
On the day of Pentecost, Christ poured out the Holy Spirit on his church, equipping her to serve him, giving her what was needed to do her work until the day that he returns in glory. What does the Spirit working in the church look like? Paul explains in Ephesians 5:18–21 as he calls you to keep on being filled with the Spirit.
Be filled with the Spirit. Don’t get drunk! Being under the influence of the Spirit is not to be confused with loss of self-control. In particular Paul warns against drunkenness. Excessive wine leads to debauchery–the kind of life which is the opposite of love, light, and wisdom. Recognize the temptation, and shun it. This is not a command for total abstinence, but it is a stern warning against the abuse of alcohol. It is perhaps something that we need to be particularly aware of as we react against errors of fundamentalism. But, likely the reason Paul singles out this sin is because of its influence. We talk about a DUI. We are to be under the influence, not of alcohol or any other substance, but under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
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