Ephesians 5:17-21
“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.”
Earlier in Ephesians we are told that we were ‘sealed’ with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1.13-14), and we were admonished not to ‘grieve’ the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4.30). Now Ephesians instructs us: “Do not get drunk with wine … but be filled with the Spirit.”
The point is that we should be under the influence of the Holy Spirit, not under the control of some other intoxicating substance. When we are under the influence of the Holy Spirit we do not lose control, we gain control. When we are under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or impulsive emotions… we do not gain control, we lose it.
Peter provides additional insight on this essential spiritual discipline. “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith.” (1 Peter 5:8-9)
Being alert and prepared for the attacks of the enemy requires a clear and sober mind. It requires recognizing what is going on around you. Understanding where the dangers are. Being aware of the things that have the potential to hurt you, your family, or your community.
Being sober-minded an watchful is about being discerning. The adversary is deceitful and constantly on the prowl. He is always hunting, and you are the prey he is stalking. In an attempt to deceive you and lure you in, the adversary uses:
- Attractive lies: Things that look good but aren’t good.
- Undisciplined passions: Things that feel good but aren’t good.
- Misguided ego: Things we think will make us look good but aren’t good.
Clarity is power. When you are under the influence of the Holy Spirit, you are sober-minded and situationally aware. You see what is going on, you see what the Enemy is trying to do, and you see what you need to do to protect yourself. When you are under the influence of the Spirit, your thinking is clear.
Why? Because the Spirit empowers your discernment and clarity of thinking. The Spirit empowers your self-control. You manage your emotions and thoughts. The Spirit gives you the ability to get your mind right and be mentally strong and emotionally resilient.
People who are intoxicated are exactly the opposite. The are not self-aware, not situationally aware, and they make bad decisions. Why? Because their thinking is impaired by the presence of an inebriating substance or emotion, and they lose self-control. The intoxicant compromises their mental and emotional state. They are not sober-minded, and therefore not watchful, which makes them highly vulnerable to the deceitful and destructive attacks of the spirit of the age.
When someone is in an emotionally intoxicated state, they believe attractive lies, indulge undisciplined passions, and are driven by misguided ego. They become captive to the spirit of the age. This is precisely what is happening to many people in contemporary culture.
However, lest we self-righteously pick up a stone to cast at others, we must first courageously look inward. Ask yourself:
- What attractive lies have you embraced? This is challenging, difficult, deep spiritual work. If you quickly dismiss the question and say you have not embraced any attractive lies, then you are seriously self-deceived and not walking with the Spirit.
- What undisciplined passions cause you to stray off-path? What desires tend to hijack you? What disruptive emotions do you have a tendency to fail to control?
- Where in your life are you directed by misguided ego? Because the old nature is self-oriented, arrogance is easy to fall into. We all have a tendency to be “right in our own eyes.” However, throughout scripture we are told that arrogance is the way of a fool, whereas humility is the way of wisdom.
Let us, then, avoid the inebriating influence of anything that would impair the clarity of our thinking or the wisdom of our judgment, and instead be filled with the Holy Spirit. Let us be watchful and alert so that we stand firm in the faith and defeat the adversary.
The Lord is calling.
