Be Filled

…be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18)

We are exhorted to be filled with the Spirit. It is important to understand what this really means. If we don’t, there will be endless confusion and frustration in our walk with God.

Speaking of that, let’s begin with the popular interpretation.

Let Go and Let God

The narrative goes like this: First, I realize that there is nothing I can do for God—O’ what a worm am I! Sinner that I am, I always mess things up… 

Then comes enlightenment—My life can only become useful to God if I am not involved in it. I need to get me out of my life. The Spirit needs to take over completely. More of Thee, less of me. There can only be one driver of the car—either God or me. It’s “Jesus-take-the-wheel” time… 

And finally, I acknowledge that I have nothing to do with the good works God performs through me, which is why I humbly say: “It wasn’t me. It was all God.”

The problem is that this is nonsensical. It is impossible to remove yourself from your life. More importantly, it is unbiblical.

Pray and Obey

Let’s look closely at Ephesians 5:18. This verse is a command. It is in the middle of a laundry list of commands. Who is being commanded? Is God commanding the Spirit to fill us? No. The command is to the hearer or reader of the letter. That is, the command is to Christians. The “be filled” is the verb. The subject is not stated but understood:

…(you [implied]) be filled with the Spirit.

The beginning of the sentence is: “And [you] do not get drunk with wine….” This command is easier to comprehend. It is in active voice. Don’t pour an excessive amount of alcohol down your throat. Clear enough.

But the “be filled” is in passive voice. The command is not to fill yourself with the Spirit. You are not the filler. God is the filler. And yet you are commanded to be filled. Or to say it another way, you are responsible to be filled by God with the Spirit. There is a paradox here.

This is just one aspect of the larger issue regarding God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility. We cannot be true to the Scripture and deny either God or man’s active engagement in every action. The problem with the “Let Go and Let God” model is that it denies man’s role. We must affirm both the obedience of man and the working of God, as Paul does here:

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Phil. 2:12-13) 

Here are both truths in balance. You are exhorted to work because God is at work in you.

One more thing, being filled with the Spirit is very practical. Review the laundry list of commands in Ephesians 5 again. This is the filling of the Spirit—avoiding immorality, walking wisely, submitting to a husband, and loving a wife.

 Obey God in these things…and pray for the powerful transforming working of His Spirit so that you may be able to.

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