September 26, 2011 … The Spirit Brings Understanding

Passage of the Day: John 16: 25 [Jesus speaking] … " Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father.”

My Journal for Today: In yesterday’s discussion of our relationship with our precious Holy Spirit, we were led, as in today’s verse, by the words of Jesus in His Upper Room Discourse, helping His inner circle of disciples (as well as for you and me) to see the infinite value of the teaching ministry of God’s Spirit in the lives of believers. As I related earlier, before I became a Christian I had studied much of the New Testament in college. Yet, as a non-believer at that time I had no personal insights into the personal application of God’s truths … not a clue! Yet now, when I read and study the same New Testament, God’s Spirit helps me to grow in the understanding of the truths that He has for me [yes, me personally].

My friend and fellow seeker, I don’t know how you feel about this very personal enlightenment ministry of the Holy Spirit; but it’s great for me! It’s the way I find my way through life; and that’s the way it is for all who’ve received Christ as their Savior/Lord [and I’m praying that’s you, too]. No, we may not always understand exactly what Gods’ word has for us when we study it. We’re human; and we can let pride or our sin-laden, deceitful hearts get in the way of Spirit-led understanding (see Jer. 17: 9). However, praying for God’s wisdom (see James 1: 5 - 6) and diligently seeking God’s purpose will yield powerful, fruitful results (see Isaiah 55: 11) as God’s Spirit takes my surrendered attitude and my seeking heart and shines God’s light on my interpretation of His truth (Psalm 119: 105).
The Apostle Paul makes this process clear in his epistle to the Church and to all Christians (see 1st Cor. 2: 6 – 16 - linked here for your study). Here God’s Spirit, through Paul, teaches that one who does not have God’s Spirit as their Teacher, not even the intellectual or the powerful non-believer, can ever expect to be able to plum the depths of God’s mind from Scripture (see Isaiah 55: 8 – 9). Quoting conceptually from Isaiah 64: 5, 17, Paul proclaims that without the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit, mankind just won’t - and can’t - “get it” when it comes to knowing God and His ways. However, Paul posits that the believer, if so motivated and surrendered, will be able to discern God’s ways and His will from His word; because, … having God’s Spirit in his/her heart, Christians have the very mind of Christ to guide our way.

And my fellow seeker, did you get that last truth?! (See 1st Cor. 2: 16) If you, as I am, are a disciple of Christ and a diligent seeker after His truth, we have the very mind of God in our hearts to be able to discern God’s light shining on our path. Is that not the best deal going?!

If we assume this to be truth – and I do by experience; – then all of us, as believers (i.e., as born-again Christians), need to trust God’s word and His Spirit-anointed teachers/preachers to show us His way through the maze we call life (see Prov. 3: 5 – 6). I don’t know about you; but it is exciting to me to know that if I dig into God’s word with the help of His Spirit, I will be able to understand the very mind of God and use His truth as a torch to light His path for my life (again see the truth of Ps. 119: 105).

That’s what I’m doing on this very morning with this devotional; and I hope anyone who reads this will appreciate the wondrous power we have in God’s Spirit to seek and to glean the mind of God. And may I take the liberty to link you to a wonderful song, performed by Kristyn Getty, which expresses what I’ve been trying to write here this morning. PLEASE LISTEN TO this YouTube piece as a prayer from all believers; and be grateful – as am I – for God’s ever penetrating, ever probing, and ever powerful ministry of truth through His word.

My Prayer Today: Show me Your way … from Your word, Lord! Amen

2010 – May 24 – Wearing Blindfolds to Please

Study from God’s Word… Many Proverbs concerning people issues listed in The Daily Bible in Chronological Order from Proverbs 1, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, , and 29, ordered by topics by the Editor, including Parents/Children, The Elderly, Women/wives, Kings/Rulers [Today’s Subject], Messengers, Companions, Caution, Reputation, Courage, and Hope … Passage for Reflection: Proverbs 18: 11… NIV If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked.

My Journal for Today: As Dr. Smith points out today by referring to the classic “The Emperor Has No Clothes” story, a king, political leader, or even a Church Pastor, can be ill served and get into very deep – very HOT – waters if he [and not bowing to political correctness, I say “HE” with a biblical reason] is surrounded by manipulative fools who use “yes men” tactics to protect themselves or control their leader.

Have you ever been a leader who did foolish things because you were given foolish advice which tickled your fancy but was not what you needed to hear to do the right thing? I’ve been there, done than, and as they say, “I have the T-Shirt” on that one. I’ve also been in the position of having to call out the truth when I knew that my “boss,” or the leader to whom I was responsible, needed to hear the truth and not what was politically correct or personally pleasing to him.

I’m convinced that some leaders, who make inglorious mistakes, maybe a President like Richard Nixon, do so because they’ve surrounded themselves by foolish “yes-men,” who’ll tickle their fancies rather than tell the truth. Hence, it is so important for leaders to surround themselves – or have access to – straight-talking, righteous followers, who will speak the truth in love and, like the little boy in the classic story, tell the King that he’s wearing no clothes.

