"Let's Get Drunk" (Part 1)

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:15-21 NIV).

Made you look, didn’t I? The title to this little series is provocative to say the least. However, I hope you’ll stay with me to the end. Another title could have been Heaven in your Home, but then you might not have been interested (or irate) enough to read it! The series will deal with making our homes all of what the Lord desires for them to be. He does desire them to be an extension of heaven. The sad truth is that most of our homes fall far short of heaven.” William Cowper, a great hymnist and preacher decades ago, wrote, “Too many homes are an outpost of hell rather than a parcel of paradise.” Cowper was born in 1731 and died in 1800. I wonder what he might say about the home of the 21st century?

The Apostle Paul has a great deal to say about the home and the family. In our reading today he touches on the first truth that will make very home a little parcel of paradise. He centers our attention on the filling of the Holy Spirit. He draws us to the joy that comes with His Presence in our lives. And that is the first principle: Our homes ought to be filled with joy. Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit that Paul lists in Galatians 5:22. However, I want you to see that he is not talking about mere emotion. The shallow emotion we so often see passed off as joy is not true joy. Christian joy in the home is a deep experience of adequacy and confidence in spite of the circumstance.

Notice the comparison of the person filled with the Spirit to that of a drunkard. At first glance, you may jump to the conclusion that I am “ministerially speaking.” However, the comparison is there. A drunk is under the control of another force. Are we not to be under the control of Christ living within us through the Holy Spirit? A drunk feels a great sense of release. All of his troubles are gone, or so he feels. A drunk becomes uninhibited, often shameless and loud, courageous to the point of being a danger to himself or others. Transfer that picture to your home.

What a difference it would make if our spouse and our children could see that kind of confident joy at work in our lives. And there is good reason for us to have that kind of joy. Can anything overcome us in Christ? Paul gives quite an exhaustive list of those things that have no power or effect over us in his letter to the Romans. You know, I believe he is right! NOTHING is stronger than Christ Jesus our Lord. Makes me confident… doesn’t it you? Let’s get drunk!