A Desirable Intoxication
OUR FATHER AND OUR GOD WE ARE THANKFUL TO YOU FOR ANOTHER EXPRESSION OF YOUR MERCY AND GRACE
THAT YOU HAVE ALLOWED US TO SEE ANOTHER`DAY
A DAY WE HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE
A DAY WE DO NOT, FOR THE MOST PART, DESERVE TO SEE.
YET BY YOUR GRACE AND GOODNESS WE ARE HERE TODAY AND HOW WE THANK YOU.
WE THANK YOU O GOD THAT THERE IS NOTHING WE FACE
THAT CANNOT BE HANDLED BY PRAYER AND BY YOUR POWER.
WE REJOICE RIGHT NOW OVER THE FACT THAT YOU ARE LORD AND YOU ARE IN CONTROL.
NOW FATHER AS WE COME, WE CONFESS OUR SINS.
WE PRAY YOU WOULD FORGIVE US AND CLEANSE US EVEN NOW FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.
NOW USE ME GOD , HIDE ME BEHIND THE CROSS,
IF I’M TOO HIGH BRING ME DOWN.
IF I’M TOO LOW lift ME UP.
MAY EVERY PLAN THAT THE ENEMY HAS FOR THIS WORSHIP BE CANCELED….WE SAY HAVE YOUR WAY LORD IN US, THROUGH US, AND AMONG US. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.
TEXT: EPH. 5:18-21
SUBJECT: A DESIRABLE INTOXICATION
MAYBE ONE OF THE MOST NEGLECTED SUBJECTS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH HAS TO DO WITH THE ISSUE OF THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE.
IT SEEMS THERE ARE MANY CHRISTIANS WHO WITHDRAW FROM THIS TOPIC IN AN EFFORT TO DISCONNECT THEMSELVES FROM ANY SIMILARITY WITH THE CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT
THEN THERE ARE ALSO THOSE WHO TRY TO DIMINISH THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE AS REALLY NOT BEING IMPORTANT IN THEIR LIVES TODAY.
REGRETTABLY, THERE ARE EVEN OTHERS WHO ARE UNAWARE, UNINFORMED, OR WRONGLY INFORMED BECAUSE THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN TAUGHT OR TAUGHT PROPERLY ON THE SUBJECT.
BUT MAYBE, WORST OF ALL, IS THE HUGE NUMBER OF CHRISTIANS WHO KNOW ABOUT THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE AND THE VALUE AND WORTH OF IT,
BUT THEY HAVE FAILED TO MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE TO THE SPIRIT’S CONTROL.
MAYBE IT’S POSSIBLE THAT SOME OF YOU AS WE GATHER HERE TODAY WOULD RAISE THE QUESTION, “PASTOR, WHY ARE YOU MAKING SUCH A GREAT DEAL AND USING VALUABLE TIME TALKING ABOUT BEING FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT?
SINCE I’M SAVED, IS IT NOT TRUE THAT I ALREADY HAVE THE SPIRIT?
IS IT NOT TRUE THAT I AM ALREADY A CARRIER, A HOLDER, OF THE H.S.?
WELL, SINCE THIS BE SO,
WHY THEN ARE YOU BECKONING FOR OUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER?
WHY SUCH A BIG DEAL AND FRETFULNESS OVER BEING “
FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT?
I ALREADY HAVE THE SPIRIT SINCE I’M SAVED.
AND IF I ALREADY HAVE THE SPIRIT,
WHY THE FUSS CONCERNING BEING FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT?
WELL, LET ME HURREDLY COMMEND YOU , FOR YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
THE MOMENT YOU RECEIVE CHRIST AS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, THE SPIRIT OF GOD TAKES UP RESIDENCE IN EACH AND EVERY BELIEVER.
HOWEVER, THE ISSUE I WISH TO RAISE IS THIS…….YOU CAN HAVE THE SPIRIT IN YOU AND STILL KNOW VERY LITTLE OF HIS POWER AND INFLUENCE.
YOU CAN GATHER WITHOUT BEING TOGETHER. YOU CAN COME INTO THE ASSEMBLY AND NOT BE ON THE SAME PAGE.
BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE, BUT NOT BE OF THE RIGHT PERCEPTION.
THEREFORE, THE LIFE-THREATENING AND PERILOUS CONCERN TODAY IS NOT HOW MUCH OF THE SPIRIT WE HAVE,
BUT , HOW MUCH HE HAS, OF US.
UNDERSTAND, THIS IS MOST SERIOUS FOR TO THE VERY EXTENT OR DEGREE YOU AND I ARE ABLE TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE AND
How ironic that Christianity is so often presented as an eraser of hardship. In reality, being a true disciple of Christ is costly. It means taking up the cross daily. It means living with sacrifice, persecution, and ridicule.
Some think they can live the Christian life apart from hardship, but they are only deceiving themselves. They are asleep on the firing line—and there’s no more dangerous position to be in.
Enduring hardship characterizes the good soldier who is on the front line “in active service” (2 Tim. 2:4). Such a soldier does not become wrapped in the nonessentials of this life.
