In His final instruction to His disciples concerning all believers to come, Jesus said, "Father,
I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am,
that they may behold My glory which You have given Me..." (John 17:24) The word "behold" in this verse means more than to perceive with the eyes, but moreover, to enjoy the presence. Jesus would not have said this if it were not possible for believers to encounter. It is important that we understand that Jesus was not simply talking of His glory as the risen Lord now seated in heaven, but also His glory manifesting on earth. This should be a desire of all believers, that is, to have and enjoy the glory of the Lord manifesting in the here and now on earth. Why?
The glory of God releases and produces something in the hearts of people that cannot be received directly through hearing teachings, reading books, or receiving an anointing through the laying on of hands, even though these are good things to do and can point us to the glory. However, if we sincerely want to be changed and transformed, we must have an insatiable desire to enter into His glory, into His presence. The Psalmist David said, "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name." (Psalm 100:4) and "You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy..." (Psalm 16:11) It is in His presence where believers will experience things that are, "...exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think..."
(Ephesians 3:20) It is the place where we "all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:18)
However, to experience continuous transformation, we also need to know how to respond when the glory of God manifests. There is no formula, method, or manual regarding how to do this, but we must be prepared for His presence to come. Sometimes, His presence comes to heal or deliver, and people are aware of it, but they do nothing about it; they don't respond in faith. Even though God acts according to His sovereign will concerning this, our part is to worship Him, or to say, "Lord,I receive my healing. I receive my deliverance." We have to respond to Him when His presence comes. If we have wrong attitudes towards His presence, we may find ourselves missing His coming. This very thing happened to Jacob, "Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” (Genesis 28:16) Even worse, we may find ourselves grieving the Holy Spirit.
As we see, it is possible for us to be in the same place where the glory of God is present and not realize it. His
presence is a gift so, let us not ignore or reject Him. God does not
manifest His presence where He is simply tolerated, He comes where He is
celebrated. We need to remain sensitive to how the Spirit of God is moving. The next time we recognize His presence, we can respond in faith and worship. When Jacob did realize that God was with him, he set up a pillar, marking the place, and anointed it with oil. (Genesis 28:17-18)
I believe God is raising up a new generation of men and women of all ages who will know how to respond to His presence. This generation will thirst for His glory to manifest on earth. The darkness in the world will become denser each day, and wickedness will multiply, but the manifestation of God on earth will also become more powerful with each passing moment, "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven...For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." (Matthew 6:10, 13) It will be this generation of believers, of every age, every nation and tongue, that will impact the world and gather the greatest harvest of souls ever seen.
I believe that entire cities and nations will be shaken by His glory and we will see some of the greatest miracles, signs, and wonders taking place where they will recognize Jesus as Lord and Savior. My question to you is this; are you willing to be transformed and be a part of the new generation? If your answer is yes, God will take care of everything because He does not want His people to waste their time following religious norms. He wants us to enjoy the highest dimension of His glory. So, let us move on to perfection in and through His glory.
"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen." Jude 24-25)
Monday, September 3, 2018
Monday, August 27, 2018
Laboring More Than All
Labor Day, the first Monday in September, was created by the labor movement in the United States and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed by the Central Labor Union. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers throughout the United States. In 1887 Oregon became the first state of the United States to make Labor Day an official public holiday. By the time it became an official federal holiday in 1894, thirty U.S. states officially celebrated Labor Day. Today, all the States, the District of Columbia, and the United States territories have made Labor Day a legal holiday.
Man was created to labor in some form. Prior to man's fall we see, "Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it." (Genesis 2:15) The word "tend" or "dress" (KJV) comes from several Hebrew words meaning, to labor; do work; to work for another; serve another by labor; to make oneself a servant; to be led or enticed to serve. The word "keep" means, to have charge of; to guard; keep watch; protect; observe. We also see in creation, another aspect of mans labors, "Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26-28) Man was to show his fruitfulness, become numerous, make subservient and rule over creation.
The grace of God is available to every believer who desires to receive it and act upon the call, the labors, in which we are called. Every believe has been freely given the wonderful ability and strength of God, from God, "Yet grace (God’s unmerited
favor) was given to each of us individually [not indiscriminately, but
in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ’s [rich and
bounteous] gift." (Ephesians 4:7 AMPC) Even though Adam brought to mankind all of our labors through our own strength and abilities, we see, "For
if because of one man’s (Adam) trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through
that one, much more surely will those who receive [God’s] overflowing
grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness [putting them
into right standing with Himself] reign as kings in life through the
one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)." (Romans 5:17 AMPC) WOW!!!
Even though we may celebrate Labor Day in the natural as the social and economic achievements of American workers, we believers celebrate the tremendous, stupendous, achievements that the Father worked in Christ. Through Christ and the grace of God, man is completely restored to his legal and rightful place. Man is restored to the place that the Father had originally intended for him, which Adam had forfeited. So, let us keep in mind the very thing that the Apostle Paul said about himself, as it also applies to every believer, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20) Therefore, "I (we, every believer) have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]." (Philippians 4:13 AMPC) Thank you for your still amazing grace, LORD...
