Ths Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin in two ways.....the first being before we ask Jesus into our lives.
John 16:7-11
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
Do you see in verse 8 where it says the world will be convicted of sin? Now remember back to the time when you asked Jesus into your life. At some point during that time you realized you were a sinner and that you needed Jesus to save you from those sins, right? The Holy Spirit is who convicted you of that sin in your life and helped you realize "I need Jesus!!!". Thank you Holy Spirit for that conviction.
The second way the Spirit convicts is after we have asked Jesus into our lives. Look at this verse:
Romans 8:26
26 Likewise 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
I really like this verse. The Spirit helps in our weakness! He warns us with little voice in our head of when danger lies ahead. All those temptations the devil throws our way we have a helper in the Spirit to guide us away from sin. And if we fall He convicts us of that sin and as the verse above says will even make intercession for us when needed. That is so awesome!!! To be honest I am glad to Holy Spirit convicts me when I sin but I sure do hate the way I feel when He does. I feel like I have failed God. I feel that way because I have but the good news is I serve a forgiving God! If I confess my sin...God promises to forgive! WOW!
So this morning we see the convicting power of the Holy Spirit....thank Him today for helping us through His convictions!!!
Tom
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Teach and remind. #21
Here is another great promise from God's word this morning. Check it out:
John 14:26
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.
The "I" mentioned in the last part of that verse is Jesus. I want to remind us of a few things when we read this verse this morning. First, we need to remember that we only have the Holy Spirit if we have asked Jesus to be Lord and Savior of our lives. Second we must be in God's word to learn. Now that being said, when you are reading your Bible the Holy Spirit helps you learn and understand. For example, before I was a Christian I would read my Bible every once in a while and much of it seemed like jibberish. I didn't understand most of what I was reading. Then after I accepted Christ it was totally different. I believe it is because of the Holy Spirit teaching me and helping me understand the things of God.Think about that for a moment. God does so much to take care of us that we often don't even think about!!! Now we can move on to the rememberance. We kind of covered this yesterady but have you ever noticed in your life when you have a temptation to sin that small little voice will say "hey you don't need to do that!" and even some scripture may come to mind? That is what it is refering to when the verse above says the Holy Spirit will bring to us rememberance of what Jesus has said. That is so awesome that we have a God who cares for us that much. The rememberance is not always don't do it is also do this. Like telling us the show love to someone who is hurting or to encourage others or to have patience. I think you get the point!
So this morning we are reminded we have Spirit that teaches and reminds us of the things of God. Are we blessed or what???
Tom
John 14:26
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.
The "I" mentioned in the last part of that verse is Jesus. I want to remind us of a few things when we read this verse this morning. First, we need to remember that we only have the Holy Spirit if we have asked Jesus to be Lord and Savior of our lives. Second we must be in God's word to learn. Now that being said, when you are reading your Bible the Holy Spirit helps you learn and understand. For example, before I was a Christian I would read my Bible every once in a while and much of it seemed like jibberish. I didn't understand most of what I was reading. Then after I accepted Christ it was totally different. I believe it is because of the Holy Spirit teaching me and helping me understand the things of God.Think about that for a moment. God does so much to take care of us that we often don't even think about!!! Now we can move on to the rememberance. We kind of covered this yesterady but have you ever noticed in your life when you have a temptation to sin that small little voice will say "hey you don't need to do that!" and even some scripture may come to mind? That is what it is refering to when the verse above says the Holy Spirit will bring to us rememberance of what Jesus has said. That is so awesome that we have a God who cares for us that much. The rememberance is not always don't do it is also do this. Like telling us the show love to someone who is hurting or to encourage others or to have patience. I think you get the point!
So this morning we are reminded we have Spirit that teaches and reminds us of the things of God. Are we blessed or what???
Tom
Monday, January 25, 2010
Need help witnessing??? #20
Well we examined several truths of the Holy Spirit. Now we are going to move to some promises of the Holy Spirit that will prove to you that Holy Spirit is a part of your life or not! The key here is do you have the faith to use the Holy Spirit and His promises.
When reading these please take your time and think. Ask your self if each one is being used to it's full capacity in your life. If you realize it is not, spend some time in prayer asking God to help you in this area of your life!
The first promise we are going to look at is this: The Spirit helps us speak when we are in precarious situations and need to bear witness.
Mark 13:11
11 But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
Luke 12:12
12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
These verses are awesome. I can honestly say I have seen these work in my life. There have been several times when I have been witnessing to someone and the Holy Spirit has pulled out scripture and when I have been stuck not knowing what to say....BAM out of nowhere the words come up! Has that ever happened to you? The problem with some of us and I am guilty of this myself from time to time is we are too scared to even try to witness! Guess what??? God's Word is telling us we have nothing to fear because the Holy Spirit will help us! They only way you are going to find out though is to try it and see!
Go back and read the two verses again. Grab onto those promises. Try them out and see how good the Holy Spirit is! Also don't miss in the Mark verse that even if we ever face persecution for our faith do not be afraid for the Holy Spirit will Speak for us...now think on that for a while!!!
