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welcome to everyone it's good to be back in the house of our God for our call to worship you can turn with me to the prophet Isaiah Isaiah chap 11 Isaiah chap 11 I'll begin reading in verse one and we'll read to verse 10 there shall come forth a rod from the stem of Jesse and a branch shall grow out of his roots the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him the spirit of wisdom and understanding the spirit of counsel and might the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord his Delight is in the fear of the Lord and he shall not judge by the sight of his eyes nor decide by the hearing of his ears but with righteousness he shall judge the poor and decide with equity for the meek of the earth he shall strike the Earth with the rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked righteousness shall be the belt of his loins and faithfulness the belt of his waist the wolf also shall shall dwell with the lamb the leopard shall lie down with the young goat the calf and the Young Lion and the fatling together and a little child shall lead them the cow and the bear shall graze their young ones shall lie down together and the lion shall eat straw like the ox the nursing shall a nursing child shall play by the Cobra's hole and H and the weaned child shall put his hand in the Viper's Den they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my Holy Mountain for the Earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea and in that day there shall be a root of Jesse who shall stand as a banner to the people for the Gentiles shall seek him and his resting place shall be glorious amen well please turn with me in your hym book to Psalm 150 Psalm 1C as in Charlie and we'll stand as we sing [Music] together hallelujah praise the Lord Praise with SA hallelu hallelu praise praise him in his heav high praise praise him for hiss Praise Him Oh Praise Him hallelu hallelu H PR hallelu hallelu with praise him hallelu hallelu hallelu praise the Lord praise hallelu hallelu shall praise the Lord oh praise the Lord forever PR oh praise him [Music] hallelu hallelu hallelu well let us pray our great God and blessed father we thank you for this time that we can gather again on your Lord's Day we acknowledge that you are the most high that you are glorious and wondrous and worthy to be praised even Father Son and Holy Spirit we acknowledge your works of creation and Providence and Redemption we see your power and your wisdom and your and your glory displayed in each of these and in and in a special way we see your grace and your mercy magnified in the gospel of our Salvation we thank you for the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ we thank you for his life of obedience his death as a sub stitute in the sacrifice and his resurrection again the third day and we praise you as well for that current session at the right hand of God Almighty we know that this world is chaotic we know there is much rebellion and transgression against you many ways we see something of Psalm 2 when the Nations rage and the peoples plot a vain thing against God and against his Christ so we are comforted at the reality that Christ must Reign till all of his enemies are made his foot stol we are comforted with the fact that he will return again in glory to judge the living and the dead that he will consume all things or or or bring to consummation all things and bring his people into that Heavenly Kingdom where we will ever live to praise and glorify you until such time help us to be faithful and help us to continue to look Christ word to walk by faith in the Son of God who loved us and who gave himself for us and may we as we gather together on the Lord's Day worship the father through the Son and the power of the Holy Spirit and may you be glorified in our midst we confess our sins to you now knowing that we have not lived in the manner that you've called us unto our conduct has not been has always been consistent with that Gospel of our Salvation the Apostle speaks of remaining corruption in in Romans and Galatians and we see it in our own hearts and we confess it even now Lord God and ask that you would wash Us in that blood of the Lord Jesus Christ we Rejoice that in him we have Redemption through his blood the Forgiveness of sins according to the riches of your grace and God we pray as well for those who are dead in their trespasses and sins that you would awaken them you would convict them and show them their need for the Savior and may they by Grace come to him in faith and with repentance and may they know the joy of being found in Jesus Christ Our Lord we pray for your blessing upon our local church we pray for other local churches here in our community and we thank you and praise you that we're not alone here we pray that you would deal mercifully in this city we ask God that you would look with favor upon the many that are not Believers the many that are not on on the side of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray that they would find themselves in gospel preaching churches or find themselves with people of God who who witness Faithfully the word of God and may you open many hearts here and may you cause your word to to find its Mark as well we pray that for the entirety of this nation we are are concerned at the the godlessness and the wickedness and the lawlessness the open war against Christ and against his people and against that that Holy law of God we see that sixth commandment transgressed each and every day we see that seventh commandment disregarded we see lawlessness all over this land and we pray that in your wrath you would remember Mercy we pray for our governing authorities for the Civil Authority with reference to to this particular land at the Lo local and and Prov IAL and federal level we pray God in heaven that you would restrain them from further lawlessness and and wickedness and evil we pray that you would turn many of them to the path of righteousness and and that that beauty of God's holy law we pray that we would see the end of abortion and euthanasia and the various forms of of rebellion against you that are openly endorsed and and and and and and even encouraged in this nation and God we pray as well that you would be gracious to the church at large throughout this this land we pray that the the people of God would be faithful the pastors would be faithful proclaiming the whole Council of God not shrinking back from it and may you indeed be pleased to add to the church such such as should be saved we pray for the persecuted Church all throughout this Earth we thank you this morning we were able to take that tour as it were about the the nations of the earth and we know that even as we have seen more oppression in our nation we still have great Liberty comparatively and we pray God in heaven that you'd be gracious to the Saints in China we pray for the Saints in Nigeria we pray God for your people all over this Earth that suffer for the cause of Jesus Christ and his gospel we ask that you would bless them that you would uphold them that you would encourage them and that they would shine as lights and hold forth that glorious word of Truth be with the Saints in Myanmar give wisdom to those men on the ground and may you continue to protect that Orange Grove as well God we pray for our brothers and and Elder at Kenya we thank you for pastor naftali and and and Remy and Moses and may those men be faithful in the ministry of the word and Doctrine we pray for the churches in sigua and Honduras God bless those brothers and cause them to Faithfully labor in your truth and may you indeed bless the local church and may you indeed bless gospel preaching and may it run swiftly and be glorified all throughout this Earth we look forward to that day when we see that great multitude that no man can number from every tribe and tongue and people and Nation we know your purpose and your plan in our Lord Jesus Christ will not be thwarted it will not be frustrated the Gates of Hell cannot Mount the a faithful or consistent rather opposition to it and we