December 10, 2006Seeking Him #8: Life's Crucial Choice Ephesians 5:15-21 The year was 1983. John Scully left his position as CEO of the Pepsi Cola Corporation to become the president of Apple Computers. He took a big risk, leaving a prestigious and secure company to join a rag-tag, insecure, unproven small venture propelled only by one man’s transforming vision. Sculley said that he made the decision only after Apple’s co-founder, Steven Jobs, goaded him with this question: “Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water, or do you want a chance to change the world?” What a powerful question for you and me this Christmas season? And especially in light of our Following the Vision capital campaign. What would it take us to change our world? Our nation? Our community? Our families? Down through the ages God has used ordinary people to do extraordinary things, and sometimes, in extraordinary ways. That only happens when ordinary people abandoned a self-centered life and lived under the power of the Holy Spirit. The bottom line in life is this: who governs our lives, who calls the shots? Is it self or Jesus? So, let me get right to it—Who controls your life? We are going to look at one of the most important truths in all of life. Knowing and appropriating this truth will determine:
1. What is the Spirit-filled life? The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit is a person. We are made in His image. The Holy Spirit is God in Spirit form. At the point of salvation, the Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit enters our lives. Romans 8:9 says, “You, however, are not controlled by the sinful nature, but by the Holy Spirit, if the Holy Spirit lives within you.” Some people have gotten the false notion that we accept Christ as Savior we get only a portion of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not fragmented. When you walk into a room, the room contains all of you…not just an arm or leg! You are all here in this sanctuary—physically at least, some of your heads are anywhere but in worship! The question is not, how much of the Holy Spirit do I get as a Christian, but how much of me does the Holy Spirit get?” All of us compartmentalize our lives. There is the family section, the church section, the job section, the money section, the recreation section, the marriage section, the parenting section, the friends section, the history section, the extended family section, the community section, and for our teens—there is the girl section or the guy section, et al. We can imagine that each of the sections is a room in the house of our lives. At salvation or being born again, the Holy Spirit enters the front door or for some the side or back door! The question I am raising with you today is this: how many rooms will Jesus have access to and control over? 2. Why is being filled with the Holy Spirit so important? Verse 18 is the explanation when Paul says, “Do not be drunk with wine which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Verse 19 helps to describe what this looks like: singing and making music which is a sign of joy and happiness and an uplifted spirit with the focal point being God Himself. The music in our hearts will overflow into making music to and with one another. Permeating all of this is the attitude of thankfulness. What we are looking at here is attitude. What a contrast this is to drunkenness. I have never been drunk in my life for which I am very grateful! The reality is that drunkenness is very much a part of the world’s lifestyle and is sin. When you are drunk you have no control over what you say nor what you do. Think Mel Gibson. Think football fans. Think date rape. Think Nancy and her two young sons, members at Sea Isle City UMC, who were hit head on by a drunk driver. They spent months in hospitals and rehabs putting their bodies and their lives back together. Think of the debauchery that is a result of drunkenness. In God’s economy debauchery is a wasted life seeking the momentary pleasures and thrills that are quickly gone. In verse 15 Paul cautions, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” The contrast is stunning. Be smart and don’t be stupid. “Stupid is as stupid does.” Let me add, “Stupid does, as stupid is.” The contrast is stark and the choice is just as stark—be wise or be stupid. Get drunk or be filled with the Holy Spirit. Verse 17, “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” An unwise life, a foolish life, a drunken life is a wasted life. Look at the contrasts that these verses leave with us between one who is controlled by the Holy Spirit and one controlled by self.