Have a great week!
Tom
When reading these please take your time and think. Ask your self if each one is being used to it's full capacity in your life. If you realize it is not, spend some time in prayer asking God to help you in this area of your life!
The first promise we are going to look at is this: The Spirit helps us speak when we are in precarious situations and need to bear witness.
Mark 13:11
11 But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
Luke 12:12
12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
These verses are awesome. I can honestly say I have seen these work in my life. There have been several times when I have been witnessing to someone and the Holy Spirit has pulled out scripture and when I have been stuck not knowing what to say....BAM out of nowhere the words come up! Has that ever happened to you? The problem with some of us and I am guilty of this myself from time to time is we are too scared to even try to witness! Guess what??? God's Word is telling us we have nothing to fear because the Holy Spirit will help us! They only way you are going to find out though is to try it and see!
Go back and read the two verses again. Grab onto those promises. Try them out and see how good the Holy Spirit is! Also don't miss in the Mark verse that even if we ever face persecution for our faith do not be afraid for the Holy Spirit will Speak for us...now think on that for a while!!!
Have a great week!
Tom
Friday, January 22, 2010
The Big O's #19
This morning's devotion should lead us to praise! The words I am going to teach you this morning you have neard before if you have been in church for a couple of years or more. They are what most would call theological words. But oh for the Christian and how they describe our Father, Son, and Holy Spirit it is awesome!!! I wish I had a stronger word to describe how great it is but that is the best I could come up with!!!!
Something to remember...I am talking about the Holy Spirit today but these words describe all three...the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
So here are those 3 "O"'s:
1. Omnipotent---The Spirit is all powerful! Nothing or no one is more powerful.
Zechariah 4:6
6 So he answered and said to me:
“ This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel:
‘ Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’
Says the LORD of hosts.
2. Omnipresent---The Spirit is present everywhere! We can't out run or hide from the Spirit. He is everywhere we are. That should be easy to understand since we learned He dwells in us!
Psalm 139:7-8
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
That is such a comforting verse to me!!!
Omniscient---The Spirit is all knowing! There is nothing that He does not know or understand! And He reveals to us everything we need to know! It is our choice to listen or not.
1 Corinthians 2:10
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
These are some of the attributes of the Spirit. In all reality we will never completely understand in this lifetime on earth the awesomness of the Spirit. But to me it is comforting just knowing how mighty He really is and He dwells in me as a counselor!!! Amen??
I think Isaiah agreed:
Isaiah 40:13
13 Who can fathom the Spirit of the LORD,
or instruct the LORD as his counselor?
There you have it the big "O"'s!
Praise the Lord today for He alone is worthy! Have a safe weekend and find a place to worship the King this weekend!
Tom
Something to remember...I am talking about the Holy Spirit today but these words describe all three...the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
So here are those 3 "O"'s:
1. Omnipotent---The Spirit is all powerful! Nothing or no one is more powerful.
Zechariah 4:6
6 So he answered and said to me:
“ This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel:
‘ Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’
Says the LORD of hosts.
2. Omnipresent---The Spirit is present everywhere! We can't out run or hide from the Spirit. He is everywhere we are. That should be easy to understand since we learned He dwells in us!
Psalm 139:7-8
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
That is such a comforting verse to me!!!
Omniscient---The Spirit is all knowing! There is nothing that He does not know or understand! And He reveals to us everything we need to know! It is our choice to listen or not.
1 Corinthians 2:10
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
These are some of the attributes of the Spirit. In all reality we will never completely understand in this lifetime on earth the awesomness of the Spirit. But to me it is comforting just knowing how mighty He really is and He dwells in me as a counselor!!! Amen??
I think Isaiah agreed:
Isaiah 40:13
13 Who can fathom the Spirit of the LORD,
or instruct the LORD as his counselor?
There you have it the big "O"'s!
Praise the Lord today for He alone is worthy! Have a safe weekend and find a place to worship the King this weekend!
Tom
Thursday, January 21, 2010
The Holy Spirit has own desires! #18
This should be another devotion to get you to do some thinking! Before you read the verse for today answer this question. Who is in control of your life....be honest!
1 Corinthians 12:11
11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills
This verse is refering to the gifts of the Spirit but what I want you to focus on this morning is the distribution process. Do we choose what gifts we get? No! If you look closely it is the Holy Spirit who distributes to each one of us as "He wills" or desires! Wow! Think about that for a moment. This is a big reminder to us of who exactly is in control. Just as we don't get to choose our gifts we also don't get to choose what God intends for us both each day and for our life! So think back to my original question...did your answer line up with God's Word? It is also the same for the church. God has a plan for the church. Are we accomplishing that plan through prayer and seeking His will or are we doing are own thing and asking Him to bless it?
So the scripture show us this morning that the Spirit has His own desires for us and the church. On that note we need to be praying like Christ "not as I will, but as You will".