rejoice in that and even now Lord God cause us to think your thoughts after you cause us to worship you in spirit and in truth and again forgive us for all sin and unrighteousness and guide us by your Holy Spirit and we pray through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen you can turn with me again in your hym books to number 400 hymn number 400 we'll stand as we sing together well for our scripture reading tonight you can turn to the book of Deuteronomy we're in Deuteronomy chapter 9 Deuteronomy chapter 9 as we continue to read through the Old Testament in our evening worship remember Deuteronomy is a series of exhortations or addresses by Moses to the children of Israel the Wilderness generation or the generation from the Wilderness had been uh died this is the second generation these are the ones going into the land of promise going into Canaan and so on the plains of Moab prior to their entrance into the promised land Moses addresses the people to prepare them for what they will encounter and to prepare them as well for how they are to obey in the land that God has given to them so notice in chapter 9 beginning in verse one here o Israel you are to cross over the Jordan today and go in to dispossess Nations greater and mightier than yourself cities Great and fortified up to heaven a people great and Tall the descendants of the anakim whom you know and of whom you heard it said who can stand before the descendant desendants of anak therefore understand today that the Lord your God is he who goes over you o over before you as a consuming fire he will destroy them and bring them down before you so you shall drive them out and Destroy them quickly as the Lord has said to you do not think in your heart after the Lord your God has cast them out before you saying because of my righteousness the Lord has brought me in to possess this land but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out from before you it is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you go in to possess their land but because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord your God drives them out from before you and that he may fulfill the word which the Lord swore to your fathers to Abraham Isaac and Jacob therefore understand that the Lord your God is not giving you this land to possess because of your righteousness for you are a stiff necked people remember do not forget how you provoke the Lord your God to wrath in the wilderness from the day that you departed from the land of Egypt until you came to this place you have been rebellious against the Lord also in Horeb you provoked the Lord to wrath so that the Lord was angry enough with you to have destroyed you when I went up into the mountain to receive the tablets of stone the tablets of the Covenant which the Lord made with you then I stayed on the mountain 40 days and 40 nights I neither ate bread nor drank water then the Lord delivered to me the two tablets of stone written with the Finger of God and on them were all the words which the Lord had spoken to you on the mountain from the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly and it came to pass at the end of 40 days and 40 nights that the lord gave me the two tablets of stone the tablets of the Covenant then the Lord said to me arise go down quickly from here for your people whom you brought out of Egypt have acted corruptly they have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them they have made themselves a molded image furthermore the Lord spoke to me saying I have seen this people and indeed they are a stiff necked people let me alone that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven and I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they so I turned and came down from the mountain and the mountain burned with fire and the two tablets of the Covenant were in my two hands and I looked and behold you had sinned against the Lord your God had made for yourselves a molded calf you had turned aside quickly from the way which the Lord had commanded you then I took the two tablets and threw them out of my two hands and broke them before your eyes and I fell down before the Lord as at the first 40 days and 40 nights I neither ate bread nor drank water because of all your sin which you committed in doing wickedly in the sight of the Lord to provoke him to anger for I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure with which the Lord was angry with you to destroy you but the Lord listened to me at that time also and the Lord was very angry with Aaron and would have destroyed him so I prayed for Aaron also at the same time then I took your sin the calf which you had made and burned it with fire and crushed it in the ground uh in uh crushed it and ground it very small until it was as fine as dust and I threw its dust into the brook that descended from the mountain also at tabra and Massa and kith Hada you provoked the Lord to wrath likewise when the Lord sent you from Kadesh Bara saying go up and possess the land which I have given you then you rebelled against the Commandment of the Lord your God and you did not believe him nor obey his voice you have been rebellious against the Lord from the day that I knew you thus I prostrated myself before the Lord 40 days and 40 nights I kept Pro prostrating myself because the Lord had said he would destroy you therefore I prayed to the Lord and said oh Lord God do not destroy your people in your inheritance whom you have redeemed through your greatness whom you have uh brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand remember your servants Abraham Isaac and Jacob do not look on the stubbornness of this people or on their wickedness or their sin lest the land from which you brought us should say because the Lord was not able to bring them to the land which he promised them and because he hated them he has brought them out to kill them in the wilderness yet they are your people and your inheritance whom you brought out by your Mighty power and by your outstretched arm amen so as Moses rehearses with the children of Israel the various places they had been and the sins that they had engaged in he also underscores his intercession on their behalf and God's graciousness they're not going to inherit the land land because of their righteousness that's conspicuous in the chapter he doesn't say you know good for you you've obeyed more than everybody else no they functioned as a chastening rod in the hand of God to get rid of the Canaanites to to have them vomited out of the land and as I mentioned this morning as I mentioned on Wednesday night when they ate the conduct of the Canaanites when they go into the land and they make uh golden images or calfs or they engage in idolatry or all manner of apostasy God raises up adversaries against them the history of Israel indicates that they did not keep the Covenant they were not faithful to that the land did vomit them out in 722 under the Assyrian armies and 586 under the Babylonian armies and then in ad70 at the time of the Roman armies so God's word is sure if you are faithful and you go into the land and you do what you're supposed to do you'll reap the benefits of the Covenant if you're Unfaithful and you go into the land and and you live like the Canaanites then you will reap the curses of the Covenant and that's how the book of Deuteronomy ends at least toward the end we see a a list of blessings for obedience and curses for Disobedience but I think the thing that comes out very sharply in this particular chapter is again they didn't Merit or earn God's favor but God in his grace chose them God in his grace distinguish them from the Nations around them and it's God in his grace that would give them that land and it was according to his promise to Abraham Isaac and Jacob he is a faithful Covenant keeping God even when these people are rebellious he nevertheless showed great patience and longsuffering but even that patience and longsuffering does run out the the the the fullness of God's Wrath has come upon them to the uttermost Paul says in first Thessalonians 2 I think a reference to the