We know the difference and the contrast. The question then is this: what’s the big deal? Is it a big deal for you or not? Would being Spirit-filled change your relationships, your attitude, your family, your marriage, your business, your thought life, your habits--would it make a difference in your life? If this has piqued your interest, there’s more. If not, then tune out and enjoy the benefits of a 10 minute cat-nap. 3. How can I experience this Spirit-control in my life? This filling of the Holy Spirit is appropriated by a simple choice of faith, made possible by the grace of God. It doesn’t happen automatically or with a snap of the fingers. You don’t get to become a member of the Philadelphia Eagles just be asking! To be filled with the Holy Spirit there are some things we need to do. Continually acknowledge His presence. If Michael Jordan showed up and wanted to play a pick-up game of basketball with you, what would you do? Walk away? Ignore him? NOT! If you were in your right mind, you would grab a basketball; take him on and wup him! Proverbs 3:6 says, “In all your ways acknowledge God…” The first step for being filled with God’s Spirit is to acknowledge and embrace His presence in you on a daily basis. Humbly repent of your self-centered life. Yes, even some of you born-again, saved saints of God. Take an honest look at your life and confess to the Lord all the ways of your life which you have never given Him control, or have taken back control over the years. Repent and seek God’s forgiveness. Pride is such a sneaky demon that often unawares we are the ones who really hold the reins to our lives. There cannot be two bosses over your life. It is either you or Jesus. Deliberately yield control of your life to the Holy Spirit. It is a simple prayer of surrender saying something like, “Holy Spirit, fill me with your Presence. I ask you to take control of every aspect of my life. By faith, I surrender the reins of my life to You, both now and in the future.” This is not a one shot deal because we are prone to take back control and will have to surrender those areas back! The reality is that we cannot live life alone. We need help. We cannot live life as a Christian without help. We need the Holy Spirit in our lives, to come alongside of us and enable us to live day to day. Paul likens the Christian life to a race. We need the Holy Spirit to help us finish the race. When Derek Redmond’s dad joined him on the track, he said, “You don’t have to do this.” “Yes, I do,” replied his son. “Well, then,” answered his father, “we’ll finish the race together.” One of the descriptions of the Holy Spirit is paraclete which means, “one who comes alongside of.” Not one of us will finish the race that God has laid out for us without the help of the Holy Spirit. We are all hamstrung by sin, pride, self-centeredness, ego, Satan, the world, the flesh and all the garbage of this world. Even if you believe, you will never do what God has called you to do, or to be what God has called you to be without the Holy Spirit filling your life. It is life’s crucial choice—will I ask the Holy Spirit to take control or not? Consistently obey God’s leadership in your life through His Word and Spirit. Be prepared because when the Holy Spirit takes control, there will be change and it will be good! This is what the Bible calls ‘walking in the Spirit.’ This is your desire and willingness to listen to the prompts of God’s ‘small, still voice’ to refrain from an angry retort, to say ‘no’ to sexual temptation, to do what is right and leave the consequences to God, to do some unselfish deed. Do you know the term ‘harbor pilot’ or ‘river pilot?’ These are ship captains who know the harbor or river so well that they take control of the ship and are able to dock her safely. In the same way the Holy Spirit guides us in truth along life’s way. He knows the safe passage. He knows the shallow water, the shoals, and the hidden dangers. While we see only the surface, God’s Spirit sees beneath the surface and far into our future. Keep in mind that there are 2 things can will abort the Holy Spirit’s work in your life. The first is grieving the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30-31). This happens when we choose to do things that displease Him. When that happens God withdraws His control. The second is quenching the Spirit. This happens when we choose not to do things he asks of us. We can quench the Spirit when He is working when we simply don’t do what He asks us to do. Like quenching a campfire, we snuff out the Spirit’s work by our disobedience. The difference in life is who’s in control of your life—you or God. It is that simple and yet that crucial. Let me sum this idea of being filled with the Holy Spirit this way. Imagine what it would be like to place Tiger Woods inside of you. Do you think your golf game would dramatically improve? Now for you gals. Imagine what it would be like to place Martha Stewart inside of you. Obviously you can’t put the Tiger inside of you, nor Martha Stewart, but you can let God’s Holy Spirit have total control of every aspect of your life. What are you waiting for?
Thank You for Taking The Time to Read This Message. |