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The Power of the Holy Spirit

February 10, 2017

This morning study has been wonderful. It started out in 1Corrinthians chapter 2 studying for my small Group session at Ninevah Christian Church. I always open with a prayer for guidance by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit always opens my heart.

Terry Cooper, the lead minister, is leading a study on First Corinthians this session of Small Groups. Chapter two was part of my assignment for Wednesday, but I stopped at 1Corinthians 2:9-10

9 But, as it is written,
K“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

I read the remainder of the chapter but this passage stuck with me. I went on to read the daily devotional from, “My Utmost for His Highest, for February 10. The title of the devotional was “Is Your Ability to See God Blinded” as I read this there was this. The referenced passage for the devotional was Isaiah 40:26. It is part of a section of Isaiah titled, “The Greatness of God” which includes verses 9-31. I read this passage and then the devotional. It is all wonderful, but this passage really brought me back to the rest of the text I had been studying and reminded me who is in control.

“The people of God in Isaiah’s time had blinded their minds’ ability to see God by looking on the face of idols. But Isaiah made them look up at the heavens; that is, he made them begin to use their power to think and to visualize correctly. If we are children of God, we have a tremendous treasure in nature and will realize that it is holy and sacred. We will see God reaching out to us in every wind that blows, every sunrise and sunset, every cloud in the sky, every flower that blooms, and every leaf that fades, if we will only begin to use our blinded thinking to visualize it.” My Utmost for His Highest: by Oswald Chambers

The passage that I really touched my heart this morning was Isaiah 40:18-26 (ESV).

18 To whom then will you liken God,
or what likeness compare with him?
19 An idol! A craftsman casts it,
and a goldsmith overlays it with gold
and casts for it silver chains.
20 He who is too impoverished for an offering
chooses wood that will not rot;
he seeks out a skillful craftsman
to set up an idol that will not move.
21 Do you not know? Do you not hear?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,
and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;
who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;
23 who brings princes to nothing,
and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.
24 Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,
scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth,
when he blows on them, and they wither,
and the tempest carries them off like stubble.
25 To whom then will you compare me,
that I should be like him? says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high and see:
who created these?
He who brings out their host by number,
calling them all by name,
by the greatness of his might,
and because he is strong in power
not one is missing.

I reread this passage and it took me back to 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (ESV)

9 But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—
10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit.
For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

I was reminded this morning how without Christ in me… the gift of the Holy Spirit… How could I function, except in the darkness of the world? I looked back at Oswald Chambers passage and reread a piece of the text…

“If we are children of God, we have a tremendous treasure in nature and will realize that it is holy and sacred. We will see God reaching out to us in every wind that blows, every sunrise and sunset, every cloud in the sky, every flower that blooms, and every leaf that fades, if we will only begin to use our blinded thinking to visualize it.”

When I looked up I saw the sunrise that I included with this entry… and I was humbled. I prayed and gave thanks to God for it all. I went back to that verse 9 in 1 Corinthians 2 and searched out the cross references… in my Bible, they were Isaiah 64:4, Matthew 25:34 and James 1:12

Matthew 25:34 pushed me to get the context. I ended up caught up in verses 33-40…

33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25:33-40 (ESV)

I read the whole example given by Jesus about the goats and the sheep. But I saw something different… something more in verses 30-40… In the past, I had always seen this passage to explain physical love, charity, and hospitality. But this morning I saw more… I saw the spiritual. The hunger and thirst were for God’s Word and council… The need for everything else reminded me of Revelation 3:17-18 (ESV)

17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

What I thought is that at one time I was “wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” (verse 17b), but someone saw me… and they told me the good news of Jesus Christ and they offered to me with love and hospitality and they gave me, “gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.” (verse 18).

I know that the physical needs in the passage from Matthew 25 are still important, but I just saw more this morning. I read the other cross references in James and Isaiah they all spoke of God’s power, and all this just ran through me. But this was the last passage that I read this morning and seemed to tie this all together for me. It was a K-Love verse from this week… the extended version… Romans 12:9-13 (ESV)

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

What power there is in God’s Word. I give thanks for the guiding hand of His Holy Spirit… nudging me forward by showing me just what I need to see. I am filled with thanksgiving… To God Be all Glory and Praise…

The Lord Sustains Me

February 8, 2017

This morning as I read and prayed I had a realization that I had not grasped before. One of those things that humbled me, and at the same time gave me some peace that I had not previously experienced.

