Gifts of the Holy Spirit

“Paul… finding some disciples… said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ 

So they said to him, ‘We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.’

And he said to them, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’

So they said, ‘Into John’s baptism.’

Then Paul said, ‘John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.’

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 

And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 

Now the men were about twelve in all.” [1]

The Holy Spirit is God in us working through us. He is amazing!

Why aren’t all Christians and Christian denominations talking about the Holy Spirit and His gifts?

Christian seminaries, Bible schools and churches build their theology around the teachings of Paul in regards to Christ and His atoning work to grant us pardon of all our sins. Praise the Lord! This is good! But what about Paul’s teachings on the Holy Spirit’s gifts? 

The Bible clearly states that “when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.” [2]

He writes of these gifts in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 as well. And Luke who wrote the Gospel of Luke and who travels with Paul in the Book of Acts, writes of these gifts as well in Acts 2:4, 10:46 and 19:6.

As per prophecy, Luke wrote of this gift [3] and so did Paul in his letters to the churches. [4]

Why deny the spiritual gifts that Luke and Paul speak of and yet quote them often in regards to other doctrines?

Do we not profess to believe that the entire Bible is the inspired and in errant Word of God; the rule for Christian belief and practice? So, why deny and disregard the application of the passages that speak of the gifts of the Holy Spirit?

Why not embrace the entire Bible and pray about what it says. This is what Paul did for the believers in Acts 19:1-7.

The Early Church thrived as the believers were filled with the Holy Spirit and bore His fruits and gifts. I would like, and more importantly, our Lord Jesus would like His 21st Century Church to thrive and bear His fruits and gifts to the world, and this is indeed happening among many believers around the world.

May all believers be filled with the Holy Spirit and bear His fruits and gifts!

“Then Moses said to him, ‘Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!’” [5]

[1] Acts 19:1-7

[2] Acts 19:6 

[3] Luke 1:67; Acts 11:27-28, 13:1, 15:32, 19:6 & 21:9-10

[4] Romans 12:10; 1 Corinthians 12:10 & 14:4; Ephesians 4:11 & 1 Timothy 4:14

[5] Numbers 11:9

Content & Thankful

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” [1]

“A commercial pilot flying over the Tennessee mountains pointed out a lake to his co-pilot. ‘See that lake down there? When I was a boy, I used to sit in a rowboat and fish for hours. Whenever a plane flew overhead, I pretended I was piloting the jet.’

The co-pilot responded, ‘You must be proud that you have achieved your boyhood dreams.’ The pilot replied, ‘Not exactly. Now when I fly over that lake, I wish I was down there fishing.’

Contentment is an elusive pursuit. We want to believe there is something out there that we can find or achieve or buy that will finally make us happy.

It is difficult to find contentment in a culture that works hard to foster discontent. Consumer economies are designed to ensure we are never satisfied, in essence, monetizing our discontent. Businesses do their best to keep us constantly longing for the latest and greatest ‘Shiny Objects.’ Enough is never enough.

If we are never satisfied, we are not fully able to enjoy the life that God has given us.

Notice that Paul didn’t write, ‘I’m so glad that it is easy to be content in every situation.’ No, he says, ‘I had to learn to be content whatever the circumstances.’

First, Paul learned we should rejoice in the Lord. Even in the midst of difficulty we can rejoice that God sustains and cares for us. 

Second, be known for gentleness, not insisting on our own rights, but instead striving for the welfare of others.

Third, don’t be anxious about anything. Recall the words of Jesus, ‘Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?’

Finally, pray with thanksgiving. When we give thanks to God, we acknowledge that everything we have is a gift, a result of His goodness and generosity.

When we pray to God with thanksgiving, what are we not doing?

We’re not congratulating ourselves for how great we are. We’re not being proud or selfish or stingy with our resources. We’re not complaining or comparing ourselves to others. We’re not consumed by the insatiable quest for more.

Instead, we are free to focus on the only one who can provide for us, God himself, and when we find joy in the Lord, we can let go of our discontent and find contentment in His love and grace.” [2]

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” [3]

[1] Philippians 4:12

[2] Escaping Discontent by JON POLK

[3] 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Desire The Best Spiritual Gifts

Judah’s ungodly king was dead. Israel’s evil king and queen were dead. The prophecy spoken by Elijah from the Lord was fulfilled! Sadly, those who replaced them also did evil. [1]

The Lord urges us in His Word to, “Earnestly desire the best [spiritual] gifts.” [2]

The Holy Spirit and His gifts working through a leader’s administration is the key to steering a nation in the right direction. The Holy Spirit empowers leaders us to do the will of God. He brings the Kingdom of Heaven to earth.

