May 2013 - Intoxicated?

Some of you who are reading this may be doing your own pondering: “What are they getting at with the cover of this month’s bulletin?”  What is meant by “Intoxicated?”

Let me start by reminding you that the event that is being referred to happens this month.  May 19th is the day we celebrate Pentecost in 2013.  It reminds us of a pivotal moment in the life of the church.  Jesus told the disciples to not simply go off and witness to His resurrection.  He said they needed power. (See Acts 1:8)

As you go on to read the account of that particular Pentecost celebration (in Acts 2, also noted in the image on the front of the bulletin), you will read that some thought they were drunk—intoxicated (Acts 2:13,15).  In the context of the event, those who thought they were drunk probably heard the newly “filled with the Holy Spirit” speaking in tongues they did not recognize.  It was the claim of the doubtful.  And yet, it is also possible to have such a euphoric experience in the Holy Spirit as to seem drunk.

There is a verse in the New Testament that also refers both to being drunk and being filled with the Holy Spirit.  Ephesians 5:18 says: “And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit” (HCSB).  Or, consider how this verse is translated in The Message: “Don’t drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him.”  Paul is comparing the level of drink needed to be intoxicated with the level of being filled with the Holy Spirit.  How full do you feel?

The tense/voice/mood of the Greek word for “be filled” indicates that it is actually a continual action of being filled.  This might seem like an odd thought if you think that once filled you are full and needing no more.  That would be true if you were not a conduit for the Holy Spirit to move through (see John 7:38-39).  That might also be true if you were a vessel that remained the same size (see what the NT says about increase).  Or, that might be true if all areas of your life were completely transformed by God (see 2 Cor. 3:17-18).

I will leave you with an interesting example from the lives of people in the early church, some of which were there on that Pentecost where the Spirit of God filled them.

And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31, NKJV)

Journeying with you,

Pastor Merril