2012 has finally arrived! The streets were all but empty today as we traveled to church. I wondered how many folks were sleeping in after a late New Years Eve. I would think that a good number had "hangovers" from too much "partying." With all the tragedies and problems people face, it's understandable how this holiday has become just another excuse to "cut loose," attempting to escape reality.
Christians face trials too. If fact, we're told by James to "count it all joy" when confronted by various conflicts, knowing that trial is used to develop our spiritual endurance and character. Thus, we need to revert, not to alcohol and gluttony, but to the abundant provision of the Holy Spirit and His Word.
Paul said, "be not drunk with wine...but be filled (drunk) with the Spirit." (Eph. 5:18) What's wrong with being anebriated with the Wine of Heaven? We must be "drunk" with something in this world. If we're not to be unduely influenced by wickedness, then we must live under a heavenly influence, namely, the joyous fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Compare Col. 3:16ff with Eph. 5:18ff, and notice that being filled with the Word of God produces the same graces as being filled with the Spirit. Show me someone who is saturated with the substance and reality of the Word, and I'll show you someone who is filled with the Spirit, and visa/versa.
Let me suggest Grant Horner's Bible Reading System, reading 10 chapters per day from various Bible books. Don't let that scare you---give it a try for a month. This discipline has revoluionized my life!
You can download it at http://www.thevinefellowship.com/ Let me know how it works. Have a Spirit-filled and Bible-saturated New Year!
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