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The Drunken Christian
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By now you have probably seen (either in person or in a movie) someone who has put a little too much booze in his/her body. It's fairly unmistakable. The speech is slightly ssslllurrred, the walk is a bit wobbly, and brilliant speech pours from the mouth with phrases like: "I'm not as think as you drunk I am" or "I juss know I could make it on American Idol." Alcohol has an evil way of taking over a person and wiping out any sense of reason. No wonder intoxicated people behind the wheel are convicted of driving "under the influence"- because drinking dwindles people of their power of self-control. This is exactly why God has commanded all Christians not to get drunk in Ephesians 5:18:
"Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life..."
He knows that booze can bust up your world faster than Sonic the Hedgehog on steroids. God is not a kill joy; He just doesn't want to see our joy killed.
But wait - there's more! The really strange thing is what Paul says right after that. Let's take a look:
"Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you." (Eph. 5:18)
Wait a minute. What does being drunk have to do with the Holy Spirit? Actually, more than you might think.
Let's consider for a moment why people drink. Some would say it helps them relax, be more at ease. Others partake to go null and void on their painful lives, and many more probably drink and don't know why. But I think Paul knew why. He knew that deep down, those who are drunk truly desire to be someone other than themselves. The life they live in a sober state is for whatever reason unacceptable, so they uncork the bottle to temporarily cork up their pains, fears, and insecurities.
But Paul also knew that for the believer there is an alternative. When a person trusts Christ as his/her only hope of salvation, God comes to live inside that person through the Holy Spirit.
God Himself takes up residence inside the Christian and gives him/her the option of being filled and controlled. Just like alcohol "takes over" people and encourages them to do things they wouldn't normally do, the Holy Spirit fills the believer and encourages us to do things we wouldn't normally do in our sinful state. So basically what Paul is saying is this:
Look folks, you don't need to turn to alcohol to give you courage or hide your pain. Besides, that stuff will kill you! What you need to do is give control of your lives to the Holy Spirit, who will enable you to live life the way God intended.
As a Christian, you have an incredible opportunity every second of the day to rely on Jesus and let God do incredible things in and through you. And the best part is that to plug into this unbelievable power, all you need to do is ask! That's right, you don't need a fake ID, grow facial hair, break the law or lie about your age to get this stuff. Simply tell God that you're sorry about not living life His way, and then ask the Holy Spirit to fill you and control you. Before you know it, you will find yourself thinking, feeling, and acting in ways that you never thought possible. Old bitterness and pain will disappear, and the music of healing and confidence to tell others about Jesus will crank up in your soul.
That is until you decide to disobey God. Unfortunately, sin unplugs the power of the Spirit and leaves you feeling empty again. That's why when Paul tells us to "be filled' with the Spirit, what he is really saying is "keep on being filled." He knew that we need to talk to God all the time, because if you're like me, you need "refilling" more than a couple times a day.
Warning! The Holy Spirit will not force His will or His way on you. Even though He is God, we are not robots. The idea here is that we need to GIVE him control of our lives, because He knows what is truly best. It's actually a lot like the one ring in Lord of the Rings. Bilbo had to voluntarily give it to Gandalf to break its power and send it to its destruction. In the same way, we need to voluntarily give our lives to the Holy Spirit so He can break the power of sin and give us true freedom.
So the next time you see a commercial for alcohol or someone drunk, remember that you have the option 24/7 to let God do something awesome with your life...and I guarantee there will be no bitter aftertaste!
Head: What you need to know about this truth
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Heart: What you need to feel about this truth
Because the Holy Spirit moves inside us permanently, we have an incredible opportunity to grow in a deepening sense of His presence and purpose every second of every day. This brings a whole different perspective on life, because now whether we are doing something we love or despise, God is working in our lives. This means that we can be in the middle of a mind-numbing class, or laughing out loud with friends- either way we can be used by Jesus to accomplish something eternal that will have meaning forever. I don't know about you, but this gets me pretty excited! Most of us let circumstances determine our happiness- but it doesn't need to be that way. Take a moment right now to meditate on the fact that God lives inside you and wants to make life the best it could possibly be. Also, take a few moments and read through what King David wrote about the presence of God in his life:
O LORD , you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD .
You hem me in-behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you. If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me, you bloodthirsty men! They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD, and abhor those who rise up against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
(Psalm 139)
Hands: What you need to do about this truth
I know quite a few students who are bored/dissatisfied with being a Christian, and the really sad part is that they blame it on the Bible, their church/youth group, or even worse God Himself! The bottom line is that a bored Christian is someone who is not filled with the Spirit. Let me put it this way: there is no way to be filled with and controlled by the Spirit and be bored with life. You may be reading this today and you feel that something is missing in your life...and maybe there is! If you are a Christian, the Holy Spirit lives inside you, but He will only fill and control you if you ask Him. So today I would triple dog dare you to take the Dare 2 Share challenge of giving your life to the One who made you, loves you, and wants the best for you. Below is a sample prayer that may help you find what you are looking for.
"Dear Jesus, I really need You right now. I have been doing things my way and not letting you have control. I have been doing my own thing and going my own way. I confess all my sins known and unknown and ask You to fill me with your Holy Spirit. Give me power, Father, that I may live a holy life and be Jesus to everyone around me. I thank you in advance for the incredible things you are going to do in and through me. I pray this in the awesome name of the Lord Jesus who died for me. Amen."
