Control Freaks

Control Freaks

Today's Three-minute Bible Study
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Title: Control Freaks------------- Date: 02/04/1999
Keywords: "control" "drunk" "Spirit"

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Passages: Ephesians 5:18*

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit

Questions

1. The verse quoted above commands Christians to NOT be drunk with wine. The net effect of being drunk (or stoned) is that the person is "under the influence" of the controlling substance. What are some of the characteristics of someone who is drunk or stoned?

2. In direct contrast to being "drunk" the apostle Paul says that Christians are to be "filled with the Holy Spirit." Go to "Search Systems" (or click here) on the eXXit site and look at Galatians 5:22-23 to check out the effects of being under the control of the Holy Spirit.

3. Many people have seen a parallel between being drunk with wine and being uncontrollably drawn to habits like pornography. Do you see any similarities? If there are parallels, what is the antidote to pornographic pulls, according to Ephesians 5:18?

Practical help

Being filled with the Holy Spirit involves relinquishing control. One of the worst things we can say about someone we know is that they are a "control freak." They always have to be "in control" of a situation or "in control" of others. The drunk has relinquished control of his faculties to the wine, and that is bad. The Christian is to relinquish control to the Holy Spirit, and that is excellent, faithful, and joy-producing. The Christian says to God, "I will be controlled by what You want me to do. I will make the controlling influence of my life Your Word - its commands and its prohibitions. I will be filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit, not the unholy spirit of alcohol or pornography." To live this way not only produces joy for you, it is life-giving to those around you.

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Copyright 1999 by eXXit
*"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLEŽ, Š Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."