Ephesians 5:18 (New King James Version) And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit . . .
This command of the Lord, presented through the Apostle Paul, reflects the will of God for every believer. In Bible times, wine was frequently used to dull the senses. Many use it for the same purpose today. Inability to cope with the stresses and problems of life often leads to the use such substances. Drunk is the English word which has been translated from the Greek methusko, which means to be intoxicated. When we imbibe, in excess, any substance to the point that our reasoning capacities are impaired, we are drunk and are walking in the flesh. “Dissipation” is the English word that has been translated from the Greek, asotia, which indicates wastefulness or prodigality. Thus, allowing anything other than the Holy Spirit to control one’s life results in wasted energy and wasted lives, an awful thing for which to give an account at the Judgment Seat of Christ (bema).

In chapters 4-6 of Ephesians, Paul presented guidelines for effective Christian living. In Ephesians 5:18, he called us to question what drives or controls us. It is my belief that we can be driven by one of five things, besides the Holy Spirit: potions, power, prestige, purpose or pain. Being driven by potions entails ingesting substances into our bodies for purposes other than those that are medicinal. Potions dull our senses so that we can not hear clearly when the Lord speaks to us. It can also indicate seeking comfort outside of God Himself to cope with the stresses of life.

Power is the sense of our being in control of our own destiny (ies), situations, or of other people. Being driven by power may cause us to manipulate or intimidate others so that we can have our own way. Note that power driven people are at a loss when they sense that they no longer have control over their situations. William Henley reflected such a philosophy in his poem Invictus when he penned the words,
"I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul."

We are driven by prestige when we seek to affiliate ourselves with those that feed our egos or help pave the way to self-aggrandizement as opposed to seeking God’s will in our relationships and using them to serve others.

We are driven by purpose when we seek to promote our own goals, failing to give consideration to what is God’s will in our lives.

Finally, we may be driven by pain. When we are driven by pain, we may find ourselves nursing hurt feelings or a grudge, or simply wallowing in self pity. Being driven by any of these reflects a preoccupation with the desires of self rather than the glory of God.

When one is filled with the Spirit, God’s glory is the focal point of his or her life. I know I must constantly guard against being driven by anything or anyone other than the Holy Spirit, lest I find myself succumbing to fleshly frustration.

A community of believers can also be driven by any of the above. A church that seeks to follow God’s command to be filled with the Spirit or driven by Him, not only finds itself to be channel of God’s blessing to a watching world, it is also ensured of solidarity within its walls. May we always be found controlled by and walking in the Spirit.

About the Blog’s Name
The name of this blog reflects what I aspire to be as opposed to what I am. I have used the initial Greek letter from two words: God and love and the Greek word for "word": “A God-lover’s Words.” I long to love Him supremely and not just for what He has done for me in terms of my many answered prayers, but because HE is the ultimate lover. Some of the entries will be from my daily quiet time. Others will reflect what He is doing in my life. Regardless, I want all to reflect the passion that burns within me “that I may know Him,” and having known Him, that I may love Him. This blog is a work in progress, just as I am a work in progress in the capable hands of the Master Potter. I trust that in some small way that this blog chronicling my spiritual walk will inspire others in their pursuit of Christ likeness.