Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do
not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the
Spirit.
Ephesians 5:17-18
What an unusual illustration Paul uses here. The Holman
Commentary clarifies: “The Ephesian culture worshiped Baccus, the god of wine
and drunken orgies. They believed that to commune with their god and to be led
by him, they had to be drunk. In this drunken state, they could determine the
will of their god and determine how best to serve and obey him.” The folks in
Ephesus would know what Paul was talking about. So will most of the world today.
In contrast, the woman of God is to be intoxicated with the
Spirit of God, “under the influence” at all times of the Spirit within.
As Avery Willis so aptly describes in his MasterLife study, your soul consists of
mind, will, and emotions, plus you have a spirit. Will sits smack dab in the
middle, pulled in all directions by thoughts and emotions, not to mention the
spirit of this world. When the Holy Spirit enters your spirit at salvation, He
lines up your will with the will of God.
Oswald Chambers, My
Utmost for His Highest June 6, emphasizes the importance of will: “Will is the essential element in God's
creation of man.” That is true of you, whether you have let God into your spirit
or not. Once you let Him in, you have access to His will through His Spirit.
Then, says Chambers, “God's will is your will, and your natural choices are
along the line of God's will, and life is as natural as breathing.”
The trick, ladies, is to be filled with the Spirit.
Kick back, get self out of the way, and Spirit breathe. Enjoy Paul’s picture of
you, Spirit-filled: Speak to one another
with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to
the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:19-20).
Nancy P
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