Filled with the Spirit

Friends,

I would like to offer some encouragement today. One of my favorite messages in the New Testament is Ephesians 5:18-21, but not for the reasons that you might think. It reads: "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ." (NAS)
This has typically been THE passage among others that we have used to defend our practice of singing acappella in our fellowship -- and this is fine. We have had to pull it out of its context in order to make this argument, but combined with other New Testament passages, I believe that it is valid. Still what does it REALLY say? There are five spiritual attitudes which are to be present in our lives IF we are filled with the Spirit of God! If we are filled with the Spirit, we will not become drunk with wine or any other alcoholic drink; be filled with the Spirit, not "spirits." If we are filled with the Spirit, we will sing Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to the Lord at other times and on other days than "the appointed times;" songs will be continually be flowing out of our hearts. If we are filled with the Spirit, we will sing not just from the mouth, but it will have special meaning -- coming from the heart; God wants our hearts not vain worship. If we are filled with the Spirit, we will always have thankful hearts to the Lord . So much better to be grateful to the Lord than to be a grumbler. Finally, if we are filled with the Spirit of the Lord, we will live by the golden rule "to do unto others as you would have them do unto you." We do not enforce our will upon others, but yield to them with a spirit of submissiveness.
Now, this certainly is not all there is to living a Spirit-filled life, but it certainly is a good start! Have a great day :-).

Don