The post Be filled with the Spirit! appeared first on My Manna.
]]>
We cannot expect to have the Holy Spirit’s fullness in our lives-– if we are quite content to live without it.
Check your motives!
If we seek the Holy Spirit merely for our own happiness or comfort or liberty of soul-
– it will be very unlikely that He will be given.
His one passion is the glory of the Lord Jesus.
He can only abide with those who are willing to be at one with Him in this.
“Can two walk together except they be agreed?” Amos 3:3.
But if you are motivated simply by the desire that the Lord Jesus may be magnified in you-
– whether by life or death;
– if you long above all that men should turn away from you to Him,
– then rejoice, because you are near blessing beyond words.
If your motives fall below this standard-
– trust Him to enlighten and purify them.
Offer Him free entrance to your heart.
Consider the Scriptures!
We must not be content to have the Spirit without the Word or the Word without the Spirit.
Our lives must travel along these two-
– as the locomotive travels along parallel rails.
It is only by our devout contact with the Word that we shall be able to detect the Holy Spirit’s voice.
It is by the Word that the Spirit will enter our hearts-
as the heat of the sun passes into our homes when its beams of light enter the open windows.
We need a revival of Bible study.
There is no better way of communing with God than to walk to and fro in your room or in the open air with your Bible in hand, meditating on it and turning its precepts and promises into prayer.
Commit to Christ!
The Holy Ghost is in us, and by this means Christ is in us, for He dwells in us by the Spirit, as the sun dwells in the world through its rays of light.
But we must perpetually yield to Him-
– as water yields to the vessel that holds it.
This is not easy.
It can only be accomplished by incessant self-examination and putting to death our self-life
– that is, making self, rather than Christ, the focus of our life.
We must allow the One to increase-
– while the other decreases.
There is nothing trivial in this life.
A look, a word, a refusal, may be enough to grieve Him in ourselves and to quench Him in others.
Do not shrink back afraid of what He may demand.
He is the Spirit of love, and He loves us too well to cause grief unless there is a reason.
Commune with the Spirit!
Receive Him by faith!
Just as you once obtained forgiveness and salvation by faith, so now claim and receive the Holy Spirit’s fullness.
Wait quietly but definitely before God in prayer, for He gives His Holy Spirit to them that ask Him.
Then reverently appropriate this glorious gift, rise from your knees and go on your way, believing that God has kept His word.
There may not be the sound of rushing wind or the tangible feeling of His presence.
Do not look for these any more than the young convert should look to his feeling as an evidence of God’s acceptance.
But believe, in spite of how you feel, that you are filled.
The feeling will sooner or later break in upon your consciousness.
And you will rejoice with exceeding great joy; and all the fruit of the Spirit will begin to show themselves in your life.
Be filled with the Spirit!
(PA)
The post Be filled with the Spirit! appeared first on My Manna.
]]>The post The number-one-fear appeared first on My Manna.
]]>
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
I heard about a Christian living in first-century Rome who was about to be fed to a lion.
He quickly whispered something in the lion’s ear, and the lion bolted away in terror.
When a guard was sent to find out what happened, he came back with this report:
“The Christian told the lion, ‘After you have your meal, you will be asked to stand up and say a few words.'”
The number-one-fear on almost everyone’s list is speaking publicly.
Of course, this also carries over to telling others about Jesus.
But the Holy Spirit can bring a dimension of power and boldness into our lives that we haven’t had previously, and a new courage to speak up for Jesus Christ.
The first-century believers certainly needed that power.
Any honest reading of the New Testament quickly reveals that those whom Jesus called were about as ordinary as they came.
But when the Holy Spirit came upon them-
– they were empowered, and they transformed their world.
The first-century believers didn’t have TV, radio, or the Internet.
But they had the greatest power of all.
And in a relatively short period of time-
– a small handful of believers turned their world upside-down.
The same power that energized the first-century believers is available to us today.
Have you been empowered by the Holy Spirit?
If not, you can be.
Ask God to fill you with this power to change your world.
It is not about emotion.
It is about fact.
God wants to fill you with His power.
The Spirit filled life is Christ controlled life!
The post The number-one-fear appeared first on My Manna.
]]>The post Fullness of the Spirit! appeared first on My Manna.
]]>
It was 1903!
Two young men stood perched on a sand dune overlooking the Atlantic.
The place Kitty Hawk, NC on the outer banks.
The boys we remember as Wilbur and Orville Wright.
They were launching a 40 foot long frame that weighed barely 750 pounds.
In a brief 12 second flight of less than a 120 feet the Wright Brothers became the fathers of modern aviation.
Imagine a gleaming metal object sat on our parking lot.
This metallic tube is 185.7726 feet long,
65.2833 feet high,
wings spreading 194.544 feet wide,
and weighing 317520 kg.
That object is called today a Boeing 747-400.
In 1903 there would have been no wildest imagination that such an object weighing (fully loaded) 317520 kg could ever fly.
Strapped to the earth by sheer weight and the law of gravity-
– it would be impossible to ever think it could soar through thin air.
But hundreds of times each day all over the world objects just like it do!
