Bible Studies for Life: June 26

Filled by the Spirit • Ephesians 5:8-21

By Clay Anthony

Ever read in the Bible that certain people were “filled with the Spirit?” What does that mean for us? How does that effect my daily life? Understand this: the moment you become a Christian, you received the Holy Spirit. It sealed you for all eternity as one of God’s children.

At salvation, we receive the charismata or special gift of God’s Spirit into our lives. We do not wish to abuse this gift as something that it’s not. We wish to view this gift of God as His sealing us into His family.

With that said, our spiritual gas tank does become depleted from time to time. There are moments in our Christian life where our spirit needs filling up by God’s Holy Spirit in order to live as we should. This filling of the Holy Spirit is seen many times in Scripture, whereas the sealing of the Holy Spirit is a one-time event in the life of a believer.

If a lost person desires to observe a Christian, can they just look at your walk? (1:2) Understand that as the Apostle Paul uses the word, “walk,” he is referring to our “life.” Thus, the filling of the Holy Spirit is best demonstrated by believers in how we live out our daily lives. Paul gives three ways in which we are to walk:

Illuminatingly (vv. 8-14). If our walk is our life lived out, we are called to be seen. Four times Paul uses light to make a point. Light is good for shining on what is good and offers lamps to our path (Psalms 109:105). Yet light is also good in pointing out what is hidden (Mark. 4:22). If we see unfruitful works, light gives us the option of sidestepping that sin. Light lives in us but comes from God’s Word.

We are quick to tell those with questions to seek guidance from God’s Word. Once we find ourselves deep into those pages, we will discover the gift of discernment (v. 10). This is a big word that means, “to find approving.”

Do you have questions about what is pleasing to God? Open His Word and let it illuminate your answer. As you find out what is right by God, you will conversely discover what God is against and what we are called to expose (v.11). Note Paul here calls for exposing or pointing out the wrong. He says nothing of slander, gossip, nor FaceBook.

Wisely (vv. 15-18). Look around you. That’s not a request – that’s the command that begins this section of Scripture. To “look carefully” means to study a full, 360-degree circle of your life and determine whether you’re living as a Christian.

Next comes a command to not be unwise but wise. Then comes another command: redeem the time, for we live in evil days. What exactly does that mean? For what did you trade this day of your life? You were given 24 hours to spend as you saw fit. What do you have to show for that gift?

A wise person spends such a gift on what will last for eternity (v. 17). This can only be done by not being controlled by what you see around you when you look into that 360-degree view of your life.

There is a strong warning against drunkenness, but this is more than arguing for tee-totaling. Verses three through 11 speak of having a controlled view of sex. In verse 18, the same call is made regarding alcohol. The point here is to be controlled only by God and filled with the Holy Spirit.

The idea here is what Paul knew about the tanning process of his day. Being a tentmaker by trade, he was well-versed in soaking animal hides to the point that they were useful for building materials. If your life is soaked in the Spirit, there is no room for another controller.

Joyfully (vv. 19-21). Paul’s audience was Christians. He commands them to address each other with joy. That is what psalms, hymns, and songs are about. These would have been Old Testament spirituals. They would have been from the heart. Imagine your life if you were greeted by songs every time you met another Christian.

Furthermore, Paul commands us to submit to each other. By doing so, the church will be in a constant state of putting the needs of others first. To submit is a military action, a volunteer action. No one makes you put others first and outside of being filled by the Holy Spirit, you never would.

Anthony is director of the Collaborative Missionary Network, Oxford/Holly Springs.