My dads cancer is a lot more aggressive than we first thought. Stronger chemo and weeks stay in the hospital. Heres what Im learning and turning to: The Holy Spirit is a person, a “he,” and a helper. John 16:5–15 is a great passage on the Holy Spirit. In these verses, Jesus has just finished telling the disciples that things are going to get hard when he leaves and that people are going to hate them. So He comforts them with words on the Holy Spirit: He tells them it’s to their advantage that He leaves because He’s going to send the Helper, One Who comforts. I guess Ive got to be uncomfortable to experience His comforting power. I just wish there was another way. It really hurts being enrolled in the school of die to yourself! At first this may seem puzzling. How can it be to our advantage that Jesus would leave especially when life really, really hurts! Take a look at some of the ways the Holy Spirit works: 1. THE HOLY SPIRIT KNOWS US IN OUR WEAKNESS: The Holy Spirit not only knows us, but he helps us in our weakness (Rom. 8:26). He helps us do things that we cannot do in our own strength. Zechariah 4:6. One of my daily reads and prayers. If it glorifies Jesus and is about His people and the church, the Holy Spirit wants us to be about that, and He will work through my weakness. Im going to boast all the more... I am broken, I am weak, I am frightened, I am in need. Matthew 5:3-5. Ive tried to long to be strong for everyone. Im done with that dance. I see a lot of you, me included, tired, worn out and in need of some divine power! 2. THE HOLY SPIRIT TEACHES ME/US: Now this is the challenge. I prayed ALL day for the Holy Spirit to rid my life of my flesh. To be so filled with His power and His power alone. And God sent the Teacher. The Holy Spirit works and teaches us through the Scriptures and people (Delano Stewart) and our talk today, to change our hearts (John 14:26; Rom. 8:14; 1 Cor. 2:6–14). Delano, Im praying to reach one! When I/we struggle with a passage of the Bible, the Holy Spirit will teach us what it means and how it can be applied in our lives, above ALL when my flesh wants its will to be done. Oftentimes, that teaching comes through people (Rom. 10:14–16), a close friend, or our spouse. My wife!? 3. THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKS THROUGH PRAYER: The Holy Spirit will intercede for us through prayer (Rom. 8:26). He will especially intercede when we’re focused on glorifying Christ and loving His people, and when were not. If you don’t know what to pray, ask the Holy Spirit for help. After all, He is “the Helper” who will help those who love him. Oftentimes, God uses our prayers to change our hearts more than the hearts of others, to conform us to be more like Him. Pray the Psalms! 4. THE HOLY SPIRIT REVEALS JESUS’ PURPOSE FOR ME/US: Father, Your kingdom come in my life right now even though I am so angry! So hurt! So full of self! Your will be done right now in my life, that I would obey you just as if I was standing in Heaven itself! Wow! Today I was deeply troubled for one whom I love. But first, get past my flesh! At first my flesh was angry! Then, the Holy Spirit through prayer and reflection on the Beatitudes rid my life of the flesh (Gal 5:19-21) and filled me with kindness... Kindness? Oh, the very thing that God uses to lead me to repentance. Romans 2:4. No more bitting and devouring here. Im free, even others are not! 5. THE HOLY SPIRIT CONVICTS US OF SIN: This is the ouch part! As Him to show you who you really are requires great courage to see how ugly we are outside of Jesus. John 15:8–11 teaches us that the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin to conform us to Jesus’ likeness. As we lean more on the Holy Spirit, sin becomes more apparent in our lives. Sin, you know, the things that destroy our walk with God and people. The opposite of Matthew 22:37-41. God help me to remove the Sequoia from my eye before I try and remove the tooth pick from my brothers eye. It’s certainly to our advantage that He is in our lives, but ultimately to glorify Jesus was why He was sent to us. (John 15:26-27) I need His power alone to accomplish this and so much more. Remember, the kingdom of God is NOT about flesh n blood. The kingdom of Satan is. Fighting right along side you in prayer!
Posted on: Tue, 08 Apr 2014 01:37:49 +0000