LESSON 1, INTRODUCTION:

The Text we are to consider has two main verbs, equal in footing, and five supporting participles, verbal adjectives really.

Here it is: "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." Ephesians 5:18-21

The verbs are: be not drunk ... and be filled.

Then come the five participles: speaking, singing, making melody, giving thanks, and then submitting.

The five participles introduce us to some very basic Christian principles.

Things like love for God's Word! "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs"

And things like joy in one's heart! "Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord."

Plus genuine gratefulness! "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

And meekness of spirit! "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."

But such a Christian lifestyle is not easy!

Not consistently easy!

In fact, I would say it is impossible!

Unless two circumstances are met!

Firstly, the Christian can't be drunk with wine and the like. "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess."

Secondly, he or she must be saturated with the Holy Spirit of God. "Be filled with the Spirit."

This should be a profitable Bible Study!

In fact, all real Bible Study is profitable!

That's a promise ... from the Lord!

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable ...." 2nd Timothy 3:16

I can hardly wait to get started!

                                                                             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 2, VERSE 21:

The expression is unusual.

And it's not easy to achieve!

"Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." That's what Paul asks of us in Ephesians 5:21.

Using this verb stem, "submitting" in English or "hupotasso" in Greek, the New Testament presents us with several examples.

In Luke 2:51 Jesus was "subject" to Mary and Joseph. This was when He was a young Boy.

In Luke 10:17 the Disciples rejoiced because even the devils were "subject" to them, through the Power of God of course.

In Romans 10:3 the wicked have not "submitted" themselves to the righteousness of God.

In Ephesians 5:22 wives are to be "subject" to their husbands.

In Titus 3:1 each of us is to be "subject" to the higher powers of government. Obey the law!

In 1st Peter 3:22 the very angels of God are made "subject" to the Lord Jesus Christ!

And some day soon, all things will be made "subject" to Jesus, all things! See Hebrews 2:8.

Yes, the Christian life entails a lot of submitting!

But our Text today is different yet!

"Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."

There "hupotasso" is a participle, a present participle in the passive voice. It modifies the pronoun "yourselves," describing people's lifestyles. Paul of course is writing to the saints of God, at Ephesus and elsewhere.

This word "submitting" is an old military term really. "To line up under" the commander it really means!

Every person in his place!

"Tasso" means "to arrange something in order." Then "hupo" the prefix means "underneath," here underneath the leader's authority.

When looking for our word in its exact form as here, as a present participle, these examples are found.

"Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward." 1st Peter 2:18

And, "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." 1st Peter 5:5

Yes, for sure we are to be subject to the King, the policeman, our employers, the Pastor, and others designated by Scripture.

But to one another?

Yes, says Paul!

Again, here it is! "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."

If this attitude could prevail among us Christians, nothing would be the same ever again!

Surely this is God's golden "key" for harmony and love in the Christian life!

Yes, the very next verse does say, and must be practiced; "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord." Ephesians 5:22

But when tempered by our Verse today, verse 21, surely even home life would be all the sweeter!

Watch the second half of this Verse: "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another." Romans 12:10

This "submitting to each other" certainly cannot be used to disobey other clear commands of the Bible, but it surely could apply in those "questionable" areas of life where various practical issues surface!

I will not submit myself to the liberal who denies the Virgin Birth of Jesus! No, not for a minute! I will expose and denounce him as a perverter of God's Word!

I will not submit myself to the Emperor if he demands my denying the Lord Jesus Christ! And the Emperors in Paul's day did exactly that!

I will not submit myself to the troublemaker down at Church when he seeks to sow discord among the brethren! I will ask God to handle him.

But ... I can submit myself to a family member or fellow Believer in Christ with whom I have minor disagreement!

I can openly and freely discuss opinions and points of view with those who disagree with me! Not devouring them for their oddities.

I will not BUDGE on my convictions!

But I can, with Bible permission, talk freely with others about my preferences.

Think me stubborn if you must, I may not change a thing! But I can sit and listen and explain and ask questions, speaking the truth in love!

"Speaking the truth in love," the exact words of Ephesians 4:15.

But, again, this "submitting ourselves to one another" in the Lord can only be attained one way!

How?

Through the Holy Spirit of God!

After all, we are here in the Ephesians 5 Paragraph that begins, "Be filled with the Spirit!"

The Holy Spirit, and He alone, is the Originator of proper Biblical submitting one to another!

May we all be filled with Him!

