"But it wasn't by any fancy footwork on our part" ~~Apostle Paul

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300"] Saint Paul with a Scroll and a Sword. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption]

Paul depended on Jesus and the Holy Spirit to speak about the Good News. He depended on Jesus completely. While he could be eloquent, he learned that it wasn't of any use. He must have the power of GOD. That is all that matters. Speaking with the power of the resurrected Jesus.

Can I not rely on myself and depend on Jesus?

"But it wasn't by any fancy footwork on our part" ~~Apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 1:12 The Message)

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"A good life is a fruit-bearing tree; a violent life destroys souls." ~~King Solomon

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300"] An apricot and its cross section (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption]

When we live the life God has intended for us, it is like a tree that gives us delicious fruit. There is nothing like fresh fruit. We all love it. I was at the market yesterday and just had to get some figs and apricots.

That is in contrast to a life of violence. I think this is not just physical. Anything opposite of doing what GOD wants us too is violence against GOD and it destroys our very souls.

Thank GOD for the Holy Spirit of GOD that gives us the power to live the resurrected life of Jesus. Now that is Good News.

"A good life is a fruit-bearing tree; a violent life destroys souls." ~~King Solomon (Proverbs 11:30)

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What will I say?

Oh man, this hits home with me. I think a lot. I am a thinker. So, I think about what I am going to say. I rehearse things in my mind. Maybe this goes back to my acting and speaking training. So yes ... I worry about how or what I am going to say.

I need to trust that my heavenly Father will give me what I need to say. His Spirit speaks in me. So if it is His Spirit speaking in my, why would I worry?

Do not worry about how or what you are to say ; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. Matthew 10:19-20

"Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again." ~~Jesus

Jesus challenges us to not be deceived by things in this world. In God's World (Kingdom), you can drink water and be satisfied. Thinking that water in this world really satisfies us is a deception. It is the Spirit of God that satisfies us. We must drink of that water. We must be thirsty for that water. We must focus on God's World not this world.

"Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again." ~~Jesus (John 4:13 The Message)

Is it counterfeit?

It is all about love!! May our Father’s HOLY Spirit bring more love!!! How powerful is that?

 "The Pentecostal power, when you sum it all up, is just more of God's love. If it does not bring more love, it is simply a counterfeit."
----- William J. Seymour (quoted in “Apostolic Faith”)

 

 

I am an open book to you

I am an open book to our heavenly Father. He knows everything I am going to say before I even say it; before I even begin the first sentence. He knows what I am going to think before I even think it. I can't go anywhere to avoid His HOLY Spirit.

This is too good. He is always with me. That is so wonderful.

Where can I go from Your Spirit ? Or where can I flee from Your presence ? Psalm 139:7

"If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water."~~Jesus

Jesus knows first hand the generosity of God. When we ask for a drink of water, he reminds us (challenges us) to focus on what is important. Water will quench our thirst for a brief period of time. Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit (living water) who empowers us for all of eternity. We have that now.

May I drink from the living water of Jesus and realize the power of His Holy Spirit. May I realize that now.

"If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water."~~Jesus (John 4:10)

"Who touched my robe?" ~~Jesus

Jesus is wired with the power of God. God's energy flows through Jesus continuously. So much so, when a sick woman touches His robe, the energy flows out. What happens? She is healed instantly.Jesus senses this has happened. He knows it is an act of faith.

We have the same Holy Spirit in us. Are we in tune with His power, His energy?

May it be so.

At the same moment, Jesus felt energy discharging from him. He turned around to the crowd and asked, "Who touched my robe?" (Mark 5:30 MSG)

Working up a thirst

It is as if I have been traveling across a desert. A very dry and weary desert. I am so hungry. I am very thirsty for my God. I have worked myself up to it. I just thirst after God. I can't get enough of Him.

God -- you are my God. From you flows a river to quench my thirst.

And so, I jump in. I drink and drink and drink. You are so refreshing. Your HOLY Spirit fills me and refreshes me.

God can do anything

I have ideas. I imagine, "what if". Some of this stuff is pretty cool!! Does it seem to be far fetched sometimes? Yes, it does. But God can do anything. He can go way beyond my ideas, my dreams. And, He does it through His Spirit which is already at work within me. Wow!!!

May I not limit God to my dreams. May I lean in to hear what He has in mind. It is more than I can ever imagine. His desire for  me is greater than my desires for myself.

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Ephesians3:20

Songs from my heart

What excuse do I find to sing a song to God? I don't need one. Everything is a reason to praise Him.

May I drink in huge draughts of the HOLY Spirit. May I be filled with Him.

Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:15-20

Wait for what the Father promised

Jesus told them they had to wait. He didn't have to. He could have given them the Spirit of God right then and there. But He wanted them to wait. And so they did. And they received the Spirit of God and the power that goes with Him.

He didn't leave them hanging though. He promised the Spirit would come soon. And He did.

We live in a world where we want everything, and I mean everything, now. We don't like to wait. Patience is not seen as a virtue.

Here is a clue. God is in control. In His government, He isn't in a hurry. Sometimes he wants us to wait. Our job is to obey.

As they met and ate meals together, he told them that they were on no account to leave Jerusalem but "must wait for what the Father promised: the promise you heard from me. John baptized in water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And soon." Acts 1:1-5

My inner being

My heavenly Father is VERY rich. His riches exceed anything I can imagine. They are glorious. Through the power of His Spirit, He can strengthen my inner being. Jesus, the Master, can dwell in my heart. I must have faith to make it happen.

May I have faith and be strengthened in my inner being. May His Spirit stengthen me.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Ephesians 3:16-17

When I am inadequate

Paul wasn't afraid to admit that he was inadequate. Now that is something. In fact, he was scared to death.

So where did that lead him? Straight to God. He is able. Nothing is impossible with Him.  The Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead was in Paul and is in me.

I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate—I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it—and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God's Spirit and God's power did it, which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God's power, not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else. 1 Corinthians 2:3-5

The Yes of Jesus

God makes a promise. Jesus says YES to it. The Holy Spirit makes it happen in us. Jesus is the great "So Be It" of God. So when Jesus says YES and we agree with Him, the power comes forth. God affirms us in Him. He makes it a sure thing. God puts the YES of Jesus in us. He has sealed His pledge with His Spirit.

This is the complete promise of a beginning in the new plan. His goal will be achieved. That is the YES of Jesus.

I resolve to do something out of the ordinary

I resolve to do something out of the ordinary. I commit to living a superordinary life in Jesus. I will live the radical life Jesus called me to live.

It was Henry David Thoreau who wrote, "Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them." I don't admire Thoreau as a theologian, but I think he largely got it right in this quote describing the normal human condition and maybe the condition of lots of Christians.

I believe a large number of people, perhaps even you, get bogged down in the routines of life. I have nothing against routines, except when they become our master. Much can be said about the righteousness of living a careful, responsible life before God. But, this is not at issue for me in this resolution.

My fear is that the life Jesus lived and died to give us ("I came that they may have life and have it to the full." John 10:10) can get lost in the devotion to safety and routine. I'm not advocating going out today to partake in some "extreme" thrill sport. I'm simply encouraging you to do something outside of your normal routine, to experience life outside the lines you've drawn, to provide yourself with the opportunity to "sing your song." God is ready to do amazing things. His Holy Spirit is in us and the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. We can live an extra-ordinary life in Him.

How? Only you can decide for sure, but maybe it's as simple as, at the prompting of God, taking the long way home from school or work to gain a new perspective on the world right around you that otherwise goes unnoticed. Maybe he wants to perform a miracle in someones life we don't normally see. Maybe He wants us to be the Good Samaritan.