One Grand, Positive Command
So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 5:15–18)
If we are going to fly a lot closer to the sacred flame, we need to relearn and hopefully rediscover by closer examination what He has said in His Book. For example, let’s return to Ephesians 5. Here we find a list of don’ts.
- Don’t be immoral, impure, or greedy. (5:3)
- Don’t lose control of your tongue. (5:4)
- Don’t be deceived. (5:6)
- Don’t participate in evil deeds . . . deeds of darkness. (5:11)
- Don’t be unwise. (5:15)
- Don’t be foolish. (5:17)
- Don’t get drunk. (5:18)
All these don’ts tell me that God cares more about the details of our personal lives than most folks would ever believe. He names these things, calling them to our attention, because they will hurt us if we tolerate and/or traffic in them.
He then brings everything to a climax as He offers one grand, positive command. After many don’ts, He says, “Do” (at least that’s the implied directive). “Be filled with the Spirit.” (5:18)
In place of all these things that the world will try to tell you are emotionally and physically stimulating, come back to the person of the intimate Spirit and let Him fill your life.
When the Lord delivered your salvation, His Spirit came within you as part of the package deal, remember? The Spirit was in the initial “gift package.” Without your even knowing it, the Spirit of God took up permanent residence within you. And when He entered your life, He brought with Him—for you—the full capacity of His power. The Spirit of God has filled our internal capacity with power and dynamic.
Now in light of that, allow Him to take full control! That is the command. Instead of being filled with alcohol, instead of being filled with drugs, instead of being filled with filthy talk, instead of being filled with immorality, be filled with the dynamic Spirit of God. Like the wind that fills the sails, allow His power to propel your life.
Taken from Flying Closer to the Flame by Charles R. Swindoll. Copyright © 1993 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Deepen your intimacy with the living God by reading Embraced by the Spirit, an updated release of Flying Closer to the Flame.