TO THE EXTENT THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DEAL FRUITFULLY, EFFECTIVELY, OR UNSUCCESSFULLY DEAL WITH THE MANY TEST AND TRIALS THAT LIFE PRESENTS US WITH.
THERE IS A STRAIGHT CONNECTION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT.
THEREFORE, THE PROPOSAL THE IDEA FOLLOWING THE MESSAGE IS THIS:
WHAT EVER YOU ARE FILLED WITH, WILL CONTROL YOUR
ATTITUDE AND YOUR ACTIONS.
RIGHT HERE BEFORE US IS A GOOD PLACE TO OBSERVE THIS IDEA OF BEING FILLED WITH SPIRIT.(EPH.5:18)
PAUL MAKES THIS STATEMENT IN LIGHT OF A SITUATION.
PAUL HAS BEEN DEALING WITH HOW TO LIVE SENSIBLY AND CAREFULLY AS OPPOSED TO LIVING THOUGHTLESSLY OR UNWISELY.
WITH THAT IN MIND, HE GIVES TWO WARNINGS.
ONE OF WHICH IS CONSTRUCTIVE, AND THE OTHER IS DESTRUCTIVE.
HE WARNS AGAINST DESTRUCTIVE LIVING BY SAYING,
BE NOT DRUNK WITH WINE.”
DON’T BE HIGH, DON’T BE UNDER THE INFLUENCE, OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.
FOR IT LEADS TO WASTEFULNESS, IT LEADS TO WICKEDNESS, IT LEADS TO IMMORALITY.
IT LEADS TO FOOLISH LIVING.
WE HAVE FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE GETTING HIGH AND DRUNK ON THE WRONG THING.
HOWEVER PAUL SAYS, ON THE OTHER HAND, BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT.
FOR THE SPIRIT LEADS TO FRUITFUL, PRODUCTIVE, EFFECTIVE LIVING.
BUT ALLOW ME TO ZOOM IN ON A CLOSER, MORE CRITICAL LOOK AT THIS STRAIGHTFORWARD STATEMENT PAUL MAKES TO THE CHRISTIANS IN EPHESUS.
BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT POSSIBLE TO PICK UP SOME USEFUL AND VALUABLE PRINCIPLES TO AID EACH OF US IN LIVING A MORE CONQUERING AND CONSISTENT AND OVERCOMING CHRISTIAN LIFE.
WHENEVER GOD TAKES YOU OUT OF SOMETHING, HE ONLY DOES IT IN ORDER TO PUT YOU INTO SOMETHING BETTER THAN WHAT HE TOOK YOU OUT OF.
HE NEVER DELIVERS YOU JUST TO DROP YOU AND LEAVE YOU TO FEND FOR YOURSELF.
AGAIN, PAUL SAYS, “BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT.”
NOTICE FIRST IT IS A COMMAND.
BE FILLED…………………………………………………………..
IT’S IN THE IMPERATIVE MOOD.
NOT A SUGGESTION……IF YOU FEEL LIKE IT……………………
HOW ABOUT BEING FILLED……………………………………….
I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT IF, BUT RATHER HE COMMANDS “BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT.”
GOD IS NOT INTO SUGGESTIONS.
GOD , ON THE OTHER HAND, IS INTO COMMANDS ( MOSES CAME DOWN WITH……………………….)
BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT IS A COMMAND.
THEREFORE, IF YOU ARE NOT FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT YOU ARE WAYWARD OR SINFUL.
BECAUSE IT IS A COMMAND THERE ARE A COUPLE OF INDICATIONS.
IT INDICATES THE SPIRIT’S CONTROL.
BE NOT DRUNK WITH WINE, BUT BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT.
HE MAKES A CONTRAST BETWEEN BEING DRUNK OR INTOXICATED WITH BEING FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT.
WHEN WE SAY SOMEONE IS DRUNK OR HIGH, WE ARE SAYING THAT PERSON IS NOT IN CONTROL OF HIM OR HERSELF.
THEY ARE BEING CONTROLLED BY WHATEVER THEY HAVE IN THEM.
THE IMPLICATION BEING, WHATEVER IS IN YOU WILL COME OUT OF YOU. (IF YOU HAVE CONSUMED ENOUGH…………..)
THAT IS PRECISELY WHAT PAUL IS AIMING AT WHEN HE SAYS”BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT.”
JUST AS IT IS OBVIOUS WHEN A PERSON IS OPERATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES,
IT SHOULD BE JUST AS OBVIOUS WHEN A PERSON’S LIFE IS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE H.S.
IF YOU ARE DRIVING AND CROSSING BACK AND FORTH FROM ONE LANE TO ANOTHER,
AND YOU ARE SPOTTED BY AN OFFICER OF THE LAW………..
THEY WILL PULL YOU OVER…………………
STEP OUT OF THE CAR, HAVE YOU BEEN DRINKING?
BREATH-A-LIZER, TOUCH YOUR NOSE…………….
WALK A STRAIGHT LINE………..
