steer your life.
 
First, on your own, you are unwise. Every time there is a choice between doing good in service to God, for fulfilling your own desires, guess what, you are likely to put God in the back seat of your life. We are, by nature, unwise, sin-filled and without God’s restraining hand, we are plotting a course towards evil.
 
Second, the days are evil. Think about something like Halloween. It is just kids play, right? Hmm. Probably not. You are playfully introducing your children to the world of witches and demons and play-acting. It is an invitation to make evil and all that is demonic seem inviting and fun. Basically harmless? No way! Then look at how evil is celebrated in the world in other, obvious ways. Infants are killed in the womb, and it is celebrated as a mother’s choice. Her body. her choice as the incoherent logic of our world. It completely ignores that fact that men and women are made in the image of God, therefore, their body and their children belong to Him!
 
Third, believers can be filled so full of the things of the world, that they are oblivious to the commandments of God. Such bloatedness makes them too lazy to do what God commands. They welcome the opportunities to ingest the things of the world, but then are too full to drink deeply from the well of salvation. The will of the Lord, as it is clearly expressed in the Bible. It is the pathway of life. It is life and salvation and ultimately true joy. However, many believers compromise it, so that the clear commands of God are softened, changed, in places ignored, exchanged so that believers can live a more comfortable Christian life in the world which hates God. Christians seek to live sort of in obedience to God, a manufactured obedience that suits them, rather than conforming themselves the will of our God.
 
The passage is clear, believers are not to be intoxicated by wine or beer. Nor are their lives to be filled with other things that will crowd God out. Binge watching TV. Shopping to excess. Gambling. Video gaming. Board gaming. Partying. Endless eating out. Notice that there are a few things in that list which are okay in moderation, in appropriate small doses, but clearly are wrong when they take over one’s life. Sin does that. The Devil is always trying to hook you in and take more and more of your time, your thought life, your attention and if possible, draw you away from God.
 
Fourth, excess of anything is debauchery. That is a loaded word. Simply, when you are getting tanked up with anything other than God, you are acting in “unsavedness”. That is what debauchery means, unsavedness, excess, wastefulness. Debauchery is taking the precious gifts that are yours in Jesus Christ—forgiveness, the demonstration of the Father’s love, walking in newness of life, joy, and stomping on these. Saying, God, you’re not good enough for me.
Finally, be filled with the Spirit. Ah, dear brother and sister in Christ, the Spirit’s role is to lead you back to Jesus. Jesus, Who is praying for you by presenting His wounds to the Father and saying, Father, as You decreed from before the beginning of time, so now act in mercy and love, apply My righteousness to this sinner seeking You so that he knows himself to be Your son. Father, draw this wayward daughter back to yourself, based on Your decree of love which is founded on My life poured out for her.
 
Being filled with the Spirit is prayerfully asking for help when confronted with hard choices or temptations. Being filled with the Spirit is leaning on Christian friends to help you when times are tough. Being filled with the Spirit taking time to read the Bible and meditate on it. What does it mean for me? For the people of God collectively? Being filled with the Spirit is an invitation to deeper, richer life with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
 
God You are the source of all Power in my life. I confess how much I just want to do what I want to do, with no reference to You or Your plans and purposes for my life. Time after time I see the mess I make of my life, and I still wind up in the same, dumb and broken places I was before. Thank You that You are patient. You are near. You are the Faithful Father Who delights to forgive His people to the great glory of Jesus Christ, and You, Almighty God are the restorer of the broken hearted, who, by Your Spirit, are led onward on the great journey of salvation. Blessed be Your Name.
 
https://youtu.be/2CJT-6nsl8c?si=0n_5NQzriPTRxEg_ Fill Thou My Life, O Lord My God
 

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