Soul-ed Out

Volume 9 Issue 1

Greeting in His Name,

It is such a blessing to be a part of the body of Christ. Such a blessing to have the B.I.B.L.E. Basic Instruction before Leaving Earth. Such a blessing to know one day I will shed this earthly space suit for a glorified body. With that being said, today's blog is entitled Souled Out. Hope you find some inspiration, conviction, and queries.

shalom and love,

heidi

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Hezekiah Walker had a popular tune called Souled Out. Within that song we find these word, "My heart is fixed, my minds made up. No room, no vacancies, I'm all filled up, the Spirit lives in me and that's the reason I'm souled out, YEAH!" The words to that song makes me think of Paul as he communicates his joy to the church at Philippi. Sixteen times within this small book we hear the word joy or rejoicing. And we would say that - that's strange seeing Paul wrote this letter while incarcerated. But what it communicates to me is how soul-ed out Paul was. Alive, I'm Christ's messenger; dead, I'm his bounty. Life versus even more life! I can't lose. Philippians 1:21

If you are soul-ed out you will pray (Philippians 1:3-4 MSG)

Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. Most of Paul's letters open with some type of brief prayer or the mention of him praying for those who believe. In this chapter from the beginning till about verse 11 you hear Paul's excited-over the top-thankfulness "prayer" for the believers at Philippi. It was their partnership in the Gospel that excited Paul and caused him to keep them in constant prayer. As a matter of fact Paul's prayer makes you feel as if the Philippian believers are as Paul, soul-ed out. Paul saw a people who allowed themselves to be "sincere" (v. 10). People who were unmixed, unalloyed, pure, and free from falsehood. No wonder he was so excited about them, no wonder he could pray with genuine joy because these people were soul-ed out. Can your Pastor or leader pray for you with such joy? Can you pray for yourself with such joy because you know that your mind is fixed and made up, that there are no vacancies within you because you're all filled up with the will and purposes of God? Does your prayer reveal a soul-ed out person?

If you are soul-ed out you will advance the Gospel (Philippians 1:12 MSG)

I want to report to you, friends, that my imprisonment here has had the opposite of it's intended effect. Instead of being squelched, the Message [Gospel] has actually prospered. Don't under estimate the power of the Gospel. Paul knew what it was like to be shipwrecked, chained to guards, beaten, run out of town and even imprisoned for the sake of Christ. Many of us will never experience a mere bruise for the sake of Christ, let alone cross the threshold of suffering and abuse like Paul. But it is such a blessing to have the witness of Paul that even in the midst of lock up, he let out the message of Christ. His incarceration could have been seen as a hold up or a set back but it was a set up for him to continue writing, to continue evangelism and intercession. Paul's experience on the Damascus road was the prelude to this life of hardship to help somebody, this life of suffering to save someone, this life of abandonment to bring opportunity to those who were willing to live soul-ed out lives for Christ. So our report may not be imprisonment but sharing the Gospel; it may just be enslaved [involuntary servitude] to advance the Gospel. That's soul-ed out!

If you are soul-ed out; what's life and what's death (Philippians 1:21 MSG)

Alive, I'm Christ's messenger; dead, I'm his bounty. Life versus even more life! I can't lose. Life is to Live In Fullness Everyday and Live In Future Expectation. Christ said in John that to believe in him you will never die (Jn 11:25 - 26). So, death does not interrupt our fellowship with Christ but it interrupts our "fruitful labor" (1:22). If we could all have Paul's mindset when it comes to life and death. Life for him was Christ living in him, fueling and sustaining him. Death was instant access to the direct presence of God. Paul knew, and I like the word 'bounty', that he was repossessed goods defaulted due to Adam and Eve. But thanks be to God who give us the VICTORY through Christ Jesus (1 Co 15:57). So, in the end I'm soul-ed out to WIN!

Closing: How Great Thou Art!

I have a true love and respect for church hymns. I love the stories behind why the writer wrote them and how God intervened to bring out such words that touched the core of mans being. This is such a hymn... Then sings my soul my Savior God to thee.. How Great Thou Art... How GREAT Thou Art! Can't you hear it? A soul soul-ed out. One of the verses that truly bring it home is, and when I think of God, His Son not sparing. [soul-ed out] Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in. [soul-ed out] That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing. [soul-ed out] He bled and died to take away my sin. Christ was soul-ed. He thought nothing of keeping his life but was willing to lay it down that we may one day be able to experience life eternal. If Christ did that for you and for me why not live a soul-ed out life for Him.

LIFE QUOTE

“Winning is fun…. Sure. But winning is not the point. Wanting to win is the point. Not giving up is the point. Never letting up is the point. Never being satisfied with what you’ve done is the point.” —Pat Summitt

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