by Tristan Fenholt
What Does it Say?
Ephesians 5:18–21 (NKJV) “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.”
What Does it Mean?
In this passage, Paul instructed the believers in Ephesus to be filled with the Spirit. Interestingly enough, the believers in Ephesus were already known as being Spirit-filled. Why, then, did Paul instruct Spirit-filled believers to “be filled with the Spirit”?
When Paul instructed the believers to “be filled with the Spirit,” he used precise language in the original Greek, indicating that being filled with the Spirit was not intended to be a one-time event but continual. He wanted to make clear that being filled with the Spirit was meant to be an ongoing occurrence in the life of a believer. Being filled with the Spirit at some point in the past does not necessarily mean one will be filled with the Spirit on an ongoing basis. Therefore, Paul emphasized the importance of believers to ensure they are always filled with the Holy Spirit. Further, in giving these instructions, Paul framed it as a command. In other words, it was not a suggestion or recommendation. Being filled with the Spirit was a command for Spirit-filled believers to ensure they are consistently and ongoingly always filled with the Holy Spirit.
Paul gave insight on how to stay full of the Spirit. He told believers to speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, to sing and make melody in their hearts to the Lord, to give thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to submit to one another in the fear of God.
What Does it Mean to Us?
Much like the believers at the church in Ephesus, just because we may go to a Spirit-filled church does not automatically mean we are full of the Holy Spirit ourselves. Moreover, just because we may have been filled with the Holy Spirit at some point in our life does not necessarily mean we are full of the Spirit today. Being filled with the Spirit is not meant to be a title of Christian identity or a category of Christian fellowship. Being filled with the Spirit is intended to be an ongoing lifestyle for every believer. Therefore, it is vitally important for each of us to ensure we are always filled with the Holy Spirit on an ongoing basis.
Response
Paul gave insight on how to stay always filled with the Holy Spirit when he gave instructions to speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, to sing and make melody in our hearts to the Lord, to give thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to submit to one another in the fear of God.
Let’s respond by making a new and fresh commitment to do those things. Let’s consistently speak words of faith over ourselves and others. Let’s respond with praise and worship to the Lord. Let’s respond by giving thanks to the Lord for all He has done and provided—and will provide—for us. Last, let’s respond by honoring authority and giving preference to others. When these things become our lifestyle, we will find ourselves always filled with the Holy Spirit.