FALL FESTIVAL

Sunday

5 PM-8 PM

………………

THIS SUNDAY IS TIME CHANGE SUNDAY

Fall Back                                                                              

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, “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

TODAY’S PRAYER LIST

Daniel Ford – Surgery Next Week

Bill Moody – Hospice 

James Burnette

Easton Fielder

Dan Wohey

Amy Garner’s Mom & Dad

Brandon’s Dad

Dan Haines

Jill Haines

Darlene Thaxton

Denise Hulsey – Jordan’s G’Mother

Darlene Wiggins & Family

Jim Mabe – Much Need Of Prayer

Dr. Don Davis

Freddie May’s Mom

George Alexander

Jane Hick’s Mom

Joan Cronan’s Sister

John McClain

Linda Hodges’ Sister

Michael Stanley

Ricky Gipson – Ashley’s Brother

Ronnie Palmer

Scotty Nix – Bladder Cancer

Tom Witcher

Tony Breedlove

Ann Sullivan – Paula’s Friend

James Garner’s Friend 

Kim McClain’s Mother

Lonzo Christian             

Ashley Burn’s Sisters

Colby/Connor – Allison’s G’sons 

Larry Barker  

Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah

Mary Sims  

Marynell Ford

Pastor & Mrs. Driskell 

Paula Ferus’ Missionary Friend 

Ricky Stubbs  

Roseleigh Osborn  

Scott Lanier – Linda’s Son 

Shaelyn – Jill’s Friend

Sheila Simmon’s Cousin

Tammy Shellnut’s Mother/Dad