January 20, 2014

“Not Drunk. Filled!”

Blessings Folk!

We continue to see the instructions of the Lord related to lov’n OneAnother and walk’n in the Spirit.

Today we will look at one verse.
One instruction.

This one verse is quoted...partially…often in our community.
The part that is not quoted is often ignored, left out, unconsidered...to the detriment of the Kingdom.

Ephesians 5:18
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

We are told to “be not drunk with wine.”

We, as believers, are not to be drunk with wine.

I am unaware of anywhere in the Scripture (outside of a Nazarite vow) that forbids the ingestion of fermented drink.

We create a standard that communicates something that God does not say.

God says be not drunk...do not abuse such.
We say, none at all. This is incorrect.

We are very inconsistent in our application of the Word.

In my experience, those who have been the strongest advocates of misinterpreting the Scripture related to the subject, ignore the balance of the following verses.

Proverbs 23:20
Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat;

Proverbs 23:21
For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe one with rags.

Matthew 11:19
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

Heavy drinkers...abusers...of wine are often seen with abusers of food.

How many who rant and rave over any drink, carry the evidence in their bodies of gluttony?
Most I know.

Rather than pointing the finger with our Pharisaical interpretation, we should be doing what the Word states simply.

Do not be drunk.
Be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Many, many professing believers are not filled with the Holy Spirit.
We will chase that around later.

For now.

Love OneAnother.
Be not drunk.
Be filled with the Holy Spirit.