destruction of Jerusalem in ad70 so these people were in a covenant before God they were commanded to live in a particular way they reneged on that and therefore God brought the curses to Bear upon them which should cause us to reflect upon the beauty of the New Covenant Jesus is the Israel of the New Covenant Jesus fulfilled all that the father laid upon Him Jesus successfully executed every jot and tit of that Covenant obligation and he does it for us men and for our Salvation Christ even became a curse for us receiving in himself the punishment and the penalty do for our sin Paul indicates that in Galatians 3 and: 13 so as a result of Christ's Redemptive work we are now safe and secure in him so we cannot break that Covenant that's one of the Blessed elements or features of the New Covenant in contrast with the old Covenant when the Prophet Jeremiah announces the New Covenant he says I'm going to make a covenant with you not like the one I made with their fathers which they broke we can't break the New Covenant it is bound up in the doing and the dying and the rising of the Covenant head the Lord Jesus Christ so there is a significant blessing for each of us who are rightly connected to him through faith alone we are safe and secure by virtue of Christ's finished work on our behalf well let us pray our gracious God and Father we thank you for what you have done for us in and through your son the word made flesh we praise you for Jesus J Christ we praise you that he is our covenant head we praise you that all the promises of God are yay and amen in him and that what we receive we receive by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone may these things encourage us may they steady us may they stabilize us and may you help us God to appreciate this and give glory and praise and honor to our great God and we ask through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen well for our final hymn before the preaching you can turn to number 391 we'll use a familiar tune number 391 and we'll stand as we sing [Music] together all eternity I power fail us with us and all the of our hearts in full wi Cel P that we ever see all and working over show us the of bless when we on our our behind and be with us by should we lord we call Holy Spirit strong and might th all things th of for the and [Music] with well please turn with me in your Bibles to Ephesians 5 Ephesians 5 as we continue to work our way through Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus tonight we find ourselves in the section verses 18 to 21 but I do want to read the chapter beginning in verse 1 so Ephesians 51 therefore be imitators of God as dear children and walk in love as Christ also has loved us and given himself for us in offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling Aroma but fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness let it not even be named among you as is fitting for Saints neither filthiness nor foolish talking nor coarse jesting which are not fitting but rather giving of thanks for this you know that no fornicator unclean person nor Covetous man who is an idolator has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ in God let no one deceive you with empty words for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of Disobedience therefore do not be partakers with them for you were once Darkness but now you are light in the Lord walk as children of light for the fruit of the spirit is in all goodness righteousness and Truth finding out what is acceptable to the Lord Lord and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather expose them for it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret but all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light for whatever makes manifest is light therefore he says awake you who sleep arise from the dead and Christ will give you light see then that you walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise Redeeming the time because the days are evil therefore do not be unwise but understand what the will of the Lord is and do not be drunk with wine and which is dissipation 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 wives submit to your own husbands as to the Lord for the husband is head of the wife as also Christ is head of the of the church and he is the savior of the body therefore just as the church is subject to Christ so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything husbands love your wives just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for her that he might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of Water by the word that he might present her to himself a glorious church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that she should be holy and without blemish so husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies he who loves his wife loves himself for no one ever hated his own flesh but nourishes and cherishes it just as the Lord does the church for we are members of his body of his flesh and of his bones for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh this is a great mystery but I speak concerning Christ and the church nevertheless Let each one of you in particular so love as own wife as himself and let the wife see that she respects her husband amen well let us pray Our Father we pray now for the spirit to guide us as we consider this passage of scripture specifically dealing with the filling of the spirit and may you help us God to to understand your word help us to understand what the will of the Lord is as we are commended In this passage by the Apostle Paul and cause us to walk circumspectly in all things and give us that wisdom that is necessary to redeem the time because the days are evil give us Grace Lord God to properly and rightly represent you in this lower World forgive us when we stumble and when we sin cleanse Us in that precious blood of the lamb and Empower and enable us by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit and we ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ amen well we are in the Practical section of Paul's epistle to the Ephesians it begins in chapter 4 properly at verse one I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called so con uh walking there has the idea of conduct or conversation the way that you live your life he cautions us against the way that we used to walk in 417 this I say therefore and testify in the Lord that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk in the futility of their mind and then he gives us concrete examples in chapter five we're to walk in love according to 51 and2 we're to walk in light according to 5'8 and we're to walk in wisdom according to 5:15 now 515 to 21 as I said last week is a particular unit so going back to chapter 5 notice the command verse 15 see then that you walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise Redeeming the time because the days are evil so that's the general exhortation you're supposed to walk in a manner that is consistent with the gospel that requires wisdom and wisdom is basically skill in application of the knowledge that you have and then he gives this particular statement in verse 17 therefore do not be unwise but understand what the will of the Lord is again that's not esoteric that's not mysticism that's not let go and let God rather that is search the scriptures how do we know what the will of the Lord is well the Lord has revealed himself in his holy scriptures last week I mention specifically The Book of Proverbs wouldn't it be nice if there happened to be a book that existed that would inform us about wisdom from Christ on how to live this life well the Book of Proverbs certainly functions that way among other books of course but in uh terms of giving us practical information on how to navigate in this present evil age Christ speaking as wisdom in the Book of Proverbs is most helpful and most excellent now notice he goes on to tell us uh first a Prohibition and then a positive statement or exhortation he says in verse 18 do not be drunk with wine and which is dissipation but be filled with the holy spirit so the