I hope we all have someone in our lives, someone very close, who has a discerning spirit, … one who is Godly-wise, … and one who will confront us in love with the truth – THE WHOLE TRUTH – when we need to hear it. Personally, I need this badly because, by nature, I’m a very gullible man with a Jeremiah 17: 9 heart, … a spirit which is vulnerable to lies which make me feel good. So, I’m blessed, in my role of family Priest, Church Elder, and Ministry Leader, to be surrounded by a wife, Brother Elders, and ministry followers who, if I was walking naked into the world, would cry out, “Bill, you’re wearing no clothes!!!” And I listen to them; because I know they love me and will always speak the truth into my life.

I pray that you have truth-speakers in your life as well.

My Prayer for Today: Lord, I thank you for leading people into my life who speak the truth in love to me when I need to hear You speaking through them. Amen

2009 – Day 250.Sept 08 – His Purpose

Passage of the Day: Job 23 … Linked for study …

My Journal for Today: If you’ve been coming along with me in following Job’s trek of frustration and pain, I hope you’ve seen, as evidenced in this chapter, that our hero, Job, is very human in his desire to feel the presence of God and very frustrated that God seems so far away. Yet, in spite of all, as Chapter 23 is evidence, Job still expresses his absolute faith that God is in control; and Job will not be deterred from his witness to that truth, even with the horrible things which have happened to him and the skewed witness of the world view in the personages of Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar.

I’m sure there has been a time in your past, as there has mine, where you were terribly tested or in tribulation and you desired to see some evidence that God was out there. Swindoll pointed to his desire to see some sign or hear an audible voice from God, saying something like, “Hey, Chuck, it’s okay, I’m here with you. You’re going to be okay. Just stay the course.” But that’s not the way it works, does it? No, … ours is a walk by faith, not by sight; and all too often, we’re required to ride the tide of our life without visible or audible evidence of God’s presence. And I know … “It sucks!” … doesn’t it?

I’m not going to make this one a long teaching today. The point is simple and it’s evidenced in this Chapter of Job. We need to trust in God’s truth and the promises from His word, knowing that Deut. 31: 8 is true … that God is not only with us, He’s going on ahead of us to pave the way; and as it says in Ps. 119: 105, His word will light our path; and He will lead us through the valley of the shadow of death to the other side (yes, old, tried, and true Psalm 23). All of this presupposes, however, that you know and can follow God’s truth from His word and that you believe what it says.

My friend, if God’s word has permeated your heart, when you’re tried, as was Job, you’re going to be able to see God’s light shining on your path; and because you KNOW the truth of God’s word, you’ll be able to follow the light with Christ’s light shining on His power to lead you through the circumstances. So, let me pray this short prayer for us all.

My Prayer for Today: Lord, I pray that we all have the fortitude to follow the light of Your truth. Amen

2009 – Day 168.June 18 – Divided Allegiance

2009 – Day 168.June 18 – Divided Allegiance

Passage of the Day: 1st Kings 18: 16 – 21 … Linked for study …

My Journal for Today: Elijah laid it out to God’s people, didn’t he? And his message was, “Get off the fence, Israel; and serve only the one true God?” And today, in the mire of cultural drift, even in the church of Jesus Christ, we can’t serve two masters. That was Jesus’ message in Matthew 6: 24 [linked] It was God’s message to His church at Laodicea in Revelations 3: 15-16 [also linked]; and it is the clear message God had for His people through Elijah in today’s passage.

We cannot serve both the world and our God! The Apostle John made that clear in his exhortation to Christians in 1st John 2: 15 – 16 [one that you should have memorized and internalized]. We can’t express a love of the world and a love of God at the same time. It is, as Swindoll calls it, “divided allegiance;” and it will never work for the Christian.

Maybe today you are a leader in your church and you see worldliness creeping into your midst. CALL IT OUT! Make it known to the Pastor or the Elders in your church.

Maybe you see the world’s ways becoming the objectives of your work place. CALL IT OUT! Stand in the gap for righteousness where you work?

Maybe you see worldliness getting to your kids through their cell phones, the TV, or the internet. CALL IT OUT !!. Be a Godly leader in your home, … one who sets clear and Godly boundaries, protecting your kids from evil.

Yes, I know this can be challenging at best and almost impossible at worst. But you are not alone when you call out evil and label it for what it is. You are being an Elijah where you live, move, and have your being. You are standing for God against our enemies in the spiritual warfare we face every day. And it is highly possible if you don’t stand for righteousness where you live or work or worship, no one else will; and in your silence, Satan wins the day.

So, my Elijah-like believer, CALL IT OUT; and be a standard bearer for righteous today!

My Prayer for Today: Lord, You are the way, the truth, and the life. May I stand for You and only You in my world. Amen