How Can I Be Filled with the Spirit?

 

Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4)

How can we be filled with the Holy Spirit? How can we experience an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our church and ourselves that fills us with indomitable joy and frees us, and empowers us, to love those around us in ways so authentic that they are won to Christ?

Answer: Meditate day and night upon the incomparable, hope-giving promises of God. As Romans 15:4 shows us, that’s the way Paul kept his heart full of hope and joy and love. “Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

The full assurance of hope comes from meditating on the promises of God’s word. And this does not contradict the sentence nine verses later that says that the Holy Spirit gives us hope (Romans 15:13). This is because the Holy Spirit is the divine author of Scripture. His word is the means of his work. It is no contradiction that the way he fills us with hope is by filling us with his own word of promise.

Hope is not some vague emotion that comes out of nowhere, like a stomachache. Hope is the confidence that the stupendous future promised to us by the word of the Spirit is going to really come true. Therefore, the way to be filled with the Spirit is to be filled with his word. The way to have the power of the Spirit is to believe the promises of his word.

For it is the word of promise that fills us with hope, and hope fills us with joy, and joy overflows in the power and freedom to love our neighbor. And that is the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

God Regards the Lowly

 

The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” (Deuteronomy 33:27)

You may be going through things right now that are painfully preparing you for some precious service to Jesus and to his people. When a person strikes rock bottom with a sense of nothingness or helplessness, he may find that he has struck the Rock of Ages.

I remember a delicious sentence from Psalm 138:6 that our family read at our breakfast devotions: “Though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly.”

You cannot sink so low in despairing of your own resources that God does not see and care. In fact, he is at the bottom waiting to catch you. As Moses says, “The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27).

Yes, he sees you trembling and slipping. He could (and often did) grab you before you hit bottom. But this time he has some new lessons to teach.

The psalmist said in Psalm 119:71, “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.” He does not say it was easy or fun or pleasant. In retrospect, he simply says, “It was good for me.”

Last week I was reading a book by a Scottish minister named James Stewart. He said, “In love’s service, only the wounded soldiers can serve.” That’s why I believe some of you are being prepared right now for some precious service of love. Because you are being wounded.

Do not think that your wound has come to you apart from God’s gracious design. Remember his word: “See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me . . . I wound and I heal” (Deuteronomy 32:39).

May God grant a special grace to you who are groaning under some burden. Look eagerly for the new tenderness of love that God is imparting to you even now.

GOD’S LOVE TOWARD US!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY MARCH 06, 2022.

SUBJECT : GOD’S LOVE TOWARD US!

Memory verse: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3 vs 16.)

READ: Romans 5 vs 6 - 11:

5:6: For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

5:7: For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.

5:8: But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

5:9: Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

5:10: For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

5:11: And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

INTIMATION:

God’s love for us is unique and unparalleled. His love is dynamic and not self-centered; it reaches out and draws others in. This is one of God's most outstanding and obvious characteristics. God, by His love nature, sets the pattern of true love; the basis of all love relationships—when you love someone dearly, you are ready and willing to give freely to the point of self-sacrifice. The message of the Gospel comes to a focus in God’s love for us as is stated in our memory verse. 

The apostle Paul, in the passage we read today, expounded the love of God for us. He explained that when we were weak, lost in sin, and helpless and could do nothing on our own to save ourselves, Christ had to come to rescue us. For His love for us, God paid dearly with the life of His only Son, the highest price He could pay, and such is unheard of in history. Jesus accepted wholeheartedly His propitiation for our sins, set aside His deity, took the form of man, and paid the wages of sin we owed—death—on the cross at Calvary (Ezekiel 18 vs 4 & Romans 6 vs 23). 

Jesus, in exchange, gave His sinless life of inestimable value for our sinful lives that are completely worthless. He came at exactly the right time in history in accordance with God's plan and schedule. It is God that controls all history, and He controlled the timing, method, and events surrounding Jesus' death. 

The apostle Paul further explains that the love that caused God to create the world for an extension of His kingdom, and caused Christ to die in our place, is the same love that sends the Holy Spirit to live in us and guide us daily. The power that raised Jesus from the dead is the same power that saved us and is available to us in our daily lives. 

