Rejecting the Holy Spirit? A call to holiness . . .

 

Spirit Week IV: A Call to Holiness 

Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit. (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians%204&version=NKJV)

There is one thing that will keep us from God . . . forever. That is simply rejecting Him. By Him, we mean all of Him . . . Father, Son and Holy Spirit! God is not divided, but One, since Genesis 1! We cannot pick and choose Whom we believe God is. As true believers, His Spirit resides within us, convicts us, consoles us, directs us and disciplines us . One cannot reject the basic doctrines of God and believe they are a child of God.

We all must work at listening to the Holy Spirit and not the world . . . having a relationship with Him and abiding in Him, even as He disciplines us, molds us and prunes us away from unclean living to a life of God-honoring holiness. 

We cannot do it, but He can! He is working everything out for our good! (Romans 8:28) Even as we have been secluded and kept away from people, we can still draw near to His Spirit! (James 4:8)

 

 

Walking "in" (with) the Spirit . . . .

 Spirit Week: Holy Spirit Part III

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:16-26) 

I got a HUGE question: If we say we are saved and agree that the Holy Spirit lives within us, why do we choose the wrong thing so many times?  I know we all struggle. Nearly every night we all can look back upon our day and realize how many times we have failed Christ and grieved the Holy Spirit. We honestly repent and seek forgiveness . . . the life of a Christ follower!

There is a key word in Paul's words above . . . practice. Yes, we are talking about practice! However, unlike what the famous NBA player was referring to years ago (https://youtu.be/eGDBR2L5kzI), this practice leads to eternal life! It refers to a habit, a way of life!

As we grow in faith, the influence of the Holy Spirit should be growing within us. We should be sinning less and less and walking in the Spirit more and more! We should be acknowledging our sin and denying our flesh more than giving in to it. Let's make a habit of walking in the Spirit!

 

 

 

 

 

The Holy Spirit is alive and working

Spirit Week II. . .

How does the Holy Spirit work? What does He do? I could not say it better. The Holy Spirit is alive and working in every believer! Read on . . .

The Holy Spirit today plays a major role in the application of salvation to the individual. It is the Spirit who brings conviction to the unbeliever and causes him to see the truth of the gospel in a clear light.Those who respond to this conviction and place their faith in Jesus Christ receive eternal life and a new nature. The Holy Spirit unites the believer with Christ and places him in the body of Christ, the church. He also unites the believer with Christ in His death, enabling him to live victoriously over sin.The Holy Spirit controls the believer who yields to God and submits himself to God's Word. When these conditions are met, the believer lives in the power of the Spirit and produces the fruit of the Spirit.The Holy Spirit indwells the believer permanently.While the child of God may sin and grieve the Spirit, the Spirit will never leave the true believer. Absence of the Holy Spirit is the mark of the unsaved. The Holy Spirit seals the believer. This ministry guarantees the security of the believer "until the day of redemption." (https://www.moodybible.org/beliefs/positional-statements/holy-spirit/)

So you say you want to read these words from God? OK . . .

And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. (John 16:8-11)

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? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) 

 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. (Romans 8:9)

 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)

Wow! To think we ignore Him so often, as if He is not right here with us! Look at all He does and calls us to do in partnership with Him. God is right here with us . . .living and working right in us! Will we just allow Him the freedom to work in and through us?

The HIStory of the Holy Spirit

 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1–2)

It is Spirit Week at school so I am led to discuss THE SPIRIT . . . so often forgotten in our studies, our prayers, and our daily activities. Yet He is One Who is present in every believer! How can we not know? How can we forget?

The Hebrew word for Spirit, RUACH is often translated as wind or breath in the Old Testament. The same word is found in Psalm 33 where we again catch a glimpse of the Spirit’s work in creation: 

“By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath [Spirit] of His mouth.” (Psalm 33:6)

RUACH ELOHIM, in Hebrew, represents the Spirit of God. In Matthew, we see the picture of the Trinity; the Spirit of God present at Jesus' baptism along with the voice of God the Father:

When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17)

The Spirit was promised the Jesus' followers before He went to the cross (John 14:15-17) and first given in in the Book of Acts: 

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1-4) 

So for us, we too will receive this power, when we repent and ask the Lord to save us from our sin. Just as the Spirit indwelled the disciples we too possess that power to do His work! 

