Under the Influence

Ephesians 5:15–17

By Rodney Holloman , August 14, 2022

Life Together

Under the Influence

Don’t be controlled by Alcohol/drugs which is sinful

Be (being) controlled by the Holy Spirit

Intoxication is never a remedy for the cares of life, but it has few equals in its ability to multiply them.*

1. It is always sinful to be controlled by alcohol/drugs | Always sinful to be drunk.

1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:19–21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Proverbs 23:20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:

Proverbs 23:21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

Proverbs 23:29–32 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? 30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. 31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. 32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

Proverbs 31:4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

Proverbs 23:29–32 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? 30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. 31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. 32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

Proverbs 31:5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

Isaiah 5:11-12 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! 12 And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands.

Isaiah 28:7-8 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. 8 For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.

1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

1 Peter 4:3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

Galatians 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, a brilliant physician who became a pastor and ministered for nearly forty years at Westminster Chapel, London, wrote:

Drink is not a stimulus, it is a depressant. It depresses first and foremost the highest centers of all in the brain. They are the very first to be influenced and affected by drink. They control everything that gives a man self-control, wisdom, understanding, discrimination, judgment, balance, the power to assess everything; in other words everything that makes a man behave at his very best and highest. The better a man’s control, the better man he is.… But drink is something which immediately gets rid of control; that indeed is the first thing it does.4

2. It is always God’s will to be controlled by the Holy Spirit (vs.18)

Steve Gaines

  1. It doesn’t take much to be intoxicated.
  2. We have other choices besides dirty water.
  3. We have other medicines making wine/alcohol unnecessary.
  4. Alcohol/drugs are addictive.
  5. Your testimony/example matters.
  6. Alcohol hinders your testimony.

Don’t Waste Your Life – Do God’s Will

Ephesians 5:15–17

1. Don’t Live Like God Doesn’t Exist(vs.7)

Psalm 14:1 1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

Proverbs 3:6 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

2. Redeem The Time (vs.16)

3. Do God’s Will (vs.17)

Saved

1 Timothy 2:3–4 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Spirit-Filled

Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Sanctified

1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

Submissive

1 Peter 2:13–15 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Suffering

1 Peter 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

Saying Thanks

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Your life’s passion should be to FIND, FOLLOW, and FINISH the Will of God.

You can’t know God’s Will if you don’t know God’s Word.

Knowing what God wants / God’s Will is not a Guessing Game, it is spelled out in Scripture.

  • John MacArthur Quote