When Jesus Christ walked among us, the Holy Spirit’s anointing led Him to preach good news to the poor rather than bad news. The Holy Spirit anointed Him to heal the sick rather than exploit them. The Holy Spirit anointed Him to set captives free from the devil rather than destroy them.

We pray: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” [3]

“Heavenly Father, please bring our leaders to repentance in regards to sin, and to infilling by the Holy Spirit in regards to an anointing to lead us well. Only You can bring Your kingdom down to us! Only through You does Your will come to pass here on earth. We want You to reign in our nations, and in our lives. This we pray in the Name of Jesus. Amen.”

[1] 2 Kings 9-11
[2] 1 Corinthians 12:31
[3] Matthew 6:10

Divine Provision

“Then Elisha spoke to the woman whose son he had restored to life, saying, ‘Arise and go, you and your household, and stay wherever you can; for the Lord has called for a famine, and furthermore, it will come upon the land for seven years.’ So, the woman arose and did according to the saying of the man of God, and she went with her household and dwelt in the land of the Philistines seven years.” [1]

The Word of the Lord preserved the life of the woman and her son throughout seven years of famine. It should be noted that she believed what God’s messenger told her and put feet to her faith. Previously, God had used the prophet of His Word to raise her son from death to life. Would God really preserve her family during seven years of famine?

The Lord led her to go to a neighboring country. Like King David [2], she went to the land of her enemies during a time of difficulty and God preserved her family there. Thus, King David wrote…

“You [My Shepherd and Lord] prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” [3]

“It came to pass, at the end of seven years, that the woman returned from the land of the Philistines; and she went to make an appeal to the king for her house and for her land.

Then the king talked with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, saying, ‘Tell me, please, all the great things Elisha has done.’ Now it happened, as he was telling the king how he had restored the dead to life, that there was the woman whose son he had restored to life, appealing to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, ‘My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son whom Elisha restored to life.’ And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So, the king appointed a certain officer for her, saying, ‘Restore all that was hers, and all the proceeds of the field from the day that she left the land until now.’” [4]

I wonder if any of us Bible-believing Christians were about to experience a time of famine, and the Lord gave us a word from a reputable prophet of God that directed us to a foreign land among our enemies, would we go? Granted… God had used Elisha to raise her son to life. Still, she could have doubted his counsel on this occasion, but she did not.

She trusted in the Lord, in the Lord’s Word and in the Lord’s servant, and God came through for her. What is more, when she returned to her homeland after the seven years of famine ended, the Lord arranged it so that the servant of Elisha was talking about her to the king, and the king restored her property to her, plus as a bonus, all the back-pay that was due her. Praise the Lord!

What is it that you need from the Lord today? Why not just ask the Lord for it? Jesus Christ gave His life for you on the cross to redeem you from your sin. In Christ, all your sins are forgiven, and God remembers them no more. In Christ, you are an adopted child of God. You are in the family! Listen to God! Stand by His promises! All things are possible with God!

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” [5]

How do we overcome in times of difficulties?

“By the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their [the saints’] testimony.” [6]

[1] 2 Kings 8:1-2
[2] 1 Samuel 27
[3] Psalm 23:5-6
[4] 2 Kings 8:3-6
[5] Romans 8:31-32
[6] Revelation 12:11

Trusting God to Flip Enemies into Family

Syria was against Samaria, yet when Naaman, the commander of the army, heard via a captured Israeli girl that there was prophet there who could heal his leprosy, he told his king about it. Through a series events, Naaman ended up being healed by the Lord via His prophet Elisha. [1]

Later, the King of Syria sent his army to capture Elisha. Why? He was giving the King of Israel intel by the Spirit of the Lord as to the Syrian army’s plans…

“Therefore, the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, ‘Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?’ And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” [2]

Elisha was not intimidated by an enemy army coming after him. He told his servant, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” [3]

Elisha prayed to the Lord to open the eyes of his servant so he could see the army of the Lord. The Lord answered Elisha’s prayer. The servant saw the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. And Elisha prayed to the Lord, and said, “Strike this people, I pray, with blindness.” And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.” [4]

The enemy did not capture Elisha. He captured them. He brought these blinded soldiers into the city of Samaria, asked his king to feed them and afterwards, he sent them away seeing. [5]

Twice, he showed the enemies of the Lord kindness, but still they came again to attack Samaria. The Syrians surrounded Samaria. They cut off their food supply. Elisha prophesied that all would be well to his King. What happened?

