Ephesians 5:18-21 - Pentecostal Presbyterians

You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.

Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us.

Father, that's the prayer of our hearts this morning,

that we would know more of the presence of Jesus in our lives,

that Your Word, now as we open it, would dwell richly in our hearts.

In this hour and in every hour of this week,

would we be those who are shaped by what we find in Your Word,

not by our own ideas, but by what You teach us this morning.

So, Holy Spirit, come and do that.

That we are longing for You to work and to do things that we wouldn't even know to expect or to plan for.

Would You teach us this morning from Your Word?

We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.

Beginning next Sunday, we are going to continue in the book of Ephesians,

but slow down a little while to talk about marriage and the family.

Some really crucial relationships that God begins to deal with here in the next several verses of Ephesians.

And this is for everybody.

Not just for those of you who are married with two and a half kids or something like that.

This is for all of us.

As God has connected us in Jesus to each other,

He's given us these particular relationships within families

that are not even just about those who are in them,

but about His name and His glory.

And so we all need to learn about that together from His Word.

So, please join us for those.

I'm really, really excited for God to teach us about His intent

for those relationships over the next few weeks.

But before we get there,

God has one more general set of instructions for us this morning

for living as His new people,

His holy, beloved children of light.

A way that He's calling us to live because of His love for us.

Already in chapter 5, He's told us to guard what our hearts treasure,

to exercise godly wisdom,

to demonstrate sacrificial love to those around us.

And so now we get to verse 18 and some more instruction to His church.

Ephesians 5 at verse 18.

This is God's holy Word.

And do not get drunk with wine,

for that is debauchery,

but be filled with the Spirit,

addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart,

giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

The grass withers, the flowers fade,

but these words of our God will indeed stand forever.

Have you been exhausted lately?

Have you felt like you were running on empty?

Like life was running you ragged?

I've got great news for you this morning.

Summer vacation is just around the corner,

and you're going to get a chance to recharge over the next few weeks.

Except that some of you are shaking your heads at me like,

no, what happened is I went on the same vacation you went on this summer, Will,

and I came back needing a vacation from my vacation.

It wasn't summer vacation that rescued me from feeling exhausted,

burned out, tired.

Here I am heading into a new busy season,

and I'm already tired.

The same thing happens to us spiritually, doesn't it?

We have lots of stuff going on.

A lot of times we call it feeling spiritually dry.

I just, I mean, I love Jesus,

but I don't feel the same kind of passion and zeal that I used to.

I'm around the people of God and the things of God,

but I just don't get excited about it the way I once did.

I feel like I'm running on empty spiritually too.

Have you ever felt that way before?

A lot of times we look at our lives and we feel like this,

and we diagnose our problem as busyness.

Have you ever done that?

I'm too busy.

That's the problem.

If I just weren't so busy, I wouldn't be so exhausted

or feel like I'm running on empty.

I wouldn't be dry spiritually.

And honestly, there's some truth to that, right?

I mean, if I didn't have work to do or clothes to wash

or dinner to make or friends to spend time with,

then maybe I would be less exhausted.

But I want to suggest there's actually something beneath the busyness of life,

something that drives that busyness, exhaustion, spiritual dryness.

All of those things are symptoms, not usually the root problem.

They're symptoms of our natural way of functioning.

And that's this.

We seek to fulfill or validate or soothe ourselves by achieving our own goals.

Isn't that the way we function?

That's why we're so busy, because that's what we're seeking.

That's what we're driving after.

We're driven by a desire for fulfillment, by achieving some goal.

It's different goals for all of us.

It could look like trying to earn the approval of others,

trying to live up to our own standards,

trying to earn a promotion,

trying to impress a significant other,

trying to just wring all the pleasure we can out of life

to just have as much fun as possible and enjoy life.

It's exhausting.

It runs us dry no matter how well we think we do.

Even when we're the most successful,

we struggle to be filled up.

We keep running, looking for more of what it is that we can achieve.

Madonna said it this way in an interview with Vogue magazine.

She said,

My drive in life comes from a fear of being mediocre.

It's always pushing me.

I push past one spell of it and discover myself as a special human being,

but then I feel I am still mediocre and uninteresting unless I do something else.

