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LIFE TOGETHER IN GOD'S FAMILY
So how is your walk with God?
God gives us many lessons in life; but are we learning from them? If you are operating in your faith, you are living out what you know to be God's will. God has a specific design for our life and He wants us to discover it.
Oswald Chambers said,” God not only expects me to do His will but He is in me to do it."If we don't make a plan to grow our faith could easily become stale. Satan wants us to be too busy with other things and to keep us involved with empty activities that are the things of this world. We need a conscious way of working on the maturing process; to have focus on things that will make a difference in other people’s lives and matter for eternity
This short explanation is used to make us more aware that to mature in your spiritual walk requires that we will need to make a conscious choice towards that growth. It requires change and we know that means an effort to learn something new and put it into practice. We will have to get rid of some of our old ways, routines, and habits. We should spend more time focusing on God, being aware of the choices and decisions we make, and analyzing how they are aligning up with God's Word. This is a lifelong process, for as we grow we will see more areas where we are not living as God intended. As we spend more time in the Word of God, we will learn the standards and principles that He has set up for the welfare of mankind (God refers to them as blessings).
As believers, we are urged to understand that we are the temple of the living God. We are not to allow living among unbelievers to weaken our integrity, honesty, lifestyle, our standards or our commitment to God. God wants believers to be active in their witness for Him.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 states:
Don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the Devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God's temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: "I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be My people. Therefore come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don't touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you, and I will be your Father, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."
We as believers are in the world but we are not to be of the world. We are to resist the sinful influence all around us. We will continue to live among unbelievers, but we are not to do the things they do. We are not to lock ourselves into a partnership, business or marriage that could cause us to compromise our faith. As believers, we should do everything in our power to avoid situations that could force us to divide our loyalties. We are to stay separated in terms of not joining in what they do, or doing business with ungodly practices as they do. When you know what God wants you to do; do it with the right motive and attitude? Do it without compromising the process. Do not use sinful practices. Stay close to God and open up your hearts and minds to learn His ways and then living in obedience is what He requires.
The first step is to learn the precepts God has set up to serve as a plumb line. Perhaps you had not given it much thought. We are all sinful and never will be perfect. We hear the Word of God and agree it is good. We are not unlike the chosen people of God who heard also and said, “All that God has said we will do." Yet they didn't do it. Obedience matters to God. He is the creator of every living thing. He created us and He knows our nature. Whatever He has set up as guidelines to live by is because He knows we need the boundaries to protect us from ourselves. He has given us the power by which to carry out what He wants us to do. If we are truly saved, then the Holy Spirit is our enabler, our helper. When our life is lived out according to God's standards, we will stand out from the crowd. Our light will shine brightly among people of compromise and low moral standards. We will be a living testimony to those around us. God designed us to praise Him and bring Him glory.
You may have been a believer for quite awhile now and have great knowledge of God's word. This is a challenge to live it out in everyway. You know the good thing you should do, or do you? I fear that too many have not actually put into practice the very things that God has been teaching about; the life He has given us in Christ Jesus and power available to us through the Holy Spirit indwelling us. Too often we do good things but without Holy Spirit power. Good things do not make any difference in the spiritual realm. Jesus said we would do greater things than he did because he is sending us the Holy Spirit. We must learn to follow the Holy Sprit’s guidance, be filled with the Spirit, and flow with the Spirit. When things are done with Holy Spirit power, God shows up, and there is no limit to what he can do.
Through the discipleship process, I have come to know and understand my own reactions to things and it may be the same for you once you take a spiritual inventory, a inward reflection of the person you really are. It may require that you look back, as I did, to something in my life that shaped my way of thinking. The enemy is good at using things from your past to keep you from responding according to God's will. Satan wants you to remain unconscious of how and why you make decisions. But once that pattern of thinking is exposed, brought out in the light, God will help you to change it.
When you pursue this journey of growth, you can be reassured that God is working with you. You will see the hand of God at work in your life and in those around you. When you become focused on God you will see more clearly how He is operating in this world. You will be in tune with His heart. You will be about your Father's business and making an impact that will affect all of eternity.
