My Need for God’s Spirit

Christian discernment notices things that  otherwise would be missed. For instance, when another believer is filled with the Spirit, the attitudes or fruit that the Spirit produces are very obvious to a discerning mind. Because this happens, God’s grace is richly recognized and enjoyed. Rather than crediting a spirit-filled person for being nice, God is glorified as He should be. However, if a believer is walking in the flesh, discernment easily senses selfishness, or rudeness, knowing that this doe not come from the Holy Spirit. Fleshy behavior is the opposite of godly behavior. The difference is described in Scripture by comparing the two:

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4–7)

Fleshy behavior is selfish, but not always discerned as such. I need to watch how I react to it. If someone is rude to me, my reaction could be critical or anger or wanting to retaliate. Yet God tells my to be discerning and pray for that person. They are not walking in the Spirit and need to get back on track. If I am offended by what they did and react in a fleshy way, then I am not walking in the Spirit either.

How is it even possible to respond rightly to the sin of others? Is it not because of Jesus? Because He died as my substitute and took my penalty for sin, He also lives as my substitute and gives me His life as my righteousness. Today’s readings verify this:

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:18–19)

The law of God requires not only that I am without sin, but also that I am completely obedient to holiness. I am to love God with all my heart, soul, mind and being, and others as myself. This righteousness Christ performs for me as my Substitute. In Him, I’m to obey God  through the power of the Holy Spirit. I do not have to live by the dictates of my old nature, no matter how others treat me.

The Bible says that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness and that when God imputed the righteousness of Christ to us, He was made my righteousness. In other words, I have the righteousness of God in Christ. This is not just about my legal standing before God, but about my state in this world. He makes it happen by filling me with His Spirit so I can walk in obedience.

Galatians 5 begins with, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1) This refers to the slavery of sin, of living by my old nature, which is sinful. It goes on. . . .  

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (Galatians 5:13–18)

Fleshy behavior is not only sin against God and a lack of love for Him, it is sinful against others, and that lack of love can offend and hurt them. However, if I’m on the receiving end, I’m not to retaliate but do what Jesus does — die to it and intercede for the other person, not only with a spirit of forgiveness but pray that God will work in their lives so they realize their fleshy motivations and actions, confess them, and ask for His fullness so they are filled with the fruit that only the Holy Spirit can produce:

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22–23)

PRAY: Lord, my flesh resents my own flesh behavior, never mind the things others do apart from Your Spirit. Enable me to respond to whatever others do in the same way You respond to me — with love, patience and kindness as you gently show me how deeply I also need self-control that comes from Your amazing righteousness. I do not have any of this without You and need You every day, every hour, every moment of my life.

Why worry?

 

There is something in the human heart that likes to worry. Worry is a false sense of being in control rather than feeling totally helpless. A friend laughs saying, “Why pray when you can worry?”

Worry is taking a task that can be solved or accomplished by God and loading on ourselves, making it my responsibility to ‘fix’ even though I cannot fix it. When that happens, I have decide that I can ‘fix’ it by praying, but instead of asking God to attend to it according to His will, I am telling God what to do, another form of control.

Whether it is mine or another person’s dilemma, what if the problem is actually God’s will? He does allow tough circumstances and uses all things to make His children more like Jesus. We suppose that His will has the purpose of making us happy — without realizing that something might need to change in my heart before I experience the comfort of His joy.

I read this morning how God’s laws are not given in His authority so we will respect His glory, but given in wisdom with the purpose to benefit us.  

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:7–11)

The will of God is perfect. Without it, I would be like an animal, without justice, faith, and other things that are good for body and soul. His world would be changed if everyone could live according to what God wants for us. It be summed up by love God and love one another. Even those who break His laws tend to see and agree that they are good. All realize that love would bring an end to enmity, and the noise of groans and cursing would not be heard. Peace would prevail and much joy and singing would fill the air. As Job 36:22 says, “Behold, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher like him?”

Our problem is not that God wants good. We might agree on that in principle, but are not able to express it in practice. His love is not a mushy feeling and impossible is without the presence of faith and the power of the Holy Spirit. Note this brief description:

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4–7)

Mothers can be patient and kind with their babes, but as they grow and have minds of their own, that patience easily gets tainted with other attitudes that do not come from God’s kind of love. I boast about my kids; it makes me look good. I can be arrogant or rude or want my own way. Human love is so often selfish. The only cure is to be filled with the Spirit of God who gives what is needed by producing what I cannot do apart from Him:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:22–26)

Love is a God-thing. Being crucified is a gospel event, another God-thing. Keeping in step with the Spirit is another God-thing. I cannot turn off my conceit, or any other bad attitude. I can only confess it as sin and experience the important God-thing of forgiveness and cleansing (1 John 1:9). Without that, faking it is a form of boasting (not love) and is also living in my own way (not love).