Therefore, having begun a life with Christ by accepting what He did for us, you have a reserve power and love to call on each day for help to meet every challenges or trials. Too often, in our spiritual life, although we may need to love God more, there is a much higher need to recognize just how much He loves us. When our relationship is such that we feel God's love and His passion for His children, we naturally begin to love Him more. You can pray for His power and love as you need it.

Many of us have at one time or the other felt like, "Lord where are You when I really needed You?" "God, I'm going under, don't You care?" But a believer and a child of God will remember the promise found in First Peter 5 vs 7, "Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you." He cares about the minutest details of your life that even the very hairs of your head is counted. (Matthew 10 vs 30). Though you may not know He cares, rest assured He does!

In Psalms 145 vs 18 the psalmist tells us, "The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth." What this means is that He is never too busy for you. When you pray, you will never get busy signal. He hears you and ready to meet your real need. Jesus had a very special term He used to describe the personal and loving nature of God. He called Him, "Abba." The word Abba is an Aramaic word used to describe the most intimate, personal nature of a father. He is never too busy for you. He is never more concerned about a crisis in one individual than another. 

Prayer: Abba Father, thank you for Your unparalleled love toward me. You so loved me that You gave the life of Your Son, Jesus Christ, as a propitiation for my sins. I cannot thank You enough. I pray, O Most High God, that You endue me with Your excellent spirit of love that I may love You as You loved me, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen. 

PRAISE THE LORD!

Look to Jesus for Your Joy

 

They do all their deeds to be seen by others. . . . They love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others.” (Matthew 23:5–7)

The itch of self-regard craves the scratch of self-approval. If we are getting our pleasure from feeling self-sufficient, we will not be satisfied without others seeing and applauding our self-sufficiency.

Hence Jesus’s description of the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23:5, “They do all their deeds to be seen by others.”

This is ironic. Wouldn’t you think that self-sufficiency should free the proud person from the need to be made much of by others? That’s what “sufficient” means. But evidently there is an emptiness in this so-called self-sufficiency.

The self was never designed to satisfy itself or rely upon itself. It never can be self-sufficient. We are not God. We are in the image of God. And what makes us “like” God is not our self-sufficiency. We are shadows and echoes. So, there will always be an emptiness in the soul that struggles to be satisfied with the resources of self.

This empty craving for the praise of others signals the failure of pride and the absence of faith in God’s ongoing grace. Jesus saw the terrible effect of this itch for human glory. He named it in John 5:44, “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?” The answer is, you can’t. Itching for glory from other people makes faith impossible. Why?

Because faith looks away from self to God. Faith is being satisfied with all that God is for you in Jesus. And if you are bent on getting the satisfaction of your itch from the scratch of others’ praise, you will turn away from Jesus. That is not what he is like. He lives for the glory of his Father. And calls us to do the same.

But if you would turn from self as the source of satisfaction (repentance), and come to Jesus for the enjoyment of all that God is for us in him (faith), then the itch of emptiness would be replaced by a fullness — what Jesus calls “a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14).

THE PRAYER GOD WONT HEAR!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY MARCH 05, 2022.

SUBJECT : THE PRAYER GOD WONT HEAR!

Memory verse: "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the LORD will not hear." (Psalm 66 vs 18.)

READ: Isaiah 59 vs 1 - 3:

59:1: Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy; that it cannot hear.

59:2: But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.

59:3: For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perversity. 

INTIMATION:

Iniquity is sin, implying the perversion of heart and wickedness of purpose. Sin is defined as a moral offense or shortcoming. It is a rebellion against God's laws, a perversion of heart. Sin is a reproach to any people as well as to God. It offends our Holy God and separates us from Him. Because God is holy He cannot ignore, excuse, or tolerate sin as though it didn't matter, therefore, sin cuts people off from Him, forming a wall to isolate God from the people He loves. Our sins makes God angry and forces Him to look the other way. 

