The Vitality of Holy Living

Ephesians 5:18

February 21, 1988

In the PM we kick off "Lent" with COMMUNION: observe and honor the PASSION, LOVE, CARING, SACRIFICE of Jesus— not just what He SAID but what He TAUGHT!

"Lent" is thought of as a time of self-denial and fasting. It is thought of as a "sad" time, of contemplating with sadness the sorrow and pain of Jesus. ["Fat Tuesday" one last spree before the sorrows of Lent.] Perhaps a better way to observe "Lent" would be ANTICIPATION.

The "self-denial" can be a positive thing— a deliberate laying aside of the temporal in seeking the eternal. "BE NOT DRUNK WITH WINE WHEREIN IS EXCESS..." The point is not BE NOT, but rather BE FILLED!

And we CAN, we MAY, we MUST be filled!

"WHY BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT?"

I. SO THAT WE CAN KNOW... (1:17,18)

The attractiveness of CERTITUDE; of knowing where we stand with God, and where we came from, and where we are going.

Ephesians 1:15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what [is] the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, Know JESUS, Himself, and ...

Know what is the HOPE, GLORY, POWER OF OUR CALLING - KNOW THAT WE ARE TRULY SAVED!

II. SO THAT WE CAN BE AT HOME WITH JESUS... (3:14-21)

Unless and until we are 'at home' with Jesus here and now we will not be likely to KNOW HIM when He returns, or to BE AT HOME WITH HIM throughout eternity.

3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 THAT CHRIST MAY DWELL IN YOUR HEARTS BY FAITH; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what [is] the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Making HIM at home in OUR heart; learning the privileges of development, intimacy, responsibility, growing reality ..the PERMANENCE of Christ RESIDENT!

III. To establish GUIDELINES FOR A COUNTER-CULTURE (5:15-21)

[tie to election year; mention the so-called barrier between "church & state"]

WE ARE NOT TO ABANDON THE CULTURE. Society is to stand under the JUDGMENT of Jesus; and it cannot do this because of legislation; we cannot impose God's will on unbelievers; But we may have an impact on our world today if indeed we are filled with the Spirit!

"When He, the Spirit of truth is come, He will convict the world of sin, of righteousness, of judgment!" John 16:13

EPH 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord [is]. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Living by the BOOK