So many times as Christians we do not use, or we are ignorant of, the power we possess. The power I am speaking of is the Power of the Holy Spirit, which is the power of God, the supernatural in our lives. The Holy Spirit comes and resides in all people who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. When Jesus died on the cross and was buried and then raised from the dead, yes, I said “raised from the dead,” on the third day….He appeared on earth for the next 40 days then ascended into heaven.
But He did not leave us (Christians) to fend for ourselves on this earth…He sent the Holy Spirit…who is part of the trinity–God, Jesus (man who was fully God) [John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”], and the Holy Spirit [Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;”].
Recently, in my quiet time, God has impressed upon me to go DEEPER in my walk with Him…..it is the power of the Holy Spirit that can aid and enable me/you/us to understand and gain wisdom and knowledge from God and gain a deeper understanding of all that He has for each of us to do while on this earth. I am not seeking human wisdom…I am seeking the kind of wisdom Paul talked about in 1 Corinthians 1:17, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel–not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.”
I know for sure, words and actions from Sherry——are meaningless—–Sherry has to be emptied of Sherry and seek to be full of Christ and His wisdom………..I absolutely love the scripture that Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2:4, “I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the SPIRIT’S POWER, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s POWER.” [emphasis mine]
I/you/we are all powerless to accomplish anything of significance if we are relying on ourselves. If this is deep and you are lacking understanding…go to the Bible and read the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the New Testament. You will find four accounts written about the life of Jesus. Then read the book of Acts and 1st and 2nd Corinthians…to gain understanding of the work of the Holy Spirit available to all who accept Jesus as their Savior.
I love, love, love the scripture in 1 Corinthians 2:9-12, “…No eye has seen no ear has heard no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him but God has revealed it to us by his spirit. The spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the spirit of God. WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE SPIRIT OF THE WORLD BUT THE SPIRIT WHO IS FROM GOD, THAT WE MAY UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD HAS FREELY GIVEN US.” [emphasis mine]
Now as I am seeking to go deeper, allow me to share a short example of the Power of the Holy Spirit in my life recently….sorry for the length of some posts. I trust as God tells me what to write…that even if one person reads until the end…then HIS purpose will be accomplished…..so here goes…..
During a prolonged quiet time one morning…I had read my Bible and then began reading a book by Joyce Meyer entitled, “Filled with the Spirit”. In the book she mentions a book she had read entitled, “A New Song” by Pat Boone. I haven’t heard his name in a long time….a very long time, but I knew who Pat Boone was and heard him speak many times when I was growing up….It was a blast from the past for sure. I underlined the title because I wanted to get that book! Just as Christine Cain mentioned at the 2014 Passion Conference that Joyce Meyer had been a mentor to her, I feel the same way. Even though I don’t know Joyce personally, I love her teaching and her books. Through her ministry millions of hungry people are being fed!
On with the story….I had just finished reading most of the book when Thomas appeared in my office. We talked as we often do in the mornings since my office is right off his bedroom. I told him a little about seeking to go deeper….specifically, understanding and seeking to recognize the Holy Spirit…in my personal life. I then suggested we watch an online sermon. I decided to watch another Judith Smith sermon from City Church. I randomly picked his sermon entitled, “The Deposit.”
Judith opened his sermon with a story about his childhood and, of all things, he mentioned the name Pat Boone. It sent chills down my spine! I had to pause the sermon to let Thomas know how God was confirming my pursuit of HIM….by having Pat Boone’s name come up in a book and now a sermon I had randomly picked to watch within the same hour. Thomas’ eyes got really big and he too had chills!
You see….God was not only “Hugging me from Heaven” to give me a fist pump to keep on keeping on….but HE was allowing me to show Thomas a demonstration of NOT COINCIDENCE but OF GOD MOMENTS…..those happen more frequently now than they ever have in my life as I SEEK…to KNOW HIM MORE and LIVE ACCORDING TO HIS WILL and not mine!
The point of the post…..God’s Holy Spirit is available to all people, not just me or my family, but to ALL. We just have to invite HIM into our lives and then seek His WILL and HIS power and not ours.
Remember these passages as you seek the Lord and HIS will:
1 Corinthians 1:27, “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”
Isaiah 55:8-9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
1 Corinthians 1:31, “Therefore, as it is written; ‘Let him who boasts boast in the LORD.'”
Sherry, I dont think there is anything remotely as close to awesome as watching God “show off” like this!! I love how He “hugs” us…I call it “blowing me kisses” throughout the day…sometimes a “no brainer” , like your Pat Boone moment with Thomas, other times, that still small voice..that knowing…He is there…Nuff said!! I so enjoy your posts. Thank you for surrendering your life to serve others in the way Christ has directed you…