Living in the Spirit

Be Not Drunk with Wine--Part 1

by

John MacArthur
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)!hesians &+1$a

,a!e '( 1-./

0ntroduction Ephesians 5:18-20 describes the Spirit-filled life. It is one of the most important aspects of the Christian walk. itho!t the constant control of the Spirit of "od# the belie$er cannot li$e b% "od&s standard. 'ne wa% to see the book of Ephesians is to $iew the belie$er as if he were a hi(h-performance a!tomobile. ). *he En(ine Ephesians 1:1--+:1+ describes the belie$er&s inheritance and position in Christ. It is somewhat analo(o!s to the a!tomobile&s ma,or so!rce of power--the en(ine. *he belie$er has been (i$en f!ll power beca!se of his relationship to Christ -Eph. 1:1.-21/. 0. *he I(nition Switch In Ephesians +:11-21 2a!l describes what can be likened to the i(nition switch in the a!tomobile. It does no (ood to ha$e a hi(h- powered en(ine if it can&t be t!rned on. )s %o! are controlled b% "od&s Spirit# onl% then do %o! be(in to !nderstand what it means to li$e the Christian life. )s we mat!re# "od will do 3e4ceedin(l%# ab!ndantl% abo$e all that we ask or think# accordin( to the power that worketh in !s3 -+:20/. *he power of "od in o!r li$es allows the belie$er to li$e a life that is pleasin( to 5im. C. *he 6oad 7ap Ephesians 1:1--8:. describes the spirit!al ro!te we&re to dri$e. *he belie$er is commanded to mo$e alon( the path that is worth% of his callin( -1:1/. *he road to Spirit-controlled li$in( is $er% different from the world and in$ol$es h!milit% $erses pride# !nit% $erses discord# lo$e $erses hate# li(ht $erses darkness# and wisdom $erses foolishness. 9. *he 6oadblocks )s the belie$er dri$es his a!tomobile# he comes across man% potential roadblocks -8:10-21/. If the Christian li$es a worth% life# he will ine$itabl% enco!nter the schemes of Satan -8:11/. *he battle is 3not a(ainst flesh and blood# b!t a(ainst principalities# a(ainst powers# a(ainst the r!lers of the darkness of this world# a(ainst spirit!al wickedness in hi(h places3 -8:12/. *he onl% wa% to defeat the de$il is to p!t on the f!ll armor of "od and pra% alwa%s -$$. 12-18/. E. *he :!el 1. *he ener(% *he onl% missin( element from the ill!stration of the a!tomobile is the f!el to r!n it. ;o! m!st fill the tank with (as in the tank and this f!el is the 5ol% Spirit. 2a!l sa%s# 30e not dr!nk with wine# in which is e4cess# b!t be filled with the Spirit3 -5:18/. It wo!ld do no (ood to ha$e the a!tomobile if %o! didn&t ha$e the f!el to