“The Lord had caused the army of the Syrians to hear the noise of chariots and the noise of horses—the noise of a great army; so, they said to one another, ‘Look, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us!’ Therefore, they arose and fled at twilight, and left the camp intact—their tents, their horses, and their donkeys—and they fled for their lives.” [6] The people Samaria collected ample food and supplies afterwards.

The Lord is well able to take care of the enemies of His people, and to do it with grace, thus, Jesus says to you and to me…

“Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore, you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” [7]

Be like our Heavenly Father to them! Realize that God is bigger than their anger and hatred. Who has ever shown them what the Heavenly Father is like?

Saul of Tarsus was a man who “made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.” [8]

The people of God prayed for him, and rather than kill him, God converted him. Thanks to Jesus, Saul of Tarsus was transformed into the Apostle Paul. Paul became a prolific writer and speaker for Jesus Christ.

Now, let us love and pray for our enemies, and believe that God will do miracles among them that will change their perspective of both God and us. “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” [9]

[1] 2 Kings 5:1-14
[2] 2 Kings 6:11-12
[3] 2 Kings 6:16
[4] 2 Kings 6:17-18
[5] 2 Kings 6:19-23
[6] 2 Kings 7:6-7
[7] Matthew 5:44-48
[8] Acts 8:3
[9] Psalm 124:8

Jesus Christ Is The Truth

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” [1]

Jesus Christ is God’s Word embodied in human flesh. He brought truth into a world full of lies and deception. He brought truth to us in a gracious way because He wanted to save us not condemn us.

“The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.” [2]

Is our worship lining up with the truth of Scripture? Are we worshipping God by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit? This is the kind of worshipper our Heavenly Father is seeking to worship Him. Authentic! Heart-felt! Love for God in the way that the Father desires to be loved by us!

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” [3]

Truth is about knowing God and knowing God’s sovereignty. The God of the Bible is the only Creator and Sustainer of all things. Knowing that He is God, and we are not, and that other gods are not God, helps us to live as free people. He says, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things [the things you need for survival] shall be added to you.” [4]

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” [5]

Jesus reveals the Father to us. He reveals to us the truth about God. He reveals to us the life of God so that we can participate in God’s life.

“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.” [6]

Now that Jesus is in heaven, He gives us the Helper from His Father, even the Spirit of truth. The Holy Spirit testifies of Jesus to help us win the information war that comes at us from the devil and his agents here on earth. Jesus called the devil a liar and the father of lies. [7] He or she who is of the devil, will lie and deceive people to lead them to do evil against God and others. By relying on the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; we can overcome the lies of the evil one.

“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” [8]

Jesus prayed that we would be set apart (sanctified) by God’s truth. He is not of this world, and neither are we who follow Him. To follow Jesus is to make a break with every false and evil way.

“Pilate therefore said to Him, ‘Are You a king then?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.’” [9]

Standing before an authority figure who had been given the power to send Jesus to the cross, Jesus revealed His reason for coming into the world. It was to bear witness to the truth. Who would listen to Him? Everyone who is of the truth!

The Holy Spirit led me to pray for the nations by name today, and for many people by name as well, that whatever lie is deceiving them, those lies would be exposed and replaced by the truth of God. 

“Amen. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit bring the truth to bear upon the people of planet earth today. Be glorified! This I pray in the Name of Jesus. Amen.”

[1] John 1:14
[2] John 4:23
[3] John 8:32
[4] Matthew 6:33
[5] John 14:6
[6] John 15:26
[7] John 8:44
[8] John 17:17
[9] John 18:37

Countering Non-Prophet Organization

One of the greatest deficits in the last days of Israel’s and Judah’s existence before being overcome by pagan nations was ears willing to hear what God had to say about their situation. They had no lack of preachers parroting what politicians wanted them to say. Both government and religious gathering places had become non-prophet organizations in the sense of banning anyone to speak truth for God.

