The phrase “under the influence” carries a negative thought for many people. I have known people that have made the mistake of driving a car “under the influence,” and they had to spend some time in jail. Yet, “under the influence” can be positive.
Everyone of us are “under the influence” of something. It could be negative like drugs or positive like the Holy Spirit. I was in a conference many years ago, and I heard John Maxwell say that leadership is influence. What is it that leads you or causes you to move in a certain direction?
Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:18 “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” Paul uses a negative picture of a person being under the influence of wine that controls that person to do immoral behavior. The wine causes the person to behave and act a way that was not normal behavior for that person, it controls them.
Instead of the alcohol controlling a person, Paul commands us to be filled with the Spirit. To be filled with the Spirit means to be under the influence of the Spirit of God. In other words, let God be the controller. God needs to be the influence in your life.
Are you under the influence of the Spirit today? Is God the leader of your life today? Does your relationship with God influence you to move in a certain direction?
I challenge you to be caught with a DUI, which is “Doing Under the Influence” of the Spirit of God. Live under the influence of the Spirit of God.