They Were Not Drunk As You Suppose! Part 2

Praise the Lord saints.

Sophron safe (sound) in mind, in self-control of ones desires, impulses, and senses. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is self-control (Gr. egreitei), not the lack of it which is what we see when people claim they are “drunk in the spirit”. To find yourself rolling on the on the floor or staggering is to lose self-control. You cannot claim this activity is from God when there is no biblical precedent. Being filled with the Spirit gives us Godly results, not makes us act as the world. To defend such a position shows a lack of Bible knowledge and maturity in the faith.

The Spirit already indwells the believer. What they are doing is depending on something external to gain influence, to have them act drunk- out of control. Besides having no biblical precedence. If this means one is filled with the spirit then not acting like this means you are not filled with the Spirit.

Does an experience not mentioned in the Scripture override what is mentioned? This is not God doing a new thing because He would be contradicting what He wrote about the activity of the Spirit. That we are to have the mind of Christ- which I do not see anywhere acting in such a foolish manner.

Does the world see anything different in us if we are acting drunk like they do? How can the life of Christ be exhibited if we act this way? People who drink continually are called alcoholics, what should we call those in the church?

1 Pet 1:13-14: “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance.” Certainly drunkenness would be a former lust, why act like your carnal? If you are not aware Peter then explains what will take place “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”(1 Pet. 5:8). You will be on the dinner menu of the adversary. You can’t be vigilant when drunk.

It says this in the Old Testament with some very specific descriptions we should pay attention to: “All you beasts of the field, come to devour, all you beasts in the forest. His watchmen are blind, they are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yes, they are greedy dogs which never have enough. And they are shepherds who cannot understand; they all look to their own way, every one for his own gain, from his own territory. “Come,” one says, “I will bring wine, and we will fill ourselves with intoxicating drink; tomorrow will be as today, and much more abundant.” (Isa. 56:9-12)

Priests were forbidden from drinking wine when performing their priestly duties: Leviticus 10:8-11. How can God approve of acting drunk in the house of worship? This is not something new. Paul tells us to learn from the Old Testament examples. Isaiah 29:9-12, states,

“Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: and the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.”

The Bible describes them as being drunken, but “not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.”

Hear the Scripture! Multitudes in church are getting ‘drunk in the Spirit.” So what spirit is this?

The Word of God tells us this is NOT alcoholic drunkenness; “they ARE drunken, but NOT with wine.”

Spiritual drunkenness is a REAL experience but it is not a true experience.

The Scripture also describes this as a judgment on those who refuse the counsel of the word. They cannot understand the words any longer because of this experience has closed their spiritual understanding. “For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes”

Till next week,

God Bless.

Rev. Dr. Robert L. Harrison, PhD