“The Price of Blessing” # 1 Ephesians 5:1-21

TRANSCRIPT

Date: August 2, 2026 Author: Wayne J. Edwards

Sixty-one percent of U.S. churchgoers describe the Holy Spirit as a divine force but not a personal being. Sadly, this describes the same attitude toward the Holy Spirit as the unchurched, which is why Christianity—specifically mainline Protestantism and Catholicism—is experiencing the fastest overall decline among major religious groups in the United States. According to every survey, 90% of those who claim to be Christians are living defeated lives, unable to live the victorious Christian life Jesus died to give us, because they are relying upon their human willpower to do what only the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit can do. Trying to serve God through human effort instead of submitting to the daily guidance and power of the Holy Spirit leads to frustration and spiritual defeat, In Ephesians 5:18, Paul gives a clear command to believers to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit. This means letting the Spirit control and guide our daily lives, rather than being led by the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. In this first part, I plan to lay the biblical foundation for what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit, which is “The Price of Blessing.” The sermon may be viewed at theheritagechurch.org Join us on Sunday at 10:00 AM for the live stream and participate in the worship service. The sermon will be available on our website and YouTube. The YouTube URL: https://www.youtube.com@heritagebaptistchurchperry Thank you for your continued support. Please share this email with anyone you think might find it helpful for their spiritual growth. Pastor Wayne

Sixty-one percent of U.S. churchgoers describe the Holy Spirit as a divine force but not a personal being. Sadly, this describes the same attitude toward the Holy Spirit as the unchurched, which is why Christianity—specifically mainline Protestantism and Catholicism—is experiencing the fastest overall decline among major religious groups in the United States.

According to every survey, 90% of those who claim to be Christians are living defeated lives, unable to live the victorious Christian life Jesus died to give us, because they are relying upon their human willpower to do what only the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit can do. Trying to serve God through human effort instead of submitting to the daily guidance and power of the Holy Spirit leads to frustration and spiritual defeat,

In Ephesians 5:18, Paul gives a clear command to believers to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit. This means letting the Spirit control and guide our daily lives, rather than being led by the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.

In this first part, I plan to lay the biblical foundation for what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit, which is “The Price of Blessing.”

Pastor Wayne

Download the following translated Sermon guides:

Old Testament Reading – Ezekiel 36:16-32 New Testament Reading – Galatians 5:16-26

In Ephesians 2:10, the Apostle Paul said: “Christians are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

3. Be Filled with the Holy Spirit – Ephesians 5:17-18 – “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” KJV

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