THE ISSUE OF OUR IMPOTENCE

Often, we may feel that we preach without productivity. Despite attempting to be faithful, we do not find ourselves fruitful. The issue is not with God. Hear what Spurgeon said on this matter:

           “Is the Spirit of the Lord straitened?” Cannot He prepare your heart and tongue? No, the Spirit of the Lord is not straitened. Still is that promise our delight “My grace is sufficient for thee.” It is a joy to become weak that we may say with the apostle, “When I am weak then am I strong.” Behold, the, strength of the Lord is gloriously revealed, revealed to perfection in our weakness. Come, ye feeble workers, ye fainting laborers, come and rejoice in the unstraitened Spirit. Come you that seem to plough the rock and till the sand, come and lay hold of this fact, that the Spirit of the Lord is omnipotent. No rock will remain unbroken when He wields the hammer, no metal will be unmelted when He is the fire. Still will our Lord put His Spirit within us and gird us with His power, according to His promise, “As thy days, so shall thy strength be.” 

           But some have said, “Yes, but then, see how few the conversions are nowadays! We have many places of worship badly attended; we have others where there are scarcely any conversions from the beginning of the year to the end of it.”  This is all granted, and granted with great regret; but “is the Spirit of the Lord straitened: are these His doings?” Cannot we find some other reason far more near the truth? If there are no conversions we cannot fall back upon the Spirit of God and blame Him. Has Christ been preached? Has faith been exercised? The preacher must take his share of blame; the church with which he is connected must also inquire whether there has been that measure of prayer for a blessing on the word that there ought to have been. Christians must begin to look into their own hearts to find the reason for defeat. If the work of God be hindered in our midst, may there not be some secret sin with us which hinders the operation of the Spirit of God? May He not be compelled by the very holiness of His character to refuse to work with an unholy or an unbelieving people? Have ye never read, “He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief”? May not unbelief be turning a fruitful land into barrenness? The Spirit Himself is not straitened in His power; but our sin has made Him hide Himself from us. The want of conversions is not His doing: we have not gone forth in His strength. We shake off with detestation the least trace of a thought that should lay any blame to the Spirit of the Most High. Unto us be shame and confusion of face as at this day. (Spurgeon, Service and Honor, pp. 35-37, Kindle edition)

Preacher, let us humble ourselves before the Lord and cry out for His power to attend our ministry!  Church member, if your pastor’s preaching lacks potency, it does not help to talk to fellow Christian’s about him but talk to God about Him and seek the Lord’s anointing upon him. You may find a new preacher with a new power in the same body and with the same voice—now energized with Divine unction.

The issue of impotence is not God. The problem is with us—our prayerlessness, our self-sufficiency, our lack of holiness. The good news is that God now calls us to repentance and reliance on Him that will bring real results of eternal significance. We may have what Jim Cymbala titled his book, “Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire,” with Pentecostal power!

WHO’S YOUR ONE? Day 18

The Holy Spirit's Guidance

“An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip: “Get up and go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is the desert road. ) So he got up and went. There was an Ethiopian man, a eunuch and high official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to worship in Jerusalem and was sitting in his chariot on his way home, reading the prophet Isaiah aloud. The Spirit told Philip, “Go and join that chariot.” When Philip ran up to it, he heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you’re reading?” “How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the Scripture passage he was reading was this: He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb is silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who will describe his generation? For his life is taken from the earth. The eunuch said to Philip, “I ask you, who is the prophet saying this about — himself or someone else?” Philip proceeded to tell him the good news about Jesus, beginning with that Scripture.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭8:26-35‬ ‭CSB‬‬

What a joy to have inquiring hearts initiate to us in search of truth! We often intentionally seek out others to share the gospel with, but sometimes God has been preparing a person’s heart to receive the good news, and all that’s left is a divine encounter with a faithful Christian who is willing to share the best news we’ve ever heard. Listen to the Holy Spirit’s guidance as He prompts you to share with others, especially your one. 

