Being Filled with the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 5:18-20
Overseer Sung-Hyun Kim
“And do not be drunk with wine, in 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“
Ephesians 5:18-20, NKJV
Be Filled with the Spirit
Ephesians 5:18
“Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” This does not mean receiving the Holy Spirit. This commandment is given to those who have already received the Holy Spirit, that is, those who have been baptized in the Holy Spirit. As it is written, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body” (1 Cor 12:13), being baptized in the Holy Spirit means entering the body of Christ and becoming a member of the church. The command to be filled with the Holy Spirit is given to such people. “Then, I won’t seek the fullness of the Holy Spirit. As long as I can go to heaven, that’s enough for me. I don’t need any rewards.” If someone rejects the Lord’s command in this way, can their faith truly be recognized by the Lord? Those who have faith worthy of salvation must be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Some people interpret the command “Be filled with the Holy Spirit” to mean, “Seek more of the Holy Spirit so that any lack of spiritual inspiration and power may be filled.” They believe that each time they are filled with more of the Holy Spirit, they become energized, their level of inspiration increases, and they reach a state of deeply affected inspiration. Just as an injection revitalizes a weakened body, they think that being filled with the Holy Spirit is necessary to energize a powerless spiritual life. However, seeking the fullness of the Holy Spirit as merely a way to compensate for a lack of spiritual energy is a misguided idea.
Such misconceptions about the fullness of the Holy Spirit lead to other theological misunderstandings in succession, ultimately causing people to stray into a misguided path of faith. The root of these misconceptions lies in a self-centered attitude. Even when God reveals His eternal will, people often judge it based on certain questions in their hearts: “Is this beneficial to me?” “Does it align with my knowledge?” “Is it safe for me?” When someone approaches the fullness of the Holy Spirit with such a mindset, how can they truly understand it? They simply regard it as a temporary experience meant to benefit themselves.
God has given us the Holy Spirit—not in part, but without measure (John 3:34). The Holy Spirit dwells within us. And yet, we must understand that being filled with the Holy Spirit does not mean seeking additional portions of Him to fill ourselves. Those who have received salvation and have been baptized in the Holy Spirit should not seek for more of the Holy Spirit to come upon them, as if they have only received a part of Him. Nor should they long for the Holy Spirit to come again to fill any remaining emptiness within them. Rather, those who have been baptized in the Holy Spirit—who have entered into the body of Christ—must have complete trust in the Holy Spirit.
This is true. Being filled with the Holy Spirit means having a heart that submits to His guidance and control. When we have this attitude, the words Jesus promised can be fulfilled through us. Of course, being filled with the Holy Spirit is entirely His work. However, the Holy Spirit does not work unilaterally, apart from our willingness. First, we must have a heart that submits to Him. Let us maintain a heart that submits to the Holy Spirit at every moment we call “today.” Let us be prepared in faith to welcome the work of the Holy Spirit so that God’s will may be fulfilled through us.
Overseer Sung-Hyun Kim
Lord’s Day Service on January 19, 2025
Recognizing the Lord Personally Present in Me
Ephesians 5:18
Whether it was the mountains or the sea, Galilee or Sidon, wherever Jesus went, Peter was almost always there. Among the disciples, Peter stood out for his power, inspiration, and boldness. He relied on the Lord’s word and walked on water. While others saw Jesus as merely one of the prophets, he boldly confessed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And when the Lord was seized, he alone drew a sword, ready to fight the Roman soldiers. Yet, there was something striking about Peter—his power, inspiration, and boldness only surfaced when Jesus was by his side.
After being separated from Jesus, Peter became even more cowardly and powerless than ordinary people. He was so afraid that he denied Jesus three times—even before a servant girl. But later, another change came upon him. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter boldly testified about Jesus before the very Jews who had fiercely opposed Him. He commanded a lame beggar to walk in the name of Jesus, and when the man was healed, he preached the gospel to the astonished crowd. And before the Sanhedrin, who sought to intimidate him, he fearlessly declared, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge!”
What happened to Peter when he was filled with the Holy Spirit? What restored him to the powerful, inspirational, and bold man he once was? By being filled with the Holy Spirit, he began to aware that Jesus was with him. Living with the consciousness of Jesus’ personal presence—this is the very heart of being filled with the Holy Spirit. A life that is conscious of Jesus’ presence! A life filled with His words! A life filled with the Holy Spirit means that Jesus’ thoughts become our thoughts, Jesus’ vision becomes our vision, Jesus’ standard becomes our standard, and Jesus’ ministry becomes our ministry.
Those who are conscious of Jesus’ presence! They come to do what they could never accomplish by their own strength—just as a ship is carried along by the wind filling its sails. In their thoughts, words, and actions, the character of Jesus is manifested, just as salt permeates and flavors aged meat! They are controlled by Jesus’ words, just as a glove moves only at the command of the hand! As Jesus’ words move them, Jesus’ words permeate them, and Jesus’ words govern them; they walk step by step along the path led by the Holy Spirit.