Man was created to labor in some form. Prior to man's fall we see, "Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it." (Genesis 2:15) The word "tend" or "dress" (KJV) comes from several Hebrew words meaning, to labor; do work; to work for another; serve another by labor; to make oneself a servant; to be led or enticed to serve. The word "keep" means, to have charge of; to guard; keep watch; protect; observe. We also see in creation, another aspect of mans labors, "Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26-28) Man was to show his fruitfulness, become numerous, make subservient and rule over creation.
With these things in mind, believers must understand that God's plan for man has not changed. The only thing that changed, on man's part, was selling out his God given purpose, to God's enemy, Satan. The laboring that Adam would now do would be, "In toil you shall eat...In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread." (Genesis 3:17-19) Adam's labors would be by his own strength, in toil, sorrow, pain and hardship. This would be his lot in life. This did not fall on Adam alone, but as the federal representative of all mankind, this would also fall upon all the peoples of the earth. Although man's labors would be by his own strength and abilities, the call upon him had not changed in the mind of God. Believers are called to labor, not just in the market place to acquire finances, but moreover, for Jesus the King and the expansion of His Kingdom. In other words, believers are to labor; do work; to make oneself a servant; to have charge of; to
guard; keep watch; protect; observe and to rule over. We see this in the life of Jesus throughout the gospels. Jesus set the example and then gave a command to the disciples and for all who would believe in Him. This is expressed through what we call "The Great Commission."
Jesus tells us, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20) The authority of Christ is the ability or strength with which one is endued, which he either possesses or exercises as well as, the power of rule. Now of course we know that Jesus has the power and authority; He has the ability or strength to exercise and rule, but what about the believer? The Holy Spirit speaking through the Apostle Paul tells us,"And
He (God the Father) has put all things under His (Jesus Christ) feet and has appointed Him the
universal and supreme Head of the church [a headship exercised
throughout the church], Which
is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all [for in that body
lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who
fills everything everywhere with Himself]." (Ephesians 1:22-23 AMPC)
As we can see, God's power and authority is working in Christ and therefore through the church, which is His body. However, this is not upon our strength or ability, but through two most wonderful things, by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:8) The Apostle Paul in his labors for Christ tell us, "But by the grace (the
unmerited favor and blessing) of God I am what I am, and His grace
toward me was not [found to be] for nothing (fruitless and without
effect). In fact, I worked harder than all of them [the apostles],
though it was not really I, but the grace (the unmerited favor and
blessing) of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15:10 AMPC) This is how the church, every believe is to labor; do work; to make oneself a servant; to have charge of; to
guard; keep watch; protect; observe and to rule over. It is through the grace of God. One of the best biblical definitions of grace is, "[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually
at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire],
both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight." (Philippians 2:13 AMPC)
Even though we may celebrate Labor Day in the natural as the social and economic achievements of American workers, we believers celebrate the tremendous, stupendous, achievements that the Father worked in Christ. Through Christ and the grace of God, man is completely restored to his legal and rightful place. Man is restored to the place that the Father had originally intended for him, which Adam had forfeited. So, let us keep in mind the very thing that the Apostle Paul said about himself, as it also applies to every believer, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20) Therefore, "I (we, every believer) have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]." (Philippians 4:13 AMPC) Thank you for your still amazing grace, LORD...
Monday, August 20, 2018
God's Medicine
In defining what faith is, the same verse of scripture also defines hope, "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]." (Hebrews 11:1 AMPC) The biblical concepts of faith (belief; a sure persuasion or conviction of the
truth of God's Word) and hope (confident expectation of good in the future) are entirely distinct. We see this revealed by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul, "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13)
Notice again, that faith and hope are quite distinct. Faith is the substance, here and now in your heart,
of things that you are hoping for in the future. It is the assured confidence, it is being fully convinced of the reality of things not seen, and those unseen things are what God says in His Word. We also know that faith comes exclusively through the Word of God, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) Looking at the Proverbs of Solomon, we find some wise words that show us just how important God's Word is. Although there is much revealed in Proverbs concerning God's Word, our main focus here is only three verses. "My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh." (Proverbs 4:20-22)
There are four distinct things to be aware of; Give attention; Incline your ear to God's sayings; Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart. First, "my son, give attention to my words." When God speaks to us, we need to give Him our full and undivided attention. To receive from God comes down to one key point, how we listen. Are we listening with undivided attention to God's Word or are we listening to something else? Giving attention to God's Word is not only the key to opening His promises and blessings, but is the key to receiving and or increasing in faith. Many people read the Bible and never hear God because their minds are on other things. We must put ourselves into a position both spiritually and mentally, that enables us to hear what God is saying.
Second, "Incline your ear to my sayings." Incline here means to bend or bow down, your ear. One cannot bend their ear without also bending the head. Inclining your ear, therefore, means that you are actually inclining your entire head. This implies an attitude of humility as well as one of being teachable, one who is giving attention. An essential requirement for receiving God's Word is to lay down our preconceptions and prejudices, open our ears, and listen carefully to what God says. We must also guard our hearts from rejecting His Word because it doesn't agree with some things that we have been taught as being true. This is why we must look into God's Word without preconceptions and prejudices. We should come to God and say something like this, "Lord, You are the Teacher, I am the student. I am willing to let You teach me, so I bow down my ear, and I listen to You."
