September 3, 2025 -- Ephesians 5:18 -- Be filled with the Spirit

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

…be filled with the Spirit
Ephesians 5:18 ESV
 
Leading a Bible study through Ephesians has been a great blessing. Sinclair Ferguson’s “Let’s Study Ephesians” has been the guide to help unpack the letter. He comments that the verb, be filled, is in the present tense. Meaning the filling of the Holy Spirit is to be an on-going action in our lives. It is also an imperative, a command. Noting that before knowing Christ our lives were lived according to the imperatives and commands of the flesh; now it is the Spirit of God Who commands believers. Finally, to be filled with the Spirit is a gift. What God commands He also supplies. There are many implications to this understanding of the simple present tense, command and promise.
 
Believers are to read the word, as it is through the Bible that believers are aware of the Spirit’s work. As one reads it is the Spirit Who makes the Bible clear. In its pages believers have their sins exposed and their deep, constant need for Christ revealed. The Spirit is the gift given by Whom believers can cry out to God as Father and cy out to Jesus as Lord and their Captain of Salvation. Believers cry out to God for more of the Spirit—whereas in the past drunkenness and debauchery, sins which always cried more, give, feed my lusts—now the believer, renewed and purified is constantly and insatiably seeking more of the Spirit.
 
This is a clear warning not to toy with old sins. The former vices of drunkenness (which is anything that causes one to lose control: like alcohol, or gaming, or gambling, or drugs, or pills, or shopping) and debauchery (which is losing control to sexual vices and sins and lusts) can easily reassert themselves. My former pastor used to say, “My old nature with its sinful patterns, was drowned at my baptism, but he is a surprisingly strong swimmer and keeps popping up again”. Our old nature is surprisingly buoyant. Our new Spirit-filled mind and soul are given power so that old sins can be vanquished as often as they reappear. The fact that you hate your old sins and desire them to be put to death are signs that the Spirit of God is filling you and directing you. Dear Christian, pray for more of the Spirit’s presence and work in your life.
 
Father in heaven, thank You for the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit. Through Your Spirit’s powerful presence we can cry out to You, “Abba, Father” with the full assurance You have adopted us as Your own beloved sons and daughters through Jesus. Thank You for the Spirit by Whom we are sealed into Christ and know Him as the Captain of Salvation. Triune God, we confess how powerful, demanding and persistent our old sins are. So, we plead, fill us with the Spirit so that old lusts and longings are replaced with the overwhelming desire for more of Jesus and more abundant life in Him. Amen.
 
https://youtu.be/dHLikbLXQ8E?si=I4T8XqrYLyOdRY3t Not What These Hands Have Done
 

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