Singing: the link with being filled by the Spirit
—Ephesians 5:15–21 (pt10)
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- Andrew Fountain – Mar 17, 2013
Ephesians 5:15–6:9
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- And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery
- The point here is what is controlling you
- being under the control of alcohol does not lead to good places
- being under the control of the Spirit leads to these things
- It’s not saying being drunk on beer is ok!
- this would apply to any drugs that lead to loss of control
- Technically the words here have the Spirit as the filler.
- It doesn’t specify what he is filling us with
- Other places in Ephesians talk about being “filled with all the fullness of God”
- however there are so many places in the NT where people are described as being filled with the Spirit, I don’t think you can avoid that as the main application
- But above all, the Spirit is the one who is making us into a New Creation
- So primarily his filling us is the same as making us into New People
- Why would he choose the this parallel of Spirit vs. Wine?
- I don’t think that necessarily means that someone filled with the Spirit seems drunk
- Although Pentecost
- Hannah, Samuel’s mother
- But I think there are some parallels:
- “He’s a different person when he’s had a few drinks!”
- Exuberant joyfullness (of course not usually based on reality)
- But you can primarily tell someone has had too much to dring because of how they talk
- And so here the Spirit-filled person is speaking and singing
- A command (continually filled)
- followed by four descriptors of what that will look like
- Now we might be expecting gifts to be listed here
- Paul does in other places
- But I think he is focussing on who we are, not what we do
- These are all things we do, but they flow our of our core person
- They flow out of how we relate to others and to God
- We want to build others up, and put them first
- We love, praise and honour God
- It’s what it means to be a new creation
- The old nature is self-centred
- The New Creation is God and other-centered
Practical Praise
- You are speaking “to God” (v.19)
- Damage done by a “Worship CD culture”
- The Psalms are called “the prayers of David”
- Damage done by a “Worship CD culture”
- can turn worship into something passive
- Wife: Do you love me?
- Rather than answer that I’ll put a love song CD on and play it in the background and carry on with what I was doing
- In the Bible, praise is always vocal
- the Old Testament scholar Ronald B. Allen makes the following statement:
- Praise! A Matter of Life and Breath by R. B. Allen (Nashville:Nelson, 1980), p.58
Psalms
- …Praise to God must be vocal and in a public forum. Praise is not silent, nor is praise possible in solitude.
- Allen —apples in car (p.61.63)
- Psalm 9
- I will praise you O LORD, with my whole heart.
I will tell of all your marvellous works.
…
- Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion!
Declare his deeds, among the people.
- Psalm 9:1 —notice what David says here about praise.
- Praising God, is telling of his works. It is telling forth, declaring, proclaiming God’s works.
- In verse 11 the Psalmist encourages other people to join in by saying...
Psalm 107:21,22
- Oh, that men would praise the LORD for his goodness
And for his wonderful works to mankind!
- Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving,
And declare his works with rejoicing.
- 1 Peter 2:9 —very clear verse
- But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, his own special people
that you may proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
- Let’s come back to the “filled by the Spirit” part
Ephesians 5:15–6:9
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- Is it saying that if you are filled by the Spirit you will do these
- or that this is how you get filled by the Spirit?
- How does he suggest we get filled by the Spirit?
- e.g. boy sitting by an athletics track “If I was an athlete, I could run”
- It won’t get you the Spirit, but these things will stir up the Spirit
- New Creation activity
- If you want to experience the presence of God, then do them
- God meets us as we praise him
2 Chronicles 20:22
- Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.
- is God self-centred?
- Newfrontiers value
- Not “front led”
- That why we look for gifts at this time
Practical Praise
- Imagine God there, right in front of you (he is actually there!)
- Be conscious that you are addressing him
- Be conscious that he is listening to you!
- (and pleased with your praise)
- Try to stay engaged in this way (not always easy)
- We’re now going to pray a song, and then sing it.