The third thing is, "Do not let them depart from your eyes." The key thought here can be summed up in the word focus. With natural eyesight, incorrect focus causes blurred vision. In the same way, unless we focus our spiritual eyes, we will always have a blurred vision of spiritual reality. Jesus said, "The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness." (Luke 11:34) We must read
the Bible with a good eye that affirms, "This is what God says, this is what He means, and I believe it the way it's written."
The fourth thing we see, "Keep them in the midst of your heart." The purpose of giving attention to God's Words, inclining your ear to His sayings and not letting them depart from your eyes, is so that Gods Words and sayings will reach the inner person, the heart. When His Words get to the heart, they will do what is promised. In the natural world, for some medicine to be effective, it has to be released into the bloodstream, or it will not do what it's supposed to do. Spiritually, God's medicine is effective only when it's released in our hearts so that it can flow to every area of our lives. What one has in their heart will determine the course of their life, "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23) Jesus tells us, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45)
Simply put, if we have the right things in our heart, our life will go right. If we have wrong things in our heart, our life will go wrong. So, let us keep God's Word in the midst of our heart not just in the midst of our mind, because it is going to affect the entire way that we live. Therefore, if we take God's Word according to how He has prescribe it, He guarantees us that His Words "are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh." God has given us free will, the right to choose. It is up to every believer to decide whether they will take the prescribed medicine, God's Word, in the way He tells us, that we may find life and health which God has pledged to gives us...
truth of God's Word) and hope (confident expectation of good in the future) are entirely distinct. We see this revealed by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul, "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13)
Notice again, that faith and hope are quite distinct. Faith is the substance, here and now in your heart,
of things that you are hoping for in the future. It is the assured confidence, it is being fully convinced of the reality of things not seen, and those unseen things are what God says in His Word. We also know that faith comes exclusively through the Word of God, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) Looking at the Proverbs of Solomon, we find some wise words that show us just how important God's Word is. Although there is much revealed in Proverbs concerning God's Word, our main focus here is only three verses. "My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh." (Proverbs 4:20-22)
There are four distinct things to be aware of; Give attention; Incline your ear to God's sayings; Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart. First, "my son, give attention to my words." When God speaks to us, we need to give Him our full and undivided attention. To receive from God comes down to one key point, how we listen. Are we listening with undivided attention to God's Word or are we listening to something else? Giving attention to God's Word is not only the key to opening His promises and blessings, but is the key to receiving and or increasing in faith. Many people read the Bible and never hear God because their minds are on other things. We must put ourselves into a position both spiritually and mentally, that enables us to hear what God is saying.
Second, "Incline your ear to my sayings." Incline here means to bend or bow down, your ear. One cannot bend their ear without also bending the head. Inclining your ear, therefore, means that you are actually inclining your entire head. This implies an attitude of humility as well as one of being teachable, one who is giving attention. An essential requirement for receiving God's Word is to lay down our preconceptions and prejudices, open our ears, and listen carefully to what God says. We must also guard our hearts from rejecting His Word because it doesn't agree with some things that we have been taught as being true. This is why we must look into God's Word without preconceptions and prejudices. We should come to God and say something like this, "Lord, You are the Teacher, I am the student. I am willing to let You teach me, so I bow down my ear, and I listen to You."
The third thing is, "Do not let them depart from your eyes." The key thought here can be summed up in the word focus. With natural eyesight, incorrect focus causes blurred vision. In the same way, unless we focus our spiritual eyes, we will always have a blurred vision of spiritual reality. Jesus said, "The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness." (Luke 11:34) We must read
the Bible with a good eye that affirms, "This is what God says, this is what He means, and I believe it the way it's written."
The fourth thing we see, "Keep them in the midst of your heart." The purpose of giving attention to God's Words, inclining your ear to His sayings and not letting them depart from your eyes, is so that Gods Words and sayings will reach the inner person, the heart. When His Words get to the heart, they will do what is promised. In the natural world, for some medicine to be effective, it has to be released into the bloodstream, or it will not do what it's supposed to do. Spiritually, God's medicine is effective only when it's released in our hearts so that it can flow to every area of our lives. What one has in their heart will determine the course of their life, "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23) Jesus tells us, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45)
Simply put, if we have the right things in our heart, our life will go right. If we have wrong things in our heart, our life will go wrong. So, let us keep God's Word in the midst of our heart not just in the midst of our mind, because it is going to affect the entire way that we live. Therefore, if we take God's Word according to how He has prescribe it, He guarantees us that His Words "are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh." God has given us free will, the right to choose. It is up to every believer to decide whether they will take the prescribed medicine, God's Word, in the way He tells us, that we may find life and health which God has pledged to gives us...
Monday, August 13, 2018
I Can Hope, Can't I
The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13) Much time has been spent on understanding faith and love, but Paul shows us that hope is also valid and necessary in the believers life. Paul tells us to "abide" in these three, which means to remain and or continue in. In this verse it denotes remaining in a place or in a state or condition of not changing. In other words, when the other things pass away, such as prophecy, tongues, and knowledge, (1 Corinthians 13:8), the sense here is that faith, hope, and love will always remain and of course the greatest and most important of these three is love.
