Life in the Spirit

Ephesians 5:15–21

Paul tells us to be filled with the Spirit – to live wisely and make the most of every chance we get. To understand this, we need to answer three important questions: what does it mean to be filled with the Spirit, how can we know we are filled, and how can we get there? Let’s dive into these questions to understand what being filled with the Spirit really means.

1. What is being filled with the Spirit?

Being filled with the Spirit is a bit like being drunk, but it’s also very different. Both can make you brave and happy – like when the disciples were mistaken for being drunk because they were so boldly and happily sharing the good news. But while alcohol makes you feel like this by making you less aware, being filled with the Spirit makes you understand and see things better. It gives you a kind of super understanding that helps you see the truth and deal with problems.

2. How do we know if we are filled with the Spirit?

If you’re filled with the Spirit, you’ll have wisdom – you’ll understand life in a realistic and humble way. You’ll understand God and His saving grace deeply, which will fill you with a joy that doesn’t depend on what’s happening around you. It’s a joy rooted in Jesus and the sacrifice He made for us. This joy will make you want to sing to God and to build up others around you, creating a strong Christian community.

3. How can we become filled with the Spirit?

Even though Jesus was filled with sorrow, He also had deep joy from the Holy Spirit. His joy came from understanding that God reveals Himself to the humble and the spiritually needy, not to those who think they are wise. Jesus, even though He was perfect, relied on the Spirit’s filling to bear the burdens of the world. We can be filled with the Spirit in the same way – by drawing close to Jesus, spending time studying and thinking about the Bible and the gospel, and regularly praying and worshiping God.