Empowering Us to Live

So then, brothers, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, for if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.  (Romans 8:12-13 HCSB)

This, to me, is the best part of the Holy Spirit dwelling in me.  It's also the part I believe is the most misunderstood universally by believers and non-believers alike.

People who don't "believe" (or at least won't invite God into their lives) will often tell me that they need to "clean up their act" before coming to God or His Church.  They'll even tell me that they intend to come someday - hopefully soon - but that they need to start doing some things better first so they won't be a hypocrite.

Believers often don't do much better in this area.  They will want to fix someone's alcoholism, drug addiction, sexual promiscuity, anger problem, foul language, financial mismanagement, or any other problem before fixing their relationship with God.  Then, when asked about their own sin, that same believer will say, "Well, we're always going to sin.  That's just the way it is.  I'll just keep trying to get better, but I'm never going to get it right."

This passage runs through my mind every time I have one of these conversations.  The only way I can consistently fix a problem in my life is through the power of God.  Let me say it another way.  God's Power is NECESSARY to overcome any problem in my life.

That means that I cannot hope for a friend or relative to fix the problems in their lives without the power of God.  That means that I can overcome and fix any problem in my life through the Power of God.  "The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you." (Romans 8:11 NLT)

No, I shouldn't expect someone to change before they have God's Power to change it.  No, I do not need to listen to give in to that temptation - no matter how strong it is - because God's Power (dwelling inside of me) is stronger.  Yes, God is awesome and worthy of my praise.  He has empowered us to walk with Him!

Helping Us Pray

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  (Romans 8:26 NKJV)

Have you ever just "had it" with a situation?  You don't know what to do.  You don't know what to say.  You're frustrated because you don't know what to do.  You want to say something, do something or even think something, but nothing seems right.  Then you remember that the preacher told you to turn to God in these situations in prayer.  "Oh God..." is all you are able to utter...then you go blank.  What do I say?  What do I ask for?  How do I even begin?

These are the moments that blow me away with God.  Sometimes situations seem overwhelming and helpless to me, but they never are to Him...and He wants to help.  At the very moment I realize that I cannot handle it, God reminds me that I don't need to.  He will.  That's His job...not mine.  It's like He comes along and picks up the weights that were piled on my shoulders and says, "Can I help you with those?"  The weight goes away.  The pressure is lifted.  I can talk to Him again.

My best experiences in prayer have been after I turn things over to Him - especially if I take the time to say more than, "Thanks God" before I leave.  After He relieves the pressure, I am able to pray more freely.  It's like we can begin our real conversation because that huge distraction is out of the way.  I can communicate more clearly.  I can hear His still small voice better.  I'm humble enough to listen.

Even when everything around me tries to stop my communication with God, His Spirit is willing to cut through the mess...intercede...so we can sit down and have a talk.  That's an amazing God.

He Warns Us

"But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. (John 16:7-11 NASB)

When I was a pre-teen, I had gotten to the point that I wanted to start doing things myself.  I believed that I was getting pretty smart from my schooling and practical experiences in my home, so I should be able to do things by myself.  Sometimes, I would "prove" my point by simply doing things without asking my parents permission first.  I was old enough, I reasoned.  I don't need to ask.

One day I was looking for a replacement D-Cell battery for something for which I "needed" it.  There were no fresh batteries in the house.  I remembered that my parents had a battery charger somewhere in the house, but I couldn't find it.  

Then it hit me.  I didn't need a battery charger!  After all, a battery charger was simply a plug with a wire on it.  The other end of the wire went to a box with metal connectors that came in contact with the two ends of the battery.  Dad's electrical box had plenty of plugs and wires in it.  I could simply plug in the wire to the outlet, put one wire on the positive end of the battery and put the other wire on the negative end.

I rushed down to dad's workbench and pulled out all the necessary equipment for my home made battery charger: plug, wire, battery.  I plugged the wires into the wall socket conveniently mounted just above his work-bench counter, took the two open ends of the wire, and...POOF!  The battery exploded.  (Lucky for me, batteries were over-engineered back then so the casing didn't completely explode and the acid only oozed out instead of splattering all over me.)  The fuse blew.  (Yes, I said fuse - not breaker.) I wasn't hurt.  (Well, my pride was quite bruised...but other than that I was ok.)

Remembering the incident again right now, I distinctly remember a thought or a voice in my head yelling, "No!!!!" right before I caused my first explosion.  I was warned.  I didn't listen.

