2018-12-04
Romans 8:26 NLT
The twin pillars of a believer’s daily life should be prayer and Scripture. And while praying may be simple, it’s not always easy. We lack motivation, we’re easily distracted, and not always sure what we should be praying for. So recognizing our human inadequacies, God “helps” us through His indwelling Holy Spirit: “The Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father…knows…what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us…in harmony with God’s own will” (vv. 26-27 NLT). That means no matter how you feel when you pray, the Holy Spirit joins in prayer with you, and for you, transforming your feeblest prayers into powerful appeals to the Father. And when it comes to the second pillar, namely the Word of God, the Holy Spirit’s role is equally dynamic. Jesus said, “When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all the truth…whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will [show] you things to come” (John 16:13). Notice, the Holy Spirit does three things: (1) He guides you as you study the Word of God and seek to understand it. (2) He takes what Jesus wants you to know and reveals it to you. (3) He opens your understanding about things that are still to come. No question, good reference books, Scripture-based resources, and skilled Bible teachers can be helpful, but they’re no substitute when it comes to hearing from the Holy Spirit for yourself and listening carefully to what He wants to tell you.
Soul food: Gen 30:25-31:55; John 15:18-27; Ps 65; Prov 31:25-27
2018-12-03
John 14:16 NIV
There are many benefits to receiving the Holy Spirit. In the New Testament Jesus told His disciples, “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.” The Greek source for the word “Comforter” is Paracletos, which means one who comes alongside you to strengthen, encourage, and advise you. Think about it. When you feel discouraged, confused, and powerless you have access to a wise, compassionate, competent helper who will show up to support you and supply you with what you need. So instead of struggling to go it alone, learn to lean on Him, trust His power, and ask Him to do His mighty work in you. Here’s another Holy Spirit blessing. Paul tells us, “The Holy Spirit…will tell you where to go and what to do…then you won’t always be doing the…things your evil nature wants you to” (Galatians 5:16 TLB). The battle of the Spirit versus the flesh is constant. And however well-intended, our fleshly nature can never be subdued by human thinking; that just produces defeat and discouragement. And another advantage of the indwelling Spirit is that you qualify for a Spirit-directed lifestyle. The Bible says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God…are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14). Praying and taking your best guess isn’t God’s way. The Holy Spirit’s guidance – not your guesswork – should direct your lifestyle.
Soul food: Gen 28:1-30:24; John 15:5-17; Ps 14;
Prov 31:22-24
2018-12-02
John 16:7 NKJV
Even as the disciples’ hearts ached about Jesus’ departure, He assured them it was to their “advantage” because it would open a new era of power and authority for them (See John 14:12). Being “under new management” wasn’t the end, but a continuation of Christ’s ministry as the Holy Spirit took the baton from the Son’s hand and placed it in theirs. The Son would leave, but the Spirit would “abide with [them] for ever” (John 14:16). This was their “advantage.” The Spirit would enter their human bodies and live permanently in them! This is no tentative, vague connection. It’s God’s Spirit choosing us as His permanent dwelling place. Have you ever considered the “advantage” this gives you? For example, you might awake tomorrow feeling stressed, weary, and irritated, and these feelings could easily dictate your day. But because the Spirit lives in you, these things don’t have to control you. Paul writes, “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you?” (1 Corinthians 6:19 NKJV). Once you accept that promise by faith, you become God’s temple. You can be at work, driving the kids to school, walking the dog, waiting for biopsy results, or attending the funeral of your best friend, and as you go about your everyday life God’s Spirit is living in you. Can you see now why Jesus told the disciples it was good for Him to leave and send the Holy Spirit? Whatever you do, don’t let this life-changing truth slide by you!