When we are involved in iniquity or sin, we build a wall of separation between us and God. The Scripture says of God, “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness...” (Habakkuk 1 vs13.) When we are involved in sinful and wicked deeds, we cause our separation from the Holy God, and our prayers are not heard by Him. These are times when we bear loads of grudges, resentment, envy, hatred, anger, un-forgivenesses , and like emotions. The loads of such emotions are very heavy and costly to our relationship with God, because they are iniquities before Him whose eyes cannot behold iniquity.

Our confession of sin must be continual because we continue to do wrong. But true confession requires us to listen to God and want to stop doing what is wrong. We may not be able to remember every sin we have ever committed, but our attitude should be one of confession and obedience. Though we may have been dragged into such emotions by wrongdoing to us by another, but these emotions hurt us more than they hurt the one who has wronged us. This is because, if our faith is strong and our prayer is persistent, there is only one thing that can stand in the way of answered prayer—getting what you say—and it is un-repented sin. What a terrible condition for a Christian to be in, to be unable to talk to God! 

When we understand what our resentment does to us, we see how much better it is for us to allow our enemies to get away with their cruelty, even murder, and forgive them, rather than hold a grudge and cut ourselves off from God. God knows the heart of our enemy, and repays accordingly without needing any helps from us. The Bible tells us that vengeance is God's business not ours: "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath: for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay,' says the Lord" (Romans 12 vs 19). God takes vengeance on our enemies because He is just, and because He loves us.

An unforgiving spirit is so destructive that we are warned that when God does take vengeance on our enemies, we ought not be happy that He did; "Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; Lest the Lord see it, and it displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him" (Proverbs 24 vs 17 - 18). 

Once you understand the destructiveness of "getting even," you will be able to ask God to keep you from resentment in all its forms. In Matthew 5 vs 39 Jesus commanded us, "But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also." Jesus is suggesting that our response to injustice should not be demanding our right, but to give it up freely! According to Him it is more important to give justice and mercy than to receive it.

Jesus said in Mark 11 vs 25; "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses." Only in so doing that you receive what you ask in prayers.

When you study the exploits of Paul and Barnabas in Antioch in Acts 13 where they preached and taught, you will appreciate how the two steadfast and spirit-filled servants of God handled the resentment of Jews against them. They preached and the Gentiles heard and were glad and glorified God, and all those who believed received the Spirit and were ordained to eternal life. The Jews, however, incited the devout men and women against Paul and Barnabas and drove them from the city. They left, and they were filled with joy in the Holy Spirit, and never had any desire for retaliation. The Spirit-filled life doesn't seek revenge but joyously reflects the presence of God within.

Prayer: Abba Father, keep me from resentment of all forms. Cleanse me from secret faults, and keep me from presumptuous sins that they may not have dominion over me. Endue me with the spirit of forgiveness that I may forgive all that offend me and stand blameless before You, in Jesus' Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

THE TRUTH SETS US FREE!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD

FRIDAY MARCH 04, 2022.

SUBJECT : THE TRUTH SETS US FREE!

Memory verse: “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8 vs 32.)

READ: Romans 3 vs 20 - 26:

3:20: Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

3:21: But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets;

3:22: Even the righteousness of God, through the faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe: for there is no difference:

3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

3:24: Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

3:25: Whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 

3:26: to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of one who has faith in Jesus.

INTIMATION:

What is the “truth” our anchor Scripture is talking about? It is the truth that Jesus brought which was justification by grace and faith. Since no man could be justified before God by meritorious law-keeping and atoning good deeds, Jesus came as the atoning sacrifice by which all men can be cleansed by His blood. This is the truth that Jesus revealed. It is this truth that will set one free from the curse of sin and death. 

The truth is the sacrificial atonement of God on the cross for our sins. It is the resurrection of the incarnate Son of God in order to give hope of resurrection to those who have obeyed this gospel event. This is the truth. This is the truth that saves as a result of God’s grace. Jesus was the manifestation of the grace of God that was extended toward man who was under the condemnation of law. 

Grace and truth were revealed through Jesus. Obedience to truth about which Jesus spoke would liberate one from the confines of sin and death. No man could keep the law perfectly in order to justify himself, for all have sinned. The result of sin is spiritual separation from God, and thus, spiritual death. 

