Skip to main content

Ephesians 5:18: Be Filled With The Spirit


Ephesians 5:18
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit (ESV)

At first glance, this verse seems to be about condemning the use of alcohol in the life of the believer.  In fact, I can guarantee you that many a preacher has used this verse to preach against any drinking of alcohol.  But, I do not believe this verse is focused on the the prohibition of alcoholic beverages in a believer's life, but rather the admonition to be filled with the Spirit! I really appreciate what the great Baptist Preacher Charles Stanley has to say about this verse:

"Although God wants every believer to be filled with the Spirit, many Christians are not sure what this means or what it looks like. To help us understand that whatever fills us controls us, Paul cites drunkenness as a negative example of “filling” and tells us to avoid it. Every believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, but the extent of His rule is determined by the Christian’s freedom to comply."
- Charles Stanley, www.intouch.org.

What happens when someone is drunk? They are under the influence of the alcohol. In fact, we use that expression for drunk drivers of automobiles . . . driving under the influence. May I suggest to you that we, as believers, ought to be “wise walking under the influence.” Under the influence of the Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit should have complete control of what we are doing, where we are going, the decisions we are making.

How much of the time do we live as if the Holy Spirit is nowhere to be found. We are not under his influence. And maybe we are patting ourselves on the back saying, “I don’t drink alcohol.” That’s fine, but are you under the influence of the Holy Spirit? The more that you yield yourself to the Holy Spirit's control the more you will be able to do things that he calls you to do. 

Have you ever wished that you could forgive that person who wronged you, but you just cannot? By being filled with the Holy Spirit you can allow him to enable you to forgive.  Walking in purity? Be filled with the Holy Spirit. Share the Gospel with your neighbor?  You will need the Spirit's control for that.

How will you yield yourself to the Spirit's control today?  What amazing things can be accomplished for the Kingdom if you will be filled with the Holy Spirit? Be filled!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Romans 8:18: For I Consider That The Sufferings Of This Present Time Are Not Worth Comparing

Romans 8:18 [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV) Perspective. What an important word. Let's be honest. We do not like the idea of suffering. We will do almost anything to avoid any kind of suffering. Some churches have gone so far as to preach against the idea of suffering, declaring it to not be a part of the true believer's life. Paul is not shy about the topic. Paul uses the sufferings of this present time as a means to consider the greater glory that awaits us. Perspective. Paul is not in any way attempting to diminish our suffering. A view toward eternity puts our suffering in a proper understanding. Yes, our suffering is terrible. In the grand scheme of eternity it is not even worth comparison. Maybe you are thinking that Paul does not know what he is talking about when it comes to suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul describes countless beatings, often near death,

Romans 11:24: For If You Were Cut From What Is By Nature A Wild Olive Tree, And Grafted, Contrary To Nature, Into A Cultivated Olive Tree . . .

Romans 11:24 [24] For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (ESV) We continue looking at the illustration of an olive tree. The root of the tree is the covenant relationship relationship of God with Abraham. Abraham's faith is what this spiritual tree is built on. The first branches would have been the faithful people of Israel, who like Abraham, placed their faith in God. They believed God, just like Abraham, and it was credited to them as righteousness. There were branches of the people of Israel who never placed their faith in God. Because these branches were not true followers of God they were broken off of the tree. Faith in God was the essential element that made the branches true branches of this spiritual tree. Some branches remained. Others, the faithless unbelievers, were removed. After Jesu

Romans 15:20-21: And Thus I Make It My Ambition To Preach The Gospel, Not Where Christ Has Already Been Named

Romans 15:20–21 [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, [21] but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (ESV) We need to be reminded continually that the message of the Gospel is intended to move all across the world. Jesus said that his followers were to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and continue preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Christians have not always been good at delivering the Gospel message as far and as often as they should. In the first century church it took intense persecution to motivate the disciples in Jerusalem to bring the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Once the disciples fled to new regions they shared the Gospel wherever they went. Would the disciples have preached the Gospel without the persecution? We may never know. Some probably would have stayed in their co