Dear Church Family:
Over these first few weeks in our study of the gospel of John we have been focusing on the prologue, John 1:1-18, and the various aspects of the Person and character of Christ ... the Word become flesh ... that John is going to expand upon throughout the rest of his glorious gospel.
This past week we looked at John 1:9, and we see how as surely as the sun lights every person in the world who willingly exposes himself to its light, so too the Son of God (Jesus) is the source of true light ... physical – spiritual –emotional – relational ... for all men. John also is going to tell us how one becomes “born again”, but before he does, he tells us how one is not born again ... not by blood (your race or ethnic heritage), not by the will of the flesh (your decisions, your perseverance, your desire, your actions), nor of the will of man (the actions of others, religion, sacramentalism, ritualism) ... but only by being born “of God” (John 1:11-12).
Lord willing, we will look further into the glorious truths set forth before us in John’s marvelous prologue to this great gospel of Jesus Christ.
As we have seen the past few weeks, Ephesians 5:18-20 is the apostle Paul’s definitive treatment about being filled with the Holy Spirit. The passage we look at today, Ephesians 5:21, finishes out that concept by emphasizing “submitting to one another in the fear of Christ” (Eph. 5:21).
Robert J. Morgan deals with this verse in chapter 56 of his book, One Hundred Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart. Here is Morgan’s account.
I miss the days when gas stations did the pumping. When I was learning to drive, gasoline was 18¢ per gallon. As we pulled into the station, we would run over a cable that rang a bell summoning an attendant. We would say, “Fill ‘er up,” or “Give me a dollar’s worth”. While the gas was pumping, someone would check our oil, clean the windshield, and check the tires.
So much for progress.
At least now some cars talk to us and tell us when we are low on fuel, how many miles we have left, and where the closest station is. But my car isn’t so fancy. I still have to keep an eye on the gauge.
If there were a gauge on your forehead that indicated whether you were filled with the Holy Spirit or empty, what would it read? Where would the needle fall?
Ephesians 5:19-21 gives us three gauges: singing, thanksgiving, and submission. Each attitude bores more deeply into our personalities. It’s relatively easy to burst into song, more difficult to be thankful on rough days, and harder still to remain humble in our relationships.
Furthermore, these attitudes transfer immediately into our marriages, which is the subject of the next paragraph (vv.22-33). Going on into chapter 6, this attitude of submission is applied to the parent-child relationship (6:1-4), and even to the workplace (6:5-9).
If we are filled with the Holy Spirit, it shows on these three dials: singing, thanksgiving, and submission. This obviously isn’t a one-time event, nor does it happen suddenly. It’s a process, a habitual life of growing in the Spirit-filled, Christ-centered life.
Don’t tell the Lord, “Give me a dollar’s worth”. Say every day, “Fill ‘er up!”
True humility, the pith of godliness, doesn’t mean developing an unhealthy self-image, but a healthy image – not of ourselves – but of the Lord Jesus. It’s thinking realistically of ourselves and optimistically of Him. It isn’t thinking little of ourselves; it’s thinking of ourselves less and less and of Him more and more.
Humility doesn’t go around groveling in the dirt and saying “I’m an idiot. I’m no good. I’m cheap. I’m worthless.” After all, we are the climax and crown of His creative genius, made in His image. We are worth more than many sparrows. We are worth so much Christ died for us. We are heirs of God and joint heirs of Christ. Humility isn’t a matter of saying, “I’m worthless!” It’s saying, “He is worthy!”
If pride is the soil of sinfulness, humility is the heart of holiness. It’s the basic bread and butter attitude of: “Jesus first, others second, and I’ll take the leftovers. I’m sent to serve.”
Morgan then ends his chapter with the following quote from Andrew Murray:
“The humble man feels no jealousy or envy. He can praise God when others are preferred and blessed before Him. He can bear others praised and himself forgotten.
Morgan’s account ends there. I have really appreciated his insights these past several weeks into what it means to be Spirit-filled. Let’s continue to check our “Spirit gauges” – do we easily sing in our hearts to the Lord? Are we growing more and more in our attitude of gratitude, and find ourselves giving Him thanks for more things and more often? Do we submit when appropriate to others, and to all of the institutions and authority figures over us in life? Do we do so readily and easily? By God’s grace, let’s keep a close eye on our “Spirit gauges”, and we can rest assured the Lord will have us “flying high” and “flying right”.
Love,
John & Terri
Eph. 5:21