“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!