Ephesians 4:18 Be Filled With The Spirit

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit...

Alcohol is a poor substitute for the Holy Spirit. People drink alcohol for any variety of reasons. Some drink to forget heartache, or a lost love, or a failed business venture. Others think they will have more fun if they drink. The alcohol lowers inhibitions, and allows the inner party animal to come out. Many drink out of habit or addiction, or they need to drink in order to feel "normal".

Here, we are given a choice. Fill yourself with "spirits" or be filled with the Spirit. I call it God's "One Step Program". Be filled with the Holy Spirit and He will free you from the bondage of alcohol.

Some may say that I am oversimplifying, but my own testimony bears witness to the scripture. I was an alcoholic. When I received the Holy Spirit, I was delivered from alcohol. I don't consider myself a recovering alcoholic. I am a former alcoholic.

What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit? There are two major spiritual events in the life of a Christian as described in the Bible. The first is salvation, and the second is baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Just as salvation is a singular event followed up by a life time of ongoing sanctification, so baptism in the Spirit is an event which is followed up by a life time of being filled with the Spirit.

The baptism of the Spirit is promised by Jesus, "for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”" [Acts 1:5 NASB].

As for the baptism in the Spirit being a separate event from salvation we are given this example the book of Acts. "It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into John’s baptism.” Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying." [Acts 19:1-6 NASB]. So they believed and were baptized in water before receiving the Holy Spirit.

Being filled with the Spirit is also an ongoing lifestyle. We are told of the early disciples, "And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit." [Acts 13:52 NASB]. Paul said, "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh." [Galatians 5:16 NASB]. Again, he said, "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." [Galatians 5:25 NASB].

How do you receive the Holy Spirit. In the same way you received salvation - by grace through faith. In addressing the crowd on the day of Pentecost, Peter said, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." [Acts 2:38 NASB] Paul said, "that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." [Galatians 3:14 NASB]

If you are not sure if you have ever been baptized in the Holy Spirit, then talk to God and ask Him. This is a gift that God wants to give, and He will not hold back, Ask in faith, expecting God to answer, and He will do exceedingly, abundantly above all you can ask or think.