Ephesians 5:18



I have been preaching through the book of Ephesians since last November here at El Bethel Baptist Church. I am currently working on the 37th message through the book and I must say it is a life changing experience to study this Epistle verse by verse. There is no other verse of scripture that has ever impacted my life as Ephesians 5:18 has.

"And be not drunk with wine,wherein is excess;but be filled with the Spirit"

First of all let me speak to the point of drinking here. This verse does not in any way give us permission to drink as long as we do not get drunk. The word "excess" in the Greek is the word "sozo" which means saved. However if you add this little word "is" too it and look at the Greek meaning of the Phrase "is excess" it defines itself as "unsaved". Now let us look at the word "drunk" the word drunk here in its verb tense in the Greek is speaking about the process of getting drunk and not the act of being drunk. Now if anyone here has ever had a problem with alcohol you will understand that the process of getting drunk begins with the first drink. Therefore put the original meaning in the Greek and here is how Ephesians 5:18a reads "Do not begin the process of getting drunk (do not even take a drink) because this gives the appearance that you are unsaved (lost). I believe strongly that a Christian is supposed to be completely abstinent from all alcohol.

However that is not what impacted my life, what impacted my life what the rest of the verse. "but be ye filled with the Spirit" This is a command and not something that happens only during big conventions or when a famous evangelist come too town. This also is not what happens when ten people surround you at the alter and pray over you until you speak in some language that no one can understand (BTW another subject for another day). Being filled with the Spirit is a command for every Christian every day! Therefore that leaves us the question "how do I become full of the Spirit?" When you are saved you are immediately filled however I am speaking to those that have been saved and now want to be once again re-filled. Here is what impacted my life. The way to be filled with the Spirit is to simply ask God to fill you and by faith believe that He will and guess what happens? Your filled with the Spirit. I am begging you try it. Watch your prayer life go to new levels. Watch sin in your life become mountains that you have to forsake. Watch your worship become like it has never been before. The only way I can see that this will not work is if there is some immoral sin in your life that you must repent of and ask forgiveness and then be filled with the Spirit. I am telling you this is not a request of God this is a command!!!!!


Weight loss update I am down 23 pounds and feeling better. I am walking about 3 miles a day and have not anything deep-fried in 4 weeks (this is tough living in the south we deep fry everything).

Also we lost our first regular season flag football game to Forrest last Saturday 24-14. Will had a good game as he scored both our touchdowns but we waited too late to gave him the ball. He had only one carry in the first half. This is my fault since I am head coach I do not want my son to get all the carries so that it does not look like I am only playing him. However I think he has proved himself and I have no other choice but too give him the ball. We play at 2 p.m. Saturday at home against MTCS.

God Bless
Dan Reed