When you pursue this journey of growth, you can be reassured that Satan will begin working against you as well. Don't give up. When temptations come, they are not only events that could lead you into doing something wrong. They can be opportunities to do something right; to learn from it and use it. This takes a conscious awareness of what God is trying to teach you through it. There will be times when you realize you have done something the wrong way.
Take the opportunity to stop and observe how you reacted to it, why you responded the way you did. Often I have found that I am living according to some principles I learned from my parents or teachers. I didn't realize that I was doing that. It takes being in God's Word to know what He says is the right way to treat others, to do business, to keep our hearts right. It takes being willing to see the part of us that is still ugly and letting God change it. It will mean that we feel the guilt, but we must let it be forgiven. Remember that God already knew that about you and still loved and used you for ministry. The disciples were in ministry with Jesus before they received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. They were useful as they were growing.
If we haphazardly go through life without observing and reflecting on what God is trying to teach us, we may never learn the valuable lessons He wants us to grow from. God doesn't want us to stay weak in our faith, nor does He leave us to figure things out for our self. We may still see some sinful patterns in our life. We may have a problem with anger or get impatient and frustrated. We can know that when an event comes along, God loves us enough to guide us through the learning process. He disciplines those whom He loves. It is a Father teaching the child. Although some experiences can be painful, with a Father's love and care they can become the greatest moment in our relationship with God. Learning through experience is often the only way God can get through to us. We can learn from others experiences as well. By sharing our experiences we can help them along their journey. When we live life on purpose, we are living life as God intended.
We identify with what we do. If asked who we are we often describe what we do. Productivity is good, but it is not our accomplishments that define who we are. We are human beings not human doings. We are children of the living God. As a child of God we are to rest, work and play. We are designed to work out of our rest. If we work hard and then rest, we are merely trying to replenish what we depleted. If we rest and become energized to do our work, our work will be more productive and more successfully accomplished and with less stress and worry. Work is for satisfaction and enjoyment. It is not meant to be a curse. God gave Adam work to do in the Garden of Eden. God gave us each different abilities that are to be used in a healthy and productive way. He wants us to use our uniqueness. We each have something to bring that nobody else does.
God wants us to learn about spiritual things, His principles and precepts, and use them in our daily life as well. When we live according to God's precepts we will experience more peace. We can live with less worry; I doubt we will ever be totally worry free. But knowing Him and working with Him could even make us desire to look forward to what He wants to teach us. We try to control our own lives so that we will have less to worry about. We want to be in control. We want to change the events of our lives. Jesus says that it is the person who has to change. There will always be problems in this life and who we are on the inside will determine how much we will worry. Do you really want to try to do it all yourself? The more we surrender ourselves to God's control and live on His promises, the more we can live stress free. We have to put our own will aside and surrender to the leading of the Holy Spirit. The more we look like Jesus and act like Him, the more we will live like Him. We will live more of the Christian life as we were created to live it.
We can't live victorious without the Holy Spirit. We have to get rid of the junk that is in our heart. The purpose for all this is to grow us in the image of Jesus Christ and to carry on the work that He began. The fruit of the Spirit cannot be replicated, we can't manufacture it ourselves, it comes from the Holy Spirit working in us. That requires we abandon our will and allow Him to show us another way. God's way is often contrary to our own human reasoning, but it is always the best way. God designed it so that it would bring us blessings. We just need to learn to trust Him. From our rest we work and then we also play. We can have great enjoyment spending time with family and friends, having a hobby, and taking in the beauty of the world. We impress God more with our inner character than any outward action.
The focus of our life is more important than what we do. But it should never replace gathering together as fellow believers in worship, prayer, learning, and fellowship. God designed us to live in community. We need other people in our lives. We must spend time in God's presence to be filled and encouraged. We must spend time in relationships with others, to encourage them and to be encouraged by them. We were made to be in society, have connections with others. Jesus modeled this for us. He spent time in prayer and communication with His Father. He taught His disciples and fellowshipped with them. Jesus went among people to preach, teach, proclaim, and heal. He allowed His disciples to watch Him and how He interacted with people. When they were ready He sent His disciples out in pairs.
