Do You Know What You’ve Got? In His Word 9-28-15

Lately I have heard a lot of different ideas about the Holy Spirit and our lives in Christ; we have so many untapped benefits! There is so much more to life in Christ than we utilize in our daily walk today. Are you wondering how to gain a better understanding about the Word of God, your Bible? Do you long for peace and contentment in your daily life of turmoil? 

It’s time for you to get- in His Word! But wait! 

How can just reading the Bible help me understand?  After all it can be pretty heavy reading in places, I mean its not all Psalms and Proverbs daily reads; how do I know what I am reading?

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.1 Corinthians 2:14

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. ² In My Father’s house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. ⁴ And where I go you know, and the way you know.”  ⁵ Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”

⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:1-6

To start with we have to know what we believe. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved, you and your household… is a good place to start. Once you have believed then you can receive the Holy Spirit’s guidance right? I think that is true, but there is also the fact that we are drawn of the Holy Spirit to be able to ‘get it’ in the first place. I believe that God grants us a measure of faith to believe in Him, and in that; even before we consciously make the choice to believe He has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us to all truth. And we know that He is the  Way , the Truth, and the Life so if we have the guide to all  truth that must be the guide to  Jesus the Christ. If we have this Holy Spirit to Guide us then we already have received the Holy Spirit when we first believed.

The thing is that we do not always realize it; we do not have the head knowledge of what our spirit knows already exists until we are taught.

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. ¹¹ Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. John 14:9-11

Even His very close group of 12 did not all understand who Jesus really was until it was taught, or spoken, to them. It is not something we just know, it is something that has been taught to us with the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit to show us the truth in His Word.

²² Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”

²³ Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. ²⁴ He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.²⁵ “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. ²⁶ But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:22-27

He will give us peace. He will give us direction, He will give us hope in the form of the Holy Spirit; He will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him.  If you think on that for a moment you will realize no doubt, that peace is an inner feeling of calm that goes beyond understanding; but if we know Him we can know peace.

In Isaiah 62 the Word says that He had put His Holy Spirit in the Israelite's and again it is mentioned that the Psalmist asked the Father God not to take the Holy Spirit from him. 

Daniel 4^th and 5^th chapters talk about Him being there and yet Jesus plans to leave Him with us as a Comforter forever that we will not be left alone. He is the one who will never leave us and never forsake us after all.

So when we ‘trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not in our own understanding’ knowing that He will direct our paths we can know that it is the Holy Spirit who is our guide and it is He who directs us to all truth!

When we know God we know that we must worship Him in both spirit and in truth; God is both Spirit and Truth and through this we can know that we have all that we need in Him.  His presence is always with us; we just need to realize it and believe that He is to accept Him as the Truth, the Way and He will give us the Life He planned for us.

We need to know what, who, we have in Him. The only way I know to find that out is to study the Word of God, our Bibles. So let’s do that!

Dear Heavenly Father, help us all to find Your truth in the words you have ‘breathed’ for us to live by. Guide us with your Holy Spirit and direct our paths in Jesus name, amen.

John 14:1-30 Isaiah 62:1-12 , Mark 1:1-45 and John 7:1-53

To be seen or not be seen? That is the question --In His Word 9-21-15

To be seen or not be seen? That is the question --In His Word 9-21-15

When we do a special deed or bless someone with a financial gift, or something that will make their life better are we supposed to allow people to tell about our great work? Or are we to be humble and not receive the praise for a job well done?

My Bible tells me that if all I want is men's praise that is all I will get.

Look at the Pharisees and what they received...

“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.  But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,

Matthew 6:15-17

In the Word of God we read that we are not to be seen as suffering when we fast and pray, but to go around like normal on the outside. We are also told to let our lights shine before men, and not much further in the scriptures does Jesus say not to do your works before men to be seen of them.

“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heave Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, Matthew 6:1-3

So what are we to do; be seen or not be seen? That is the question I choose to address today.

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Matthew 5:14-16

In today's multimedia time frame things can get 'out there' quite quickly and suddenly everyone can be in an uproar because someone took credit for someone else's glory.

I often wonder how God feels when we humans take credit for things He has done?

I mean, in the following scriptures we are plainly told that God is to get the glory, not us; yet we continually hear people saying 'look at me' I did this great thing. The same people will turn around and tell us to be quiet about boasting. Paul said that if he were to boast he would hope it were only in God's goodness not in himself because he knew where everything he did came from. We need to know and remind ourselves often that it is not about us, it is about God and His glory , His praise! I am not saying do not encourage one another unto good works, because we are to do good things for His glory.

So as I see it we are to do good things that point the arrow of praise to the Father who made both us and the thing that we are doing possible. If we did not have God to direct us to the thing in the first place, or to give us the skills or gifts to be able to share them then we would have no reason to boast. When we think about it boasting is overrated anyway. When we receive praise for a job well done how long does that glory last? They say your time in limelight is limited so this tells me that it is short timed. Whereas when we are praised by God it will be eternal!

