Awakening to the Spirit's Transformative Influence
Summary
In the heart of Ephesus, a city steeped in paganism and idolatry, Paul urged the Christians to awaken to their new spiritual reality. They were called to live not as those who are spiritually asleep but as those who are alive in Christ, operating from a heavenly perspective. This call to awaken is as relevant today as it was then. Many Christians find themselves lulled into a spiritual slumber by the secular and often ungodly world around them. The challenge is to rise from this slumber and embrace the spiritual truth that is central to our faith: the filling of the Holy Spirit.
Paul contrasts the effects of being drunk with wine to being filled with the Spirit. While wine leads to dissipation and a loss of control, the Spirit leads to a life of purpose and divine influence. To be filled with the Spirit is to be under His influence, allowing Him to guide and direct our lives. This filling is not a one-time event but a continuous process of surrendering to the Spirit's control. It requires us to empty ourselves of self-sufficiency and pride, making room for the Spirit to work in and through us.
The filling of the Spirit is a command, not a suggestion. It is something we must allow to happen by not resisting the Spirit's work in our lives. This involves a lifestyle of worship and ministry, both to God and to others. By consistently engaging in these practices, we create an atmosphere where the Spirit can fill us. This filling results in discernible changes in our behavior, attitudes, and actions, as we begin to live out the will of God in our lives.
To start this process, we must ask God daily to fill us with His Spirit. As we worship, minister, and surrender to Christ, we invite the Spirit to take control. This leads to a life that is not only spiritually awake but also impactful, as we live out our faith in a world that desperately needs to see the light of Christ.
Key Takeaways:
1. Awakening to Spiritual Reality: Christians are called to awaken from spiritual slumber and live in the reality of their new life in Christ. This involves recognizing the influence of the secular world and choosing to operate from a heavenly perspective. By doing so, we align ourselves with God's purpose and become effective witnesses in a world that often opposes divine values. [02:16]
2. The Contrast of Influence: Paul contrasts being drunk with wine to being filled with the Spirit. While wine leads to a loss of control, the Spirit leads to a life of divine influence and purpose. This filling is not about having more of the Spirit but about allowing Him to have more of us, leading to a life that reflects God's will. [06:21]
3. Continuous Surrender: The filling of the Spirit is a continuous process that requires ongoing surrender to Christ. It involves denying ourselves and allowing the Spirit to take control. This surrender is not a one-time event but a daily choice to live under the Spirit's influence. [17:22]
4. Lifestyle of Worship and Ministry: To stay filled with the Spirit, we must engage in a lifestyle of worship and ministry. This involves consistently ministering to God and others, creating an atmosphere where the Spirit can work. By doing so, we invite the Spirit to fill us and guide our lives. [19:26]
5. Asking for the Spirit's Filling: The process of being filled with the Spirit begins with asking God to fill us. This daily request, coupled with a life of worship and ministry, invites the Spirit to take control. As we surrender to Christ and His word, we experience the transformative power of the Spirit in our lives. [24:31]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:46] - Paul's Concern for Ephesus
- [01:36] - Spiritual Slumber
- [02:16] - Call to Wake Up
- [03:13] - The Principle of the Wine
- [04:09] - Walking Wisely
- [05:25] - The Contrast of Wine and Spirit
- [06:21] - Intoxication with the Spirit
- [07:41] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
- [08:19] - Being Filled with the Spirit
- [09:13] - Overcoming Spiritual Obstacles
- [10:40] - Living with Purpose
- [12:33] - The Command to Be Filled
- [14:14] - Allowing the Spirit to Fill
- [17:22] - Surrendering to Christ
- [19:26] - Lifestyle of Worship and Ministry
- [24:31] - Asking for the Spirit's Filling
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 5:14-18
- Acts 2:1-13
- Luke 11:13
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul mean when he tells the Ephesians to "awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead" in Ephesians 5:14? How does this relate to their spiritual condition? [02:16]
2. In Ephesians 5:18, Paul contrasts being drunk with wine to being filled with the Spirit. What are the effects of each, according to the sermon? [05:25]
3. How does the sermon describe the process of being filled with the Spirit? Is it a one-time event or a continuous process? [08:19]
4. What role does worship and ministry play in staying filled with the Spirit, according to the sermon? [19:26]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why does Paul use the metaphor of intoxication to describe being filled with the Spirit? How does this metaphor help us understand the influence of the Spirit in a believer's life? [06:21]
2. The sermon mentions that being filled with the Spirit requires surrendering to Christ. What does this surrender look like in practical terms? [17:22]
3. How does the sermon suggest that a lifestyle of worship and ministry creates an atmosphere for the Spirit to work? What might this look like in a believer's daily life? [19:26]
