Spirit Of Truth

Reading from the Book of John 14: 6, 17-21

 John 14:⁶ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
 
Have you ever been in a car with someone who doesn't know where he is going and who refuses to ask for directions? Many people think there are many ways to God, and they search for truth in different places, ignoring the directions that God gave us.
The reality is that there is only one way to God, and that is through Jesus, Who is the Way. He will lead you in truth and you will experience fullness of life.

John 14:¹⁷ Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.¹⁹ Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.²⁰ At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

Things can be hard when we try to do them independently without leaning and relying on God's grace. If everything in life were easy, we wouldn't need the power of the Holy Spirit to help us. One way the Bible refers to the Holy Spirit is our "Helper." He is in us and with us all the time to help us, to enable us to do what we cannot do with ease what would be difficult with out Him.

 ²¹ He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

To whatever degree we love God, to that same degree we obey Him, that is the measure of our love for Him. As our love for Jesus grows, so will our obedience.
He works continually in and with believers to bring us into new levels of awareness. Entering a new level always means leaving an old one behind, but we have nothing to fear because He promises to be with us. Always, as He is the Spirit of Truth.

God Is Progressive

Reading from the Book of John 15:1-8

John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.² Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Have you ever seen fruit grow apart from the vine, tree, or plant? Of course not! As a follower of Jesus, the same is true for you. Unless you stay in His presence, you will not grow or bear fruit. Just as the vine is the source of nourishment and health for the fruit, Jesus is your source of life.
³ Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
⁵ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 
God prunes us and cuts away things that no longer bear the kind of fruit He desires us to show. This "cutting away" is often painful and not immediately understood, but it is necessary for us to grow into the fruit-bearing believers of Jesus Christ that He wants us to be.
We may consider changing, or possibly losing, a job, a friend, or an activity, that in God's eyes is not productive in living a sinless life or saving souls, but could be a major contributor in living a sinful life. But by cultivating an ever-growing relationship with Him, we will see and learn why those things in our lives are not what we wanted in life after-all, as being dirty, sinful, and unproductive.
⁶ If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
⁷ If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
⁸ Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
I encourage you to spend time with Him in prayer, reading, and studying His Word. God is progressive, and sometimes He needs to prune us as He leads us to higher places.

Courage With No Fear

Reading from the Book of II Timothy 1:7 and 2:24-26.

^{II Timothy 1:7} For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

This verse tells us that timidity, which is the same as fear, is not from God and that God gives us power, love, a calm and well-balanced mind, discipline and self-control. Fear will never stop coming against us. We must learn to do what God tells us to do whether we feel fear or not. We must "do it afraid" if neccassry, but that is what courage does. Courage feels the fear and does what it should anyway.

We are not cowards because we feel fear. We are cowards only if we let fear rule our dicisions.Fear is a spirit that produces physical and emotional symptons. When fear attacks us, we may feel shaky and weak and find ourselves sweating. It may take everything we can muster just to speak or move. None of that means we are cowards. The Word of God does not say "sweat not, shake not, tremble not." The Word says, many times, "fear not." The way to conquer fear is to press on through it and get to the other side of it...the side of freedom, which is the side of power.

^{II Timothy 2:24} And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,²⁵ In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;²⁶ And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

It’s fascinating to see how Paul ends the chapter of II Timothy 2. It’s not only a great reminder to see that they are blind and need to come to their senses. It’s not only a great reminder that we need to be gentle, patient, able to teach and be kind. But, I think a reminder that we need today is that knowledge of the truth comes after God grants someone repentance. We always try to invert the two. God needs to grant repentance and then someone will be saved and start believing rightly about life matters–not the other way around.

God has ordained to save people through the hearing of the Gospel, so let’s boldly approach people in face to face conversation and give them the only information that can save them from not only demonic worldviews, but more importantly from an eternity in Hell.

And above all, do it with courage and no fear!

Running The Race

Reading from the Book of Hebrews 11:32-12:3
 
^{Hebrews 11:32} And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
³³ Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
³⁴ Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
³⁵ Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
³⁶ And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
³⁷ They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
³⁸ (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
³⁹ And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
⁴⁰ God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
^12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
³ For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

When a runner runs a race, his focus is not on the people in the stands or on the runners around him, but on the finish line! As a believer, your life is like a race, and as you run, it is important to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. If we are going to run our race, we must lay aside every weight and run the race with patience. Running our race with no hindrances means stripping for the contest.

There are many different hindrances to running a race well and developing our full potential. Too many commitments is one that keeps us from developing our potential. Letting other people control us keeps us from developing our potential. Not knowing how to say no keeps us from developing our potential. Getting overly involved in someone else's goal and vision or becoming entangled in someone else's problems instead of keeping our eyes on our own goals will also keep us from fulfilling our potential.

I find that the devil comes up with a thousand ways every week to entangle me and get me into something that will prevent me from doing what I am supposed to be doing. I see it in other peoples daily lives where one might being having a "tiff" with another and everyone has an opinion. That's the devil trying to get me involved in something I have no place to be entangled with.

If we want to do what God called us to do, we must stay focused because the world we live in is filled with distractions and entanglements. Let me encourage you to keep your focus on the Lord and be diligent to lay aside everything that might distract you or hold you back.

Obituary-33AD

^{Romans 5:6-8 
6} For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. ⁸ But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Would you give your life for someone who despised you? That is exactly what Jesus did, according to Romans 5: 6-8. God loved you so much, that even before you loved Him, when you were against Him, He sent Jesus to die for you. Thank God for His awesome love today!

 How To Be Saved (link)
 

The Storms Of Life

Reading from the Book of Psalm 27

 Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
² When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

³ Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

⁴ One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.

⁵ For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 

One of the most refreshing daily exercises that you will ever participate in is the choice to spend time in worship. It is of vital importance that you understand that the time spent in sheer worship is going to enable you to withstand the storms of life.

The Things We Hope For

Reading from the Book of Hebrews Chapter 11

Have you ever wondered what faith in action looks like? Study the lives of the heroes of faith in Hebrews chapter 11 and you can see many different ways that faith was lived out in everyday life.

Without faith you cannot please God. Therefore, no matter how many "good works" you offer, God will not be pleased if they were done to earn His favor. Whatever we do for God should be because we love Him, not because we try to get something from Him.

God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. When you diligently seek Him with all of your heart, that qualifies for rewards that God wants to give you. By faith in following God's plan for you, He is a rewarder.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
² For by it the elders obtained a good report.
³ Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
⁴ By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
⁵ By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
⁷ By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
⁸ By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
⁹ By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
¹⁰ For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
¹¹ Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
¹² Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
¹³ These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
¹⁴ For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
¹⁵ And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
¹⁶ But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
¹⁷ By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
¹⁸ Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
¹⁹ Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
²⁰ By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
²¹ By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
²² By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
²³ By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
²⁴ By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
²⁵ Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
²⁶ Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
²⁷ By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
²⁸ Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
²⁹ By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
³⁰ By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
³¹ By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
³² And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
³³ Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
³⁴ Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
³⁵ Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
³⁶ And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
³⁷ They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
³⁸ (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
³⁹ And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
⁴⁰ God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

By the conviction of the reality of things we cannot see, faith is the certain assurance of "the things we hope for."