God's word is so alive and relevant. He reminds me everyday of how awesome He really is...I hope these devotions do the same for you!
Tom
1 Corinthians 12:11
11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills
This verse is refering to the gifts of the Spirit but what I want you to focus on this morning is the distribution process. Do we choose what gifts we get? No! If you look closely it is the Holy Spirit who distributes to each one of us as "He wills" or desires! Wow! Think about that for a moment. This is a big reminder to us of who exactly is in control. Just as we don't get to choose our gifts we also don't get to choose what God intends for us both each day and for our life! So think back to my original question...did your answer line up with God's Word? It is also the same for the church. God has a plan for the church. Are we accomplishing that plan through prayer and seeking His will or are we doing are own thing and asking Him to bless it?
So the scripture show us this morning that the Spirit has His own desires for us and the church. On that note we need to be praying like Christ "not as I will, but as You will".
God's word is so alive and relevant. He reminds me everyday of how awesome He really is...I hope these devotions do the same for you!
Tom
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
The Holy Spirit has emotions! #17
Have you ever thought about what ie means when we grieve the Holy Spirit?
Isaiah 63:10
10 But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit;
So He turned Himself against them as an enemy,
And He fought against them.
Ephesians 4:30
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
grieve
–verb 1. to feel grief or great sorrow:
The Holy Spirit being a person has feelings and emotions. Have you ever stoped to think about that? So when and how is the Spirit grieved? Just like when we are when a relationship is breached. It can be in a our relationship with God or with man. Here are few examples of ways we grieve the Spirit....gossip, jealousy, hatred, disunified, and all other kinds of sin. We can also include disobiedience...when led by the Spirit to witness, care for others, or spend time in worship and we choose not to the Spirit is also grieved. I believe the Spirit is hurt more deeply than we really understand.
So let me ask you...how does this make you feel knowing this? Does it bother you? Have ever even give consideration what it means to gieve the Spirit?
If we truly ,as the church, cared about grieving the Spirit there would be fewer divorces, fewer fights, fewer splits in churches. Think about emotionally hurting the Holy Spirit today! It may change us in a mighty way. Maybe if we would care more about grieving the Holy Spirit than our own grief we would change and repair broken relationships in our own lives! Remember change starts with us before we can try to change others. If we arn't modeling the spiritual growth we want to see in others then don't expect them to change!
Take time to think on this because our Holy Spirit may be grieved today because of us!
Tom
Isaiah 63:10
10 But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit;
So He turned Himself against them as an enemy,
And He fought against them.
Ephesians 4:30
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
grieve
–verb 1. to feel grief or great sorrow:
The Holy Spirit being a person has feelings and emotions. Have you ever stoped to think about that? So when and how is the Spirit grieved? Just like when we are when a relationship is breached. It can be in a our relationship with God or with man. Here are few examples of ways we grieve the Spirit....gossip, jealousy, hatred, disunified, and all other kinds of sin. We can also include disobiedience...when led by the Spirit to witness, care for others, or spend time in worship and we choose not to the Spirit is also grieved. I believe the Spirit is hurt more deeply than we really understand.
So let me ask you...how does this make you feel knowing this? Does it bother you? Have ever even give consideration what it means to gieve the Spirit?
If we truly ,as the church, cared about grieving the Spirit there would be fewer divorces, fewer fights, fewer splits in churches. Think about emotionally hurting the Holy Spirit today! It may change us in a mighty way. Maybe if we would care more about grieving the Holy Spirit than our own grief we would change and repair broken relationships in our own lives! Remember change starts with us before we can try to change others. If we arn't modeling the spiritual growth we want to see in others then don't expect them to change!
Take time to think on this because our Holy Spirit may be grieved today because of us!
Tom
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
A prayng Holy Spirit!!!! #16
All I can say is WOW! As I think about the lesson for today is so overwhelming so let's get right to the verse!
Romans 8:27
27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
There are two incredible truths here to catch in this one verse...don't miss them. The first is this... the Spirit has a mind of His own! From what we have learned in previous lessons, (that the Holy Spirit is a person) learning that the Spirit has mind of His own should not be a suprise. The second is that the Spirit prays for us. Do you see in the verse above where is says "He makes intercession for the saints"? That is us (saints). The Bible refers to any one who has accepted Christ as a saint. Now I want you to think about what was has been said for a moment. The Spirit prays for us according to God's will. That is incredible. It also should be very comforting knowing that when we pray dumb things or when we don't know what to pray, the Spirit is stepping in and praying for us in God's will!!! WOW! Have you ever prayed for something dumb? I have many times. Here is one that pops in my mind....God please don't let it rain tomorrow because I want to go hunting. Now I don't know how the Spirit interceded for me at this point but I don't think God is really concerned with if I get to hunt or not in the realm of things that are important!!! That paticular day it did rain and I spent more time with the family so if I am reading the situation right that may have been what the Spirit interceded for me more time with family!
