Walk Wisely, be Filled - Ephesians 5:15-21

Walk Wisely, Be Filled
Ephesians 5:15-21

We’ve learned (Eph. 5)
As children imitate their Father, we need to
imitate our heavenly Father (5:1).

Christ loved us and gave himself up for us,
imitate Christ’s love (5:2)

As God’s separated people, stay away from
sexual immorality and greed (5:3).

Instead of filthy talk, speak with
thanksgiving (5:4).

As Children of God and Children of light,
don’t participate in the activities of
Children of disobedience and darkness
(5:5-12).

Try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord
(5:10).

We’ve stepped out of the darkness
and into the light. And though light has
prevailed over darkness, we must be
careful how we walk because there is
still darkness in the world.

Ephesians 5:15–21 (ESV)
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise
but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time,
because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be
foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is
debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the
Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for
everything to God the Father in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out
of reverence for Christ.

Walk Wisely
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as
unwise but as wise,

Manage Your Time Wisely
16 making the best use of the time, because the
days are evil.

Don’t be Foolish
17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand
what the will of the Lord is.
• Wisdom seeks to know what
pleases the Lord and
walks in the light.
• Foolishness cares for
self-gratification and pleasure
and hides in darkness.

Wisdom is careful of Influences
• What Spirit Controls You?
• The World’s Spirit?
• Or, The Lord’s Spirit?

Don’t be controlled by Wine
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is
debauchery,
The original meaning is
a. “incurable”
b. “one who by his manner of life, esp. by
dissipation, destroys himself.”
c. In NT speaks of wild disorderly behavior

1 Peter 4:3–5
3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what
the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality,
passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties,
and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they
are surprised when you do not join them in the
same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;
5 but they will give account to him who is ready
to judge the living and the dead.

Instead of being under the
influence of wine (or other
intoxicants) Paul encourages us to
be constantly under the influence
of something better…

Be Controlled by the Spirit
but be filled with the Spirit,
If you’re going to get high, get high
with the Spirit.

Acts 2:13–18
13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with
new wine.” 14 But Peter, standing with the
eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them:
“Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and give ear to my
words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you
suppose, since it is only the third hour of the
day.

Relationship of the Spirit to
the Believer
• All believers have been:
– Baptized by the Spirit.
– Indwelt by the Spirit (The Spirit Abides in us).
– We are Sealed by the Spirit (secured).
• Believers are implored:
– Not to grieve the Spirit
– To be filled by the Spirit (under the Spirits control
or influence)

All Believers are Indwelt By the Spirit
Romans 8:9
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the
Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ
does not belong to him.
• To be in Christ is to be in the Spirit.
• Both Christ and the Spirit lives in us.

1 Corinthians 3:16
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and
that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

James 4:5
Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the
Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the
spirit that he has made to dwell in us”?

All Believers are Sealed By the Spirit
Ephesians 1:13
In him you also, when you heard the word of
truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed
in him, were sealed with the promised Holy
Spirit,

All Believers are Sealed By the Spirit
Ephesians 4:30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by
whom you were sealed for the day of
redemption.

Not All Believers Yield
to the Spirit’s Influence
“be filled” is a present active imperative.
Lit. “be continually filled”
Indwelling is not a guarantee of Influence or
Control.

Special Fillings of the Spirit
Specific people that were filled with the
Spirit to accomplish a special purpose for
God.

John the Baptist
Luke 1:15
for he will be great before the Lord. And he must
not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be
filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his
mother’s womb.

Elizabeth
Luke 1:41
And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary,
the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was
filled with the Holy Spirit,

Zechariah: prophesy
Luke 1:67
And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy
Spirit and prophesied, saying,

The Apostles: tongues
Acts 2:4
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and
began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit
gave them utterance.

Peter: to speak boldly
Acts 4:8
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to
them, “Rulers of the people and elders,

Paul: Insight and pronounces judgment
Acts 13:9–11
9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy
Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “You son of the
devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and
villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight
paths of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the
Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see
the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell
upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him
by the hand.

Though God fills specific believers for a
specific purpose. All that are indwelt by the
Spirit are to be inebriated by God’s general
filling of the Spirit.

For Believers in General
– 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs,
– singing and making melody to the Lord with your
heart,
– 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the
Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
– 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for
Christ.

Speak to each other with song…
– 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs,

Colossians 3:16
16 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.

Sing to the Lord
– singing and making melody to the Lord with your
heart,

Sing To the Lord
Psalm 57:7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my
heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody!
Psalm 105:2 Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell
of all his wondrous works!
Psalm 108:1 My heart is steadfast, O God! I will
sing and make melody with all my being!

Sing to the Lord
Psalm 18:49 For this I will praise you, O LORD,
among the nations, and sing to your name.
Romans 15:9 and in order that the Gentiles might
glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,
and sing to your name.”
James 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him
pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.

Examples
Mark 14:26 (ESV) And when they had sung a
hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Acts 16:25 About midnight Paul and Silas were
praying and singing hymns to God, and the
prisoners were listening to them,

Give Thanks to God
– 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the
Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Submit to one another
– 21 submitting to one
another out of reverence
for Christ.

What is the best way to empty an empty glass of
air?

Walk Wisely, be Filled - Ephesians 5:15-21

Walk Wisely, be Filled - Ephesians 5:15-21

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Walk Wisely, be Filled - Ephesians 5:15-21