As God’s people we are created to keep in step with the Spirit and to follow His lead as we hear and respond to His voice. Paul helps us to understand the ‘be being filled’ experience by reminding us earlier in his letter……”Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity.”
Understanding words and their meanings can be so helpful to us. This is particularly true when we read The Book, our Bible with fresh eyes. As an example I recently read through Ephesians 5:18 in the Kenneth Wuest Expanded New Testament.
CONTROLLED BY THE SPIRIT
“Be constantly controlled by the Spirit.” Now, I must confess to thinking that “being filled with the Spirit” was like pulling into a petrol station when the fuel gauge was showing near to empty. But in this statement Paul is using a word which reveals God’s initiative as He fills and controls the direction of His people. ‘The Greek word for “filled” here is used of wind filling a sail to move a ship forward. The metaphorical idea of the word is control. When the Holy Spirit fills us, He controls us.’
This beautiful picture of the wind blowing into the sails helps us to understand that our being filled and carried along is not a work of human effort but rather His moving us along into His fuller purposes. It is not through the sweat of human endeavour but rather the abandoning of ourselves to be available for whatever He pleases. Will we choose to live like that as God’s people?
GO WHERE HE PLEASES
I also found Jesus’ conversation with an unbelieving Nicodemus helpful. We probably know this story so well from John 3:8.
“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
Being filled with and controlled by His Spirit means our sails are raised up and we are ready to go on a journey where He pleases! In sailing jargon there will be times when we are required to ‘tack’ or change direction in order to follow His chosen course for our lives. In these challenging days we need to be vigilant as children of God to be purposeful, attentive and responsive by listening for His new creation purpose to be fulfilled in a desperate world.
WIND WORDS
And so as we listen can you hear His calling? Can we let go and allow God to have His way? Can we set aside our goals, our agendas, our plans, our security and raise the sails to welcome in a new way of being filled and controlled as a people or a local church?
“Are your ears awake?” Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches.” [1]
[1] Revelation 2:7 MSG.