Ephesians 5:18 - Spiritual Living.

Eph.5:18: Spiritual Living.

Eph 5:18 (NIV)  Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to 
debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 

Eph 5:18 (GWT)  Don't get drunk on wine, which leads to wild 
living. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 

Eph 5:18 (NLT)  Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin 
your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. 

FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT

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] 

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] 

To be "filled with" means "to be controlled by" (Luke 4:28; 
5:26). On the day of Pentecost, the believers were filled with the Holy 
Spirit and were accused of being drunk (Acts 2:13). Just as a drunk is 
influenced by alcohol, so a believer should be controlled by the Spirit. 
However, there are important differences. The drunk loses self-control, 
but the Spirit gives the believer self-control (Gal. 5:23). The 
drunk has an artificial happiness that does not last, while the 
Spirit-filled believer has a deep joy in the Lord. Drunken people do stupid 
things that hurt others and bring them embarrassment, but Spirit-filled 
believers help others and live to the glory of God. [Chapter by Chapter 
Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe] 

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] 

FILLING VS SEALING

Filling is a step beyond the sealing of the Holy Spirit (1:13). 
Sealing is an action God took at the point of our new birth. The tense 
of the Greek word translated filled indicates that filling is a 
moment-by-moment, repeatable action. [Nelson SB] 

Sealing is connected by Paul particularly with the reception of 
the Holy Spirit, which usually accompanied baptism (see Eph. 1:13; 
4:30), [SDA Commentary re John 6:27] 

The reception of the Holy Spirit at conversion is God's 
authentication that the believer is accepted, that the approval of Heaven rests 
upon his choice and experience..... It is hoped that the believer will 
persevere and that he will be glorified. This can be only if he holds 
"fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end" 
(Heb. 3:6). The act of sealing does not forever guarantee salvation, 
for it is possible to sin against the Holy Spirit and thus forfeit 
redemption (Matt. 12:31; Heb. 6:4-6). The sin for which there is no pardon 
comes as a climax to a series of grievings. It is important therefore 
to guard against even a single act of grieving.  [SDA Commentary re 
Eph.4:30] 

SUMMARY THOUGHT

Fear filled the disciples' hearts when Jesus told them He would 
be returning to heaven. So He assured them that He would not leave 
them as orphans, with no divine parent to protect and help them. He 
promised to send them His representative, the Comforter, the Holy 
Spirit--the Vicar of Christ, Christ's representative on earth. And the 
Spirit came to comfort the followers of Jesus, the disciples, and you 
and me. 
While the New Testament mentions the Holy Spirit 262 times, many 
references to Him also appear in the Old Testament. In fact, He has played 
a very important role in humanity's life from the beginning of 
time. The Holy Spirit had a part in the creation of all things. He was 
active in convicting the antediluvians of their sins. In Judges we find 
the Holy Spirit filling the lives of Samson, Joshua, Gideon, and 
others. The prophets felt His influence. All through the Old Testament 
we see the Holy Spirit as the moving power of God functioning in 
the lives of people, convicting them, encouraging them, and leading 
them to a new consciousness of God. 
This promise of the Holy Spirit, who was to come as a Comforter 
to the disciples, represented a special outpouring and indwelling 
not only for the early church, but for His contemporary church--for 
you and me! And the Holy Spirit did indeed come--not that He had not 
always been here on this earth, but people had not been able to receive 
Him in His fullness before that time. Then they saw the Holy Spirit 
function at Pentecost as never before in a dramatic, awe-inspiring, 
breathtaking way. 
Have you ever stopped to ponder and appreciate the absolute 
necessity of the indwelling Spirit in your life? Really, your life doesn't 
mean a thing unless the Holy Spirit is guiding you! Without the Holy 
Spirit we cannot really experience Jesus in our life. So our daily 
prayer should ever be "Come, Holy Spirit, come. Make my experience with 
Jesus real today." [The Best News Ever by H.M.S. Richards, JR and 
Daniel R.Guild]