I would much rather know that I am pleasing my God than mere people, though there are times when I feel the need to be appreciated. I believe as people created in God's image we are born with a need to be encouraged that what we are doing is right and good. There is nothing wrong in this as long as we do not forget where our abilities came from in the first place.

Its okay to know we are doing good in the Lord, just as long as we do not allow the praise to stop short with us but goes on to the Lord.

For instance, a group of church workers worked hard to get an event started; they planned, they purchased needed supplies and they presented the event to the people they invited to come. They even brought in someone to share testimony of the goodness of God in his life.

Everyone who came grew closer to God because of the Word that was given and the worship time drew them into a deeper relationship with Jesus as Lord of their life.

So who would get the praise? Would it be the event planners or the speaker/preacher?

I say neither should get the praise, but rather thankfulness for bringing the Word to our ears. I think the planners do a lot and though they do not do it to be noticed, we hope, they are instruments of worship few the One True God, the maker of the heavens and earth! No matter if you speak the Gospel or you change the toilet paper when you are all working together for the good of the Lord you are all worthy of appreciation and God will give it where He thinks it is due. But it is not for us to get the glory, but for Him.

Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness. Psalm 115:1

So let us be grateful to God, give Him the praise for a job well done but let us give the people who bring it to us blessings and thankfulness. Thank someone who brought you the Word of God today, or brought you a word of encouragement from the heart. Let them know you are thankful, but give God the glory for the things He has done.

Dear heavenly Father, thank you for bringing your Word into our lives. Show us what to do with it! Give us someone to share with, or to encourage in Your love today, in Jesus name. Amen

Suggested Reading: Psalm 115:1-18, Matthew 5:1-48, Matthew 6 :1-34 and Romans 15:1-33

Prayer Positions for Productive Prayer in His Word 9-12-15

Come let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our God, our Maker. 

For He is our God; and we are the people of His pasture…

Through out the Word of God we find postures in which the people of God pray.
In Genesis 17 Abraham prays visually connecting with God. He falls on his face before God in reverence to Him in the same way one would appear to a king of an earthly kingdom if one had not been invited to stand. It shows God we understand our ‘place’ in His presence when we give Him the respect by lowering our bodies in prayer submission positions.  

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.  And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.”  Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him… Genesis 17:1-2

Genesis 24:52 He bows down before the Lord without looking toward God it shows an act of submission and honor giving.  Again this is a position that we would give an earthly king to show respect and honor and even reverence that shows we know we can be refused. Our God does not refuse a humble heart! We exalt Him when we humble ourselves to Him in prayer.

Think about this for a moment; taking the time and effort to get into a prayer posture shows Him you are giving Him this time of communication. It also helps you to focus on why you are there.

For instance, even when it is not easy if we make the effort to bend our knees in prayer showing submission and obedience as the Word tells in the following scripture that every knee shall bow in both heaven and earth; we will be humbling ourselves before our God and have put ourselves in an ‘attitude of prayer’ as they say. I believe God will honor our hearts desires when we humble our selves in prayer like this, over sometimes when we just toss out the drive by prayers as you get ready to go rush around in life.  I mean I would listen to someone who stopped and sat down with me way more intently than if they talked while they were doing something else. More than that when we kneel to pray it again reminds us why we are there.

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11

Many times in the scriptures we find Jesus just looked up toward the heavens and spoke out his needs and they were fulfilled. So sometimes it is not necessary to bow our heads or bend our knees just to sincerely look towards heaven.

And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, Mark 6: 41

 And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. ⁴² And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” John 11: 41-42

David and Elijah often were lifting their hands before the heavens in a sign of desperation. Reaching out to God for help also shows a humbleness of heart.

No matter how you pray today and I think it matters how you pray, what matters most is the attitude in your heart as you pray. There have been times in my life that I could not stand, I could know even bow down but my body crumbled before the Lord in a heap on the ground crying out to my God out of desperation, and there have been times when I stood ready for battle in prayer; full suit of armor and sword in hand! (Ephesians 6:10-18)

The most awesome position of prayer would be knees bent in humbleness and hands and head lifted up toward God knowing that we have been given an audience with the King, yet showing Him honor in bending or bowing our knees before Him! 

What God really wants is a gentle and contrite heart humbled and sanctified before Him and a desire to be in His presence when we pray.

So come, let us worship and bow down and let us humble ourselves before the Lord and pray today. Let us humble our hearts and minds and bow them in attitude of honor.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to humble ourselves before you. Thank you for calling to us to lift our heads and look to You for our needs to be met, and our desires to be sought. We lift them up to you and give you honor and glory and thanks. In Jesus name we pray, amen.