Do you ever feel like you are one of the Wright Brothers sitting at Kitty Hawk with an 317520 kg hunk of metal on the sand trying to get it in the air?
Trying to walk in the Spirit-
– but glued to the ground?
The way to live an unbelievable, incredible life is found in God’s Word.
In fact-
-the secret that sums up Peter’s life, Paul’s life and John’s life.
This same secret summarizes how the galaxy of 1st through 21st century saints have stood alone triumphantly for Christ.
The secret they knew and followed was:
Fullness of the Spirit!
Walking in the Spirit is-
– living in the conscious presence of the Lord Jesus Christ,
– letting His mind, through the Word, dominate everything that is thought and done.
Being filled with the Spirit is-
– the same as walking like Jesus did on earth!
The post Fullness of the Spirit! appeared first on My Manna.
]]>The post Detriment of our devotion appeared first on My Manna.
]]>
The Spirit-filled walk is neither characterized by license nor legalism, but liberty. Paul stated that we are-
“servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the spirit gives life…Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Corinthians 3:6,17).
I believe that our freedom in Christ is-
– one of the most precious commodities we have received from our spiritual union with God.
Because the Spirit of the Lord is in you-
– you are free to choose to live a responsible and moral life.
You are no longer compelled to walk according to the flesh as you were before conversion.
And now you are not even compelled to walk according to the Spirit.
You are free to choose-
– to walk according to the Spirit or
– to walk according to the flesh.
Walking according to the Spirit implies two things.
First-
It’s not passive.
We’re talking about walking in the Spirit, not sitting in the Spirit.
One of the most dangerous and harmful detriments to your spiritual growth is passivity-
– putting your mind in neutral and coasting.
Sitting back and waiting for God to do everything is not God’s way to spiritual maturity.
Second-
We’re talking about walking in the Spirit, not running in the Spirit.
The Spirit-filled life is not achieved through endless, exhausting activity.
We mistakenly think that the harder we work for God, the more spiritual we will become.
That’s a subtle lie from the enemy.
Satan knows that he may not be able to stop you from serving God by making you immoral-
– but he can probably impede your service by simply making you busy.
Our service for God can become the greatest detriment of our devotion to God.
The post Detriment of our devotion appeared first on My Manna.
]]>The post Be filled with the Spirit! appeared first on My Manna.
]]>
“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:17-18).
When we think of being filled with the Spirit-
– we often relate it to an emotional experience or a feeling of euphoria.
But in reality, the word, “filled,” could be translated, “controlled.”
It is a word that speaks of what happens when the wind fills the sails of a boat and guides it along.
So God is saying that-
– we are to let His Spirit fill us and control our lives.
The Spirit filled life is the Christ controlled life!
Another interesting thing about this word is that in the original language-
– it is in a tense that speaks of something that should be done continually.
So you could translate this sentence:
“Be constantly filled with the Spirit.”
This is not a one-time event.
Instead, it is something that takes place over and over again-
– just as we repeatedly fill the gas tanks in our cars to keep them running.
You may have emotional experiences.
You may not have emotional experiences.
But that has very little to do with the reality of being filled with and controlled by the Spirit.
One other thing about this phrase from Ephesians 5:18 is that-
– it’s a command,
– not a suggestion.
The Scripture is not saying, “If it works with your schedule, if you don’t mind, would you please consider maybe letting the Holy Spirit fill and control you?”
Rather, God is saying that He commands us.
He orders us, to be filled with the Spirit!
(PR)
The post Be filled with the Spirit! appeared first on My Manna.
]]>The post Back to the basics appeared first on My Manna.
]]>“For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14).
The Bible says there is only one intermediary between God and man, and that is Jesus.
False prophets and teachers often function like intermediaries.
When God sent the prophet Nathan to David-
– it was for the purpose of bringing conviction in order to establish righteousness.
Bringing conviction is a primary ministry of the Holy Spirit.
The proper use of the gift of prophecy would reveal unrighteousness in order to establish people in Christ.
Once people are living righteously with the Lord, the Holy Spirit will lead them.
False gifts will not promote holiness-
– but often will specify wrong decisions concerning direction in life.
That function is the role of the Holy Spirit alone (Romans 8:14).
Some churches encourage their members, including the immature-
– to come into the fullness of the Spirit with manifestations,.
Why not the fullness of the truth?
It’s the fullness of the truth the Holy Spirit has promised to lead us into.
I’m deeply concerned for young converts in ministries that push for them to seek total manifestations of the Spirit.
Many have not had the time to understand the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets.
The church at Corinth had similar problems.
They were exhorted by Paul to get back to the basics of faith, hope and love-
– and govern very closely the use of tongues and prophecies in public worship,
– because God does everything decently and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40).
If a person or church is earnestly seeking the Lord-
God will work through the lines of authority He has established in His Word.
(PR)
The post Back to the basics appeared first on My Manna.
]]>The post But now I do! appeared first on My Manna.
]]>“Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17).
Modern approaches to the subconscious can do no more than throw the pale light of information into it.
The message of the Bible, however-
– is not merely information but transformation:
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
So if the Spirit of the Lord is within us-
– there is freedom from the conflict between the conscious and the subconscious.
