How is the Holy Spirit at Work in Your Life?
Ugh! That seems like such an intimidating question. Most certainly the Holy Spirit is at work in your life. But usually His work is subtle, like the way fruit grows. He is the Influencer par excel-lance. He is at work influencing us toward Christlikeness. But how does He do this? Eph. 5:18 tells us one big way He influences us- "Do not get drunk with wine...but be filled with the Spirit." In other words, don't be under the influence of alcohol (distilled spirits), but be under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Don't let alcohol influence your thinking, speaking and acting. Allow the Holy Spirit to be doing that. If we are going to be good influencers of others toward Christlikeness, we need to first allow the Spirit of Christ to influence us. He does this especially through the Spirit inspired Word. To neglect that is to neglect the clear voice of the Spirit. It is to go out into battle without "the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God." Eph.6:17. But rather than tell you what the Bible says about the Holy Spirit, I would like you to share with me.
1. Please click on the following link to a helpful article that lists a lot of great ministries and accompanying verses regarding the Holy Spirit. http://carm.org/holy-spirit
After studying it, please pick and type out one verse that you especially like and share why.
2. The Spirit of Christ wants to work in our lives to also do good works. Please watch the following video and tell me who you influenced by passing it on to- perhaps your wealth partner or others.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG7Vy6wIA1s
Announcements & Reminders
See you this coming Sunday at 11:30 for our monthly NGL Leadership Training Mtg. Please remember to bring your Bible and wealth catcher.
How ya doin' with our M&M of Eph.2:6-10? Please call me (c.773-742-2694) as soon as you can quote it or quote it to me at our Sunday meeting when it is due.
Hope you enjoyed our focus on the Holy Spirit. I thought that was especially important in light of our theme this month on God's holiness. Though we are far from holy in our daily lives, isn't it so good of God to declare us holy through the death of His Son for us?! And then He even has given us His Holy Spirit to live within us. TYF! Thank You Father!
And TYF for your holy word. We began reading through 1 Timothy on Sunday, April 27th. On Saturday May 3rd, we will begin reading through 2 Timothy, the letter Paul wrote just before he was beheaded. You'll see what was so important and much on Paul's heart.
And TYF for your holy word. We began reading through 1 Timothy on Sunday, April 27th. On Saturday May 3rd, we will begin reading through 2 Timothy, the letter Paul wrote just before he was beheaded. You'll see what was so important and much on Paul's heart.
Good morning,
ReplyDelete1.How is the Holy Spirit at work in my life? Well to be honest that is a question we all must be asked and taken serious. The fact is we all need to examine ourselves and spend time growing and improving our relationship with God. For me, intimacy with God and allowing God do all the work and transformation. As it says in Ephesians 2 verse 10 "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do". It is a strong calling to follow as sometimes I begin to question? But why? God is the author of all, the beginning and the end. Then I remembered what Jesus said Matthew 26:41 " The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak". Allowing the spirit to take over when I think I have control, not allowing the flesh to consume me and drift me away. Lately, my two jobs has drifted me away. I was weak in the flesh, the Holy Spirit gave me the conviction to finally be at peace with not just myself but with God. After reading the article, the one verse that really hit me and spoke to me was:Romans 8:2-4 "2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.[c] And so he condemned sin in the flesh,4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit". Just reading that passage gave me the chills. The Spirit who gives life has set us free! Free at last! No more fighting the flesh, God has taken over and we will be in victory!
2. The video was very inspiring brother Dave thanks. I just passed it on to my wealth partner, the feedback was great. How long it will last? Nothing from this world but the relationship with God in heaven.
Thanks Eddie. We are free indeed from being a slave to the flesh. And one day we will be free from having to fight it. I long for that day of the Lord's return. Until then, we fight the good fight and put to death the enemies that wage war against our soul.
