Some Christians might be inclined to answer, The signs of the fullness of the Spirit are ecstatic utterances, or
prophetic words of knowledge, or supernatural power. But the passage that
gives the most complete answer comes from Ephesians 5:18-21. And the real
evidence of the Holy Spirit’s fullness might surprise you.
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be
filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing
one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody
to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving
thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, 21 submitting
to one another out of reverence for Christ.
The main instruction in this text is a command: be filled with the
Spirit! Then what follows are a series of present participles (the “ing” words)
that reveal four very clear signs of the filling of the Holy Spirit.
First is Praise-filled Fellowship: addressing one another in
psalms and hymns and spiritual songs (v.
19a).
When
the Holy Spirit is in control, interaction between Christians is soaked in praise.
Not that the only way we communicate is through song lyrics. But when our
spirits are under the sway of the Spirit, praise will show up in how we address
one another. People talk about what impresses them. Sometimes we’re most
impressed with sports or work or neighborhood gossip. But when the Spirit is in
control, we can’t help but be impressed with Jesus and so inevitably we talk
about Him.
Second - Heart-filled
Worship: singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart (v.
19b).
Real worship flows out of the heart; real worship is “worth-ship” –
reflecting on the worth and beauty of our Lord.
Years ago when I served as a missionary-trainer, I led a seminar
of Christian leaders from many parts of the world. I posed the question, “How
would you describe a mature Christian?” An African leader immediately
responded, “A mature Christian sings!”
Not everyone is blessed with a good singing voice, but all
Christians, when filled with the Spirit, will sing from their hearts.
A third evidence of the Holy Spirit’s filling is trust-filled
thanksgiving: giving thanks always and
for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (v. 20).
Thanksgiving comes naturally when life is easy and blessings are
abundant. But when tragedy, heartache, setbacks, and evil interrupt life,
thanksgiving comes only supernaturally.
And the reason I phrased it “trust-filled” is that, for thanksgiving to be “always
and for everything,” it must come from the conviction that an all-powerful,
all-loving God is in control of everything.
When our old nature dominates, we are cynical, critical,
complaining. When we yield control to the Spirit of God, He gives us grateful
hearts regardless of our circumstances.
The fourth sign is fear-filled submission (v. 21): submitting
to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Submission is a terrible world in our culture. People submit only
as a sign of weakness, an admission that someone else is in a dominant
position. Like a MMA fight, people “tap out” only when their arm will be broken
otherwise.
But Christians have a submissive attitude toward others because of
their respect for Jesus – “out of reverence
for Christ.” The Greek word is phobos,
but it’s the “good” kind of fear. The Holy Spirit’s filling produces deep
humility, and a desire to love others by serving them.
Christian submission within a congregation, or a marriage, is the
Spirit-produced desire to put others’ needs ahead of your own.
Some people teach that the Holy Spirit’s filling is like your own
personal jetpack. You strap it on and it will propel you into the stratosphere
of prosperity and health. But the word of God says that the Spirit’s filling is
an overflow of love within the community of God’s people. It’s about our
fellowship, worship, thanksgiving, and service. Rather than ecstatic outbursts,
it is God’s power of love and humility and forgiveness and service poured out
in relationships.
The filling of the Holy Spirit’s is God’s plan for all Christians.
The Holy Spirit, our Comforter, empowers us to be more like Jesus within our
relationships, and helps us walk closer to Christ and to others on our
way to heaven.