I knew what I did was wrong.  I was convicted of my own sin.  I knew I needed to "repent" of my ways and stop blowing up batteries.  I felt the weight of God's judgement without any adult there to tell me what I had done wrong.  That's because God was there.

People often tell me that they believe what they are doing is right or OK or fine even when it breaks God's design for our lives.  They even tell me this after telling me they are a believer and a Christ-follower.  I don't know.  I end up wondering.  If they have the gift of His Spirit, then I know they are being warned before they sin, convicted after they sin, and encouraged to do right even without me telling them.  That's the Holy Spirit's job.

I kinda wish I had listened to His Spirit before blowing up that battery.  I'm glad I listened to Him afterward, though.  I've repented of my ways and, thankfully, I've never tried to charge a battery in that same way again.  I'm glad He's there to warn us.  When we listen, life goes so much better for us.

He Teaches Us

This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."  (Hebrews 8:10-12 NIV)

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  (John 14:16-17, 26 NIV)

I will send you the Spirit who comes from the Father and shows what is true. The Spirit will help you and will tell you about me.  (John 15:26 CEV)

The way we know God changes after we receive Him.  Think about this for a moment.  After Adam and Eve sinned, they were kicked out of the Garden.

Talking with God just got more difficult.

When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, the people were so terrified by the power of God that they did not want to communicate with Him directly.  Instead, they let Moses do the communicating and they listened (sort of) to Moses.

Talking with God just got more difficult.

Before Moses died, he gave us the parameters to look for in prophets who would come after him.  They had to perform a sign or miracle and they must teach in accord with what has been previously revealed by God.  Testing prophets to see if they are from God or not became the norm.  You never knew (at first) if the prophet was true or false, speaking for God or not.

Talking with God just became more difficult.

Now Jesus comes to earth, learns the Word and becomes a rabbi, passes all the tests of prophecy, fulfills the prophecies about the Messiah, and reveals that he is, in fact, God in the flesh.

Talking with God becomes much easier...at least for His disciples.

Jesus leaves, sends His Spirit back to his disciples and promises to do the same for "all who are far off...all whom THE LORD, our God will call." (Acts 2:39)

Believers...talking with God just became easier than it's ever been!

Now we can talk to Him without going through an intermediary.  We have conversations with Him.  We can ask His advice.  We can ask for His wisdom.  He gladly answers.  (James 1:5-6)

This truth is difficult for someone like me who believes that my primary calling is to teach people about Him through His Word.

Those who don't believe still don't have His Spirit.  There's some work I can do.  

Believers don't really need teachers like me.  They already have Him to teach and guide them.
Most of us, however, don't really know how to listen.
When we do listen, we don't recognize when it's Him and when we are being deceived.
When we do recognize His still small voice and listen to what He says, we often don't follow His direction.
Teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness from His word?  I guess my calling to teach is still secure...at least for a little while longer. ;)

He Lives in Us

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 TNIV)

"My body is a temple."  I've heard that phrase many times throughout my life.  Often times the phrase came from someone who was buff - obviously working out on a regular basis with the sculpted muscles to show for it.  Often the discussion includes ways I should eat right, exercise, and perhaps drink protein shakes.  I'm usually looked down upon in such discussions because I drink Mountain Dew or enjoy a good cheeseburger.  As a Christian, they will say, I should know better how to "honor God with my body."


I guess they're right.  I could watch my diet closer and even exercise more than I do.  Physical exercise does have value, to be sure.  I just wish this passage of Scripture wasn't used to make their point.  You see, the point being made here by Paul as he writes to the Corinthian church is far different than the one being made by my health-conscious friends today.


Paul is reminding us (like I discussed yesterday) of the gift that God gives us - the gift of Himself...His Spirit.  This was a big deal for the apostle Paul.  It is was a big deal for all Christians back then.  It's a big deal for us today.


You see, God hadn't had close encounters with His people since He walked in the Garden with Adam and Eve.  Once they were kicked out of Eden for their sin, the relationship with God has always been from a distance.  Abraham encountered God when he was tested with Isaac, but communications took place through angels.  Jacob wrestled with God at night, but did not really see Him.  Moses encountered burning bushes, mountaintop fires, and a pillar of smoke/fire.

The Israelites encountered God in His tabernacle (tent), then later in His temple (building).  God was always "out there," separate, at a distance.  He honored their request to keep it that way because they were afraid to come in contact with Him.  No one can see the face of God and live.


