Are You Spirit-filled? (Ephesians 5:18) Part Three

To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to live with God's Word permeating every area of your life. The parallel passage of Ephesians 5:18 is Colossians 3:16. Both texts are followed by joyful singing, thanksgiving to God, and instructions about husbands, wives, children, parents, slaves, and masters. But in Colossians 3:16, rather than saying, "be filled with the Spirit," Paul says, "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you." There's an old rule in mathematics that "things equal to the same thing are equal to one another." In other words, if to be filled with the Word is equal in result to being filled with the Spirit, then it should be clear that the Word-filled Christ follower is the Spirit-filled Christ follower! The Spirit-filled Christ follower is a lover of the Word of God, no doubt about it! As the Word of Christ dwells in us richly, and as we walk in obedience to that Word, the Holy Spirit fills, dominates, influences, and controls us to the glory of the Lord Jesus. Praise God forevermore! There's nothing more satisfying than being used by God to bring Him glory! So to be a Spirit-filled Christ follower, you must be growing in your understanding and application of the Word of God! You can't have one without the other. You can't be Spirit-filled without practicing the Word of God! Also, to be filled with the Holy Spirit involves an ever-deepening relationship with God through the Spirit. We have to remember that the Holy Spirit is a Person, not some force. To be filled with the Holy Spirit is a relationship with the Triune God through His indwelling Spirit! As we grow in our understanding and application of God's Word, the Holy Spirit reveals new areas that we have not surrendered to His control. This is relationship. This is being Spirit-filled. This is living life the way life was meant to be lived! Your move. Be encouraged! We'll continue this teaching in part four of our next message.