"Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of
you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And
you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and
your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God
will call.” (Acts 2:38,39 NIV)
When Peter
reminded those listening to him about Jesus--the Savior who came and was
crucified for their sins--they wanted to know--what could they do to be
saved. And this was Peter's response--the same as John's cry in the
wilderness--"repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sin and
receive the gift of Holy Spirit."
During a
conversation yesterday with a friend, we were talking about why
Believers say, they cannot give up vile habits. She said she didn't
understand why folks who claimed to be filled with the Holy Spirit
cannot stop smoking (or doing other things that would impact their
bodies negatively).
Although it is not our job to determine who
has been filled or not--when we don't see any evidence of being
filled--self discipline and control--we can draw certain conclusions about the validity of what a person says.
None
of us have the power--in of ourselves--to do anything worthwhile. It is
truly through the power of Holy Spirit that we can do all things and do
them well. We can stop cussing and being ignorant. We can stop
smoking (I'm not saying smoking is a sin; it's just stupid to do
something that kills you). We can stop deliberately living a lifestyle that opposes God's Word--if in fact, we are being led by Holy Spirit. When we see people doing these things and they "say" they are filled with Holy Spirit, it makes me wonder, if they're listening.
Now,
Holy Spirit does not "make us do" anything. He speaks to us--saying
only what God says, and convicts us when we are not doing what we're
supposed to do. Many may not listen and then say what they can't
do, but it's not a matter of what they cannot do; it's a matter of what
they don't want to do. "We can do all things through Him who strengthens us" when we listen to Holy Spirit.
When people won't repent and stop doing those things that are not good for them, it's because of their desires to do them.
No one--absolutely no one--who is filled with and led by Holy
Spirit--would even want to light up a cigarette, drink themselves into a
stupor, get high drugs, commit murder, lie, steal, or engage in sexual
immorality. If they do these things, they are grieving the Holy Spirit and He will not dwell in an unclean temple.
So, though they might have once been filled--when He leaves--He's gone
and it is truly unfortunate when a person doesn't even know--they booted
Him out and they know longer have His guidance.
The
evidence of Holy Spirit residing within us is quite simply--love, joy,
peace, forbearance (refraining from doing something), kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22).
Notice that the first criteria or evidence we see is "love" (if we
don't love self, we cannot love anyone else) and the last is
"self-control" (allowing Holy Spirit to lead us in all things). If none
of this evidence is present in our daily lives, we cannot say we are
filled with and led by Holy Spirit (and tell the truth).
Actually, no Believer should ever have to say
anything about being filled Holy Spirit. Everyone looking at us or
listening to us should know by our deeds and words who is leading us. This
does not mean that we have reached perfection, but we recognize when we
have erred and repent quickly, allowing Holy Spirit to guide us.
If we haven't repented--we need to do so--and be filled and allow Holy Spirit to take control of our lives. When we hear Him and respond, others will see the evidence of His dwelling within us and we don't have to say anything.
Showing posts with label Evidence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Evidence. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Need Some Charmin, Please!
No reason or rhyme to justify
Allegations, unproven many have said
She stories--reeking revenge
And yet, presumption of innocence
Ignored and people vent crying
foul,
When nothing is proven, just
accepted
Tales of yonder years, Hollywood
style
Drugs and sex, for all the wannabes
Who age has claimed its fame with
Sagging faces, memory lapses, and
Perhaps, shame from their part in
the game,
Trying to reach the top, without
skills
But willing to do whatever it takes
to bring
Down one who has persevered,
reclaiming
Career amidst the cheers and jeers
of those
Pronouncing him guilty, no trial
set,
And sentenced without conviction,
their views
Have no evidence to support, just hearsay
and numbers,
When everyone knows numbers can
expand
When the price is right and media
refuses to denounce
The injustice of presumption of
guilt, over innocence!
Where is this country headed? Down
the toilet so
Get the hip-boots out and the
Charmin!
Friday, November 7, 2014
Who Will Be Your Witness?
"Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe
the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about
his Son. All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that
this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually
calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified
about his Son." (I John 5:9,10 NLT)
If we had to stand trial today and provide evidence that we are who we say we are in Christ, what would be a judge's final ruling?
Who would we call to be our witnesses to support our claim to being a follower of Jesus Christ?
Do we even have any witnesses who could testify on our behalf?
Would we have to find "false witnesses" or would our witnesses tell the truth?
We can lie to ourselves and act like we are "all that" when in fact, we haven't reached a point in our lives where we truly believe we are who we say we are. If we did, the world would be a much better place for if we are truly His, we would know how to change the course of events without violence and hatred and bigotry and know how to encourage all to live according to God's Word, not in opposition of it.
Who will be your witness and can you call them to testify with confidence or will you quake as they speak?
If we truly think about how others perceive us and are willing to look self--in the face--and dare to make whatever changes are necessary, we would have no need to fear what any witness would say about our relationship with Christ.
Something to think about. We can fool ourselves and others, but we cannot fool God! He knows--everything about us!
If we had to stand trial today and provide evidence that we are who we say we are in Christ, what would be a judge's final ruling?
Who would we call to be our witnesses to support our claim to being a follower of Jesus Christ?
Do we even have any witnesses who could testify on our behalf?
Would we have to find "false witnesses" or would our witnesses tell the truth?