After Jesus left, though, he promised to send back His Spirit.  When he did, the distance between us and God completely vanished.  You don't go to an ornate church building or temple to meet with God anymore.  He comes to your place - your body - to meet with you.  Since the temple was the place we used to meet with Him, Paul now refers to your body as His Temple.  God dwells there now.  He's not here just for a short visit.  He's here to stay.


Everything changes when I start thinking about God being inside me...seeing what I see...doing what I do.  I start to realize that when I looked at that thing I shouldn't have, I was making God look at with me.  When I said that stuff I wish I hadn't, I was making God say that with me.  When I did those things I am ashamed that I did, I was making God do them too.


That's the point Paul was making.  God is in you.  Don't say something God wouldn't say.  Don't do something God wouldn't do. The question we should be asking ourselves is this:  "Would God do that?"  If not, then why are you?  You are making Him participate in that every time you do it, because God now dwells in you.

A Reminder

…remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them are not Christians at all. (Romans 8:9b NLT)

The older I get, the more I seem to get absent minded.  That's pretty bad when, as a child, my dad would say, "Boy, you'd lose your head if it wasn't attached."  Of course, he was joking...I think.

Anyone around me knows that I put systems and processes in place to remind me of things that are important to me, but which I would forget without help.  I have calendars, task lists, project lists and tools with pictures and background information to help me care for and shepherd people.  (I have to work hard at remembering their names.)

The point is, I need reminders.  There was a day I would not so easily admit that, but perhaps with age is coming wisdom.  I gladly accept the hard work of the people who developed those tools, and use them to better serve those God has entrusted into my care.  Little by little I get better at it.

I'll tell you another tool I'm grateful to have received: His Spirit.  I mean no disrespect when I refer to the Creator of the universe as a tool, but in the form of His Spirit He chooses to function as one.  

In this case, He is a reminder.  He reminds me in much the same way that my task lists and calendars remind me.  I belong to Christ.  I was always God's creation...His handiwork...His child.  Something changed, though, when I received His Forgiveness and His Spirit.  I became His friend.  I became a part of His team.  I became His representative.

I'm now a Christ-follower and a Christ-ambassador to the world.  I have a new relationship with Him and a new job to do.  I am reminded of all these things through His Spirit.  All of us with His Spirit are now identified as Christians.  We are different than we were before...as His Spirit reminds us.

Thank you, God.  You know I need to be reminded.

A Down Payment

We know that the earthly tent we live in will be destroyed. But we have a building made by God. It is a house in heaven that lasts forever. Human hands did not build it. During our time on earth we groan. We long to put on our house in heaven as if it were clothing. Then we will not be naked. While we live in this tent of ours, we groan under our heavy load. We don't want to be naked. We want to be dressed with our house in heaven. What must die will be swallowed up by life. God has made us for that very purpose. He has given us the Holy Spirit as a down payment. The Spirit makes us sure of what is still to come. So here is what we can always be certain about. As long as we are at home in our bodies, we are away from the Lord.  (2 Corinthians 5:1-6 NIrV)

I remember my dad telling me how he bought his first house.  This was the house we kids were all raised in.  It was a two story layout with 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, a living room, dining room, kitchen, and a full basement.  All the rooms were large by today's standards.  The cost?  $14,000


Dad and mom worked hard to be able to buy this place.  They both worked, bringing in a total of $100/week.  But they wanted their own home...a place to raise their children...a place to be a family.  The hardest part was going to be the down payment.  They borrowed some money from family and other money from an employer/friend.  They bought the house.  This was the place I knew as "home."


God has a "home" prepared for those of us who want to go there.  This home is worth far more than $14,000.  It's value is priceless.  It's not just a place we will call home for our childhood years.  It's a place we will call home for eternity.  This place is our new body...our new tent...our new home.


I can't afford a priceless home.  I can't even begin to think of a way to raise the down payment.  How do I purchase a new body that will not break down and will serve me well through all eternity?  I can't.  God can!  He did.


He gives me confidence that this next body is purchased for me and ready when my "old model" breaks down and stops working.  I don't have to pay the down payment or security deposit because He is buying it for me. He sends me the down payment now so I know that the rest of the deal is done.


His Spirit is that deposit.  The indwelling Spirit of God serves as a down payment, a security deposit, a guarantee.


My "new house" is purchased, ready, and waiting for me when I get there.  That's one less thing to remember to pack for the next life. :-)