I read a few sermons of Martyn Lloyd-Jones from his commentary on Ephesians 5 the other night. One insight of his that struck me was the way in which he not only contrasted, but compared, being ‘filled with wine’ and ‘filled with the Spirit’ in verse 18.
Certainly there are contrasts to be made from this verse. The wine-filled person is out of control, the Spirit-filled person is under control. The wine-filled person is loose with his moral, prone to impurity, while the Spirit-filled person shows restraint and holiness, etc.
But the comparisons are also quite interesting. I do not believe in the neo-pentecostal idea of being ‘drunk’ with the Spirit (nor did the Doctor), but there is a valid point to that idea. And it is this: The drunk person is ‘under the influence’ of his alcohol. It effects everything that he does. It impairs his vision, his thoughts, his actions. Likewise, the Doctor says, the Spirit-filled person is under the influence of the Spirit.
The metaphor cannot be pressed too far, for wine is an ‘it’ while the Spirit is a ‘he.’ The Spirit is a person, and he exerts his influence as a person. He is not a substance to be filled with but a person to be influenced by. Nevertheless, the Christian should be under the influence of the Spirit in all that he does. And he should, according to the wording of the text, ‘Go on’ in this condition.
This means that the Christian must make use of all means of grace, and rid himself of all obstacles that would prevent the Spirit’s influence upon him (Paul calls this in Ephesians ‘grieving the Spirit’). He is a person you do not want to offend, or else he will take his influence away and leave you to your own strength. That’s not a place we want to be.
