To pursue a life of intoxication, the dismissal of moral inhibitions.

Love for Christ is the first or initiating love which a Christian  perceives upon asking Jesus the Christ to remove their sins and become the Lord, director of my life.

* When I first completed this post, I unfortunately left the computer, prior to closing the file, well enough said. My content was lost.

My initial response was to say, “the heck with it”, “I received what satisfied me”, “no need to redo the research”, The Lord did not confirm that line of thought so I have rewritten this post. Let those who have an ears hear. This may only by for you.

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, Ephesians 5:18 New American Standard

καὶ μὴ μεθύσκεσθε οἴνῳ ἐν ᾧ ἐστιν ἀσωτία, ἀλλὰ πληροῦσθε ἐν πνεύματι, Ephesians 5:18 Greek NT: Westcott/Hort with Diacritics

Ephesians 5:11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.  14 For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.”  15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

The Ephesians seem to have achieved part of this admonition but they lost the impetus which is the filling of the Spirit. In Revelations chapter 2 we see the that the Ephesians exposed darkness:

 1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: 2 ‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles”

“Awake,  sleeper” is written to those following Christ much as Revelations 3 addresses those in the churches; 20 ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 21 ‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

In Revelations 2 the Ephesians are rebuked as follows;

1“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:… 4 ‘But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5‘Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lamp-stand out of its place—unless you repent.