prohibition is simple do not be drunk with wine and then there is this exhortation but be filled with the spirit and then structurally the following language in verses 19 to 21 give the effect or the evidence or the manifestation of one who is filled with the spirit in other words how do we know if somebody is filled with the spirit because they speak in tongues because they prophesy because they're able to raise the dead that's not what Paul says here Paul says very simply the way that we know that somebody is filled with the spirit is the way that they speak to others whether in private or in the context of corporate worship we know that they are filled with the holy spirit because they sing and make melody in their heart to the Lord we know that they're filled with the holy spirit because they give God thanks for all things through his son the Lord Jesus Christ and we know that they're filled with the holy spirit because they submit to one another in the fear of God so verse 21 then functions as a transition verse that brings us into the household code uh verses 22 to chapter 6 and verse 9 so the general statement of verse 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God is then applied in concrete situations from verse 22 all the way to chapter 6 verse 9 wives to husbands children to parents servants to Masters so it's not just this vague sort of concept about submission out there but there are specific applications in terms of of of of submission relative to the people of God where they're at in their various stations of life so that's sort of the overarching structure so tonight I want to look at the provision of the holy spirit in verses 18 to 21 and under this consideration I've got three things first the prohibition in verse 18a no pun intended with reference to American prohibition I just got that Isaac secondly the exhortation in verse 18b and then thirdly the manifestation in verses 19 to 21 now there's going to be some things here tonight that I'm going to ask you to think with me through uh no firm conclusions are going to be made tonight but there are some things or direction that I hope that we'll pursue in the future I'd like to finish the book of Ephesians and then do a series of sermons on our at our Sunday night services on ecclesiastical matters specifically matters concerning Christian worship uh I think there's some things to tighten up ecclesiastically in the Lord's Supper I think there's some things to tighten up in terms of regulative principle of worship and as well there has not been adequate time for me to spend on this passage that I was hoping there were more things that came up in the summer I had hoped to be ready to go and deal with all this sort of stuff tonight uh it's not going to happen the the specific reference is to what Paul says there in verse 19 in terms of Psalms hymns and spiritual songs so we'll get there in a few minutes but first let's look at the prohibition there's two things we should consider here when Paul sayso not be drunk with wine it is helpful for us to understand what the Bible says concerning the use of alcohol now some would say well don't tell people that God says it's okay cuz then they'll go out and get hammered well we don't want to tell people something that the Bible doesn't say we don't want to tell people non- truths we don't want to tell people that you know fairies exist and magic potions exist and and unicorns exist only for them to find out there's no such thing the Bible does speak on the one hand favorably with reference to alcohol and the Bible does speak on the other hand negatively with reference refence to alcohol so I want to do a brief biblical Theology of the use of alcohol in terms of one's Christian Life whether you use it or not that's between you and God there's no rule for or against here in our church but obviously there is a caution that we need to issue as Paul does here notice do not be drunk with wine so as far as the Bible and alcohol in the first place the Bible does not condemn a moderate use of alcohol let me just repeat that the Bible does not prohibit or condemn a moderate use of alcohol if you turn back with me to the book of Deuteronomy these laws or principles concerning tithing if persons couldn't make it to Jerusalem there was something built in to the system wherein they could use their tithe money to buy certain things to engage in a time of feasting and celebration with reference to God Almighty and one of the things that God says is lawful for you to purchase according to Deuteronomy 14:26 is alcohol if you notice and you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires for oxen or sheep for wine or similar drink some translations have strong drink now when we see that language of strong drink it means don't drink as much because if the caution is against drunkenness then the idea must be don't drink a lot of it so if there is strong drink permitted then the obvious caution is don't use it a lot don't do it in immoderately but notice the principle or notice at least the allowance or the usefulness here you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires for oxen or sheep for wine or similar drink for whatever your heart desires you shall eat it there before the Lord your God and you shall rejoice you and your household so again a moderate use can lead to rejoicing in terms of who God is and his provision and kindness to us turn over to Psalm 104 Psalm 104 sort of like a celebration of creation God works or God worked in the ter in in the in the making of All Things by the word of his power in the space of six days and all very good and the psalmist essentially uh celebrates God's creative handiwork in terms of this world around us notice what he says specifically in Psalm 104 at verse 14 he causes the grass to grow for the cattle and vegetation for the service of man those are positive things those are encouraging things those are blessings and then notice that he may bring forth food from the Earth and wine that makes glad the heart of man oil to make his face shine and bread which strengthens man's heart the Trees of the Lord are full of sap The Cedars of Lebanon which he planted where the birds make their nests the stor has her home and the fur trees the high hills are for the wild goats The Cliffs are a refuge for the rock badgers now Brethren because persons abuse alcohol that does not mean it doesn't have a condoning in the word of God persons abuse sexuality all the time people engage in adultery and fornication and they distort what God had intended for it but we never argue that the remedy for that is to abstain from sexual relations no the remedy is is get married and control yourself and use it the way God intended for you to use it the same argument obtains with reference to alcohol just because some people get hammered and they wrap their car s around telephone poles doesn't mean that God says no therefore nobody can ever have a drink again that's the way the government operates somebody goes in and shoots up a school what's the government's response take the guns from lawful gun owners God's not like that thankfully he gives us these rules concerning the moderate use of alcohol turn over to the book of Isaiah and again it's between you and God I am not preaching to tell you to go get a glass a wine tonight I'm not suggesting that at all that's between you and God but be careful about judging persons that do that oh I I can't believe that they would do that I I can't believe that they would have a beer well God says it's okay if God says it's okay why why do we think we're Holier and more righteous than God now notice in Isaiah 1 and you should understand the context Isaiah 1 the prophet is upbraiding the children of Israel for their sin against God he's showing that the city is corrupt he's showing that Jerusalem is is filled with all manner of sin and lawlessness he is showing that they are not Faithfully fulfilling the obligations placed upon them by their Covenant god notice specifically in verse 21 how the faithful city has become a harlot it was full of Justice righteousness lodged in