                                                                            --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

Additionally, the words "one to another" are represented in the Greek Text by one word, it being in the dative case. "Allelon" means, as a dative, "one to another." It also suggests the idea of "another of the same kind." "Heteros" in Greek means another of a totally different kind! We submit to our Brothers and Sisters in Christ! Not to some heathen Bible hater who falsely professes Christianity!

And "fear" is spelled "phobos" in Greek. It's a deep abiding fear. Some link it to reverence and respect and awe. This is partly acceptable. But literally it can mean life altering fear. In fact, "phobos" is translated "terror" 3 times in the King James Bible.

The right view of God is the only catalyst that will successfully propel us to properly, Biblically live with our fellow Christians. If one is correct vertically, he will most often be correct horizontally as well!

LESSON 3, VERSE 20:

The Bible has much to say regarding thanksgiving.

A grateful spirit, especially grateful unto the Lord, is beautiful!

But the giving of thanks for the Christian is not just a one-time thing.

It's a way of life!

Listen to Paul in Ephesians 5:20. "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

The opening words, "giving thanks," occur first in the sentence. This is true both in English and Greek. In many languages this position reveals prominence, importance in syntax.

The expression is a present participle. This thanksgiving is an on-going thing, a habit, a manner of living!

"Eucharisteo" combines both "eu" in Greek, meaning "well" or "good," and "charis," the noun for "grace."

Good Grace!

That's the basis of all our blessings, the Grace of God.

This Verse clearly views God as the One in control of every area of life! How else could one regard the Almighty Omniscience Omnipresent Lord of all?

The unique thing about our particular Verse today is the fact that it suggests giving thanks "for all things."

I used to say, wrongly, that God did not require our giving thanks "for" all things, but merely "in" all things! Notice I just admitted error! I was ignorant.

It's true that 1st Thessalonians 5:18 does say, "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." See that "in" everything? In days past I would quip, "In" everything be thankful, even when "for" everything you can't!"

But today's Verse proves me wrong!

Read it again. "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

The little preposition "for" is spelled "huper" and means, when used with a genitive case object as here, "in behalf of" or "for" or occasionally "for the sake of" something. It can also, when the context allows, mean "above" or beyond!" Maybe God wants us to give Him thanks, living not "under" the circumstances but "above" them!

"All things," merely "pas" as a neuter pronoun in Greek, means absolutely every thing! No exceptions apparently!

What a list!

And we are to express these thanks "unto" God the Father. This preposition is expressed by the dative case of the proper nouns God and Father. Usually "to" or "for" apply in what we call in English an "indirect object" situation.

Then Paul adds, following the teaching of Jesus who asked us to pray in His dear Name,  "Giving thanks ... in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

The noun "name" is spelled "onoma" and means one's title ... but it includes with that the accompanying authority, power or status which the specific Name involves.

Jesus' Name commands a lot of Power! Even here on earth He said, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." Matthew 28:18

The Whole Trinity is involved  in this command, this exhortation really!

Thanks go "unto" God Who is also called Father. These thanks must be offered through the Name of Jesus the Son of God.

But where's the Holy Spirit?

Back in Verse 18, where this Bible Paragraph begins, we are commanded to be "filled" with the Spirit! "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit."

In fact, and carefully mark these words, not one of us can ever be thankful as we should without God being the Target of such gratefulness and Jesus being the Means of such gratitude and the Holy Spirit being the Motivator as well!

A man or woman truly filled with the Spirit, will be thankful!

Triunely thankful!

I know we, the Bagwells, have so much for which to be thankful today!

How about you?

                                                                          --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

Don't miss the "heart" of today's Lesson! He who has much of the Holy Spirit, saturated with His Presence and Power, will be among us the most thankful!

Thank you, Lord.

LESSON 4, VERSE 19:

The Verse ends with these words, "Making melody in your heart to the Lord." Ephesians 5:19

The whole clause is descriptive, being introduced by a participle, a verbal adjective.

The person being described is the Spirit-filled Christian!

He or she is, apparently, a joyful individual!

Of course the "fruit" of the Holy Spirit, according to Paul the Apostle in Galatians 5:22 includes such "joy."

Even "joy unspeakable and full of glory." 1st Peter 1:8

The words "making melody" obviously include some kind of music or harmony. But they translate a specific verb, "psallo."

Just by looking we can see that a word we love, the Bible word "psalm," is involved here.

This is really not the word for singing hymns. Or for singing lyrics of experience or testimony. These kinds of music are approved by God and encouraged elsewhere in Scripture, but not here specifically.