Pray that in every situation, the Holy Spirit would give us discernment to answer questions accurately and the wisdom to always be prepared to share the good news. (From “Who’s Your One?” Devotional, NAMB)

WHO’S YOUR ONE? Day 15

The Lord Opens Hearts

“A God-fearing woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭16:14‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Opportunities to share the gospel can happen at unexpected times, and we have to be vigilant to recognize them when they come. Paul and his companions went to sit by a river to pray. When they found the space occupied, they engaged the women who were there. It is here we witness God open the heart of Lydia in response to Paul’s proclamation of the gospel.

We never know the degree to which God is working in a person’s heart, but we can depend on God to open the hearts of those we share the gospel with. God and His Word are sufficient to do the heavy lifting in our evangelism. Remain faithful to share His Word. You never know who may be listening and whose heart will be opened.

Pray you would be ready to share the gospel in the unexpected moments of life this week. (From “Who’s Your One?” Devotional, NAMB)

WHO’S YOUR ONE? Day 14

The Pressure Is Off

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
‭‭John‬ ‭6:44‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Sometimes we feel pressure that we are responsible for a person becoming a Christian. We may place an overemphasis on saying the right words or finding the right time to share the gospel. Like trying to enter a game of double-dutch, we strategically rock back and forth while attempting to figure out when to jump in with the big news. Rest assured, God will give wisdom how and when to share. But if you’re a Christian, find joy in the fact that you’re already in the game, and the pressure of performance is off. It is not in our ability to save people, but we are called to deliver the message, and God gives us the privilege to be used by Him. As you share the best news with your one, leave the results of salvation up to the God who draws people to Himself, and enjoy the joy of joining God in His mission as He makes all things new.

Pray that as you share the gospel with your one, you would be reminded that only the Father can draw people to Himself. (From “Who’s Your One?” Devotional, NAMB)

THE VITALITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

“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) The Holy Spirit vitalizes and revitalizes us—He gives us life and that abundantly.  He revives us when we are drained.  Consider how His vitality is experienced:

• REGENERATING. “Jesus answered, “‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, “You must be born again.” The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.’” (John 3:5-8)  The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, draws us to Christ, and imparts life.  This is where spiritual life begins.

• BAPTIZING. “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” (1 Cor.12:13)  The baptism of the Holy Spirit—giving us a real connection with God—began at Pentecost and that special relationship is for all believers.  You don’t seek the baptism—it’s yours.  The moment you are regenerated, you are immersed into Christ and Christ implanted in you!

• SEALING. “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” (2 Cor.1:20-22)  See the Trinity at work in assuring our salvation?  The Spirit seals us—marking us as belonging to Christ.  He is the guarantee of heaven to come—the downpayment on our full possession of a home in glory.
 
• FILLING. “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,” (Eph.5:18).  This is a command to obey and a promise to claim.  It is coming under His control.  As drunkenness dominates a person and alters everything about them, so being intoxicated with God brings us under the Spirit’s dominion and impacts all about us—how we think, see, walk, talk, feel and act.

• EQUIPPING. “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:” (1 Cor.12:1).  The Holy Spirit has given us all the gifts we need to do all God wants us to do.  He is the source of successful spiritual service.

The Spirit is life—eternal life—energizing and equipping us.

THE PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

“But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 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.’” (Acts‬ ‭5:3-4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

You cannot lie to a force, a power, or influence.  That is all some want to make the Spirit out to be.  He is seen in Scripture as a Person.  He possesses the traits of personhood: reason, emotion, and volition.

• HE THINKS.  “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.” (1 Cor.2:10-11)  We see the Spirit searching, considering, thinking. A force cannot do that. A person can.

• HE FEELS. “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Eph.4:30)  He can grieve because He feels.  How can an impersonal power feel grief?

• HE CHOOSES. “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” (1 Cor.12:11)  We see the Spirit exercising His will in distributing spiritual gifts.  He influences us in His decisions, but is more than an influence Himself.

These are the descriptions of personhood. As the Father and Son are persons, so is the Spirit. Don’t ever refer to the Spirit as “it” but “Him”—a Person.  You can talk to Him and He understands. You can express emotion to Him and He sympathizes. You can seek His guidance and He will convey His will.

THE DEITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

In one breath, Peter levels the serious accusation that Ananias has lied to the Holy Spirit—and in the next breath, he says that Ananias lied to God.  That’s because the Spirit is God.  He possesses the attributes of Deity.