Ungodly King Ahab called Elijah a troubler of Israel. Elijah corrected him…

“I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and have followed the Baals [idols].” [1] Then, he challenged the politician to gather his press corps to a debate. King Ahab’s wife, Jezebel, had a total of 850 false prophets (reporters in her pocket) who ate her table.

When the big day came, and all were gathered, Elijah said to those propagators of false information, “You call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” [2]

The pagan prophets could not produce results. They were professional liars and deceivers. They were not connected to the true God. When Elijah prayed a brief prayer, the fire fell. On that day, the propagandists of Queen Jezebel were silenced. All were put to death by the people. Her career was not over yet, but her last day of ungodly influence on the nation was nearing.

Just before Jezebel’s husband’s reign ended, he had a plan, he wanted to form a coalition with the king of Judah’s army to take land from the king of Syria. The king of Judah, Jehoshaphat, planned to join in on this land grab, but with one condition. He asked, “Please inquire for the word of the Lord today.” [3]

“Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, ‘Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to fight, or shall I refrain?’ So, they said, ‘Go up, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.’” [4]

King Jehoshaphat recognized that Ahab’s prophets were not the kind of prophets he was used to listening to, so he asked, “Is there not still a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of Him?” [5]

“The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, ‘There is still one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the Lord; but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.’” [6]

King Jehoshaphat wanted to hear from this prophet that King Ahab hated. King Ahab sent for him, but Ahab’s messenger told the prophet of the Lord, “Now listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Please, let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak encouragement.” Micaiah responded, “As the Lord lives, whatever the Lord says to me, that I will speak.” [7]

At first Micaiah, repeated what he was told to say, but he said it in such a way as to provoke King Ahab to order him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?” [8]

So, Micaiah revealed to all present the vision and the words that the Lord gave him. He said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.’

The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, ‘Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?’

Then Micaiah said, ‘Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right hand and on His left. And the Lord said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ So, one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’ The Lord said to him, ‘In what way?’ So, he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And the Lord said, ‘You shall persuade him, and prevail. Go out and do so.’ Therefore look! The Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the Lord has declared disaster against you.’” [9]

A false prophet slapped Micaiah. King Ahab imprisoned him. He ordered that Micaiah be dined on the bread and water of affliction.” But that very day, King Ahab died in battle. [10]

After reading these Biblical accounts of kings and prophets, one question to ask ourselves is, “In what ways is our nation being lied to and deceived by ungodly leaders and their propagandists? Another question to ask ourselves is, “Who is speaking the Word of Lord, inspired by the Spirit of Truth, namely the Holy Spirit, to these deluded despots?”

“Dear Heavenly Father, please grant us the grace as You did to Elijah and Micaiah to bring truth with power and love to the place where people gather to hear the truth. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.”

[1] 1 Kings 18:17-19
[2] 1 Kings 18:24
[3] 1 King 22:5
[4] 1 Kings 22:6
[5] 1 Kings 22:7
[6] 1 Kings 22:8
[7] 1 Kings 22:13-14
[8] 1 Kings 22:15-16
[9] 1 Kings 22:17-23
[10] 1 King 22:24, 27, 37

A Better Leader Than Solomon

The Bible tells us of the riches of Solomon, but also of his sin.

He put gold into the shields of his warriors, and into his palace in abundance. Thus, the central government was enriched and so was the military complex. Solomon worshipped idols and womanized. He had wisdom but forsook it for fleshly pleasures. He confessed these sins in the Book of Ecclesiastes. [1]

The Lord decided to remove ten of the tribes from Solomon’s family’s governance and give them to another. This did not happen during his lifetime, but after he died and his son, Rehoboam, became king.

Rehoboam asked the older men who counseled his father for advice. They gave him good advice. He was to put the interest of the people before his own interests.

Rehoboam defied their advice and went with the advice of friends his age. They advised him to tell the people that he would rule them harsher than his father did. That speech did not have a good outcome. Ten tribes split from him, and they crowned a man named Jeroboam to be their king. [2]

Rehoboam’s father was deemed the wisest man in the world, and, yes indeed, his father Solomon did have wisdom, but he didn’t always apply it. His son learned that technique as well. Kind of like Samson who had great strength but spent it on fleshly pleasure to his own demise.

The Apostle Paul wrote of a better model of leadership, “Brothers and sisters, when I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.” [3]

Paul held up Christ as the One for us to follow. Paul approached Christ’s followers with humility. He relied on the Holy Spirit’s power to lead people.

