Under the Influence: Living Spirit-Filled Lives
There's something captivating about tall ships—those magnificent vessels with towering masts and billowing sails that once crossed vast oceans. For thousands of years, sailors have relied on one critical principle: the sails must be ready, well-maintained, and properly positioned to catch the wind. Without properly functioning sails, even the most beautiful ship becomes unmaneuverable, drifting aimlessly across the water.
This nautical image provides a powerful metaphor for the Christian life. Just as sails must be positioned to catch the wind, believers must position themselves to be filled with the Holy Spirit. When we yield our lives fully to the Spirit's influence, our responses both to God and to others are transformed.
The Contrast of Two Influences
Ephesians 5:18 presents us with a stark contrast: "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit."
At first glance, this might seem like an odd comparison. Why would Scripture compare drunkenness with being Spirit-filled? The connection becomes clear when we understand what it means to be "under the influence."
When someone surrenders control to alcohol, they lose discipline, clarity, and wisdom. Their judgment becomes clouded, their senses dulled, and they become vulnerable to foolish and destructive choices. In Oregon alone, 25,000 people are arrested annually for DUI, and alcohol-related accidents cost nearly a billion dollars in damage. Beyond statistics, the destructive impact on families, relationships, and personal health is immeasurable.
There's an old nautical term that captures this perfectly: "three sheets to the wind." In sailing terminology, sheets are the ropes that secure the sails. When three of these ropes come loose, the sail flaps wildly, making the ship unstable and unmaneuverable. This is precisely what happens when someone is under the influence of alcohol—they become like a ship with loose rigging, unable to navigate effectively.
The Greek word translated "debauchery" literally means "not of salvation"—something ruinous, wasteful, describing someone who has abandoned themselves to reckless behavior that is irretrievable. It's the opposite of the safety and hope found in Christ.
The Command to Be Filled
But notice the positive command that follows: "be filled with the Spirit." This isn't a suggestion or an option for the spiritually elite. It's a command—an imperative for every believer.
Several aspects of this command deserve our attention:
Hoisting Our Sails
If being filled with the Spirit is passive—something God does—what's our responsibility? The answer comes down to one word: obey.
Being filled with the Spirit means ensuring our "sails" are well-mended, properly rigged, and hoisted high. It means walking in the light of God's Word, letting Scripture richly dwell within us, and carrying out His will each day. As the old hymn reminds us, there's power in trusting and obeying.
Far too often, we let our sails down. We loosen the rigging. Tears develop in the fabric of our spiritual lives through sin—those "little things" that creep in and make us ineffective. How do we identify these tears? By immersing ourselves in God's Word, which exposes areas of sin in our thoughts, actions, and relationships.
The question becomes: Will we obey His Word or not? We all face the temptation to skirt around Scripture, to justify desires that pull us away from God's best. Whether it's social media consuming our time, relationships that compromise our values, or habits that enslave us, we must identify what's keeping our sails from catching the wind of the Spirit.
True confession: even seemingly innocent things like scrolling through social media can become time-wasters that prevent us from making the best use of our time. The Spirit convicts, we must respond, and sometimes that means hitting the "uninstall" button—literally or figuratively—on things that hinder our spiritual effectiveness.
The Evidence of Spirit-Filled Living
When we're truly filled with the Spirit, specific evidences appear in our lives:
Deep expressions of trust. We address one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with our hearts. This corporate and personal worship flows naturally from hearts transformed by God's grace. Whether through the ancient Psalms, doctrinally rich hymns, or contemporary spiritual songs expressing love and gratitude, Spirit-filled believers can't help but worship.
Consistent gratitude. We give thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ. Not just in all circumstances, but for all things—even the difficult ones. This doesn't mean we enjoy suffering, but we trust that God has purposes in every season, that He's working for His glory and our good, even when we can't see it.
Mutual submission. We submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. In a culture that prizes individualism and self-assertion, this is radically countercultural. Following Christ's example of servant leadership, we voluntarily place ourselves under others, functioning as team players rather than solo performers.
Unfurling Your Sails
The Puritan John Bunyan wisely observed: "Seamen cannot create the wind, but they can hoist their sails to welcome it. Neither can we create the breath of the Spirit, but are we to miss it when it comes through failure to keep our sails unfurled?"
We cannot manufacture the Spirit's power, but we can position ourselves to receive it. We can confess the sins that keep our sails furled. We can repent—turn around and leave those things behind. We can remove the "apps" in our lives that drain our spiritual vitality.
The question isn't whether the wind of the Spirit is blowing. The question is: Are your sails unfurled and ready to catch it? When they are, you'll experience a life of impact, joy, and strength—a life propelled forward by the very power of God Himself.
This nautical image provides a powerful metaphor for the Christian life. Just as sails must be positioned to catch the wind, believers must position themselves to be filled with the Holy Spirit. When we yield our lives fully to the Spirit's influence, our responses both to God and to others are transformed.
