What are you filled with? Ephesians 5






Ephesians 5:15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity,because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In chapter 5, Paul turns his attention to the type of lives the believers at Ephesus should be leading.  Paul for these new believers it would be easy for them to fall back into old patterns of sin, just as it is with us today. He also knew that they had an opportunity to impact the world around them every day with every decision they made.  These decisions not only affect us but others around us. 

 Then, he uses the metaphor of having too much to drink to say, "Instead be filled (or get drunk) with the Spirit." Eugene Petersen translates verse 15 this way, "So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!" (The Message)

 Paul teaches them one of the ways they can do this is to worship together singing "psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit." Notice the wide variety of styles to worship God. Although we all might prefer a certain style of music, we 
need to be careful not to confuse a type of music with worship.  Paul even says "sing songs from the Spirit".  It would seem that some of our singing and worship might be orchestrated by the Holy Spirit.  Wouldn't that be cool.  I have seen this practice in some worship and healing conferences. It was different but helped me understand a different way of worshipping that was more free, less structured and dependent on God versus me.

 Where are you tempted to fall back into your old patterns of living before you surrendered your life to Christ?  Do you have a variety of worship experiences to broaden your experiencing of worshipping in the power of the Holy Spirit?  Paul tells us to continue to be "filled" with the Holy Spirit.  A fellow pastor friend likes to say in regard to the Holy Spirit, "When it comes to the Holy Spirit, like the coffee at Denny's, there are always re-fills!" 

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