Looking deeper at this verse, notice that faith and hope are quite distinct. Faith is the substance, here and now in your heart, of things that you are hoping for in the future. It is a sure persuasion and non-negotiable conviction concerning the reality of things not seen, which things are what God says in His Word. The Apostle Paul tells us, "But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation." (1 Thessalonians 5:8) We see that faith and hope are located in different areas. The breastplate, being in the realm of the heart, reveals faith is from the heart, whereas, the helmet the hope, covers the head, shows us that hope is of the mind.
With that said, it is crucial for us to understand the difference between faith and hope, knowing that hope is important to round out the Christian life. Again, the difference between faith and hope is, faith is something that you have right now and hope is directed toward the future. Faith is being fully convinced "now" of the Truth, God's Word, while hope is the confident mental expectation of something good in the "future." This is why the position for the believer is to "guard our heart and mind." Jesus said, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45) The Apostle Paul tells us, "...be renewed in the spirit of your mind." (Ephesians 4:23) Therefore, believers are to have hope in their mind for the future, and faith in their heart in the integrity of God's Word for the here and now.
Looking closer at faith and hope, we also see a spiritual connection between these two spiritual realities. The Apostle Paul reveals the connection through the life of Abraham, "Who, (Abraham) contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, so shall your descendants be." (Romans 4:18) Abraham believed, and, as a result, he hoped. Notice that believing, that is, faith, came first, and hoping, or hope, was the product, or the outcome of what he believed. We see this as revealed by the writer of Hebrews, "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]." (Hebrews 11:1 AMPC)
We can say that faith is the full assurance on which hope is supported and therefore, faith, produces
hope. Again, faith is in the heart, while hope is in the mind. Faith is in the now, while hope is for the future. Both are essential, but we must have them in the right place and in the right relationship. Next, notice, "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13) God is not only the God of power, of righteousness, grace, promises, blessings, etc., but also, the God who inspires or produces hope in the believer through the working of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul reveal a sobering verse of scripture concerning hope and the unsaved, "that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world." (Ephesians 2:12)
This verse show us that the unsaved are without three things; without Christ, without hope, and without God the Father. When you are without hope, you are without Christ and without God the Father. It is very sad when we consider this, especially when considering people who we know, who are not born again. However, on the other side of the coin, "the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:26-27) We see here that the gospel centers on this great and wonderful revelation that was kept secret from ages past, but is now revealed to believers, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. When we were lost, we were without Christ, and without hope. But when we have Christ in us, we have the hope of glory, that is, hope for the future as well as hope of eternal life.
The one who has Christ in him/her has hope for a glorious, radiant, confident expectation of eternal glory with almighty God, the holy angels, and the redeemed of all ages. That is what a person has when they have Christ. So, yes, hope has and important part to play in the believers life, but let us not confuse it with faith. Finally, although there is much to say about love, I leave you with this, "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5)
Looking deeper at this verse, notice that faith and hope are quite distinct. Faith is the substance, here and now in your heart, of things that you are hoping for in the future. It is a sure persuasion and non-negotiable conviction concerning the reality of things not seen, which things are what God says in His Word. The Apostle Paul tells us, "But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation." (1 Thessalonians 5:8) We see that faith and hope are located in different areas. The breastplate, being in the realm of the heart, reveals faith is from the heart, whereas, the helmet the hope, covers the head, shows us that hope is of the mind.
With that said, it is crucial for us to understand the difference between faith and hope, knowing that hope is important to round out the Christian life. Again, the difference between faith and hope is, faith is something that you have right now and hope is directed toward the future. Faith is being fully convinced "now" of the Truth, God's Word, while hope is the confident mental expectation of something good in the "future." This is why the position for the believer is to "guard our heart and mind." Jesus said, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45) The Apostle Paul tells us, "...be renewed in the spirit of your mind." (Ephesians 4:23) Therefore, believers are to have hope in their mind for the future, and faith in their heart in the integrity of God's Word for the here and now.
Looking closer at faith and hope, we also see a spiritual connection between these two spiritual realities. The Apostle Paul reveals the connection through the life of Abraham, "Who, (Abraham) contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, so shall your descendants be." (Romans 4:18) Abraham believed, and, as a result, he hoped. Notice that believing, that is, faith, came first, and hoping, or hope, was the product, or the outcome of what he believed. We see this as revealed by the writer of Hebrews, "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]." (Hebrews 11:1 AMPC)
We can say that faith is the full assurance on which hope is supported and therefore, faith, produces
hope. Again, faith is in the heart, while hope is in the mind. Faith is in the now, while hope is for the future. Both are essential, but we must have them in the right place and in the right relationship. Next, notice, "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13) God is not only the God of power, of righteousness, grace, promises, blessings, etc., but also, the God who inspires or produces hope in the believer through the working of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul reveal a sobering verse of scripture concerning hope and the unsaved, "that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world." (Ephesians 2:12)
This verse show us that the unsaved are without three things; without Christ, without hope, and without God the Father. When you are without hope, you are without Christ and without God the Father. It is very sad when we consider this, especially when considering people who we know, who are not born again. However, on the other side of the coin, "the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:26-27) We see here that the gospel centers on this great and wonderful revelation that was kept secret from ages past, but is now revealed to believers, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. When we were lost, we were without Christ, and without hope. But when we have Christ in us, we have the hope of glory, that is, hope for the future as well as hope of eternal life.
