Let the Spirit overflow you.

 

Sermon for Trinity 20, October 10, 2021

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Ephesians 5:15–21  ¹⁵Consider carefully, then, how you walk, not as unwise people, but as wise people.  ¹⁶Make the most of your time, because the days are evil.  ¹⁷For this reason, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  ¹⁸And do not get drunk on wine, which causes you to lose control.  Instead, be filled with the Spirit ¹⁹by speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (singing and making music with your hearts to the Lord), ²⁰by always giving thanks for everything to God the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹and by submitting to one another in reverence for Christ. (EHV)

Let the Spirit overflow you.

Dear fellow redeemed,

            The days are evil.  How often over the last two thousand years do you suppose that was true?  I doubt that anyone would disagree about that in our own time.  Yet, when you consider the record of history, would any of us really want to live in the past?  Would you want to live when Paul wrote this letter and wicked ones were trying to kill him for his Christian faith?  Would you want to live during the two hundred years after Paul when Christianity was illegal in the Roman Empire, and many believers were persecuted and executed for their faith?  Or, through the poverty, plagues, pestilence, political instability, invasions, and inquisitions of the Middle Ages?  For that matter, would you want to live in any number of places around the world where, today, Christians are in grave danger for believing in Jesus?

There is no doubt that the days are evil even here at home.  The world continues to torment us with political strife, immorality, dishonesty, violence and violent storms, racial distrust, intolerance of the truth, criminal danger, physical weakness, and illnesses leading to death.  The world actively promotes so much evil.  The Ten Commandments are reviled by so many, and to be honest, ignored even by many who claim to be Christians.  Murders and suicide rates have increased by leaps and bounds.  Hopelessness pervades the world, and most people have no idea where to turn for help or security.

An old adage says, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.”  I believe that’s why the Holy Spirit had Paul write these words.  This world has always been troubled to the point of death.  However, Jesus came to be the cure for death, and having won the victory, He leaves His followers in this troubled world, for a time, so that many more people might come to know the victory Jesus won for all.  This text speaks of our sanctified living.  It speaks to those who are already justified by faith in Jesus.  It tells us that for our good and for the welfare of those around us, Let the Spirit overflow you.

Jesus told His disciples, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16 NKJ)  What brings glory to the Father in heaven?  Faith in His Son.  How does that faith come to sinners and unbelievers?  Through the hearing of the Gospel.  But, who will listen to the people who have faith in Jesus, and have the good news of all Jesus has done for us, if we live like heathens?  Who will notice our joy if we don’t display the hope we have through faith in Christ?  Paul is repeating the instruction of our Savior because God wants all people to be saved, and He works through those who have saving faith.

Paul wrote, “Consider carefully, then, how you walk, not as unwise people, but as wise people.  Make the most of your time, because the days are evil.”  Christians are people who have been made wise unto salvation by the power of the Gospel.  Through the Gospel we learn of God’s love for us, the Son He sent to save us, and all that Jesus did to live a perfect life for us, and how He paid for our debt of sin.  Because the world we live in is corrupt, we need to live carefully lest we be corrupted in our thoughts, words, and actions.  We need to be conscious of those around us who still need to learn of Jesus.  We need to be aware that faith and salvation can be lost if temptation should ever lead away from our Lord.

“For this reason, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”  Jesus’ will for those who call Him Lord is that we “go and gather disciples from all nations by baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and by teaching them to keep all the instructions I have given you.” (Matthew 28:19-20)  To call people to the Light that saves, which is Jesus, His light needs to be shining in us.  Who could blame the heathen for rejecting our message if we live as fools?  If we walk in the ways of the world, wouldn’t it be hypocritical to preach the law of God?  Another old adage comes into play, “Actions speak louder than words.”  So, Let the Spirit overflow you.

To the Galatian congregation, Paul wrote, “The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)  Likewise here, Paul instructs us, “And do not get drunk on wine, which causes you to lose control.  Instead, be filled with the Spirit by speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (singing and making music with your hearts to the Lord).”