We are to multiply; we learn and then we teach others. Whether we are teaching our children or out on a mission field, we are almost always teaching. People are watching us and will learn from our lives. It is important to know how you will best be effective. God has given us different abilities and to various degrees. When we know how we are gifted and operate out of that giftedness, we will enjoy what we do and be a blessing to others. A very typical way of being taught is that: 1. We do-they watch. 2. We do-they help. 3. They do - we help. 4. They do- we watch. Even with our children we allow them to watch us so that they can see how something could be done. I used to let my children do some of their chores their own way to encourage their own creativity. Each one of them would come up with something clever that made the task easier or that just made it more like play. That was okay as long as the work got done. Of course the work was not always done as I could have done it, but it was more about the learning process. I would sometimes have to go back and make some final adjustments but I always gave them praise for what they did. On any job I had there were people who brought something new that made the job easier or more fun. There is room for individual preference as long as the work or goal is not compromised. The end does not justify the means. God would not let us take shortcuts or use any means that would compromise His precepts and go against His ways. There is room for our own personalities. Jesus didn't change the personality of His disciples. Variety is good. This world would be quite dull and boring if we were all exactly alike. We were made unique and we are each worth the same to God. We are each made with different abilities so that each one of us has something to offer that another person doesn't have. We need each other.
The discipleship lifestyle is what God intended. He didn't leave us to figure out things on our own. His disciples were taught the principles of the kingdom and Jesus demonstrated the methods in living them out as they traveled and ministered among all sorts of people. Jesus taught His disciples about the motives of men's hearts. He taught about human nature, and the work of the enemy. Jesus walked and taught among sinners. He met people where they were. The principles that He displayed were never compromised so as' not to offend someone'. He was not politically correct nor should we be though the world says we should. He was not tolerant of everyone's opinions and feelings. Jesus carried the truth of God's Word and lived it out before men. We will do well by being aware of how we live. We will do good to try living out every area of life according to God's precepts, and principles.
This is not the means of salvation. This is growth in our faith; growing in maturity, uniting together in love, and in continuing the mission that Jesus began. We too can display God's love and the principles of His Word as we go out into the world, whether in our own neighborhood, community, or abroad, and speak about the salvation plan that God has for the entire world. God wants to equip you with everything that you need to do His will. God will use any open and willing vessel as the means for His power. God's grace will be sufficient in your weakness. God will make you able to do what He calls you to do. He transforms you from glory to glory. You will be built up and strengthened, prepared and empowered by the Holy Spirit to be about your Father's business.
We have been commissioned to go out into the world and spread the gospel message. Before we do, we must be strong in our faith. The enemy is out there and he is tempting us anyway he can. Jesus went to all classes, cultures, and ages of people. He engaged sinners, those who lived under the influence of Satan. We are not to be influenced by the world; we are to be the influence; the salt and the light. No person is beyond the healing touch of Jesus. When we come as representatives of the living God, in the name of Jesus, we bring the healing touch into the lives of sinners. The guiding of the Holy Spirit is of utmost importance. The Holy Spirit guides us to the people whose hearts God has been preparing. These people are ready to hear the message you have to bring. Without the Holy Spirit living within us we cannot discern the truth from error, and therefore cannot show others His truth. He reveals truth in our lives and enables us to respond to that truth. The truth in us can be seen by others and prepares them to receive God's truth; truth that transforms. The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to the lies of the enemy and makes a path for our feet. Satan sets snares for us and uses trickery to lure us into it. A close walk with God, believing in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, using Jesus' model of ministry in love of one another, and surrendering to the Holy Spirit, will result in our being useful as God's representatives. Our very lives will give testimony to who He is.
Many people don't realize that they are spiritually dead. Perhaps they presume they understand the gospel message. They presume that they have a good understanding of the messages spoken in their Bible study and during the sermon. However, the Bible says that until that person is given the Holy Spirit, they do not receive the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him. 1 Corinthians 2:14.
Some who are frustrated with their faith walk assume wrongly why that is. It is not the pastor, the worship, the songs, the loud music, the ______. No blame can be put on anything or anyone other than themselves. They are not spiritually healthy.
The Bible tells us to examine ourselves to see if we are of the faith.
2 Corinthians 13:5
Our prayer should be:
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.24 Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalms 139:23-24 (NLT)
My prayer is that you will be inspired to continue to grow through your own spiritual journey according to the Word of God.