The Ark of the Covenant that Solomon placed in the temple represented Christ. God promised Solomon that He would hear the prayers of those who prayed at the temple where the Ark of God resided. Now, it is in the crucified and risen Savior, Jesus Christ, that God hears and answers our prayers.

“Heavenly Father, please continue to demonstrate Your power in us by causing us to rest not on human wisdom, but on Your Holy Spirit’s power. Please continue to raise up leaders who exalt Christ and who humble themselves before You for Your glory. I ask this in the Name of Jesus. Amen.”

[1] 1 Kings 11:1-8; 2 Chronicles 9:15-22; Ecclesiastes 3
[2] 1 Kings 11:29-39; 1 Kings 12:1-16
[3] 1 Corinthian 2:2-5

Eagerly Awaiting Our Lord’s Appearance

Christ has revealed Himself to us in the Scriptures and by His outpoured Holy Spirit upon us. Thank God for that! But the apostle wants to see Jesus Christ face to face. He reminds us that we have received spiritual gifts to help us while we wait. What are the gifts that he describes?

“I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus.” [1]

Grace is a gift that God has given to us help us while we await the Lord’s return. “Please Heavenly Father, continue to be gracious unto us every day every hour.”

“Enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge…” [2] Being enriched in all utterances and all knowledge of the Lord is a gift. God gave Solomon wisdom so great that people came from all over to listen to him.

“The testimony of Christ was confirmed in you so that you come short in no gift, as you eagerly wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” [3]

Being confirmed in the testimony of Christ and being kept blameless until the Lord returns is a gift from God.

“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” [4]

Being called by a faithful Father into fellowship with His Son is awesome gift.

“Thank You Heavenly Father for being faithful to fellowship with us through Your Son. Thank You for enriching our lives with Your gifts. Most of all, thank You that when I leave this life, and come before You, it will not be a scary event, but a joyful and celebratory event. In the Name Your Son Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

[1] 1 Corinthians 1:4
[2] 1 Corinthians 1:5
[3] 1 Corinthians 1:6-8
[4] 1 Corinthians 1:9

Not Separated Us from Christ's Love

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” [1]

“No” is the answer to every trial that this world throws at us to separate us from the love of Christ. “No, nothing shall separate us from the love of Christ!”

“I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [2]

“Thank You Heavenly Father for Your great love for us in Christ Jesus. Thank You that You want to be close to us. Daily, You come close to us to express Your love to us. Blessed be Your Glorious Name!”

[1] Romans 8:35
[2] Romans 8:38-39

Living and Behaving as God's Children

“The good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.” [1]

The Apostle Paul speaks of the dilemma he faces as one who wills to do good, and yet his sinful nature wills to do evil. He cries out…

“O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” [2]

He does not want to be bound to a body that wants to do evil. Who will deliver him? He states the answer to this question…

“I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” [3]

Thanks be to the Lamb of God; He removes the stains and shame of the sins we commit when we repent and ask Him to forgive us.

But there’s better news with Jesus Christ. Paul continues…

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” [4]

Jesus Christ gives to believers in Him, His Holy Spirit to help us walk with our Lord and Savior. To help us reflect HIS goodness! Paul continues…

“If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” [5]

The Holy Spirit is someone new to us. He gives us divine spiritual life. He raises us up to serve God in ways that we never could before. His presence in our life is the sign that God has adopted us…

“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” [6]

“The Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

Forgiveness of our sins by the Lamb of God, and the indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit is our Abba Father’s provision for us to be adopted into His family, and to help us behave like children of God.

“Jesus, Son of God, thank You for redeeming us from our sins. For forgiving all the sins we have ever committed against God and people! Thank You for giving us Your precious indwelling Holy Spirit to live in us, to pray within us, and to help us live as the Heavenly Father’s children. Glory, blessing, and honor be unto You forever and ever. Amen.”

[1] Romans 7:19-20
[2] Romans 7:24
[3] Romans 7:25
[4] Romans 8:1
[5] Romans 8:11
[6] Romans 8:15-16
[7] Romans 8:26

Don’t Feed the Traveler with the Poor Man’s Wife

While Uriah was out fighting the battles of King David. David stole his wife and defiled her. Afterwards…

“David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. And he wrote in the letter, saying, ‘Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die.’” [1]

He had Uriah carry his own death sentence to the commander of David’s army. David’s commander carried out the order. Uriah, a valiant and faithful man for God and country, died at the hands of his own King.