PRAY: Jesus, I know that worry is not love either. It is a God-denying self-effort to make right something that I cannot fix. It is an arrogance, not love for You or even respect for Your great power. Instead of worry, enable me to love You and encourage those who worry to also love You rather than worry about anything. You rule the universe and because You love us, You can deal with all our teeny problems!

Being filled with the Spirit…

 

Being filled with the Spirit of God is not the same as having a dual personality, yet it is like that. Those who experience this often say and do things that they remember yet forget, that they wonder “where did that come from?” Yet they know it was the Spirit and not themselves.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

This verse sort of describes it but not entirely. It is more like:

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4–7)

And even this isn’t quite it because the love of God is not focused on me and is without self-evaluation. He puts the focus on others, so thinking I am patient and kind is a self-evaluation that ruins it.
Consider also the idea of master. In the original language, this word is sometimes translated  “master” as in the owner of something, but sometimes translated “Lord” when it refers to Jesus. Why the difference? Jesus put it this way:

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. (John 15:15)

Sometimes Jesus referred to Himself as “master,” at least in my ESV translation.

Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. (John 15:20)

You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. (John 13:13)

Yet the idea of “master” contrasts with the idea of friends, implying another kind of relationship. This contrast shows up in the story of the prodigal. The straying son returned and was treated with a loving embrace and a party. However, the older son who had lived under the father’s felt badly used, and he said:

Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him! (Luke 15:28–30)

This person slipped from being a partner with his father to the attitude of a misused slave. This story and the above references point to the difference in attitude that comes when I am controlled by the Holy Spirit or when I am walking according to my old sinful nature called the flesh. One is a friend of Jesus more occupied with love for others than having my way.

In contrast, the flesh is about living for me, my way and my wants, doing things out of obligation rather than love, resenting the blessing of God on others, and feeling like God is simply too bossy. To have a Lord and Master is not the same thing as being mastered. To know the love of God pushes thoughts of self into oblivion and brings love for Him and for others out of my heart.

PRAY: Jesus, this is good counsel for me today. I do have plans, but also hear Your voice concerning the needs of others. I want to obey You, but not with the sense of obligation but because I love You. For that, I know my need to be filled with Your Spirit for otherwise my sinful self will take over and will certainly ruin everything. I confess to You that I belong to You and have been called Your friend. Fill me today that I may act like one, and be more concerned with others rather than being selfish and wanting to do my own thing.

When God is silent…

 

A Christian group I once was part of is celebrating their anniversary. They asked me to create a short video of my memories and relationship with that group. As I thought about what to say, I could not think of anything. I prayed about it and realized it would not be right to speak of my service or accomplishments. I prayed some more and nothing came. Finally, I bowed out, and realize that God didn’t give me anything to say to or about this group. This passage came to mind:

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. (Philippians 3:12–16)

The ‘it’ or ‘goal’ in these verses is about being like Jesus and doing the will of God. When in that group, that was not always my focus. After a few years, God took me out of it and led me in other directions that would further His purposes. Looking back, that is easy to see now but not then.

However, I know now that ‘pressing on’ is not about success in a particular effort or anything else other than the work of God in my life and holding on to what He is teaching me. This group is looking for memories and stories related to my experiences that would highlight the group. This puts my focus off the work of Jesus and His goal of transforming me and giving Him glory. Not that it is wrong to be thankful or talk about it, yet God didn’t remind me of anything that should be said.

Besides that, “forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal” is my current desire and challenge. Not only do I easily forget the stories and experiences that are about me, my focus is on what is happening now, not back then. I must hang on to what God has taught me and move on. Perhaps  those in the group need to hear that admonition, but they did not ask me for anything like that. I can only apologize that the stories they want are but a very faint blur in my memories.

One of today’s readings says not to choose to be a speaker for God. If He calls me to do it, then do whatever He says, but keep listening to Him, not following my natural inclinations. In this case, the former me would have jumped at the chance to speak to that group. I held many leadership positions, led sessions, organized events, but such talk would easily be me, me, me, as that was most of my motivation then, without much thought of glorifying the Lord. Not only that, some of my experiences seemed negative to me; they don’t want a video about my bad attitudes, nor do they want a ‘sermon’ addressing the problems I inwardly complained about. No wonder God didn’t give me anything to say!

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4–7)

And love also learns that there are times to keep one’s mouth shut.

PRAY: Jesus, dozens of years ago, I would love the center of attention and an opportunity to share my stories, but the lovely thing about walking with You is that those stories about me fade into nothing and my memories are becoming more about Your grace and power to use all things to change my focus and put it on You. I’ve no desire to be put on a pedestal or given a few minutes of fame. Thank You for Your silence. It tells me that there are times for me to also be silent.

Love does not insist on its own way . . . (1 Corinthians 13:5)

 

Today’s devotional reading contrasts two tombstone inscriptions. The first one reads: “Here lies a miser who lived for himself,  And cared for nothing but gathering wealth. Now where he is or how he fares,  Nobody knows and nobody cares.” The second one says: “Sacred to the memory of General Charles George Gordon, who at all times and everywhere gave his strength to the weak, his substance to the poor, his sympathy to the suffering, his heart to God.”

