Posts Tagged ‘Holy Spirit’
Tuesday, June 18th, 2013
Mind of Christ, June 18
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.
For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:12-16, www.solascriptura.com
Father, We have received Your Spirit and it is a witness, a guide, a light unto our spirit. We have known those who feel that the worship of You is foolish and they ridicule those who choose to follow You.
Your gift to us, a Spirit-filled life, is clearly something that we do not deserve nor are we able to earn it. It is a gift of grace, one that gives us access to the mind of Christ, in us, a promise and a reality that exceeds reason.
Help us this day to accept the breadth and depth of that gift and to exercise the power of that gift as you lead us this day. In the Holy name of Jesus we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: God, grace, Holy, Holy Spirit, Mind of Christ, spiritual
Posted in Christianity | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, May 29th, 2013
Satan, May 29
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?”
So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”
So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”
So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
Job 1:6-12, www.solascriptura.com
Father, we know how this story from the Book of Job turned out. Job, (after many trials, was greatly blessed) but here we learn some very important facts about Satan, prior to him being cast out of heaven. Satan, a blessed, but eternally fallen angel, became Your enemy and the enemy of all those who love You.
Here we see that Satan has powers to tempt us (to sin), granted by the Father. Father, this excerpt makes a powerful point. Satan is claiming that some men love You who are blessed by You and that if their blessings are taken away, apparently for no good reason, they will abandon their faith in You.
Father, we too face the same temptation. When we lose our resources (home, money, jobs, a loved one, etc.) we are greatly saddened and the test ensues. What will be our response? We know Job’s response was one of continued faith and patience, even when Satan was allowed to attack his physical health in a final attempt to break his spirit.
Father, life is a cherished reality and when the quality of this life is threatened, we are severely tested. It is at that time that we pray You will show us the wonders of Your presence and creation and the enduring strength of Your Holy Spirit in us. We know that to be absent from the body is to be present with You, provided we have committed our spirit to be joined with Your Spirit. We do not wish to leave as long as You have things You want us to do.
Help us O’God to focus on Your eternal love when the temporary things, which will not survive anyway, are taken away. Bless us and strengthen us this day. In Jesus’ name we pray.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: angel, blessings, eternal, faith, fallen angel, Holy Spirit, Job, Job 1:6-12, Lord, pray, Satan, test
Posted in Angels, Christianity, Humility, Perseverance, Providence of God, Religion, Satan | 12 Comments »
Thursday, May 16th, 2013
Perseverance, May 16
And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves;
’for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’;
”and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’?
”I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.
”So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
”For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
”If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?
”Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
”If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
Luke 11:5-13, www.solascriptura.com
Jesus, being taught by You personally is a privilege indeed. To whom else shall we turn? Jesus, these scriptures seem at first to tell us about an insensitive friend who was a neighbor. On closer examination, that part may be true, but Your lesson leads us to understand that perseverance in prayer is encouraged if not always rewarded.
Why Jesus, isn’t every prayer answered as asked? Your response seems obvious, given the entirety of Your Word. You have taught us that we must pray in a Spiritual way and seek results that are consistent with Your perfect will.
Jesus, it seems that a prayer not responded to is a prayer that is “on hold”, either for a “not now” answer or “no, that is not My will for you at this time.” Yet Jesus, you say “ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” What is it that is promised? Thank You for the answer: “how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” It is Your Holy Spirit in us that is promised if we but ask.
Your Spirit in us is our Light and may we be content to know You care more than we can possibly understand and that you will direct our steps, daily, if we but ask. We seek to be led by You and serve You. Thank You Father for the reality of Your leading Spirit. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: ask, bread, children, given, Holy Spirit, knock, loaves, midnight, persistence, scorpion, seek, serpent, shut, stone, trouble
Posted in Christianity, God's Gift, Holy Spirit, Hope, Perseverance, Providence of God, faith | 30 Comments »
Wednesday, May 8th, 2013
Salvation, June 8
… We who first trusted in Christ…
In Him you also trusted after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 1:12-14, www.solascriptura.com
Father, Paul was a Jew speaking to Jews and here in his letter to the Ephesians, a Gentile area, Paul teaches us that those who love You and obey You are “sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise”. Father, for this degree of certainty, we are grateful.