r!n it. I once saw a ma(a<ine ill!stration of a farmer who won a car and had it deli$ered to him. Since he did not know what an a!tomobile was s!pposed to do# he hooked his horse to the b!mper and rode awa% in st%le= *here are man% Christians who do the same thin(. *he% ha$e a $ehicle created b% "od# intended to be empowered b% the f!el of the 5ol% Spirit# b!t end !p p!llin( it alon( their own wa%. In Ephesians 5:18 "od is sa%in( each belie$er is to be ener(i<ed b% the 5ol% Spirit and not b% his own efforts. 2. *he effect :rom Ephesians 5:18--8:.# the apostle 2a!l describes how the fillin( of the 5ol% Spirit affects the belie$er himself -$$. 1.-20/> his relationships with others in (eneral -$. 21/> and his relationship with his spo!se -$$. 22-++/> his children -8:1-1/> and his co-workers -8:5-./. ?i$in( in the Spirit will affect e$er% relationship %o! ha$e beca!se it is the f!el that allows %o!r spirit!al a!tomobile to r!n properl%. It is !tter foolishness not to !se all the tremendo!s reso!rces that "od has made a$ailable to the belie$er. It is like ownin( the hi(hest priced $ehicle a$ailable %et ne$er botherin( to p!t the f!el in it. ?i$in( the Christian life demands that %o! be controlled b% the 5ol% Spirit. 1esson I. *5E C'@*6)S* -$. 18a/ 3)nd be not dr!nk with wine.3 0efore we st!d% how to be filled with the Spirit# we m!st st!d% 2a!l&s contrast of not bein( dr!nk with wine. 2a!l&s contrast between dr!nkenness and bein( Spirit filled seems simple on the s!rface# %et presents $er% profo!nd tr!ths. ). *he Contro$ers% 9rinkin( alcoholic be$era(es is a bi( iss!e in the ch!rch toda%. Some Christians sa%# 3@o Christian sho!ld drink beca!se it&s a sin.3 'thers sa%# 3It&s ob$io!sl% not a sin to drink beca!se Aes!s and others in the 0ible drank wine.3 Still others sa%# 3*he onl% time %o! sho!ld stop drinkin( is when it offends a weaker Christian brother.3 *here are perspecti$es on drinkin( from one end of the spectr!m to the other. 0. *he Comparison In Ephesians 5:15 2a!l sa%s# 3See# then# that %e walk circ!mspectl%# not as fools b!t as wise BmenC.3 5e also said# 30e %e not !nwise b!t !nderstandin( what the will of the ?ord is3 -$. 1D/. In $erse 18 he (i$es the third ne(ati$e command: 3)nd be not dr!nk with wine# in which is e4cess# b!t be filled with the Spirit.3 In all three $erses he is simpl% parallelin( the same idea. *he wisest person is the one who does the will of "od. 0ein( filled with the Spirit is !sin( wisdom in determinin( the will of "od# whereas bein( dr!nk is bein( o!t of "od&s will and actin( foolish. 1. *he social iss!e *he Enited States has a massi$e alcohol and dr!( problem. *he @ational Instit!te on )lcohol )b!se and )lcoholism -@I)))/ estimated that there are at least 1' million alcoholics in )merica and at least +.+ million teena(e alcoholics -*hat&s 1.F of all )merican teena(ers./ )nd statistic are risin( rapidl%. 5owe$er drinkin( has alwa%s been portra%ed as a (lamoro!s pastime. hene$er alcohol is ad$ertised in the media# it is !s!all% associated with a man of distinction instead of a dr!nken b!m l%in( in the (!tter. 2a!l is sa%in( that if %o!&re lookin( for ,o% and and comfort# seek it in the 5ol% Spirit# not at the bottom of a bottle. *he 5ol% Spirit sho!ld be %o!r onl% reso!rce for ,o% and e4hilaration. E$er%one wants to be happ% and that&s ok beca!se "od wants e$er%one to be happ%# too. 5e is not a cosmic- kill,o%= a/ *he Christian&s so!rce of ,o% -1/ 7atthew 5:+-12-- hen Aes!s introd!ced 5is (reat Sermon on the 7o!nt# 5e be(an b% sa%in(# 30lessed Bhapp%C are the% ....3