So... when we encounter situations where we do not know what to say or we may think we know what to say in our prayers but it may not be correct! I am taking comfort in having a Holy Spirit that does know what to say and is interceding on my behalf....Thank you Holy Spirit for I need all the help I can get!!! Amen?
Tom
Romans 8:27
27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
There are two incredible truths here to catch in this one verse...don't miss them. The first is this... the Spirit has a mind of His own! From what we have learned in previous lessons, (that the Holy Spirit is a person) learning that the Spirit has mind of His own should not be a suprise. The second is that the Spirit prays for us. Do you see in the verse above where is says "He makes intercession for the saints"? That is us (saints). The Bible refers to any one who has accepted Christ as a saint. Now I want you to think about what was has been said for a moment. The Spirit prays for us according to God's will. That is incredible. It also should be very comforting knowing that when we pray dumb things or when we don't know what to pray, the Spirit is stepping in and praying for us in God's will!!! WOW! Have you ever prayed for something dumb? I have many times. Here is one that pops in my mind....God please don't let it rain tomorrow because I want to go hunting. Now I don't know how the Spirit interceded for me at this point but I don't think God is really concerned with if I get to hunt or not in the realm of things that are important!!! That paticular day it did rain and I spent more time with the family so if I am reading the situation right that may have been what the Spirit interceded for me more time with family!
So... when we encounter situations where we do not know what to say or we may think we know what to say in our prayers but it may not be correct! I am taking comfort in having a Holy Spirit that does know what to say and is interceding on my behalf....Thank you Holy Spirit for I need all the help I can get!!! Amen?
Tom
Monday, January 18, 2010
Haiti
I woke up this morning with this on my mind so I am going to take a one day break from the Holy Spirit series.
Brothers and sisters this earthquake in Haiti continues to be a horrible situation. Many folks who were lucky enough to survive the quake and be pulled from the rubbell are now dying because they can't get enough medical supplies to treat the infections. There are not enough doctors, not enough places to have life saving surgeries, not enough food, not enough water, most are sleeping outside and I could go on and on. Please read the verse below.
James 5:16
16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
My friends I have a good idea most of you have already been praying for Haiti and I am asking you this morning to please keep praying for this situation. Frankly it is gonna take a mighty act of God to turn this situation around. I believe we have a God who can do it!!!
So please take time to pray for Haiti. For the peopel, for the aid workers, for provisions, for the name of Jesus to be glorified. I seen yesterday that many Haitians had gathered for worship even in the midst of this terrible event. What a testimony of their faith.
Have a good week my friends and pray!
Tom
Brothers and sisters this earthquake in Haiti continues to be a horrible situation. Many folks who were lucky enough to survive the quake and be pulled from the rubbell are now dying because they can't get enough medical supplies to treat the infections. There are not enough doctors, not enough places to have life saving surgeries, not enough food, not enough water, most are sleeping outside and I could go on and on. Please read the verse below.
James 5:16
16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
My friends I have a good idea most of you have already been praying for Haiti and I am asking you this morning to please keep praying for this situation. Frankly it is gonna take a mighty act of God to turn this situation around. I believe we have a God who can do it!!!
So please take time to pray for Haiti. For the peopel, for the aid workers, for provisions, for the name of Jesus to be glorified. I seen yesterday that many Haitians had gathered for worship even in the midst of this terrible event. What a testimony of their faith.
Have a good week my friends and pray!
Tom
Friday, January 15, 2010
The Holy Spirit is Holy and eternal. #15
Here is another truth for us to remember this morning. To prove the point of being eternal look at this verse:
John 14:16
16And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—
How long will the Holy Spirit (Counselor) be with us? " Forever"! Just as God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit has been from the beginning and They will be for eternity. Another verse that tels us of the eternal Holy Spirit is:
Hebrews 9:14
14How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
Did you catch that? "Through the eternal Spirit." I think the Bible has made it clear the Spirit is eternal! He is not something that comes and goes and you have to wonder if He will be here when we need Him. It is very clear He is here to stay!
Next we need to see the Spirit is holy. Obviously He is called the Holy Spirit for a reason. It is reinforced throughout the New Testament.
Romans 1:4
4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
Romans 5:5
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
It is clear from scripture the Spirit is Holy but here is some to think about today....Because the Spirit is Holy and dwells in us, our bodies are holy sactuaries from God's standpoint. Most of the time we just think about our bodies as the source of sin and it's fallenness but our body is the exact spot the Spirit of God has chosen to dwell! Isn't that awesome??? It also should make us want to use these bodies in the best possible manner to please God!
So I hope you can see clearly this morning that the Spirit is both Holy and eternal!
Have a great weekend!
Tom
John 14:16
16And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—
How long will the Holy Spirit (Counselor) be with us? " Forever"! Just as God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit has been from the beginning and They will be for eternity. Another verse that tels us of the eternal Holy Spirit is:
Hebrews 9:14
14How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
Did you catch that? "Through the eternal Spirit." I think the Bible has made it clear the Spirit is eternal! He is not something that comes and goes and you have to wonder if He will be here when we need Him. It is very clear He is here to stay!