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

 

Don't worry about everyone else . . .Follow Jesus!

Jesus spoke to him a third time. He asked, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt bad because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He answered, “Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. What I’m about to tell you is true. When you were younger, you dressed yourself. You went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands. Someone else will dress you. Someone else will lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to point out how Peter would die. His death would bring glory to God. Then Jesus said to him, “Follow me!” Peter turned around. He saw that the disciple Jesus loved was following them. He was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper. He had said, “Lord, who is going to hand you over to your enemies?” When Peter saw that disciple, he asked, “Lord, what will happen to him?” Jesus answered, “Suppose I want him to remain alive until I return. What does that matter to you? You must follow me.” (John 21:-17-22)

I needed this reminder! Can I be real for a minute? 

Often, I am burdened by what others are doing or what I could be doing.  I know the gifts I have and at times I compare myself to others . . . and in all honesty, believe I could be doing a better job! Have you ever felt that way?

I could coach better that that guy. I was better than that when I played . . . how did he get to be a pro?  Why won't they pick me for that position? I am more qualified and experienced. What would it be like to be him? How in the world did he or she get that job?

Then, like Peter, the Lord reminds me that what He has for me is for me! (Proverbs 16:9) While I may think another position, another career, or even another life would be so much better for me here and now, God knows much better what is best for me! I must follow Him and His plan, not someone else's.

Slowly but surely, I am learning this. It's about time, don't you think? I guess by the time He calls me home I will fully understand! 

That very same Spirit!

 

Now we can do everything the law requires. Our sinful nature no longer controls the way we live. The Holy Spirit now controls the way we live. 

Don't live under the control of your sinful nature. If you do, you will think about what your sinful nature wants. Live under the control of the Holy Spirit. If you do, you will think about what the Spirit wants.

 The way a sinful person thinks leads to death. But the mind controlled by the Spirit brings life and peace.

 The sinful mind is at war with God. It does not obey God's law. It can't.

 Those who are controlled by their sinful nature can't please God.

 But your sinful nature does not control you. The Holy Spirit controls you. The Spirit of God lives in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Christ. 

 Christ lives in you. So your body is dead because of sin. But your spirit is alive because you have been made right with God.

 The Spirit of the One who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you. So the God who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your bodies, which are going to die. He will do this by the power of his Spirit, who lives in you. 

 Brothers and sisters, we have a duty. Our duty is not to live under the control of our sinful nature. (Romans 8:4-12)

Think about it . . .the very same Spirit of God that was working in and through Christ . . . the same Spirit Jesus committed back to God on the Cross . . . . the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead . . . . that very same Spirit lives in you and me . . . . the Christ follower

The power that raised Jesus from the grave lives inside of every believer! It grieves me daily to ask this question of myself and others: Why do we keep on grieving that Spirit? (Ephesians 4:30) Jesus said if we love Him we would keep His commandments, yet I still sin! I do love Jesus too! It is a battle indeed that only the Spirit can win! 

Yet we fight from victory . . .the Risen Savior! He promised us His Spirit and He lives within us. I fight it . . .you fight it . . . Paul fought it as well (Romans 7). It is a fight we can and will win . . . There is victory in Jesus! 

That very same Spirit fights with us and for us!

Believe it or not?

Do you believe?

Strenuous efforts, of course, have been made to “prove” that the Resurrection never happened. There is good reason for these efforts. If these efforts fail to show that the Resurrection did not happen, we are left with the fact that it did. The Resurrection is the key to the Beginning and the End of the meaning of the universe. The universe is shot through with intelligence. It exists so that reasonable beings other than God could exist. These rational beings, are, each, offered eternal life, which is what the Resurrection is about. It grounds, as it were, the offer. The universe, essentially, is filled with choices for and against God’s creative intention. Nothing more, nothing less. (https://www.thecatholicthing.org/2016/03/29/the-tuesday-after-easter/)

Your salvation is going to be completed. It is ready to be shown to you in the last days. Because you know all this, you have great joy. You have joy even though you may have had to suffer for a little while. You may have had to suffer sadness in all kinds of trouble. Your troubles have come in order to prove that your faith is real. Your faith is worth more than gold. That’s because gold can pass away even when fire has made it pure. Your faith is meant to bring praise, honor and glory to God. This will happen when Jesus Christ returns. Even though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not see him now, you believe in him. You are filled with a glorious joy that can’t be put into words. You are receiving the salvation of your souls. This salvation is the final result of your faith. (1 Peter 1:5-9)

 Peter wrote to those who believed. Do you believe? Live it out!!!

