"And be not ever drunk with wine, in which ever is unregenerate; but ever be filled in the Spirit" (Eph. 5:18, Expanded Greek Translation – EGT).

Paul clearly lets us know that our life should never be in carnal excess. In fact, Paul compares being drunk with wine as being anti-moral and debauched, even as being the same that would be found in an unregenerate person before the Spirit birthing (Eph. 5:18). With a mood of a love command, Paul challenges the Church to ever be filled in the Spirit. This is being fully filled in the Spirit all of the time, not just partially filled some of the time. First, being filled in the spirit produces a spiritual overflow to the Lord. Ever speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, continually singing and striking chords by your one heart together to the Lord" (Eph. 5:19, EGT). Notice, how this is happening on a continual – all the time basis.

It is important to note, that when the word you or your is used by Paul throughout Ephesians and most of his Epistles, that in the original Greek they are plural not singular. This means these passages are addressed to the corporate Body of Christ. The being drunk is plural. The being filled is plural. The praising and singing is the Body of Christ together in one heart and union together to the Lord (Eph. 5:18,19). We keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3). "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling" (Eph. 4:4). "We all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" together with others in the body (Eph. 4:13). "The whole body" is "joined and knit together" growing and edifying of itself together with each other in love (Eph. 4:16). Harmony is the many-membered body singing to one another and to the Lord with one heart. Being filled in the Spirit requires the entire plural body.

The primary ministry of the Holy Spirit is to be the teacher and revealer of Christ (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13-15).  The Son is to be the teacher and revealer of the Father (Matt. 11:27).  We were completely filled with all the fullness of Christ in the Spirit at our Spirit birthing (Col. 2:9-10).  However, we still had the same old mind that must be renewed and transformed by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 12:2).  The mind is the place being discussed where we are being filled with the Spirit  (Eph. 5:18). We may have all of Christ in us from the moment of Spirit birthing.  However, we may not really had our mind renewed by the Holy Spirit to know that He is in us.  We may not have an abiding love fellowship with Christ in the Spirit.  We may not have let Christ teach and reveal the Father to us in the Spirit for full fellowship.  We must be filled with the Spirit.  Oh, that we may hear the voice of the Holy Spirit as He speaks and reveals Jesus Christ and Him crucified to us (I Cor. 2:2).  May we be willing to not live apart from Christ in and by the flesh, but ever be filled in the Spirit.  This is genuine Spirit-life and true living in the Spirit, when we are filled and overflowing with His Spirit of love in all that we think, all that we are, and all He does through us! V