FAITH CAPSULE: Be filled with the Spirit and be full of God.

Ephesians 5:13-21

The book of Ephesians identified four ways to be filled with the Spirit, “but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.” (Ephesians 5:19-21) The three verses above encourage every believer with four ways about how to be filled with the Spirit. Among the four ways that are mentioned giving thanks, always, for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus is one way that is easily taken for granted. How are you living a “thanks-giving” life? The passage requires giving thanks always when situations are going the way we want it and when situations are going the way we do not want it. Thanks giving should always be the song. It can be challenging to give thanks when confronting situation becomes exceedingly challenging and testing. Giving thanks to God is not an every now and then sacrifice it should be a regular sacrifice. Giving thanks should not be based on how you feel, but to fill your heart with thanking God. Just as the verse above requires giving thanks for all things, another verse in the book of Romans declared what will be for those that give thanks for all things. Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” It can be said that when thanks is given for all things all the time, all things will work together for good. The word of God is directly related and none of His word can be left out to achieve the purpose of another. The word of God is spirit and when it is being done in us it becomes evidence that the Spirit of God dwells in us. The word of God is what we need to fill us; build us and position us to inherit our possession in Christ Jesus. Are you taking to the word of God in part or in whole? Take to the word of God in whole by giving thanks for all things and all things will work together for good. Are you giving thanks always to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus? In addition to speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, start to give thanks for all things, and you will be filled with the Spirit. The word of God is Spirit and it is true to perform and perfect. Be filled with the Spirit and be full of God.

Prayer for today: Ask for God’s enablement to live by His word.