Category Archives: Holy Spirit

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

September 19, 2014

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, Holy Spirit, Love & Works, Salvation: A New You

BUSTED!

What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? [James 2:14 (NLT)]

While enjoying lunch with a group of church women, the person across from me asked if I could deliver “Meals on Wheels” the following week. Knowing how busy my life has been of late, I reluctantly looked at my calendar, secretly hoping every day was booked between 11 and 2. Monday through Thursday were, but Friday was open. I wanted to say, “I’m sorry, but it just won’t work!” I was sorely tempted to do so until the Holy Spirit pointed out the irony of the situation. You see, I’d just finished writing yesterday’s message about sharing God’s love and compassion and there I was: unwilling to share even a few hours. Rather hypocritical, to say the least! Yes, I was busy, but if I had time for a “Boot Camp” class that Friday morning, I could certainly find time to deliver some meals in the afternoon. Granted, I had lots to do but so did the “Meals on Wheels” chairperson. She has a family with youngsters still at home yet, for twenty years, she’s spent countless hours lining up drivers and delivering food to shut-ins! We’re all busy, but God is never too busy when we call on Him. After that rebuke from the Holy Spirit, I cheerfully said I’d do it.

We “Christians” can be the worst hypocrites of all. We may say all of the right things, but often don’t live them. We preach forgiveness, but hold grudges. We speak of generosity, but only give our leftovers to God and those in need. We say we love, but hold prejudices. We say “judge not” but act as judge and jury when it comes to the behavior of others. We say we pray, but frequently don’t; we say we trust God, but let fear and despair lead us; and we say we read the Bible, but rarely do. Being a Christian, however, is not just talking like Christ; it is being like Him!

Father, forgive us when it’s only our words that are “Christian” and not our behavior. Fill us with your Holy Spirit, point out the errors of our ways, and transform our lives so that we carry the message of Christ in all we say and do.

Why is it that a community that talks so much about supernatural transformation shows so little of that transformation? We will have to be men and women who embody the message that we are preaching, whose lives are faithful to the claims we are making. [Ravi Zacharias]

If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. [1 John 2:4-6 (NLT)]

 

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

August 26, 2014

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, Fruit of the Spirit, Holy Spirit, Spiritual Gifts

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

8-26-14 fruitofspiritWEBBut what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard – things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. [Galatians 5:22-23 (MSG)]

I love to picture the fruit tree of a Christian’s life. Instead of apples or oranges, it is laden with fruit like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Let’s grab our bushel baskets and harvest this wonderful fruit of the Holy Spirit!

The Fruit of the Spirit Song (Fill Me Up)
[by Rick Muchow & Rick Warren]

God’s apple is love, His orange is patience,
Banana is self-control, His lemon is peace,
His kindness a peach, And my life is the bowl.

So, fill me up (with your Spirit, it’s delicious),
Fill me up (let me hear it, it’s nutritious),
Fill me all the way up, With the fruit of Your Spirit!

 

 

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

August 15, 2014

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, Family, Friends & Fellowship, Holy Spirit, Love & Works

A THORN IN THE FLESH

cactus (prickly pear) - NBG03270WEBSo to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. [2 Corinthians 12:7 (NLT)]

Paul wrote that he had a thorn in his flesh; some Bible scholars believe it was a physical ailment and others say it was a person. I don’t know which it was for Paul, but I do know we all have people in our lives who sorely test our tolerance and can even cause a rise in blood pressure. These are the people who, sometimes through no fault of their own, truly challenge our capacity to act as Jesus would behave. They try our patience, cause us to question our ability to love our neighbor, and test our capability to curb anger and tame our tongue. They challenge our generosity and exasperate, irritate, frustrate and annoy us. These people are what a friend calls our “Jesus meters.” Our behavior toward them is a clear indication of how much like Jesus we’ve become. Like Paul’s thorn, they keep us from becoming proud and self-righteous.

While it helps to remember that even the prickly pear cactus, with all its thorns, bears a beautiful flower and delicious fruit, the best solution is to tap into the power of the Holy Spirit and let Him guide us whenever we have a thorn in our flesh.

Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. [Ephesians 4:23-24 (NLT)]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

August 14, 2014

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, Holy Spirit

A GENTLE REMINDER

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: Throughout the generations to come you must make tassels for the hems of your clothing and attach them with a blue cord. When you see the tassels, you will remember and obey all the commands of the Lord instead of following your own desires and defiling yourselves, as you are prone to do. The tassels will help you remember that you must obey all my commands and be holy to your God. I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt that I might be your God. I am the Lord your God!” [Numbers 15:37-41 (NLT)]

Unlike the Israelites, we don’t wear tassels on the hems of our coats  to help us remember our faith, but perhaps we should. I often wear a small cross around my neck. When I put it on, I try not to think of it as a piece of jewelry but rather as a visible reminder of who I am and how I should behave. It reminds me to let the Holy Spirit not the wholly me run my life. We shouldn’t need a cross on a chain or tassels on our coats, however, to remind us; it should be our nature. This morning, let’s put on the Holy Spirit and let his presence continually remind us to live His way, not ours.

Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. [Romans 13:14a (NLT)]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

July 28, 2014

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, Fruit of the Spirit, Holy Spirit, Love & Works, Spiritual Gifts

RECIPE FOR A FRUITFUL LIFE

Because you have these blessings, do all you can to add to your life these things: to your faith add goodness; to your goodness add knowledge; to your knowledge add self-control; to your self-control add patience; to your patience add devotion to God; to your devotion add kindness toward your brothers and sisters in Christ; and to this kindness add love. [2 Peter 1:5-7 (ERV)]

Take a large bowl and gently stir together the above ingredients, adding one element at a time. Mix well. Taste and evaluate. Are you a little short of any component? Some chefs need a dash more self-control while others need to add more kindness. For best results, add extra love. Place in an empty life and sprinkle with plenty of prayer. Be sure to exercise perseverance during the cooking process and feel free to call on the Holy Spirit for help. When in doubt, refer to the Holy Bible for more detailed directions.

If all these things are in you and growing, you will never fail to be useful to God. You will produce the kind of fruit that should come from your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. [2 Peter 1:8 (ERV)]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

July 12, 2014

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, Holy Spirit, Temptation & Sin

PUT ON HIS ARMOR

2014-6-26armor webFinally, receive your power from the Lord and from his mighty strength. Put on all the armor that God supplies. In this way you can take a stand against the devil’s strategies. This is not a wrestling match against a human opponent. We are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that control evil in the heavenly world. For this reason, take up all the armor that God supplies. Then you will be able to take a stand during these evil days. [Ephesians 6:10-13a (GW)]

When you dress this morning, give some thought to heeding Paul’s advice about putting on God’s armor before setting out to face the world and its many challenges. Picture yourself decked out in a suit of armor and chain mail, a shield in one hand and a sword at your side, ready to face the day and prepared to fight evil. Know that you are armed with truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and God’s word.

So then, take your stand! Fasten truth around your waist like a belt. Put on God’s approval as your breastplate. Put on your shoes so that you are ready to spread the Good News that gives peace. In addition to all these, take the Christian faith as your shield. With it you can put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Also take salvation as your helmet and the word of God as the sword that the Spirit supplies. [Ephesians 6:14-17 (GW)]