01/12/2024
Ephesians 5:18 AMP
[18] Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him.
The Oxford Dictionary defines spirit as a “strong distilled liquor such as brandy, whiskey, gin, or rum.” Merriam-Webster gets more specific by defining a spirit as “the liquid containing ethyl alcohol and water that is distilled from an alcoholic liquid or mash — often used in plural.”
People think that because the Bible defines drunkenness as acting corrupt and stupid that a glass is fine... So 1stly drinking that 1 glass or a sip is taking in a spirit as alcohol is called spirits. Verse 18 continues by saying BUT BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT and constantly be guided by Him. The 1 Spirit called alcohol will cause someone to take guidance from that spirit and other spirits under its umbrella... But when you refrain, you cannot be tempted to have another sip or another glass. The 1st rejection is to say no to that 1st sip or 2 in the 1st place.
Now people will quote 1 Timothy 5:23 to say that a little wine is good for the stomach. And I agree with the Bible, however the wine in the Bible is different from these toxic drinks that they are making today. Grape juice and even ginger is good for the stomach and it treats stomach illnesses. That is the wine the Bible spoke of... Unfermented wine.
Drinking from the Holy Spirit or being filled by the Holy Spirit will get opposite results of corruption and stupidity. Wisdom will come, correct the ethics, good character, peaceful, honorable, etc will come and in the picture you'll see more things to expect to be there with being filled by the Holy Spirit. But wine which is called alcohol will get a unholy spirit to enter and while you may say but I'm well conducted when I drink...what do you think from time to time? What do you say? What are your reactions? Some things of that spirit will not always be out exposing but inwardly hiding.
Therefore in a nutshell, refrain from alcohol!
