Dear Brethren,

MEDITATION
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

Ephesians 5:18-19

OBSERVATION AND INTERPRETATION

1. Filled with Wine

a) Drunkenness must be avoided

i) A common problem
ii) This is a temptation that must be overcome

b) Dissipation:

i) We lose our strength
ii) We lose control of ourselves

2. Filled with the Spirit

a) This is to be desired
b) This is to be sought

3. Many examples of people filled with the Spirit

a) Elizabeth Luke 1:41
b) Zacharias Luke 1:67
c) The Lord Jesus Luke 4:4
d) The Jerusalem Church Acts 2:4

4. Expressions of being filled with the Spirit

a) Speaking to one another

i) In psalms
ii) And hymns
iii) And spiritual songs

b) Singing

i) Individually
ii) Congregationally

c) And making melody in your heart to the Lord

i) It is heartfelt
ii) It is directly related to the Lord
iii) Ultimately, we sing praises to God

APPLICATION TO LIFE AND MINISTRY

1. Improving as servants of God

a) Filled with the Spirit
b) Filled with Joy
c) Filled with Praise

2. Things to discard

a) A grumpy face
b) An ungrateful heart
c) A praise-less soul

Prayerfully,
Pastor Charles Tan