We are Your “purchased possession”. Father, we sometimes forget to focus on what You paid for our salvation. Jesus suffered immeasurably, not just at the Cross, but in his descent into the bowels of hades, which removed him temporarily from Your presence. We know You will not allow sin or sinners into Your presence, but that is exactly why Jesus came…to comingle with us and to save sinners and that includes every human being in history. He paid a great price for our personal salvation.
Father, Chuck Smith, one of Your more effective servants offers the following clarification about this complex thought of Jesus being separated from You. “Through the eternity past, He has always been one with the father, never separated. But when God laid on Him the iniquities of us all, because God can not look in agreement upon sin, there came that separation, as He tasted for a moment that separation from God, in order that you would not have to be separated from God eternally. God laid on Him the iniquities of us all. And when the sin’s of the world were laid on Jesus, He was forsaken of God. And thus that cry, that rang out; my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me.”
We are Your purchased possession, cleansed by Jesus. You, Father, are the guarantor of our salvation. Perfect! Amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: believed, Christ, Ephesians 1:12-14, glory, Gospel, Holy Spirit, inheritance, possession, promise, purchased, redemption, salvation, sealed, trusted, truth, word
Posted in Christianity, Forgiven, Holy Spirit, Religion, salvation | 21 Comments »
Saturday, May 4th, 2013
God’s Children, May 4
Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:5-7, www.solascriptura.com
Jesus, Peter, who was one of the most outspoken of the disciples, after he had received the gift of the Holy Spirit, became one of Your most effective ministers. He says that young people should be humble in the presence of their elders.
Peter goes on to say that pride, the opposite of humility, is resisted by God. It is “under Your hand”, Father, that we are to be truly humble, not some self-imposed portrayal of humility. You promise to exalt the humble in due time, to lift us up.
God, help us today to show our children that our humility, to the extent we have any, is simply a by-product of our commitment to You. Your concern for even our smallest needs humbles us before You. Bless us and our children and grandchildren this day, we pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin, TN 37064
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Tags: God, Holy Spirit, humble, pride
Posted in Christianity, Humility, Religion | 3 Comments »
Saturday, April 27th, 2013
Hope, April 27
… we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:3-7, www.solascriptura.com
We thank you Father for sending the Holy Spirit, a constant source of Your Holy presence in us. O’God, Your thoughts toward us exceed number. That is a reality we have a hard time grasping. Can we do any less but to look to You, all day, in every circumstance. We truly never need to walk alone.
You came that we might have abundant life. Thank You Father for helping us understand that it is Your desire that we experience goodness and mercy, at Your hand, even if others try to discourage us. Help us to be an encourager to such people, we pray.
May we draw near to you, constantly, even in the midst of earthly disappointments? We know that we can if we but shift our focus from that which is transitory to that which is eternal! Help us today to notice the flowers, the clouds, the animals and all of your wonderful creation, provided for our pleasure and use. May we dwell “in Your presence”, even today. In Jesus’ Holy name, we pray, amen
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O.Box 302 Franklin, TN 37064
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Tags: deceived, disobedient, envy, foolish, God, hateful, hating, Holy Spirit, Hope, kindness, love, lusts, malice, mercy, regeneration, renewing, saved, Savior
Posted in Christianity, God's Gift, Hope, Inspirtation, Perseverance, faith, joy, peace, salvation | 8 Comments »
Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013
Humility, April 23
We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.
But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,
in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;
by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,
by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;
as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed;
as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open.
