"Brothers and sisters: Watch carefully how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord … Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father" (Ephesians 5:15-20).

Last week we examined the first of the five blessings mentioned in the preceding verses. The Holy Spirit is God's first blessing to us.

The second blessing is wisdom. These verses tell us that we can understand the will of God. Knowledge and wisdom are not the same.

You can know to do something but not do it. Knowledge includes information, but wisdom leads to transformation. Applying God's Word to your life will change your life for good. Do you want to know God's will? Do what He says and He will show you. 

Pastor Jeff

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“Be filled by the Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).

Perhaps you are confused. Maybe you are thinking that you already have the Holy Spirit living in you, as a believer in Christ, so why does Paul implore us to be filled by the Holy Spirit?

You are correct in knowing that the Holy Spirit lives in every believer. Paul is also correct that we need to be filled by the Holy Spirit. The term translated, “filled” is the same term used to describe the wind that drives a sail boat.

Did you know that one of the Olympic sailing competitions was delayed due to a lack of wind? Those world-class sailors and boats could go nowhere without wind.

There is a message for us. If the Holy Spirit is not leading you, don’t do it. Wait until the Holy Spirit leads you. When He empowers you - go.

Pastor Jeff

Five Blessings from God that are Available to You Every Day:

"Brothers and sisters: Watch carefully how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord … Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father" (Ephesians 5:15-20).

The Apostle Paul wrote the book of Ephesians to believers in the city of Ephesus, which is in modern-day Turkey. Paul explains five blessings from God that are available to you every day. The first of these blessings is the Holy Spirit, or the presence of God. When you place your faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit dwells in you. The Christian life is supernatural. We cannot live it merely on our own strength. Despite what a person may think, we never graduate from a daily dependence on God. The Holy Spirit produces real peace and joy in our lives that the world cannot take from us.

Pastor Jeff