Breaking the Chains - By Mike Ratliff, Pt.2

Walk in Wisdom:
(Ephesians 5:15-20 NKJV)
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of [fn3] God.

Christians who become enslaved to their flesh have done so because of their foolishness. They are not wise. Where does wisdom come from?

(James 1:5-8 NKJV)
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

That’s right. We must ask god for it. We must ask believing, that is, with faith. When we do, He gives it to us. If that is all it takes, then why don’t all those Christians who are enslaved to their flesh do this? They don’t know how to ask by faith. Why? They are walking according to the flesh, rather than according to the Spirit. They are not Spirit-led.

Look back at Ephesians 5:15-20. Paul contrasts the drinking of wine to drunkenness with being filled with the Spirit. What happens when a person becomes drunk by drinking alcohol? Doesn’t the alcohol exert a form of control over the members of the body because it permeates the brain and causes motor functions to suffer. The behavior of the drunk also changes from that of when he or she is sober. The drunk has been taken over by the alcohol. The word debauchery is used in the ESV translation in v18 which means “to lose control” or “be out of control.” Those at a wild party are in this state. Paul is giving us a contrast with this fleshly condition with that of a Christian who is filled with the Spirit.

Paul is not saying that all of the evil must be removed from our Hearts so more of the Spirit can fit in there. Instead, he is telling us that a Spirit-filled Christian is one that the Holy Spirit has control of like alcohol has control of a drunk. He permeates their hearts, their entire being and empowers them like wind filling a sail. This is describing being Spirit-led. The Christian is so controlled, and empowered by the Holy Spirit that their character becomes more Christlike. They love what God loves and hate what God hates and it is not just wishful thinking that their sin is in the process of being killed. The chains of bondage to their flesh are now fallen to the ground at their feet.

In this state, the believer prays believing. Their faith is dynamic and growing in depth and strength. He or she prays for wisdom and believes that God will work out the circumstances in their lives so they can clearly see and comprehend and learn His truth.

How do Christians become Spirit-led? How do they become filled with the Spirit? Tomorrow we will look at Ephesians 5:19-21 for the answer….