-2/ Ecclesiastes +:1--Solomon said# 3B*here isC a time to la!(h.3 -+/ 2ro$erbs 1D:22--Solomon said# 3) merr% heart doeth (ood like a medicine.3 -1/ Aohn 15:11--Aes!s said# 3*hese thin(s ha$e I spoken !nto %o!# that m% ,o% mi(ht remain in %o!# and that %o!r ,o% mi(ht be f!ll.3 -5/ 1 Aohn 1:1--*he apostle Aohn said# 3*hese thin(s write we !nto %o!# that %o!r ,o% ma% be f!ll.3 -8/ 2hilippians 1:1--2a!l said# 36e,oice in the ?ord alwa%s> and a(ain I sa%# 6e,oice.3 -D/ 2salms 5:11> +2:11> +5:2D--9a$id said se$eral times# 3Sho!t for ,o%.3 -8/ 2salm 18:11--9a$id also said# 3In th% presence is f!llness of ,o%.3 -./ ?!ke 2:10--'n the da% of Aes!s& birth an an(el said# 30ehold# I brin( %o! (ood tidin(s of (reat ,o%.3 b/ *he world&s so!rce of ,o% "od wants man to e4perience real ,o% b!t 5e wants him to find it in the ri(ht place. 2eople want to be tr!l% happ%# b!t man% times their circ!mstances make them so miserable# the% t!rn to alcohol. I remember askin( a %o!n( man with a hea$% dr!( addiction# 39o dr!(s reall% answer %o!r G!estionsH3 5e responded# 3@o# b!t at least I no lon(er ha$e to answer an% G!estions beca!se I can&t e$en remember what the% are=3 *hat is the kind of escape the world calls ,o%. *he% are tr%in( to seek ,o% and happiness in an artificial wa%. *here is a pop!lar liG!or called So!thern Comfort# b!t in Ephesians 5:18# the apostle 2a!l sa%s the real Comforter is the 5ol% Spirit. :irst 2eter 5:D sa%s to cast 3all %o!r care !pon him# for he careth for %o!.3 Into4ication is ne$er the remed% for the cares of this life. )ll it does is add more problems to an alread% (!iltridden so!l. *he world tries to con$ince !s that alcoholism is a disease# b!t it&s more than that--it is sin. It is simpl% the manifestation of h!man depra$it%. )s an% other sin# it needs to be dealt with and confessed. E$er% mention of dr!nkenness in the 0ible shows a disastro!s conseG!ence. -1/ 9r!nkenness destro%s -a/ @oah became dr!nk and in his nakedness acted shamelessl% -"en. .:21/. -b/ ?ot became dr!nk and his da!(hters committed incest with him -"en. 1.:+0-+8/. -c/ @abal became dr!nk and at a cr!cial time "od took his life -1 Sam. 25:+8-+D/. -d/ Elah became dr!nk and was m!rdered b% Iimri -1 Jin(s 18:.-10/. -e/ 0en-hadad and all his allied kin(s became dr!nk and were sla!(htered--onl% 0en-hadad escaped -1 Jin(s 20:18-21/. -f/ 0elsha<<ar became dr!nk and had his kin(dom taken from him -9an. 5/. -(/ *he Corinthians (ot dr!nk at the ?ord&s table. Some died as a res!lt -1 Cor. 11:21-+1/. In Script!re dr!nkenness is alwa%s associated with immoralit%# !nrestrained li$in(# and reckless beha$ior. -2/ 9r!nkenness disG!alifies 9r!nkenness disG!alifies a man from an% form of leadership in the ch!rch. )n elder or deacon m!st not be 3(i$en to wine3 -1 *im. +:+# 8> *it!s 1:D/. -+/ 9r!nkenness discredits

