Verses 17, 18

The 16th verse has shown us that we must redeem the time. The days are evil when God allows Satan to exercise his power, and they are so in general until Jesus returns; but there are times when God permits the enemy to govern more directly, and others when He puts a check on him. The evil days are a chastisement, a humiliation for the Church; but he who is faithful has his way pointed out; he ought to redeem the time, to seize the opportunity of doing good (Neh. 6:3): this is why it is said (ver. 17): be not unwise; but there is also an energy, a force in the spirit which pertains to us, which is contrasted with the excitement by which the world. thinks to produce faith-excitement which is evil-an evil course of life, the true character of which the 18th verse shows us. When the spirit descended upon the one hundred and twenty at Jerusalem, the world said: "They are full of new wine." The power of the spirit, in truth, does put a man beyond the power of what is natural to himself; the words rise to his lips as a fruit of the spirit's action, and he is the subject of a joy which flows over. In him who is full of the Holy Ghost there is what is not natural to man-something altogether extraordinary.
Verses 19, 20.
It is quite another life, it is a joy outside of the world's range, it is a company apart, in which the world would have no pleasure, no enjoyment. The Spirit is there in power. When Christians have life amongst them, occupying themselves with the things which are properly theirs, instead of hesitating in spiritual things, then the life grows; the consequence is, that we see things according to God, we are able to give thanks for all things; we live and we dwell there.
Verse 21.
It is this spirit of gentleness which recognizes Christ in a brother, and that spirit of submission which does not exalt itself; it is when Christians are united and mingle one with another that they realize these things, for individuality is often pride.