Not Drunk, But Spirit-Filled

Today is National Alcohol Screening Day. Primarily, this is a day to bring about awareness of the problems
related to alcohol abuse, particularly among college students. This is maybe a bit of a stretch for a "Celebrate Today" post, but bear with me.

Today reminded me, as it's possibly reminded many of you, of Ephesians 5:18. For context, though, let's start at verse 17:

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph. 5:17-20) 

Now, believe it or not, I'm not interested in talking about the dangers of alcohol. Most of us understand the dangers of excess, and I think we can agree Scripture is pretty clear about God's view of drunkenness. What's more interesting to me is the parallel Paul seems to be drawing between drunkenness and a life of the Spirit. Like alcohol, God's Holy Spirit can alter our minds, changing the way we act (Romans 12:2 reminds us, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...").

In fact, the Disciples of Christ, after being filled with the Spirit, were so changed and inspired that those who saw what they did next were convinced they'd been drinking (Acts 2:1-15)!

Unlike liquor, however, the fruit of the Spirit includes love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

When we allow addictions like alcohol control over our lives, we can become a different person. Somebody our own families don't recognize -- and, by the way, probably don't particularly like. But when we give control over the the Spirit, we become new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17), reflecting the glory and the grace of Jesus Christ!

The Spirit of God: The Cultivator of Perfection

"Fruit of the Spirit," by Amber Hadden
Available thru Fine Art America.

I talk a lot about the Fruit of the Spirit. Even though Scripture only lists these attributes in this manner once, their importance is undeniable.

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
 
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:18-23)

  
Part of the reason these things are, I believe, so important is because they are the attributes of God.  Right before Paul lists the forbidden acts of the flesh, Paul reminds us we are now under Grace, and living in the Spirit of God -- and are therefore not under the law. However, these two ideas are inseparable. You can't live outside the law -- that is you are still subject to punishment under it -- unless the Spirit dwells within you. How do you know the Spirit dwells within you? Because, through Him, you exhibit love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

These things are, if you like, the fruits of the seed the Holy Spirit plants in your life. God is a great farmer: if your soil -- your heart -- is prepared, He will cultivate His attitudes and attributes in your life. We have freedom in Christ -- that is, we are no longer penalized under the Law -- because these fleshly acts are no longer a part of who we are. The soil of our hearts has been stripped and churned and replanted with the Spirit. 

We are called, then, to "Be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48)." God not only saves us from the penalty of sin, he calls us out of our sinful lives, and gives His spirit to live and work within us to make us more like Him. To love as He loves; to be joyful as He is joyful and peaceful as He is peaceful. We are called to be kind, good, and faithful -- just as the God who holds back nothing good from His children, and who indeed gave even His own son as a sacrifice. To be as gentle as the Shepherd who leads us beside still waters and restores our souls (Psalm 23), and as self-controlled as the God who stays His hand and gives grace instead of wrath. 

I love reading about the fruits of the Spirit, not only because they remind me who I ought to be, but because they are a picture of who our God already is!

If It's So Great To Be Forgiven, Why Are You Such A Sourpuss?

Have you ever noticed that, no matter what you say or do, it seems like there's always somebody who has to put a negative spin on it? I'm not talking about just at work or school, either. This sort of thing actually happens in church, too.

A lot. 

Does that seem improbable? Allow me to suggest an experiment: come up with a new idea for ministry. We can't do it that way! We've never done it that way before! That's not what our last pastor did, and anyway it'll never, ever work! 

Or, try sharing a bit of good news. Too bad it won't last. Just wait, that'll go south before you know it! I don't really like/approve/appreciate/enjoy that... but whatever floats your boat, I guess.

Maybe it's human nature, but it seems like we very often can't wait to find the cloud attached to the silver lining. 

 

This is so contrary to who Jesus is, though, and to who we are, if we are in His spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23 tells us, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says to "Rejoice always." Not to look for the negative in your circumstances, or to find reasons to be a naysayer, but to "pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

 

So often, it seems as though Christians have very little to be happy about. At least, if we were to judge on their countenance and behavior.  But don't we, after all, have the best of reasons to rejoice? Shouldn't we be an example in our exuberance that we, in our lostness, were found and in our blindness given sight? 

 

Seems like I read about something like that somewhere...