. We gave the letter to the Ephesians the title “Powered up in Christ” because at the heart of its message is the need to have Christ at the centre of our being.

The early chapters spoke to us of the wonderful blessings that come from turning from our sin and putting our faith in Jesus.

 

 It moves on to tell us of the need for a radical change of perception. We have to think a new way. We have to understand and reject what is wrong about the culture and society in which we live and set our sights on ‘being imitators of God’.

Today we talk about being filled with the Spirit.

 

 Still to come is how we ‘imitate God’ by submitting to one another in reverence to Christ. And how we can be strong in the Lord by putting on the whole armour of God.

 

 Fully powered up and fully protected.

That is what we are looking at in this letter.

 

 So let’s turn to today’s reading. To get the context we are going to read from verse 1 of the chapter beginning with the now familiar words:

 

    5:¹ Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children ² and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

    ³ But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. ⁴ Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. ⁵ For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person -- such a man is an idolater -- has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. ⁶ Let no-one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. ⁷ Therefore do not be partners with them.

    ⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) ¹⁰ and find out what pleases the Lord. ¹¹ Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹² For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. ¹³ But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, ¹⁴ for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

 

    ¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live -- not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. ¹⁸Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. ¹⁹ Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

    ²¹ Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

 

I want to speak of three things this morning from this passage:

 

1. Be careful how you live

2. Be filled with the Spirit

3. Enjoy God

They are not three distinct elements we can separate but a three aspects of kingdom living.

 

We need to apply ourselves to holiness; we need the Holy Spirit filling our lives; we need to enjoy God  individually and together.

 

1. Be careful how you live

I was walking down Heaton Moor Road in Cheshire and a lady was waiting to turn right out of a side road. The road was empty but she waited. Another car came along and suddenly she moved off, hitting the other car and peeling the front wing off the car. She was careful but somehow she failed to see the other car. Either that or she was planning the accident!

  ¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live -- not as unwise but as wise,

I have been reading Ecclesiastes in the last week where wisdom is a key element. Wisdom is uncomfortable. Ecclesiastes challenges all the God’s of today: intelligence, power, wealth, pleasure seeking, celebrity and says they are all meaningless. In fact it is a bit frightening because most of what we think is useful is seen as a waste of time.  Proverbs 9:10 and Psalm 111:10 both state: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” Proverbs adds and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Psalm 111 adds all who follow his precepts have good understanding.

Wisdom is not what you know but who you know. Which takes us back to 5:1

5:¹ Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children ² and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

So being careful how you live is a call to you to know Jesus and follow his ways ,commands and attitudes. Imitate not in mockery but in considered obedience to his ways.

Be very careful, then, how you live … ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Two men looked through prison bars,

One saw mud and the other saw stars.

Is your cup half full or half empty?

Is today a day of   opportunity or are you dragging yourself through life. Are evil days, days to be depressed or days of opportunity?

Consider the summer riots. What was your reaction? Did you act or did you just bemoan the state of the nation?

 

If you are saying but what could I do? The answer is first and foremost: Pray!  Or have you given up on God? There are a whole variety of organisations that encourage us to pray systematically and regularly for out nation. Pray Hillingdon has occasional prayer meetings locally. Global day of Prayer encourages you to say the Lord’s Prayer at noon everyday and pray for revival in our nation.

 

But it goes further, we are salt and light in a dark rotten world and the world needs us to make the most of every opportunity. That is why we put posters on buses and gospels in homes, to make opportunities for you to share the gospel. Just asking your neighbour” did you get one of the gospels? And what did you think of it?” could be the beginning of a conversation that gives you the opportunity to talk about Jesus.  Your neighbour’s distress could be the means of beginning a friendship that will build your local community. Just delivering Neighbourhood Watch newsletters has meant that I often get into chat with people I don’t know because I deliver the leaflets to their home. We need to recognise the opportunities and we need to know what to do or say when we get them.

Be very careful, then, how you live …

¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

Wisdom comes from knowing God, so when we ask for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, we are praying for guidance so that we understand what that will is for us, today. God rarely sends you an appointments diary. But in the midst of the business of your day, he prompts you by his Holy Spirit. And you will know it is the Holy Spirit if you spend time with Jesus because what you are prompted to do will be to imitate God as dearly loved children.

How do I know God’s will?

 

¹⁸Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

 

Instead of drowning your sorrows, be filled with the Spirit! Instead of running away from the challenges of  discipleship, be filled with the Spirit. The Holy Spirit of God is the cure for feeling down, the means of healing and grace. There is a tendency to think that what follows is how you get filled with the Spirit. I think not. I believe that what follows is the outflow of a spirit-filled person and community.

SO if this mornings worship seemed a drag, be filled with the Spirit! If witnessing is not your scene, be filled with the Spirit.  If holiness is your struggle, be filled with the Spirit!

So if verse 19 & 20 is the outcome not the how, what is the how?

 

First, the Holy Spirit is not at your beck and call. You cannot demand him to reveal himself and his gifts are gifts, given freely by a loving God, but they are gifts. Gifts need to be received. And  Jesus said you can ask for the Holy Spirit!

Luke 11:1-13 which is about prayer ends like this:

⁹ So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

¹¹ Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?

¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

¹³ If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

 

You want to be filled with the Holy Spirit? Then ask and receive!  That is how you came to Christ, you asked and received grace, so now day-by-day you ask and receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit. There is no magic formula, no need to be in a charismatic event, just an open heart asking God to fill every part of your life with his Holy Spirit. But just as when you came to Christ, there has to be a turning away from sin -  repentance - and seeking forgiveness. You cannot be filled with hate and with the Holy Spirit. You cannot be filled with lust and be filled with the Holy Spirit. You cannot be filled without crying out for the release from the bondage you have to sin. That release comes as the Holy Spirit is poured into our souls and runs through our very person.

 

And when we do we

¹⁹ Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

It is not that our musical abilities improve although music is a gift of god but that the Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs give expression to our joy and our peace and our hope that we receive in the Holy Spirit. And we develop a attitude of gratitude as we discover that every good thing comes from the Father and every problem a challenge for our faith to take us closer to God. God loves you and each and every trial and we have many at many different levels. Each trial is there for you to develop your faith, enrich your spirit with those heavenly treasures. They teach us to live on the edge between despair and hope  and see Jesus triumph over despair and disappointment.

 

We express that joy as we meet together. It is why Christian services are dominated by music. That is the way we best express our joy. Sometimes we might shout our praise or dance with joy, but whether we meet on Sunday morning for worship and teaching or Sunday evening for worship and communion or midweek for fellowship and prayer, our joy comes from the presence of the Holy Spirit , our imitation of Jesus and the forgiveness of sins. Be filled now!

 

Ask the father, believing the promise of Jesus. Receive the Holy Spirit. You may not have an emotional reaction although I ought to warn you that the Holy Spirit can and does have a dramatic effect on occasions. You may or may not receive a special gift but your spirit will be transformed and your desire to know and follow Jesus will be enhanced as you have the power of God flowing through you. That power will inevitably flow out to others.

Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened…

… how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

Pray.

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