The fullness of the Holy Spirit is not granted to only a special few. Anyone who chooses to accept Jesus’ words and obey Him can receive it. Losing the fullness of the Holy Spirit is like returning to one’s old way of life. First, let us cast aside selfishness and fleshly desires within us. Let us grieve over our inability to decisively turn away from sin. Let us lay down our self-centered way of living and lift our hearts to Jesus, who is with us. We are not separated from Jesus. Even now, Jesus is guiding us, speaking to us, and walking with us step by step.
Overseer Sung-Hyun Kim
Lord’s Day Service on January 26, 2025
Sing to the Lord and Speak to One Another
Ephesians 5:19
Before the descendants of Israel had crossed through the walls of water in the Red Sea, the Egyptian chariots rushed in after them. They were completely trapped, with no way out. But then, God threw the Egyptians into confusion, and as Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, the water overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. This is how the Israelites were saved. What was the first thing they did after experiencing this incredible event? It was this—they sang. Filled with joy, they lifted their voices together, taking pride in being God’s people. It was powerful enough to break the spirits of their enemies who had sought to stand in their way.
Praise is the natural response of those who are saved by Christ’s grace. In a life filled with the Holy Spirit, the first and most evident sign is a heart overflowing with joy, expressed together with others. God not only puts spiritual songs in their mouths but also commands them to sing: “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph 5:19). This song, given by God to the new creation, is a spiritual song that the world cannot imitate—a new song that has never existed before.
“Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, And His praise in the assembly of saints” (Ps 149:1). What matters when we sing this new song is not simply being moved and singing alone, regardless of who is around, but rather singing together with the saints in the church. Of course, praise is ultimately offered to God, but singing together and blessing one another is a command from Him. It is a work commanded by God for saints to praise together and bless one another. When the saints lift their voices in unity, they remind one another of God’s grace and His will, confirm their hearts in obedience to the truth, and encourage and exhort one another. This is what God has entrusted to His people as He pours out the power of blessing upon them.
It is not something to be taken for granted that saints have the opportunity to sing praises to God together. In the Middle Ages, only trained specialists were allowed to sing in the church. But with the Reformation, all believers were able to lift their voices in praise to God. As these songs spread widely, the gospel finally took root in the hearts of the saints. Wherever the gospel was preached, the joy of salvation was expressed through various forms of music. As believers encouraged and exhorted one another through song, the Christian faith grew stronger and stronger—allowing us to inherit this legacy of faith today.
We do not know how long we will have the opportunity to sing together. Therefore, while we still have the chance, let us sing together. Let us not limit this precious opportunity by clinging to our personal preferences in musical style, but instead, let us sing together in the power to bless that God pours out upon us. The songs of the world will all fade away in time, but the praises we offer to bless one another will continue forever in heaven. When we sing, the Lord sings with us. Therefore, let us sing together, speaking to one another with gratitude and joy. Let the praise the Lord sings within us never cease.
Overseer Sung-Hyun Kim
Lord’s Day Service on February 2, 2025
Give Thanks Always for All Things
Ephesians 5:20
The king of Judah, Jehoshaphat, was disheartened when he heard that the Moabites, Ammonites, and other nations had united to attack. It was evident that there was no way to defeat such a powerful enemy. At that moment, Jahaziel, moved by the Spirit of the Lord, declared, “Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.” The king trusted these words, sent his soldiers to the battlefield, and ordered the singers to go before them, singing, “Praise the LORD, For His mercy endures forever.” In this way, before the battle had even begun, the king was already certain of victory and gave thanks. And indeed, they were victorious.
If Jehoshaphat had given thanks only after gaining victory, his gratitude would not have shone so brightly. Of course, there are people in the world who remain ungrateful even after winning. They take victory for granted and see no reason to give thanks. A person who believes they are entitled to victory could never truly give thanks to God. In contrast, those who acknowledge that their victory comes from God and give thanks are blessed. But there is someone even more blessed than this—the one who, like King Jehoshaphat, gives thanks in faith, believing in victory even before it is received.
However, there is an even higher level of thanksgiving. It is the gratitude offered not in victory, but in the midst of suffering of defeat. This is true maturity—the kind of gratitude that God the Father desires from His children. Even when our lives are in the depths of despair, God remains worthy of our thanksgiving. Even if our earnest desires remain unfulfilled, everything will unfold according to God’s will, and He will be glorified. Gratitude is not a matter of choice. God is worthy of thanksgiving in any and every circumstance.
Everything comes from God. It is the same whether it brings us joy or suffering. Therefore, we can give thanks in all things. Those who are filled with the Holy Spirit trust that God will ultimately work for good through every circumstance. No matter what trials or hardships they face, they do not doubt that God, in His wisdom and love, takes care of them. That is why they can give thanks even in suffering. They are grateful even when their health fails, and even when a loved one loses their life—just as Job gave thanks when he lost all his children in a single day.
Everything we experience will ultimately be revealed as good in Christ. We have become heirs with Him and are already partakers of His glory. Since He intercedes for us before God, everything we go through—whether joy or sorrow—will ultimately become a reason for praise and thanksgiving. Because we are in Him, the thanksgiving we offer, in the end, is Christ Himself giving thanks to God the Father. Let us glorify God the Father, the source of every good gift and every perfect gift. No matter what we face, in every situation and circumstance, let us give thanks to God the Father in Christ.
Overseer Sung-Hyun Kim
Lord’s Day Service on February 9, 2025