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In his book 'Simpllify Your Spiritual Life' , Donald S. Whitney provides a list of probing questions that you may find helpful and some thought starters to aide you to probe your soul as you analyze your spiritual health.
Have I,
Been fervent in prayer?
After or before every deliberate conversation or action, considered how it might tend to God's glory?
After any pleasure, immediately given thanks?
Planned business for the day?
Been simple and recollected in everything?
Been meek, cheerful, affable in everything I said or did?
Been proud, vain, unchasete, or eviable of others?
Recollected in eating and drinking? Thankful? Temperate in sleep?
Thought or spoken unkindly of anyone?
Confessed all sins.
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The following he uses as journal prompts, but they are good just to ponder also.
What was the most important thing that happened today?
What did I learn today?
Where did I see God at work today?
What was the most significant thing someone said to me today?
When was I most aware of the Lord today?
What was the most helpful thing I read today?
What should I have done differently today?
How can I simplify my life tomorrow?
What could I do to glorify God the most tomorrow?
What difference can I make in someone's life tomorrow?
In his book 'Simpllify Your Spiritual Life' , Donald S. Whitney provides a list of probing questions that you may find helpful and some thought starters to aide you to probe your soul as you analyze your spiritual health.
Have I,
Been fervent in prayer?
After or before every deliberate conversation or action, considered how it might tend to God's glory?
After any pleasure, immediately given thanks?
Planned business for the day?
Been simple and recollected in everything?
Been meek, cheerful, affable in everything I said or did?
Been proud, vain, unchasete, or eviable of others?
Recollected in eating and drinking? Thankful? Temperate in sleep?
Thought or spoken unkindly of anyone?
Confessed all sins.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following he uses as journal prompts, but they are good just to ponder also.
What was the most important thing that happened today?
What did I learn today?
Where did I see God at work today?
What was the most significant thing someone said to me today?
When was I most aware of the Lord today?
What was the most helpful thing I read today?
What should I have done differently today?
How can I simplify my life tomorrow?
What could I do to glorify God the most tomorrow?
What difference can I make in someone's life tomorrow?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
THE HOLY SPIRT AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS
I just listened to some old tapes, yes old cassettes, which are recorded sermons presented by a pastor on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. He noted that in the Scriptures there is more time spent on the preparation of our hearts to receive the gifts than there is in defining the gifts themselves. The gifts are pretty straight forward. The purpose of the gifts is to unify and edify the body of Christ. But instead they tear down and cause division, quarrels and back biting because of our lack of maturity.
In 1 Corinthians 12 we read about this. We all work for the same Lord, we don’t have the same role. There are different kinds of services needed. God wants to fit us in our place of service for the benefit of the whole body. We don’t get to select our gift, that is a job of the Holy Spirit. Our job is to figure out what gift we have and find out where God wants us to use it.
1 Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this.2 You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols.3 So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice ; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. 9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing.10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.
One Body with Many Parts
12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. 14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part.15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body.16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body?17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part!20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body.21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen,24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity.25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other.26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.28 Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church:
first are apostles, second are prophets, ...
1 Cor 12:1-28 (NLT)
In the pastor’s message he said just as the body has many parts so does the body of Christ. None of the parts are equal because as soon as we define the role it is to play, one of the parts will be best fitted for it. His foot is useful for when he walks and his hand has better penmanship than his foot. It is all logical, but when a matter of the fleshly desire enters in, things start to get messy. We often don’t like the gift that we have and become jealous of those who have the one we want. It is the same where ever you go. The sinful nature is a strong force to be reckoned with. The key is that we should wrestle with it and bring it under the control of the Holy Spirit. We really will be at peace and have greater joy if we are operating in our own giftedness. It will be natural for us, not of constant effort. It will bring us joy and it will bless others. The joy of the Lord will strengthen us for continued service. When we operate in our giftedness we will not burn out. We won't be working in our own strength. Our joy will be contagious and others will see the joy of the Lord and that will bring a true blessing. God will be praised, exalted, and extoled. He receives the glory. If we fail to do that the whole body suffers.
I have listened to this message several times over the last few years. But today it brought a special meaning to my life. It never ceases to amaze me how God works. He uses His word and those of others to enlighten us to something. The first time I heard this message during the service I got something different out of it than I did today, and than I had in the subsequent times I have listened to it. God reaches us where we are. The Holy Spirit works to bring us timely messages. It is amazing to me that I found the tapes, I had a cassette player to play it on, and that I had the desire and the time to listen to it. Take any one of those away and I would not have heard it. When God has a message for us, He knows how to bring everything into place to get that message to us.
God is speaking and I am listening. It is a superhuman inspiration. It comes from the Divine mind of God to influence me. It is a set up to insure freedom from error in my thinking and judgment. If I allow my imagination to take off on this I could end up in a wrong direction. This has to be all God’s plan. It comes as a message to guide me in my destiny, my purpose in life. God is speaking about my understanding of it, and about my mind, heart, and emotions regarding it. My thoughts have to become His along this journey. I am able to hear God’s thinking because I have the resident Holy Spirit. I have spent the rest of the day in prayer and study so He can keep on making necessary adjustments to my mind, emotions, and attitude. He is trustworthy and does not lie or plan to mislead me. I know my role right now is to keep the communication open and for greater understanding and clearer vision of what He has planned and purposed. At times like this I move slow, deliberate, and test the spirits.
God chooses to work in the activities of mankind in divine ways. His method is really quite clever. Both the mundane and the divine activities work harmoniously to bring God’s desires into ordinary daily living. God affects each of us individually to bring about a plan of magnificent proportion. Often we don’t know how important our actions are in the big scheme of things. Someday we will have a grand view of how all our lives, from the beginning of the earth to the very end, have all fit together in God's plan. We will realize the choices we made that were outside of God's plan were burnt up and mean nothing. Only with the Holy Spirit at work, and His power in force, are we able to accomplish anything of lasting, eternal value. I believe that if we do not operate in our own specific giftedness, the Holy Spirit is not in it. Why would He be? The work you try to do on your own is not a part of God’s plan. Only with the Holy Spirit is man able to understand the role man plays in God’s design. Only when we are able to perceive the leading of the Holy Spirit will we have the heart and mind of God in what we do for the kingdom. Without Him we cannot hear God speak. We are useless to God without the Holy Spirit. He gives us the gifts so He can use them in the whole purpose and plan of Almighty God. If we each did our own thing, no matter how good it seemed to be, it would be just that. It would not necessarily fit into the plan of God for the purpose He intends. We are quite deceived in this area. Our ideas sound good and may seem to make many others happy. God wants to bring His life changing power into people's lives. We cannot manufacture that even by using good tools. If the Holy Spirit's power is not flowing there will be no changed lives. True spiritual change can only come about with that Holy Spirit power.
I have experienced it first hand. There have been times when I realized that the Holy Spirit was at work and that I was used as a mouthpiece. The reaction of the one to whom I was speaking made it evident that the Holy Spirit had put power to the words that I used. These words were placed in my mouth and I was unaware at the time that anything was happening in the spiritual realm. I had just made myself available as a tool to be used by God: I kept myself open to the flow of the Holy Spirit. The recipient of those words acknowledged to me that it was a message from God. The difference is collossal when I compare it to the nice things I say or do to try to bless others. Power, life changing power only happens when the Holy Spirit is in control and we allow Him to flow through us.
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Do you have the power of the Holy Spirit flowing through you? Are you in tune with His leading and guiding?
If you don’t believe you have the Holy Spirit indwelling you, then stop right now. Do you believe Jesus died for your sins and have you accepted the free gift of forgiveness?
Yes you say. Then you can ask your Father for the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
No you say, then ask and receive forgiveness through the grace of God, given for all mankind, and then ask for the gift of life, for the Holy Spirit to come and live in you.
Confession is not sufficient for salvation. Tradition, rules, laws, and church attendance don’t get you there either. Believing that Jesus died for your sins is not sufficient either. It is more than head knowledge or a desire to be saved from hell that brings true salvation. Passing from this life into the new life God has made available to you is the gift God desires to give you. He wants it bring your spiritual rebirth. Then you will be able to enter into your Father's presence. You will be able to spend time with Him, and He will spend time with you, in your everyday living. You must truly know God and have a relationship with Him which is made possible by the Holy Spirit. The obedience God requires is a willing and surrendered heart to accept His Lordship and rule over your life. The Holy Spirit makes that possible. You are powerless in the spiritual realm without the indwelling Holy Spirit. Check your heart attitude now.
My ministry has been as a teacher/leader/facilitator/mentor/shepherd/ disciple; to preach the gospel. It is a very natural part of who I am. This is also a calling for everyone. We are to teach others and proclaim the message of salvation. It may be with our family or it may be with a co-worker. The good news of the gospel is meant to be shared so that all may have a chance to hear and to respond to it.
So if you meet me don’t expect to talk about politics or religion. Even if there is some truth in what you say, it is not the truth I talk to others about. Not all truth is created equal, and there is absolute truth. Facts may support a conclusion but the final word is still Gods. We need to distinguish the difference carefully. I don’t believe in statistics either, or popular vote, or consensus. There is nothing to gain by discussing ideology or methodology. I recognize the limitations of man’s heart, mind, and motives. I never ceased to be amazed at some of the methods though. These things can deceive and bring many a good man to ruin. Though God does not change the basic needs of humanity no matter what culture you are from, he has a definite method to follow in meeting those needs. God and His Holy Scriptures are an authoritative guide and a general command to follow. He inspired the Word and He used men through whom He had a good relationship with to write them down. We are not to do anything without Him. If you take God out of any equation, then just throw that equation out. It is doomed for failure. This pertains to everything in your daily living because it all affects your spiritual walk and your spiritual walk affects how you live. God doesn’t expect us to guess about how to live our life out. He created the world to be adequate for any need we have during our existence here. A simple recognition of that speaks volumes about God. There is hostility in this world because of sin, but the world was created to provide for our physical needs and we don’t have to worry about them. We are free to focus on other things. We then are free to spend our time on seeking our spiritual connection with the Creator. He ministers to us. He has food for our soul. He has provided everything we need to be spiritually sound and healthy. These are not things that we can necessarily see. God cares about the condition of our heart, mind, body, and soul. He takes care to teach us through life. He knows when we have need of something, and He enjoys bringing about His plan on how that need will be met. God can use people in our life and other tangible resources to satisfy the spirit in times of distress. But ultimately it all comes from God.
In the story of history through the ages, we see God communicating to man over and over again, and in various ways, the same message. God comes to each individual in a unique and personal way to bring the message. His Word validates this and reveals man’s response through the pages of time. Some will refuse to hear the message, some will purposefuly disobey, and others will just ignore it. God has many divine encounters with His creation. He issues warnings, offers His love, and creates peace as well as marks for destruction each individual human being. Everything that happens in our life has been in His control. He is bringing a message through the circumstance. All of scripture encapsulates God at work with His creation. That is what makes the Bible unique. The people who wrote down the words have died. But God is still alive and active in our lives now, through those words. The words are still pertinent for us in this current age. His Word was written for and is directed to every generation. He wants us to know Him. He wants to express His love to us and wants us to respond in love. Those words are for encouragement, but for many they will bring fear. They are words to bring life to the soul, words of eternal life. They are meant to help us through this life and to show us the glorious eternity that is waiting.
That is a common thread, a message woven throughout the Bible. God is desperately trying to tell us how much He loves us and how much we need Him.
THE HOLY SPIRT AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS
I just listened to some old tapes, yes old cassettes, which are recorded sermons presented by a pastor on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. He noted that in the Scriptures there is more time spent on the preparation of our hearts to receive the gifts than there is in defining the gifts themselves. The gifts are pretty straight forward. The purpose of the gifts is to unify and edify the body of Christ. But instead they tear down and cause division, quarrels and back biting because of our lack of maturity.
In 1 Corinthians 12 we read about this. We all work for the same Lord, we don’t have the same role. There are different kinds of services needed. God wants to fit us in our place of service for the benefit of the whole body. We don’t get to select our gift, that is a job of the Holy Spirit. Our job is to figure out what gift we have and find out where God wants us to use it.
1 Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this.2 You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols.3 So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice ; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. 9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing.10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.
One Body with Many Parts
12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. 14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part.15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body.16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body?17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part!20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body.21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen,24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity.25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other.26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.28 Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church:
first are apostles, second are prophets, ...
1 Cor 12:1-28 (NLT)
In the pastor’s message he said just as the body has many parts so does the body of Christ. None of the parts are equal because as soon as we define the role it is to play, one of the parts will be best fitted for it. His foot is useful for when he walks and his hand has better penmanship than his foot. It is all logical, but when a matter of the fleshly desire enters in, things start to get messy. We often don’t like the gift that we have and become jealous of those who have the one we want. It is the same where ever you go. The sinful nature is a strong force to be reckoned with. The key is that we should wrestle with it and bring it under the control of the Holy Spirit. We really will be at peace and have greater joy if we are operating in our own giftedness. It will be natural for us, not of constant effort. It will bring us joy and it will bless others. The joy of the Lord will strengthen us for continued service. When we operate in our giftedness we will not burn out. We won't be working in our own strength. Our joy will be contagious and others will see the joy of the Lord and that will bring a true blessing. God will be praised, exalted, and extoled. He receives the glory. If we fail to do that the whole body suffers.
I have listened to this message several times over the last few years. But today it brought a special meaning to my life. It never ceases to amaze me how God works. He uses His word and those of others to enlighten us to something. The first time I heard this message during the service I got something different out of it than I did today, and than I had in the subsequent times I have listened to it. God reaches us where we are. The Holy Spirit works to bring us timely messages. It is amazing to me that I found the tapes, I had a cassette player to play it on, and that I had the desire and the time to listen to it. Take any one of those away and I would not have heard it. When God has a message for us, He knows how to bring everything into place to get that message to us.
God is speaking and I am listening. It is a superhuman inspiration. It comes from the Divine mind of God to influence me. It is a set up to insure freedom from error in my thinking and judgment. If I allow my imagination to take off on this I could end up in a wrong direction. This has to be all God’s plan. It comes as a message to guide me in my destiny, my purpose in life. God is speaking about my understanding of it, and about my mind, heart, and emotions regarding it. My thoughts have to become His along this journey. I am able to hear God’s thinking because I have the resident Holy Spirit. I have spent the rest of the day in prayer and study so He can keep on making necessary adjustments to my mind, emotions, and attitude. He is trustworthy and does not lie or plan to mislead me. I know my role right now is to keep the communication open and for greater understanding and clearer vision of what He has planned and purposed. At times like this I move slow, deliberate, and test the spirits.
God chooses to work in the activities of mankind in divine ways. His method is really quite clever. Both the mundane and the divine activities work harmoniously to bring God’s desires into ordinary daily living. God affects each of us individually to bring about a plan of magnificent proportion. Often we don’t know how important our actions are in the big scheme of things. Someday we will have a grand view of how all our lives, from the beginning of the earth to the very end, have all fit together in God's plan. We will realize the choices we made that were outside of God's plan were burnt up and mean nothing. Only with the Holy Spirit at work, and His power in force, are we able to accomplish anything of lasting, eternal value. I believe that if we do not operate in our own specific giftedness, the Holy Spirit is not in it. Why would He be? The work you try to do on your own is not a part of God’s plan. Only with the Holy Spirit is man able to understand the role man plays in God’s design. Only when we are able to perceive the leading of the Holy Spirit will we have the heart and mind of God in what we do for the kingdom. Without Him we cannot hear God speak. We are useless to God without the Holy Spirit. He gives us the gifts so He can use them in the whole purpose and plan of Almighty God. If we each did our own thing, no matter how good it seemed to be, it would be just that. It would not necessarily fit into the plan of God for the purpose He intends. We are quite deceived in this area. Our ideas sound good and may seem to make many others happy. God wants to bring His life changing power into people's lives. We cannot manufacture that even by using good tools. If the Holy Spirit's power is not flowing there will be no changed lives. True spiritual change can only come about with that Holy Spirit power.
I have experienced it first hand. There have been times when I realized that the Holy Spirit was at work and that I was used as a mouthpiece. The reaction of the one to whom I was speaking made it evident that the Holy Spirit had put power to the words that I used. These words were placed in my mouth and I was unaware at the time that anything was happening in the spiritual realm. I had just made myself available as a tool to be used by God: I kept myself open to the flow of the Holy Spirit. The recipient of those words acknowledged to me that it was a message from God. The difference is collossal when I compare it to the nice things I say or do to try to bless others. Power, life changing power only happens when the Holy Spirit is in control and we allow Him to flow through us.
.
Do you have the power of the Holy Spirit flowing through you? Are you in tune with His leading and guiding?
If you don’t believe you have the Holy Spirit indwelling you, then stop right now. Do you believe Jesus died for your sins and have you accepted the free gift of forgiveness?
Yes you say. Then you can ask your Father for the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
No you say, then ask and receive forgiveness through the grace of God, given for all mankind, and then ask for the gift of life, for the Holy Spirit to come and live in you.
Confession is not sufficient for salvation. Tradition, rules, laws, and church attendance don’t get you there either. Believing that Jesus died for your sins is not sufficient either. It is more than head knowledge or a desire to be saved from hell that brings true salvation. Passing from this life into the new life God has made available to you is the gift God desires to give you. He wants it bring your spiritual rebirth. Then you will be able to enter into your Father's presence. You will be able to spend time with Him, and He will spend time with you, in your everyday living. You must truly know God and have a relationship with Him which is made possible by the Holy Spirit. The obedience God requires is a willing and surrendered heart to accept His Lordship and rule over your life. The Holy Spirit makes that possible. You are powerless in the spiritual realm without the indwelling Holy Spirit. Check your heart attitude now.
My ministry has been as a teacher/leader/facilitator/mentor/shepherd/ disciple; to preach the gospel. It is a very natural part of who I am. This is also a calling for everyone. We are to teach others and proclaim the message of salvation. It may be with our family or it may be with a co-worker. The good news of the gospel is meant to be shared so that all may have a chance to hear and to respond to it.
So if you meet me don’t expect to talk about politics or religion. Even if there is some truth in what you say, it is not the truth I talk to others about. Not all truth is created equal, and there is absolute truth. Facts may support a conclusion but the final word is still Gods. We need to distinguish the difference carefully. I don’t believe in statistics either, or popular vote, or consensus. There is nothing to gain by discussing ideology or methodology. I recognize the limitations of man’s heart, mind, and motives. I never ceased to be amazed at some of the methods though. These things can deceive and bring many a good man to ruin. Though God does not change the basic needs of humanity no matter what culture you are from, he has a definite method to follow in meeting those needs. God and His Holy Scriptures are an authoritative guide and a general command to follow. He inspired the Word and He used men through whom He had a good relationship with to write them down. We are not to do anything without Him. If you take God out of any equation, then just throw that equation out. It is doomed for failure. This pertains to everything in your daily living because it all affects your spiritual walk and your spiritual walk affects how you live. God doesn’t expect us to guess about how to live our life out. He created the world to be adequate for any need we have during our existence here. A simple recognition of that speaks volumes about God. There is hostility in this world because of sin, but the world was created to provide for our physical needs and we don’t have to worry about them. We are free to focus on other things. We then are free to spend our time on seeking our spiritual connection with the Creator. He ministers to us. He has food for our soul. He has provided everything we need to be spiritually sound and healthy. These are not things that we can necessarily see. God cares about the condition of our heart, mind, body, and soul. He takes care to teach us through life. He knows when we have need of something, and He enjoys bringing about His plan on how that need will be met. God can use people in our life and other tangible resources to satisfy the spirit in times of distress. But ultimately it all comes from God.
In the story of history through the ages, we see God communicating to man over and over again, and in various ways, the same message. God comes to each individual in a unique and personal way to bring the message. His Word validates this and reveals man’s response through the pages of time. Some will refuse to hear the message, some will purposefuly disobey, and others will just ignore it. God has many divine encounters with His creation. He issues warnings, offers His love, and creates peace as well as marks for destruction each individual human being. Everything that happens in our life has been in His control. He is bringing a message through the circumstance. All of scripture encapsulates God at work with His creation. That is what makes the Bible unique. The people who wrote down the words have died. But God is still alive and active in our lives now, through those words. The words are still pertinent for us in this current age. His Word was written for and is directed to every generation. He wants us to know Him. He wants to express His love to us and wants us to respond in love. Those words are for encouragement, but for many they will bring fear. They are words to bring life to the soul, words of eternal life. They are meant to help us through this life and to show us the glorious eternity that is waiting.
That is a common thread, a message woven throughout the Bible. God is desperately trying to tell us how much He loves us and how much we need Him.