Delete#1. Acts 1:8
ReplyDelete8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Jesus needed to leave and send the Holy Spirit in order to empower believers in being bold witnesses of Christ. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to tell others the Good News of Jesus Christ!. It's evident believers needed power from on High, especially since the Apostle Peter couldn't do it on his own strength even though he said he would stand by Christ no matter what happened to him (yeah right! - Luke 26:33-35). We all know Peter denied Christ, but after he received the Holy Spirit he became bold and empowered by Him to preach the Gospel and three thousand souls came to know the Lord through his message (Acts 2:14-41). The Holy Spirit also empowered Peter to his martyrdom. This isn't written in the Scriptures, but it's told that Peter was crucified upside down for the message of the Cross!
Likewise, the Holy Spirit still empowers us today to be witnesses for Jesus. I have identified and felt like Peter many times in sharing my faith. There have been times that I have been ashamed of sharing the Gospel with friends and talking about Christ, but there have been other times that I have been as bold as a lion thanks to the Holy Spirit! Therefore, my dependence in sharing my faith solely rest upon the Holy Spirit. Not only mine, but the disciples knew this too and they wanted to proclaim the Gospel in a bolder way, so they prayed to the Lord asking him for boldness. After "they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:31).
2. I sent the video to some family members that are living for the present riches...
Well said and well done Jose!
Delete1. The Holy Spirit is everywhere and so far beyond us that we can’t fully explain who He is and what He does but we certainly can experience Him, respond to Him, and explain how He is working in our lives. It is amazing that God causes His Spirit to live inside of us. May we never grow numb to this life-giving, life-sustaining, and life-changing reality. Sometimes God is pictured only as a distant authority who left us with a rulebook but He is so much more. He is our heavenly Father who lives in us and through us.
ReplyDeleteTo answer the question, I receive conviction, direction, encouragement, and correction regularly from the Word of God, prayer, and interaction with people. Lately I have had an increased desire in two areas. One is to prepare and protect quality times with each of my family members (wife and 3 children) and to enjoy them, listen to them, and love them. I always want to teach, correct, and train but need to hold back at times and just enjoy them moments with them.
The second area is in the area of outreach. It is so easy for any church, including ours, to be consumed with fellowship and activities among ourselves that we rarely go out and try to talk to others about Jesus. I love working with our Soul Purpose youth but am convinced we can do better in outreach so I want to work with our leaders to start several after school clubs by the start of the next school year. These groups will help the youth in our church to influence other youth.
Among the many scriptures that speak of the Holy Spirits’ work I love Acts 13:2. “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and saul for the work to which I have called them.’ “
These two men were not the most likely from a human perspective to bring the gospel to the Gentiles since they were very strongly Jewish and naturally had some barriers to working outside their culture. However, God knows what He is doing and they were the right choice as we see in the next few chapters of Acts. (Barnabas unfortunately dropped out in Acts 15, but that is a whole other story. Note that the Holy Spirit never told him to separate from Paul and that Paul’s ministry continued to be fruitful with his new teammate Silas starting in Acts 16.)
Not only did the Lord specifically call these two men to a new and different work but I believe He has a direction for each of us. I fear spending my life in pointless activity, even in the ministry, like a car stuck in mud spinning its wheels. This is possible (Psalm 127:1). However, if we listen to the Spirit we can receive direction. It often happens in a group, as we see in Acts 13, and is not just an individual thing between me and the Lord.
2. Great video! Having an eternal perspective has changed my life! Of course I constantly need to re-focus on what lasts as this video described to us. I was going to send an email to our Team Leaders that serve by coordinating the Small Groups so I added this video onto the email.
See you all on Sunday!
Thanks Mike! Great words and a great focus and passion you have!
DeleteDo you think any believers should claim Acts 19:2 as their life verse?
Amazing words of encouragement Pastor Mike. God bless you and your family.
