God's Holy Fire: 'Under the Influence'

Being drunk is sometimes called being "under the influence." While we certainly are not to be under the influence of wine or other intoxicating or addictive substances, we all live under the influence of something or someone. Shortcuts to trying to live a full life nearly always involve living under the influence of some addictive substance or behavior. God's antidote is far more than a call to stop addictive behavior: It is a call to live under the influence of the Spirit of the Living God, God's holy presence that is alive within us. This Spirit-filled life is the only truly worthwhile alternative to an addiction-driven life because we all hunger and thirst at our core being for God. Anything less than experiencing this water of life within us (John 7:37-39) will leave us vulnerable to the many false substitutes that place us in bondage. "Be filled with the Spirit!" is more than a command; it is the only way to "have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10 ESV).