There was a day when our denomination experienced the fire of the Spirit. We knew His light, His power, His warmth and His fellowship in full measure. But something happened. Because of abuse in certain quarters it seems that we abandoned the Spirit's fire. As a result I believe that we have been experiencing an age of spiritual darkness. We would never deny the necessity of the fullness of the power of the Spirit in our midst, but we have come to the place where know the theological truth but lack in the experience of that truth. We have come to rely on the flesh, and upon reason and human understanding more than the Spirit's power.

This, in spite of the fact that Ephesians 5:18 carries one of the most important commands for the believer. To be filled with the Holy Spirit. As we continue our study in Ephesians we focus on the area of spiritual fullness.

Charles Swindoll in his study on Ephesians suggests that one way to view the book of Ephesians is to see the life of a Christian as a high powered automobile.
1. The engine. Eph 1:1-3:13 The believers inheritance and position in Christ. The believer has been given full power because of his relationship in Christ.
2. The ignition switch. Eph 3:14-21 No good to have a high powered engine if you cannot be turned on. As we grow, we become controlled by God's spirit and we get turned on to God. As we mature he will "do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. (3:20)
3. The Road map. Eph. 4:1-6:9 describes the spiritual route that we must drive. We are commanded to move a long the path that is worthy of our calling. The road differs to the way of the world. involves humility vs pride, unity vs. discord, love vs, hate, light vs. darkness, and wisdom vs. foolishness.
4. The road blocks. As the believer drives, so we come across many potential road blocks. Chapter 5 & 6: 10- 24. If the Christian lives a worthy life, he will inevitably come across the schemes of Satan. (6:11) Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world etc. And the only way to defeat satan is to put on the whole armor of God and continually pray. (vv. 12-18)
5. The Fuel. There is one more missing element from the illustration of the automobile. The fuel. And that is represented by the Holy Spirit.

It does not do any good to have a car, a place to go, a road map, a knowledge of the obstacles along the way, and have no fuel. Many Christians are in this position spiritually. They know all about the potential they have in Christ. They are aware of the destination. They know the obstacles that exist, yet they are powerless. There is no fuel in the tank. So we can now see the importance, the relevance of the command of Paul to the New Testament church to be filled with the Holy Spirit. But seeing the need for it, does not mean that we understand it. What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit?

We will break this passage down into three principles.
The Contrast
The Command
The Consequence
Ephes. 5:17-20 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. [18] Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. [19] Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, [20] always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

First of all we will look at:
I. The Contrast.
Ephes. 5:18-20 [18] Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

Here Paul is contrasting the believer who seeks inner purpose, peace, and power through earthly means, to the believer who seeks to be filled with the Holy Spirit. This is particularly evident in the light of the historical context. Many of the religious practices of that day were accompanied by feelings of euphoria and ecstasy brought on by drunkenness. He was contrasting the counterfeits with the original source of joy. This is why it is so critical that this passage of scripture be treated as a whole. We sometimes break this verse up, and we use the first part as slogan for temperance. "Be not drunk with win!". Yet that is not the point. Paul is saying, don't look for artificial euphoria. Don't look for self imposed confidence. Don't seek fulfillment in you life by means other than the Holy Spirit whom the Father gives in full measure to those who ask. This was his concern with the Galation church when in Galations 3:1 Galatians 3:1-5 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. [2] I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? [3] Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? [4] Have you suffered so much for nothing--if it really was for nothing? [5] Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?

You see, there were many counterfeits at the time, and it was Paul's intention here, I believe, to make them aware that the counterfeits could not help them. The reason he used drunkenness as the contrast is that this is the means that was used by many of these counterfeit religions.

1.There was the Greek counterfeit, Dionysius, the son of Zeus. The religion which centered around him was one of decadence where humans tried to reach a higher state of consciousness through ecstasy, wild music, dancing, and sexual perversion. All of this was brought on by drunkenness. Dionysius became known as the god of wine.

2.Then there was the Roman counterfeit. The Romans worshipped Dionysius under the name of Bachus. The worship of Bachus was nothing more than a drunken orgy. Among the massive ruins of the ancient Near Eastern City of Baalbek, there are the remains of a temple dedicated to Bachus It is decorated with grapes and vines because that was the thrust of their worship.

3.Then finally there was the Corinthian counterfeit. Here the counterfeit had actually entered the Corinthian church. This is why it is so important to know the historical background for a clear understanding of Corinthians 12-14. The Corinthians believers had become so used to worshipping god's that required drunkenness as a part of their worship that they had brought this into the church, and were literally getting drunk at the Lord's table. They believed this was the way to attain a higher level of spirituality. And there are still some who believe this today.

