Tag: Soaked

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Snag a sober deal!

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭15‬-‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul packs a lot of practical theology in these punchy thoughts. Starting with an admonition about how to live – not like fools, but like those who are wise. Paul follows it up with an interesting choice of words, communicating the urgency of a moment. He uses a popular business word, even more specific, he uses a SHOPPING word. Where most Bible translations say, “opportunity,” “use of time,” KJV uses the word, “redeem.” The Greek word Paul uses is, “exagorazó.” The word literally means, “buy-up at the marketplace” – properly, take full advantage of, seizing a buying-opportunity.” This word was popular and often used in the open-air, outdoor swap-meet style shopping experiences in most of the big cities. Paul equates the times of seeing evil everywhere as the perfect occasion to snag a moment with a hurting soul – more evil = more opportunities.

Paul then seems to understand that when times get crazy and everything feels chaotic, people tend to turn to ways that attempt to deaden or avoid their pain with alcohol. The common idea is wine solves lots of problems, not just of pain but of giving euphoric feelings as well. He comes out strong with the truth – drunkenness will destroy a life, not make it better.

But wait there’s more! Not only can the Holy Spirit lead us to amazing deals to broker love with a broken soul, He also brings life when we drink Him up, being filled! The amazing play on words, don’t be “methuó,” drunk with wine, but be “pléroó,” soaked in the Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit brings life, not pain. The Holy Spirit brings freedom, not addiction!

Prayer

​Dad,
You work your wonders in spectacularly mysterious ways! I love Paul’s observation of opportunities. Among the normal ways we go about life, there are these micro-moments to share and shine the light of Jesus. This constantly challenges me to rethink the way I spend my time and how I look at people as I go about my day. I love deals and discounts, but rarely thought of these same concepts as a way of seeing needs around me. And, Paul’s bonus thought to be soaked in the Spirit verses soaked in booze is genius! Thank you for your Word working in us and through us at any and every moment we give you.

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Like savvy shoppers soaked in the Spirit!

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.” Ephesians‬ ‭5:15-19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

​I just love this passage from Paul to the churches in Ephesus. Robin and I were able to go to Ephesus on a Mission’s Trip for Syrian refugee crisis to Turkey. The city walk, the downtown ancient city is still a wonder to behold. Just to walk the cobblestone road that Paul and Timothy walked was amazing. I also love this passage for two particular greek words Paul used here to describe the believers interactions and behaviors with the world they lived in at the time.

Paul was a spirit-strategist. He was brilliant in determination and dogged in being led by the Holy Spirit. Paul says look at, be perceptive, situationally aware of whats going on as you walk through life. Then he drops this incredible word about opportunity. He says eksagorázō, buy-up at the marketplace.

When he says make the most or redeem the time he uses a shopping term! You can hear the noise of the street and people buying and selling goods along the road in Ephesus. There were parts that were very much like an open-air mall! Paul says grab that deal, snag that bargain, get the sale! Who can’t understand what it’s like to live a life looking for a great deal?

What’s the great deal? We should we be savvy-shoppers for – Holy Spirit interactions with people that God has prepared to have a conversation with YOU. God has done all the work, all you have to do is be open and aware and used to speak to someone.

What would you say? That’s where the next word Paul uses really brings this passage to life. He says, believers don’t need to spend their days being drunk or soaked/intoxicated with wine. Instead believers need to be “filled” or plēroō, 100% completely soaked IN the Holy Spirit. Paul used a word that was common for taking animal skins which were used for tents and other coverings and soaking them in animal fat, thus permeating every part of it. It’s a great play on words here as well – don’t be soaked in spirits (wine) be soaked in the Spirit!

The believer is left totally and completely permeated with the presence of God as they walk about the marketplace where people gather to have God-ops by His design. What a way to live life! Am I prepared to be that available? Have I been soaking in the things of the Spirit to the place where I am seeing, perceiving this world through spirit-empowered lenses? It is here that Paul mentions one of the nine places in the New Testament about breaking out in song. If you can imagine an old Irish pub filled with ale and song, you can see how the church can gather to be soaked in the Spirit and sing songs of God’s great grace!

Prayer

Dad,
Oh, that I would, that WE as a church would be so aware, so cognizant of your presence, that we would walk about in our lives looking for these opportunities. And in those moments of seeing what you are doing in our world, our friends, family and neighbors we would be so filled with the power of the Holy Spirit that we could address whatever need, whatever difficulty people may face with your grace and mercy! Wow! What a day that would be. What everyday could look like IF we took Paul’s advice and believed your Word is true and effective in our daily lives!