Next we need to see the Spirit is holy. Obviously He is called the Holy Spirit for a reason. It is reinforced throughout the New Testament.
Romans 1:4
4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
Romans 5:5
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
It is clear from scripture the Spirit is Holy but here is some to think about today....Because the Spirit is Holy and dwells in us, our bodies are holy sactuaries from God's standpoint. Most of the time we just think about our bodies as the source of sin and it's fallenness but our body is the exact spot the Spirit of God has chosen to dwell! Isn't that awesome??? It also should make us want to use these bodies in the best possible manner to please God!
So I hope you can see clearly this morning that the Spirit is both Holy and eternal!
Have a great weekend!
Tom
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Holy Spirit is God! #14
We often have a tendency to think of the Holy Spirit as being a little less than God or Jesus. This is not so. The Spirit is God. All thoughout the New Testament the Holy Spirit and God are used interchangeably.
Look at this passage in Acts where Peter challenges Ananias:
Acts 5:3-4
3 But Peter said "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and kept back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."
This verse pretty well shows us how the Holy Spirit and God are the same doesn't it? I believe this truth is very inportant to hold onto as we sometimes negelct the leading of the Spirit which means we are neglecting God!
I know this is kinda short this morning but it is to the point and has much to think about here! I know it has reminded me of something I hadn't thought about in some time!!!
Have a blessed day!
Tom
Look at this passage in Acts where Peter challenges Ananias:
Acts 5:3-4
3 But Peter said "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and kept back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."
This verse pretty well shows us how the Holy Spirit and God are the same doesn't it? I believe this truth is very inportant to hold onto as we sometimes negelct the leading of the Spirit which means we are neglecting God!
I know this is kinda short this morning but it is to the point and has much to think about here! I know it has reminded me of something I hadn't thought about in some time!!!
Have a blessed day!
Tom
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Holy Spirit is a person. #13
The next couple of days we are gonna look at some truths about the Holy Spirit. Some of these like today are hard to comprehend but this doen't change the truth taught by the Bible. Many like to think of the Spirit as an it or as some kind of force that we can call on and control like Luke Skywalker in Star Wars. This is not so, the Holy Spirit is a person. This is something we must grasp in our walk as a Christian. Look at this verse:
John 14:17
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. We are to know Him(Spirit) as in we are to have a realtionship with Him. Not try to harness him so can control His power. The Holy Soirit is a person who has personal relationships with each believer if allowed to do so. We also see that the Holy Spirit has relationships with Jesus and the Father and we see the Spirit working togethere with bothe the Father and the Son throughout scripture.
Look at these two verses:
Matthew 28:19
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
2 Corinthians 13:14
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
While I must admit this is hard to understand humanly for one how can The Spirit be a person and yet dwell in me? All I can say is it is a God thing and the scriptures teach it and I believe it in faith! So build that realtionship with the Spirit....just like a human relationship, the more you communicate and work on the relationship the more you can relate to one another and grow and work into a beautiful love realtionship!
God bless...Tom
John 14:17
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. We are to know Him(Spirit) as in we are to have a realtionship with Him. Not try to harness him so can control His power. The Holy Soirit is a person who has personal relationships with each believer if allowed to do so. We also see that the Holy Spirit has relationships with Jesus and the Father and we see the Spirit working togethere with bothe the Father and the Son throughout scripture.
Look at these two verses:
Matthew 28:19
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
2 Corinthians 13:14
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
While I must admit this is hard to understand humanly for one how can The Spirit be a person and yet dwell in me? All I can say is it is a God thing and the scriptures teach it and I believe it in faith! So build that realtionship with the Spirit....just like a human relationship, the more you communicate and work on the relationship the more you can relate to one another and grow and work into a beautiful love realtionship!
God bless...Tom
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Radical Change #12
I want you to know when I write these devotions many times I have to stop and evaluate my own life as I learn more and more as I read books about the Bible and read the Bible itself. Today is another one of those times. I want us to go back to when the diciples were gathered at some one's house waiting as Jesus had told them to wait for something to come and they had no idea when!
Acts 2:1-4
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
It is very important to remember these are the same guys, who were scattering like a bunch of mice when you turn a light on, when Jesus was arrested and crucified! But now when the Holy Spirit comes and fills them a radical change takes place!!! Brothers and sisters when the Holy Spirit comes into us when we are saved the same radical change should take place and if it doesn't I think we had better check to see if we have truly accepted Christ! None of the disciples were ever the same...the book of Acts testifies to this....Stephen was killed for his faith. Peter became a courageous, bold, preacher of Christ. Paul formerly Saul went from killing Christians to becoming the most influential man besides Christ in the Bible...leading many to faith in Christ. The majority of the disciples lost their life because of their faith in Jesus....the Holy Spirit filled them and radically changed their lives!
