Tag Archives: Holy Spirit

Avoiding the Arrow

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Bow and arrow

Bow and arrow (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In the days when arrows were the prime weapon of armies I’m sure there were warriors who could recognize the sound of a launch before the arrow got to them.  They would walk into battle listening for that special sound.  Then they had trained themselves to duck or dodge left or right before they had time to think about it.  It was a learned skill that kept them alive through many encounters.  And it must have frustrated the Bowman to watch his target avoid his attack.

This is a skill that can be mastered by the Christian.  It is quite possible to “hear” the launch of attacks from the evil one long before they reach us.  But we must learn to “listen” with all our might.  We must pay attention to what is happening NOW.  And we must learn to retreat into the power of the Holy Spirit quickly, even automatically.

Entering In

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Teddy Bear

Teddy Bear (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There is an entering into Christianity much as there are “entering ins” in the world around us.  We enter into kindergarten and experience a whole new world of knowledge and honing of abilities.  In Christianity, I guess, we could liken this to the favored verbal acceptance of Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

There is an entering in that happens when we move into the school system between grades 1 and 12.  Every year we are expected to grow in knowledge and ability.  And in Christianity, again I guess, this would equate with the body of knowledge taught in what is called the Church today.  These are basic truths that can be found in writing.  In school we call them text books.  In the Church we refer to the Bible, hymns, and other literature that surround the Christian with appropriate knowledge.   Each of these have their supported values in season.  But I propose that there are two more enter ins that should happen to every Christian.

After grade 12 some go on to college.  Others move directly into the work force.  But regardless their choice, they are not faced with a rather loud slap in the face.  “No more learning the basics.  Now you learn how to apply what you learned before.”

One of the entering ins that are obvious is that of entering into the peace of God after the judgment.  We know that will be an eternal entering.  And those whose names were found in the Lamb’s book of life will never again exit His presence.  The other “entering in” is rarely considered in the Church today.  It has to do with a certain undeniable confidence we gain before the Lord.  It is the place where faith and hope turn into a kind of knowing.  We are no longer tossed about like styrofoam on a wildly tossed sea.  We become settled in the matters of forgiveness, holiness, obedience, and love.

I urge you to look into this for yourself.  I know it is real.  And there are times when I experience this for myself.  But it comes and goes according to our understanding of His love toward us.  We are no longer called servants then, but we are refered to as brothers.  For a servant does not know his master’s business.  But a brother is part of the family and is heir to what is yet to be unveiled by the Father.

There is another reason to seek out the truth in this matter:  “Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.”  (1 John 2:28)  Have you given much thought of what you will do when you see Him face to face?  Remember what the prophet Isaiah said?  Such a sturdy servant of the Lord, and yet he could not stand.  “”Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”  (Isaiah 6:5)

Let’s get sober here!  Don’t listen to those who paint the Lord Jesus as a big cuddly teddy bear.

Sealed Forever

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Jacob Matham’s engraving after Sebastian Vranc...

Jacob Matham’s engraving after Sebastian Vrancx’s The Rich Man at the Table and Lazarus at the Door (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A wicked man was beating a Christian.  Afer he had vented considerable injury to the Christian, so that the Christian was near death, the wicked man suffered a fatal heart attack.  He had allowed his wrath to overtake his heart’s ability to sustain his hatred.   In just a few moments the Christian also died.  Silence was all that remained of them in this place of testing.

The next noise the Christian heard was, “Welcome home My good and faithful servant.  Come share in My Father’s Kingdom.”  But when the wicked man woke he realized that the object of his hatred was now in the company of God.  Full of the same hatred he had at death, he challenged God.  With spit leaking from his lips he screamed, “That one belongs to me!  Give him back!  I am by no means done beating him!  You have no right to what is mine!”

Guess what happened next.

The Fog of Clarity

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English: Fog in Wayanad

Image via Wikipedia

There is pride of man.  Do not mistake to think you can be rid of it here in this place of testing.  It lays just at the door step of even prayer.  Hideous in nature, it waits for opportune moments to rise up and cloud your judgment before the Most High God.

But there is a confidence born of faith in the Son of Man.  We rise up to become what we are designed to be as we come to the Lord in prayer.  This confidence presents itself as an abiding joy.  What man can know the difference as long as pride hides in the shadows?

The Lord knows the difference.  And He alone is able to show a man what is true in this matter.  Confidence against pride, we present ourselves to the Lord.  And walking away from our time of prayer we somehow know that there are two who vie for our attention.  May God shed light on this to all His people.  It is not His will that we grovel in our prayer, but that we stand with a great confidence before Him.  It is also not His will that we abide in the pride of man; that we should know the knowledge of what He has given us to know and consider ourselves above one another.

In this matter there is a fog of clarity in those who worship the Lord through the power of Jesus.  We know, yet we are not sure.  Again, may God present understanding to our hearts.  May we learn that subtle difference between pride of man and The Pride of God.

Amen.

Government Molevolent

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English: Poverty Русский: Нищенство

Image via Wikipedia

A government unchained from the will of the people becomes a government malevolent.  Debate is now swarming around this concept.  In the end we will see a people crushed while the “elite” dine in joy.

Beware.  It approaches even as you breathe.

Do any realize that this statement reflects the end result of satan’s rebellion against God?  Do any understand that this is why God created what we now live?

We are the answer from God to an accusation from the corrupt one.  Jesus was prepared and issued from God’s throne to answer, once and for all, a certain question.  “You ask too much of us.  Who can bear what You command?”

God answered when He spoke creation into being.  From the foundation of the world Christ Jesus was set apart to redeem a people to His Father who would obey regardless the cost.  No one has to understand what Jesus has done to make these things true.  Yet His promise is absolute to all who put their trust in Him.

Reach Deeper

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English: Bridleway crossing The signpost looks...

Sometimes I post things I learn.  Sometimes I post things I’m being taught.  In this post it of the latter.

The world around us is so very demanding.  Sleepless nights abound.  The body gets weaker.  And our resistance to temptation becomes less.  It is at these very moments when our strength is shown for what it is.  And far too often we find ourselves slipping where we would not have slipped before.

Because I am in the throes of just such a time, I urge us all to consider that the testing of our hearts does not end at the end of any certain moment.  We are rightfully expected to endure to the end.  This expectation has mercy laced through it.  But let us strive hard enough so that we don’t need to rely on the Grace of God to accomplish the things He has put in our hands.  What I mean is that we shouldn’t find ourselves coming to Him begging forgiveness because we have sinned.  It would be immeasurably better to come to Him to thank Him for having given us the strength to endure.

When you find that temptation is rousing strength within you, reach deeper.  Who contends in any sport or business or relationship with half a heart and wins?  Those who overcome are those who consider the winning worth everything.

 

By His Grace.