"Psallo" generally means "to sing a hymn of praise!" But, precisely, it suggests the act of "singing Scripture" back to God! Actually singing the Book of Psalms! Parts of it anyway!

Try it!

Just by yourself, with the Lord's leading I mean, start singing the words of a Psalm you know! Here's one great advantage of having already memorized Scripture!

Psalm 1 is a good starting place!

Or something even more familiar, Psalm 23!

Try Psalm 100 too!

If not whole chapters, get a verse or two!

If you do not have a gifted voice, like me, just sing anyway!

You can even do this silently!

"In your heart" mixes a plural pronoun with a singular object.

Paul is writing to the Church, all its members!

Saved people, in other words.

But though a group is involved, the "heart" is singular!

They are of one heart!

That's true here both grammatically and spiritually!

But good singing, even from the heart, still falls short of its goal! That is, unless it's directed "unto the Lord."

The noun is "kurios," meaning "master, owner, sir," all terms of respect. But here "Lord" is a direct reference to The Master, The Owner, The Governor, The Almighty God!

And He is Triune!

Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

This singing of praise is not something a godly mature saint of God has to force himself to do either!

It is a by-product, an outcome, a side-effect of being filled with the Holy Spirit!

If you have the One, His Fullness, you will have the other, the melody!

Amen!

                                                                           --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 5, VERSE 19:

The Text has five participles, modifiers that describe what happens when a man or woman, a Christian man or woman, is filled with the Holy Spirit of God.

I will accent them, all five, with capital letters. "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." Ephesians 5:18-21

The second of the five is our subject today.

"Singing" translates a Greek verb, "ado."

As a participle it only appears one other time in the Bible, Colossians 3:16, where we read, "singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

The Bible also employs "ado" as a verb three times, all in John's great Book of Revelation. Two of those times a "new song" is being sung!

"And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." Revelation 5:9

Then, "And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth." Revelation 14:3

The third instance is located here, Revelation 15:3. "And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints."

We can now conclude that each time "ado" is used Biblically, songs unto the Lord are indicated!

Singing to Jesus!

Vocally yet harmoniously worshipping God!

Since each of the other four locations give us further light than our freestanding verb here in Ephesians 5:19, let's analyze some of them at least.

What attitude is to accompany my "singing?"

"Grace!"

What are the opening words to the "new song" we'll sing in Heaven? It's Subject?

"Worthy is the Lamb!"

Can anyone sing?

There are some qualifications for this kind of singing! Things like knowing and loving God! "And they sung as it were a new song before the throne ... and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth."

Virgins?

Men?

Yes, pure as the freshly fallen snow!

And followers of Jesus, too!

What kinds of songs are we to sing?

"And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God," among others!

Old songs!

True-to-the-Bible songs!

In each case the singing is, I believe, directed to God Himself!

God just loves to hear us sing ... to Him!

He is a Singer, you know! "The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

Additionally, back in our Ephesians 5:18-21 Paragraph, notice that our verb "ado" is linked with the verb "laleo."

First we talk God's Praises!

Then, we sing them!

God indeed gives a song!

Job 35:10 mentions, "God my maker, who giveth songs in the night!"

Such singing is not, at least should not be, motivated by anything other than a desire to glorify God!

And such a desire only comes from one Source, the dear Holy Spirit!

Filled with the Spirit, then sing of our great God! That's just the way the Lord has ordained it!

                                                                                --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 6, VERSE 19:

"Talking to yourself!"

That was the name of a recent Bible Study Series we did together!

It's a Bible concept too!

Luke 12:19 begins, "And I will say to my soul ...."

Better yet, Psalm 42:5 asks, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? "

To read the twelve Lessons in that "Talking to Yourself" Series, just "click" HERE.

However, today our thoughts follow a slightly different track.

Ephesians 5:18-21, our Text, contains these words of encouragement for each Believer in Christ Jesus: "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.

See those first three words?

"Speaking to yourselves ...."

Two words in Greek, "laleo eautou."

"Speaking" is a present participle.

"Laleo" means "to say" something, just "to talk."

But some of the older lexicons define it like this: "to utter words."

When contrasted with "lego," the other Greek word for talking, "laleo" is the less dignified verb! It includes even "chit-chat," what's sometimes called "small talk."

Mere conversation must be included under the "laleo" umbrella too.

Some Greek teachers insist that "lego" refers to the substance of what's being said, while "laleo" infers merely the words or sounds involved.

Here's the point.

As Spirit-filled Christians we are to even daily "converse" about the things of God!

If we discuss the weather, "The Lord has sent some rain!"

