See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 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, submitting to one another in the fear of God. Ephesians 5:15-21 NKJV
Building People of Substance for Works of Power
November 14, 2025
Over the years, I’ve seen a lot of interesting things attributed to being filled with, or somehow influenced by the Holy Spirit. People laugh, they cry, they fall on the floor, they speak in new tongues, and you can probably name others. Every group seems to have its own favorite ideas. Sometimes, they even fight over them.
Speaking to the Ephesians, Paul gave some great advice: Be wise, not foolish. Use your time well, and follow God’s will. How about an “Amen!”? The first step in becoming wise is to stop destructive behaviors. Instead of getting drunk, be filled with the Spirit.
In describing the attributes of that Spirit-filled life, he gave a specific list of five participles—that is, the “ing” form of a verb. Here’s Paul’s list of action words for living full of 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 God has done
- Submitting to one another in the fear of God.
Speaking, singing, making melody, giving thanks, and submitting are arranged in a unique order. Together, they form a kind of “Spirit sandwich!” The first slice of bread is speaking to one another in a way that is music to the ears. The meat in the middle is a heart filled with melodies of praise and thanksgiving to God. The top slice is a second piece of “one another” bread—submitting to one another in the fear of God. There’s much to say about each of these, but I want to take a deeper look at the final piece of bread on top of the sandwich: “Submitting.”
The phrase “submitting to one another in the fear of God” highlights the influence of the Spirit on our interactions with others. The one another bread on the top and bottom of our sandwich let us know that the presence of God in our heart is displayed by how we treat one another.
This final “one another” introduces a series of teachings on relationships within the home, including those between husbands and wives, parents and children, and masters and servants. Paul provides examples of what submission might look like in these settings.
This series of illustrations begins with the infamous reference to wives submitting to their husbands. It has been taken out of context to justify all kinds of ridiculous things. God never intends for husbands to be tyrants in their homes, demanding conformity to their will. Rather, the husband is only one of the “one-anothers” who live in a family where Jesus is the head. A husband’s job is to love. This means setting aside his own desires to serve the needs of others. He loves by submitting. We all do.
The Greek word translated as “submission,” hupotasso, was originally a military term referring to soldiers’ organizing themselves in obedience to their superiors so they could fulfill their mission. Here, it is used in the “middle voice,” implying cooperation between parties. In other literature from that period, the word conveyed voluntary action, such as deferring to the needs of another or offering service or support. The emphasis was on humility and relational harmony rather than coerced obedience. In this passage, Paul was likely challenging the often brutal Greco-Roman patriarchal norms, prioritizing voluntary harmony instead of dominance by force or position.
This passage is powerful because of the final phrase, ‘in the fear of God’. Newer translations usually use ‘reverence’ or ‘respect’ instead. The idea is one of awe, not terror. This is a significant distinction. We submit to one another out of reverence for God and His Christ. I submit to others out of devotion to the One who created them. Together, we esteem and defer to others as part of our reverent submission to God. We organize ourselves in the best way to carry out the King’s mission.
I recently read an article that said, ‘All relationships are transactional.’ The idea is that, as self-centered beings, we are motivated in every relationship by what we can get out of it. In order to get what we want, we trade something that the other person wants, be it time, attention or possessions. As Christians, we have a very different perspective.
Somebody said: Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat. Mother Teresa
Here’s the point: Spirit-filled living is about more than just a series of disconnected emotional experiences. It transforms my identity and my values. Every human being is made in God’s image. No matter how much they have been defaced by sin, they still have worth. The price has already been paid: Jesus shed his blood, and his life is in the blood. He paid the highest imaginable price, and yet He still believes it was worth it. Our relationships are not transactional; they are devotional. Submitting to one another in the fear of God is an act of worship.
Pastor Virgil
3141 W. Ironwood Hill Dr.
Tucson, AZ 85741
pastorvirgil.com 