REUNIÕES EM CASA
Read and pray: “Do not get drunk with wine, in which is dissoluteness; but be filled in the spirit,” (Ephesians 5:18 – Recovery Version)
BEING FILLED IN OUR SPIRIT
Christian meetings are entirely a matter of our spirit. Concerning this, there are two strategic points. First, if you want to equip yourselves to be used by the Lord and to receive the blessings of the home meetings, you need to be filled in your spirits.
Ephesians 5 shows us an excellent revelation of God’s Economy concerning Christ and the church. It seems strange when suddenly it says: “Do not get drunk with wine” (Eph. 5:18). We know that being drunk with wine is to be filled in our body with physical wine. Do not follow that way, but be filled—not in your body nor in your mind, but in your spirit. Be filled in your spirit.
The King James Version and some other versions translate this verse incorrectly. Their translators thought that “spirit” here refers to the Holy Spirit. According to the context, if we read the whole chapter, we can see that the spirit here does not refer to the Holy Spirit. It refers more appropriately to the regenerated spirit, which is indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
As seeking Christians, you should not be filled in your bodies with something physical; you should be filled in your spirits. God made our spirit in a peculiar way so that it can never be invaded by anything other than God.
The Bible records that God created an organ in our being to be the central organ—namely, the human spirit. This is an extraordinary organ in our human being. It is difficult to find a verse indicating that the human spirit could be occupied by anything other than God.
Even the spirit of an unbeliever is guarded by God expressly for Himself. For this reason Ephesians 5:18 tells us to be filled in this organ. With what should the spirit be filled? Ephesians does not say, nor does it need to say.
When it says: “Be filled in the spirit” (lit.), it surely means to be filled in the spirit with God. How can we know this? Knowing the Bible is never by our imagination but always by its context. I do not believe that many among us have ever paid due attention to the context of Ephesians 5:18.
Verse 13 says: “But all things which are reproved are made manifest by the light; for everything that makes manifest is light.” This word brings us to light. Verse 14 continues: “Therefore He says: Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Therefore see that you walk carefully, not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And…”
“And” here means that after all this, besides all this, something is mentioned: “do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissoluteness; but be filled in the spirit.” The next verse says: “speaking to one another.” Immediately after “be filled in the spirit” comes the word “speaking.” You may consider this kind of phrase as a qualifying phrase.
“Speaking to one another” modifies “be filled.” How can you be filled? It is by speaking. By speaking, you will be filled in your spirits.
But is it by speaking to one another in murmuring or gossip? Should we speak to one another about world news, about today’s United States, about school, family, computers? What should we speak?
We should speak in psalms, such as Psalm 119, a long portion with 176 verses in 22 sections according to the Hebrew alphabet. Verses 19 and 21 say: “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and psalmodizing in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks at all times for all things…” (lit.).
Here four things are mentioned: speaking, singing, psalmodizing with your hearts to the Lord, and always giving thanks for all things. Give thanks not only in times when you gain something but also in times when you suffer loss; not only when your wife has a happy countenance but also when she is upset. When she has a tied-up face, you need to say: “Lord, thanks to You” even more.
When you dent the car, also say: “Thanks to You, Lord.” You must always give thanks for the bad things and also for the good ones.
In these verses there are four qualitative words: speaking, singing, psalmodizing, and giving thanks. All these mean “be filled.” Speaking properly, do not be a quick person who is easily emotional, but one who is rejoicing.
Yet many times when I read a hymn and speak the hymn to another person, I become moved. For example, simply speak the hymn: “Oh! What a life! Oh! What a peace!” You may think this has nothing to do with the meeting, but speaking to one another indicates a kind of meeting. If you speak to your wife, this means you are meeting with your wife.
This is the initiation or beginning of your home meeting. Speaking to one another indicates a kind of meeting. In today’s Christianity, has there been any place where people meet to speak hymns? It is easier for people to sing hymns than to speak hymns. We have to practice this.
Speaking the hymns is not my invention. It is clearly mentioned here by Paul: “Be filled in the spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and psalmodizing to the Lord in your hearts.” However, we are not accustomed to doing it.
🌿 Enjoy more:
Hymn: Praise to the Lord (Psalm 16) – “His Humanity”
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