-a/ 1 2eter 1:2-+--2eter said we sho!ld no lon(er li$e 3in the flesh to the l!sts of men b!t to the will of "od. :or the time past of o!r life ma% s!ffice !s to ha$e wro!(ht the will of the "entiles# when we walked in lasci$io!sness# l!sts# e4cess of wine# re$elin(s# caro!sin(s# and abominable idolatries.3 -b/ 1 Corinthians 5:11--2a!l said# 3I ha$e written !nto %o! not to keep compan%# if an% man that is called a brother be a fornicator# or co$eto!s# or an idolater# or a railer# or a dr!nkard# or an e4tortioner> with s!ch an one# no# not to eat.3 2a!l was sa%in( that if a person claims to be a belie$er and %et is a dr!nkard# %o! sho!ld not e$en associate with him. hat %o! need to do is share the (ospel messa(e with him. -c/ 1 Corinthians 8:.-10--2a!l said# 3Jnow %e not that the !nri(hteo!s shall not inherit the kin(dom of "odH 0e not decei$ed: neither fornicators# nor idolaters# nor ad!lterers# nor effeminate# nor ab!sers of themsel$es with mankind# nor thie$es# nor co$eto!s# nor dr!nkards# nor re$ilers# nor e4tortioners# shall inherit the kin(dom of "od.3 If a person claims to know Christ %et remains a dr!nkard# he is decei$ed and will not inherit the kin(dom of "od. 2a!l is not sa%in( that if %o! (et dr!nk# %o! will a!tomaticall% lose %o!r sal$ation. 5e is sa%in( that a person whose life is characteri<ed b% habit!al dr!nkenness is not a tr!e belie$er. ) tr!e belie$er is characteri<ed b% ri(hteo!sness--not dr!nkenness. 'nl% "od knows who reall% belon(s to 5im and accordin( to 5is ord# dr!nkards are not in 5is kin(dom. If %o! ha$e a drinkin( problem# %o! better e4amine %o!rself to see if %o! are reall% in the faith -2 Cor. 1+:5/. Jnow that "od can deli$er %o! from %o!r sinf!l life. *hro!(h the fillin( of the 5ol% Spirit# %o! will find the ,o% and comfort %o! seek. If %o!r con$ersion to Christ is (en!ine# "od will chan(e %o!r life. ;o! will be for(i$en of %o!r sins and (i$en a new start. *he ?ord said# 3*ho!(h %o!r sins be as scarlet# the% shall be as white as snow> tho!(h the% be red like crimson# the% shall be as wool3 -Isa. 1:18/. 2. *he reli(io!s iss!e *he thr!st of 2a!l&s teachin( on the fillin( of the 5ol% Spirit is reli(io!s: he is contrastin( pa(anism with Christianit%. 2a(ans belie$ed that to comm!ne with the (ods# %o! needed to (et dr!nk to reach the hi(hest le$el of comm!nion. *his is part of what are called the 3m%ster% reli(ions#3 offshoots of the "reek and 6oman m%tholo(ical reli(io!s s%stems. It is not !nlike what occ!rs toda%. :rom men like *imoth% ?ear% to Eastern m%stics and the occ!lt# people are sa%in( that if %o! (et hi(h on dr!(s and alcohol# %o! will reach a (reater le$el of conscio!sness. 7an% claim that it is new tr!th# b!t is act!all% deri$ed from ancient pa(an reli(ions. 9!rin( the apostle 2a!l&s ministr%# the Ephesian c!lt!re was in!ndated with man% pa(an reli(ions. a/ *he "reek co!nterfeit Ie!s was considered a (reat (od in "reek m%tholo(%. It is told that Ie!s ass!med h!man form# impre(nated a mortal woman named Semele# and prod!ced a son# 9ion%s!s. Semele decided she had the ri(ht to see Ie!s in his f!ll (lor% and entered into his di$ine presence. She was instantl% incinerated. Ie!s then snatched the bod% of the !nborn bab% from her womb and sewed it into his thi(h. 5e carried the bab% !ntil its f!ll term and then (a$e birth. Ie!s destined the infant (od to become r!ler of the planet earth. )ccordin( to "reek m%tholo(%# there were alread% s!b-(ods called *itans who ran the earth and when the% heard of the new r!ler--9ion%si!s--the% were G!ite !pset. *he% stole the bab% and ate him. Ie!s howe$er# resc!ed his heart# swallowed it# and (a$e birth to 9ion%s!s once a(ain. Ie!s str!ck the *itans with li(htnin( and the% were red!ced to ashes. '!t of those ashes came the h!man race. )ro!nd 9ion%s!s became centered a reli(ion of ascendanc%# where h!man bein(s attempted to reach a le$el of di$ine conscio!sness. It was filled with ecstas%# wild m!sic# dancin(# and se4!al per$ersion--all ind!ced b% dr!nkenness. ith a (reat concla$e of $oices the people wo!ld call o!t to 9ion%s!s# 3Come tho! Sa$ior.3 9ion%s!s became known as the (od of wine. So when 2a!l said 3be not dr!nk with wine#3 he was not dealin( merel% with a social problem# b!t a theolo(ical one as well. 5e was dealin( directl% with Satan&s co!nterfeit reli(ion. Satan capt!res minds and bodies thro!(h the medi!m of dr!nkenness.

