Our text for today is from Ephesians 5:18 *(NIV)
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to
debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
I was sharing this verse tonight at our
men’s Wednesday night bible study. We’ve been studying the book of Ephesians for
about five months now. No one’s in a hurry. There’s so much “strong meat” 1 (solid doctrine) it
takes time to chew on all of it for a while.
The context of verse 18 is getting drunk.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are
light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for
the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and
truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have
nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose
them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the
disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed
by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a
light. 14 This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise
but as wise,16 making the most of every
opportunity, because the days are evil.17 Therefore
do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to
debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
Everyday folks in pubs around the world
lift their drafts up singing beer drinking songs! God wants us to do the same
thing in the church today. What’s happened to the boisterous Christians of the
Second Chapter of Acts? On the Day of Pentecost there were 120 believers filled
with the Holy Ghost; talking in tongues; walking around “witnessing in Jerusalem, to those from Judea and
Samaria, and the ends of the earth’
(see Acts 1:8) They were speaking in the native dialects of Jewish Pentecostal
pilgrims from all over the world.
Acts 2:12 Amazed and perplexed, [the pilgrims] asked one another, “What does this
mean?” 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said,
“They have had too much wine.”
The 120 disciples were thought to have
been drunk! When was the last time your church service was thought to be a
booze party! God wants us to be absolutely blasted in the Holy Ghost!
*New
International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®
Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica,
Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
1 Strong meat Heb 5:11