Because even though I have become somebody,

I still have to prove that I am somebody.

My struggle has never ended,

and I guess it never will.

Even with all the success that she's had,

all the fame,

all the possessions she's accumulated,

meeting all sorts of goals for herself,

she's still not fulfilled.

And she's honest enough,

it's what I love about this,

she's honest enough to say,

I'm not sure that achieving all the goals I have for myself

is ever going to make this stop.

This struggle is going to continue.

I'm always going to wake up thinking,

I've got to prove that I am somebody again today.

The struggle has never ended,

and it probably never will.

Your goals for your fulfillment and your ways of reaching them

are likely different from hers,

but they may leave you equally empty,

even when you reach them.

For some of us,

the place we look to be soothed and fulfilled

is the one Paul speaks specifically against in this passage.

Getting drunk with wine.

Look at verse 18.

He says,

Do not get drunk with wine,

for that is debauchery,

but be filled with the Spirit.

I call this verse Presbyterian kryptonite,

because Paul speaks against wine

and about the Holy Spirit in the same verse, right?

I mean, what are we supposed to do with that?

I say that jokingly,

but this is very serious.

Paul's not joking.

The Bible is clear that God has given us wine as a good gift

to be enjoyed as a part of God's good creation,

but it is equally clear in many, many places over and over

that we abuse that gift at our own peril,

that it's not something to be taken lightly.

Paul speaks in his other letters about freedom in Christ, right?

We often call it our Christian liberty.

That we have freedom to do many things,

and included in that is drinking alcohol.

Paul's not unclear on that,

but he's also clear that our freedom is never to be used

to indulge the sinful nature,

to pursue self-serving fulfillment

in sinful abuse of God's good gifts.

This verse in Ephesians specifically says

getting drunk on wine is debauchery.

It's a word that indicates all sorts of wild

and out-of-control living.

And many of us have lived that

in our own lives or in the lives of those we've loved.

We've experienced what that feels like.

And our Heavenly Father is coming to us in this verse

and He's warning us for our good.

Do not get drunk on wine.

Don't take this lightly.

And if you've struggled or if you are struggling

with alcohol abuse,

I want to tell you this morning,

you're not alone in this church or in this room.

You're not.

We're not a group of people who are fixed,

who've gotten together because we've figured out

how to manage life well

and we don't struggle with things like that anymore.

You're not alone.

And we're so glad that you're here.

I want you to know this is a safe place

for you to have a struggle like that.

We would love to come alongside you

and help you.

The difficulties of addiction

are not ones that disappear overnight

just by reading a verse that says,

don't get drunk on wine.

I know that.

It's a lot more difficult and painful than that, isn't it?

We understand that

and we would be honored to walk with you

through that process.

There is help.

There is hope in the midst of that

even when it doesn't feel like it

and you're not alone.

But also notice the other key command in this verse.

It's not merely that Paul wants to talk to us

about our use of alcohol,

although that's part of it.

Paul doesn't merely say,

don't get drunk on wine,

but instead stay sober all the time.

That's not what he says, is it?

What does Paul say?

What does he connect it with?

Don't get drunk on wine,

but be filled with the Spirit.

Paul's talking about something broader

than just how much we drink.

What is it that he's encouraging

instead of drunkenness?

It's being filled, controlled,

influenced by, driven by,

not wine or anything else

except the Holy Spirit.

Do you see where he's concerned again

with our hearts

and our natural way of functioning

that seeks fulfillment

in our own ways

and through achieving our own goals?

Do you see what he's getting at there?

Instead, Paul says,

instead of functioning that way,

function in a new way.

Be filled with the Spirit.

That may not be as simple to understand

as not getting drunk.

We've talked about the Holy Spirit

a fair amount lately.

I'm thankful for that.

Ephesians has brought us back there

several times,

but we normally don't do it enough.

It's just one of those things

we often neglect.

So just a couple reminders

of who the Bible says

the Holy Spirit is

that will help us to understand

this important command better.

The Holy Spirit is the third person

of the Trinity, right?

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

equal in power and glory

with God the Father.

He's the one through whom

the Father lives in His people,

assuring them of their adoption,

giving them power to obey,

leading them,

gifting them,

comforting them,

and many more things like that.