Thus Paul writes this universal letter of Ephesians to the church, instructing us on the only way to receive true purpose, peace and power. Not through drunkenness or any other means, but through the fullness of the Spirit. And here the message is loud and clear for the church today. We can be very active and efficient, yet totally ineffective in our walk by pursuing meaning in life by any means other than total dependence on the Holy Spirit.

This is the contrast that Paul is trying to bring home to us. Before we can move on to understand what is meant by the command, we must be convinced that what is to follow is the only way to inner peace and outer victory in these days which are consumed with evil. "It is not by might or by power", writes the OT prophet, "but by my Spirit says the Lord" Are you relying on some counterfeit provider as your source of victory this morning? We must by contrast reject any other means of victory in our walk as Christians and we must be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Now then, having dealt with the contrast, we may look more closely at:
II. The Command.
"Be filled with the Holy Spirit"
There are many misconceptions concerning these verses which we will try and identify and expose. There is nothing more important for the believer in these days than a clear understanding that the Holy Spirit is the means that Father provided for us to have complete union with Him. There is just no sense in avoiding that reality. Without Him, the word faith becomes nebulous and futile. And without faith, says the writer of Hebrews, we cannot please God. The first thing we need to talk about as we try and understand the command, is the many misconceptions related to the Spirit's filling.

1. Misconceptions.

a. That you can be a true Christian without obeying God. Some teach that merely getting into the kingdom is enough. They consider things that we might do in obedience through the power of the Spirit as "Extra credit"

Yet the fact is, that being a Christian is by the very nature of the term, being "Christ like". And we remember well the words of Jesus in John 14:31 but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me…"

To say you are a born again believer and at the same time make a conscious choice to disobey God is a contradiction of terms. One of the greatest terms of contradiction in the Bible is found in Matthew 16:22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" You cannot call Him Lord and say to Him. "Never". You cannot call Him Lord and say to Him "but".

I am not talking about weaknesses which we all deal with everyday, but the continual conscious choice to disobey a command of God. He cannot be Lord if we are disobedient to His commands. And if He is not both Savior and Lord, then He is neither.

To resist the filling and control of the Holy Spirit is direct and flagrant disobedience to the command of God. This is the first misconception regarding the Holy Spirit. This command to be filled with the Spirit is not one of those smorgasbord offerings that we can pick and choose at will. If we love the Father we will obey Him.

b. The second misconception is that I may possess the Holy Spirit in part. Romans 8:9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. The Holy Spirit is a person and cannot be possessed in part. This is the second misconception. c. A third is in regard to the Baptism of the Spirit. Many Christians believe that because we have all of the Spirit indwell us at the time of our salvation, that there is no need for any other experience of the Spirit. The truth is, that some Christians upon salvation are immediately permeated with all the fullness of the Spirit in their lives and never change. But most of us are not blessed in that way. Most of us did not even know about such a thing as the Baptism or "immersion" of the Spirit. Consequently we are in need of a second experience which is really a total surrender to the power and potential of the Spirit within us. Some call it Baptism. Some "Second Blessing" But it is the "Filling" which they are referring to. That opening up of their lives to all that the Spirit can do

These are the misconceptions. 1 That we can be truly saved and live in disobedience to Father. 2. That we can receive the Holy Spirit in part, and 3. That once saved there is never a need for a Baptism or filling of the Spirit. The Bible answers those misconceptions, and in this passage actually gives Christians a direct command to be filled with the Holy Spirit. But was does this actually mean. We have the misconceptions, now lets examine the meaning.

2 The Meaning

Eph 5:18 Be filled with the Holy Spirit. What does this actually mean?

First of all, in looking at the structure of the command we notice that it is given as continuous action. In the Greek language there are many different tenses which are identified by the article and the endings. There are also different moods. You find the indicative mood, which is a statement of fact, and the imperative mood which states a command. 1. Eph 5:18 is in the emphatic imperative and is literally translated, "Be being kept filled with the Spirit." It carries the idea of conscious continuation. Being continually filled with the Spirit is therefore not an option for the believer, but a mandate. No Christian can fulfill God's purpose for his life apart from being filled with the Holy Spirit. It doesn't necessarily mean you are not saved. It just means that you are spiritually impotent.

2. The command is also in the passive voice. The believer is filled by the Spirit, not by himself. It is God who performs the filling at the will and surrender of the believer. Sometimes the filling of the Spirit is illustrated using an empty glass and filling it with water. This is not altogether an accurate illustration, because the word used here is a different word. It is the Greek word pleroo which carries with it the idea of pressure, and permeation. As pressure, it was used for the wind that drives a sail boat. So the filling, or the Baptism of the Holy Spirit mobilizes that wind which is in us so that we may be propelled forward in our Christian walk.

