2020-11-20
Good Morning Dear Ones,
It’s important for us to become intimately acquainted with the Holy Spirit, just as we are with the Father and the Son, Jesus Christ. We already know that the Father is invisible and is the decision-maker in working out His plan of salvation. We also understand Who Jesus is, because we’ve been told, in COL 1: 15, that He is “the visible image of the invisible God, the Firstborn of all creation.” But what about the Holy Spirit? He was sent by the Son (after His ascension) to heaven as a “Counselor” to help us in times of our crossroads to make decisions. The Holy Spirit helps us to see and obey the Father’s will. All three personalities of God are consistent with each other and God’s teaching in the Bible. According to COL 1: 26-27 and COL 2: 2-3, God has lovingly opened His wisdom to the Holy Spirit, Who explains it to us. It is through the Holy Spirit, Who dwells in the souls of believers in Christ, that we receive the Father’s teaching and His wisdom.
No human is as wise as God, nor can he question or judge God. IS 40: 13, “Can anyone tell the Lord what to do? Who can teach Him or give Him advice?” And, in case we are wondering why God created us, an answer is found in IS 43: 7 [God speaking], “They are My people, and I created them to bring Me glory.” If we wonder what kind of relationship the Father wants with us through Christ and the Holy Spirit, just read His words given to Isaiah, in IS 46: 3-4. “Listen to Me Believers, I cared for you from the time you were born. I am your God and I will take care of you until you are old, and your hair is gray. I made you and I will take care of you; I will give you help, and I will rescue you.” Our God not only loves us; He has a plan for us that is meant to bring us close to Him. IS 46: 9-10, “Remember what happened long ago, acknowledge that I alone am God and that there is no one like Me. From the beginning I predicted the outcome; long ago I foretold what would happen. I said that my plans would never fail, that I would do everything I intended to do.”
God carries out His will for us by means of the Holy Spirit. 1 COR 2: 12, “We have not received the world’s spirit: instead we have received the Spirit sent by God, so that we may have all that God has given us.” Christ lives in us through the Holy Spirit, and thus, we are able to understand the things of the Spirit. Those without the Holy Spirit indwelt in them cannot do this. Once the Holy Spirit inhabits a human’s soul, the human’s life is changed for the better forever. Of course, it is necessary for us to open our souls to the Holy Spirit and empty them gradually of the things of the world. As covenant Partners, the personalities of the Trinity work hand in hand with one another to present a wholly consistent message of God’s will to us. When the apostle Peter was speaking to the crowd after the Pentecost [giving of the Holy Spirit], he was prompted to tell them, in AC 10 : 38, “You know about Jesus of Nazareth and how God pour out on Him the Holy Spirit and power. He went everywhere doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, for God was with Him.” RO 8: 11, “If the Spirit of God, Who raised Jesus from death lives in you, then He Who raised Christ from death will also give life to your mortal bodies to the presence of His Spirit in you.” This points out the difference between being under the world’s power, which is mere existence, and being alive in the Spirit, which is full-blown living. Dearest Readers, I can attest to the truth of this difference by my own first- hand experience. Before I received the Holy Spirit, I never had inner peace or knew the joy of being a believer in Jesus Christ. While happiness is situational, real joy is relational. It is, as one of my pastors has said, “Joy is found in wanting to be with one’s Covenant Partner all the time in a deep, fulfilling relationship.” NE 8: 10, “The joy of the Lord is my strength.”
PRAYER: O Lord, long before I was ever aware of Your presence, You were there, watching over me. It was Your will that despite my circumstances, I would overcome a difficult childhood and experience Your love. We have learned of Your love for us and have felt its power in our lives. Christ, in JN 14: 16-18, has told us that He would send a Counselor, Who would remain with us forever. He is the Spirit, Who would teach us to recognize the truth about God. The world can’t see it, because the Holy Spirit is not dwelling in them, but we can, with God’s help. We will never be left alone and abandoned [PS 9: 9-10]. In view of the many challenges to our faith that we must face, You demonstrate Your love by Your graceful and sacrificial sharing of His Spirit with us. The actions You take by opening Your wisdom to us allow You to bring us closer to You and more obediently faithful. 1 COR 10: 13, “Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps His promise, and He will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm at the time you are pout to the test. He will give you the strength to endure it and so provide you a way out through Jesus Christ.” Dearest Lord, we thank and praise You for the love You show us every day. In the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: How can we know the Trinity is not three separate beings? How does each personality relate with the others? How important is it that we accurately convey the Gospel of Jesus Christ? When in his walk with the Lord should a new believer be baptized? All these questions help us to better understand God’s will and how He interacts with us. They will be the subject of next week’s devotion. I have more to write about God-driven joy, characterized above as relational and not just situational. I have been blessed with a 44 year long joyful marriage after having had a much-shorter, bad marriage the first time around. Both my present husband and I take great pleasure in each other’s company, and I don’t say this to brag, except about what God makes possible. Although we came from the same culture, my first husband and I did share our faith in God together. Such was not the case with my ex- husband. We love attending our church together, discussing our understanding of God’s will, and have grown in our maturity in our faith. There have been many lessons for us from God in those 44 years, and I don’t doubt there will be more. Our shared ethics and interests have enriched our relationship and have brought us deep joy. God has also blessed us with happiness too. That is a reason that despite that both of us have health and mobility issues, we are finding joy in our relationship with each other, with our many friends, and with the Lord. It is a direct result of the love the Lord has shown us that we know what love really is. We know that the goodness in our lives has its origin in God’s decisions and actions. We never have to feel alone and abandoned, even when trouble rears its ugly head. Every day, there are blessings bestowed on us, and all we (or anyone else) need(s) to do is look for them. Praise and thanks be to the Lord!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn
JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2020. All Rights Reserved.
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