In many ways in the Godhead,

the Holy Spirit,

while being equal

with the Father and Son,

plays the role

of a supporting actor.

He loves to exalt Jesus,

the Son.

He shines the spotlight

on the Son

so that we see Jesus

more clearly

and more gloriously.

The Bible talks about

that role that the Holy Spirit

has over and over

in many places.

It even mentions it

in Ephesians 3

that it's the power

of the Holy Spirit in us

that enables us

to see the dimensions

of Christ's love for us.

That's what the Holy Spirit does.

In fact, in the book of Acts,

where the Holy Spirit

is talked about a lot,

there's about a dozen times

where this phrase we just read,

being filled with the Spirit,

is used to describe somebody.

You know what they almost

always seem to do

when that happens in Acts?

They start to talk about somebody,

to testify about somebody,

but it's not about the Holy Spirit.

They don't say,

I have the Holy Spirit

and He's great

and He's wonderful

and He does all these things.

You know who they talk about?

The people filled with the Spirit

talk about Jesus.

They talk about His greatness,

His resurrection,

His power,

His salvation,

over and over.

The idea of being filled

with the Spirit

is exactly that.

It speaks about

what drives us

and controls us,

what really fulfills us.

So it's not simply talking

about the idea

of the Holy Spirit

living within you,

which is something

the Bible does teach.

That's true of all of those

who trust in Christ.

But it's also not talking

about some sort of

second baptism

of the Holy Spirit

where it's a one-time event

that you get

the Holy Spirit more.

Instead,

this is a moment-by-moment,

a day-by-day,

a constant,

repeated being filled,

living under the influence

of,

motivated by the priorities

of the Holy Spirit.

I'll say it this way.

A life or a church

filled by the Spirit

is fueled by Christ's glory

and others' good,

not its own goals.

A life or church

filled by the Spirit,

when you're filled

with the Spirit,

what drives you,

what's important to you,

what really fulfills you

is Christ's glory,

Him being exalted,

His name being made great,

and others being blessed

even at your own expense.

The rest of our passage

this morning bears this out

and teaches this.

It's going to paint a picture

with three phrases

of what a Spirit-filled church

looks like.

Let's look at it

in verses 19 through 21.

First,

Christ-focused worship

and relationships.

Look at verse 19.

Addressing one another

in psalms and hymns

and spiritual songs,

singing and making melody

to the Lord

with your heart.

I love this verse

because what it does

is it brings our worship

and our relationships

with each other

right up against each other

and it connects them.

Commentators get all

bent out of shape

because they're like me

and they're type A

and they're Presbyterian

and they want to figure out

is God talking about

a formal worship service

or is He just talking

about our relationships

with each other?

Because He uses these words

that are just about talking

and having conversation

with each other

and then He uses words

about singing to God

and it seems to be talking

about the same thing

and so it can be confusing

and I think that's because

we often have such a bright line

between formal worship

and the rest of life.

We distinguish them too much

and I'd suggest

there's no bright line

of distinction

in this verse on purpose

because there must be

a vertical aspect

to all of our relationships,

a God-centered part

of my relationship

with all my brothers and sisters

as well as a horizontal aspect

to all of our worship

in the church.

Here's what I mean.

Addressing one another

with psalms and hymns

and spiritual songs

does not mean

that all of your life

becomes like

some corny Christian musical

where you run into people

in the grocery store

and you say amazing grace

and start singing it

and then when you leave them

you start singing

in Christ alone

and that's the only way

you speak to each other.

That's not what He's talking about.

That'd be kind of fun though.

No, maybe not.

The word that is being used here

is talking about

our conversations,

the way we engage

and interact with each other

and saying

spirit-filled conversations

should be Christ-focused.

That's what it's saying.

We should point each other

to praising His name

all the time.

Now you may be talking

about football

or the kids

or politics

or the new school year.

Any of those things

and that's wonderful.

It doesn't mean

you stop talking about them.

It means the spirit

will be eager

in the midst

of those conversations

to spotlight Christ

rather than being

self-focused

or self-centered.

Is there anyone else

that's realized

how easily

you can become

so self-obsessed

that you forget

God's perspective

on the thing

you're worked up about?