If we are interested in the next trip, "Lord willing, we're leaving tomorrow!"

If someone's trying to gossip about a person, "Let's pray for him. Would you lead us, please?"

When passing the time in the Doctor's waiting room, "The Lord has been so good!"

When in heavy rush-hour traffic, "This red light will be a good time to pray a few seconds!"

"Speaking to yourselves" ... in a godly manner!

The word "yourselves" is a reflexive pronoun, "eautou." Now this is not about talking "one to another," something Paul elsewhere advises. This is indeed talking to your very self! Teaching your own soul things your heart and spirit and sanctified mind already know!

Do not misunderstand. There are times, many of them in fact, when we are to "speak one to another." For example, "But exhort one another daily." Hebrews 3:13

But our verse today is "speak" regularly ... to yourself!

Keep yourself in line!

Require yourself to do right, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit of course.

Lord willing, tomorrow we shall examine the three areas of conversation recommended by Paul the Apostle here.

They are interesting indeed!

Here's a foretaste: psalms, hymns and spiritual songs!

All these focus on Jesus and His Father!

And they only become central to those who are "filled" not with wine, but the Holy Spirit!

Under His Influence!

                                                                              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 7, VERSE 19:

There are three categories.

Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, Paul names them all.

Spirit-filled Christians know them well!

"Speaking to themselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs." Ephesians 5:19

Notice that here it says "speaking," not singing.

"Psalms," in Greek "psalmos," specifically means a Book of the Bible, the 150 chaptered Old Testament Book of Praise!

Psalms!

When the Holy Spirit so imbues a person that he or she is saturated ... that individual's vocabulary will be changed!

He will begin to talk, because first he has begun to think, Scripture!

Here's "psalmos" in Luke 20:42. "And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool."

And Luke 24:44 tells Jesus' words to the two on the road to Emmaus. "These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me."

Peter too! "For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take." Acts 1:20

Now comes Paul in Acts 13:33. "God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee."

The word "hymns" in our Text is spelled "humnos." This is thought to be derived from "hudeo," meaning "to celebrate!" Only found two times in the Bible, "hymns" is defined as songs sung to God, usually about God!

In Latin, "hymnos" means "a song of praise!" Any song exalting Almighty God and His Eternal Son, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Paul actually has the Spirit-led saint, filled with the very fullness of God, talking the hymns of the faith! Surely any faithful Believer today could discuss at length the merits of "Amazing Grace" or "Power in the Blood" or "At the Cross" with anyone!

Then Ephesians 5:19 includes "spiritual songs." The expression, "pneumitikos ode," here probably means the words more than the music. Remember, we are just "speaking" these things so far. It is thought by some that "spiritual songs" at least include words of "testimony." Talking to one another about God!

Three avenues to guide our conversation, "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs."

If submissive, we will then have conversed widely about Scripture, then the God of Scripture, and at last the impact They have had on our lives personally!

Yes, "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs."

What a radical change this verse effects!

Or would anyway, if we just obeyed it!

                                                                            --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 8, VERSE 18:

The Bible is clear on the matter!

"Be not drunk with wine." Ephesians 5:18.

The topic of focus here is "wine," in Greek "oinos."

All 32 times "oinos" appears, it is translated "wine," at least in the King James Bible. Sometimes this is intoxicating wine, sometimes not.

One major lexicon defines "oinos" as "the juice of grapes." In Luke 1:15 it is said of John the Baptist: "For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb." Obviously here "oinos" or "wine" is not strong drink! In fact, it is contrasted with such!

Conversely, in our Text today the "wine" is inebriating.

I just have trouble believing that the New Testament would condone strong drink, while the Old Testament taught against it so strongly! "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." Proverbs 20:1

Or, "Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright." That is, when it's fermented! Effervescent, bubbling!

Argument aside, Ephesians 5:18 is dogmatic!

"Be not drunk" is set in the imperative mood! It's a command!

Here "methusko" is the word. To become "intoxicated" is the meaning. The root noun "methe" is "drunkenness" all three times it appears in Scripture.

"Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying." Here in Romans 13:13 "drunkenness" is merely a translation of "methe."

But then we are told of wine, "wherein is excess." In other words, avoid wine. It leads to excess! It produces "asotia" in one's life! Apparently "asotia" blends the Greek prefix "a," meaning no or not, and "sozo," meaning "to save!" Non-salvageable!

The other two times "asotia" appears in Scripture it is translated "riot!" Also, Luke 15:13 says of the prodigal son, "He took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living."

Here's Ephesians 5:18 in synopsis.

