By Elmer Ellsworth Shelhamer
Text: "Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit." Eph. 5:18.
Here we have the highest grade of Christian character. The apostle uses a figure that not everyone can comprehend. While we protest against drunkenness, yet only those who have felt, or observed the power of intoxicants can fully appreciate the comparison.
Adam Clarke, in commenting on this verse, says: "The heathen priests pretended to be filled with the influence of the god (Bacchus) they worshipped; and it was in these conditions that they gave out their oracles. The apostle exhorts the Ephesians not to resemble these, but be filled with the Spirit of God, in consequence of which they should be wise indeed, and understand what the will of the Lord is."
The devil counterfeits everything that is of God and intoxication is Satan's highest imitation of being filled with the Spirit. In fact, on the day of Pentecost, when the disciples were filled with the Holy Ghost, the onlookers could not distinguish between this and being "full of new wine." Let us notice then the analogy between intoxication with wine and that of being filled with the Holy Ghost. And how does an intoxicated man feel?
I. An intoxicated man feels rich and liberal. Before he begins drinking he may be what the world calls "a tightwad." See him standing alone sipping his glass! After awhile the contents begin to take effect, and he speaks to an old churn (who is sitting near by waiting to be treated) and says, "Come up, John, and have one on me." The more he drinks the richer he becomes and finally calls out to all the old bums, "Come up, boys, and have one on me." If a Salvation Army lassie, or any one else approaches him asking for a donation, he is likely to give the biggest piece he can find. Nothing mean and little about him now, for he feels as rich as the nabobs of Wall Street. That is exactly the way one feels when he is filled with the Holy Spirit. "The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich and He addeth no sorrow with it." The after effect is good. Yes, just in proportion as one is anointed of God he is truly rich and has a dignity and holy independence that the world can not give, nor take away.
It is certainly sad to hear the majority of Christians pray. They are everlastingly begging, "Lord, bless me, fill me, protect me and my family." Me! Me!! Me!!! "Oh, that they could get to the end of themselves. They are continually taking in, but never giving out. They are consumers, but not producers. They are like a sponge, ever ready to drink in, but never giving out except when squeezed or pressed by outside circumstances. Surely this is not the divine standard.
Paul speaks of being "more than conquerors." After having conquered the world, the flesh and the devil, he infers that we can have enough joy, faith and victory left to conquer another world. To be more specific, the apostle mentions a number of things we are to conquer, such as "Principalities," "Powers," "Things present," "Things to come," and then for lack of words, concludes by saying, "Nor any other creature shall be able" to withstand us. Think of it! How few Christians are so possessed of God, so exhilarated by the Spirit, that they have more victory than they need for themselves!
A man can not help rescue a drowning person until he himself has complete mastery, over the waves. No one can help a worthy cause so long as he is struggling to support himself and family. Likewise, there are multitudes of good people who desire to help win souls, but the poor things are spiritually half-starved themselves. They do not have complete victory over everything; there is a constant struggle. "When the struggle for existence begins, the opportunity for usefulness ends."