So my friends have you been radically changed by the Holy Spirit? You can be! Ask Jesus into your life today. Hold on!!! Your life will never be the same!!!
Read Acts and see for yourself...when you have the Holy Spirit you can't be the same!
Tom
Acts 2:1-4
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
It is very important to remember these are the same guys, who were scattering like a bunch of mice when you turn a light on, when Jesus was arrested and crucified! But now when the Holy Spirit comes and fills them a radical change takes place!!! Brothers and sisters when the Holy Spirit comes into us when we are saved the same radical change should take place and if it doesn't I think we had better check to see if we have truly accepted Christ! None of the disciples were ever the same...the book of Acts testifies to this....Stephen was killed for his faith. Peter became a courageous, bold, preacher of Christ. Paul formerly Saul went from killing Christians to becoming the most influential man besides Christ in the Bible...leading many to faith in Christ. The majority of the disciples lost their life because of their faith in Jesus....the Holy Spirit filled them and radically changed their lives!
So my friends have you been radically changed by the Holy Spirit? You can be! Ask Jesus into your life today. Hold on!!! Your life will never be the same!!!
Read Acts and see for yourself...when you have the Holy Spirit you can't be the same!
Tom
Monday, January 11, 2010
Do not quench the Spirit #11
Have you read this command from God recently?
1 Thessalonians 5:19
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
It is very simple and to the point isn't it? As you start your day today are you concerned about breaking this command today? We should be!! It should be on the top of our priority list. If we really want God to lead out lives we must surrender to the leading of the Holy Spirit. If you are a follower of Christ the Holy Spirit wants to lead you today but if you have been quenching Him it may be very hard to hear Him. To get to the pace where you hear Him easily it takes practice. It is kinda like us men. We can get so occupied with a ball game on T.V. that we can tune others out around us and not hear somebody when they are talking to us. We in our Spiritual walks can get so engrossed in life that we can tune out the voice of the Holy Spirit. It takes effort to change this but it can be done!
One question I hear from some folks is how do I know if it is the Spirit or if it is my own will or if it is the devil trying to trick me. The best answer I can give to that is if it is the Spirit it will not contradict what scripture teaches. For example the Spirit will not tell you to give the driver that just cut you off the finger!!! The Spirit is more likely to tell you to pray for that driver because you do not know what is going on in his/her llife. The Spirit is here to help us to do the work God wants us to do both in our own lives and in the lives of others.
I pray that you will think about this thought today. We are in a culture now that says worry about yourself and who cares about the rest of the world. That is against what scripture teaches. From what I read it is God, others, and then self!!! So the importance of letting the Spirit lead should be way up on our list of priorities....is it on your list???
Have a great week and listen for that small, still voice...He wants to lead you!
Tom
1 Thessalonians 5:19
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
It is very simple and to the point isn't it? As you start your day today are you concerned about breaking this command today? We should be!! It should be on the top of our priority list. If we really want God to lead out lives we must surrender to the leading of the Holy Spirit. If you are a follower of Christ the Holy Spirit wants to lead you today but if you have been quenching Him it may be very hard to hear Him. To get to the pace where you hear Him easily it takes practice. It is kinda like us men. We can get so occupied with a ball game on T.V. that we can tune others out around us and not hear somebody when they are talking to us. We in our Spiritual walks can get so engrossed in life that we can tune out the voice of the Holy Spirit. It takes effort to change this but it can be done!
One question I hear from some folks is how do I know if it is the Spirit or if it is my own will or if it is the devil trying to trick me. The best answer I can give to that is if it is the Spirit it will not contradict what scripture teaches. For example the Spirit will not tell you to give the driver that just cut you off the finger!!! The Spirit is more likely to tell you to pray for that driver because you do not know what is going on in his/her llife. The Spirit is here to help us to do the work God wants us to do both in our own lives and in the lives of others.
I pray that you will think about this thought today. We are in a culture now that says worry about yourself and who cares about the rest of the world. That is against what scripture teaches. From what I read it is God, others, and then self!!! So the importance of letting the Spirit lead should be way up on our list of priorities....is it on your list???
Have a great week and listen for that small, still voice...He wants to lead you!
Tom
Friday, January 8, 2010
Do we really want to know God's will? #10
I know that right out of the box most of us would say "of course I want to know". You may even be thinking that is kind of a dumb question. But here is what we need to stop and think about....If God tells you to do something are you willing to do it? Again before you jump ahead of your self you better stop and think what God may ask!!!! You see many times in scripture God asked folks to do things way outside their comfort zone. Think Abraham here....basically He asked Abraham to pack up leave his home and go where God would lead....Abraham had no idea where God was taking him but he went. Are you willing to do that? Another example is the disciples...these guys left family and jobs to follow Jesus and most lost their lives serving Jesus. Are you willing to do that? Do you see why I say be careful before you jump in and say "yeah I want to know God's will and whatever it is I will do it!" Because when it gets right down to it we may really not want to know because it will test our faith and our obiedience to the Holy Spirits leading. It may be something like teaching Sunday school, or knocking on your neighbors door and sharing Jesus or many other things that we are scared to do and have to have faith that God will see us through!!!
