by Mike Elliott
 
Eph. 5:18: “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” This verse is in the imperative. We are, in effect, commanded to be filled with the Spirit. Since this is a command, we need to know exactly what we are being commanded to do. Because of the words used in the English translation, we could misapply or misinterpret this verse. At first glance, this verse might cause one to think that we are something like a glass of water and can be half empty or three-quarters full. We might believe that we have to do something to make ourselves full of the Spirit. Do I have to do something to get more of the Spirit?

You and I received all of the Spirit we would ever have at the moment of our salvation. We will never have any more of Him. He is the third person of the Godhead, and He cannot be divided up. You either have the Spirit of God, or you don’t. Rom. 8:9: “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”

Let us go back to the text because it will give us some clues to a proper interpretation. We are told “not to be drunk with wine.” This is our first clue. The verse is contrasting the negative effects that too much wine can have upon a person with the positive effects the Spirit of God has. When you are drunk, you are not in control of your faculties. A drunk may not be in control of his speech, his walk, his thoughts, or his actions. The alcohol has, in effect, taken control of the drunk. The spirit should, on the other hand, control us. John MacArthur puts it this way. “He is giving a command for believers to live continually under the influence of the Spirit by letting the Word control them... surrendering to God’s will, and depending on His power in all things.”

Just as Jesus was controlled by the will of the Father, we need to be controlled by the Spirit. John 5:19: “So Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.’”

Now the obvious question is, “How do I become Spirit-controlled and not be self-controlled?” If we go back to John, chapter 5, I believe it will tell us in the preceding verses. We are to follow God, walk in love, not be partakers of evil, walk in the light, not have fellowship with darkness, walk circumspectly, and redeem the time. Understanding what is expected and doing it are two different things. Without Christ’s enablement, we will be doing this, or trying to do this, in the flesh. As our Pastor has said, “We need to co-operate with God and abide in Him to be Spirit filled.”

Phil. 2:13: “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” God will give you both the desire and the ability to do it as we commit each day -- even better, each moment -- to Him. When you are Spirit-controlled, the songs and melodies in your heart to the Lord, a thankful and grateful spirit, and a submissive spirit will evidence it.
 
 
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