The one who has Christ in him/her has hope for a glorious, radiant, confident expectation of eternal glory with almighty God, the holy angels, and the redeemed of all ages. That is what a person has when they have Christ. So, yes, hope has and important part to play in the believers life, but let us not confuse it with faith. Finally, although there is much to say about love, I leave you with this, "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5)
Tuesday, August 7, 2018
It Is Settled
Although faith is one of the most important aspects of the Christian life, I have found that it is one of the least taught subjects in most church circles. The word faith appears in the King James Version of the Bible 243 times; two times in the Old Testament; 241 times in the New Testament; with 29 times in the Gospels; and 210 times after the Day of Pentecost. We would think that it is a very important word that should be investigated, taught and understood. In fact, one is not born again without it, "For by grace you have been saved through faith..." (Ephesians 2:8). Because faith is absolutely essential to the believer, I would like to focus on four basic truths about the nature of faith.
We begin by looking at a phrase used four times in the Bible, "The just shall live by faith." (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38) First of all, faith is individual. The righteous person lives by his/her own faith. They do not live by the faith of someone else, but must live by their own faith. This is the responsibility of every believer. Although God will honor the faith of another believer praying for you as a temporary substitute, He expects everyone of His children to acquire and live by their own, personal faith.
Second, we need to discover how all inclusive the statement, "The just shall live by his faith" truly is. Living includes everything about us, such as, breathing, thinking, eating, talking, walking, working, praying, everything. However, for the believer, faith is the only acceptable basis to God for any kind of activity. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "...for whatever is not from faith is sin." (Romans 14:23) This includes all activities, not simply religious ones. The Holy Spirit through the writer of Hebrews tells us, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6) All the works that believers can do, if it is without faith, it is simply that, works, and it will not please God.
Third, we need to see that the life of faith is progressive. It is not static, it is not to ever plateau, nor is it some condition that believers can take or leave. Misunderstanding this aspect of faith is the greatest snare of the majority of Christians. Many believers often feel they can come to a place where they are able to say, in a sense, "this is it, I really do not need to go or grow any more in faith." This is what is referred to as, cruse control Christianity. It is the place where believers see no need to have greater faith, because they feel as though they have acquired enough. Yet this is not what the Bible teaches. Like natural life, maturing from infant to adult, the spiritual life or the life of faith is also something that is progressive, it never stands still. The writer of Hebrews reproves believers for staying in an infantile state, "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food." (Hebrews 5:12)
Although in the natural, people do have an element of faith, however, it is not the faith that is required to receive salvation and live in the power of God. The natural kind of faith is solely based upon what the five senses, seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, smelling, can understand and assimilate in the mind. However, if one of these senses is removed or severely altered, it becomes a difficult task at best to understand and live, because this kind of faith relies on physical evidence alone. Natural faith gives birth to many achievements in the natural, but is a poor substitute for true faith, that is revelation faith. This brings us to point number four.
The fourth thing we need to see about faith is that it is based solely and exclusively on the Bible, the Word of God, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) Faith comes by hearing the Word, understanding the Word and having the Word become a part of us. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle James tells us, "...receive with meekness (humility) the implanted (grafted in) word, which is able to save your souls (mind, will and emotions)." (James 1:21) Faith also comes by knowing that God's Word, like He Himself, does not change, "Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven." (Psalm 119:89) "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” (Isaiah 40:8), because He and His Word are One, "For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one." (1 John 5:7)
Observing these four things should bring us to understand that our faith is not based on circumstances, emotions, or symptoms. It must be based simply and solely on the Word of God apprehended without the five senses and then acted upon. "Nay, some one will say, "You have faith, I have actions: prove to me your faith apart from corresponding actions and I will prove mine to you by my actions." (James 2:18 WEY) As we see, saying I have faith without corresponding actions is not the kind of faith that pleases God. Faith then is the result of God's Word, not simply committed to memory, but dwelling in us, lived and practiced. As we think deeply in it and feed on it, it becomes a very part of ourselves, building in us confidence and assurance knowing, "...that what God had (has) promised He was (is) also able to perform." (Romans 4:21)
We begin by looking at a phrase used four times in the Bible, "The just shall live by faith." (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38) First of all, faith is individual. The righteous person lives by his/her own faith. They do not live by the faith of someone else, but must live by their own faith. This is the responsibility of every believer. Although God will honor the faith of another believer praying for you as a temporary substitute, He expects everyone of His children to acquire and live by their own, personal faith.
