http://www.box.net/shared/t7lshv806q
Sermon based on Ephesians 5:18
18And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit
How many of us have been drunk on alcohol or high on drugs before? The feeling may be awesome but it is only but temporary, not to mention there are harmful side- and after-effects like withdrawal symptoms and being hungover. Well, there is a way to get emotionally high without the negative effects.
In this sermon, Rev Reuben Ng shares about his recent mountain-top experience in USA and explains what Paul means in Eph 5:18 about not being drunk with wine tbat leads to debauchery but to be filled to fullness with the Holy Spirit.
Author's note:
In the Old Testament, we read in 2 Sam 6:14 about how King David danced with reckless abandon unto the Lord to celebrate the Ark of the Covenant being brought to Jerusalem.
There was great reason for David to rejoice because the Ark was the most sacred furniture in the Tabernacle, being the only one to be placed in the Holy of Holies. It was symbolic of God's very presence. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the Chief Priest would enter the Holy of Holies to sprinkle the blood of bulls and goats on the mercy seat (which is what the "cover" of the Ark was called).
The Ark had remained in the Tabernacle when the Israelites were camped in the wilderness and went before them upon the shoulders of the priests when they had marched round the city of Jericho. Sadly, upon occupying the Promised Land, the Israelites had started to forget about God, and the Ark was even stolen by the Philistines. It was only when David became King that he arranged for the Ark to be brought back to the capital city, and was thus called "a man after God's heart". After Solomon built the temple, the Ark was then placed in the Holy of Holies there.
Having said that, the above was however but a shadow. When Jesus died on the cross, the temple veil was torn in two from top to bottom, signalling that we can enter into God's very presence. Jesus is now our mercy seat. Hence, the substance today is that God's very presence is with us via His Holy Spirit, which dwells in the heart of every believer. Nonetheless, we can still be like David, dancing with reckless abandon unto the Lord, and being continually filled to fullness and celebrating the Holy Spirit's indwelling.
Another point to note is that the devil is a "copycat", but a poor one. For example, sex is created by God as the ultimate expression of intimacy in the context of marriage between husband and wife. The devil has inspired counterfeit versions such as fornication and adultery, but they are never able to satisfy and have harmful side-effects. Similarly, emotions are created by God and so to the feeling of being emotionally high. I am not a drinker and have not been drunk, nor have I been high on drugs. However, I have experienced being emotionally high before, the most pronounced was during a time of worship at New Creation Church back in August 2007. It was awesome, and I have blogged about it before, entitling it "Close Encounter with the Third Person".
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