And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled wit the Spirit
Ephesians 5:18, NKJV
Our society has become drunk on carnality. I’m not just speaking of alcohol–but the entirety of carnal pleasures. Moderation is not even a consideration when it comes to the sin saturated world in which we live.
When it comes to heavenly delights, there’s no risk of over doing it. You can delight yourself in God as much as you would like. We can never have too much of God. At no time does someone reach a place of having received all from the Lord there is to receive. At no time does the believer become so satisfied that another drop from God’s boundless ocean of spiritual drink that he or she cannot take another indulgence.
Paul exhorts us to be filled, or “be being filled,” in the Greek. This is a continual action. Drinking of the Lord’s delights and goodness never cease. Solomon described this love of God as intoxicating.
Has the Lord’s work had an inebriating effect on you? Drinking deeply of His joy will affect your happiness. Drinking deeply of His peace will affect your demeanor. Drinking deeply of His goodness will affect your attitude. Drinking deeply of His pleasures will affect what you find delight in.
Here’s a glimpse from Sarah Edwards, wife of Jonathan Edwards, on drinking in the goodness of her Savior:
My safety and happiness and eternal enjoyment of God’s immutable love seemed as durable and unchangeable as God Himself. Melted and overcome by the sweetness of this assurance, I fell into a great flow of tears and could not forbear weeping aloud. It appeared certain to me that God was my Father, and Christ my Lord and Savior, that He was mine and I His.
Under a delightful sense of the immediate presence and love of God, these words seemed to come over and over in my mind, ‘My God, my all; my God, my all.’ The presence of God was so near and so real that I seemed scarcely conscious of anything else. God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, seemed as distinct persons, both manifesting their inconceivable loveliness and mildness and gentleness and their great and immutable love to me. I seemed to be taken under the care and charge of my God and Saviour, in an inexpressibly endearing manner; and Christ appeared to me as a mighty Saviour, under the character of the Lion of the tribe of Judah, taking my heart, with all its corruptions, under His care and putting it at His feet. In all things which concerned me I felt myself safe under the protection of the Father and the Saviour; who appeared with supreme kindness to keep a record of everything that I did, and of everything that was done to me, purely for my good.
Have another drink today of God’s overwhelming pleasure. At His right hand are pleasures forevermore! (Psalm 16:11)
Whew or WOW!!
Undone!!
Reblogged this on Word Sharpeners and commented:
We have been experiencing this spiritual intoxication during the revival at our church. This blog was written by my pastor.