The Flesh and the Spirit

Part I - How to be Filled with the Spirit

“and be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess (dissoluteness), but be filled with the Spirit,” (Ephesians 5.18)

Picture yourself on an old horse drawn wagon. (You've probably seen this scene in some of the old Western movies.) The horses get spooked and run with abandon down some steep hill. You have the reigns in your hands but can't seem to control them. You are about to experience a disastrous wreck.

You almost forgot that sitting right beside you is someone stronger (hard to imagine, I know.) He has the experience, know how, and poise to handle your situation. What do you do? Do you hold on the the reins and maintain control (or lack thereof), or do you hand the reins over to the one who can take care of these horses and the wagon with no difficulty?

One of the biggest questions for many Christians is: “How may I be filled with the Holy Spirit?” We can see that the results of being filled are good. We can see that the failure to do so is bad. So, “How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit?” Is it like an out of the body experience? Do I have to speak in unknown languages (as some say)? Must I wait for a big whammy from heaven at the most unexpected time?

I believe the answer is this:

God compares being filled with the Spirit to being drunk with wine. Why? This seems like a most unlikely connection. What does drunkenness have to do with the Spirit filled life? If he fills me, will I act as if I’m inebriated? Although Peter and the other Apostles were accused of exactly this on the day of Pentecost (Acts chapter two), I do not think this is why we have this comparison. So what then?

What happens when one is under the influence of alcohol? The alcohol begins to control that person’s behavior. He may become much bolder and usually very obnoxious. The one thus controlled will say and do things he wouldn’t ordinarily do. I have heard of people who got married to someone (who they had no previous plans to marry) while drunk. People influenced by alcohol will often spend much more money. Others have committed hideous crimes who probably would have never done such things while sober. So, excessive drinking brings one under its influence, almost always in a negative way.

“But be filled with the Spirit.”  Whereas alcohol will influence you negatively, the Holy Spirit will always influence you positively. Whereas, left to ourselves (the flesh) we will behave ourselves badly; under the Spirit’s influence, we will behave righteously.

How can you or I attain the control that is provided by the Holy Spirit? When we yield ourselves to his management. But the Holy Spirit does not just jump in and take over.  

To return to our analogy, we must give the reins over to him.

In every situation we face, we have a choice to do things our way (the flesh), or God’s way (the Spirit). No, we are not capable of doing God’s will in our own power. The Holy Spirit, however, provides us the strength to do his will and nudges our hearts to follow. When we hear his still, small voice and submit to his control, he fills us to provide the Holy influence he wants to have upon us. At the same time his voice speaks, our flesh cries out to us loudly to have its way. This voice is always only selfish and we will surely know the difference. The choice is ours and must be made daily and momentarily.

Who or what has control in your life – the flesh or the Spirit? Give yourself to God’s filling.