In sincerity, in soul hunger, cry after God. Wrestle with the heavenly agencies until you have the victory. Put your whole being into the Lord's hands, soul, body, and spirit, and resolve to be His loving, consecrated agency, moved by His will, controlled by His mind, infused by His Spirit.
- Our High Calling 131-
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Prayer....Holy Spirit part 2
3.) "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." Romans 8:26-27
Wow....isn't that cool? We can't see the whole picture of our lives, but God can. And because He knows the Spirit, and the Spirit knows God, (because they are one) we can be assured that when we pray in the Spirit, that we are praying for Gods will. When we ask for the Holy Spirit to come in us, and ask him, who and what we should pray for, we will be praying for God's will. He will impress us what we should pray for. And another way of looking at this verse, is, so often, we are just so overwhelmed with the things in our life, that we can't even put our prayer into words. We don't know how or what to say...we can't express ourselves. Well, this is when the Holy Spirit will pray for us. He knows the prayer of our heart, and it need not be uttered for Him to understand. And it is interesting, because the verse following these verses in the Bible, is the well known verse Romans 8:28. It is almost like proof...and we know, that those who follow God, and love him, (and allow the Holy Spirit to work in their lives) will have everything in their lives worked out for good.
Wow....isn't that cool? We can't see the whole picture of our lives, but God can. And because He knows the Spirit, and the Spirit knows God, (because they are one) we can be assured that when we pray in the Spirit, that we are praying for Gods will. When we ask for the Holy Spirit to come in us, and ask him, who and what we should pray for, we will be praying for God's will. He will impress us what we should pray for. And another way of looking at this verse, is, so often, we are just so overwhelmed with the things in our life, that we can't even put our prayer into words. We don't know how or what to say...we can't express ourselves. Well, this is when the Holy Spirit will pray for us. He knows the prayer of our heart, and it need not be uttered for Him to understand. And it is interesting, because the verse following these verses in the Bible, is the well known verse Romans 8:28. It is almost like proof...and we know, that those who follow God, and love him, (and allow the Holy Spirit to work in their lives) will have everything in their lives worked out for good.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Convictions....Holy Spirit part 1.
Dear Reader,
The past few weeks, I have been learning a lot about the Holy Spirit. It has been so thrilling and awe inspiring to see His work in my life, and the lives of those around me. The past 6 months haven't been easy for me, but in just one week, I have been able to see incredible results in my life because of the lessons I learned during those hard months, and through following the Holy Spirit's convictions. I went to a Bible study, and here are some of the things we learned about the Holy Spirit;
1.) John 16:8 "And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment; of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged."
My first thought was....ok...I can see how the Holy Spirit convicts us not to do wrong, but how does He convict us of righteousness? In my mind I was thinking...the Holy Spirit only convicts us when we are doing something wrong. But no. Here it is very plain, He convicts us of righteousness. He convicts us to do right as well. He doesn't just leave us with, "Kalyse, stealing is wrong don't do it." But He also convicts us with "Kalyse, stealing is wrong, go return the stolen item." I just thought that was encouraging, and something for us to remember. So often we pray, "Lord, please convict me of what I'm doing that is wrong and needs to change." which is a very good prayer that we should pray, but we can also pray, "Lord, convict me of what is right, and what I should do." One more interesting thing real quick....the Holy Spirit convicts us to righteousness why? Because Jesus is no longer visible to us. We cannot know Him without the Holy Spirit convicting us about His character through His Word.
2.) If you read Ephesians 4, pretty much the whole chapter is about how we as Christians should act. Not grudgingly, but if we have Christ in us, then we are going to act as a Christian. Why? Well look at verse 30. "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption" When we have Christ in us, we have the Holy Spirit in us right? And when we have the Holy Spirit in us, He isn't going to just sit there....no....He is going to work. He is going to convict us of sin, but also of righteousness. He is going to convict us that we need to be the person that Ephesians 4 tells us to be. Many people have a hard time with religions, because to them, it is just a bunch of rules. It is very easy to see the church as such. But if you have the Holy Spirit in you convicting you to keep these "rules", you will not have peace until you do. Unless you push the Holy Spirit away too many times. But even then, you will only have the peace that the world offers, not the lasting peace that Christ offers. It is through the work of the Holy Spirit that we are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let us not grieve (cause great distress to) Him, by pushing Him away. But by following Him, we will have peace, and will naturally be following the "rules" of the church. But they won't seem like rules, because we will want to follow them so we can have that peace that Christ's offers those who follow Him.
(P.S. I would really encourage each of you to read Ephesians chapter 4....it is really good!)
(to be continued)
The past few weeks, I have been learning a lot about the Holy Spirit. It has been so thrilling and awe inspiring to see His work in my life, and the lives of those around me. The past 6 months haven't been easy for me, but in just one week, I have been able to see incredible results in my life because of the lessons I learned during those hard months, and through following the Holy Spirit's convictions. I went to a Bible study, and here are some of the things we learned about the Holy Spirit;
1.) John 16:8 "And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment; of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged."
