These are my notes for Sunday, March 3rd, 2024.
Major Recap about Being Filled by the Holy Spirit
I love what Pastor Freddy Fritz from Tampa Bay Presbyterian Church says. Most of these bullet points are from him:
There are several things that are not meant by being filled with the Spirit.
- First, being filled with the Spirit is not a dramatic experience subsequent to salvation advancing a Christian into some higher state of spirituality.
- Second, being filled with the Spirit is not an act of the flesh which has God’s approval.
- Third, being filled with the Spirit is not the same as possessing, or being indwelt by, the Holy Spirit, because he indwells every believer at the moment of salvation.
- Fourth, being filled with the Spirit does not describe a process of progressively receiving him by degrees or in doses.
- Fifth, being filled with the Spirit is not the same as the baptism of the Spirit, because every Christian receives the baptism of the Spirit at the moment of conversion.
- And finally, being filled with the Spirit is not the same as being sealed, or secured, by him. Christians are never commanded to be sealed, secured, indwelt, or baptized by the Spirit. They only command directed to Christians is to be filled with the Spirit.
So, what did Paul mean when he wrote, “…be filled with the Spirit”? Several things.
- First, being filled with the Spirit is a command. To be filled with the Spirit is obligatory, not optional.
- Second, being filled with the Spirit is in the plural form. That is, it is addressed to the entire body of Christ. None of us is to get drunk; all of us are to be filled with the Spirit.
- Third, while we’ve been learning that there are things for us to DO, mainly to get ourselves out of the way, there is no technique to learn and no formula to recite. Essentially, Paul is saying, “Let the Holy Spirit fill you.”
- And fourth, to be filled with the Spirit is in the present tense. We need to be continuously filled with the Spirit. We do this by trusting and obeying the Lord as His Word directs.
Today’s main: Results of Being Spirit-Filled Ephesians 5:19-21
“addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with 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.”
#1. Address (recite, speak) to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs
Look at the meaning this line provides for corporate gatherings.
Cross reference 1 Corinthians 14:26 What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
Cross reference Colossians 3:16- says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.”
Psalms cry out to God; Hymns honor and direct praise to God; Spiritual songs point to God, not ourselves.
Edify the body: Hebrews 10:25 we do not neglect meeting together, as is the habit of some, but encourage (spur) on one another.
#2. Sing and make melody (music) to the Lord with your hearts.
Where’s your heart at? Should be directed to the Lord, not yourself. This goes both ways, whether you sing good or bad! Affection of heart and tongue.
Twang it. Could literally mean worship with instruments. Barnes Commentary says it like this: “It is not certain, however, that the apostle here had reference to what is properly called “melody.” The word which he uses -psallō – means to touch, twitch, pluck – as the hair, the beard; and then to twitch a string – to “twang” it – as the string of a bow, and then the string of an instrument of music.
Reminder, in a group setting everyone worships differently.
#3. Gives thanks always to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus.
Can you be Spirit-Filled and ungrateful at the same time?
Cross reference 1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Cross reference James 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
#4. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ?
Don’t get stuck on words. Time to understand what this means biblically. Does mutual “support” help your mind better than the word submission? It’s a good word though, don’t be afraid of it.
Does not mean dominate another person.
Does not take someone away from following the will of God.
Is not one-sided. (Love and respect cycle example from Ephesians 5:33)
Look at 2:3 Ministries guiding verse from Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus…