Filled with the Spirit

[0:00] If we could, with the Lord's help and the Lord's enabling this evening, if we could turn back to that portion of scripture that we read, Paul's letter to the Ephesians and chapter 5.

[0:18] Ephesians chapter 5, and if we read again at verse 15, Ephesians 5 at verse 15, where Paul writes, And for everything to God the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

[1:08] But particularly the words of verse 18, where Paul says, Be filled with the Spirit. Be filled with the Spirit.

[1:19] Now, as you know, this evening, we're just continuing our study of what you could say the study is pneumatology, the study of the person and work of the Holy Spirit.

[1:32] And in our study, we've considered who the Holy Spirit is. And we've discovered that the Holy Spirit is a person. He's the third person of the Godhead. And as a person, he has a purpose.

[1:42] His purpose is to bring form, fullness, and fellowship into the life of the believer. And we've been looking at the person and purpose of the Holy Spirit by considering different aspects of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

[1:58] We've considered the work of the Holy Spirit in the Bible and how the Holy Spirit has inspired the Word of God. The Word of God is God-breathed. It's Spirit-filled.

[2:09] It's the divine breath of God the Holy Spirit. But more than that, we've considered how the Holy Spirit moved and worked in the Old Testament, how he dwelt in saints and upon servants.

[2:21] But then when we came to look at the New Testament, we saw that when the Holy Spirit works in our heart, we are baptized with the Spirit and we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit in salvation.

[2:34] And then as we saw last week, when we were looking at Galatians 5, we saw that through the Spirit indwelling us and through the inspired Word of God, we are led by the Spirit.

[2:47] But this evening, I want us to think about what it means to be filled with the Spirit. To be filled with the Spirit. Because as Paul teaches us here in Ephesians 5, he says that when we're filled with the Holy Spirit, he will affect our character, our conduct, and our conversation.

[3:06] When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit will affect our character, our conduct, and our conversation. Now, the reason Paul was writing to the Ephesians, it wasn't to confront any particular problem of heresy.

[3:22] He wasn't addressing division within the church in Ephesus. Instead, Paul wrote to the Ephesians in order to encourage and to strengthen the believers in Ephesus.

[3:33] Because inevitably, Paul wanted these young Christians, he wanted them to grow in their faith, and he wanted them to be grounded in their faith. Which is why Paul's letter, you could say that it's very much a letter of teaching and discipleship.

[3:49] Where Paul, he actually presents to the Ephesian churches, he presents to them both information and application. And you can actually see that in the structure of the letter.

[4:02] Because in chapters 1 to 3, Paul uses indicatives. Meaning that he's giving information about the Christian life. And when you read chapters 1 to 3, it's all teaching.

[4:15] He's giving all this information about the Christian life. But then in the second half of the letter, in chapters 4 to 6, Paul uses imperatives. Which means that he's giving application for the Christian life.

[4:28] And so the whole letter to the Ephesians, it was a letter of information and then application. Just how sermons are meant to be presented. Both information and application.

[4:40] But here in chapter 5, Paul is giving application on what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit. And Paul says that when we're filled with the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit will affect our character, our conduct, and our conversation.

[4:58] When we're filled with the Holy Spirit, he says, the Holy Spirit will affect our walk and our talk. And you know, I'm sure we've all heard of the saying, if you're going to talk the talk, then you also have to walk the walk.

[5:14] And you know, that's exactly what Paul is emphasising here. That a Christian will walk the walk and talk the talk. Because if we're filled with the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit will affect our walk and he will affect our talk.

[5:31] And they are our two headings this evening. They don't have alliteration, but nevertheless, we're using them. Our walk and our talk. Our walk and our talk.

[5:43] So first of all, let's look at our walk. Paul says in verse 15 of Ephesians 5, he says, Look carefully then how you walk. Not as unwise, but as wise.

[5:56] Making the best use of the time. Because the days are evil. Now it's said that the ancient Greek philosopher, Aristotle, it's said that he discussed and he taught philosophy.

[6:12] He taught philosophy to his students while he was walking around with them. Which is why Aristotle's school of philosophy was called the Peripatetic School.

[6:23] I don't know if you've ever heard of it. The Peripatetic School. Aristotle, he taught his students while walking around. And Aristotle's students, they were often described as those who were Peripatetic.

[6:38] And that's where we get the Greek word to walk from. It's Peripatetic School. Which means to walk around. Or to walk while being taught.

[6:49] And that's what Aristotle did. He walked around teaching his students. But you know, that's actually what Jesus did with his disciples, isn't it? Jesus walked around with his disciples.

[7:01] He went from village to village, town to town, city to city. And he walked with them. Teaching them. In fact, before Aristotle in the third century, Jesus, you could say, he had the first Peripatetic School.

[7:15] It was the Peripatetic School of Christ. Which is a school we all need to be in. The school that teaches us to walk the walk and talk the talk.

[7:28] And you know, that's what Paul is actually emphasizing here. That in order to live out the gospel. In order to walk the walk. You need to follow the example and the teaching. Of Jesus.

[7:39] We need to be in the Peripatetic School of Christ. Which is why Paul says here in verse 15. Look carefully then how you walk. Not as unwise.

[7:51] But as wise. But you know, this isn't actually the first time Paul has emphasized the need to be in the Peripatetic School of Christ. Because you know, as soon as Paul moves from using indicatives in the first three chapters of this letter.

[8:08] He uses the indicatives for, as we said, for information. But then he uses imperatives in chapters 4 to 6. And he uses the imperatives for application.

[8:18] And as soon as Paul begins to give application in his letter. He says right at the beginning of chapter 4. I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.

[8:31] And Paul, he then qualifies this by saying later on in chapter 4. He says, don't walk like the Gentiles do. Don't walk like the Gentiles in the futility of their mind.

[8:45] Darkened in their understanding. Alienated from the life of God because of ignorance. And because of the hardness of their heart. No, Paul says, that's not the way you learned Christ.

[8:55] You need to put off your old self and be renewed, he says, in the spirit. Therefore, says Paul, as we come to the beginning of chapter 5.

[9:06] Therefore, be imitators of God as beloved children. And walk in love. As Christ loved us and gave himself up for us. As a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

[9:20] But more than that, Paul continues then in verse 8 of chapter 5. He says, at one time you were darkness. But now you are light in the Lord. What does he say?

[9:32] Walk as children of light. And you know, having brought us into the peripatetic school of Christ. And stressed the need to walk like Jesus Christ.

[9:44] Paul then says in verse 15. Look carefully then how you walk. Not as unwise. But as wise. And with this, Paul stresses that in order to walk like Jesus.

[9:58] In order to be in this peripatetic school. We have to walk carefully, he says. The authorised version says that we are to walk circumspectly.

[10:10] Which highlights that walking the Christian life. And following in the footsteps of Christ. That means we are to walk the narrow path that leads to life.

[10:20] My friend, Paul's application to us. And he says there in verse 15. And he says there in verse 15.

[10:35] Don't walk as someone who is unwise. Someone who is a fool. Walk like someone who is wise. Walk like someone who is wise.

[10:47] And you know, by contrasting there in the second half of verse 15. By contrasting wisdom and folly. Paul is, he's alluding to Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount.

[10:58] Do you remember when Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is always contrasting wisdom and folly. Being wise and foolish. And in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus says, enter by the narrow gate.

[11:10] For wide is the gate. And broad is the way that leads to destruction. And there are many who go in by it. But narrow is the gate. And difficult is the way.

[11:21] Or straight is the gate. And narrow is the way that leads to life. And few there be that find it. And you know, my friend. What Paul is reminding us this evening. Is that if we're filled with the Spirit.

[11:33] If we're walking by the Spirit. If we're being led by the Spirit. Then we will carefully walk the narrow path. That leads to life. And Paul says in verse 16.

[11:46] That we will walk the narrow path. By making the best use of our time. Because the days are evil. Again, the authorised version accurately translates verse 16.

[12:00] As the well-known phrase. Redeeming the time. Because the days are evil. Or to redeem the time. Because the days are evil. And we're all familiar with the concept.

[12:10] Of redemption. Because of our own salvation. We've been redeemed. We've been bought back. A ransom price has been paid for our release. From the bondage and slavery of sin.

[12:22] And we've been redeemed. As Peter reminds us. We've been redeemed. Not with corruptible things. Such as silver and gold. But by the precious blood of Christ. And so we're all familiar.

[12:33] With the concept of redemption. Because of our salvation. But you know. What does it mean to redeem the time? Because well. We can't buy time. No one can buy time.

[12:47] We can't buy time. But we can make the best use of our time. We can't buy time. But we can make the best use of our time.

[12:57] And it's interesting. The word that Paul uses in verse 16. To describe time. It's not the word for time. In the sense of hours and minutes.

[13:09] Instead it's the word. Used for times and seasons. In life. Meaning that. When we're redeemed. From the power of sin and salvation.

[13:21] We are to redeem our time. From the power of Satan. We are to redeem. So when we're redeemed. From the power of sin and our salvation.

[13:31] We're to redeem our time. From the power of Satan. We're to redeem our life. From all the distractions of the devil. And there are many distractions.

[13:42] That the devil comes with. One commentator. He states. Time is to be seized with urgency. From the grasp of the devil. Not frittered away. Or used on worthless pursuits.

[13:54] But reclaimed and employed. For God's glory and God's purpose. Life is not to be squandered. But rescued from evil. And lived to the full.

[14:06] For God. And you know. Paul's point here. It's so relevant for us. Especially in the day and generation. We live in. Because there are so many distractions. There are so many attractions.

[14:17] That take us away from walking the narrow path. That leads to life. And if we're honest with ourselves. Far too often we waste time on these distractions.

[14:29] And attractions. And the result is. That we waste our opportunities. To work for the Lord. And to witness for the Lord. We waste time.

[14:39] We waste opportunities. To work for the Lord. And to witness for the Lord. And you know. I love that quote from J.C. Ryle. I put it in the intimations.

[14:51] Last Sunday. And I love it. Because it's so accurate. And so challenging. To my own. Character. Conduct and conversation. J.C. Ryle states.

[15:03] I'm sure you read it. When you saw it. Do nothing. That you would not like God to see. Say nothing. You would not like God to hear. Write nothing.

[15:14] You would not like God to read. Go no place. Where you would not like God to find you. Read no book. Of which you would not like God to say. Show it to me. Never spend your time.

[15:25] He says. In such a way. That you would not like God to have. To say to you. What are you doing? You know. It's a challenging quote.

[15:36] But this is what Paul is saying to us here. That if we're going to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. If we're going to be in the peripatetic school of Christ. Then we need to walk the narrow path.

[15:49] We need to redeem our time. We need to make the best use of our time. Because we live in an evil day. Therefore says Paul in verse 17. Therefore do not be foolish.

[16:02] But understand what the will of the Lord is. And what Paul is saying is simply. Don't be foolish by living on the broad road. Pursuing and chasing after that.

[16:13] Which will never satisfy. He says no. Live according to the will of God. And the will of God. That word will. In verse 17.

[16:24] It's actually a biblical word. Biblical in the sense that the only way to know God's will. Is through the Bible. Therefore the will of God can only be found in the word of God.

[16:36] And you often hear people saying. I want to know the will of God for my life. But you know. The only way to know the will of God. Is to learn and to live according to the word of God.

[16:46] Because the will of God. Because the will of God. Can only be found in the word of God. Therefore the only way to walk. In the footsteps of Jesus. Is to walk.

[16:58] In the will of God. And it's to walk according to the word of God. And you know what's wonderful. In the way that Paul teaches. Is that he applies. All of this to us.

[17:08] He brings everything together. And he applies it all to us. In verse 18. He says. And do not get drunk with wine. For that is debauchery. But be filled.

[17:20] With the spirit. And you know. Paul he applies. This teaching to us. Using a negative imperative. And then a positive imperative. He says.

[17:31] Do not get drunk. That's the negative. But then the positive is. Be filled with the spirit. Do not get drunk. Be filled with the spirit. And you know.

[17:41] When you actually stop. And think about what he's saying. In verse 18. Paul is comparing. Two types of spirit. Because as you know. Alcohol is often referred to as.

[17:53] A spirit. Therefore Paul. He's making a comparison. Between the spirit of alcohol. And the spirit of God. And he says. Don't be filled.

[18:03] With the spirit of alcohol. But be filled. With the spirit of God. Now let's be clear. Paul isn't saying. That Christians shouldn't touch. Alcohol. Whatsoever. But Paul.

[18:13] Is saying. That as a Christian. You should never drink. Alcohol. To the point. That you're drunk. And out of control. And Paul.

[18:24] He's making this comparison. Between being filled. With the spirit of alcohol. I'm being filled. With the spirit of God. Why? Because both spirits. Change.

[18:35] Our character. Our conduct. And our conversation. Both spirits. Change our character. Our conduct. And our conversation. If someone gets drunk.

[18:45] On the spirit of alcohol. It changes their character. Conduct. And conversation. Some may become. More aggressive. Some stagger. When they walk.

[18:57] Some say things. That they would never say. If they were sober. It affects their character. Their conduct. And their conversation. That's what the spirit of alcohol does. And when the spirit of alcohol.

[19:09] Is working. They lack self-control. It changes the character. The conduct. And the conversation. To the point. That they lack self-control.

[19:20] But Paul says. That a Christian. A Christian. Must be filled with the spirit. And be led by the spirit. And walk by the spirit. Because the fruit of the spirit. Is self-control.

[19:31] And you know. That's what we saw last week. In Galatians 5. Paul says. The fruit of the spirit. Is love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness.

[19:42] And self-control. And so my friend. When we're filled with the spirit. We will walk in the footsteps of Jesus. We will attend. The peripatetic school of Christ.

[19:53] And we will walk. In the will of God. By walking according. To the word of God. And it will affect. Our character. Our conduct. And our conversation. Now when Paul says.

[20:05] Be filled with the spirit. It's not a one-time act. It's not like being baptized. With the spirit. Or receiving the gift. Of the spirit.

[20:15] At salvation. No. Being filled with the Holy Spirit. Is a daily experience. Because what Paul is saying is. Keep on being filled.

[20:26] With the spirit. Keep on being filled. With the spirit. And we do that. By walking daily. In the footsteps of Jesus.

[20:37] By walking daily. In the peripatetic school of Christ. By walking daily. In the narrow path. That leads to life. We need to keep on being filled. With the spirit. By walking daily.

[20:48] In the will of God. And by walking daily. According to the word of God. And when we do that. Paul reminds us. That the Holy Spirit.

[20:59] Will affect. Our character. Our conduct. And our conversation. If we keep on being filled. With the Holy Spirit. Every single day. He will affect our walk.

[21:10] Our walk. But Paul doesn't stop there. He says. If we keep on being filled. With the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit. Will affect our walk. And our talk.

[21:22] Our walk. And our talk. And this is what we see secondly. So Paul has addressed. Our walk. But then he addresses. Our talk.

[21:34] Our talk. Look again at verse 18. He says. And do not get drunk with wine. For that is debauchery. But be filled with the spirit. Addressing one another. In psalms and hymns.

[21:46] And spiritual songs. Singing and making melody. To the Lord with your heart. Giving thanks always. And for everything. To God the Father. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[21:58] And submitting. To one another. Out of reverence. For Christ. Now in these verses. Paul makes clear. That we are to keep on being filled.

[22:08] By the Holy Spirit. So that he will affect our walk. And our talk. So that as Christians. We will walk the walk. And talk the talk.

[22:21] And in this letter to the Ephesians. Paul. He has already taught in chapter 1. That. In salvation. We have been sealed. By the Holy Spirit. Paul said back in chapter 1.

[22:34] I guess it's verse. Yeah. Verse 11. Or 12. No. Verse 13. He says. In Christ. You also. When you heard the word of truth. The gospel of your salvation.

[22:45] And believed in him. You were sealed. With the promised Holy Spirit. Who is the guarantee. Of our inheritance. Until we acquire possession of it. To the praise. Of his glory.

[22:57] And then as an application of this. Paul says. In chapter 4. He says. Do not grieve. The Holy Spirit. By whom you were sealed. For the day of redemption.

[23:08] And you know. When Paul actually says. Do not grieve. The Holy Spirit. It's the greatest proof text. That the Holy Spirit. Is a person. When Paul says.

[23:20] Do not grieve. The Holy Spirit. He's. He's saying. That the Holy Spirit. Is a person. Because you cannot. You can't. Grieve an it. But you can grieve.

[23:31] A person. Therefore. The Holy Spirit. Is a person. And he's often been described. As a sensitive. Person. He doesn't like to be grieved.

[23:43] And he's grieved. When Christians fail. To walk the walk. And talk the talk. But Paul teaches here. That in order to prevent. Grieving the Holy Spirit.

[23:55] We're to keep on being filled. With the Spirit. We're to. And we're to do that. By walking daily. In the will of God. And walking daily. According to the word of God. And by doing that.

[24:05] He says. It will not only affect. Our character. Our conduct. And our conversation. It will affect. Our walk. And our talk. And with this Paul.

[24:17] He gives. He gives. From verse 19 to 21. He gives. Four examples. Of the way. In which. The Spirit. Will affect. Our talk. Daily.

[24:30] So Paul gives. The imperative. In verse 18. Be filled. With the Spirit. And then using. What we call. Four participles. Paul says. That the outworking.

[24:40] Of being. Filled with the Spirit. Daily. Is that. It will cause you. To be. And. Each verse. Separates. These different things. Cause you.

[24:51] To be. Speaking to one another. In psalms. Hymns. And spiritual songs. Then. Make. Singing. And making melody. To the Lord. In your heart. Giving.

[25:01] Thanks. Always. And for everything. To God. The Father. In the name. Of our Lord. Jesus Christ. And submitting. To one another. Out of reverence. For Christ. Paul says.

[25:12] That the out. Working. Of being. Filled. With the Spirit. Daily. Is that. It will cause. Our talk. To be. Encouraging. Elevating. Enriching.

[25:23] And enthusiastic. There's four. E's for you. Paul says. That the out. Working. Of being. Filled. With the Holy Spirit. Daily. Is that. It will cause.

[25:33] Our talk. To be. Encouraging. Elevating. Enriching. And enthusiastic. Our talk. Will be. Encouraging. As he says. In verse 19.

[25:44] Because we'll. Speak. To one another. With psalms. Hymns. And spiritual songs. And of course. This phrase. Psalms. Hymns. And spiritual songs. It's caused.

[25:54] A lot of debate. Over the years. But most. Commentators. Whether they sing. Hymns or not. They will admit. That these. Three types. Of worship material. Is what makes up.

[26:05] The psalter. Because the psalter. Which we sing from. It comprises. Of psalms. Hymns. And spiritual songs. Psalm 23. Is a psalm. Psalm 100.

[26:16] Is a hymn. Psalm 45. Is a song. And so. It's a book of psalms. Hymns. And spiritual songs. The only reason. It's called. The book of psalms. Is simply because.

[26:27] There are more psalms in it. Than hymns. Or spiritual songs. But Paul says. That when we're filled. With the spirit. Our talk. Is to be encouraging.

[26:39] And we're to be encouraging. By speaking to one another. With psalms. Hymns. And spiritual songs. Meaning that we're to speak. To one another. And encourage one another. With scripture.

[26:50] We're to have fellowship. With one another. We're to encourage one another. By talking to one another. About the Lord. And about his word. I always remember the illustration.

[27:05] There was a story of a woman. Her daughter had come round. She had a very godly woman. Her daughter had come round for a. I don't know. A cup of tea or something. And by the time she was leaving.

[27:16] An hour later. She said to her daughter at the door. Do you know. We have spent the whole time. Talking about other things. But we haven't talked. We haven't talked at all. About our Lord. And that's how.

[27:28] Conscious she was. Of the fact that she needed. To be encouraging. As a Christian. To be speaking about the Lord. To be speaking about his word. Not about gossip. Or about other people.

[27:39] But to encourage one another. By using the word. And you know. This is what Paul actually emphasized. To the Colossians. Because he said to the Colossians. He said.

[27:50] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Teaching and admonishing one another. In all wisdom. Singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. With thankfulness in your heart.

[28:01] To God. My friend. Our talk. Is to be encouraging. As we have fellowship with one another. And as we speak with one another. About the Lord. And about his word.

[28:13] But more than that. Paul says that when we're filled with the spirit. Our talk will also be. Elevating. Our talk. Will also be.

[28:23] Elevating. Because we'll not only speak to one another. With psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. We'll also sing. He says. In verse. 19. As he goes on.

[28:34] We'll be singing and making melody to the Lord. Without heart. And you know my friend. Whenever you may be feeling low.

[28:47] Or downcast. In the situation and circumstance. That you find yourself in. A great remedy. To be uplifted. Or elevated. Is to sing the psalms.

[28:59] Hymns and spiritual songs. And make melody in your heart. To the Lord. Because you know. There's nothing like worshipping the Lord. There's nothing like singing. To the Lord.

[29:11] Because. It's the Lord. Who has put that new song. In your mouth. And the reason he's put that new song. In your mouth. As Psalm 40 says.

[29:21] And as we'll sing it later on. Is that you might glorify. And magnify the Lord. So if you're ever feeling down. Take time to worship the Lord. Sing to the Lord.

[29:32] Because he put the new song. In your mouth. And you know. That's actually what many of the psalms are. They're songs of worship to God. Even in the most difficult. And trying.

[29:43] Of circumstances. They're a response of praise. Despite all that's going on. And so Paul says. That when we're filled with the spirit daily. Our talk will be encouraging.

[29:56] It will be elevating. And then thirdly he says. It will be enriching. It will be enriching. Because as those who are. Filled with the spirit on a daily basis.

[30:06] By reading and meditating. Upon the word of God. Our response. In verse 20 he says. Our response should always be a response of thankfulness.

[30:18] And we should be thankful he says. To God the Father. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Why? Because we are being filled with the Holy Spirit.

[30:29] On a daily basis. My friend. Our thankfulness. Should be enriching. Because the triune God. This is the amazing thing. And you know. That's what amazes me.

[30:40] Hearing people praying. The triune God has worked in their life. And it's amazing. He's working. He has worked. And he's still working.

[30:51] In our heart. And lives. And so when we're being filled with the Holy Spirit daily. Our talk will be encouraging. Elevating. Enriching.

[31:02] And enthusiastic. Enthusiastic. Do you know the word enthusiastic? It comes from a Greek word meaning belonging to God.

[31:15] The word enthusiastic comes from a Greek word meaning belonging to God. And you know we're usually enthusiastic about something we love. Something we're committed and dedicated to.

[31:28] And as Christians. Well we are to be enthusiastic about God. Because we belong to God. We've been justified by faith in Jesus Christ. We've been adopted in the beloved.

[31:41] Where God is our father. We are being sanctified and sealed by the Holy Spirit. And every day when we come to the word of God. We are being filled by the spirit of God.

[31:54] And our response to such a great salvation. Should be that we're enthusiastic. We're committed. We're submitting to one another in the fear of God. And out of reverence he says for Christ.

[32:09] Do you know our response. To this great salvation that we have. Is that we're to be enthusiastic. And so my friend. What Paul is reminding us this evening is.

[32:20] Keep on being filled with the spirit. Keep on meditating on God's word. Keep on studying the scripture. Keep on having fellowship with one another. Keep on.