Doubt is normal . . . but be reassured!

 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand…. I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am.”  ( John 13:7,19)

After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken. (John 2:22)

Doubt is normal . . . but be reassured! Jesus attempted to explain what would happen to Him concerning His death, burial and resurrection. Yet even for those walking closely with for over three years, it was hard to grasp! Except for Judas however, we now know that His closest followers and many others would go to their very own death professing and proclaiming Christ as Lord and Savior! All the apostles but John would experience martyrdom because of their faith.

Yes, doubt is normal . . . but be reassured! Our walk by faith is not an easy walk. It is a progressive walk met with challenges, celebrations, trips, victories, falls, and periods of doubt and growth spurts. It is why Jesus sent His Spirit to comfort us, console us, equip us and correct us. (John 14:16-17) It is also why we fellowship, or gather with like believers in worship, in prayer, in conversation and in partnership. 

We cannot continue this walk alone. With the Spirit's help and guidance, and like believers to encourage and disciple us, we can and will grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior. (2 Peter 3:18) 

Yes, doubt is normal . . . but be reassured! 

He lives!!!

Now what?

The illegal trial had been held. The crucifixion had been completed. The Body of Jesus had been buried. Yet on SONday morning . . . the Tomb was found empty! Jesus left word to meet Him in Galilee. (Matthew 28:10) So, now what?

Jesus gave His disciples clear instructions then and He still gives the today . . . to you and me: 

Then Jesus came to them. He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. So you must go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And you can be sure that I am always with you, to the very end.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Every Gospel ends with a version of this direct message. Acts 1:8 gives us the very same directive: 

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. Then you will tell people about me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria. And you will even tell other people about me from one end of the earth to the other.” (Acts 1:8)

Holy Thursday New Testament (Passover) meal and perhaps foot washings . . . Good Friday communion services . . . Holy Saturday waiting . . . Resurrection Day celebrations and alleluias . . . now what?  

We go . .we tell . . .we teach . . .we LIVE . . .not in fear but in victory!

Be on Guard!

 Be on guard!

As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. (Matthew 27:57-66)

Joseph had placed Jesus in his tomb. The two women sat by and watched. Yet the guards were uneasy. They remembered what Jesus had said, that He would rise again! Imagine that . . . the guards were pondering Jesus' words!  They wanted to secure the tomb so no one could take the Body and say Jesus had resurrected. 

Later, the women would go and attempt to prepare a dead Jesus for proper burial. They and Peter would find an empty tomb . . . a Risen Jesus! 

We too must be on guard . . . but not at tomb or a cross. We must be on guard for the Coming Christ! He will return and bring His own home one day.

“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:34-36)

As we live, we are to be living in anticipation of the Coming Christ. We are to be on guard, that our actions are pleasing to Him and allowing others to see Jesus in us. We cannot put off our work. We live . . . we labor . . . we love . . . all to His glory. We simply do not sit at the foot of an empty cross or wait at an empty tomb. No . . . we now bow before the Throne of a Risen King and  pledge our loyalty to Him and Him alone! 

Be on guard!!!!

 

 

Foretold and Accomplished . . . What's left?

Well, another Good Friday! What is GOOD about a brutal crucifixion some two-thousand years ago, you might ask? Glad you asked! It was in the makings since man first sinned (Genesis 3:15). God has given man so many opportunities  to make it right with Him, but He decided to do it perfectly and for ever . . . by becoming our perfect and eternal sacrifice! No one is good but God (Mark 10:18) and no one could do this but God! You decide!

The sacrifice foretold (second century B.C.):

He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.(Isaiah 53: 3-9)

The sacrifice accomplished (A.D. 30-33):

But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him. From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice,

“Eli, Eli, lemasabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'                                                                                                                                                              When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.  At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs.  Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons. As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.  Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,  and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.  Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb. (Matthew 27: 26-61)

What's left? You decide! Do you believe it? (Romans 5:8 . . . 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 . . . Romans 10:9-10)