The obvious question is what do I want on my tombstone, but that depends on how I respond to the challenge in the rest of the devotional. It begins at the beginning when Adam and Eve replaced God with self and this attitude became the root of all sin. Why eat the only fruit forbidden? Because Eve believed the serpent’s lie that God was trying to keep her from realizing her full potential and invited Adam to eat with her:

For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. (Genesis 3:5)

The Liar’s tune has not changed. He still whispers that same lie to humanity, appealing to the idea that we can manage quite well on our own. So God sent Jesus:

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)

Most of the time, going my own way does not seem like a terrible sin. I try to help people. I stay out of trouble. I am honored by others. Notice the “I”s —  that focus convicts me. It is not like Jesus. when two of His disciples wanted a special place in His kingdom, He said:

“You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:22–28)

Jesus’ life was a life of sacrifice — an important ingredient of loving others. It isn’t that He denied taking care of Himself, but He ate, slept, took time for prayer, etc., so that He could do His Father’s will. This was His only focus and goal. He said this often . . .

My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. (John 4:34)

I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. (John 5:30)

For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. (John 6:38)

I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father . . . . (John 14:30–31)

Unlike me, Jesus never sought His own comfort or gain but made whatever sacrifices were necessary to redeem lost sinners with a primary goal of showing the world that He loves His Father and that God loves us:

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

So what do I want written on my tombstone? I cannot answer that, partly because the love of God calls me to drop my ‘I wants’ and consider His will. Whatever is written is up to Him. My hope is that by the time He calls me home, my focus is on doing His will His way and life is not about me but about Him.

PRAY: My selfishness makes me sad. Jesus, keep my focus on You, Your will, and the ways I can fit in with Your will in this world that so badly needs to see how great You are and how much You love them.

PONDER: There are fifteen qualities of love listed in 1 Corinthians 13:4–7. Consider how self-sacrifice relates to each one and confess any related selfishness that the Holy Spirit points out.

 

 

 

Love’s Power

 

Some say that morning grouchiness is caused by getting out of the wrong side of the bed. This morning, while I was praying, I realized that my cantankerous attitude was likely another attack from Satan who often slaps at my moods so I don’t want to pray. Asking God to take care of it took care of it. Instead of being mad at the world, His joy returned within minutes.

Joy is a part of love. It takes my focus off me, and how I feel and puts it on others with a desire to show them the love of God. This love is difficult to define, but it can be described by the behavior it produces. Sometimes it is easier to identify by the things that are not love — at least not in the way God gives it to His people to share with others. This NT description does both:

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4–7)

While these words are often read at weddings, their original context is a strong rebuke. The Christians at Corinth were behaving like unsaved people and needed to hear how far off base they were. As MacArthur suggests, in effect this is what the Lord was saying to them:

Love is patient, but you are impatient. Love is kind, but you are unkind toward those who disagree with you. Love is not jealous, but you envy those with certain spiritual gifts. Love does not brag, but you are proud of your theology. Love is not arrogant and does not treat people rudely, but are rude and ill-mannered toward one another. Love does not seek its own, but you are self-centered. Love is not provoked, but you quarrel among yourselves. Love does not take into account a wrong suffered, but you hold grudges against each other. Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but you delight in one another’s failures. Love rejoices with the truth, but you distort and disobey God’s Word. Love bears all things, but you are defensive and resentful. Love is eager to believe the best about someone, but you are quick to assume the worst. Love never gives up and can tolerate incredible opposition, but you are intolerant quitters.

Reading this makes grouchy and fleshy attitudes and behavior easy to identify. Instead of blaming it on being in a bad mood, or not sleeping well, or having sore feet, or any other reason, I must recognize the source. I cannot even blame the devil even though he uses negatives like that to draw my attention away from gratitude to God and depending on Him to give me all I need to overcome such things. It is my fault to listen to his lies, accusations, and suggestions, especially evident when I consider the following:

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)

Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs. (2 Corinthians 2:10–11)

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. (Ephesians 4:26–27)

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11)

The next one is vital. When something distresses me, I must first say, “God, if this is Your will, I am willing live with it” but then ask, “If it is not Your will, You know what to do.” This is what it means to: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7) and in that order. Submission first. I cannot resist Satan without being yielded to the Lord.

PRAY: The intensity of spiritual attacks increases with the intensity of prayer. Jesus, You have motivated prayer this week like never before. I’m physically tired and emotionally spent, yet know You hear and will answer. The burdens range from support for care-givers and moms sending little ones off to school for the first time, to newcomers in Canada, to wisdom for government leaders, to victims of fires and other tragic events, to grace and boldness for Your people . . . and more. This world is in great need. Only You can do what is needed and can guide Your people to do our part.

PONDER: What does 1 John 3:13–18 teach me about love?