Second, we need to discover how all inclusive the statement, "The just shall live by his faith" truly is. Living includes everything about us, such as, breathing, thinking, eating, talking, walking, working, praying, everything. However, for the believer, faith is the only acceptable basis to God for any kind of activity. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "...for whatever is not from faith is sin." (Romans 14:23) This includes all activities, not simply religious ones. The Holy Spirit through the writer of Hebrews tells us, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6) All the works that believers can do, if it is without faith, it is simply that, works, and it will not please God.
Third, we need to see that the life of faith is progressive. It is not static, it is not to ever plateau, nor is it some condition that believers can take or leave. Misunderstanding this aspect of faith is the greatest snare of the majority of Christians. Many believers often feel they can come to a place where they are able to say, in a sense, "this is it, I really do not need to go or grow any more in faith." This is what is referred to as, cruse control Christianity. It is the place where believers see no need to have greater faith, because they feel as though they have acquired enough. Yet this is not what the Bible teaches. Like natural life, maturing from infant to adult, the spiritual life or the life of faith is also something that is progressive, it never stands still. The writer of Hebrews reproves believers for staying in an infantile state, "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food." (Hebrews 5:12)
Although in the natural, people do have an element of faith, however, it is not the faith that is required to receive salvation and live in the power of God. The natural kind of faith is solely based upon what the five senses, seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, smelling, can understand and assimilate in the mind. However, if one of these senses is removed or severely altered, it becomes a difficult task at best to understand and live, because this kind of faith relies on physical evidence alone. Natural faith gives birth to many achievements in the natural, but is a poor substitute for true faith, that is revelation faith. This brings us to point number four.
The fourth thing we need to see about faith is that it is based solely and exclusively on the Bible, the Word of God, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) Faith comes by hearing the Word, understanding the Word and having the Word become a part of us. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle James tells us, "...receive with meekness (humility) the implanted (grafted in) word, which is able to save your souls (mind, will and emotions)." (James 1:21) Faith also comes by knowing that God's Word, like He Himself, does not change, "Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven." (Psalm 119:89) "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” (Isaiah 40:8), because He and His Word are One, "For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one." (1 John 5:7)
Observing these four things should bring us to understand that our faith is not based on circumstances, emotions, or symptoms. It must be based simply and solely on the Word of God apprehended without the five senses and then acted upon. "Nay, some one will say, "You have faith, I have actions: prove to me your faith apart from corresponding actions and I will prove mine to you by my actions." (James 2:18 WEY) As we see, saying I have faith without corresponding actions is not the kind of faith that pleases God. Faith then is the result of God's Word, not simply committed to memory, but dwelling in us, lived and practiced. As we think deeply in it and feed on it, it becomes a very part of ourselves, building in us confidence and assurance knowing, "...that what God had (has) promised He was (is) also able to perform." (Romans 4:21)
Monday, July 30, 2018
Bearing Fruit
The born again nature does not need to strive to produce righteousness. All it has to do is be or stay united with Christ. So, the Christian life is to be a life of yielding, not struggling; union, not effort. Jesus reveals a beautiful analogy during His final instruction to the disciple before His returned to the Father, He says, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser." (John 15:1) He tells us that He Himself is the true vine. The word "true," here, is used in the sense of real, genuine. From Him, as with a natural vine, comes all the proper nourishment to all the branches, whether large or small. Therefore, Jesus is the real, genuine source of all strength, ability and grace to all, especially believers.
Next, He tells us, "My Father is the vinedresser." The vinedresser is the one who has the care of a vineyard. Taking care of the vineyard entails nurturing, trimming, and protecting the vines to insure their proper growth and welfare. In this analogy, we see that the Father gave, or appointed his Son Jesus, to be, the one and only source of all blessings to man and for believers, those who are united to Him by faith, He gives the ability to bear much fruit. Jesus goes on to say, "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:2-5)
Branches are the fruit-bearing part that need very careful pruning. If the branches are not pruned, and are not pruned at the right time and in the right way, they will cease to bring forth fruit. The same life that is in the vine flows through the branches and the life in the branches brings forth the appropriate kind of fruit. Jesus also gave us a warning that is very important. He tells us that we have to expect to be pruned. With that, let's look at some real life scenarios in the lives of believers. Some believers have problems because they are not bearing fruit. They struggle with situations that are the results of their bad decisions and or actions. On the other hand, other believers experience problems because they are bearing fruit. The reality is, those believers who are experiencing problems while bearing fruit are simply being pruned. If you have ever seen a vine pruned, the process seems almost ruthless. The branches are cut back so far, you would think the vine would not be able to produce branches that would ever bear fruit again. But the next year there is more fruit than the year before.
Another notable thing that we see in this analogy, is the work of the entire Godhead. We see that the Father is the vinedresser, Jesus is the vine, but also the Holy Spirit as the One that flows through the vine and into the branches. The life of the Spirit flowing through the vine into the branches is what brings forth fruit. Keep in mind that this is not the fruit of our best efforts, nor the fruit of religion, but the fruit of the Spirit. When the Father is pruning us, we must not give up in the midst of the process, but remember our oneness with the vine, Jesus; the purpose of the Father's pruning, to bear more fruit; and the work of the Holy Spirit, feeding the branch with the nutrients to bear more fruit. This process comes by us recognizing that we must abide in, that is, remain united to Jesus by faith and live our Christian life completely dependent on Him.