Soul food: Luke 10:38-42; John 11:1-44; John 12:1-3
2018-12-01
John 14:16 NKJV
Do you remember dinner without cell phones? Your family enjoying each other’s company, uninterrupted by technology? We’re a generation that’s losing the art of communication – and intimacy – and it’s also impacting the time we spend alone with God. Although Jesus preceded the high-tech age, He was in constant demand; the multitudes pursued Him at all hours of the day and night. Nevertheless, the Scriptures tell us, “A great while before day, he…departed into a solitary place, and there prayed” (Mark 1:35). Jesus made time to be alone with His Father. It requires spiritual discipline to be still and listen; to deliberately eliminate life’s noise and racket. But if we’ll practice it, we’ll discover a heart-satisfying fellowship with the resident Holy Spirit. Invest a few minutes reading John chapters 14-16, and let your spirit absorb Jesus’ message. Notice, He wants His disciples to have peace, and He comforts them with the assurance that they’re never left alone. These are all blessings He wants us to share too. Question: How can you find this peace and comfort? Answer: “It’s an inside job,” because the Holy Spirit lives in you. Jesus told His disciples, “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.” It may be Christianity’s best-kept secret, that the Holy Spirit is available to and indwells every true believer, providing everything we need to handle life’s difficulties and opportunities. The “Comforter” was promised by the Son, sent by the Father, and today He’s ours by faith. Embrace Him, trust His power, experience His peace, and follow His guidance.
Soul food: Gen 25:19-27:46; John 14:26-15:4; Ps 146; Prov 31:18-21
2018-11-30
1 Peter 1:7 NLT
The tests we face reveal both our weaknesses and our strengths. When the Bible speaks of “a refiner’s fire” (Malachi 3:2), we’re inclined to think of the negative things God wants to remove from our character. But we also have inner strengths and gifts that need to be refined but we’re not aware of them because a demand hasn’t been placed on them. In 1 Kings 17, when the widow and her son met Elijah there was a famine in the land, and he asked her to share their last meal with him. Maybe you’re thinking, “Typical preacher!” Don’t be too quick to jump to conclusions! One of the best days in this woman’s life was when God placed a demand on her faith. Her response changed her future and saved her family. So when you’re faced with a need, how do you respond? Do you withdraw? Withhold? Give from a sense of obligation? Or do you see it as an opportunity to obey God and change your future? You can actually give your way out of trouble! (See 2 Corinthians 9:6-11). When God sent Moses to Pharaoh, He said, “The king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him” (Exodus 3:19 NIV). And today God may be permitting the Enemy to test you in order to reveal: (1) how much He cares for you; (2) how you’ll act when your back’s against the wall; (3) who you’ll believe when God says, “I will bring you out with a mighty hand,” and the Enemy is saying, “I won’t let you go.” That’s what this test is about.
Soul food: Gen 24:1-25:18; John 14:15-25; Ps 118:19-29; Prov 31:14-17
2018-11-29
Proverbs 13:22 NKJV
The word “inheritance” is used 203 times in the Bible, so God must think it’s important. Solomon writes, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.” In man’s kingdom your “net worth” is the sum total of all you own. But in God’s kingdom your net worth equals the sum total of all you’ve given away. What you don’t share is lost forever, but what you put into God’s hands becomes an eternal keepsake. Moses Montefiore was the first Jew to hold high office in London. He was knighted Sir Moses by Queen Victoria in 1837 – the same year he was elected Sheriff of London. In later life he became famous for his philanthropy. He made seven trips to the Holy Land, the last at age ninety-one. His love for the Holy Land was evidenced by his financing of a textile factory, a printing press, a windmill, and several agricultural colonies in Palestine. On his one hundredth birthday the London Times devoted its editorials to his praise. He amassed a fortune through business ventures and real estate acquisitions. But when a reporter asked him about his net worth, he named a figure that was much less. “Surely your net worth must be more than that!” the reporter said. Sir Moses replied, “You didn’t ask me how much I own, you asked me how much I’m worth. So I calculated how much I have given to charity. We are worth only what we are willing to share with others.” What’s your net worth? In God’s eyes, it’s the sum total of all you have given away.
Soul food: Job 36-38; Luke 2:34-40; Ps 139:1-12; Ecc 11:4-6