I began my reading in Psalm 37. The heading in my ESV Bible is “He Will Not Forsake His Saints” It is a Psalm of David. K – Love quoted the 24th verse, but as usual I had to get the context so I read it all, but as I read it and considered the passages and considered them in relation to how I was living I was humbled.

I don’t know about you but I can get so focused in the moment. Part of the “condition my condition is in” is an increase in focused anxiety. I get anxious easily and many times it is over nothing… If I allow it to it will make a mess of my day. Well as I read this Psalm I realized how short sighted I can be.

My vision so often is limited to the moment. At its broadest, I can see the World around me, but it is still trapped in the moment of time that I can manage. The violence of the world, refugees, ISIS, persecution of others; the media contributes to this by showing me what they think is important.
It is not all negative. There is so much to be joyful about…. My family. My Church Home, my friends, the multitude of gifts God has blessed me with… But it is still often focused only on the moment.

As I read this Psalm and considered what the Lord was saying through David I was just humbled. As I read this Psalm I began to see how short this time here is, and how futile it is to dwell on these things.

We all face some horrific things… The loss that breaks hearts, disagreements that break or at least damage relationships, financial challenges and health issues, and I do not want to minimize them. They can be devastating. But as I prayed and studied this morning I was overtaking with this realization…

I realized the promises are eternal… like the men and women of faith discussed in Hebrews 11, they may not all come while I am here in this life, but they will come.
As I read verses 8-11 I got a cold chill….

“Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
For the evildoers shall be cut off,
but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.
In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;
though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
But the meek shall inherit the land
and delight themselves in abundant peace

I read a bit further thru verse 34 and it hit me.

“Wait for the Lord and keep his way,
and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
you will look on when the wicked are cut off.”

How many times does the Lord remind us to wait… and keep His ways. Trust in Him… Hold fast to His teachings… Seek first the Kingdom of God.
I am not suggesting that we be oblivious to the things that are happening in the world around us. They are real and reason to be watchful, but we also need to remember who has our back…
This condition is temporary… and God is there to shore us up in the trials. He is there to be our refuge as we travel through this land. The original verse that brought me to Psalms 37 was verse 24. I included 23 below…

23-24 “The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
when he delights in his way;
24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
for the Lord upholds his hand.”

What an amazing promise. What joy that brings to my heart. What a comfort… It leads me to one last scripture… 1Peter 1:5-9

“who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith —more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire —may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
As I considered all this there was a weight lifted. God has promised amazing things for those whom are faithful and trust in Him. I will not see all of it on this side. I may have struggles, but they are less when I give them to Jesus rather than hold them close.

I am with Peter on this one…
“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

Now the Lord has given me another morsel of understanding that I can use to add to my armor. I am thankful for His Word and I am thankful for the Love he shares with me. What an awesome God!

I Need Jesus… Always!

February 8, 2017

This morning has been such a blessing. I take such joy from God’s Word. I have adjusted to the “new normal” God has afforded me to help me grow to know Him better and place all trust and hope in Him.

I read K – Love and Tozer and MacArthur and the passages that they lead me to were amazing. Through His Word, I am reminded of His majesty and power and His love and compassion, and the justice that is His alone.

It is so easy to take a verse and look at it and find joy in that single verse. God’s Word never comes back empty, but to limit ourselves to that daily verse or single passage so limits our view of God. They lift me up but I need more than a taste. I need the full cup…

I was overwhelmed this morning by this realization of how MUCH I need Jesus; not just as savior, but also as sovereign Lord of my life. He is not a burden or a hindrance of any kind but instead by knowing Him I am given a freedom that this world cannot offer. I read

This morning I read Psalm 62:1

“For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.”

What a joy to be reminded of this… in the world around us it is so easy to be distracted, especially with the state of the world, but in this quiet morning time as I read this passage I was reminded of what was important. The next verse reminded me from where my true security comes. It comes from God… “He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.”

But how would I know this if not for His Word? Utmost, by Oswald Chambers, reminded me of my freedom in Christ Jesus. He referenced John 8:36 ” So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

As I read the verses before and after this passage I was reminded of the Truth of His Word. The verse comes from a section titled “The Truth Will Set You Free” It begins with John 8:31-32 “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ” If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

What a wonderful promise!

MacArthur reminded me with Matthew 11:27 “All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

All of what I know of Him comes from His Word. I am drawn to John 1:1-5 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

As I consider this I am really at a loss for words. Our God is an awesome God and so loved us that He gave His Son to take on the sin of the world and die that I might live. It is so humbling… It is so overwhelming, but in the same breath, it is such a wonderful gift.