it but now murderers now notice your silver has become draw your wine mixed with water what does that mean it means that people are being cheated it means that people are being deceived it means that people are being gaslit in the holy city of Jerusalem when you buy silver there is this supposition that the silver smith hasn't mixed dross in it that he's trying to get an ounce where there's really not an ounce so he puts a bit of dross in there so you the hapless Soul pay your money and get not an ounce well the same obtains with wine your wine is mixed with water now there might have been instances and there might have been occasions and again in order to engage in this moderately perhaps a bit of water in the wine but I think the idea is simple you have imp purified you have watered down the wine you have taken something that was good something that persons purchase you cut it with water and you're cheating them you're jipping them you're robbing them notice in John's gospel John Chapter 2 John chap 2 again a famous passage one that certainly deals with alcohol it was you know grape juice that the Lord Jesus you know multiplied in terms of the wedding at canaa chapter 2 and verse 1 on the third day there was a wedding in canaa of Galilee and the mother of Jesus was there now both Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding and when they ran out of wine the mother of Jesus said to him they have no wine Jesus said to Heroman what does your concern have to do with me my hour has not yet come his mother said to the servants whatever he says to you do it as far as I know that's the only record Ed command that Mary ever issues in the Bible and what is it do whatever he tells you that's the only command that Mary issues in the Bible do whatever Jesus tells you Roman Catholics should listen to Mary at that particular Point whatever he says do it his mother said to his servants whatever he says do to you do it now there were uh set there six water pots of stone according to the manner of purification of the Jews containing 20 or 30 gallons a piece Jesus said to them fill the water pots with water and they filled them up to the brim and he said to them draw some out now and take it to the master of the feast and they took it when the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine and did not know where it came from but the servants who had drawn the water knew the master of the feast called the bridegroom and he said to him every man at the beginning sets out the good wine and when the guests have well drunk then the inferior you have kept the good wine until now what's that mean it means that Jesus made good wine for a particular wedding and we said well you know they didn't really know what they were talking about Brethren do you realize that in the history of the world at many epochs or times wine and beer were safer to drink than water we've got Taps I'm not necessarily endorsing tap water but but we've got filters and we've got access to to lots and lots of water for the most part that doesn't end Us in the hospital doesn't promote you know whatever sort of entric disease in our stomachs that's not always been the case throughout the history of the world so often times probably why Paul drops this prohibition don't get drunk in a section that is you know some commentators wonder why does he put 518a right where he puts 518a I'll suggest in a moment why I think he does that these men knew what bad wine was and they knew what good wine was and this master of the ceremony said you know most people they get everybody a little bit going and then that you know by the seventh day remember these were 7-Day feasts at these weddings by the end they just you know the swill you know dig out the bottom of the bucket and you know just throw it out there and the die hards will you know they'll like that no this man understood that it was good turn over the book of 1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians chap 11 1 Corinthians chap 11 now when Jesus institutes the the Lord's Supper it is in conjunction at that time with Passover now remember at the Passover this was a special meal ordered or ordained by God in Exodus 12 to remember and reflect upon God's Great Redemptive act in bringing Israel out of Egyptian bondage let me just read to you what the sort of order was in terms of the Passover meal it's commentator by the name of Lane uh quoted by a guy I have and he says the festival and the wine is blessed followed by the first cup the food is then brought in unleavened bread bitter herbs grains stewed fruits roast lamb the son asks why this night is distinguished from others the family had answer aners with the Exodus story followed by praise to God for past and future Redemption from the first part of the Hal the Hal Psalms are Psalms 113 to 118 in Matthew 26:30 when it says they went out and sang A Hymn it wasn't something composed by Hill songer Isaac Watts it was something composed by David under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he goes on to say the second cup of wine is drunk the unleavened bread is blessed broken and distributed then it is eaten with the herbs and fruit as the father explains the meaning of the bread this is followed by the meal proper which was not to extend beyond Midnight at the consummation of the meal the head blesses a third cup followed by the singing of the second part of the Hal this time Psalms 115 to about to to to 118 and then a fourth cup concludes the meal so that's kind of the backdrop in terms of the Passover it's in that context that Jesus inaugurates the the the Lord's Supper the the Covenant ratified in his blood for the remission of sins for many so it's in that context that Paul now is rehearsing the rules with reference to the Lord's Supper notice what he says in 11:23 for I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which he was betrayed took bread and when he had given thanks he broke it and said take eat this is my body which is broken for you do this in remembrance of me in the same manner he also took the cup after supper saying the this cup is the New Covenant in my blood this this do as often as you drink it in remembrance of me for as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the Lord's death till he comes this was most likely wine this was most likely alcoholic this was most likely something that could produce or promote inebriation on the part of persons that were recklessly engaged in fact Paul makes that condemnation of them in verse 21 for an eating each one takes his own supper ahead of others and one is hungry and another is drunk and then in first Timothy chap 5 we have Paul's admonition to Timothy I don't know what his belly problems were but Paul did and Paul prescribed a bit of wine 1 Timothy CH 5 specifically at verse 23 no longer drink only water but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities so the Bible does not condemn a moderate use of alcohol that is the first point in terms of a Biblical Theology of alcohol the second point is that the does prohibit drunkenness the Bible does prohibit drunkenness you see it in the New Testament you certainly see it in the Old Testament we have the case of of Noah we have uh lot we have as well the specifics in the Book of Proverbs you can turn to Proverbs Chapter 20 proverbs chap 20 so does the Bible forbid drunkenness or prohibit it yes notice in Proverbs 20 specifically at verse one wine is a mocker strong drink is a brawler and whoever is Led astray by it is not wise you see that's the problem it's not the wine it's not the strong drink it's the one who's LED astray by it you'll search the scriptures in vain for the scriptures to say this thing is bad that thing is bad I mean there are the the house of prostitution is bad the the crack house is bad but the TV the alol it doesn't put the blame on those things even the passage this morning that I read in 1 Timothy chapter 6 we often abuse that text for the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil we'll just Deo devoid ourselves of money and we'll be fine it's not money it's the love of money