In every area of the Christian life we are not to rely on our natural ability of doing what God requires. Let's be honest, most believers live according to the natural realm trying to do things on their own, yet, Jesus tells us, "for without Me you can do nothing." He tells us this because He is "the (only) way, the (only) truth and the (only) life." (John 14:6) So, let us come to the place in our lives (if we are not there yet) to, "Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6 AMPC), or as Jesus said, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." (John 15:7-8) Amen...
Next, He tells us, "My Father is the vinedresser." The vinedresser is the one who has the care of a vineyard. Taking care of the vineyard entails nurturing, trimming, and protecting the vines to insure their proper growth and welfare. In this analogy, we see that the Father gave, or appointed his Son Jesus, to be, the one and only source of all blessings to man and for believers, those who are united to Him by faith, He gives the ability to bear much fruit. Jesus goes on to say, "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:2-5)
Branches are the fruit-bearing part that need very careful pruning. If the branches are not pruned, and are not pruned at the right time and in the right way, they will cease to bring forth fruit. The same life that is in the vine flows through the branches and the life in the branches brings forth the appropriate kind of fruit. Jesus also gave us a warning that is very important. He tells us that we have to expect to be pruned. With that, let's look at some real life scenarios in the lives of believers. Some believers have problems because they are not bearing fruit. They struggle with situations that are the results of their bad decisions and or actions. On the other hand, other believers experience problems because they are bearing fruit. The reality is, those believers who are experiencing problems while bearing fruit are simply being pruned. If you have ever seen a vine pruned, the process seems almost ruthless. The branches are cut back so far, you would think the vine would not be able to produce branches that would ever bear fruit again. But the next year there is more fruit than the year before.
Another notable thing that we see in this analogy, is the work of the entire Godhead. We see that the Father is the vinedresser, Jesus is the vine, but also the Holy Spirit as the One that flows through the vine and into the branches. The life of the Spirit flowing through the vine into the branches is what brings forth fruit. Keep in mind that this is not the fruit of our best efforts, nor the fruit of religion, but the fruit of the Spirit. When the Father is pruning us, we must not give up in the midst of the process, but remember our oneness with the vine, Jesus; the purpose of the Father's pruning, to bear more fruit; and the work of the Holy Spirit, feeding the branch with the nutrients to bear more fruit. This process comes by us recognizing that we must abide in, that is, remain united to Jesus by faith and live our Christian life completely dependent on Him.
In every area of the Christian life we are not to rely on our natural ability of doing what God requires. Let's be honest, most believers live according to the natural realm trying to do things on their own, yet, Jesus tells us, "for without Me you can do nothing." He tells us this because He is "the (only) way, the (only) truth and the (only) life." (John 14:6) So, let us come to the place in our lives (if we are not there yet) to, "Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6 AMPC), or as Jesus said, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." (John 15:7-8) Amen...
Monday, July 23, 2018
What a Character
The exact etymology of the word character is uncertain. However, leading linguists consider the word to be most probably from Greek. The Latin "ch" spelling of the word was added in the 1500s. Character is defined as, the sum of qualities or habits that define a person or thing and distinguish it from another; the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual. A habit is defined as, a settled or regular tendency or practice that influences one decisions. Therefore, we can say that a persons character, is the sum total of their habits, and their habits are produced by the sum total of their decisions.
Thinking about it from this perspective, every time you make a right decision, you are strengthening a right habit. Every time you strengthen a right habit, you are building a right character. However, on the other hand, every time you make a wrong decision, you are building a wrong habit, and out of that wrong habit, you are building a wrong character. Therefore, in order to build good habits you must make good decision. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "Therefore, brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." (Romans 8:12-13)
So, every time you make a decision to do the wrong thing, you become more and more a debtor, a slave, to the flesh, but every time you make a decision to do the right thing, you become more and more the slave of righteousness. "But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness." (Romans 6:17-18) Paul goes on in Romans 8, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." (Romans 8:14) In order to become a child of God, you must be born again. (John 1:12) To receive the power to be an effective witness, you must be baptized in the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8) But to live as a son (child) of God, you must be daily led by the Holy Spirit.
Some teach that you have to be super-spiritual first, or reach a level of sinless perfection and then you will emerge as a son of God. But this idea is in direct conflict with what we saw in Romans 8:14, which says all who are led (regularly) by the Holy Spirit are the sons of God. A level of maturity is implied. Oft times many people have the attitude, "When I'm perfect, the Holy Spirit will come in." That essentially used to be a teaching in certain Christian circles. That would be like attending a university and the professors coming in and saying, "When you graduate, we will start to teach you." The fact is, when you graduate, you do not need the professors, but you do need them to graduate. So, when do you need the Holy Spirit? Right now, in order to become mature. The Holy Spirit does not come to you because you are perfect. He comes to you because you have confessed Christ, He is a gift from God and the reality is, we need Him.
