In the heat of the moment my heart raced, I looked around and I saw many people that looked very enthused and passionate about worshiping God. I was feeling like I needed to worship like them, but I was scared. I was scared thinking: “What would I look like worshiping like that?” “What will others think?” As these worries coursed through my mind I slowly heard the Spirit of the Lord whisper, “It’s not about how you look; It’s about how much of your heart you’re using. Just be in love with God.”

If your story sounds even close to mine, don’t worry, that just means we are normal. We each create pictures in our mind of what a Spirit filled life looks like. We often attach outside actions to what a Spirit filled person looks like. And although we know that in 1 Samuel 16:7 it is made clear that God does not look at the outward appearance, He looks at the heart, it doesn’t stop us from realizing that there are visible indicators of spirit filled living. But what are biblical signs of spirit filled living? In this mini series we are going to look at Ephesians 5:18-21 and examine what God tells us is the true evidence of His Spirit. So take a  moment, pray to our Dad in heaven and ask Him to work in your heart to clear the stage, and set your heart ablaze, then let us begin.

Ephesians 5:18 gives  a contrasting string of commands. First what not to do, “Do not be drunk with wine”. Then what to do, “Be filled with the Spirit”. But what does that phrase mean? When we have a clue by the picture before, “drunk”. But the difference with drunk on wine and drunk/controlled by Spirit is that the Word tells us specifically what the control of the Spirit looks like. Many take the imagery of the wine very literal. But what we will see is that in the following verses the “drunkenness” of the Spirit starts with speaking in news ways, not falling on the ground passed out.

In verse 19 its follows the filling of the Spirit with “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,”. This is step one into what a Spirit filled life looks like. You need to look at this in a two fold statement. First as a promise that this is what a Spirit filled life WILL look like. God promises this. You will speak with a joyful disposition with the Word of God guiding your lips. But secondly, if you want to be Spirit filled you must obediently do what this says. You must speak and address one another this way. You must look at people the way God looks at them. You must be amazed at God’s love for them and that God declares your fellow believer to be His child.

So a Spirit filled person will speak to others in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. And a Spirit filled person must speak and address people this way. It’s a 2 way street. So how will you practically live this and pursue this. Will you get over the fear of yourself and sing to the children, boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife, friend/neighbor? And if you first response to that is “no way! you have no idea how ‘bad’ I sound!” Your focus is off and you have forgotten the second part of realizing that God doesn’t hear your notes, He sees your heart. Or will you try to speak in a more grace filled tone? Will you surrender to the presence of the Spirit and allow Him to control every word you speak? Will you go to church next week and speak/sing to God in such a way that you realize not only is your singing a praise to God, but an encouragement to the person next to you?

A spirit filled life is not one that is out of control, it is one that is very solidly surrendered and committed to live life in such a way that there is no denying that something other than yourself is in control? God is in Control. Give in. Believe, trust and know. For a Spirit filled life in not optional in the life of a believer, it’s mandatory and awesome!