Sometimes, you will see this passage reduced to a command to worship in church, and certainly, the Spirit wants us to see that aspect in these words.  Yet, we shouldn’t stop there.  Yes indeed, it is to our benefit and the benefit of our fellow believers when we gather in public worship.  Here, we encourage each other in the faith as we gather together in accord with Christ’s command to love and cherish our fellow members of His kingdom.  Here, we are refreshed by the message of forgiveness for Jesus’ sake.  And here, we are fed the very body and blood of our Savior who gave His life on our behalf—a medicine the strengthens our faith in the Lamb of God sacrificed for the sins of the world—true heavenly food and drink from the very body of Christ.

The words of our liturgy and the readings of the day come directly to us by the Holy Spirit through the words of the Scriptures He breathed into the writers.  Our hymns repeat the message of salvation, sorrowing for our sins and rejoicing in all Jesus did for us.  Every aspect of our public worship is intended to tell and celebrate the forgiveness and salvation Jesus has given us.

But again, why stop there?  In all our daily living, Let the Spirit overflow you.  What does this mean?  Let the love of Christ guide our hearts in everything we do.  Let His love overflow us—pour out of us abundantly onto others.  Are there temptations to seek our own advantage over others?  Heaven forbid we take advantage of that.  Rather than seek our own gain by depriving someone else, let us rather give more than demanded and bless rather than curse.  Are there people who consider themselves superior to those of us who believe in Jesus, or who would take selfish advantage of our kindness?  Like St. Paul, may we “Consider everything to be a loss because of what is worth far more: knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord.” (Philippians 3:8)

Here is where things might feel hard, for Paul writes, “Always giving thanks for everything to God the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by submitting to one another in reverence for Christ.”  We find it very easy to give thanks when everything is going marvelously.  When the bins are busting with the harvest, prices are high and costs are low, when health isn’t challenged and peace rules the land, we find it easy to give thanks.  On the other hand, our sinful nature really raises its ugly head when tragedy, or even simple hardship comes calling.  We are reminded here of God’s words to Isaiah, “Certainly my plans are not your plans, and your ways are not my ways, declares the Lord.  Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my plans are higher than your plans.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

We live in a world of great trouble and sorrow.  Those things haunt Christians just as much as anyone else.  Yet, we are given faith in Jesus to bring us peace that never ends, but that peace is not in this world.  When Paul instructs us to Let the Spirit overflow you, he is reminding us to keep our eyes focused on things above regardless of what we are feeling down here.  We cannot see the big picture in what God allows or does.  Why does He allow some to suffer and others seemingly have it made?  God doesn’t tell us the why, but He does promise that “all things work together for the good of those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)  Therefore, even in the worst of our trials and hardships, let us rejoice.  God has a plan to give us a future that is far more glorious than anything on earth.  He sent His Son, Jesus, to bring us into peace with God and to give us life.

Submitting to one another is an act of love.  It is living according to the summary of the second table of the Law, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  In a world troubled by unbelief and sin, submission is viewed as the vilest thing imaginable.  However, we do not submit without reason.  Rather, “submitting to one another in reverence for Christ.”  Trusting in our Savior, we recognize all that He submitted Himself to for us.  We remember that because of the sacrifice Jesus made for us, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord of heaven and earth.  Through St. Peter, the Holy Spirit tells us, “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, the people who are God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)

Dear friends, Jesus told His disciples, “In this world you are going to have trouble.  But be courageous!  I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)  Regardless of how much trouble we might have to face in this world (or how much success), the truth is God has blessed us overabundantly.  He sent His Son to bring us peace with our Creator.  The Son lived a perfect life on our behalf which the Father credits to us by faith.  Jesus died as full payment for our guilt and transgressions and rose again in victory over death and the devil.  Finally, the Holy Spirit has brought us the words of truth, reconciliation, and everlasting peace.  Therefore, regardless of what is going on in the world, right now you have peace with God.  Right now, you are counted holy in His sight for Jesus’ sake.  Your sins have been removed from you as far as east is from the west, and God counts you as His own dear child.  Therefore, live with joy and thankfulness as a child of the kingdom of heaven.  In all things, Let the Spirit overflow you.  Amen.

Now may the God of hope fill you with complete joy and peace as you continue to believe, so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.