“Life in the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18-21) - Belong VII –

New Life

Once, John Wesley visited factory workers in Epworth. In his journal, he described their behavior as “profane and loose to the last degree.” But Wesley didn’t give up on them; he kept visiting and praying with them. Over time, a remarkable change took place. In three factories, profanity and lewdness disappeared, replaced by worship and encouragement. “God put a new song in their mouths,” Wesley wrote, “and blasphemies were turned to praise. Those three I visited today, and I found religion had taken deep root in them. No trifling word was heard among them, and they watch over each other in love. I found it exceedingly good to be there, and we rejoiced together in the God of our salvation.”

Where there is the Holy Spirit, there is new life. The same transformation was happening in Ephesus. People who turned to Christ left behind their old, pagan ways. They put away sexual immorality, greed, and anger. In chapter 5, the Apostle Paul calls the Ephesian Christians to “walk as children of light” and says, “Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” (v. 18) Here, Paul highlights the responsibility believers have to be open and receptive to the Spirit’s work in their lives. We choose to drink alcohol, and we can also choose to seek the Spirit’s filling. While we can’t create the Holy Spirit’s work ourselves, we can welcome and invite the Spirit into our lives. And that choice—this decision to open ourselves to God—leads to joy, peace, and freedom. 

 

Singing

How can we be filled with the Holy Spirit? Today’s passage gives us three ways, beginning with singing. Verse 19 encourages us to “sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to one another, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts.” Singing is a spiritual practice that keeps our hearts and minds fixed on God. Many hymns come directly from the Bible, especially from the Psalms. When we sing hymns, we’re not just saying words; we’re giving the Holy Spirit space to fill and strengthen us.

Eric Liddell, the Olympic athlete and missionary, experienced the Spirit’s filling in this way. Liddell faced many trials, starting with the 1924 Paris Olympics, when he refused to compete in the 100-meter race scheduled for Sunday. He endured public criticism for his decision, but he stood firm. Later, he served as a missionary in China, where he lived in constant danger during the Japanese invasion. As conditions worsened, he had to send his wife and young children to safety in Canada, staying alone in China. Eventually, he was sent to a prison camp, where he suffered from a brain tumor, migraines, and depression. Through it all, Liddell stood firm, often singing the hymn “Be Still, My Soul,” which is inspired by Psalm 46:10 (UMH #534):

 

Be still, my soul, the Lord is on your side;

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;

Leave to your God to order and provide;

In every change, God faithful will remain.

 

Be still, my soul, your best, your heavenly friend,

Through thorny ways, leads to a joyful end.

 

By singing, Liddell kept God at the center of his life. He enthroned God in his heart. When we sing hymns, we also set our minds on God and are filled by His Spirit.

 

Giving Thanks

We are filled with the Spirit when we give thanks to God. Verse 20 encourages us to “give thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Pastor Charles Spurgeon once said, “Be thankful for moonlight, and you shall get sunlight: be thankful for sunlight, and you shall get that light of heaven which is as the light of seven days.” Some of us may feel we have little to be thankful for, but Paul, by the Spirit, urges us to give thanks in all circumstances, even for small things.

One powerful story of gratitude in difficult circumstances comes from Corrie ten Boom. Corrie and her sister Betsie were sent to a Nazi concentration camp for hiding Jews. Conditions in the camp were unbearable, and the sisters had to fight off fleas every day. Corrie struggled to endure it, but Betsie reminded her of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.” Together, they counted their blessings, thanking God for being together, for having a Bible, and for the opportunity to share the gospel. Betsie even thanked God for the fleas, though Corrie resisted, saying, “The fleas! This was too much. Betsie, there’s no way even God can make me grateful for a flea!” But later, they discovered that the fleas kept the guards away, allowing them to hold Bible studies freely.

Giving thanks opens our hearts to the Spirit. The more we thank God, the more we recognize His presence and love. By this, we are filled with God’s Holy Spirit.

 

Submitting

Thirdly, we are filled with the Holy Spirit when we submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (v. 21). Submission is important to God, even though it’s often difficult, especially under “unjust” authority. Why does God allow us to experience challenging relationships with difficult parents, spiritually immature church leaders, mean bosses, or incompetent politicians? It’s often to test our hearts and help us grow in humility.

Pastor John Bevere shares a story of learning submission in his book Under Cover. As a young pastor, he was given permission by his senior pastor to start a home cell group program. After months of preparation, however, his pastor announced that the plan was canceled. John was angry and felt sure he was right. But as he continued to meditate on his frustration, he sensed the Holy Spirit saying, “John, when you stand before me in judgment for the time I had you serve this pastor, you will not first give an account of how many youth you led to salvation. You will first be judged on how faithful you were to the pastor I’ve put you under.” These words changed his heart, leading him to repentance and reconciliation with his pastor.

If we don’t submit to the people we can see, how can we submit to God, whom we cannot see? (1 John 4:20). The Holy Spirit is a humble Spirit, and as we practice submission, we become more teachable and receptive to the Spirit’s direction.

 

Life in the Spirit

In Ephesians, Paul shows us how the gospel transforms our relationships. When we are filled with the Spirit, our marriages, homes, and workplaces are redeemed. Paul emphasizes that being filled with the Spirit is not a one-time event but a continuous experience, a privilege to be renewed daily through spiritual practices.

Recently, I had a meaningful conversation with my father. For 14 years, he had a strained relationship with someone, but God showed him his own pride and led him to seek reconciliation. So my dad reached out to that person and asked for forgiveness. I could feel the freedom, joy, and peace that this brought him. It was a reminder of how the Spirit can bring healing and transformation to our lives when we are willing to be filled and guided by the Spirit.

My prayer for each of us is that we would be filled with the Spirit every day, becoming more like Christ through singing, gratitude, and humility. May the Spirit work in our lives and our relationships, guiding us toward freedom, joy, and peace. Amen.