Ephesians 5:18 - Let The Spirit Lead

Eph 5:18 (KJV)  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled
with the Spirit;

The outward effects of drinking wine and being filled with the Spirit are
sufficiently similar that Paul connects them (see Acts 2:13-18). The Spirit
gives true expression; the wine, unreliable exhilaration. [Jamieson,
Fausset, And Brown Commentary]

It's no accident that alcoholic beverages are often called "spirits." Why?
Because the feeling many people want alcohol to give them is ultimately
spiritual - joy, freedom, serenity, contentment. But as we know, the way to
find that feeling is to be filled not with "spirits," but with the Spirit of
God. [Life Recovery Devotional SB]

People of the world try to escape from the dreariness of their everyday
existence by seeking an alcoholic high. Paul said find that escape through
the Spirit. Let Him lift you. Let Him make life fresh and new.  You won't
even have a hangover! [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]

We might paraphrase, don't live under the influence of alcohol but under the
influence of the Spirit. [Victor Bible Reader's Companion]

The Greek present tense is used to indicate that the filling of the Spirit
is not a once-for-all experience. Repeatedly, as the occasion requires, the
Spirit empowers for worship, service and testimony. . . .When he speaks here
of being filled with the Spirit and when he speaks in Colossians of being
under the rule of the peace of Christ and indwelt by the "word" of Christ,
he means to be under God's control. [NIV SB]

Spiritual Intoxication: This passages makes a striking comparison between
being drunk with wine and being filled with the Holy Spirit. When an
individual is intoxicated, his body and mind are controlled by the alcoholic
substance. In the same way, when believers are intoxicated with the Holy
Spirit, their body and mind are controlled by God. Rather than escaping
reality with drugs and alcohol, Christians are admonished to "get high on
God." When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, our attitudes are under his
control, and our actions demonstrate his love. [Small Group SB]

The filling of the Spirit is to be continually experienced, as the present
tense verb would affirm. Special fillings occur in times of need for
particular spiritual prowess. [Believer's SB]

Paul has taught in this epistle that all believers are sealed with the
Spirit when they believe (1:13-14; 4:30), but not all are filled, since that
depends on yieldedness to God's will (v. 17). "Filling" describes an
experience that can be repeated (Acts 2:4; 4:31), and here, as in Acts, it
is connected with joy, courage, spirituality, and Christian character.
[Ryrie SB]

A believer can never obtain more of the Holy Spirit, for he indwells the
Christian's life in all his fullness. But the Holy Spirit can get more of
the believer; that is, he can exercise complete control of the life that is
yielded to him. [Wycliffe Bible Commentary]

Believers are commanded to be filled constantly with the Holy Spirit. Each
Christian has all the Spirit, but the command here is that the Spirit have
all of him. The wise walk, then, is one that is characterized by the Holy
Spirit's control. [Bible Knowledge Commentary]

As a believer is yielded to the Lord and controlled by Him, he increasingly
manifests the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). [Bible Knowledge
Commentary]

Note the evidences of a Spirit-filled life: joy (v. 19), gratitude (v. 20),
obedience (v. 21ff). Compare Col. 3:15-17 and you will see that when
Christians are filled with the Word of God they will have the same
characteristics. In other words, to be filled with the Spirit of God means
to be controlled by the Word of God. The marks of a Spirit-filled Christian
are not unusual emotional experiences, miracles, and tongues, but rather
Christian character. [Wiersbe Expository Outlines]

How can I be filled with the Spirit?  While the Holy Spirit lives in every
Christian, Christians are not always filled with the Spirit - living
continually under the influence and control of the Spirit. When Christians
choose out of love to yield completely to the Lord, obeying his commands and
asking the Holy Spirit to direct their lives, this filling occurs. This
should be an ongoing experience, not something that happens only once.
[Quest SB]

The Bible offers a powerful alternative to drinking. Paul contrasts getting
drunk with wine, which produces a temporary "high," to being filled with the
Spirit, which produces lasting joy. Getting drunk with wine is associated
with the old way of life and its selfish desires. In Christ, we have a
better joy, higher and longer lasting, to cure our depression, monotony, or
tension. We should not be concerned with how much of the Holy Spirit we
have, but how much of us the Holy Spirit has. Submit yourself daily to his
leading and draw constantly on his power. [Life Application SB]

Be filled with the Spirit is a command to be obeyed, not an option for the
Christian. "Be filled" is a present tense meaning "go on being filled with
the Spirit." It is also plural; all believers are to "be filled."  The image
is of a container so full that there is no room for anything else. The
Spirit-filled Christian is so given over to the Spirit's leadership that
other conflicting influences have no place. [Passages Of Life SB]

O LORD GOD, I am learning that I can do nothing apart from your Holy Spirit.
Your Spirit lifts me up in prayer. Your Spirit prepares my heart for prayer.
Your Spirit aids me in resting my heart and mind in you in prayer. Your
Spirit prompts me to pray for the Things of your heart, and he leads me
beyond selfish desires. May I be continually inspired by your Spirit to say
and do and pray consistency, that my life might be a witness to others
regarding the blessed power of prayer and your work through your Spirit.
Amen. Louis Gifford Parkhurst, Jr

1 Th 5:17 (KJV)  Pray without ceasing.

Micah 6:8c (KJV) ....walk humbly with thy God.