All humanity has fallen short of that which is required for one to dwell in the presence of God. The result of law is that all are made sinners because no one can keep the law perfectly. The result of sin is separation from God. And the result of separation from God is spiritual death which will eventually lead to a second death. Since all men sin, then apart from the grace of God, no man can stand justified before God on the basis of law alone.

The truth was revealed that Jesus died for our sins in order to answer our problem of sin and death. He was resurrected in order to answer our problem of physical death. Jesus Himself is the truth that sets us free. He is the source of truth, the perfect standard of what is right. He frees us from continued slavery to sin, from self-deception, and from deception by Satan. He shows us clearly the way to everlasting life with God. Thus, Jesus does not give us freedom to do what we want, but freedom to follow God. As we seek to serve God, Jesus perfect truth frees us to be all that God meant us to be.

Christ died to set us free from sin and from a long list of laws and regulations. Christ came to set us free—not free to do whatever we want because that would lead us back into slavery to our selfish desires. Rather thanks to Christ, we are now free and able to do what was impossible before—to live unselfishly. Those who appeal to their freedom so that they can have their own way or indulge their own desires are falling back into sin. But it is also wrong to put burden of law-keeping on Christians. We must stand against those who would enslave us with rules, methods, or special conditions for being saved or growing in Christ.

The fact is that the whole human race is on death row, justly condemned for repeatedly breaking God’s holy law. Without Jesus we would have no hope at all. But thank God He has declared us not guilty and offered us freedom from sin and power to do His Will. When we trust Christ to save us, He removes our heavy burden of trying to please and our guilt for failing to do so. By trusting Christ we are loved, accepted, forgiven and freed to live for Him. Through our Helper—the Holy Spirit—given to us, God provides freedom from sin and condemnation. Thus the Scripture say, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.” (Second Corinthians 3 vs 17.)

The grace of God is the loving favor of God that was extended toward man that man could not have earned on the basis of his performance of law or meritorious good works. The grace was freely given regardless of the spiritual condition of humanity. Grace was given to take care of man”s sin problem. Once justified from sin by grace, we are then reconciled again to His presence and glory. All this was made possible by the sacrificial cross of Jesus where God’s grace was manifested.

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for the gift of Jesus Christ, Your only begotten Son, as a propitiation for our sins, His death and resurrection for our salvation and justification. This truth revealed to us sets us free, and whoever is set free in Him is free indeed.Your grace has been manifested to all men, and may the same grace empower me to obediently respond to Your will, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

God Works Through Good Resolves

 

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power. (2 Thessalonians 1:11)

Seeking the power of God to fulfill our good resolves does not mean that we don’t really resolve, or that we don’t really use willpower.

The engagement of God’s power never takes the place of the engagement of our will! The power of God in sanctification never makes us passive! The power of God engages itself beneath or behind and within our will, not in place of our will.

The evidence of God’s power in our lives is not the absence of our willing, but the strength of our willing, the joy of our willing.

Anyone who says, “Well, I believe in the sovereignty of God and so I will just sit back and do nothing” does not really believe in the sovereignty of God. For why would someone who believes in God’s sovereignty so blatantly disobey him?

When you sit back to do nothing, you are not doing nothing. You are actively engaging your will in a decision to sit back. And if that is the way you handle sin or temptation in your life, it is blatant disobedience, because we are commanded to wage a good warfare (1 Timothy 1:18) and resist the devil (James 4:7) and strive for holiness (Hebrews 12:14) and put to death the sinful acts of the body (Romans 8:13).

Second Thessalonians 1:11 says that it is by the power of God that we will fulfill our good resolves and our works of faith. But this does not nullify the meaning of the word “resolve” and the word “work.” Part of the whole process of walking worthy of God’s call is the active engagement of our will in resolving to do righteousness.

If you have lingering sin in your life, or if you keep neglecting some good deed just because you have been waiting around to be saved without a fight, you are compounding your disobedience. God will never appear with power in your will in any other way than through your exercise of that will; that is, through your good resolves — your good intentions and plans and purposes.

So, people who believe in the sovereignty of God must not fear to engage their wills in the struggle for holiness. “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able” (Luke 13:24). Only strive in the faith that in and through your striving God is at work to will and to do his good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).