If such a freedom is possible-
– why do so many live out their lives in conflict?
Because they have never appropriated the power and presence of the Spirit available to them-
– and channeled Him into the deeper regions of their personality through self-surrender.
God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit will never barge their way into any area of the personality.
They come in when we put up the white flag of surrender and, by a conscious act, agree to their residing and presiding within us.
It’s surprising how many Christians say with the conscious mind, “I surrender all,” and yet with the subconscious say, “I want some areas for myself.”
We must take ourselves in hand and decide-
– whether or not we want the Holy Spirit simply to evangelize certain areas of our personality,
– or whether we want Him to occupy our entire being.
If you haven’t properly settled this issue, then ask yourself today:
“Am I just kidding myself when I say I want to be filled with God?
Is there a part of me that says, ‘Come in,’ while another part of me says at the same time, ‘Keep out’?”
The Holy Spirit only comes into the areas where He is freely admitted.
“Father God, You have put Your finger right on my problem.
Perhaps the reason I have never felt the Holy Spirit’s full control is because deep down I never wanted it.
But now I do! My whole being cries out for its rightful Lord.
I surrender now. Amen.”
(PR)
The post But now I do! appeared first on My Manna.
]]>The post But now I do! appeared first on My Manna.
]]>“Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17).
Modern approaches to the subconscious can do no more than throw the pale light of information into it.
The message of the Bible, however-
– is not merely information but transformation:
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
So if the Spirit of the Lord is within us-
– there is freedom from the conflict between the conscious and the subconscious.
If such a freedom is possible-
– why do so many live out their lives in conflict?
Because they have never appropriated the power and presence of the Spirit available to them-
– and channelled Him into the deeper regions of their personality through self-surrender.
God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit will never barge their way into any area of the personality.
They come in when we put up the white flag of surrender and, by a conscious act, agree to their residing and presiding within us.
It’s surprising how many Christians say with the conscious mind, “I surrender all,” and yet with the subconscious say, “I want some areas for myself.”
We must take ourselves in hand and decide-
– whether or not we want the Holy Spirit simply to evangelize certain areas of our personality,
– or whether we want Him to occupy our entire being.
If you haven’t properly settled this issue, then ask yourself today:
“Am I just kidding myself when I say I want to be filled with God?
Is there a part of me that says, ‘Come in,’ while another part of me says at the same time, ‘Keep out’?”
The Holy Spirit only comes into the areas where He is freely admitted.
“Father God, You have put Your finger right on my problem.
Perhaps the reason I have never felt the Holy Spirit’s full control is because deep down I never wanted it.
But now I do! My whole being cries out for its rightful Lord.
I surrender now. Amen.”
(PR)
The post But now I do! appeared first on My Manna.
]]>The post My fear is… appeared first on My Manna.
]]>Some today are telling us that the most important thing the church should be focusing on is global warming.
That is the priority we are to have, they say.
But there is another kind of warming the church should focus on preventing.
And that is people spending eternity separated from God in hell.
The church of the first century made its impact on the world through prayer and through preaching.
It was said of the early church that they turned the world upside down.
And that, by the way, was offered as a criticism, not as a compliment. Acts 17:6.
May God give us more “criticisms” like this-
– because it seems today the opposite is happening in the church.
We have double standards and moral compromise and little to no power.
Organized Christianity which fails to make a disturbance is dead!
What concerns me is that we are not making a disturbance anymore.
We are so worried about fitting in.
We are so worried about relating.
We are so worried about being cool that we have forgotten what it is to make a stand for what is true.
My fear is that-
– instead of the church turning the world upside down,
– the world is turning the church upside down.
We are not going to move this world-
– by criticism of it
– nor conformity to it,
– but by the combustion within it of lives ignited by the Spirit of God!
That is why we need to get back to what the early church experienced as given on the day of Pentecost-
– because they turned their world upside down.
And in this crazy, topsy-turvy world where wrong is right and right is wrong, we need to do the same.
(PR)
The post My fear is… appeared first on My Manna.
]]>The post In us and through us! appeared first on My Manna.
]]>Revival is the sovereign work of God-
– in which He visits His own people,
– restoring and releasing them into the fullness of His blessing!
Over the years I’ve often gotten emails asking “Do you think revival will ever come to us? When do you think it will come?”
The key aspect of world revival is revival within ourselves.
Revival must begin within each of us!
And it’s not just a one time event but an ongoing process of desiring to be closer to Him.
Once, a lady asked Billy Sunday “Why do you keep having revival meetings?”
And he quickly retorted, “Why do you always take a bath?”
Revival is an ongoing transformation of our hearts to be constantly moved by the Spirit of God.
We need to be daily breaking up our fallow ground-
– those places in our hearts which we’ve allowed to grow hard.
How?
We have to first ask the Lord to reveal those hard places-
– pray that He would forgive us and ask Him to heal all our rough edges that we might be soft before Him and sensitive to His leading.
Only then will we be changed and be in a place where we can contribute to revival around us.
Let’s allow God to work in us and through us!
(PR)
The post In us and through us! appeared first on My Manna.
]]>