On my vacation in San Francisco, I have been reading through Romans, Galatians, and Ephesians. Romans 11:36 stuck out to me, "For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen." In Galatians, Paul reminds us that we should not abandon the gospel of grace. We have been saved and justified through faith alone in the sacrifice of our savior. In Galatians 6:14, Paul says that he will not boast in anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The cross is a symbol of death to sin, our sinful flesh, our separation from the world system in rebellion against God our Creator.

But tonight in my devotions, I read Ephesians. A church member recently has come up to me asking for insight into the ministry of the Holy Spirit. I am blessed that this member seeks wisdom and wants to live by the power of the Holy Spirit. So I've been thinking lately on what a Spirit-filled believer looks like in everyday life. Ephesians 5:15-21 gives us the answer:

    [15] Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, [16] making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. [17] Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. [18] And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, [19] addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, [20] giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, [21] submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:15-21 ESV)

1. A Spirit Filled Person understands the will of the Lord (vv. 15-17)

He seeks to know the mind of Christ through the Word of God. In other words, he lets the "word of Christ" dwell in him richly (Col. 3:16-17). The Holy Spirit is the One who guided the process of revealing divine scripture (2 Pet. 1:21, 2 Tim. 3:16-17). If we want to be spirit-filled, then we must be Bible-saturated believers.

2. A Spirit Filled Person exercises self-control (v. 18)

Paul says in Galatians 5:22 that a Spirit filled person exercises self-control. Here, specifically, it is applied to abstaining from alcohol.

3. A Spirit Filled Person sings praise to God with church community (v. 19)

Instead of putting down people, gossiping, or slandering others, a spirit-filled person communicates words of truth. Specifically in this passage, singing hymns and spiritual songs to one another. When is the last time I sang a hymn or spiritual song while driving with my wife? Or sang some hymns out of spontaneous praise to God with other church members?

4. A Spirit Filled Person Gives Thanks (v. 20)

It says give thanks always and for everything. I need to thank God for good times and bad times. Right now, I thank God for vacation in SF. I thank him for new friends in Oakland. I thank him for giving us the gift of marriage. I thank God for celebrating the union of Brian and Irene Lum. I even thank God for my own marriage and my precious wife. On the other hand, I thank God for conflicts in marriage. I thank God for burdens in ministry to grow me in patience. I thank God for brokenness. I thank God for showing me my sin so that I can repent.

5. A Spirit Filled Person Submits (v. 21)

A Spirit Filled Person submits to others. I need to submit to Christ first and foremost. Then I need to submit to my wife in loving her and cherishing her. Then I need to submit to my parents in honoring them. I need to call them more often and think about evidences of grace in their lives instead of putting them down (Eph 6:1-2).

These are the marks of a truly Spirit-filled person. Amen.

I have been noticing a pattern in my life that I am not pleased with. Listening to sermons and reading The Next Story: Life and Faith After the Digital Explosion by Tim Challies has confirmed this pattern in my life that I want to repent of. What I am not pleased with is that at many times I notice that technology controls me. In other words, technology has become an idol in my heart.

You might think that this is too extreme, but let me give you a few examples:

1. The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is to check my android phone. I check my email, bank accounts, mint.com, and facebook. Two hours later, I check again. One hour later, I check again. Go read a book, I check again. Take a shower, I check again. Helen comes home from work, I check again. Something is going wrong here....

2. Whenever I sermon prep, I get distracted by the Internet. I check the latest scores of a paintball tournament, log on to facebook, check out CNN, click to AOL news, and check out my wife's blog. In other words, I can't focus on the Word of God because I am distracted. Although I have set aside 4 hours for sermon preparation and study, in reality I've have only studied less than 2 hours.

3. My wife and I have got into arguments because we ignore each other because of our technology. I confess that in the past I have ignored my wife while she has had a conversation with me because I check my phone or I am on the IPAD checking out Les Miserables youtube videos. Likewise, we have talked about limiting our technology/internet/blog in the evening so that we can spend quality time together.

4. I personally confess that I have been guilty of checking paintball scores and videos during a church business meeting even though I am one of the pastors of the church! Lord, forgive me!

I believe these patterns in my life have not been pleasing to the Lord. The Holy Spirit has been convicting me that I need to use my time better because the days are short (Eph 5:15-18).

In his book, Tim Challies argues that technology is part of God's creation mandate given to man. Man is to be fruitful, have dominion over, and subdue the earth (See Genesis 2). And man creates technology to fulfill those ends. However, the Fall in Genesis 3  shows that technology is subjected to the Curse. No longer does man use technology to glorify the Creator, but he can use it to dishonor God and be enslaved by it.

Technology is neutral. However, technology can be used for good or for evil. You can use your iphone or android to read the Bible or you can use your iphone or android to view porn. You can use your facebook to tweet insightful quotes from great Christian authors or you can use your facebook to slander or complain. You can use your twitter to tweet some bible verses you are memorizing or use your twittter to talk about irrelevant information. In short, you can either use your technology to glorify God or dishonor Him (1 Cor 10:31).

Here are some specific applications that I am resolved to limit the control of technology in my life. I want to control technology and not be controlled by it. 

1. Instead of checking my phone in the morning, read the bible or pray.

Why not start off the day reading God's word instead of checking someone's facebook status that has absolutely no eternal signficance?

2. Instead of checking the internet multiple times a day, do something productive.

I can use all that wasted time to either work out, eat lunch with a friend, study Hebrew and Greek, call my wife to tell her I love her, memorize bible verses, or read some good books.

3. Instead of checking the internet uselessly, browse with a purpose.

I need not waste time browsing when I can check the internet with purpose. I need to check to respond to church emails. Or make sure certain checks are written out for rent or my tithes. I need to think about why I need to use the internet.

4. Give thanks to God for allowing technology in my life to better glorify Him!

How can I better glorify God with the internet? Facebook? This blog? Lord thank you for giving us the internet with tons of information! Thank you for a social network that allows us to communicate instantly! Help me use the internet and technology wisely. Help my glorify you by exercising self-control in this area of my life and please forgive me for wasting your precious time while I can be seeking the kingdom of God (Matt 6:33).