b/ *he 6oman co!nterfeit *he 6oman name for 9ion%s!s is 0acch!s. 5e is freG!entl% pict!red with n%mphs and sat%rs. *he famo!s bacchanalian feasts were nothin( more than dr!nken or(ies. )mon( the massi$e r!ins of the ancient @ear Eastern cit% of 0aalbek is a temple to 0acch!s# the (od of wine. It is co$ered with (rapes and $ines beca!se that was the thr!st of their worship. 2a!l was sa%in( to the Ephesian ch!rch# 3;o!r back(ro!nd was comm!nin( with the (ods in a state of dr!nkenness# b!t if %o! want to comm!nicate with the tr!e "od# %o! need to be filled with 5is Spirit. If %o! want to be raised to the hi(hest le$el of conscio!sness# simpl% enter the presence of "od thro!(h the fillin( of the 5ol% Spirit.3 c/ *he Corinthian co!nterfeit *he same problem e4isted in the Corinthian ch!rch. *he% were ne$er able to c!t themsel$es off from the pa(an reli(io!s s%stems and di$orce themsel$es from the world. *he% were cliG!ish# liti(io!s# pro!d# e(otistical# and !ncarin(> the% p!rs!ed $ain philosophies> and were into hero worship. *he Corinthian Christians had problems with meat bein( offered to idols. *he% also had problems with the (ifts of the Spirit# beca!se the pa(an reli(ions had corr!pted their meanin(. *hat is wh% it is impossible to properl% interpret 1 Corinthians l2-l1 witho!t !nderstandin( the pa(an world of @ew *estament times. Christianit% was bein( co!nterfeited in the Corinthian ch!rch beca!se the% were carr%in( their former pa(an practices into the ch!rch. *he% e$en corr!pted one of the most sacred ordinances "od has (i$en the ch!rch-Comm!nion. *he Corinthians were so !sed to comm!nin( with the (ods thro!(h dr!nkenness that the% came to the ?ord&s *able dr!nk. 2a!l told them the% co!ldn&t drink the comm!nion c!p# which is the c!p of the ?ord# and the c!p of dr!nkenness# which is the c!p of demons -1 Cor. 10:21/. *heir Comm!nion ser$ices were characteri<ed b% (l!tton% and dr!nkenness -1 Cor. 11:1.-22/. *he% were cond!ctin( their worship the wa% the% !sed to do it in pa(anism. 2a!l was contrastin( the Satanic co!nterfeit of worship with tr!e worship. 5e didn&t want an%thin( to come in the wa% of what the Spirit wanted to do in the li$es of the Ephesians. C. *he Conte4t I belie$e 2a!l is dealin( with dr!nkenness as a reli(io!s iss!e beca!se of the conte4t of Ephesians 5:18-21. 5e contrasts the pa(an lit!r(% of sin(in(# dancin(# and wild parties with tr!e Christian lit!r(%# which in$ol$es speakin( with 3psalms and h%mns and spirit!al son(s# sin(in( and makin( melod% in %o!r heart to the ?ord# (i$in( thanks alwa%s for all thin(s !nto "od and the :ather in the name of o!r ?ord Aes!s Christ# s!bmittin( %o!rsel$es one to another in the fear of "od3 -$$. 1.-21/. hen 2a!l said# 30e not dr!nk with wine# in which is e4cess# b!t be filled with the Spirit#3 he was makin( a simple contrast. *he "reek word for 3e4cess3 is asotia# which refers to !ncontrolled dissipation or deba!cher%. 0ein( controlled b% alcohol is opposite to bein( controlled b% the Spirit of "od. (onclusion ;o! are not a man of distinction when %o! (et dr!nk. I ha$e seen the e$ils of dr!nkenness. :rom the ,!n(les of Ec!ador I ha$e watched Indians on the road sta((er from side to side from alcohol. I&$e seen dr!nkenness in the )rab world and in almost e$er% cit% I&$e e$er been in. 9r!nkenness is a part of the c!rse. hat is controllin( %o!r lifeH here do %o! find %o!r ,o%# e4hilaration# and comfortH 9o %o! find it in a bottleH )lcohol is an artificial wa% of findin( those thin(s. If %o! tr!l% desire to be happ%# allow %o!rself to be controlled and empowered b% the Spirit of "od. 5e is the onl% tr!e so!rce of e$erlastin( ,o% and comfort. 2ocusing on the 2acts