Whatever it is

you're really frustrated

about the new things

that are happening

or the things

with your kids

or the stuff at work

and you start talking about it

and your conversation

is just all about

how it affects you

and you forget

God's perspective

or what His Word

would have to say about it.

The spirit

in our brothers and sisters

should push us

to remember

God's perspective.

As we interact

we ought to always be

pointing each other

to Christ.

Then likewise

our worship services

are of course

to worship God.

He's the only one

worthy of

receiving worship

but they're also times

to edify each other.

It shouldn't be surprising

to be praying with

or crying with

or comforting someone

in the middle

of the worship service.

The spirit

may be working

right there

between brothers

and sisters

as He puts you

right up against each other

and He lives

in both of you.

He may be at work

right there

and it may not feel

very Presbyterian

to you in that moment

but it should

because it's biblical

so it should be

Presbyterian.

Similarly

it shouldn't be surprising

to be spontaneously

praising God

in your kitchen

in your living room

with a friend.

You can even sing

or share a psalm.

All of life

is worship of God

and all of our worship

impacts our relationships

with each other.

Listen

whether you enjoy

the 60 seconds

we take

and hug

and shake hands

whether that's

your favorite part

or your least favorite part

what that reminds us

of in our worship

is that we don't

worship God alone

do we?

We worship Him

with brothers and sisters

others who have received

His love

so that's a holy moment

to realize that

we don't worship God alone

but with

His people.

So secondly

the Spirit filled life

or church

looks like

not just

Christ focused

worship

and relationships

but Christ centered gratitude.

Verse 20

giving thanks

always

and for everything

to God the Father

in the name

of our Lord

Jesus Christ.

Giving thanks

always

and for everything.

Fairly inclusive.

That pretty much

covers it.

Not just the big blessings

but the daily provision.

Not just in easy times

but even on the hard days.

And this isn't

to make light

of the brokenness

or evil

of the world

that we encounter

regularly in our lives.

We're not giving thanks

for sin itself

but even in those hard times

we're giving thanks

how?

In the name

of our Lord

Jesus Christ.

We're thankful

that He reigns.

That He saves.

That His glory

is always achieved

through even

the darkest situations.

If we're driven

and fulfilled

only by achieving

our own goals

this would make

no sense, right?

It would be impossible.

If all that matters

to me is things

going the way

I want them to

then no way

am I able to give thanks

in everything

because sometimes

things don't go

according to plan.

If I'm self-centered

and self-serving

there's often

no room for gratitude.

But instead of that

self-serving attitude

the Spirit-filled church

learns to give thanks

because of the

magnificent grace

of Jesus

when the budget

goes up

and when the budget

goes down.

When the culture

agrees with me

and when the culture

disagrees with me

because the Spirit

shines the spotlight

on Jesus

and we again

see Him

and have reason

to give thanks.

And finally

the Spirit-filled life

or church

practices

Christ-honoring

submission.

I love this picture

of submitting

to one another

because it's so easy

in so many contexts

to think about

climbing the ladder

to get ahead of each other

to get our way

to come out on top

and stepping on each other

on the way to the top

and submitting

to one another

instead pictures us

stooping to see others

as more valuable

than ourselves.

Running into each other

at the bottom, right?

That there would be

crowding in the basement

or in the nursery

or during cleanup.

Where'd you expect

to see the Spirit-filled

members of the church?

On the stage?

In charge?

Paul says they'll be

submitting

to one another

and perhaps they won't

be where we most

expected.

And in the context

of this passage

submitting out of reverence

for Christ

likely refers to

following proper authorities

that Christ has established

in His church

within families,

within a congregation,

within workplaces

and so on

as we see in the following

verses in Ephesians.

And that's an important

reminder for us

as to how our hearts

respond to

the God-ordained leadership

and the decisions

they make

for the church.

Listen,

out of reverence

for Christ

means we submit

not because we think

the elders are so wise,

but out of reverence

for Christ

because Jesus,

the King and head

of the church,

has placed them

where they are.

And we honor

and trust Him

as we support

the elders,

the deacons,

and others

in leadership.

But the other thing

we can't miss out on

in out of reverence

for Christ

is the model

that the King

and head

of the church

sets for all of us.

