Friday, March 23, 2007

Are you 'filled with the Spirit?'

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

I believe that to be filled with the Spirit means to be under the influence of the Holy Spirit of God. The first part of the verse deals with the pagan worship of Bacchus the ‘wine god.’ It was accompanied by drinking intoxicating beverages. The Bible calls it ‘excess.’ The word for ‘excess’ in the original is ἀσωτία (asotia) which is also translated ‘riot’ in other places in our New Testament (Titus 1:6 and 1 Peter 4:4). Drunkenness should obviously be avoided and also drink that leads to that as well. In contrast to being under the influence of wine we are commanded to be under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Why wouldn’t any Christian want to be Spirit-filled? Some have exaggerated this phrase to mean some Charismatic experience of ‘speaking in tongues’ and other false doctrines. This is bad Pneumatology (or study of the Holy Spirit). Being Spirit-filled is not some bizarre experience, rather it is a command to be obeyed. God commands us to be filled with the Spirit.

2 comments:

CindyMae said...

Awesome post! I do not understand how anyone could not want to be Spirit Filled! It is the most wonderful feeling! There is not way that something like wine could give such a great feeling.

NoHayNada said...

I do agree with you that this verse meaning to be under the influence of the Holy Spirit of God. In other words, to submit ourselves to Him, to let Him have complete control of our lives.
In Psalm chapter 1 describes a person that is filled with the Spirit of God. See Traits of a Christian