Philippians 2:13
13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Here is what we need to remember this morning. Once we give our lives to Christ, we are Gods! He wants to work through us and to do His will....why? For His pleasure. My friends the Christian life is not easy. Working for God because of your love for Him is very challenging to say the least. I dare say if life is a walk in the park for you spritually then you are probably not doing God's will in your life because he warns over and over in His Word that we are in a spiritual battle and we will face persecution.
So let me ask you again...do you really want to know God's will? I hope so because you will never be totally satisfied with your walk with God until you are doing His will in your life! It is an awesome adventure but it is no walk in the park either!
Have a great weekend!
Tom
Philippians 2:13
13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Here is what we need to remember this morning. Once we give our lives to Christ, we are Gods! He wants to work through us and to do His will....why? For His pleasure. My friends the Christian life is not easy. Working for God because of your love for Him is very challenging to say the least. I dare say if life is a walk in the park for you spritually then you are probably not doing God's will in your life because he warns over and over in His Word that we are in a spiritual battle and we will face persecution.
So let me ask you again...do you really want to know God's will? I hope so because you will never be totally satisfied with your walk with God until you are doing His will in your life! It is an awesome adventure but it is no walk in the park either!
Have a great weekend!
Tom
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Do you get mad? #9
This is something to take a little time to think about this morning. When praying be very careful to ask for things God has promised in His Word through the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we can get caught up in praying for things we want to be true or what people have taught us instead of what the scriptures say. For example some get caught up in praying for what you can get if you are a "good Christian" like a big house, healthy children, wealth, an awesome job, a perfect spouse, ect. God's word never promises these things. Matter of fact it tells us we will face persecution when following Christ. We need to put all of our faith in God not in gifts no matter how good they may be! So many believers lose faith or get mad if their prayers are not answered as requested. Ask yourself this morning is this you? Look at this verse:
James 4:3
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
That pretty well sums up what I have been saying huh? God is maily concerned with two things....Us loving Him and Us loving others. When we pray with these two things in mind our prayers will be successful. So what are some things we should be asking? Salvation for the lost, more time in the Word, love for the unloveable, sharing what God has blessed us with, blodness for spreading the gospel, teaching the Word to our children, love and repecting our parents, a love for the church, and the list goes on and on.
You see prayer isn't really about us it is about God and others. The Holy Spirit will guide us in our prayers if we allow Him too.
So how is you prayer life? Are you asking for the things you want for personal gain or are you asking the way God has taught through the scriptures? For things that will make a difference in the Kingdom? Just maybe the reason many of our prayers are not being answered is because we are asking amiss! Evaluate your prayer life and see where you are at!
Stay warm!
Tom
James 4:3
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
That pretty well sums up what I have been saying huh? God is maily concerned with two things....Us loving Him and Us loving others. When we pray with these two things in mind our prayers will be successful. So what are some things we should be asking? Salvation for the lost, more time in the Word, love for the unloveable, sharing what God has blessed us with, blodness for spreading the gospel, teaching the Word to our children, love and repecting our parents, a love for the church, and the list goes on and on.
You see prayer isn't really about us it is about God and others. The Holy Spirit will guide us in our prayers if we allow Him too.
So how is you prayer life? Are you asking for the things you want for personal gain or are you asking the way God has taught through the scriptures? For things that will make a difference in the Kingdom? Just maybe the reason many of our prayers are not being answered is because we are asking amiss! Evaluate your prayer life and see where you are at!
Stay warm!
Tom
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Does God give when asked? #8
We are afraid to work on behalf of God sometimes. Do you agree? How many times have you had the opportunity to witness and passed it up? The main reason being you didn't know how the person would react so you didn't even try? I have been there many times. We are failing God when we do this because we have all that we need through the Holy Spirit to be bold and do as we are led too!
Look at these words from Jesus:
Luke 11:13
13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
What I believe this is talking about here is the power of the Spirit. As we have seen earlier we receive the Holy Sprit when we are saved....immediately. But there are times when we need certain power from the Holy Spirit and that is when we ask and we shall receive. Like for blodness to witness or words to say on behalf of Jesus. When we are doing His will God will provide!!! I have personally seen this in my own life and if you have been a believer very long and are faithful in working for our Lord you have too! One valuable thing you need though is faith! Faith that God will provide. If one doesn't have that faith He will never step out of his comfort zone and allow the Holy Spirit to work. I can not tell you how many times I have seen this. Until you try it for your self you probably won't believe it. I have talked to people before and God will bring up scripture to my mind while talking to them I havent read in a long time. That is the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit gave me the boldness to open my mouth but then I have to have the faith to do it!!
Oh church we ahve so much unleashed power through the Holy Spirit but we are not using it! Do you have the faith to use it? God will give to His children when asked to do His will but we have to have that child like faith!!!