[32:31] Why? So that you will keep on being filled with the spirit. Because being filled with the spirit. It's a daily experience. And as Paul is teaching us here tonight. That being filled with the spirit.

[32:43] It happens by walking daily in the footsteps of Jesus. By walking daily in the peripatetic school of Christ. He's our teacher. We're to walk with him day by day.

[32:56] It happens when we're walking daily on this narrow path that leads to life. We need to keep on being filled with the spirit. By walking daily in the will of God. And by walking daily according to the word of God.

[33:09] And when we do that. The Holy Spirit. He will affect. And. He will transform. Our character. Our conduct. And our conversation.

[33:20] If we keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit. He will affect our walk. And our talk. And you know our talk.

[33:30] As we've said. It has to be encouraging. Elevating. Enriching. And enthusiastic. So the Holy Spirit. His whole purpose. Is to affect our walk.

[33:41] And our talk. And so Paul's message to us tonight. Is keep on being filled. With the spirit. Keep on being filled.

[33:52] With the spirit. Well may the Lord bless these thoughts to us. Now let us pray. O Lord our gracious God.

[34:04] We give thanks to thee for thy word. Thy word that not only teaches us. But it is a word that directs us. And we bless thee O Lord for it.

[34:15] We thank thee that we are those who have. All been adopted in the beloved. We are those who have been justified by faith. We are sanctified and sealed by the Holy Spirit.

[34:28] And help us Lord as thy people. To walk this daily walk. To walk the walk. And to talk the talk. We confess Lord that we often faint and fail.

[34:39] We realize that we are not what we ought to be. But we bless thee that every day. That we open our Bibles. Every day that we pray and come before thee. Lord we thank thee that the Lord one who is willing to teach us.

[34:54] A God who is willing to direct us. And Lord we pray that we would be good students. In this school of Christ. Lord we thank thee and we praise thee for thy patience with us.

[35:06] That thou wouldest continue to teach us. To lead us and direct us. That our prayer would always be like the psalmist. Teach me thy way. And in thy truth O Lord then walk will I.

[35:18] Unite my heart that I thy name may fear continually. Lord remember us then we pray. Remember those Lord who are laid aside this evening. We pray Lord that thine hand would be upon them for good.

[35:30] Those who are receiving treatment. Those Lord who are struggling in mind, body or soul. That thou wouldest lift them up. That they would be able to cast every care upon thee.

[35:41] Knowing that thou art the one who cares for them. All continue with us then we pray. Keep us on the narrow path that leads to life. And go before us in all things. For we ask it in Jesus name.

[35:53] And for his sake. Amen. We shall bring our service to a conclusion. By singing the words of Psalm 40.

[36:07] Psalm 40. Page 259. We're singing from the beginning down to the verse marked 4.

[36:26] A psalm that should remind us that the Lord by his spirit has affected our walk and our talk. I waited for the Lord my God and patiently did bear.

[36:40] At length to me he did incline my voice and cry to hear. He took me from a fearful pit and from the miry clay. And on a rock he set my feet establishing my way.

[36:51] He put a new song in my mouth. Our God to magnify. Many shall see it and shall fear. And on the Lord rely. Oh blessed is the man whose trust upon the Lord relies.

[37:02] Respecting not the proud nor such as turn aside to lies. These verses of Psalm 40 to God's praise. I waited for the Lord my God.

[37:24] I patiently did bear. A place to be needed in life.

[37:40] A place and cry to hear. He took me from a fearful pit.

[37:57] And from the mighty clay. And on a rock he set my feet.

[38:13] He established in my way. He put a new song in my mouth.

[38:31] A God to magnify. Many shall see it and shall fear.

[38:47] And on the Lord rely. My heart to magnify. O blessed is the man whose trust upon the Lord relies.

[39:13] Respecting not the proud nor such As turned aside to lies The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ The love of God the Father And the fellowship of the Holy Spirit Be with you all Now and forevermore Amen