Word for the day "Be filled with the Spirit"
Ephesians 5:17 (NLT) Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.When we think of being filled with the Spirit, we often relate it to an emotional experience or a feeling of euphoria. But in reality, the word filled could be translated “controlled by.” It is a word that speaks of what happens when the wind fills the sails of a boat and guides it along. So God is saying that we are to let His Spirit fill us and control our lives. In many Church experiences today sensationalism and emotionalism can be misinterpreted as the Spirit of God!Another interesting thing about this word (Filled with the Spirit) is that in the original language, it’s in a tense that speaks of something that should be done continually. So you could translate this sentence, “Be constantly filled with the Spirit.” This isn’t a one-time event. Instead, it is something that takes place again and again, just as we repeatedly fill the gas tanks in our cars to keep them running. God wants to refill us with His Spirit. It is a great thing to say each day, “Lord, fill me with Your Spirit: Lord, fill me once again.” You may have an emotional experience, or you may not. But that has very little to do with the reality of being filled with and controlled by the Spirit. I don’t oppose emotional experiences family, I just don’t solely rely on it in my relationship with the Lord!One other thing about this passage from (Ephesians 5:18) is that it’s a command, not a suggestion. The Scripture isn’t saying, “If it works with your schedule, if you don’t mind, would you please consider maybe letting the Holy Spirit fill and control you?” No, in (Ephesians 5:18) God commands us; orders us: to be filled with the Holy Spirit.The Lord knows very well that an intimate relationship is what our lives need more than anything. Have a fantastic day and “Be filled with the Spirit”!All Sincerity,Pastor James