ReplyDelete1. From the link, Galatians 5:22-23 stuck with me the most. "22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." I think this is the way the Holy Spirit has been working in my life the most right, By giving me conviction when I get lazy and giving me the desire to want to have self control over how much time I spend lounging around and actually using that time to be productive. Also by knowing the fruits of the Spirit, it is easier for me to tell when I'm feeling as if I'm running low on the Spirit. There are days where I feel so gloomy but then God's word always fills me up again.
ReplyDelete2. I sent the video to my wealth partner. I'm unsure whether or not she has watched it yet but I am praying that it ministers to her heart and makes her hungry to know Christ!
Thanks Socorro. I've noticed that the most unstable elements in the world are my emotions. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit doesn't come and go as our emotions go up and down. So glad you are a part of the team and for how you are reaching out to your wealth partner.
Delete1. "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me." Psalms 139: 7-10
ReplyDeleteRight off the bat, I just want to say this is a very comforting verse especially because of the days when I feel alone or depressed... not that I didn't know this already, but it is encouraging to read it. I am also reminded of Mathew 28: 20 "...I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." So God's Spirit is with us all the time and everywhere. Anyway, this next part really doesn't have anything to do with the verse, but I think that the Holy Spirit is giving me more empathy when dealing with people then I used to have (I admit though that I can really use a lot more work) .
2. I shared the video with my wealth partner and brother Augie.
Very good Alex! You encourage me with your words. Please also greet Augie and your parents for me.
Delete1) John 16:13-14.... 13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.14 “He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.
ReplyDeleteJesus said that he only says what His father tells Him to say and only does what He sees His Father doing. (John 5:19) So God directs His Son. Jesus follows and does what His Father is saying and doing, thus providing us with a perfect example of how God wants us to live. The Holy Spirit guides us, reminds us, directs us back to Jesus, as we live our life as believers, looking to that holy and pure example, as we continue to be sanctified daily. All, while separate parts, working together as one to bring Glory to God in complete fullness.
2) I shared this video with all of my Facebook friends and those involved with Crossover. Thanks for sharing with us. I believe that is what the Holy Spirit has really been working in me...helping me to change my outlook, attitude and helping me to set my mind to the things above, not being too attached to the things of this world. It is one that could really affect the way we live our lives.
Excellent Eddie! (Here's food for thought- Do you think John 16:13 is a promise to all believers or was it just to the apostles?)
DeletePsalm 139:7-10 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall hold me.
ReplyDeleteI love the fact that no matter where I am God’s presence, His Holy Spirit will be with me. I can remember as a young woman, being surrounded in a house full of people yet there was such a deep emptiness and loneliness in my soul. It was not until I gave my heart to the Lord, Jesus Christ and he filled me with his sweet Holy Spirit, that I became complete and whole.
Romans 8:35, V38-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I have always had a passion (thank you Lord) to work with children. I love to encourage their little hearts with stories and testimonies of God’s mighty power and especially how he over the years he has heard my cries and answered my prayers. I pray that in some small way, I have inspired their little hearts to love and trust God and most of all to know without a shadow of a doubt that He loves them, that He holds them in the palm of his mighty right hand and will never let them go.
Very good sharing Bea. May the Lord continue to fill and flow through you.
DeleteSorry Brother, I didn't understand the last question, I do not have the sound on my computer, but my sweet hubby is standing right here & I am going to share it with him :) once he gets the sound going for me.
ReplyDelete1. John 16:13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come."
ReplyDeleteI had the wonderful privilege of leading my friend from college to the Lord on Easter Sunday! (PRAISE GOD!) I am currently seeing this attribute to be true in her life as she did not come from a Bible believing background, yet since her decision to follow Christ she has been telling me that it is as though a veil has been lifted from her eyes. As I was telling my mentor, Bea Garza she is even telling me things God is showing her that are almost word for word from Scripture, though she has not read much of the Bible. In my own life I am so thankful for our Guide. I notice that when I am in His word and living in His will I am much more sensitive to the Spirit's guiding. But when I am being stubborn in my walk or slack in my devotions I create my own wall around my heart. Yet, He is still there with conviction. Praise God! He doesn't give up on us!
