Under the Influence

v.15:

Ephesians 5:15 (NKJV)

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,

The wise man will seek out the will of God. 

v.16:

Ephesians 5:16 (NKJV)

redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

We live in evil days. This was true in Paul’s day, and it’s just as true today.

We need to be sure that we make the best use of the time we have, because in these times we have much work to do.

And the truth is, we don’t know how much time we have left, so we best use it wisely.

This means we should be seeking God’s will.

v.17:

Ephesians 5:17 (NKJV)

Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

What is the will of God?

There is no more important practical question than how to know the will of God. 

The most important part is the recognition that it is His will—not our will—this is most important.

We must never try to confine God's will to our small little lives.

God certainly wants His children to know His will—both His will in general, as revealed in Scripture, and His specific will in each particular decision. 

Our understanding of God's specific will for us must be constant with His general will.

The Holy Spirit, who leads us, will never contradict the Scriptures which He inspired. 

Therefore, the necessary prerequisite to finding the personal will of God is knowing His general will.

There are many places in the Bible where we are told different parts of God’s will, but for the purpose and context of this study, we will just look at a few.

It is His will to provide salvation to all who believe in Christ.

Elements of God’s will

John 6:40 

John 6:40 NKJV

And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Furthermore, His will includes absolute security in Him

John 6:39

John 6:39 NKJV

This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.

Our sanctification is God’s will for us.

1 Thessalonians 4:3 

1 Thessalonians 4:3 NKJV

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;

It is His will that we are thankful in all things.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV

in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Finally, by the command of Jesus, it is God's will that we should tell others about Him.

Matthew 28:19

Matthew 28:19 NKJV

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

This explains to us what God’s general will for everyone is:

eternal salvation

sanctification

thankfulness

evangelism

If you want to know God’s will for a more specific role in His work, you must first faithfully embrace the will that you know.

You must place yourself in God's general will.

Find where God is working and get involved.

Tell others about Him.

With faithful service, God will eventually move you into a more specific service.

A believer who understands, believes, and obeys God's general will is then prepared to know and follow His specific will.

Remember, it's about Him, not you!

v.18:

Ephesians 5:18 (NKJV)

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

With God’s will in mind, Paul draws a parallel.

Since ancient times men have looked for artificial means of joy and fulfillment, ways to celebrate or ease their sorrows.

While alcohol, drugs or other artificial means of stimulation may seem to work for a time, in the end they will let you down.

They lead to lewdness and all sorts of immorality that have been mentioned in this letter.

They ultimately lead you on a path of destruction, with broken lives and broken families in its wake.

There is no substitute for the filling of the Holy Spirit

Prov. 23:31-32

Proverbs 23:31–32 NKJV

Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly; At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a viper.

Proverbs: 20:1

Proverbs 20:1 NKJV

Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

In contrast, the Holy Spirit builds rather destroys. He unites families, enriches lives, and leads you on the path of righteousness.

The Holy Spirit provides true fulfillment and joy. He mends broken hearts and makes you whole.

In our sorrows and in our joy, we should lean on and celebrate the indwelling Holy Spirit that each born-again believer shares.

Most importantly, we will never truly understand the will of God, unless we are under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

“Living under the influence of the Spirit necessarily means not being under the influence of alcohol or other substances. Just as we cannot serve both God and mammon (= things), we cannot walk by the Spirit if we are intoxicated with wine.”

v.19:

Ephesians 5:19 (NKJV)

speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

When we are under the influence of the Holy Spirit, we won’t be belligerent to others as alcohol often induces.

Instead, we will “speak to each other” meaning we will gather together and praise the Lord in song, edifying and encouraging each other in the process.

The influence of the Holy Spirit will make us joyful, thankful and submissive.

Psalm 33:2-3

Psalm 33:2–3 NKJV

Praise the Lord with the harp; Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.

This is why we sing when we come to church.

v.20:

Ephesians 5:20 (NKJV)

giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Being under the influence of the Holy Spirit will leave us thankful, not sad and broken as alcohol will do.

We will be able to give thanks, no matter our situation.

This is yet another part of being in the will of God.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV

in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

v.21:

Ephesians 5:21 (NKJV)

submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Instead of trying to fight one another, which is often the result of drunkeness, the Holy Spirit will have the opposite effect.

We will learn to be submissive to one another.

All Christians should be servants at heart.

Matthew 20:26-28

Matthew 20:26–28 NKJV

Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

We’ve seen a number of contrasts between worldly behavior and Spirit-filled behavior.

McGee says:

The walk of the believer and his being filled with the Spirit are closely related. Paul says a believer is to walk carefully and “circumspectly” and “be filled with the Spirit.”...The Spirit-filled believer not only walks wisely, but his Christian character is evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit.

As a believer, you are always filled with the Spirit, but…sometimes the Holy Spirit is limited by a lot of other junk that also fills you.

Think of it like this:

Imagine that you have a glass, and you put a bunch of rocks in the glass. Now you pour water into the glass and you fill it to the brim.

Think of the glass as you, and the water as the Holy Spirit. You are filled with the Spirit, but there is not as much as there could be.

Now take the rocks out of the glass and see how much more water goes in.

Those rocks are the sin in our lives. The Holy Spirit is giving us all of Him, but we are not giving him all of us.

We need to repent of those sins so that He can fill us completely.

He gives us all of Himself, it’s up to us to give Him all of ourself.

That is how you will truly know God’s will. In fact, that is God’s will.

Remember, when the glass is full of water, there is no room for rocks.