April 11, 2010
Morning Sermon Notes
“Filled with the Spirit”
Ephesians 5:18

“Filled with the Spirit”
Ephesians 5:18

I would highly recommend a concordance study of the word “wine” in Scripture …

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, (Ephesians 5:18 NKJ)

I. “Do not be drunk with wine” is NOT a condemnation of all drinking of wine, wine is presented in Scripture as a blessing from God –

1. Wine is counted among the blessings of God’s creation –
He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, And vegetation for the service of man, That he may bring forth food from the earth, 15 And wine that makes glad the heart of man, Oil to make his face shine, And bread which strengthens man's heart. (Psalm 104:14-15 NKJ)

2. Wine is the drink of godly celebration –
A. God’s high priest and King of Salem Melchizedek brought wine to Abram’s victory celebration –Genesis 14:18-20
B. Part of David’s coronation celebration as he was made king in Israel – 1 Chronicles 12:38-40
C. Jesus made water into wine at the Wedding at Cana, His first miracle – John 2:1-11
LUKE 7:34 Jesus called a winebibber
D. It was (and is) used at our Lord’s Supper, symbolic of His precious blood and will be drank again by Him (with us) at the great, end time, Heavenly Kingdom banquet – Luke 22:14-18

3. Wine is presented as a blessing, connected to and symbolic of salvation –
My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth, And My arms will judge the peoples "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price. (Isaiah 55:1 NKJ);
And it will come to pass in that day That the mountains shall drip with new wine, The hills shall flow with milk, And all the brooks of Judah shall be flooded with water; A fountain shall flow from the house of the LORD And water the Valley of Acacias. (Joel 3:18 NKJ)

4. Wine is a gift presented to and valued by great men –
A. Hannah sent young Samuel to Eli with wine – 1 Samuel 1:24
B. David as a young man was sent to king Saul with wine – 1 Samuel 16:20
C. In order to appease and please David Abigail sends among other things a gift of wine – 1 Samuel 25:18
D. Ziba does the same – 2 Samuel 16:1-2

5. Wine was even part of “drink offerings” to God –
"With the one lamb shall be one-tenth of an ephah of flour mixed with one-fourth of a hin of pressed oil, and one-fourth of a hin of wine as a drink offering. (Exodus 29:40 NKJ) This is just one of many verses that speak of win as part of the offering

6. Aaron and his sons, working as priests, were to receive the best of the wine as a tithe from the rest of the tribes –
"All the best of the oil, all the best of the new wine and the grain, their firstfruits which they offer to the LORD, I have given them to you. (Numbers 18:12 NKJ)

II. Yet, with all these positives about wine, being DRUNK with wine is still strongly condemned –
And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation;(Ephesians 5:18 NKJ)

1. What is drunkenness? It is overindulgence!

2. What does drunkenness (with wine) lead to? Dissipation / Debauchery (NIV, ESV) / Excess (KJV) / Riot (ASV) / Reckless actions (CSB) / Wild living (GWN) / Dissoluteness (MRD)/ Luxury (DRA)
In reference to this world Charles Hodge says it means “whatever tends to destruction … He says the Greek root refers to “what cannot be saved”

3. The Bible paints a dreadful picture (or pictures) of drunkenness –
A. It is the first sin after the flood – Genesis 9:20-29 (:21)
B. It tends toward other sin (Lot’s daughters) Genesis 19:31-38
C. Wine is used to deceive, used by Jacob when he stole his brother’s blessing – Genesis 27:22-29 (:25)
D. Absalom gets his brother Amnon drunk in order to kill him – 2 Samuel 13:28
Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, "Watch now, when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you,`Strike Amnon!' then kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant." (2 Samuel 13:28 NKJ)
E. The worst people are drunkards: Nabal (whose name means fool)– 1 Samuel 25:25; :36-39; Belshazzar –)(who drank with the vessels of God, which were sanctified for the Temple for Holy use) Daniel 5
Woe to men mighty at drinking wine, Woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink, (Isaiah 5:22 NKJ) (see Isaiah 5:11-22)
4. as As bad is drunkenness, spiritual drunkenness is as bad or worse –Isaiah 29:9-11 This takes many forms

Pause and wonder! Blind yourselves and be blind! They are drunk, but not with wine; They stagger, but not with intoxicating drink. 10 For the LORD has poured out on you The spirit of deep sleep, And has closed your eyes, namely, the prophets; And He has covered your heads, namely, the seers. 11 The whole vision has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is literate, saying, "Read this, please." And he says, "I cannot, for it is sealed." (Isaiah 29:9-11 NKJ) …

The truth is we can be drunk with things other than wine, we can be drunk with pleasure, or laughter, or entertainment or money, we can be drunk with the temptations of this world … We can overindulge in a myriad of different things!

