The Holy One calls to me this morning. Excitement floods my room. Even in the darkness I can "feel" it. There is a cause for celebration and I cannot wait to find out what this excitement is all about.
The Spirit has been leading me through some pretty rough terrain lately, but today, I sense an "aha" moment and breakthrough of some kind. Life and my studies seem like random dots on a chalkboard at times with all the people, situations, and "how come" questions that may grace or clutter the landscape.
But then, the Holy One begins to connect some of those dots and a picture takes shape which I recognize as Truth. Circumstances challenge my human frame and mind. I realize that, due to pain or pride, I can miss the target I so desire to hit which is Truth.
Not withstanding the learning curve we all experience, I know and trust that the indwelling Holy Spirit, the One who wakes me up each day and draws me into His Presence, will guide me into all Truth.
In John 16:5-15, as Jesus was preparing to depart planet earth and take up His eternal place at the right hand of the Father in Heaven, He left these words for all who would follow Him:
"Now, I am going to Him who sent Me....It is for your good that I am going away.....Unless I go, the Counselor will not come to you, but if I go, I will send Him to you.....I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear, but when He, the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all Truth."
Line upon line, precept upon precept, the Holy One leads us into all truth if we are willing to go with Him. The one great warning we have received is that, in the end, a great spiritual deception will cover the whole earth and therefore "truth" is going to be imperative for life.
Even as we speak, all kinds of information and mis-information floods the airwaves. How can we know what is true? Without a deep reliance on the "Spirit of Truth" the challenge to know truth is too much for the human. Intellectual pride stands in our way and we can trace it back to the toxic fruit consumed by our ancestors in the Garden of God.
To approach and understand the things of the "Spirit" through human intellect will tangle up the best of navigators. It is with this understanding that, while wrestling our thoughts and analyzing our circumstances, we must always return to the Holy One, Who has promised to give Divine wisdom upon our request. The excitement of today is the anticipation of a much sought after "breakthrough".
Back in the days of Elijah, the Prophet, there was no rain for 3 years. A drought was over the land and a famine occurred. The nation of Israel had marched onto a time of great idolatry. The drought and famine was a Divine judgement. Rather than repenting for their corporate sin, they turned to the gods of the other nations in hopes that those gods could cure the consequences of their rebellion against "their" God.
Not to judge their folly, I cannot help but wonder how much do we look elsewhere to solve the problems that God has permitted to draw us back to Himself?
The one thing I notice about the life and trial of Job, is that he, wisely, did not seek remedy from any other "gods". His friends came and gave counsel but in all the devastating circumstances, Job did not turn away from the firm bottom line of his faith in the One True God. While Job did not understand the whys and wherefores of His God, he did not seek relief from another.
The wonder and reality of the Kingdom of Heaven and our God is that we belong to an "upside down" kingdom. We are taught that we must die to live, and give to gain. The same principle hits my heart and mind today. The way up is down. Just like in the days of Elijah and Job, the humility of repentance marks the pathway to victory.
For me, it sometimes takes a while to get my mind dialed up to recognize the ways I have offended the Holy Spirit of my Savior. It's is due to His great mercy that I am not cut off at the knees. The carnal mind is so strong and it sometimes represents a battle royal to purge my human mind of error.
I am so thankful that the Holy Spirit does not go down without a fight and since that battle is His, He will always end up the victor no matter how long it takes and I have the scars to prove it.
The excitement I feel in the atmosphere today is the realization that my part in the drama has been played out through repentance and forgiveness. Repentance marks the beginning of our relationship with the Holy One and repentance is the way to maintain it. Sin separates from our Beloved whether the sin nature, Jesus died to remove, or the flesh sin that after salvation grieves the Holy Spirit within. Repentance is a life long requirement for a pure heart.
Knowing I am clean before the Lord, opens the way for the rain that ends the drought. Truth is the crop that feeds the sheep. As I have the indwelling Holy Spirit, I have Truth. With that, I know beyond any doubt, that I have all I need and THAT is cause for celebration.