What does Mark 10

tell us about

the way Jesus leads?

Even the Son of Man

came not to be served

but to serve

and to give His life

as a ransom for many.

If the King

and head of the church

is the one who serves,

no leader

is above serving

any part

of the body.

I love this

about the officers

of this church.

You've seen them

serve in many ways.

What you don't get to see

is the way they interact

with each other

in the meetings

that you don't get to go to.

The way that men

with passionate opinions

and godly wisdom

strain to submit

to each other.

At a session meeting

just a few months ago

we were discussing something

and there were some

differing perspectives

in the room.

I of course was on

the right side of things

and I had said some things

and there was a guy

who wanted to speak

on the other side

but as he formulated

his thoughts

it didn't come out

the way that he had intended

and it just didn't make

much sense.

And I thought to myself

what?

That's just fine.

That was a bad idea anyway.

I don't agree

with his opinion

so it doesn't matter

that nobody understood

what he just said.

And then one of the other elders

who saw things my way

was on my side of things

stopped and said

hold on I want to go back.

Brother I didn't understand

exactly what you just meant

when you said that

and I want to.

He already knew he disagreed

but he wanted to understand.

He wanted to hear

where his brother

was coming from.

Praise God

for the Holy Spirit

who shows us

the greatness of Jesus

so that we can be

self-effacing

instead of self-exalting.

So that we can value others

rather than just

valuing winning

and being right.

That's Christ honoring

submission.

So a spirit filled church

is one that makes

much of Jesus.

That's caught up

with who he is

and exalting

and praising him.

They have Christ focused

relationships

and worship.

Christ centered gratitude.

Christ honoring

submission.

Because a person

or a church

full of the spirit

is fueled by.

What drives them

is Christ's glory

and others good.

And so we think

of ourselves less

because the spirit

keeps shining the spotlight

on Jesus.

And right there

in being filled

with the spirit

is where God's offering

us true fulfillment.

Not the kind

we've been talking about

that our hearts

so quickly go to

where no matter

how much wine

you drink

you'll be empty

and unfulfilled again

won't you?

You'll need more.

No matter how much

success or fame

or whatever self-serving

goals you achieve

you'll need more of it

to keep you full.

But the spirit of God

fills us in a true

and lasting way

because it's not

by something we achieve

and need to achieve

again tomorrow

it's something we receive.

Fulfillment that's

lasting because we receive it

he fills us.

That's what happens

be filled

with the spirit.

So last question

this morning

how does that happen?

Do I just walk around

and one day

all of a sudden

if it's about

receiving the spirit

rather than achieving

our own goals

and we're very

achievement minded

I am

what am I supposed

to achieve?

How am I going to

receive something?

How am I going to

get filled up?

To answer that

let me tell you

something about myself.

I'm one of those

people that makes

many of you

very anxious

and you already

knew that

but in a particular

way

I'm a person

who loves to

drive around

with the gas light

on and the car

running on empty.

Seeing the gas light

comes on

makes me think

something like this

you know what

sometime

in the next few days

I should start

thinking about

which gas station

I might like to go to

and when it might

be on my way

somewhere I'm already

going

so that I don't

have to change

my plans

or interrupt

my driving schedule

I can just

stop by and

fill up at my

convenience

and I enjoy

riding around

with the gas light

on

running on empty

I certainly

don't want to

stop for gas

to interrupt

any plans

that I have

when I'm driving

and sometimes

we can be like that

spiritually too

can't we?