And no one says it better than Paul in Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV) “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

The Joy that fills me is that Jesus did this for me. He gave me a desire to know and copy His example and He gave me a means to do that in His Holy and precious Word. How can I ignore It? How can I not be drawn to It for understanding…

I give thanks to the Lord for this gracious gift. I thank Him for access to Him through, prayer, meditation, and access to His Word for answers and understanding… to knowing Him.

MacArthur posed a question today that I want to share… I will say it gave me pause…. Ask Yourself- “What did Christ reveal to you about Himself that led you to place your faith in Him? What has He revealed of Himself to you in recent days—fresh glimpses into His character, His nature, and His dealings with man?”

For me, it is so many things… but always through prayerful study of His Word… in it I find comfort… Today the comfort of Matthew 11:25-30 and so much more from His Word… God is good, faithful and true! I give him praise.

The Love of God

February 8, 2017

This morning it is still overcast and damp looking outside. The sun has not broken through the fog. It is supposed to be a beautiful day, but for now, it is gray. This morning in my prayer and study leads to 1John. It started with K – Loves verse 4:18

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” (ESV)

Now as I meditated on this I thought about the world we live in and the 24-hour news cycle and the goal of the adversary and his goal is to inundate us with nothing but fear. And what better tool than the 24-hour news cycle.

And for me fear was the emotion that most often brought about anger, and anger used to lead to a violent response. I thought of Matthew 26:50-54 when they came to take the Lord in the garden…

“50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. 51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”

In our nature fear musters one of two responses fight or flight. But love… Love of the Lord overcomes our fear. Our struggles come in letting go of fear and placing our trust in God. I then read 1John 4:7-21 and reflected on the whole passage. The title is “God’s Love”

“7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” (ESV)

As I read that passage I was a taken by how powerful it was… “God is Love”

As I worked through the passage I saw the truth of what that meant. Without Him, I cannot experience the fullness of love: only an illusion. With Him there are no boundaries if I will simply trust in Him and hold fast to Him.

I went on to read 1 John 5:1-5 as well.

1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

I read these verses and I was overwhelmed by the Love of God and the gift of His Son. I was filled with a joy of His Holy Spirit, not because I had yet reached my goal, but because He had given me everything to strive toward the goal. And the glue that holds it together is the Love of God and our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. What joy that brings when we allow that to sink in. To remember that “we love because He first loved us”

But it takes faith and trust in the Lord. I read “Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers this morning and felt this quote fit… (to God be the Glory).

” I must know Jesus Christ as my Savior before His teaching has any meaning for me other than that of a lofty ideal which only leads to despair. But when I am born again by the Spirit of God, I know that Jesus Christ did not come only to teach— He came to make me what He teaches I should be. The redemption means that Jesus Christ can place within anyone the same nature that ruled His own life, and all the standards God gives us are based on that nature.” Oswald Chambers – “Utmost for His Highest”

I am filled with a thankful heart and I Praise God for His love and mercy!!!

The Glory of God

February 5, 2017

For some time now I have had this one quote by A.W. Tozer that has shown up in my thoughts… It is random and regular at the same time, (Yeah, I know that is strange).

The quote is:

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”

― A.W. Tozer

This thought came to mind most recently this weekend past when I was reading 1 Chronicles 29:10-22. The heading of this passage in my ESV translation is “David Prays in the Assembly” and it is just before Solomon is anointed, King. It is a wonderful prayer of praise to God… One that just filled my heart as I read it.

Verses 11-13 just caused my heart to swell with joy as I considered the power and majesty of God.

“11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. 12 Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. 13 And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.”

When I consider this passage I cannot fathom the greatness of God… nor the smallness of myself. I am humbled by these thoughts. And as I ponder this all I can think of is that this Mighty God loved me enough that He gave His Son so that I might rejoin Him.

I went to Jeremiah 29:11-13

“11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

And from there to James 1:12-15

“12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

And then John 1. Firsts verses 1-5, then 9-13 and 14-18. I will not write them all out, but only 14-18

“14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.”

I am so taken by all this. How awesome is our God! It is not all easy… but it is all worth it. I am comforted by a passage in James.

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)

I came across this prayer by Tozer that helped me process these thoughts.

“O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, so that I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, ‘Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away.’ Then give me the grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long.”

― A.W. Tozer

“I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty”

And I thought I was done today with these things, but 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 came to mind and I listened to the teachings of Paul…

” 1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

My heart is filled with thanksgiving and praise for God alone… and at last I am at a loss for words…

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