My first thought was....ok...I can see how the Holy Spirit convicts us not to do wrong, but how does He convict us of righteousness? In my mind I was thinking...the Holy Spirit only convicts us when we are doing something wrong. But no. Here it is very plain, He convicts us of righteousness. He convicts us to do right as well. He doesn't just leave us with, "Kalyse, stealing is wrong don't do it." But He also convicts us with "Kalyse, stealing is wrong, go return the stolen item." I just thought that was encouraging, and something for us to remember. So often we pray, "Lord, please convict me of what I'm doing that is wrong and needs to change." which is a very good prayer that we should pray, but we can also pray, "Lord, convict me of what is right, and what I should do." One more interesting thing real quick....the Holy Spirit convicts us to righteousness why? Because Jesus is no longer visible to us. We cannot know Him without the Holy Spirit convicting us about His character through His Word.
2.) If you read Ephesians 4, pretty much the whole chapter is about how we as Christians should act. Not grudgingly, but if we have Christ in us, then we are going to act as a Christian. Why? Well look at verse 30. "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption" When we have Christ in us, we have the Holy Spirit in us right? And when we have the Holy Spirit in us, He isn't going to just sit there....no....He is going to work. He is going to convict us of sin, but also of righteousness. He is going to convict us that we need to be the person that Ephesians 4 tells us to be. Many people have a hard time with religions, because to them, it is just a bunch of rules. It is very easy to see the church as such. But if you have the Holy Spirit in you convicting you to keep these "rules", you will not have peace until you do. Unless you push the Holy Spirit away too many times. But even then, you will only have the peace that the world offers, not the lasting peace that Christ offers. It is through the work of the Holy Spirit that we are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let us not grieve (cause great distress to) Him, by pushing Him away. But by following Him, we will have peace, and will naturally be following the "rules" of the church. But they won't seem like rules, because we will want to follow them so we can have that peace that Christ's offers those who follow Him.
(P.S. I would really encourage each of you to read Ephesians chapter 4....it is really good!)
(to be continued)
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Pray...God's Answers...
"When a man breathes an intensely earnest prayer to God (Jesus Christ is the only name given under heaven whereby we can be saved), there is in that intensity and earnestness a pledge from God that He is about to answer that prayer exceeding abundantly, above all that we can ask or think...Unwearyingly persist in prayer. God does not say, Pray once, and I will answer you. His word is pray, be instant in prayer, believing ye have the things ye ask, and ye shall receive them; I will answer you." The Gospel Herald, May 28, 1902
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Standing Against the Flood
In the daily life you will meet with sudden surprises, disappointments, and temptations. What saith the word? "Resist the devil," by firm reliance upon God, "and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you." "Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me." Look unto Jesus at all times and in all places, offering a silent prayer from a sincere heart that you may know how to do His will. Then when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard for you against the enemy. (Isa 59:19) When you are almost ready to yield, to lose patience and self-control, to be hard and denunciatory, to find fault and accuse- this is the time for you to send to heaven the prayer, "Help me...to represent the character of Christ to others." -Adventist Home, 214, 215
We know the dangers and temptations that beset the youth at the present time are not few or small...we live in an age when to resist evil calls for constant watchfulness and prayer. God's precious Word is the standard for youth who would be loyal to the King of heaven. Let them study the Scriptures. Let them commit text after text to memory, and acquire a knowledge of what the Lord has said...And in trial let the youth spread out the Word of God before them, and with humble hearts, and in faith, seek the Lord for wisdom to find out His way, and for strength to walk in it...Let our young men (and women) institute warfare against every habit that has the least danger of leading the soul from duty and devotion. Let them have stated seasons for prayer, never neglecting them if it can possibly be avoided. If they go out to battle with their vicious habits indulged as before they professed fellowship with Christ they will soon fall and easy prey to Satan's devices. But armed with the Word of God, having it treasured in heart and mind, they will come forth unharmed by all the assaults of the foes of God or man.- My Life Today, 315
Friends...the devil is determined to see us fail in our Christian walk, but through prayer, and the word of God, we will be able to stand against the floods of the devil.
We know the dangers and temptations that beset the youth at the present time are not few or small...we live in an age when to resist evil calls for constant watchfulness and prayer. God's precious Word is the standard for youth who would be loyal to the King of heaven. Let them study the Scriptures. Let them commit text after text to memory, and acquire a knowledge of what the Lord has said...And in trial let the youth spread out the Word of God before them, and with humble hearts, and in faith, seek the Lord for wisdom to find out His way, and for strength to walk in it...Let our young men (and women) institute warfare against every habit that has the least danger of leading the soul from duty and devotion. Let them have stated seasons for prayer, never neglecting them if it can possibly be avoided. If they go out to battle with their vicious habits indulged as before they professed fellowship with Christ they will soon fall and easy prey to Satan's devices. But armed with the Word of God, having it treasured in heart and mind, they will come forth unharmed by all the assaults of the foes of God or man.- My Life Today, 315
Friends...the devil is determined to see us fail in our Christian walk, but through prayer, and the word of God, we will be able to stand against the floods of the devil.
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