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
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
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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