Acts 19:8-10 – And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
This passage gives us a scriptural look at saturation and if you take time to read all of Acts 19 you will clearly see how much a season of saturation affects. First, what is spiritual saturation? This concept is closely associated with the word baptism or immersion, specifically the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Some folks see the Spirit baptism as a one time event, simply said, it is not that. The Greek word for baptism is baptizo, which describes being immersed into a substance. One example that clarifies this for me is the affect immersion has on a cucumber. When you immerse a cucumber into vinegar it begins to take on some of the characteristics of vinegar, in other words cucumbers permanently become pickles. You become the substance you are saturated in.
The church in Ephesus famously started after two years of daily meetings with Paul. The example from the birth of the church in Ephesus gives us some classic examples of saturation. It says that unusual miracles began to take place – the kind of miracles that permanently change people’s lives. It describes miracles flowing from the hands of Paul even miracles taking place from sending pieces of his clothing to people who were suffering. Two types of miracles became common. First, many people were healed from their diseases. Living in an atmosphere of the anointing like what is described in Acts 19 will affect and heal your physical body. Secondly, many demonic bondages were broken. This could include things like addictions or immoral lifestyles. It is the anointing that breaks the yoke of oppression off of people’s lives; often this is the only way someone can get free and stay permanently free.
Many Christians today get stuck in a pattern of Sunday morning church only as a result of the very busy lives most people have. I suppose knowing about the anointing and embracing the anointing will create in us a hunger to spend time with the Lord, especially in gatherings where the anointing is welcomed and pursued. My wife Parris runs a woman’s rehab called Mary’s Song, she has learned over the years that only spending time in God’s presence can deliver someone from an addictive lifestyle and heal them from the damage this way of life has produced. New Orleans is different from many other cities, saturation is needed especially here to bring the changes that we long for.