We can lie to ourselves and act like we are "all that" when in fact, we haven't reached a point in our lives where we truly believe we are who we say we are. If we did, the world would be a much better place for if we are truly His, we would know how to change the course of events without violence and hatred and bigotry and know how to encourage all to live according to God's Word, not in opposition of it.
Who will be your witness and can you call them to testify with confidence or will you quake as they speak?
If we truly think about how others perceive us and are willing to look self--in the face--and dare to make whatever changes are necessary, we would have no need to fear what any witness would say about our relationship with Christ.
Something to think about. We can fool ourselves and others, but we cannot fool God! He knows--everything about us!
Thursday, February 20, 2014
The Irrefutable Testimony!
"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children" (Romans 8:16 NIV).
There are a number of people who are confused as to whether or not they are descendants of Abraham and entitled to all the benefits of being one of God's chosen. From the beginning, God chose those He wanted to call His own and bless. This relationship was based on a natural connection to Abraham through bloodline (the basis of most relationships claiming to be family). However, because many of the natural relatives were rebellious and disobedient, the connective relationship with God was broken and Jesus had to come to restore it.
When the relationship was restored through the work on the cross, all who chose to accept Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord became part of the family by adoption through Holy Spirit. Now, if we are adopted into the family of Abraham, and recognized by God as being part of the family, why on earth are we confused?
Instead of listening to those who are confused and allow negativity to reign in their lives, we must know for ourselves whose children we are. Imagine this event being played out in a courtroom. We have been charged with proclaiming we are joint-heirs with Christ (He's our elder brother) and thereby children of the most High God. All of the witnesses of religious dogma have been called to testify against us, but there is One who testifies with irrefutable evidence-the Word of God. Holy Spirit convinces our spirit that we are the children of God and as such, entitled to all the benefits and promises of God!
Do we dare believe Him? Absolutely, we dare and proclaim from the mountain tops and throughout the valleys that we are children of God. We have a right to proclaim God as our Father, Jesus as our elder brother and Holy Spirit as our guide and counselor in all matters. We have a right to receive all the benefits God promised the Children of Israel from the beginning. We can claim with assurance that God has planned our lives and He planned them with purpose--that we might prosper and have a future with hope. We can proclaim that whatever we put our hands to when we obey God, will succeed. We can rest assured of His promises of victory--being the head and not the tail, being healed by the stripes Jesus bore before being nailed to the cross, having an eternal resting place with Jesus when we choose to be obedient. We have a right to make these claims when we have accepted the adopting agent--our faith in God.
Now with the right to receive all the promises, we all put ourselves in position to receive all the persecution and negativity that was directed at Jesus. We must stay focused on Him and never lose sight of the prize in Christ Jesus--our hope must remain intact until the end when we receive our eternal reward. However, when we choose not to be obedient, we must also expect to receive the consequences that were also promised to those children who disobeyed.
Think about it! Are you proclaiming to be a child of the Most High? I have been accused of proclaiming an inheritance in Jesus--and the evidence provided by Holy Spirit is irrefutable! Hallelujah! I am a child of the Most High, entitled to all His many benefits!
There are a number of people who are confused as to whether or not they are descendants of Abraham and entitled to all the benefits of being one of God's chosen. From the beginning, God chose those He wanted to call His own and bless. This relationship was based on a natural connection to Abraham through bloodline (the basis of most relationships claiming to be family). However, because many of the natural relatives were rebellious and disobedient, the connective relationship with God was broken and Jesus had to come to restore it.
When the relationship was restored through the work on the cross, all who chose to accept Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord became part of the family by adoption through Holy Spirit. Now, if we are adopted into the family of Abraham, and recognized by God as being part of the family, why on earth are we confused?
Instead of listening to those who are confused and allow negativity to reign in their lives, we must know for ourselves whose children we are. Imagine this event being played out in a courtroom. We have been charged with proclaiming we are joint-heirs with Christ (He's our elder brother) and thereby children of the most High God. All of the witnesses of religious dogma have been called to testify against us, but there is One who testifies with irrefutable evidence-the Word of God. Holy Spirit convinces our spirit that we are the children of God and as such, entitled to all the benefits and promises of God!
Do we dare believe Him? Absolutely, we dare and proclaim from the mountain tops and throughout the valleys that we are children of God. We have a right to proclaim God as our Father, Jesus as our elder brother and Holy Spirit as our guide and counselor in all matters. We have a right to receive all the benefits God promised the Children of Israel from the beginning. We can claim with assurance that God has planned our lives and He planned them with purpose--that we might prosper and have a future with hope. We can proclaim that whatever we put our hands to when we obey God, will succeed. We can rest assured of His promises of victory--being the head and not the tail, being healed by the stripes Jesus bore before being nailed to the cross, having an eternal resting place with Jesus when we choose to be obedient. We have a right to make these claims when we have accepted the adopting agent--our faith in God.
Now with the right to receive all the promises, we all put ourselves in position to receive all the persecution and negativity that was directed at Jesus. We must stay focused on Him and never lose sight of the prize in Christ Jesus--our hope must remain intact until the end when we receive our eternal reward. However, when we choose not to be obedient, we must also expect to receive the consequences that were also promised to those children who disobeyed.
Think about it! Are you proclaiming to be a child of the Most High? I have been accused of proclaiming an inheritance in Jesus--and the evidence provided by Holy Spirit is irrefutable! Hallelujah! I am a child of the Most High, entitled to all His many benefits!
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