Isn't it amazing how often we use elegant and flowing language to talk about spiritual realities... and isn't it amazing how hard it is sometimes to give feet to those same inspiring words? We love to sing about and read about people who were under the Spirit's influence in the book of Acts- the disciples in the upper room (ch 2), Peter before the Jewish authorities (ch 4), Paul with a defiant sorcerer (ch 13)... we love it- we're inspired. We want to follow their examples, to walk in their footsteps... until we turn to Ephesians chapter 5.
Here, Paul has the audacity to suggest that those filled with the Spirit will live differently, not in bold public ways, but in the private and mundane moments of life... in marriage (5:22-33), in the home (6:1-4), and even at work (6:5-9). That's a challenge, because I'm not sure I want to live under the Spirit's influence in those settings... but as Sinclair Ferguson has said, "Mundane life, not mountaintop experience, is the sphere in which Satan appears."
So if we're going to resist Satan's influence in our church, let's back up and understand the passage above again. In short, Paul tells Christians who are serious about how they live, who "look carefully then how they walk" v 15-18...
- not to be unwise but wise (make sure they're eager to apply what they learn)
- not to be foolish but to understand God's will (be sure to live with an awareness of God's presence and desires)
- not to be drunk but to be filled with the Spirit (live not in self-indulgence of every desire but under the influence of the Spirit)
Now it's not always hard to identify people who are Spirit-filled because Paul gives three ways of noticing the Spirit's activity. Spirit-filled believers are people who are...
- worshipful (v19- using Scriptural beauty in conversation and in songs of worship)
- thankful (v 20- making sure that everything always leads us back to expressions of gratitude)
- deferential (v 21- lining up under the structures God placed within the community)
Here's where it gets tough: we like the idea of singing songs of worship and expressing gratitude for God's work. But what about those times when I don't like something... am I still supposed to be grateful? And what about those times when I disagree with somebody... am I still supposed to be submissive? How we answer those questions reveals our eagerness to be filled with the Spirit.
So here are a few questions to help us ascertain our eagerness for the Spirit's activity in our lives:
- Husbands- are you eager to love your wives like Jesus: sacrificially, gently, redemptively, personally... the way you'd care for your own body? It's what Jesus did and He wants us to put His love on display with the way you love your wife.
- Wives- are you eager to lean towards your husband's ideas and leadership: submissively, respectfully? Do those words describe the tone of your speech, the expression of your face, the attitude of your relationship? It's the privilege given you... not to mindlessly defer but to actively portray the way we are to respond to Jesus' loving care for us.
- Fathers- are you looking forward to the moments you have to train and bring up your children: for their maturity and success, not for their daily list of ways they've disappointed you and fallen short? Is the fruit of your parenting children who are moving towards mature obedience and honor or children who are more frequently provoked towards anger. The privilege of parenting is representing the authority of a loving Father and then transferring our children from living obediently under our authority to living obediently under His.
- Children- are you actively looking for ways to honor your parents and to obey your parent's authority? Although this changes as we move out from under our parents' provision, we're always called to honor them in the Lord. (As an aside but related: one of the greatest privileges I've had recently is to watch a generation of young adults make the transition from being kids and teens at SGC to young men and women who still lean towards their parents' wisdom and authority while seeking to obey God independently. This is fruit that grows steadily and surely during the teen years and ripens into a wonderful example for the next round of kids who have been watching how you live now. Thank you for your examples!)
- Workers- are you looking to obey your authorities at work? It's easy to do this for show or for promotion... but Paul's not content with that. Spirit-filled submission for the "slaves" of the 21st century involves heart-level deference to authority and Godward obedience ultimately toward God. Does that dominate your tone and conversation around the "water-coolers" of your workplace?
- Bosses- simply put, does your authority recognize the dignity and impartiality present within the kingdom of God? We're called to represent the authority that serves the good of the company without portraying our own personal superiority over others. Humility that's gospel-centered is the only lasting conviction that can motivate this type of attitude at work.
These contexts represent the mundane moments of life in which the Spirit of God fills us and enables us to represent Him and advance His kindgom. But we're opposed in this... more on that in the next post.