These things put us in a stupor in regard to the things of God, in regard to the Word of God, even to the point we do not understand it!

• It is not one of the points in your outline but even God’s wrath is spoken of in terms of WINE, an interesting thing too as wine is a symbol both of SALVATION and DAMNATION!

"he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 "And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name." (Revelation 14:10-11 NKJ)

Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. (Revelation 16:19 NKJ)

Note too, the passage Dr. Gross read, speaks of the wine of the wrath of her fornication ---- This is “wine” though not literal wine, that we should avoid ---
And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. 7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. 8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. (Revelation 18:2-8 KJV)

III. Yet, what is WONDERFUL here is being drunk with wine is compared to being filled with the Spirit …

How are they comparable? How are they not comparable? Are two great questions! How are wine and God’s Spirit comparable?

1. They seem outwardly to have similar influences – Acts 2:11-18 Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine." (Acts 2:13 NKJ)
"For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 "But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: (Acts 2:15-16 NKJ) …

Hannah praying is also supposed drunk by Eli -1 Samuel 1:14-15

Why mistaken? What is comparable?
A. Boldness - And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31 NKJ)
The LORD of hosts will defend them; They shall devour and subdue with slingstones. They shall drink and roar as if with wine;... (Zechariah 9:15 NKJ)

B. Joy – Go, eat your bread with joy, And drink your wine with a merry heart; For God has already accepted your works. (Ecclesiastes 9:7 NKJ)
And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, (1 Thessalonians 1:6 NKJ)

C. INFLUENCE - (most important) This is both what wine has in common with the Spirit, yet also the BIGGEST DIFFERENCE!
For they shall eat, but not have enough; They shall commit harlotry, but not increase; Because they have ceased obeying the LORD. 11 "Harlotry, wine, and new wine enslave the heart. (Hosea 4:10-11 NKJ)
When you are caught drunk driving you are said to be “under the influence” … Wine, laughter, pleasure, lust all can control our lives
There is a spirit of this ungodly world that can make us drunk toward God - Babylon was a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, That made all the earth drunk. The nations drank her wine; Therefore the nations are deranged. 8 Babylon has suddenly fallen and been destroyed. Wail for her! Take balm for her pain; Perhaps she may be healed. 9 We would have healed Babylon, But she is not healed. Forsake her, and let us go everyone to his own country; For her judgment reaches to heaven and is lifted up to the skies. (Jeremiah 51:7-9 NKJ)

2. The Holy Spirit’s INFLUENCE is such we can NEVER OVER DRINK of Him!

A. The Holy Spirit LIFTS us above our fleshly capacities – The Holy Spirit’s CONTROL over our hearts is a great thing, He does not enslave our hearts as wine would, but His influence sets our hearts and minds free from sin ---

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16-25 NKJ)

Unlike wine which dulls our senses when we drink too much, God’s Holy Spirit enlivens our senses, even our SPIRITUAL SENSEs while He makes us alive and awake to the THINGS of GOD!

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19 The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills. To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments. (Habakkuk 3:18-19 NKJ)

Habakkuk went from complaining to God in regard to His calamity and trials to rejoicing in God in the midst of terrible times!

B. We can never have TOO MUCH of the Spirit, this is why Jesus bids us to pray –
"So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 "If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 "Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Luke 11:9-13 NKJ)

Jesus is our best example of being “filled with” and dependent upon the Holy Spirit – (see the bulletin cover)

The greatness of the Holy Spirit is seen in His work in the life of Jesus Christ (also before He is given)
1. The Holy Spirit formed Christ’s human body in the womb of the virgin Mary – Luke 1:31 & :35
2. The Holy Spirit endowed Christ with all spiritual graces – Isaiah 11:1-3
3. The Holy Spirit anoints Jesus Christ at the beginning of His earthly ministry:
A. His title Christ means “the Anointed One” therefore His most popular title is one taken from the Spirit’s influence on His life and ministry – Isaiah 61:1-3; Matthew 3:16-17; John 1:29-34
B. This title rolls into one the three “anointed” offices of the Old Testament: Prophet – Acts 3:22, Priest – Hebrews 7:17 & 23-28 and King – Revelation 17:14
4. The Holy Spirit “led” our Lord Jesus Christ – Mathew 4:1
5. The Holy Spirit is the Power behind our Lord’s casting out of demons – Matthew 12:24-32
6. The Holy Spirit “the Eternal Spirit” is the Power behind Christ taking up the cross as a Holy Sacrifice for our sins – Hebrews 9:14
7. The Holy Spirit is the great Power behind Christ’s resurrection from the dead – Romans 8:11

Application –

Consider the extreme positives / negatives about “wine” This requires moderation / balance

Consider the ONLY POSITIVE, sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit --- no balance or moderation is necessary in regard to our being FILLED with the Spirit!

Pastor Arnold Brevick