The Spirit is calling. Can you hear Him?
The Spirit has been leading me through some pretty rough terrain lately, but today, I sense an "aha" moment and breakthrough of some kind. Life and my studies seem like random dots on a chalkboard at times with all the people, situations, and "how come" questions that may grace or clutter the landscape.
But then, the Holy One begins to connect some of those dots and a picture takes shape which I recognize as Truth. Circumstances challenge my human frame and mind. I realize that, due to pain or pride, I can miss the target I so desire to hit which is Truth.
Not withstanding the learning curve we all experience, I know and trust that the indwelling Holy Spirit, the One who wakes me up each day and draws me into His Presence, will guide me into all Truth.
In John 16:5-15, as Jesus was preparing to depart planet earth and take up His eternal place at the right hand of the Father in Heaven, He left these words for all who would follow Him:
"Now, I am going to Him who sent Me....It is for your good that I am going away.....Unless I go, the Counselor will not come to you, but if I go, I will send Him to you.....I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear, but when He, the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all Truth."
Line upon line, precept upon precept, the Holy One leads us into all truth if we are willing to go with Him. The one great warning we have received is that, in the end, a great spiritual deception will cover the whole earth and therefore "truth" is going to be imperative for life.
Even as we speak, all kinds of information and mis-information floods the airwaves. How can we know what is true? Without a deep reliance on the "Spirit of Truth" the challenge to know truth is too much for the human. Intellectual pride stands in our way and we can trace it back to the toxic fruit consumed by our ancestors in the Garden of God.
To approach and understand the things of the "Spirit" through human intellect will tangle up the best of navigators. It is with this understanding that, while wrestling our thoughts and analyzing our circumstances, we must always return to the Holy One, Who has promised to give Divine wisdom upon our request. The excitement of today is the anticipation of a much sought after "breakthrough".
Back in the days of Elijah, the Prophet, there was no rain for 3 years. A drought was over the land and a famine occurred. The nation of Israel had marched onto a time of great idolatry. The drought and famine was a Divine judgement. Rather than repenting for their corporate sin, they turned to the gods of the other nations in hopes that those gods could cure the consequences of their rebellion against "their" God.
Not to judge their folly, I cannot help but wonder how much do we look elsewhere to solve the problems that God has permitted to draw us back to Himself?
The one thing I notice about the life and trial of Job, is that he, wisely, did not seek remedy from any other "gods". His friends came and gave counsel but in all the devastating circumstances, Job did not turn away from the firm bottom line of his faith in the One True God. While Job did not understand the whys and wherefores of His God, he did not seek relief from another.
The wonder and reality of the Kingdom of Heaven and our God is that we belong to an "upside down" kingdom. We are taught that we must die to live, and give to gain. The same principle hits my heart and mind today. The way up is down. Just like in the days of Elijah and Job, the humility of repentance marks the pathway to victory.
For me, it sometimes takes a while to get my mind dialed up to recognize the ways I have offended the Holy Spirit of my Savior. It's is due to His great mercy that I am not cut off at the knees. The carnal mind is so strong and it sometimes represents a battle royal to purge my human mind of error.
I am so thankful that the Holy Spirit does not go down without a fight and since that battle is His, He will always end up the victor no matter how long it takes and I have the scars to prove it.
The excitement I feel in the atmosphere today is the realization that my part in the drama has been played out through repentance and forgiveness. Repentance marks the beginning of our relationship with the Holy One and repentance is the way to maintain it. Sin separates from our Beloved whether the sin nature, Jesus died to remove, or the flesh sin that after salvation grieves the Holy Spirit within. Repentance is a life long requirement for a pure heart.
Knowing I am clean before the Lord, opens the way for the rain that ends the drought. Truth is the crop that feeds the sheep. As I have the indwelling Holy Spirit, I have Truth. With that, I know beyond any doubt, that I have all I need and THAT is cause for celebration.
The Spirit is calling. Can you hear Him?
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