here it's not the wine or the strong drink it's the being led astray by it that's the issue that's what's condemned the drunkenness the approach to it the the pursuit of it to a point of inebriation and then over at chapter 23 chapter 23 probably at least one commentator argues Paul has this in his mind when he writes 518 specifically verse 31 and I think he refers to the the Greek translation of the Old Testament but notice in 23:29 who has woe who has sorrow who has contentions who has complaints who has wounds without cause who has redness of eyes isn't that descriptive of a guy who goes out and gets hammered he doesn't know how he got this wound he didn't know how he gets this cut I mean the Bible is very real isn't it it doesn't you know kind of make things up or just kind of speak in an ethereal manner it speaks specifically the way we would expect it to if God knew the sinful propensities of one's heart who has woe who has sorrow who has contentions who has complaints who has wounds without cause who has redness of eyes now notice those who linger long at the wine again it's not a condemnation of the wine get rid of the wine it's you lingering long at it the problem isn't the cup of wine the problem is the wretch that doesn't discipline himself or control himself with reference to the intake see the Bible blames The Sinner we typically blame the thing and if it wasn't for the thing then I wouldn't be in this mess no it's your fault or my fault that we in the mess so notice those who linger long at the wine those who go in search of mixed wine now notice do not look on the wine when it is red when it sparkles in the cup when it swirls around smoothly at the last it bites like a serpent and stings like a Viper your eyes will see strange things and your heart will utter perverse things yes you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea or like one who lies at the top of the Mast saying they have struck me but I was not hurt they have beaten me but I did not feel it when shall I awake that I may seek another drink see that's the problem it's an immoderate moderate use of what God has given to be used moderately Romans 13 Paul describes the wickedness of the day and uses this concept of drunkenness Romans 13:13 let us not or let us walk properly as in the day not in rry and drunkenness not in lewdness and lust not in strife and envy it's in the vice list in 1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians 6 but let's look at 1 Corinthians 5 specifically at verse 11 well verse N I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people this passage is valuable for a whole host of reasons but one of them is to sort of mitigate that that thought or that idea that some well-meaning Christians at times have well I'll just separate myself from the filth of the earth and then I'll be fine I just won't have any truck with the scum out there that's engaged in all man of sin that's not Paul's advice how are we going to win them to the Lord Jesus if we separate separate our holy selves from them now again separate yourselves from the sin but Brethren The Sinner needs recovery needs Redemption needs the Gospel of Jesus Christ Our Lord that's Paul's Point here he's called for church discipline in the first section because a man had his father's wife Leviticus 18 condemns that the man's not supposed to have his father's wife and not only did the man have his father's wife but the church knew about it and was arrogant about it Paul says get this man out and that's what brings to consider I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually IM immoral people yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world or with the cages or extortioners or idolators since then you would need to go out of the world I can't work at the post office because my my you know compa companion there is a is a fornicator I got to quit my job no if that's your tact you better Charter A A A Rocket To Mars because that's the world you live in your neighbors your friends your Associates at work everybody they're Sinners that's man's problem remember it's it's sin so the problem for Paul isn't that you associate with Sinners it's that you associate with unrepentant Sinners who claim to be Christians and members of churches that's the thrust of his argument now notice in verse 11 he he he corrects that he he says I I didn't mean with the sexually immoral people of this world but now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother who is sexually immoral or Covetous or an idolator or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner not even to eat with such a person for what have I to do with those uh judging those who are also who are outside do you not judge those who are inside but those who are outside God judges therefore put away from yourselves the evil person I think we need to understand they unrepentant and everybody sins Brethren prone to wander prone to leave the God that I love if somebody well you you had a Covetous thought I I can't eat with you tonight no the unrepentant sinner that's been taken through the process of discipline and he's irrecoverable he doesn't come back he doesn't repent he doesn't forsake that sin he doesn't make right his obligations to God and to the church in which he holds his membership it's that person once they are put out you don't eat with them why because you're not condoning their sin you don't want to sort of give that that that that that stamp of approval upon their sin oh yeah everything's fine now that part of it is calculated to produce some degree of hurt on the man or woman so that he she repents but anyways we see that there's this condemnation 1 Corinthians 6 we have that list of those things that exclude persons from the kingdom of God and notice specifically in verse 10 he says nor thieves nor Covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God we've got another statement Galatians 5 we've got 1 Thessalonians 5 we've got 1 Timothy 3 in terms of the pro prohibition relative to Elders uh Titus Chapter 1 Titus chapter 2 so the Bible does condone a moderate use of alcohol but the Bible prohibits an immoderate use of alcohol hopefully that's not a surprise to anybody well I never knew that you you should have known that if you read your Bible That's the gist that's what you get so going back to Ephesians chapter 5 why does he put it here it's kind of interesting right so all of a sudden don't get drunk why does he do that therefore do not be unwise verse 17 but understand what the will of the Lord is and do not be drunk with wine in which is dissipation well in the larger context the conduct of the new man that man who has been made new by the regenerating power of the holy spirit that man who has by Grace believed on the Lord Jesus Christ that man who's come out of Darkness into Marvelous Light the conduct of the new man is characterized by what we find in Ephesians five that new man walks in love that new man walks in light that new man walks in wisdom and therefore he's not to walk immoderately he's not to walk in that absence of self-control he's not to walk as a drunkard he's to walk in a manner that is consistent with the High Calling of God upon him now within Ephesus and in the Roman Empire at that time there was a cult of dianus go dionisius was the god of wine and in Ephesus apparently they had some background which is not hard to believe based on Acts chapter 19 and they're dallying with the occult and the black uh black magic and those black Arts that there was drunkenness that was prevalent in Ephesus so the Apostle Paul says do not be drunk with wine but I think the next phrase helps us to understand the specific import here he says do not be drunk with wine in which is dissipation but be filled with the holy spirit so the effect of alcohol is something specific you drink alcohol and you get hammered and then dissipation follows now this word dissipation firstly means wastefulness and then Reckless abandon debauchery dissipation profligacy so the effect of alcohol upon a particular individual is that dissipation debauchery all manner of lawlessness