2 Corinthians 6:1-11, www.solascriptura.com
Father, Paul is an example to us of one who has been severely tested, yet faithful in every way. Father, we also know that he persecuted Christians before his life-changing encounter with Jesus. Now here he tells us that “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
Father, the contrast between pride and humility is always before us. We have such an inclination to allow our ego to overcome us. Help us, today, to know that it is You we seek to please and that even when we do please You, it is due to the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, not our fleshly spirit. We pray that we can turn our pride into joy as we acknowlege your gifts.
O’ God, we know that serving You requires the death of our “old nature”. Help us be what You desire us to be, this day. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: dishonor, dying, fasting, God, grace, Holy Spirit, honor, Humility, killed, kindness, live, love, ministers, ministry, offense, patience, purity, salvation, sleeplessness, stripes, tribulations, truth, tumults, vain, workers
Posted in Christianity, Courage, Fidelity, Humility, Perseverance, faith | 22 Comments »
Sunday, March 17th, 2013
Perseverance, March 17
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;
but if it bears thorns and briars, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.
For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,
Hebrews 6:4-11, www.solascriptura.com
Father, we confess our dependence on You. You have taught us that to know You and then abandon You is a grave error. Those who do so are like the thorns and briars that will be destroyed in the end. But we who love You and all the works we do in Your name will not be forgotten. We know that our works, in and of themselves, merit us nothing. Our works only count if they are truly a labor of love to You and to those created in Your image.
Help us to “finish well”, to show the same diligence towards You, every day until the end. Help us O’God to be as the cultivated herb, bearing fruit worthy of our calling. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: crucify, diligence, enlightened, gift, God, heavenly, Holy Spirit, partakers, powers, renew, repentance, saints, shame, Son of God, tasted
Posted in Christianity, End Times, Fidelity, Forgiven, Heaven, Law of God, Perseverance, faith | 15 Comments »
Saturday, March 2nd, 2013
Fidelity, March 2
I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus who dwells in us.
That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
2 Timothy 1:12-14, www.solascriptura.com
Father, not only is this verse from a wonderful old song, but it is a statement of truth. You will help us keep the faith to which we have committed. You will help us see that our commitment is a response to Your commitment. We never walk alone.
Father, You ask us to hold fast to the sound words You have taught us. This day, we pray that You will help us commit to a pattern of reading Your word that matches your expectations. It is so hard, given the everyday pressures of family life, to make “listening to You” a priority.
Father, we know that each day that passes is either an opportunity realized or an opportunity we passed up. Help us to be diligent in our response to Your love. We know that good works should spring from our faith and that our faith should produce good works. Teach us and guide us and comfort us with the indwelling Holy Spirit, Your Light within us.
In thy Son’s Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: ashamed, believed, Christ, committed, faith, fidelity, Holy Spirit, Jesus, love, persuaded
Posted in Courage, Fidelity, God's Gift, Holy Spirit, Hope, Inspirtation, Perseverance, faith | 23 Comments »
Saturday, October 20th, 2012
Temple of God, October 20
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?
… he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
1 Corinthians 6:15, 17, 19-20, www.solascriptura.com
Father, elsewhere You have taught us that when we invite You into our heart, that we become one with You, just as when a man and woman come together, their union makes them “as one”. Here we learn that when we decide to acknowledge and accept Your grace in our lives, we become as one with Jesus.
Father, it is clear that fidelity to You, the Holy Spirit in us, is of utmost importance. We were bought at a great price and if we say we love You, and in fact do love You, at least for a while, and then decide to kick You out of our lives, then we have committed the unpardonable sin which You defined in Hebrews 6:4-6.
So it is Father, with a man and a woman. Fidelity is not an option because if it was, we would be going against Your stated will, for a man and a woman. O’God, teach us, right now, how much fidelity to You and fidelity to those we make vows to here, matters. Where we have erred, forgive us we pray and enable us to go forward in Your strength. In Jesus’ name we pray.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O.Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: Christ, glorify, God, Holy Spirit, Lord, Spirit, Temple
Posted in Christianity, God's Gift, Holy Spirit, Religion, Temple of God | 3 Comments »