4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that being filled with the Spirit leads to discernible changes in behavior and attitudes? [07:10]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own spiritual life. Are there areas where you feel spiritually asleep? What steps can you take to awaken to your spiritual reality? [02:16]
2. Consider the influences in your life. Are there any "wines" that lead to dissipation and a loss of control? How can you replace these with the influence of the Spirit? [05:25]
3. The sermon emphasizes continuous surrender to Christ. What is one area of your life where you struggle to surrender control? How can you begin to surrender this area to the Spirit's influence? [17:22]
4. How can you incorporate a lifestyle of worship and ministry into your daily routine? Identify one specific action you can take this week to minister to God or others. [19:26]
5. The sermon suggests asking God daily to fill us with His Spirit. How can you make this a regular part of your prayer life? What might change in your life if you consistently asked for the Spirit's filling? [24:31]
6. Think of a time when you felt particularly filled with the Spirit. What were you doing at that time, and how can you recreate those conditions in your current life? [23:59]
7. Identify a fellow believer who seems to be "intoxicated" with the Spirit. What can you learn from their example, and how can you apply it to your own spiritual journey? [26:41]
Devotional
Day 1: Awakening to Spiritual Reality
Christians are called to awaken from spiritual slumber and live in the reality of their new life in Christ. This involves recognizing the influence of the secular world and choosing to operate from a heavenly perspective. By doing so, believers align themselves with God's purpose and become effective witnesses in a world that often opposes divine values. The call to awaken is as relevant today as it was in the time of Paul, who urged the Christians in Ephesus to live as those who are alive in Christ. This awakening requires a conscious effort to resist the lull of the secular world and embrace the spiritual truth central to our faith. [02:16]
Ephesians 5:14-16 (ESV): "For anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, 'Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.' Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to awaken from spiritual slumber and align your life with God's heavenly perspective?
Day 2: The Contrast of Influence
Paul contrasts being drunk with wine to being filled with the Spirit. While wine leads to a loss of control, the Spirit leads to a life of divine influence and purpose. This filling is not about having more of the Spirit but about allowing Him to have more of us, leading to a life that reflects God's will. The influence of the Spirit brings about a transformation that is evident in our behavior, attitudes, and actions. It is a call to live a life of purpose, guided by the Spirit's influence rather than the fleeting pleasures of the world. [06:21]
Galatians 5:16-18 (ESV): "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law."
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you allowing worldly influences to take control, and how can you invite the Spirit to guide you instead?
Day 3: Continuous Surrender
The filling of the Spirit is a continuous process that requires ongoing surrender to Christ. It involves denying ourselves and allowing the Spirit to take control. This surrender is not a one-time event but a daily choice to live under the Spirit's influence. By emptying ourselves of self-sufficiency and pride, we make room for the Spirit to work in and through us. This ongoing surrender is essential for living a life that is spiritually awake and aligned with God's will. [17:22]
Romans 12:1-2 (ESV): "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Day 4: Lifestyle of Worship and Ministry
To stay filled with the Spirit, we must engage in a lifestyle of worship and ministry. This involves consistently ministering to God and others, creating an atmosphere where the Spirit can work. By doing so, we invite the Spirit to fill us and guide our lives. Worship and ministry are not just activities but a way of life that keeps us connected to God and open to His influence. This lifestyle results in discernible changes in our behavior, attitudes, and actions, as we begin to live out the will of God in our lives. [19:26]
Colossians 3:16-17 (ESV): "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Reflection: How can you incorporate acts of worship and ministry into your daily routine to create an atmosphere for the Spirit to fill you?
Day 5: Asking for the Spirit's Filling
The process of being filled with the Spirit begins with asking God to fill us. This daily request, coupled with a life of worship and ministry, invites the Spirit to take control. As we surrender to Christ and His word, we experience the transformative power of the Spirit in our lives. This filling is a command, not a suggestion, and it requires us to actively seek the Spirit's presence and influence in our lives. By asking for the Spirit's filling, we open ourselves to the divine influence that leads to a life of purpose and impact. [24:31]
Luke 11:13 (ESV): "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Reflection: What specific prayer can you offer today to invite the Holy Spirit to fill and guide you in your daily life?
