And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit…

      Ephesians 5:18

With everything that we have seen in this passage thus far, it shouldn’t be any surprise that Paul is now going to give us two of the most practical pieces of wisdom for anyone desiring to please God with their lives. “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit…” There are plenty of debates surrounding the use of alcohol and whether or not it belongs in the life of a believer. The use of alcohol is a personal decision that must be made between the Lord and an individual. The unbelieving world runs headlong into the kind of lifestyles that accommodate just about anything under the label, “that’s what we want to do.” But for the born again believer in Jesus Christ, there should be more thought, prayer, and in introspection regarding this issue. “How will this affect my personal life?” “How will this affect my witness with others?” “What would God have me to do in this area?” These are all good questions to ask when making a decision on the use of alcohol.

For the believer, there is simply more at stake than just pleasing ourselves. But if we get too caught up in the debate over whether or not to use alcohol, I believe that we are in danger of missing the larger point here. God desires for us to experience life to the fullest, abundantly, and eternal and that only comes from a born again relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ, one in which we enjoy the presence of God in our hearts, souls, and minds. The presence of God is always superior to the escapism that many turn to in the form of numbing themselves through dissipation and drunkenness. And if we, as believers, find ourselves substituting the power of God with anything else, designed to help us escape reality, then we need to look at the larger, spiritual issue surrounding that decision. Nothing that we can ever turn to is superior to having a vibrant, fellowship, and relationship with the Living Lord and Savior and the Spirit which He so abundantly provides to all believers. So with that being said, let’s look at these two priceless, practical pieces of wisdom given to us in the Word of God.

First, “do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation.” Dissipation simply means excess. This is an easy one for the Christian. Drunkenness has no place in the life of a born again believer in Jesus Christ. That can be proclaimed emphatically, despite one’s position on alcohol. If we find ourselves participating in drunkenness and dissipation then we need to address the root cause of such decisions. Consider these passage on being alert, sober, and spiritually “awake”:

For this reason it says,“Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

      Ephesians 5:14

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 

1 Peter 5:8

We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.

            1 Thessalonians 5:5b-8

Sobriety takes on two dimensions, the literal and the figurative. Most of these passages are dealing with the figurative, spiritual aspect of sobriety and being “awake.” But how can anyone be spiritually sober when they are physically drunk? The answer is obvious. We cannot live in a state of spiritual readiness, alertness, and sobriety if we have allowed anything, including alcohol, to cloud our thinking and our judgement. That’s the larger reason why Christians are to be wise and discerning when it comes to the use of anything that would become an obstacle to living a life pleasing to God…a life of taking spiritual warfare seriously and guarding our hearts and minds against all of the trappings that take down so many in our world (Hebrews 12:1-2). 

In addition to that, the Bible describes what a Christian life looks like, even as we age:

Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.

Titus 2:2

Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good…

Titus 2:3

Have you ever met anyone who is getting older (and I’ll let you decide what the definition of older is) but still behaves like someone who is in high school or college? These people never seem to grow up. The may be highly successful (in the world’s eyes) and may live very comfortable lives however, their lifestyle is one that seems to be avoiding aging rather than aging with dignity and purpose. These descriptions of “older” Christian men and “older” Christian women serve as a template in which we can compare our lives. Notice within the list of characteristics for men, we find “temperate.” And within the characteristics for women, we find “not enslaved to much wine.” The issue of drunkenness and dissipation is even addressed in these descriptions. Why? Because it is important for our lives, as born again believers in Jesus Christ, to look starkly different from the rest of the world (2 Corinthians 6:14-17). 

This issue has been a part of human existence since the fall of man (Genesis 3). We can even find it addressed in the Old Testament:

Woe to those who rise early in the morning that they may pursue strong drink, who stay up late in the evening that wine may inflame them!Their banquets are accompanied by lyre and harp, by tambourine and flute, and by wine; but they do not pay attention to the deeds of the Lord, nor do they consider the work of His hands.

      Isaiah 5:11-12

It’s easy to see the word picture being painted here. Music, wine (or other drink), laughter, and “let’s keep the party going as long as we can.” But it’s what is absent in the lives of these people. “Woe” is a very strong word and it points not only to the lifestyle of these people but, more importantly, to what they are missing. “They do not pay attention to the deeds of the Lord, nor do they consider the work of His hands.” The larger issue with people who require escapism in order to navigate social gatherings or even life itself is not what they are doing…it’s what they are missing. That’s why this segment is called, “Accept No Substitutes.” Escaping life through artificial means (whatever that includes) is an indication that we are missing out on God’s best. Alcohol is a cheap knockoff and substitute for what God provides for those who have surrendered their lives to Him and are serious about living a life pleasing to Him. And that brings us to the exciting part!

The Bible is awesome in that it not only tells us what not to do but also shows us what is better and superior. In addition, it provides promises, to claim, for those who belong to Christ. Today’s verse is a great example of that. “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit…” What not to do? Drunkenness and dissipation is not to be a part of the Christian life. So what is? “Being filled with the Spirit!” Consider these passages dealing with the filling of God’s Spirit in the life of every true, born again believer in Jesus:

…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man…that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:16,19b

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us…

Ephesians 3:20

(I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know)…what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.

  Ephesians 1:19

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”

John 7:38

All of these passages point to one thing…the power of God in the life of a born again believer in Jesus (John 3:3). Are you experiencing this kind of spiritual power in your life? As we continue to watch the world spiral down a road of spiritual destruction, we should be asking ourselves, “I’m I experiencing the abundant life that God has for me in Christ?” “Am I experiencing the power of God’s Spirit living within me?” If we are, I see no need for cheap knockoffs and substitutions that seem to have the world, at large, held in its sway. The issue isn’t whether or not someone drinks rather the issue is, “Are you living in a way that is pleasing to God?” “Are you enjoying all of the benefits that come from a life dedicated to serving Christ?” These are the larger questions that need to be answered and an honest assessment to these questions will most likely point to the reasons why we have made the decisions we have regarding the issue of alcohol. 

Finally consider this:  

Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38

However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

        Romans 8:9

If we have been saved, we have the Holy Spirit living within us. We are to be sober, alert, and spiritually “awake,” as we see the direction that this world is headed, seizing every opportunity to share the gospel with as many as we can. And as we do, we should be guarding our own hearts against the trappings common to everyone. But you’ll notice, if we do not have the Holy Spirit living within us then we do not belong to Christ. In that case, we should surrender our lives to Jesus today, receive salvation of our souls, and begin a new life in Christ! 

Just remember, the issue is whether we are living for Christ or for ourselves…that’s why Paul provides us with a reminder to “accept no substitutes,” when he says:

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit…

      Ephesians 5:18