• HE IS ETERNAL.  “how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb.9:14)  Here you have the Trinity—all three persons of the Godhead.  Note that the Spirit is eternal—and that is an attribute God alone possesses.  He is without beginning or ending.

• HE IS HOLY.  “and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” (Rom.1:4)  We call Him the “Holy” Spirit.  God is holy, and thus the Spirit is God.

• HE IS OMNIPOTENT.  “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.” (Gen.1:2)  Only One with all power could create something from nothing.  The Holy Spirit was active in creation as was the Father and Son.

• HE IS OMNISCIENT. “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. 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.” (Rom.8:26-27)  We know we ought to pray, but in our ignorance don’t always know what to pray.  That is not a problem for the Spirit who knows all to aid us in prayer.

• HE IS OMNIPRESENT. “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.” (Ps.139:7-10)  There is nowhere you can go, but what He is not there.  This is another evidence of Deity.

The Holy Spirit abides with us today. God in us!  What more could we need?  What else could we want?

GOD THE SPIRIT

You are five years old, riding in the back seat of the car.  You are on your way to the beach for a family vacation.  Suddenly, you hear your tires squall, your mother scream, and that’s all you recall until you wake up in the hospital.  You hurt, one leg is in a cast, but that’s not the worst pain.  The unbearable agony is when you find out your father and mother died in the wreck.  You are alone. You are an orphan.

What would that feel like?  If you can imagine that, then you can understand some of what the disciples must have felt, when Jesus told them He was going to die—that He would be leaving them.

Yet, Jesus promised that He would not leave them—and us—as orphans. One would come like Him—a Counselor, Comforter—who would abide with us always.  That is the Third Person of the Godhead—the Holy Spirit.  He is the Spirit of God, the presence of Jesus, with every believer. This week, Lord willing, we will examine several truths concerning God the Spirit.

GOD IS TRIUNE

Although the word, “Trinity,” is never found in Scripture, the concept of God as Triune is found throughout.  The first Hebrew word used for God in Gen.1:1 is Elohim and it is a plural word.  “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
‭‭
This doctrine of the Trinity is seen in the opening chapters of Genesis—with God speaking the world into existence and the Holy Spirit hovering over the face of the waters—as a mother hen would nest and hatch out her chicks.  “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.” (v.2).‬

The New Testament writers add that Christ was also part of that creative process—as much as the Father and the Spirit:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” (John‬ ‭1:1-3‬).

Thus, we have the one God speaking as three Persons who says, “Let US make man in OUR image” (Gen.1:26a, emphasis added).

Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6 are Old Testament messianic prophecies where Jesus is presented as God—just as much as God the Father.  “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”(7:14‬). The name, “Immanuel,” means, “God with us.”  Then in 9:6, we read, “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  Jesus is called, “Mighty God.”

Tomorrow, our intention is to examine some of the New Testament teaching concerning the Trinity.

RELATIONAL HEALTH

How healthy are your relationships?  Whether, those relationships are with a spouse, another family member, a friend, a neighbor, a co-worker or fellow student, even a church member, are they healthy?  Paul gives us some vital signs to check in Ephesians 4:30-32 that register our relational fitness.

1.  RELATIONAL COMMITMENT IS PRACTICED. “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (v.30). There are many ways we can grieve the Holy Spirit.  A chief way is through our lack of commitment to those we love.  He has sealed us—that is the Spirit has come into the believer as a guarantee of salvation, and He has promised to be ever-present.  When we walk away from a relationship because it is difficult, He is broken-hearted, for He will never do that!

2.  RELATIONAL CANCERS ARE REMOVED. “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.” (v.31). If you are diagnosed with cancer, and the surgeon puts you under anesthesia and under the knife, the first question you will have for the doctor when you awake is, “Did you get it all?”  You know if any cancer remains, it will recur. Paul tells us to get rid of all relational malignancies.  These things will kill a relationship!

3.  REAL COMPASSION IS EXERCISED. “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” (v.32). Real compassion means I do acts of kindness toward others. It is felt in how I am tenderhearted toward others. Essentially, it is given in how I forgive others.  In this, I follow the example of my Lord.  Surely, if He has forgiven me so much, then I can forgive others who have done less in comparison!  Read the story Jesus told in Matt.18:21-35. We will study that later this week.

How did your relational vitals read?