Vince Deagler

hi out there.  thanks for checking out my latest ramblings.  i want to build on what i was talking about last time.  in ephesians 5:18 paul said we are not to be drunk on wine which leads to debauchery, instead we are to be filled with the spirit.  we talked about this last week and i don’t want to revisit that topic.  but i do want to check out verses 19-21, they paint a beautiful picture of what could be if we could just get out of the way and let the spirit have control.

lets start with v. 19.  paul points out that when the holy spirit is in control, there is a change that takes place within our hearts.  this is important to note because all real change starts there.  sure we can fake behavior, but sooner or later any phoniness is revealed for what it is.  but when our hearts are transformed/when our minds are renewed new behaviors flow from that transformation and they are real, genuine, instead of phoniness.  the specific change he points to is our hearts become centers of praise.  now don’t go off thinking…ok i have to be praising….  no, the point is allowing the holy spirit to be in control, when this is true our hearts are changed, they become praise centers.  the spirit so controls us that we are swept up in just how amazing our god is.  we cannot help but respond.  we see who he is, we see what he’s doing, its overwhelming, there is nothing like it, it is beyond compare or comprehension, we have to cry out.  like the spontaneous cheer that erupts at a sporting event at a crucial moment when an outstanding play occurs.  when an entertainer gives such a performance that you cannot contain yourself, you jump to your feet and applaud what they have done.  only here we are applauding, cheering god in our heart.  but if that is what is going on in our hearts, what will be coming out of our mouth???  that’s right…praise.  paul says we will be speaking to ourselves in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.  i think what he’s getting at is if there is a praise song playing in our heart, it will be reflected in our conversations with each other.  now, as i thought about this it hit me hard.  i am often guilty of complaint.  i can moan and groan with the best of them.  my god is easily swallowed up in my fear, anger, worry.  instead of praise there is whining.  ouch.  that would mean the spirit isn’t in control as often or as much as i would like to think.  but also, why should anyone consider turning to god if all’s i ever do is complain, whine, moan, gripe, worry, fear, rage, etc.  again, the answer isn’t …oh, i have to do a better job of praising.  no, that idea leaves you in control.  what we need to do is allow the holy spirit to be in control.  he will change our hearts, he will prompt our praise, and it will be real.

now, that’s just 1 part.  in v. 20 his focus is on thankfulness.  and it still is not an issue of trying to be more thankful.  it is an issue of being more under the control of the spirit.  when that is true, because the spirit looks at life very differently than we do, we will be naturally thankful.  i think if we were to analyze complaint, whining, and in general a lack of thankfulness we would find it has something to do with our sense of entitlement/expectation not being met.  the problem is this usually is a very self centered focus.  the spirits focus is primarily on elevating how god is being perceived, making god appear better all the time.  what the bible calls glorifying god.  that means where i may be likely to grumble, the spirit will prompt thankfulness because the very circumstance that is causing me to grumble are in fact giving the spirit a greater chance to elevate god, make him look better.  and that’s what he is about, so that is what he will lead me to be.

one last thought.  v.21 calls us to submit to one another out of our reverence to christ.  the spirit will lead us to serve each other, as the spirit serves christ.  this really is a beautiful picture.  it’s why i labeled this blog “where would you like to live?”.  we basically have 2 choices.  we can buy into the cultural norm of watching out for and caring for yourself.  even in cases where we as a culture express concern for others, experience tells me this is often muddled by politics, reciprocation, political correctness, public relations, peer pressure, etc.  what the spirit prompts us to do is disregard ourselves in favor of putting others first and serving their needs.  now, instinctively we might respond …what’s in it for me?  well when we choose to focus on and serve others, we are creating a world where, when others follow that same example we end up with a world where many are focused on and caring for me.  that’s what christian community is all about.  living for god and each other confident in the fact that god and all those others are equally focused on meeting my life needs. 

imagine that place.  a place where we are praising, appreciative, and serving.  time to roll up my sleeves and make it happen (i have control over me and my choices).  how can i do that…paul tells me…keep on being filled with (controlled by) the spirit.  then and only then, will i be what the spirit wants me to be and do what he wants me to do.  thanks for following along.  peace.  vince