Standards and the Spirit

Do you hold to certain standards or do you just follow the Spirit?  John the Baptist did both.  He held to a standard of not drinking alcohol and he was filled with the Spirit from the time he was in his mother’s womb.  The angel prophesied, “For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink.  He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.” (Luke 1:15)  Notice the connection between being free from the influence of alcohol and being filled with the Holy Spirit.  Paul makes the same connection in Ephesians 5:1: “And be not drunk with wine in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,”  Many unsaved people are dependent on alcohol for relaxation and fun.  Saved people rely on the filling of the Holy Spirit for joy, peace and love.  Which one are you?  If you want to be filled with the Holy Spirit you must give up relying on alcohol.  Follow the example of John the Baptist.  Do not drink wine or strong drink.  Be filled with the Spirit and you will be full of joy, peace and love.  Standards and the Spirit.  Be great for God!  Think about it!      

Spirits or the Spirit?

People ask me, “Do you drink?”  I usually reply, “No, I’m crazy enough without it.”  But actually I am filled with the Spirit so I don’t need to use alcohol to release me from my inhibitions.  “Do not be drunk with wine, but be filled with the Spirit.”  Being filled with the Holy Spirit means that I am full of joy, music, gratefulness and consideration of the feelings of others.  The Holy Spirit controls me in a way similar to how alcohol controls a person who gets drunk.  If I didn’t have the Lord in my life, I probably would need to anesthetize myself somehow with something because I have been through some deep hurts.  But with the Lord I can face my trials with joy.  And there is no hangover!     

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ submitting to one another in the fear of God. (Ephesians 5:18-21 NKJV)