and wickedness what's the effect of the Holy Spirit upon a person well in Galatians chap five we learn that self-control is a fruit of the spirit and I think that that's probably what Paul is doing he's pointing to two things that exercise an influence Upon A person who participates in it and I don't think this is without warrant remember the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2 when the spirit comes upon the disciples and they start to speak in strange tongues and other languages specifically to communicate the wonderful works of God what's the sort of rebuttal on the part of the people there these men are drunk with wine they understood that they were under the influence of something so when the Apostle Peter stands up as the first among equals to interpret what this phenomena was he says these men aren't drunk with wine as you suppose it's only the third hour in the day but they were able to see the effect or the influence of something on these people I think that's the particular point in view here do not be drunk with wine which yields itself in dissipation it yields itself in debauchery it yields itself in that sick fellow in Proverbs chapter 23 when can I awake so that I can have another drink but the effect of the spirit is Contra that it's not dissipation it's speaking in a certain way it's singing and making melody in a certain way it's giving thanks in a certain way it's submitting to one another in the fear of God so the main emphasis under the hand of the Apostle again condemn drunkenness it's bad it's wrong don't do it but the idea is is that drunkenness leads to dissipation but you conversely You by way of contrast not only do not be drunk with wine but be filled with the spirit because when you're filled with the spirit and that influence comes upon you then these are the marks or these are the manifestations or these are the evidences or the effects of having been filled with the spirit at Lincoln says both drunkenness in the spirit involve the self coming under the control of an external power suggest that that's Paul's meaning here AA or CH Charles Hodge rather says and as drunkenness produces rioting and debauchery so the Holy Spirit produces a joy which expresses itself in Psalms hymns and spiritual songs so the particular emphasis is upon the influencing of a person either to Ill or to good if you get drunk with wine dissipation and debauchery is the end if you're are filled with the spirit then good things come good fruits obtain blessings and virtues flow from the man who Blood Bought and from the man who has the holy spirit so now notice the specific exhortation we've got the prohibition do not be drunk with wine in which is dissipation but be filled with the spirit what does that mean be filled with the spirit is Paul commending a second work of Grace is Paul Keswick in his theology is Paul have a higher life approach to the Christian uh Christian faith these are all heresies that have attached themselves to a Theology of the spirit is Paul like these charismatics that say well you know you've gotten the spirit but but it's not really evidenced until you speak in tongues Brethren that Doctrine is still alive and well there are people out there that do not think you have the Holy Spirit unless you have spoken in tongues that's not what Paul's talking about tongues has nothing to do with this particular passage when he says be filled with the Holy Spirit I believe he is suggesting to us to walk in harmony with the Lord Jesus Christ to understand the the presence and the power of the spirit to know that influence in your life in terms of a Theology of the spirit here in this brief book of e Ephesians look back at Ephesians chapter 1 the spirit is vital in terms well look at verse chapter 3 first the the spirit is vital in Revelation the spirit is vital not just in the Book of Revelation but in the doctrine of revelation God reveals himself specially Through the Bible Genesis to Revelation notice in Ephesians chapter uh 3 specifically at verse 5 which in other ages has was not made known to the sons of men as it has now been revealed by the spirit To His Holy Apostles and Prophets that the Gentiles should be fellow HS of the same body and partakers of his promises in Christ through the gospel it's a great grand statement about the inspiration of the men who write the scripture that what they write comes from the holy spirit so this doctrine of Gentile inclusion in the Covenant Promises of God made to Israel has been revealed by the spirit so the spirit is vital in Revelation go back to chapter one to see the spirit vital in our Salvation remember chap 1: 3 to 14 the Apostle celebrates the work of the Triune God in the salvation of sinners the father chose and predestin the son dies and redeems the spirit seals and guarantees notice in verses 13 and 14 in him you also trusted after you heard the word of Truth The Gospel of your salvation in whom also having believed you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise so whatever Paul's saying in terms of 5:18 be filled with the Holy Spirit he's not suggesting there's no Holy Spirit in you I think he's suggesting crave more of the Holy Spirit pursue more of his influence in your life the way the drunkard goes after the Jack Daniels you as the faithful people of God ought to seek the Holy Spirit and his influence and his power and his presence in your life be filled with him because when you're filled with him these sorts of Virtues flow from the blood-bought children of god notice in verse 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the Redemption of the purchased possession to the praise of his glory notice at 430 do not grieve the holy spirit of God by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption the spirit is vital in our walk in our communion with God the spirit is vital in terms of our salvation with the Lord the spirit is vital in terms of our worship remember in chapter 2 specifically at verse 18 for through him Jesus Christ we both Jew and Gentile have access by one Spirit the Holy Spirit to the father and then in verse 22 in whom you also are being built together for a Dwelling Place of God in the spirit so the spirit is vital in terms of our worship the spirit is also vital in terms of our strength our spiritual strength notice in chapter 3 Paul prays for the children of God in Ephesus verse 14 for this reason I bow my knees to the father of our Lord Jesus Christ from whom the whole family in heav and Earth is named that he would Grant you according to the riches of of his glory to be strengthened with might through his spirit in the inner man that Christ May dwell in your hearts through faith see the holy spirit is vital and essential to our walk to our communion to our understanding of the word of God to our worship and our approach to the father through the son in the power of the Holy Spirit and then notice one final thing that helps us I think understand what it means to be filled with the spirit again it's not esoteric it's not Mystic it's not you know climb the mountain and just open yourself up to the holy spirit it's seek his presence and seek his power seek his influence in your life I think that's the bottom line now notice the parallel passage in Colossians turn to Colossians chapter 3 I may actually have time to do more work on verse 19 since we're not going to get it tonight and Ryan is preaching next Sunday and then we have the Lord's Supper the following Sunday essentially I want to deal with what's called the exclus py position the first time I preached through Ephesians I just didn't really investigate it much this time around I have investigated it much or much more anyway and there's a good case to make that when Paul says Psalms hymns and spiritual songs he's confining his attention to the Psalms of David now we'll deal with that if that intrigues you then come back in two weeks time and we'll try to tell you how that does work in a way that I think makes sense but notice in Colossians that's a bit of a teaser huh I I I learned that from Rick horest that was was great on the Sunday