This same word was used for permeation. As salt permeates meat to flavor and preserve it, so the Holy Spirit both preserves and flavors Christian Life.

Last week Opal gave Janice something which beautifully illustrates the difference between being in dwelt and Baptized, or filled. You may recognize these tablets. They are "Old Fashioned Fizzies". Now here is a glass that represents my life. When I get saved, the Holy Spirit enters my life, or as we say, my heart. I fill this glass with water to illustrate that event. He is there to stay. No mater what I do, or how significant or insignificant my life. The interesting thing though, is the glass still looks the same. Now let's illustrate the filling of the Spirit by adding one of these Fizzies. Look what happens. The glass takes on the color, the effervescence and the flavor of the Fizzie. That's what happens when we are filled with the Spirit. The Spirit filled Christian takes on the appearance, the effervescence and the flavor of the Spirit. In John 7:37-39

On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. [38] Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." [39] By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Jesus speaks of the fullness of the Spirit as rivers of living water. Effervescent water. That is what it means to be filled with the spirit. God wants us to be so permeated by Spirit that we taste like the Spirit of God.

One more idea generated by this word pleroo is the idea of control. Whenever a gospel writer wanted to get the idea across that someone was dominated by emotions he used the word pleroo. So we become familiar with the term. The Spirit controlled life. The life that is plerrood by the Holy Spirit. This is what Paul meant when he said be filled with the Holy Spirit. So we have seen the misconception and the meaning. We must look briefly at the means by which we receive this fullness.

3. The Means

Eph 5:18 is not a polite request. It is a powerful command. "Be being filled with the Holy Spirit". Father never gives us a command without giving us the resources to carry it out. In this case it is no different. He commands the Christian to be filled with the Spirit because the Spirit has been given and is available in fullness to all who would believe. Remember what Jesus said, "If you believe in me there will flow rivers of living water." To believe means to trust. To believe means to have faith that He can accomplish what He has promised. And the filling of the Spirit is a fulfillment of Fathers promise way back in the book of Joel 2:28 "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. This prophesy was fulfilled in Acts and continues to be fulfilled in these days. Why then are we so resistant? Why then are we so skeptical? I think it is mostly because of misunderstanding and fear. We have seen so much abuse and so we douse the fire for fear of wild fire. We would rather have no fire at all than a little wild fire. Another reason I believe is that we have made it such a complicated matter. Yet the filling of the Spirit is so simple.
There are three steps.
1. Breath Out. 2. Breath In. 3. Lie back and relax.

1. Breath Out - This is the act of confession. 1 John 1:9 "If we confess out sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." The breathing out is the same principal as exhaling the foul air in our lungs so that we may take a fresh breath of life giving oxygen. While our lungs are still filled with the old, putrid, pungent air, there is no room for the new. It is significant therefore that Paul precedes this passage with discourse on putting off and putting on. It all fits together. This principal is further developed by Paul in the context of the Lord's Supper. 1 Cor. 11:28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. In the examining we seek to have those things revealed which must be exhaled in order that we may be filled afresh with all of His fullness.
2. Breath In. Here is the total surrender of all that we are to all that God is. Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 6:13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. This is the conscious act of obedience. To surrender in obedience to Christ. So often we spend days or months praying for the Holy Spirit not realizing that obeying was probably all that remained for us to do. When we are obeying we may begin praying the prayer of Luke 11:13, "Father give to us your Holy Spirit." As we begin to breath in His presence through obedience. As we begin to "drink" of His Spirit through faith and belief in His promise to provide, we will begin to receive that filling. The Spirit will begin to permeate our lives with His presence.
3. Finally, Lie back and relax. Here is absolute trust that Father is able to deliver that which He has promised. I like to call this the "sofa" principal. When I come home after a hard days work and I take a moment to relax on the sofa, I absolutely put myself at the disposal of that sofa. I don't give a thought as to whether it will support me or not. Sometimes I even lift my feet off the ground and allow the sofa to bear all my weight. This is the principal here. We must let go of every doubt. We must fully trust in His promise and His faithfulness to provide. Romans 14:23 But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin. We must take to heart the promise of Jeremiah 33:3 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.' We must come to grips with the principal of unfathomable blessing that comes from faith according to 1 Cor. 2:9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"-

Family, this is the promise to those who by faith ask and receive the Holy Spirit in unlimited measure. Call it what you will. Call it Baptism, call it "second blessing", call it "Spirit filled", but never call it unnecessary. Whatever you wish to call it, it is very clear that we need it.

Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me. Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.

Break me, melt me, mold me and fill me. Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.

To be continued.