                                                                                           

Suggested Reading: John 11:1-57, Psalm 121:1-8, John 17:1-26

Longing for Him-In His Word- 9-7-15

Longing for Him In His Word

 As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? Day and night I have only tears for food. While my enemies continually taunt me, saying “Where is this God of yours?” My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be I walked among the crowds of worshipers leading a great procession to the house of God. Singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration! Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again my Savior and my God! Now I am deeply discouraged but will remember you-- … I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me. But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me and through each night I sing is songs, praying to God who gives me life. “O God my rock,” I cry, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies? Their  taunts break my bones. They scoff, ”Where is this God of yours?” Why am I so discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God! Psalm 42:1-11

Have you ever felt as the Psalmist did in this passage? Did you feel as if everything was against you, as if God had left you forgotten in the midst of your misery? Perhaps you were left behind when a family member died; or maybe you where the child left behind when a parent left in divorce. It could be that you are feeling 'stuck' and forgotten in a level at work, or after High-school graduation when all your friends are going off to college you are left behind working for a living.

Whatever it is, wherever you are at this moment, God cares about you and what you are going through.

In this Psalm I chose this morning the writer is clearly feeling as if God has pulled away from him. But we know better than that, we know our God will never leave us nor forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5) We can also know that if we are stuck in a spot, and tempted to go or do where we should not go or do; He will make a way of escape, if we but seek Him to find it. (1 Corinthians 10:12-14)

When things happen in our lives that we do not expect or plan we can know that God is not leaving us there to suffer alone but as the writer of the poem “Footprints” He may be carrying us, or we may be walking in the steps He has first put down for us to step in.

As a young child in British Columbia I can remember walking to school in the early snow, not yet prepared for it. We still had our tennis shoes and had not yet been able to get boots for winter when a beautiful snow would dust the ground. I remember that if I tried to walk in the fresh clean snow my shoes would be soaked through to my socks, but if I walked in the footprints of someone who had already gone down that road; the way was made clear for me.

That is what Jesus did for us on Calvary; He walked in the snow before us. He took on the cold wetness of the snow so that our feet could remain dry and warm and get us where we need to go.

Though sometimes it may seem as if He has walked on ahead of us down the trail where we cannot see him anymore, but he is still there. He told the disciples in John 14:2 that He went to prepare a place in His Father's house. This tells us that He has gone on ahead and will be there when we need Him.

The Psalmist at the beginning of this article tells us how much he longs to spend time with the Lord God. We need to ask ourselves today do we long to spend time with our God today. Or do we just dash through life tossing a few hellos to God and run on at the mouth about all our problems then run off to our busy existence? I have to admit I have often been guilty of the later. I throw out a nibble of a prayer of thanks giving then run off to do my daily deeds, amidst that I find myself complaining about how this person or that person left a towel or a shoe or a cup or saucer in the wrong place. These are such small things yet if I allow myself to dwell on them I become a whiner, and I can see them as such big holes in my existence if I choose to. Generally when I catch myself fussing over such foolishness I remind myself of how great a God I have that has given me the people who leave these things around. I remind myself also of the fact I can bless them by not making them come from their slumber to pick them up but can do so myself. I think it is all about perspective. We need to think like the psalmist and put our trust in God. We need to praise Him in the midst of the trials we are living in no matter how we are feeling about it at the moment.

“...O' God, we give glory to you all day long and constantly praise your name.”

Psalm 44:8

This was written to remind us to give Him glory and honor and praise throughout our days. No matter what we are going through, no matter what is in our way; we need to praise our Lord each hour of every day. Let's try this as our challenge this week! Let's try and speak out a praise to the Lord for every hour of our day. Look for the small things first then go to the big things; thank Him for the light turning green just when you needed to get to work on time. Thank Him for the Lord who sends that one friend to phone you just when you needed a friend to call and ask you how you are doing. Thank Him that you can go to life groups, Bible studies, or other fellowship times with friend, or would be friends. Thank Him that you have a home to live in, or food, or shoes on your feet. I could go on all week with praises!

Now I am not expecting us to sit and watch the clock, you all know how praise and thank the Lord for things I just want you to think of it when you glance at a clock, think to praise Him for something. Speak it aloud if you can because someone else may hear you and think about praising Him too! This is how we multiply our praises to our God; we exalt Him, we lift Him up and He will draw all men unto Himself! Praising God aloud is one way we can help other people come to know Him.

It is a great way to get perspective on our troubles as well.

When we begin to praise Him and thank Him for those small things, and work our way to the larger things we will see things more in His eyes, than in our own. When we look through the eyes of the Holy Spirit we will see things as they really are; small in comparison to the greatness He has given us.

Today let’s try to praise Him 8-10 times, that would be a good start. Then let’s try to praise Him more and more each day this week. Write it down if you want to be sure you remember to do so, but shout out for Jesus today!

Dear Heavenly Father, We give you praise today for waking us up and getting us on task for the day. Help us to realize this week that we have an abundance of things for which to give You praise, In Jesus' name, amen.

Suggested readings Psalm 42:1-11, Psalm 43:1-5, Psalm 44:1-9, John 14:1-31 and 1 Corinthians 10:1-33

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, 

And He shall direct your paths.Proverbs 3:5-6

Copyright © 2012

by Teresa M. Wilson.

No portion of this book study may be reproduced without explicit permission from the Author.