The Work of the Holy Spirit

Read | Galatians 5:16

The Creator has a specific plan for each person's life, and He has arranged our talents, abilities, and circumstances to fit with these individualized goals (Eph. 2:10). When we connect with our God-given purpose, we feel deep satisfaction and great joy. However, it's important to understand that we can't achieve the Lord's goals on our own; only by His strength and direction are we able to succeed.

In John 16:33, Jesus warned us that trouble is an integral part of life in this world. But easily forgetting how weak we are, we tend to take on challenges in our own strength and resourcefulness. Human nature wants to tackle life by itself and in its own power--and then take credit. So when temptations, trials, criticism, gossip, and persecution assail, many of us have the tendency to go into high gear and try all the harder.

For a while, life may actually seem good this way. But in the long run, self-reliance creates a mess. And it also interferes with the fulfillment of God's purposes.

The truth is, we sometimes have to experience failure in life in order to realize our complete dependence upon God. He lovingly breaks our pride by showing us that we cannot live fully without following the Spirit's guidance.

Have you surrendered to the Holy Spirit's control? Acknowledge your weakness and recognize His power, omniscience, and wisdom. The Lord does not call you to live the Christian life, which is a human impossibility. Rather, He wants you to yield control and let Him live His life through you.

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from Intouch magazine, Daily Devotional - March 2012

The Holy Spirit - An Absolute Essential

Read | Luke 24:36-49

Salvation occurs when we trust Jesus as our Savior--He forgives us, transforms us, and sees us as righteous. In that moment, we are redeemed, and though we continue to struggle with sin, it is a defeated foe. Then as time goes on, our service, gifts, and love for Him should naturally become greater.

Unfortunately, a lot of Christians sit in church week after week, going through the motions yet lacking passion and failing to grow. How is such a thing possible? Tragically, many believers are unaware of the essential ministry of God's Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is a member of the Trinity and co-equal with God the Father and God the Son. The opening chapter of Scripture tells us that He existed before the formation of the earth and in fact participated in creation (Gen. 1:2, 26). Today, He has the critical role of helping and counseling all believers.

The Holy Spirit is a gift to every child of God. His presence within us isn't something we have to earn or acquire. Rather, it is a marvelous privilege--by indwelling our hearts, He can guide and strengthen, steering each believer away from danger and into truth (John 16:7-8). Scripture tells us that Jesus came so we could experience a full life (10:10). This is possible only when we listen to His Spirit and obey.

Are you experiencing the abundant life Jesus promised? He wasn't talking about happy circumstances but rather the joy and contentment possible through a relationship with Him. If you're lacking in this area, consider your understanding of the Holy Spirit, and pray to be in tune with His promptings.

Another Divine Helper

READ: JOHN 14: 16-18

Have you ever wished you had a 911 number that rang in heaven whenever you had a need? Well, I have good news for believers. we all have divine assistance that's even closer than a phone call: our Helper dwells within us. But if we are unaware of Him, we'll miss many opportunities to benefit from the greatest asset in our Christian life - the Holy Spirit's presence. 

Christ knew that when he left the earth, His disciples would be totally inadequate for the task He was giving them - to evangelize the world. Though they'd spent three years with  Jesus, all they had seen and learned would still not sufficiently equip them for what lay ahead. They needed supernatural help, and so do we - someone who will come to our aid, empower our service and transform us from the inside out.

The Holy Spirit is the only one who can achieve all this. Consider His qualifications: 

1. He is a personal Helper, not some inanimate force. God's Spirit is a member of the Trinity and coequal with both the Father and Jesus Christ.

2. He is a practical Helper who involves Himself in every aspect of our lives.

3. He is an adequate Helper because He's omnipotent, omnisicent, and omnipresent.

4. He is an available Helper who permanently lives within us.

Do you have any need that requires more power than omnipotence? Are you facing a decision that requires more knowledge than omniscience? Nothing we encounter is bigger than the omnipresent One who lives within us. Be calm and confident. No matter what challenges you face, He can help. 

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from Intouch Magazine, August 2011 issue

The Power Within

Why use Yoda's pic you ask? Just would like to make an example. Without the "force" within him (or it) he wouldn't be able to accomplish great things. Why do we think it's so cool to watch the 'Force' in film? There is no denying the inspiration behind the fiction. We can actually have the real Spirit of the Force within us. May The Force Be With You... :)

Read: EPHESIANS 3: 14-21

Bertha Smith, a missionary to China, once expressed some of the most discouraging words I'd ever heard. "Charles, I want to tell you that you're as good as you'll ever be. You're as good as you've ever been, and you won't ever be any better than you are."

I had grown up believing a falsehood-that believers were to pour effort into turning their flesh around and doing right all the time. Thankfully, Bertha wasn't finished. "God never intended for you to get better, because you can't improve the flesh," she said. "But the Holy Spirit, who is living inside you, will enable and live through you."

She was right. My flesh hasn't changed one bit. But the Holy Spirit releases His supernatural power in my life, and I find myself going beyond what is inherent to the nature of man. And that's why He indwells every follower of God.

Although the works of the Holy Spirit are many, four are basic to the life of faith:
1) The Spirit illumines the mind, enabling believers to understand the things of God.
2) He energizes physical bodies to serve the Lord
3) He enables the will to follow through on doing what is right.
4) He quickens emotions to feel and express the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23)

Bertha Smith passed on an important truth to me: Flesh is insufficient. Only the Holy Spirit living inside us has the strength and wisdom to live out the Christian life victoriously. That's why God gave Him to us. Through the Spirit, we reap all the benefits of a righteous and Godly life.
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from Intouch magazine, June 2011 issue
* Admin's own thoughts