"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
What we have said in yesterday's Note gives the context of Paul's exhortation; and looked at in this way, the 'fullness of the Spirit' is given content, and does not become simply an experience evacuated of doctrinal meaning. It is hardly possible to over-estimate the importance of this consideration. Indeed, we must see this command to be 'filled with the Spirit' as one further expression of the Apostle's characteristic pattern throughout all his teaching. We have already seen some examples of this in chapter 5 as well as earlier: First the indicatives, then the imperatives based on them - for example, 'Ye are light in the Lord' - that is the indicative; 'Walk as children of light' - that is the imperative. In the same way this imperative to be 'filled with the Spirit' is based on the indicatives in 1:13, 14 and 4:30, 'sealed with the Holy Spirit'. What Paul is saying in effect is this: He has come to indwell you: now let Him! Let that indwelling be all that it was meant to be, and designed to be. Allow Him full sway and control within you. That is what it is to be filled with the Spirit.
To look at it in this way gives the whole subject a very wonderful, integral place in Paul's thinking in this epistle. For example look at
1:13, 14 Sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise
1:18, 19 Prayer that believers may know the greatness of the Spirit's work
2:22 An habitation of God through the Spirit
3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith ... that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God
And then this: 'Be filled with the Spirit.' Note the sequence: first the indicative, then the intercession, and then the command: let that sealing, that indwelling, be all it was meant by God to be. Allow that Spirit to have full control and sway within you. In other words, live in character with what is the truth about you, that is live as one who is indwelt by the Spirit. And we need to remember that it is not impossible to live out of character with the truth of our position - but it is preposterous to do so, and a living lie, if we do.