Do not get drunk!

Stay away from intoxicating wine!

It will lead to other things, bad things!

Riot, for example!

Study the Book of Proverbs and mentally note all the bad attributes and associations the Holy Sprit gives to strong drink!

Or listen to Habakkuk the Prophet! "Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!" Habakkuk 2:15

See how drunkenness is here linked to sexuality?

And only the Lord knows the myriads of other things, bad things, strong drink has incited.

Many will call this Lesson today controversial.

Truthfully, to this writer anyway, it is fundamental.

It's all I've heard all my life!

We Believers are never to come "under the influence" of wine or anything else ... except the precious Holy Spirit of God!

That's really the point of Ephesians 5:18 anyway!

The Holy Spirit is, in a kind and godly sort of way, "jealous!"

HE longs to be the Controlling Factor in our lives!

That's why Paul immediately says, in this very same verse, then "be filled with the Spirit."

But that's tomorrow's Subject, Lord willing!

Amen!

                                                                             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 9, VERSE 18:

The clause, being the last half of Ephesians 5:18, is critical!

"But be filled with the Spirit."

Along with its preceding thought, "be not dunk with wine," we have a classic New Testament analogy being drawn!

But this analogy, this comparison, is not one of similarity. Rather, of contrast!

"But," in Greek "alla," is a conjunction, an adversative conjunction. It reveals dissimilarities between the members of a group!

Do not be intoxicated with wine!

BUT, be filled with the Holy Spirit!

Strong drink is bad. The Holy Spirit is Good!

Strong drink must be purchased, The Holy Spirit is God's Gift!

One gives liberty to sin! The Other yields Grace to live godly!

Many differences exist!

The conjunction suggests this clearly!

Then the verb, "be filled," means "to supply to the utmost!" To "fill to the brim," says one Preacher!

"Pleroo" as an imperative verb, naturally gives a command! No choice in the matter!

Its present tense reveals its on-going nature! "Keep on being filled!" Durative habitual action, the teachers say.

But it's framed in the passive voice too! I cannot fill myself! This "filling" is done for me ... by Another!

"Pleroo" really is the verb used when Scripture is said to be "fulfilled!" Many times!

Then in Matthew 13:38 a fishing net is "full!"

According to Luke 2:40, just as Jesus was "filled" with wisdom, so are we to be filled with the Holy Spirit!

In John 12:3 the smell of perfume "fills" a house where Jesus is visiting!

In Acts 2:28 the saints are "full" of joy!

Be saturated with the Holy Spirit!

God longs to so impact us!

Some in this world, the ungodly, are filled with other things! "Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers ...." Romans 1:29

The saints, by means of the Holy Spirit, are differently filled! With lovely "fruit!" Galatians 5:22-23 tells us, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

Remember, I provide the vessel, clean and empty. God does the filling! I must merely be willing and available!

Filled with What? With Whom, actually!

"Be filled with the Spirit."

This is the very "pneuma" of God!

Capitalized by the King James Bible translators, "Spirit" means a "breath" of fresh clean air! A "breeze" gently blowing, or even a rushing mighty "wind!" It can even mean a "ghost," in a good sense however.

No doubt Deity Himself is being evoked! This is the Third Person of the Godhead!

God longs to fill us with ... Himself!

If that language is too strong for you, read Ephesians 3:19, a prayer. "That ye might be filled with all the fulness of God."

More of God?

Listen to Jesus in Matthew 7:11, an excerpt from the Sermon on the Mount. "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?" Again this is repeated in Luke 11:13, but the term "good things" is more clearly identified! "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?"

The Holy Spirit is spoken of as a Gift!

Wine makes one foggy in his thinking!

The Holy Spirit illuminates all He touches!

Based on today's few verses, one can Scripturally trust God for the "filling" of His Holy Spirit!

And if we live in the constant state of this blessedness, this being "filled" with the Spirit, get ready!

Other things will follow!

Not here "signs" and "wonders!"

But plenty of good Biblical conversation, singing and making melody in one's heart too, plus thanksgiving, capped off by gracious "submissive" living.

This is amazing!

                                                                             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

Note: The Holy Spirit Who "fills" us is the very Same Holy Spirit Who first convicted us of our sin! And then lovingly "drew" us to Jesus! And "birthed" us into the family of God, when we got saved! Just as God the Father is Divine and just as God the Son is Very God of Very God ... so is the Holy Ghost equally God!

One God, triunely existing eternally! "Triune" is derived from a Latin background. "Tri" there means "three." And "unus" means "one!" The Great Three in One!