The gas light

is flashing

in our hearts

we're running

on empty

but we just

keep on going

and keep on

pursuing

our own goals

we want that

exhausted

or dry

feeling

to go away

but

we don't want

to change

our plans

or our goals

it would be like

me pulling

the car

into a filling

station

right up

beside one

of the pumps

and then walking

inside to the

attendant

and say

hey I need

some help

I got this

light on

on my dashboard

and I can't

get it to go

off

and he says

oh well

let us put

some gas

in there

for you

we'd be

happy

to help

and I said

no no no

listen

I said

I wanted

the light

to go off

I didn't say

I wanted you

to change

my focus

or my fuel

I wanted you

to tell me

I was okay

to keep going

but make that

light turn off

one of our

members sent me

this comment

about something

she learned

recently

in our marriage

Sunday school

class

she said

upon reading

the book

they were using

in the class

I was reminded

about considering

the interests

of others

as more important

than your own

about the ability

to serve another

requires the Holy Spirit

to drive the gospel

into my heart

until it changes me

not my husband

I found by serving

my husband

instead of seeking

to make myself happy

could actually give me

more joy

I was running

on fumes

and looking

to the wrong

filling station

to fulfill me

I was running

on fumes

and looking

to the wrong

filling station

to fulfill me

me too

thinking that

something that

I wanted

something that

I felt

I needed

when I got it

was going to be

the thing

that finally

fulfilled me

and God's word

says this

it says

he pours his spirit

out

when we turn

away from

those things

and turn

back to him

we call it

repentance

when we repent

of our self-serving

goals

and turn back

to him

read Joel 2

sometime

it's the

classic passage

where we see God

pouring out his spirit

on his people

when they repent

and turn

to him

repent

confess

you're looking

to wine

to money

to others

to your own

goals

and turn

to God

again

or for the

first time

maybe you've

never thought

there was a

possibility

that something

could actually

fulfill you

not just

momentarily

but eternally

and day

after day

and for the

rest of your

life

and that you

could actually

turn from the

things you've

been trying

to find that

in and find

that in

Jesus

turn

back

to God

and then

look at

Colossians 3

it's a really

interesting verse

it's actually

a parallel

verse

to the one

we read

this morning

Paul in

another one

of his

letters

talking about

the exact

same things

but one

phrase is

different

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

do you hear

the same

themes

the speaking

to each

other

the singing

the thankfulness

except this

time it comes

instead of being

filled with the

spirit

from what

the word

of Christ

dwelling

richly

in you

the spirit

and the word

are never

disconnected

ignoring God's

word when we're

spiritually dry

is like running

on empty

and driving

past

the gas

stations

it's like being

parched in the

desert and walking

right by

pools of water

open God's

word

ask God to

fill you with

his spirit

turn back

to God

as you're

driving

turn off

the highway

open God's

word

pull in

at the

filling

station

and then

ask the

father

Luke 11

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

ask

the father

he's eager

to give

you the

holy spirit

to refill

your running

on empty

tank

I'm not

saying that

you immediately

feel better

I'm not

saying everything

in life

immediately

becomes easy

or you have

some amazing

out of body

spiritual

experience

I said it's

not about

us

right

the spirit

doesn't focus

us on

ourselves

God gives

the spirit

to his

children

when they

ask him

and their

hearts are

fueled again

by the

glory of

Jesus

and the

good of

others

and that's

what truly

fulfills

them

not the

way they

feel

listen if

you've

trusted

Jesus

if you're

connected

to him

by faith

the holy

spirit

lives in

you

and you

have a

father

who loves

to fill

you up

with him

remember

how this

whole chapter

started in

Ephesians 5

live this

way

all these

things I'm

about to

tell you

as beloved

children

I'm

not here

trying to

give you

a formula

I'm

reminding you

you have

a father

how much

more will

the heavenly

father give

his spirit

to those

who ask

him

he's your

father

he longs

to see

your heart

turned toward

his son

he loves

to give

you his

holy spirit

and fill

you with

him

so that

you'll

always

always

rejoice in

Jesus

let's pray

that he

would do

that among

us

father

would you

indeed

give us

your spirit

to fullness

we confess

to you

that most

of us

aren't sure

what that

would feel

like for

us

it's

confusing

and difficult

but father

we know

that it

would be

your delight

and so

we ask

that you

would turn

our hearts

toward Jesus

again

even this

week

as school

schedules

start up

and work

deadlines

confront us

would you

show us

Jesus

as church

programs

start coming

fast

and other

good events

in our

lives

that could

end up

being a

distraction

from Jesus

if we're

not thoughtful

would you

fill us

with your

spirit

in all

of it

in everything

that's going

on

would we

make much

of Jesus

because we

know how

much we

need him

and we

have seen

what a

glorious

savior he

is

we ask

you in

his name

amen

for more

information

visit us

online

at

southwood.org