“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Ephesians 5:18-20
Every Christian has the Holy Spirit living within them. That was God’s promise spoken through the apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38-39). The apostle Paul repeated this truth to the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19). In fact, he told us in Romans that if we didn’t have the Holy Spirit living within us, we are not Christians (Romans 8:9-10). But not every Christian is always “filled with the Spirit.” If we were filled with the Spirit all the time, then there would be no point in God giving us this command in Scripture — and it is a command. Literally, this phrase says, because it’s also in the present tense, “Be you continually being filled with the Spirit.”
Now notice the results of Christians who are “filled with the Spirit.” Our speech will include “psalms,” which are the songs of the Old Testament; “hymns,” which are the scripture songs of the early church and “songs from the Spirit,” which are new songs borne and inspired by the Holy Spirit (Psalm 33:3; 40:3; Revelation 14:3). But that’s not all. A spirit-filled Christian will always be “giving thanks to God” for everything. Just imagine for a moment. A church full of spirit-filled believers, full of scripture, full of thanksgiving to God and understanding what the Lord wants us to do. Wow!
How will this happen? How can we be “continually being filled with the Spirit?” How can we be a “Full Burner” Christian? I believe it all has to do with the spiritual gifts. When God gave us the Holy Spirit, He also gave us spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 7:13; Ephesians 4:7-8). The key then to being “spirit-filled” is in using our spiritual gift or gifts that God has given us. 1 Peter 4:10 says it like this, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”
So God gives us the Holy Spirit along with spiritual gifts and tells us to use them to serve others and administer His grace. Do you really want to change your spiritual life? Do you want to get rid of the crabapples and experience the glow of the Christian life and the tasty, ripe and red-delicious fruit of the Holy Spirit? Then do as God commands you to do — “Be filled with the Spirit.” All you have to do is ask (Luke 11:9-13). Your flame may be flickering but if you’ll let God turn up the heat — you’ll become a “Full Burner” Christian! Have I coined a new phrase? I hope so.
Let God turn up the heat in your spiritual life and watch what happens. Maranatha!
Pastor Don
