Lighten Up

Dear People Who Keep Company With God,

I am big proponent of spiritual intoxication and I understand this can be polarizing because of the issues of alcoholism and substance abuse. I have loved ones who suffer with these issues so it is an area that has touched my life and I am sensitive about it.

But the scriptures do say, “do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Eph. 5:18). And one of the signs of being filled with the Holy Spirit is a sense and feeling of being intoxicated (Act 2:13-21).

Much of the root cause of alcoholism and substance abuse in our society is the hidden pain, suffering and shame in one’s heart. But the Holy Spirit’s intoxication is exactly opposite – there is healing, deliverance and fulfillment of the inner issues and desires. In my life, the greatest reality concerning spiritual intoxication is knowing and experiencing God’s love. His love is better than wine (SOS 1:2).

Once I worked with a man who was a functioning alcoholic. He was more productive and could drive a vehicle under the influence better than most straight people. Although this is a terrible illustration, it does speak to the fact that believers should always be under the influence of the Holy Spirit. It would cause us to become some of the most fruitful, loving and brilliant citizens in the kingdom of God.

It seems we have made Christianity too heavy. That is what happens apart from the influence of the Holy Spirit. The Bible read through the lens of a person under the influence of the Holy Spirit is the most interesting and liberating book of all time. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit church, mission and ministry go from black and white to technicolor. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit our family, work and social life will be fulfilling and pleasurable. Jesus characterized the life of being under the influence of His Spirit as light and easy (Matt. 11:30).

Although I have experienced spiritual intoxication many times I confess my default is to become heavy. However, in the past few years I have become much more spiritually sensitive and I have detected another spiritual influence broadcasting in the background. It is a religious broadcast from hell. Slowly and insidiously the influence of this broadcast wears upon me and without realizing it I become heavy, fretful and ill at ease in my heart. Life becomes a steady diet of have to versus get to. Nothing is light and easy.

Much like Hanoi Hannah in the Vietnam conflict and Tokyo Rose during WW2 the propaganda of hell is enticing and reasonable, but it is poison being given in small steady doses. There is an antidote and it is the Holy Spirit. Living under the influence of the Holy Spirit is the only way to walk in the overcoming abundant life Jesus promised (John 10:10).

Whether we know it or not we all are under the influence of something or someone. We get to choose the influence – the world, flesh, religious devils or the Holy Spirit, who is the only “The Promise of the Father” in the entire Bible (Acts 1:4).

Many Blessings, BW