Jesus said it this way, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you...I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He [c]will take of Mine and declare it to you." (John 16:7, 12-15) In other words, Jesus is saying, "As long as I am here, the Holy Spirit, the Helper, the Comforter will not come. But if I leave, I will be free to send Him to you. You will be better off with Me in heaven and the Holy Spirit on earth. I have completed all I can do. When the Holy Spirit comes, He will finish the job that I have started and will do it through you and all who believe."
Not only does the Holy Spirit work through believers to continue the supernatural ministry of Jesus on earth (see Mark 16:17-18; John 14:12), but He is also the One who builds the character of Christ in us. "Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:17-18) The Father's desire is to build the very likeness of Jesus in us, which transforms our character.
The transforming work of the Holy Spirit naturally begins in the inner person, "Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4:16) Some of the things the Holy Spirit does in us are; He enables us to grow in our knowledge of God. (Ephesians 1:17-18) He brings about changes in our wills, emotions, attitudes and perspectives, which also builds Godly character. (Matthew 5 - 7) He develops within us the fruit of the Spirit.
(Galatians 5:22-23) He empowers us to live through faith being bold witnesses for Him. (Acts 1:8) He also provides both the ability and desire to successfully do what the Lord calls us to do (Philippians 2:13).
If you are struggling with your walk with Christ in the area of your character being transformed into the image of Christ, Jesus gives us a beautiful invitation, followed by a tremendous challenge, in regard to yielding to Him, the Holy Spirit and being transformed, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) This passage suggests a process by which we yield to the Lord and learn His ways. First, we lay down our heavy burdens and have rest. We must become disciples by taking Christ's yoke and learning from Him. Next, we follow Jesus' example of being gentle and lowly in heart, because God teaches the gentle and lowly but resists the proud. (James 4:6) Simply put, let go of you, take hold of Jesus and live in the fullness of the redemption that He has freely provided. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all...
Thinking about it from this perspective, every time you make a right decision, you are strengthening a right habit. Every time you strengthen a right habit, you are building a right character. However, on the other hand, every time you make a wrong decision, you are building a wrong habit, and out of that wrong habit, you are building a wrong character. Therefore, in order to build good habits you must make good decision. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "Therefore, brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." (Romans 8:12-13)
So, every time you make a decision to do the wrong thing, you become more and more a debtor, a slave, to the flesh, but every time you make a decision to do the right thing, you become more and more the slave of righteousness. "But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness." (Romans 6:17-18) Paul goes on in Romans 8, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." (Romans 8:14) In order to become a child of God, you must be born again. (John 1:12) To receive the power to be an effective witness, you must be baptized in the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8) But to live as a son (child) of God, you must be daily led by the Holy Spirit.
Some teach that you have to be super-spiritual first, or reach a level of sinless perfection and then you will emerge as a son of God. But this idea is in direct conflict with what we saw in Romans 8:14, which says all who are led (regularly) by the Holy Spirit are the sons of God. A level of maturity is implied. Oft times many people have the attitude, "When I'm perfect, the Holy Spirit will come in." That essentially used to be a teaching in certain Christian circles. That would be like attending a university and the professors coming in and saying, "When you graduate, we will start to teach you." The fact is, when you graduate, you do not need the professors, but you do need them to graduate. So, when do you need the Holy Spirit? Right now, in order to become mature. The Holy Spirit does not come to you because you are perfect. He comes to you because you have confessed Christ, He is a gift from God and the reality is, we need Him.
Jesus said it this way, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you...I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He [c]will take of Mine and declare it to you." (John 16:7, 12-15) In other words, Jesus is saying, "As long as I am here, the Holy Spirit, the Helper, the Comforter will not come. But if I leave, I will be free to send Him to you. You will be better off with Me in heaven and the Holy Spirit on earth. I have completed all I can do. When the Holy Spirit comes, He will finish the job that I have started and will do it through you and all who believe."
Not only does the Holy Spirit work through believers to continue the supernatural ministry of Jesus on earth (see Mark 16:17-18; John 14:12), but He is also the One who builds the character of Christ in us. "Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:17-18) The Father's desire is to build the very likeness of Jesus in us, which transforms our character.
The transforming work of the Holy Spirit naturally begins in the inner person, "Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4:16) Some of the things the Holy Spirit does in us are; He enables us to grow in our knowledge of God. (Ephesians 1:17-18) He brings about changes in our wills, emotions, attitudes and perspectives, which also builds Godly character. (Matthew 5 - 7) He develops within us the fruit of the Spirit.
(Galatians 5:22-23) He empowers us to live through faith being bold witnesses for Him. (Acts 1:8) He also provides both the ability and desire to successfully do what the Lord calls us to do (Philippians 2:13).
If you are struggling with your walk with Christ in the area of your character being transformed into the image of Christ, Jesus gives us a beautiful invitation, followed by a tremendous challenge, in regard to yielding to Him, the Holy Spirit and being transformed, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) This passage suggests a process by which we yield to the Lord and learn His ways. First, we lay down our heavy burdens and have rest. We must become disciples by taking Christ's yoke and learning from Him. Next, we follow Jesus' example of being gentle and lowly in heart, because God teaches the gentle and lowly but resists the proud. (James 4:6) Simply put, let go of you, take hold of Jesus and live in the fullness of the redemption that He has freely provided. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all...
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