Afterwards…

“The Lord sent Nathan to David. And he came to him and said to him: ‘There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds. But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him. And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.’” [2]

The Lord compared David to a rich man who was willing to steal something very precious and beloved from a poor man to feed a traveler. The traveler in this story represents lust. David saw Bathsheba bathing on her rooftop from his vantage point in his palace. Lust came to him, and he wanted to feed it. He had several wives, but he wanted to entertain lust. Lust wanted from him what was not lawful for him to take. For the sake of the traveler, David killed an innocent man, got a woman pregnant out of wedlock, and betrayed the Lord who had made him the king over His people.

Sin is ugly and harmful. It continues to produce evil once it gains a foothold in one’s life. Many times, the sinner does not realize how much damage his or her sin has caused until long after the act has been committed.

As I read the story of David’s crime against Uriah this morning, strangely enough, I thought of great empires that like to rule the world. How often, they steal from the poor to give to the rich. The rulers are feeding the traveler named lust at the expense of the innocent man that is doing best for his family and country. But even as I thought of these authorities, the Holy Spirit reminded me of how us common people also defraud others as we feed a sinful habit. We all have sinned, and need the Holy Spirit to fill us and to help us love God and our neighbor as we should.

The conclusion of this meditation this morning was to pray the prayer found in the next to last verse of the Bible, “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” [3]

Our Lord Jesus Christ has scheduled a day to right the wrongs of this world. Even to right the wrongs of us His people. We all have sinned. For us who believe in Him, whose sins He has forgiven, He will completely transform us from sinners into saints. We will sin no more. We will live with Him forever and enjoy love, peace, and joy. All this thanks to what the last verse of the Bible speaks about, namely, grace.

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” [4]

[1] 2 Samuel 11:14-15
[2] 2 Samuel 12:1-4
[3] Revelation 22:20
[4] Revelation 22:21

The Law and The Gospel

The Law of God convicts us of our sin.

The Gospel of God reveals to us our Savior from sin.

The answer to being “right with God” is to believe in Jesus Christ, God’s Son, humankind’s Redeemer, to be your Savior.

Holy Spirit Conviction

“When He [the Holy Spirit] has come, He will convict the world of …judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” [1]

The ruler of this world is judged. Jesus calls the devil the ruler of this world. The devil rules via his agents of mayhem, fraud, and deception. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit convinces the world that the devil is judged. His days are numbered. His reign of terror shall expire. All who have served him shall likewise perish unless they repent and be converted unto Christ.

Stephen is an example of man who was filled with the Holy Spirit. [2] He was full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. [3] Those who opposed him were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. [4] So, they stirred up the people and their leaders; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. They also set up false witnesses against him. [5] The Holy Spirit in Stephen convicted them of resisting the Holy Spirit, persecuting the prophets and killing the Messiah. [6]

The agents of Satan resolved to stone Stephen to death. As they did, “Stephen, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, ‘Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’” [7]

His last prayer before he left this present age was not for himself. It was for those who were captives of the devil. He prayed for them, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” [8] He forgave them. He wanted them to be saved.

“Holy Spirit, please fill us as You did Stephen, and empower us to convict the world of judgment so that those who are doing evil will not perish in their sins, but the rather repent, and be saved. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.”

[1] John 16:8, 11
[2] Acts 6:5
[3] Acts 6:8
[4] Acts 6:11
[5] Acts 6:12-13
[6] Acts 7:51-52
[7] Acts 7:55-56

God Blessed the House of Obed-Edom

“Now it was told King David, saying, ‘The Lord has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.’ So, David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness.” [1]

The ark of God was a type of Christ. It is in Christ that we are blessed of God.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” [2]

We are all sinners, but we all can enjoy redemption and God’s grace when we believe in Jesus Christ, God’s Son. God declares “not guilty” and “just” each person who believes that the blood of His Son is the perfect sacrifice to take away all our sins.

God blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belonged to him when the ark of God came into his house. In Christ, we have an even greater blessing than Obed-Edom had. We have God with us here on earth to win the battles we face, AND we have eternal home with God in the life that is to come. Praise the Lord!

[1] 2 Samuel 6:12
[2] Romans 3:23-26