Test this out today and see what happens...be ready....it may just change your life!
God bless...Tom
Look at these words from Jesus:
Luke 11:13
13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
What I believe this is talking about here is the power of the Spirit. As we have seen earlier we receive the Holy Sprit when we are saved....immediately. But there are times when we need certain power from the Holy Spirit and that is when we ask and we shall receive. Like for blodness to witness or words to say on behalf of Jesus. When we are doing His will God will provide!!! I have personally seen this in my own life and if you have been a believer very long and are faithful in working for our Lord you have too! One valuable thing you need though is faith! Faith that God will provide. If one doesn't have that faith He will never step out of his comfort zone and allow the Holy Spirit to work. I can not tell you how many times I have seen this. Until you try it for your self you probably won't believe it. I have talked to people before and God will bring up scripture to my mind while talking to them I havent read in a long time. That is the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit gave me the boldness to open my mouth but then I have to have the faith to do it!!
Oh church we ahve so much unleashed power through the Holy Spirit but we are not using it! Do you have the faith to use it? God will give to His children when asked to do His will but we have to have that child like faith!!!
Test this out today and see what happens...be ready....it may just change your life!
God bless...Tom
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Just like Jesus! #7
I have some encouraging words for you this morning if you are a follower of Jesus! When Jesus was preparing to leave this earth and go back to heaven He told His diciples three things. #1...First He told them that this seperation from Him would only be temporary and that He was going to prepare a place for them:
John 14:2-3
2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
Isn't that AWESOME! Next He said #2: He was going to be with the Father and that He would still be able to hear their prayers:
John 14:12-14
12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
Thank you Jesus for listening and answering! Then #3 He tells us He will send a helper:
John 14:16
16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you ANOTHER Helper, that He may abide with you forever—
In the greek the word another used here means" just like the first" meaning our helper is just like Jesus!!! Take time to sit down and think about that for a little while! As we are going through our life after we have asked Jesus into our hearts and the Holy Spirit comes and lives in us....and it is the same as having Christ with us every second of every day. So we have no excuse for sin as that little calm voice warns us walk away from that, show love to that person, keep that temper under control, ect!
As you go through this day think about the way God has provided for us even to the extent of sending us a Helper who is just like Jesus! What a Mighty God we serve!
Tom
John 14:2-3
2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
Isn't that AWESOME! Next He said #2: He was going to be with the Father and that He would still be able to hear their prayers:
John 14:12-14
12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
Thank you Jesus for listening and answering! Then #3 He tells us He will send a helper:
John 14:16
16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you ANOTHER Helper, that He may abide with you forever—
In the greek the word another used here means" just like the first" meaning our helper is just like Jesus!!! Take time to sit down and think about that for a little while! As we are going through our life after we have asked Jesus into our hearts and the Holy Spirit comes and lives in us....and it is the same as having Christ with us every second of every day. So we have no excuse for sin as that little calm voice warns us walk away from that, show love to that person, keep that temper under control, ect!
As you go through this day think about the way God has provided for us even to the extent of sending us a Helper who is just like Jesus! What a Mighty God we serve!
Tom
Monday, January 4, 2010
Can anyone tell the difference? #6
I hope everyone had a great Christmas and is off to a great 2010! Let's jump right in to the devotion for today.
Here is the question to ponder for today. If I did not know you were a Christian and I seen you out in public could I tell after a period of time that you were different from the world? Wow when I think about that I think sometimes yes and sometimes no for myself. That is not the right answer by the way it should be a firm yes! Look at this verse:
Romans 8:9
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
According to this verse if we don't have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us then we are not in Christ. That brings me back to the fruits of the Spirit...remember those? Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. So if we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us we should be demonstrating these characteristics in our life. Wow if that don't make one stop and think I am not sure what will!!!
Another good verse just to show a little further that our bodies are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit is :
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
We are not our own...Jesus bought us on the cross...and I am so thankful He did!
So let's wrap it up....back to the original question....can anyone tell you are different than the world? IF not one had better do some soul searching. From what I read in the Bible if we can't tell a difference some changes need to be made immediately!!!!
Have a great week everyone!
Tom
Here is the question to ponder for today. If I did not know you were a Christian and I seen you out in public could I tell after a period of time that you were different from the world? Wow when I think about that I think sometimes yes and sometimes no for myself. That is not the right answer by the way it should be a firm yes! Look at this verse:
Romans 8:9
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
According to this verse if we don't have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us then we are not in Christ. That brings me back to the fruits of the Spirit...remember those? Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. So if we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us we should be demonstrating these characteristics in our life. Wow if that don't make one stop and think I am not sure what will!!!
Another good verse just to show a little further that our bodies are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit is :
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
We are not our own...Jesus bought us on the cross...and I am so thankful He did!
So let's wrap it up....back to the original question....can anyone tell you are different than the world? IF not one had better do some soul searching. From what I read in the Bible if we can't tell a difference some changes need to be made immediately!!!!
Have a great week everyone!
Tom
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