Quotes
Paul had a concern it was a concern that the Christians in the church at Ephesus needed to wake up wake up to the new spiritual reality in which they lived and in which they functioned you see the Christians at Ephesus were in a pagan environment they were in an an IOD culture they were in a culture that did not respect their values that did not operate according to Divine guidelines and that did not view itself as needing to be acclimated to a Divine perspective for life and for living but these Believers had come to Christ they had trusted Christ and had been radically transformed. [00:33:12]
Far too many Christians are spiritually asleep they are asleep to the spiritual orientation to life and have begun to be asleep in the secular satanic demonic ungodly world of the physical because they are to asleep to the spiritual he he understands that if they're going to be properly acclimated they're going to have to learn a spiritual truth a spiritual truth that's one of the dominating truths of scripture. [00:50:72]
Do not get drunk with wine for that is dissipation that's destructive but be filled with the spirit let me read that again do not get drunk with wine for that is dissipation it's degrading it's degenerating but be filled with the spirit he makes a contrast between what wine does when you've had too much of it and what the spirit does when you get too much of him God is actually inviting Christians to get drunk but not on wine be not drunk with wine but I do want you to become intoxicated with the spirit. [00:55:80]
The Filling of the spirit is designed to produce discernable behavioral differences your views are different your standards are different your operations are different cuz you are different because you didn't had too much to drink you remember on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2 when they were talking outside of themselves and the folk says these folk are drunk Peter has to say we we're not drunk like you think we've just been overcome by by the Holy Spirit. [01:00:24]
Every believer every person has received the Holy Spirit if you're a Christian you have receive the Holy Spirit you've been baptized and indwelt by the Holy Spirit but to have him is not equal to being intoxicated with him to possess him doesn't mean you are under the influence of him it means he's there but it may not mean he's in control now it's not that you need more of the Holy Ghost the Holy Spirit you have all that God has to give you what you need what I need what we need is to come underneath his influence. [01:04:61]
The word be filled is a passive present plural imperative let me say that again the verb be filled this is very important is a passive present plural imperative okay first of all it's an imperative an imperative is a command he's not asking you to be filled he's not recommending that you be filled Paul under the guidance of the holy spirit is demanding that you be filled be filled now you can reject the command but that means you'll be asleep Christian a Christian that doesn't see the will of God a Christian that is not unique or different you'll be a natural Saint because you will not be operating under the influence of the spiritual wine that is the holy spirit. [01:14:74]
The holy spirit will only fill you to the degree you are surrendered to Jesus Christ let me say that again the holy spirit will only fill you and I'm going show you that in a moment to the degree that you are surrendered to Jesus Christ if you are not surrendered you can't be intoxicated until you surrender to alcohol you can't get drunk until you surrender to Jesus Christ and yield this is not a Hallelujah statement this is a yielding of your life on a continual basis which frees the Holy Spirit up because you've emptied yourself of self. [01:19:36]
The two things you must do to stay filled is to consistently minister to God and consistently minister to others with a good heart says with your heart he says to the Lord but then he says to one another and he's specifically talking about ministering to Christians here although it's not limited to that that's a specific thing because it's a family affair you must be involved in ministering to God and others and that creates the atmosphere for the Holy Spirit to work. [01:31:16]
He wants worship to be a lifestyle not a weekly event for many of us worship is an event we go to not a lifestyle we live how do you live a lifestyle In Worship You minister to God you sing songs to him you praise him you read his word the word of Christ Christ about him you talk to him you include him all day long he dwells in your life you know what the word dwell means to make yourself at home the word dwell means to hang out when you're bringing him in on everything then then he is dwelling richly with you fully with you completely with you as you minister to him and then as you have opportunity to minister to other particularly to one anothers other Saints. [01:38:24]
There are social Christians they sip the Holy Spirit they ain't trying to get drunk they ain't trying to get intoxicated with the Holy Ghost no they they they ain't trying to do that no there's only one way you get drunk drink did you hear me you don't get drunk by looking at wine you don't get drunk by thinking about wine you don't get drunk by sending Praises about how great wine is you don't get drunk by talking about how what year that wine was and how long it's been in The Wine Cellar that's not going to make you drunk that make you sound informed that makes you sound edicated but you'll never become intoxicated you'll never get drunk about the Holy Spirit by talking about it. [01:42:88]
You won't get drunk by Holy Spirit by seeing somebody else intoxicated you won't get drunk by the Holy Spirit by taking a Sunday sip you will only get drunk by the Holy Spirit if you're drinking him regularly all the time and how do you know when you're drunk the same way you can know when a person is intoxicated because they're acting outside of themselves they're talking different thinking different reacting different going against themselves I want to do this but because I'm drunk I got to do that because they are now intoxicated with the holy spirit of God. [01:47:20]
God will give the Holy Spirit to anyone who ask him so you start something by asking him Lord I want to be filled in fact ask him every day Lord fill me today with your spirit as I worship you as I minister to others and as I surrender to Jesus Christ and his word that's it as I praise you every time I get a chance I'll just throw up a prayer here throw up a praise there give thanks over here give thanks over there and as I Minister as you allow me people to cross my path particularly other believers that as I do that and as I live a surrendered life based on your word fill me I ask you because you have to be the filler I'mma pull up to the gas station fill me up fill me up. [01:51:77]
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