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As you know, for the last several months in my devotional talks we’ve been looking at the Lord’s prayer in Matthew chapter 6. However, I want to take a break from that tonight and look at something completely different.
I’m going to be reading from the book of Ephesians. I know that all Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable, but it does seem to me that the book of Ephesians is one of the mountain peaks of the Bible—full of wonderful truth regarding Jesus Christ and His great atoning work on the cross for us sinners and of the whole scope of redemption from before the beginning of time until that great consummation in the ages to come. It’s also full of practical application of gospel truth to our daily lives.
I want to read just a short passage from Ephesians 5:15-20.
The first verse in the passage I read is a kind of key verse for the whole section beginning there and ending at chapter 6:9. This passage concentrates on the believer’s walk, and especially with regard to relationships. After making some general statements about relationships, Paul will talk specifically about relationships between husbands and wives, parents and children, and masters and servants.
Two key concepts are the words “walk” and “wise.” “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.” Circumspectly means diligently or accurately. Our Christian life is not to be aimless and erratic, but diligent, orderly, watchful, careful.
One of the greatest tests of wisdom is how we use our time. In verse 16 Paul says, “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Again, his emphasis is that we should not be aimless and careless in the use of our time, but to be diligent and careful, buying up every opportunity for doing good.
In verse 17 he says “be not unwise.” Don’t be unthinking and careless. You see his emphasis here: over and over again he is emphasizing the fact that our Christian lives need to be orderly and controlled and careful.
Now let’s move on to verse 18 which is really my text for this talk tonight. This is probably the most important verse in the whole passage. It reveals that the source of the wisdom, carefulness, diligence, etc. that Paul has been talking about is the Holy Spirit.
But why does Paul introduce drunkenness here? Perhaps he remembers the story of the mockers in Acts 2:13-16. You remember that on the day of Pentecost the believers who were filled with the Holy Spirit were accused of being drunk. And there are definitely some similarities: exuberance, boldness, joyfulness.
But Paul’s main thrust is the not the similarities, but the CONTRAST between the two. The drunk is characterised by LACK OF CONTROL (or being controlled by a wrong influence, depending on the way you look at it). The Spirit-filled Christian is characterised by a controlled, disciplined, ordered life.
For example, the drunk throws away (wastes) his time, energy, and money. The Spirit-filled Christian, however, REDEEMS the time, and uses his energy and money for profitable purposes.
Drunkenness exhausts, whereas the Holy Spirit energises.
Drunkenness gives false stimulation and happiness; alcohol APPEARS to be a stimulant, but pharmacologically it is listed as a DEPRESSANT.
“Alcohol as a drug affecting the central nervous system belongs in a class with the barbiturates, minor tranquillizers, and general anesthetics and is commonly classified as a depressant.”– Enc. Britt.
It knocks out the highest functions of the brain: “The most important immediate actions of alcohol are on the highest functions of the brain–those of thinking, learning, remembering, and making judgments.”
Because it knocks out the highest functions, the lower parts of the brain begin to take control, and the man becomes more animal like. Because restraint is gone, men think they have been stimulated. But the long term effect is one of depression rather than stimulation.
The Spirit, on the other hand, brings REAL JOY. His influence is not deceitful, it is the only TRUE stimulant available, the only real source of lasting joy. The joy of the Spirit is the only joy that continues even in times of adversity.
So let’s conclude by looking at this very important phrase, “be filled with the Spirit.”
I want to look at it by asking two questions:
1. What exactly does Paul mean by being “filled with the Spirit”? and
2. How does it come about?
1. What exactly does Paul mean by being “filled with the Spirit”?
Well, first of all, the tense used here is what we call the present continuous, so it should really read “be being filled” or “be continually filled.” Once again the Amplified version helps us out: “but ever be filled and stimulated with the Holy Spirit.” Perhaps it indicates a state rather than an experience (i.e. Acts 2:4 “were filled” indicates an action completed, whereas this is a continuous process), though it seems the difference is very subtle.
The being filled, being constantly “topped up” with the Spirit, is what gives us the power to WALK WISELY and to SUBMIT ourselves. Because of the context (i.e. comparison with drunkenness) to be filled with the Spirit in this sense means that He controls all our thoughts, feelings, words, actions, as alcohol controls the drunkard.
A drunk is “under the influence” of drink. Be “under the influence” of the Spirit is what Paul is saying. Allow Him to control your mind and heart and will. Sometimes we say a person is “full” of a subject or a person or a thing (such as a book, perhaps); we mean that he seems to talk or think about nothing else. “He has a one-track mind” we say. Paul is saying that’s how we need to be—have a one track mind for the things of God.
2. How does it come about?
Because it is a command, i.e. “be filled”, this means that it is largely up to us as to whether we are filled or not. But how are we filled?
The following are suggestions of how we might “be filled.”
1. Desire it.
2. Pray for it.
3. Obey all the Spirit’s promptings (the more we obey Him the more we will be controlled by Him and “filled” with Him).
Walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16-17) and He will subdue the flesh in us.
4. Spend time in His presence and with His holy Word.
I end with a quote from E. F. Stroter on being filled with the Spirit:
“It is undoubtedly the privilege and within the reach of any and every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, to be constantly filled with the Spirit. For it is written: ‘Know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have from God? and ye are not your own’ (1 Cor. 6:19). And this wonderful gift of God, the Holy Spirit in the believer, waits with infinite patience that He may be allowed full and unhindered admission into every recess of our mind, soul, and heart, and that He may have absolute control of our bodily life and all its members, so that He may fill these temples of the living God with the very glory of God.”
May God help each of us to be continuously filled with the Holy Spirit.