IF YOU FAIL, THERE IS JAIL FOR YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT IN CONTROL OF YOURSELF. (TICKETED FOR D.U.I.)
EVERY CHILD OF GOD SHOULD BE DAILY RECEIVING D.U.I.S
NOT DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE, BUT DISCIPLING UNDER THE INFLUENCE.
IF YOU SING ………..SUI
PEACHER ……………PUI
USHER…………………UUI
FOR THIS REASON, A WHOLE LOT OF STUFF THAT OCCURS IN OUR CHURCHES IS NOT HOLY GHOST INFLUENCED.
NO,NO, SOME OF IT IS JUST PLAIN OLD FLESH.
AND OUR DESIRE TO DRAW ATTENTION TO OURSELVES.
BE FILLED OR BE CONTROLLED BY THE HOLY GHOST.
IT INDICATES THE SPIRIT’S CONTROL.
BUT IT ALSO INDICATES AN EMPTYING OF ONESELF.
IS IT NOT EASILY APPARENT THAT YOU CANNOT FILL SOMETHING ALREADY FULL.
THE REASON SOME OF US ARE NOT FILLED OR CONTROLLED BY THE H.S. IS THAT WE ARE TOO FULL OF OTHER STUFF.
REMEMBER WHATEVER YOU ARE FILLED WITH, WILL CONTROL YOUR ATTITUDE AND ACTIONS.
SOME OF US ARE TOO FULL OF OURSELVES---TOO FULL OF OUR OWN EGOS,
THE H.S. CANNOT BREAK THROUGH AND CONTROL OUR LIVES.
TOO FULL OF OURSELVES, FULL OF PRIDE, DON’T WANT TO LEAVE OUR COMFORT ZONE…………EXAMPLE……WORSHIP.
DON’T WANT TO LET PEOPLE SEE US LOSING CONTROL OF OUR SELVES IN GIVING GOD PRAISE SO WE SIT THERE KNOWING THE HOLY SPIRIT IS MOVING IN OUR LIVES BUT WE REFUSE TO ALLOW TO EXERCISE CONTROL.
SOME OF US ARE TOO FULL OF OTHER RELATIONSHIPS.
SO CO-DEPENDENT YOU THINK YOU GOTTA HAVE SOMEBODY IN YOUR LIFE EVEN IF IT MEANS BEING WITH SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT SAVED.
AND THEY ARE SAPPING YOUR SPIRITUAL STRENGTH
AND ENERGY BUT YOU ARE SO CO-DEPENDENT YOU DON’T THINK YOU CAN MAKE IT WITHOUT HAVING SOMEBODY AND IT IS ROBBING YOU OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD,
THE H.S. CANNOT CONTROL YOU,
YOU ARE SO CONTROLLED BY YOUR OBSESSIVE DESIRE TO
HAVE THIS OTHER PERSON IN YOUR LIFE.
THE PROBLEM MANY OF US HAVE IS WE GET SO CAUGHT UP AND WRAPPED UP IN WHAT HE’S TRYING TO TAKE US OUT OF;
AS SOON AS HIS HAND GETS HOLD OF US, WE SLAP IT DOWN OR
TRY TO REACH BACK FOR WHAT HE WANTS TO REMOVE US FROM. (SOMETHING INSTEAD OF SOMETHING MORE)
HE SAYS BE FILLED IT’S A COMMAND.
IT’S ALSO COMPREHENSIVE………….EVERYBODY BE FILLED.
YOU BE FILLED………….NOT JUST THE PASTOR AND THE DEACONS.
THIS IS NOT ABNORMAL………..THIS IS NORMAL.
IT’S IN THE PASSIVE VOICE======WE DON’T DO IT……….HE DOES THE FILLING…….YOU CAN’T MANUFACTURE H.S. FILLING.
NO MATTER HOW GIFTED. (CONDITIONS)
YOU HAVE TO BE THIRSTY.
IF ANYONE THIRST.
IS THERE AN YBODY HERE THIRSTY
TIRED OF MEDIOCRITY,STARVED, NO JOY, SATISFACTION
YOU HAVE TO WANT HIM MORE THAN ANYTHING.
ONCE YOU ARE FILLED, YOU’LL BE DRILLED, THEN THRILLED IN THE SPIRIT. CAN’T HELP BUT BE EXCITED.
DOING THINGS YOU CANNOT EXPLAIN-YOU DON’T
FULLY UNDERSTAND IT.
ACCUSED OF BEING DRUNK………………….
AS THE DEER PANTETH AFTER THE WATERBROOK
MY SOUL IS THIRSTY FOR YOU.
(NOT JUST THE BLESSING—HEAL US, NEW CAR, BIGGER HOUSE
GOD WANTS A RELATIONSHIP.
IT’S IN THE PRESENT TENSE—KEEP ON BEING FILLED (HANGOVERS)
SO I CAN WALK RIGHT
SO I CAN TALK RIGHT.
THINGS I USED TO DO
I DON’T DO AS OFTEN
VS.19 RELATIONAL
SUBMITTING ONE TO ANOTHER……………………..