Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart
Ephesians 5:18, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”
Since Christ Himself dwells in our spirit, the secret of experiencing Him is to use our spirit.
So the apostle Paul exhorts the saints to be filled in spirit in order to experience the shining of Christ on them.
In Ephesians 5:14 he says, “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”
Then in verse 18 he reveals how Christ will shine on them: “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled in spirit.”
The verb “be filled” is in the present tense in Greek, stressing a continuous kind of experience.
It is also in the passive voice, indicating that something is causing the filling.
And finally, it is in the imperative mood, which means it is a command.
However, the command Paul gives here seems to be outside the reach of our experience.
According to our thought, to be “filled in spirit” requires inspiration, a special feeling, or excited emotions.
But Paul does not mention these things as the means to be filled in spirit.
What then is the means or cause of the filling?
To find the cause of being filled in spirit, we do not need to look far.
There are at least five participles in the succeeding verses that are grammatically connected to the verb “be filled.”
The word “participle” itself reveals its function in a sentence it participates in the action of the verb.
Thus, when Paul says, “Be filled in spirit,” his thought is linked to the five participles that follow in verses 19 to 21: speaking, singing, psalming or making melody, giving thanks, and submitting to one another.
These five participles express simultaneous action with the verb “be filled.”
They are the means for being a person continuously filled in spirit and shining with Christ.
To experience Christ shining upon us so that He is everything to us, we need to be filled in spirit by speaking, singing, psalming, giving thanks, and submitting to one another.
Until Tomorrow
With A Shepherd’s Love,
Pastor Jackson
WEDNESDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS
John McCain -Hospice
Marlon Cook
Amy Garner
Amy Garner’s Mom & Dad
Andrew Halevi & Daughter
Ashely Burn’s Sisters
Brandon’s Dad
Coly/Connor – Allison’s G’sons
Dan Haines
Darlene Wiggins
David Burnette
David Harrison – Riverside
Deanna Fowler
Denise Hulsey – Jordan’s G’mother
Donnie Butler’s Dad
Doris Loyd
Dr. and Mrs. Davis
Easton Fielder
Ed Mays
Eric Ward
Freddie May’s Mom
George & Linda Alexander
James Burnette
James Garner’s Friend
Joanie/Jeanie Mom
Jodi Bateman
Joe Shelnutt
John Austin
June Cronan
June Cronan’s Sister
Kailey Bateman
Kathy Mabe
Kim McClain’s Mother
Krista Hilscher – Improving
Larry Barker
Lee Cronan
Lillanna Magnusson’s Mom
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Linda Hodges’ Sister
Lonzo Christin
Lori Blount’s Mother
Mary Sims
Marynell Ford
Maureen Brown
Michael Stanley
Miles Bradshaw
Pastor & Mrs. Driskell
Pat Chupp
Ricky Gipson
Rose Fuller – Rehab
Roseleigh Osborn
Sandra Graham
Scott Lanier
Soso Nzolo – 17 Yr. Old South African Pastor’s Daughter
Susan & Alexis Tesone
Tom Witcher