The Contrast of Two Influences
Ephesians 5:18 presents us with a stark contrast: "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit."
At first glance, this might seem like an odd comparison. Why would Scripture compare drunkenness with being Spirit-filled? The connection becomes clear when we understand what it means to be "under the influence."
When someone surrenders control to alcohol, they lose discipline, clarity, and wisdom. Their judgment becomes clouded, their senses dulled, and they become vulnerable to foolish and destructive choices. In Oregon alone, 25,000 people are arrested annually for DUI, and alcohol-related accidents cost nearly a billion dollars in damage. Beyond statistics, the destructive impact on families, relationships, and personal health is immeasurable.
There's an old nautical term that captures this perfectly: "three sheets to the wind." In sailing terminology, sheets are the ropes that secure the sails. When three of these ropes come loose, the sail flaps wildly, making the ship unstable and unmaneuverable. This is precisely what happens when someone is under the influence of alcohol—they become like a ship with loose rigging, unable to navigate effectively.
The Greek word translated "debauchery" literally means "not of salvation"—something ruinous, wasteful, describing someone who has abandoned themselves to reckless behavior that is irretrievable. It's the opposite of the safety and hope found in Christ.
The Command to Be Filled
But notice the positive command that follows: "be filled with the Spirit." This isn't a suggestion or an option for the spiritually elite. It's a command—an imperative for every believer.
Several aspects of this command deserve our attention:
- It's passive. We don't fill ourselves with the Spirit. Rather, we permit the Spirit of God to fill us, to control us, to influence us. This is divine work. Our role is simply to get out of the way and stop doing things that inhibit the Spirit's work.
- It's continual. The present tense could be translated "be being filled with the Spirit." This isn't a one-time experience but an ongoing reality. We keep allowing the Spirit to fill us, continually removing obstacles that block His work.
- It's universal. Every believer has been baptized into one body by the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13). The Holy Spirit indwells every Christian entirely—not partially, but with His full power residing within. We've been sealed by the Spirit until the day of redemption.
Hoisting Our Sails
If being filled with the Spirit is passive—something God does—what's our responsibility? The answer comes down to one word: obey.
Being filled with the Spirit means ensuring our "sails" are well-mended, properly rigged, and hoisted high. It means walking in the light of God's Word, letting Scripture richly dwell within us, and carrying out His will each day. As the old hymn reminds us, there's power in trusting and obeying.
Far too often, we let our sails down. We loosen the rigging. Tears develop in the fabric of our spiritual lives through sin—those "little things" that creep in and make us ineffective. How do we identify these tears? By immersing ourselves in God's Word, which exposes areas of sin in our thoughts, actions, and relationships.
The question becomes: Will we obey His Word or not? We all face the temptation to skirt around Scripture, to justify desires that pull us away from God's best. Whether it's social media consuming our time, relationships that compromise our values, or habits that enslave us, we must identify what's keeping our sails from catching the wind of the Spirit.
True confession: even seemingly innocent things like scrolling through social media can become time-wasters that prevent us from making the best use of our time. The Spirit convicts, we must respond, and sometimes that means hitting the "uninstall" button—literally or figuratively—on things that hinder our spiritual effectiveness.
The Evidence of Spirit-Filled Living
When we're truly filled with the Spirit, specific evidences appear in our lives:
Deep expressions of trust. We address one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with our hearts. This corporate and personal worship flows naturally from hearts transformed by God's grace. Whether through the ancient Psalms, doctrinally rich hymns, or contemporary spiritual songs expressing love and gratitude, Spirit-filled believers can't help but worship.
Consistent gratitude. We give thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ. Not just in all circumstances, but for all things—even the difficult ones. This doesn't mean we enjoy suffering, but we trust that God has purposes in every season, that He's working for His glory and our good, even when we can't see it.
Mutual submission. We submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. In a culture that prizes individualism and self-assertion, this is radically countercultural. Following Christ's example of servant leadership, we voluntarily place ourselves under others, functioning as team players rather than solo performers.
Unfurling Your Sails
The Puritan John Bunyan wisely observed: "Seamen cannot create the wind, but they can hoist their sails to welcome it. Neither can we create the breath of the Spirit, but are we to miss it when it comes through failure to keep our sails unfurled?"
We cannot manufacture the Spirit's power, but we can position ourselves to receive it. We can confess the sins that keep our sails furled. We can repent—turn around and leave those things behind. We can remove the "apps" in our lives that drain our spiritual vitality.
The question isn't whether the wind of the Spirit is blowing. The question is: Are your sails unfurled and ready to catch it? When they are, you'll experience a life of impact, joy, and strength—a life propelled forward by the very power of God Himself.
Posted in Book of Ephesians