the first Sunday when Rick preached and I was here that that morning and that evening and he said you know come back tonight cuz I'm going to give you part two that's all you have to do well sure it worked it worked there were people there on Sunday night that don't usually come on Sunday night wow I guess if you ask and seek and knock you you sometimes receive so so there's a bit of a teaser God willing that if you've ever wondered how come those people that only believe some of you come out of churches where it's exclusive pity was there a ration now did anybody you know preach or teach why it was the case that they only sang the songs of Psalms of David again I still have some questions that I need to wrestle with but from Paul in Ephesians 5 when he says Psalms hymns and spiritual songs I really think there's some Merit and some value to the argument that he means the Psalms of David specifically again two weeks time God willing will look at that but look at the parallel as we try to understand what it means to be filled with the spirit I think the parallel passage in Colossians 3 helps us notice in verse 12 therefore as the elect of God same sort of a context conduct of the new man the new man resists certain things the new man puts on certain things the new man lives in a manner consistent with the gospel of his salvation so therefore as the elect of God holy and beloved put on Tender Mercies kindness humility meekness longsuffering bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another even as Christ forgave you so you also must do but above all these things put on love which is the bond of perfection and Let the Peace of God rule in your hearts to which also you were called in one body and be thankful now here's the parallel passage to Ephesians 5 let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing with Grace in your hearts to the Lord and whatever you do in word or deed do all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through him so in 518 it's be filled with the Holy Spirit and speak to one another and Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs in Colossians 3:16 it's let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs could it possibly be that the one explains the other and the other explains the one being filled with the Holy Spirit is to have the word of Christ dwelling richly in your heart to have the word of Christ dwelling richly in your heart is to be filled with the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit well the end game is the same whether it's the the word of Christ dwelling in our hearts or whether it's the Holy Spirit filling us what is the result the result is that we are affected by his influence and so we speak to one another or we teach and admonish one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs I submit that the filling of the holy spirit in Ephesians chapter 5 verse 18 is not charismatic ISM it is not Pentecostalism it is not not some second work of Grace it is not some higher life sort of Christian theology it is what the people of God have they are sealed and they have the spirit as a guarantee the emphasis is upon pursue more of his presence and power in your life find more of his influence in your life pray to God for more of his influence isn't this what Jesus says in fact you can turn back to The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew's gospel El Matthew chap 6 I'm sorry Matthew chapter 7 Matthew chap 7 specifically at verse S ask and it will be given to you seek and you will find knock and it will be open to you for everyone who asks receives and he who seeks finds and to him who knocks it will be open or what man is there among you who if his son asks for bread will give him a stone or if he asks for a fish will he give him a serpent if you then be being evil know how to give good gifts to your children how much more will your father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him therefore whatever you want men to do to you do also to them for this is the law and the prophets now turn to the Book of Luke Luke's gospel specifically chapter 11 Luke chap 11 same emphasis same passage Matthew good things that the father gives to those who ask well Luke gives us a very specific version here notice just picking up at about verse 11 in Luke 11 if a son asks for bread from any father among you will he give him a stone or if he asks for a fish will he give him a serpent instead of a fish or if he asks for an egg will he offer him a scorpion if you then being evil know how to give good gifts to your children how much more will your heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him you mean we just have have to ask being filled with the spirit isn't a second work of Grace it isn't the higher life it isn't a let go let God I don't have to climb Mount sham and have a special season of meditation in order to get the more of the you mean I just have to ask yeah you you just have to ask so when Paul sayso not be drunk with wine in which is dissipation but be filled with the Holy Spirit he is simply encouraging the people of God to ask God for more of the presence and the power the influence of the spirit in their respective lives and as a result they will speak to one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs they will sing and make melody in their hearts they will Express gratitude and thankfulness to God most high and they will submit to one another in the fear of God well as I said we'll look at the rest of the section in two weeks time the Lord willing tonight just let us consider two things on the one hand we need to make sure we understand understand what the Bible says concerning alcohol doesn't condemn it but it certainly doesn't condone drunkenness so we need to take heart and guard our hearts relative to that particular Temptation that is very prevalent in a society like ours and secondly we need to pray we need to seek we need to ask we need to call upon God for more of the presence and the power of the spirit yes as we gather together for the church as we gather together for corporate worship we want the people of God to grow in their understanding of who the Lord is and we want the non-p people of God to become the people of God well how are they going to do that apart from the presence and the power of the spirit so hopefully on Sunday morning you set apart a little time and on Sunday afternoon you set apart a little time to pray that God sends the Holy Spirit I like to invoke the nying Creed or the Apostles Creed I believe in the Holy Spirit that's not just a confession concerning his person oh I believe there is a holy spirit I think it's an ownership I believe in the Holy Spirit we need his presence and his power as we gather together for corporate worship so that He blesses the preaching of the word but at the level of our individual Christian lives at the level of our family lives don't we all need more of his presence and power this is Paul's emphasis not Pentecostalism not charismatic ISM not tongue speaking not prophesying not raising the dead but simply knowing his nearness in our lives knowing his communion knowing his his blessedness and knowing the influence of the spirit so that we walk in a manner that is consistent with the gospel of our Salvation well let us pray Our Father in heaven we thank you for your word we thank you for this section of scripture and we pray for wisdom as we proceed we pray for your grace to be upon our local church we pray for the ministry of the Holy Spirit to be upon each of us and we pray that all over the all over the world the people of God would know his presence and his power and that it would be evidenced in the way that we speak to one another in the way that we praise and worship our blessed savior and in the way that we express thankfulness and gratitude to you in the way that we relate to one another in terms of the fear of God we ask that you would go with us now watch over us in this coming week be glorified in our lives and we ask in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ amen we'll close with a brief time of meditation