What does it mean to be a spiritual people — not merely a moral people, not merely an orthodox people, but a people genuinely led by the Holy Spirit?
In Acts 15, two great men of God — Paul and Barnabas — have a sharp disagreement over John Mark. Luke never tells us who was right or wrong in the moment. But he does tell us that one party sought after the blessing of the church, walking in step with the Spirit, while the other did not. The difference wasn't morality, doctrine, or sincerity. The difference was the unity of the Spirit.
That distinction opens one a paradox-filled passage in the New Testament: Ephesians 5:15–21. In just six verses, the apostle Paul calls us to live in four tensions that do not naturally coexist — and yet must, in the life of every Spirit-filled believer:
- Wartime vigilance — and yet a heart that sings
- Careful analysis — and yet joyful worship
- Living in evil days — and yet giving thanks for everything
- Standing guard against the darkness — and yet submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ
These are not contradictions. They are tensions — the kind that only the Holy Spirit can hold together in a single human soul. Paul's command in verse 18 is the key to all of it: "...be filled with the Spirit."
Follow along as Pastor Josh unpacks Ephesians 5, and seek for wisdom to navigate these tensions.
