Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; I. WHAT WE ARE TO UNDERSTAND BY BEING "FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT." 1. By "the Spirit, the Spirit of truth, of life, of grace, of might, of wisdom and revelation, of Father and the Son, we are baptized, often termed the Holy Spirit, the eternal Spirit" here, is meant that Divine Agent, in whose name, as well as in those of the holiness, the Comforter, the Spirit of God, of Christ. But observe, not His extraordinary gifts, which in no age are necessary to salvation, and were chiefly bestowed in the early ages, for the good of others, are here meant; but His ordinary influences, which are necessary to salvation (see vers. 19-21; Galatians 5:22, 23). 2. The expression, "filled with," or by, "the Spirit," supposes there to be a sufficiency in the blessed Spirit, and His influences, to fill our souls, to supply all our wants, to satisfy our desires, and help our infirmities. We are in darkness, and need illumination, instruction, and direction; He is the Spirit of light, truth, wisdom. We are in want of consolation; He is the comforter. It imports our partaking of His influences and fruits in a large and plentiful manner; not indeed "without measure"; in this tense Christ only had the Spirit: nor so as to admit of no increase; thus we shall hardly have the Spirit in heaven. But so as to have every power and faculty of the soul subject to the authority, and under the influence of the Spirit; to have His influences rendered more mighty and operative in us, producing their proper and genuine effects; as greater light, life, power, purity, comfort, strong faith, a fully assured and confirmed hope, fervent love, an uniform meekness and patience, a full conformity to God, and close and constant communion with Him; filling us with all his fulness (Colossians 1:9-11; Ephesians 3:14-21; John 7:37); making us taste great sweetness and delight in Him, so as to aspire after full perfection (Philippians 3:13, 14). II. WHY THIS IS MADE A MATTER OF EXHORTATION TO US. Because of — 1. The desirableness of being filled with the Spirit. 2. The attainableness of it. 3. Something being incumbent on us, in order to it. We must make use of the appointed means. III. THE OBLIGATIONS WHICH LIE UPON US, AS CHRISTIANS, TO AIM AT BEING FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT. The clear revelation we have concerning His agency, beyond all which was given in former ages of the Church, lays us under strong obligations to desire to be filled with His influences. The dignity of His person should make us ambitious of such a guest, when He is willing to dwell with us. He is no less than the Spirit of God, as our soul is the spirit of man (1 Corinthians 2:11). His relation to Christ obliges us (Romans 8:9; Galatians 4:6). Our relation to Christ will be most clearly proved and manifested by His Spirit dwelling with us (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:12, 13). Thus we shall be vessels of honour, sanctified and made meet for the Master's use. (Anon.) Parallel Verses KJV: And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;WEB: Don't be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, |
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