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Monday, August 31, 2015

What Spirit-filled people are enabled to do

Ephesians 5:15-19 "Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,19 speaking to one another in psalms andhymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord"

Introduction:
Today's post aims to unpack the key verse we find in the New Testament with regards to the Spirit-filled life - Ephesians 5:18. Whenever one reads Paul's letters, He will oftentimes express himself in such a way that presents parallel thoughts one right after the other. What we may read as a series of different commands can actually be different ways of expressing the same command. Whenever it comes to explaining to new believers what it means to be Spirit-filled, Ephesians 5:18 is the ground-zero of discussion. As we shall see below, the surrounding verses aid us greatly in unpacking this tremendous truth.

What we want to know is this: what Spirit-filled people are enabled to do?

1. Spirit-filled Christians are careful in their conduct. 
Ephesians 5:15 "Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise."

2. Spirit-filled Christians maximize the use of their time.
Ephesians 5:16 "making the most of your time, because the days are evil."

3. Spirit-filled people are able to understand God's revealed will (in His word).
Ephesians 5:17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

4. Spirit-filled people are under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit

5. Spirit-filled people will have a lifestyle of worship.
Ephesians 5:19 speaking to one another in psalms andhymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord"