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Tag Archives: The Holy Spirit

Talk to the Author first

12 Jan

Talk to the Author first

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

My favorite Bible is coming apart at the seams. Literally coming apart, and I was told to just get a new one…..but I can’t. This Bible is full of how the Holy Spirit has spoken to me over the past 6-8 years. It has all colors of highlights, underlines, notes in the margins, sermon notes, and full of life. I remember leaving it at church once and freaking out till I found it. This particular Bible is truly special to me and it very rarely leaves my study. The evidences of God in my life fill this book and only He and I understand how powerfully he has personally spoken to me countless times in it. This Bible is truly God’s light for me in this very dark world that we face daily.

We could go down seemingly endless lists of what people call the Bible; a love letter, a rulebook, a history book, a book of prophecy (and fulfilled), and on and on. What is it to you? If you begin to understand that it is God speaking directly to you, it will change the way you view it. We all want the clear sign, the banner in the sky, the voice in our ear, the answer to whatever question we are seeking him for. You have in your possession the answer in written form. Any answer to any question is found in the Bible. Every life application is found there; every life answer is found there. 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. If you begin to grasp that all the Creator of all that is in the universe, that he put all that you will ever need to know in this book, that humble feeling you get at that revelation, is the beginning of the wisdom found there.

If you have tried reading it, and you just don’t get it, it probably means that you don’t personally know the Lord Jesus as your Savior. The Holy Spirit is who opens the truths of God to you when you read your Bible, and you only possess the Holy Spirit upon accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior. The Spirit comes as a gift of redemption and the Bible takes on an entire new meaning in your life. If it seems a dull book, you are forgetting to talk to the Author of the book first to understand how to interpret it.

 
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Posted by on January 12, 2015 in Daily Devotions

 

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Not an enigma

08 May

Not an enigma

Proverbs 1:5-7 A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Sometimes I just love going back to the book of Proverbs; tidbits of knowledge in only a few short sentences that the Holy Spirit can speak volumes to me at just the right time. I am always amazed at how Solomon sums up life and it’s complexities so directly. Sometimes I am saddened that I don’t get the simpleness that it states, for my life is twisted into the complexities that sin and this world I live in have pulled me into. Life really doesn’t have to be as hard as we make it out to be; simplicity is found in following these tidbits of truth that Solomon penned for us thousands of years ago that still ring true today.

In the opening of his book, here in only the first seven verses are the prerequisites for everything that follows. If you don’t know God, if you don’t have holy reverent fear for the God of the universe, you won’t understand these proverbs. You can’t rely on your own understanding, your paths and supposed wisdom will lead you astray. If you don’t know God, and you don’t possess his Spirit, you will be blinded to the truths found here. The Holy Spirit is who opens the truths of God to your mind. John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

You must understand, you will not understand the Bible without the Holy Spirit living inside of you. You may pick up the Bible for the first time with a heart seeking God, and God do a work that no man can do; you find Him there and repent and believe on the Christ that you read and see and feel there. When you do repent and believe you gain Him living in yourself as the Spirit of God. That greater your respect and reverent fear of Him, the more he reveals to you. 1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. Without him the Bible would be just a book, and the book of Proverbs just some good riddles to live by. With Him it is the Word of God and Proverbs is a book of incredible knowledge stated in simple terms; not an enigma at all.

 
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Posted by on May 8, 2014 in Daily Devotions

 

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Frozen or overflowing?

31 Jan

Frozen or overflowing?

John 7:38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.

It was the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. The celebration ended with a ceremony that commemorated when God provided water for the Israelites from the rock while they were in the desert for 40 years. It was the highlight of the show if you will allow me. Christ at that time stole the show when He spoke these words; 37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. Jesus had left the crowd in awe; some saw him as a prophet, some as who he was, but they were all in awe of him. They truly knew that something was special about him. But, what did He speak about? He was proclaiming the gift of the Holy Spirit that would be given to them when He ascended back into heaven. This Gift would bless, comfort, teach, all that would receive Him. Not only that, but through the Holy Spirit many would be blessed through his outpouring in the believers life; rivers of living water to those that would receive him.

If you claim Christianity, is your river of living water overflowing into the lives of others, or is it frozen up? Is there evidence of your life as one that is full of the Holy Spirit, hopefully to the point He spills into the lives of others? Would they say, or do they feel His presence in you? If the only evidence of your Christianity is Sunday, your river is a small stream. The Holy Spirit may be alive in you, but your attention to all that is of the world is drying him up. Are you grieving him by your daily thoughts and actions that point to the hold the world has on you? Do you pain him how you deny those convictions of sins he points out to you? Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Those painful pricks that He points out to you are the tugs on your heart to repent and draw near to God. Repent of your sins, and get back near God with daily time spent in his Word and prayer. That is how you nurture, or feed the Holy Spirit that is living inside of you. You feed him with a hearts desire for Him, and time spent with him in God’s Word. He in return, nurtures you by the wisdom he reveals to you in God’s Word. He opens up the truths of God to you, and that tugs your heart to yearn for more. This river of life begins to grow in you, and begins to spill it’s banks to those He puts around you.

 
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Posted by on January 31, 2014 in Daily Devotions

 

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A Cry for Revival – Day 2

02 Jan

I asked permission to reprint this powerful devotional today by Pastor Dean Burris. It really struck me when I read it earlier today, and I wanted to share it with you. Oh how I yearn for revival in me and you. My message this week is one of questioning where our hearts lie; are we pursuing the faith we claim; are we seeking revival?

 

A Cry for Revival – Day 2

Yesterday, the last words of the poem we read were, “My children, it is time!”  Time for what?? It is time for a fresh, powerful, life-altering visitation from the Holy Spirit in our lives and church! It is time that our passion for Jesus Christ be ignited and that our lives burn brightly for His glory. It is time for revival!
Well, what is revival? To revive means to bring something back to life, to re-animate, or re-invigorate. Revival is a season when the Holy Spirit moves powerfully among lifeless, powerless and sleeping believers awakening them to spiritual vigor. It produces a deep conviction over sin and spiritual slothfulness and ignites the fires of devotion, prayer and evangelism. Believers are dramatically revived and the lost are dramatically and powerfully brought into the Kingdom. Revival is the “sanctifying energy of the Holy Spirit, converting the hardened sinner and reclaiming the backslidden and dormant believer . . . Behold, God showers his rain from heaven, and it (the hardened, backslidden heart) is suddenly softened. One sermon may prick to the heart. One drop of a Saviour’s blood, distilled on it by the Spirit, in the preaching of the Word, melts it like wax. The drunkard is made sober, the adulterer chaste, Zaccheus merciful, and raging Paul as tame as a lamb.”  That is revival and that is exactly what we need!
In 1802 Rev. Jesse Edson wrote from Halifax, Vermont, about a revival being poured out there: “The Holy Spirit seemed to come down like a rushing, mighty wind, to melt the souls of God’s children, to cause sinners to tremble, stubborn wills to bow, and hard hearts to relent. Numbers flocked to Christ as a cloud, and as doves to their windows.”
One of the great revivals in scripture is found in 1 Samuel 7: 2And all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord (they mourned because it seemed the Lord had abandoned them).
3Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the Lord, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” 4So the children of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only. And verse 10 shows God’s response, “But the Lord spoke with a mighty voice of thunder from heaven that day.”
We need to hear today the mighty, thunderous voice of God in our lives! We need revival! Begin asking the Holy Spirit to reveal to YOU your need for revival. Ask Him to make you completely dissatisfied with a spiritually mundane life. Plead for more! Do you long for more of Christ at work in you? Do you mourn for more of God? Ask today for revival . . . in you.

 
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Posted by on January 2, 2014 in Daily Devotions

 

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Full of supplies

30 Dec

Full of supplies

Philippians 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

I have been up since about 3am. I woke up with church on my mind; well, a lot on my mind about yesterday to be honest. I have spent time in the Word reading the book of Philippians this morning, for I am hoping to do a series on it soon. I have also been reading a book I cannot put down called Knowing God, by JI Packer. This morning I read a chapter on the Holy Spirit, and sadly how as Christians we seem to pass Him over. Of how we concentrate our ministries on Christ, but miss Who Christ gave us personally till He returns. “The Spirit testified to the apostles by revealing to them all truth and inspiring them to communicate it with all truthfulness. Hence the gospel, and hence the New Testament. But the world would have neither without the Holy Spirit. Nor is this all. In the second place, without the Holy Spirit there would be no faith and no new birth – in short no Christians.”

In the book of Philippians, Paul is thanking them for the gifts that they have sent him while he was imprisoned in Rome. They have supplied more than his need, and the commentaries state that they have given much more over and above what was needed; made themselves poor per say. Paul is encouraging them greatly, telling them they cannot out-give God; they have a credit on their account.17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. They were giving from a cheerful heart, out of their love for God and Paul. Paul has expressed contentment where he finds himself now; he knows that even if he is in chains, the gospel is being spread. He sees the Holy Spirit working through him to even strengthen and encourage the faith of the Roman guards in his presence. He knows in all things in his life that God is at work.

I could not help but reflect on Phil. 4:19 in the context of the gift of the Holy Spirit this morning. “Supplying all our needs” as the great comforter, teacher, helper. John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever– 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. My prayer is that this small ministry has and will encourage you to spend daily time with God; to get into God’s Word and prayer and see how your life is transformed. The Holy Spirit that dwells inside of you as a believer in Christ, is who opens the truths of God’s Word to you. John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. There is One who will supply all your spiritual needs if you will only seek Him every day.

 
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Posted by on December 30, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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The Last Chapter

19 Nov

The Last Chapter

Ephesians 1:13-14    In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Ephesians 1 leading up to this passage is packed full of the sovereignty of God with big words like predestination, adoption, dispensation, mystery, and the list could go on. In those passages is wrapped up God’s plan for humanity lost in sin, and the saving power of the Gospel of Salvation by his Son at the cross. There is so much packed into those passages, you must just simply take your time to read them. After those passages, the author Paul writes and prays for the readers to have spiritual wisdom; for God to grant the readers understanding. He knows his writings connected by the “Therefore”(vs.13) are weighty and powerful. This is not a passage in the Bible to be skimmed over; one needs God to open our minds to these truths.

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth–in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

The Bible is not a book to be read to get finished and see how it ends. The book of Revelations is a book of the prophecy of the end of time, yet as a believer in Christ, all the world will suffer will not matter if you believe in Him and the rapture of the saints whom are His disciples. Slow down and read the Bible word for word. When you get perplexed, begin to truly study His Word. He will reveal the truths found in it to a heart that is ready for it. The more time you spend daily in this study and prayer, the more He reveals to you. The Holy Spirit that comes to live inside of you found in that promise of verse 13, is who opens the truths of God to you. Without Him, the Bible is just another book you speed through to get to finish and see how it ends. Without Him, you will not like the last chapter.

 
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Posted by on November 19, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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