1. itho!t the constant KKKKKKKKKKKKK of the Spirit of "od# the belie$er cannot li$e b% "od&s standard -see p. 1/. 2.9escribe the ill!stration !sed of the book of Ephesians and the different aspects that comprise the ill!stration -see pp. 1-2/. +. hat is one roadblock to li$in( the Spirit-controlled Christian life -see pp. 1-2/H 1. hat is the effect of li$in( the Spirit-filled life -see p. 2/H 5.*r!e or :alse: 9rinkin( alcoholic be$era(es is a bi( iss!e in the ch!rch toda% -see pp. 2-+/. 8.5ow did 2a!l reason that bein( dr!nk with wine is the antithesis of tr!e wisdom -Eph. 5:15# 1D> see p. +/H D.5ow is drinkin( portra%ed in the media and how is it affectin( toda%&s societ% -see p. +/H 8.*he 5ol% Spirit sho!ld be %o!r onl% reso!rce for KKKKKKKK and KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK. S!pport %o!r answer with Script!re -see p. +/. ..*r!e or :alse: )lcoholism is onl% a disease -see p. 1/. 10.5ow does the 0ible portra% dr!nkennessH "i$e script!ral references to s!pport %o!r answer -see pp. 1-8/. 11. hat was the main thr!st of 2a!l&s teachin( on the fillin( of the 5ol% Spirit -see p. 8/H 12."i$e the historical back(ro!nd of 2a!l&s command for the Ephesians to be filled with the Spirit -see pp. 8D/. 1+. hat problems e4isted in the Corinthian ch!rch that were linked to their former pa(an practices -see p. 8/H 11. hat does tr!e Christian lit!r(% in$ol$e -see p. ./H 15. hat is the opposite of bein( controlled b% alcohol -see p. ./H Pondering the Princi!les 1.)re %o! controlled b% alcoholH 9o %o! desire liG!or or dr!(s more than readin( the ord of "od# fellowship# or witnessin(H If so# e4amine %o!rself to see if %o! are reall% a Christian. St!d% the followin( passa(es and if the% characteri<e %o!r life# confess %o!r sin to "od and ask 5im to (i$e %o! new life in Christ: 1 Corinthians 8:.-11# "alatians 5:1.-21# and 6e$elation 21:8. 2.'ne wa% to determine if a person is li$in( in the Spirit is to e$al!ate how m!ch time he spends readin( and st!d%in( the ord of "od. 5ow m!ch time do %o! spend in the ordH Is is on a dail% basis or seldom if e$erH In Script!re# bein( filled with the Spirit of "od and bein( filled with the ord of "od are s%non%mo!s. St!d% the followin( parallels between the Spirit of "od and the ord of "od and determine if %o!r life is controlled b% the Spirit of "od: 3!irit o" 'od - Word o" 'od Ephesians 5:18 - Colossians 1:.-12 Aohn +:5-D 1- 2eter 1:22-25 *it!s +:5-8 - Ephesians 5:25-2D 1 Corinthians +:18 - Colossians +:18 1 2eter 1:2 - Aohn 1D:1D

6omans 8:2 - Aohn 8:+1-+8 2 Corinthians +:5-8 2 - *imoth% +:11-1D 1 Aohn 1:1 - 1 Aohn 2:11 6omans 15:1+ - 6omans 15:1 6omans 8:2D - 5ebrews 1:12