Worship and Gratitude

Ephesians 5:18 – 20 – And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

Being filled with the Spirit is not a one-time event, that we live off for the rest of our days. It is a constant filling, asking to be filled, and receiving the filling by faith. Much of the weakness, defeat, and lethargy in our spiritual life can be attributed to the fact that we are not constantly being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Paul contrasts the state of drunkenness with being filled with the Spirit. Alcohol is a depressant, depressing one’s self-control, wisdom, balance, and judgment. The Holy Spirit, on the other hand, is a stimulant, urging and moving us to live better for Him each day. The Spirit-filled life is marked by worship and gratitude.

When we are filled with the Spirit, we have the desire to worship God and to encourage others in their worship. Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs which come from the heart are the focus, rather than the quality of the tune. An attitude of gratitude is another mark of being filled with the Spirit. Praise and thanksgiving come naturally to the one filled with the Spirit. A complaining, murmuring heart and the Holy Spirit just don’t go together. 

Are you being filled by the Holy Spirit?