2. I shared the video with the same friend (Rose) from college!
This is so excellent Sarah! Thanks for sharing!
Delete1. Romans 8:26 "In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words"
ReplyDeleteThis past couple of weeks I've been preoccupied with school and I feel like the enemy has begun to attack me in my moments of weakness because my devotion time to God was shortened and moved around frequently. This week though I had the opportunity to pray with a friend from school who's been seeking for answers twice! Both times I was worried that I might have lost my Spiritual sharpness and not be able to speak words of life and encouragement to him when he is on the threshold of accepting Jesus as his Savior or continuing down his path. And both times the Holy Spirit lifted that burden from me and spoke through me and we both just felt in His presence. Looking at this verse I think I can see how the Holy Spirit spoke for me to show love for my friend and how it was also more than just the words but the atmosphere that radiated this sort of amazing love that I can only describe as God's everlasting love for his children.
Thanks for ministering to me through your sharing as well Nick. Best of blessings!
DeleteRomans 8:26 This verse clearly says that the Holy Spirit will speak for us. I can think of the time when I was so distraught that all i could do was cry and my mouth couldn't make a word. I knew it was the Holy Spirit. Many times we just have to be still and know that God is God.
ReplyDelete2. I'm sharing this with my nephew who I know can benefit from this reminder being that he's a teenager facing many temptations.
Very good Lynn!
ReplyDelete1.Luke 4:1Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness. i feel like this is what the holy spirit is doing in my life right now. The holy spirit will help me find my way, the way God wants me to go.
ReplyDelete2, I am sharing this with my wealth partner. he is young like me and facing a lot of the same things.
Good Lucas! I look forward to seeing you tomorrow and hearing about the internship.
DeleteVictory over Flesh:
ReplyDeleteRomans 8:2-4 “ …because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
The flesh is always something that man continues and will always continue to fight. Christ was the first to come in the Flesh, and live a sinless life. In that one accomplishment alone, he dismantled the enemies stranglehold on our world. Now, with the Holy Spirit in us, we could strive to live that life that Jesus demonstrated. A long time ago, I couldn’t understand how the Holy Spirit would be able to give me the edge I needed to fight sin in my life. The actions, thoughts, attitudes, words, that came of my flesh….what would change? What would change even look like?
Now, walking in obedience, I see the fruits of work of the Holy Spirit in me. The mental strength, spiritual fervor, resistance to the flesh…..things that seemed so far once, were given to me so much more readily by God. To my joy, these efforts came more and more natural, as any discipline and training does over time. Restoring my heart, body, and mind, to their true form, only revealed by walking faithfully in Christ. As you spend more and more time in the Truth, your previous worldly ways become much more of a facade, the face of a lie you once told yourself. Can they still lure you to them….yes, of course…..the battle rages until you go to be with the Lord. However, the Holy Spirit now navigates you.
Checking your motives, conviction, focus, perseverance—— all these and more grow as you move forward in the Lord. As your head becomes clearer, and your vision more acute, you no longer are stumbling around, but instead become vigilant and watchful through the sharper senses that the Holy Spirit gives you. A “Spider Sense” :) With the tools God gives us through the Holy spirt, He sets us on a path of victory over our flesh, still influenced by an enemy that knows he is defeated. Our victory is made in Christ, our tools forged by the Almighty God, and our training by the Holy Spirit. A willing spirit is all they ask for, to put his or her faith into action.
For the Video, I linked it on Facebook, along with the verse Matthew 6:19-21:
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Eternal Perspective.
A very good eternal perspective indeed Will!
DeleteTitus 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
ReplyDeleteThe Holy Spirit “regenerates” us. Such a wonderful truth as I think about how he has worked in my life in this way. He truly has been the redeemer of my life, the one that restores me even while still being so undeserving of Him. I especially like this verse because it reminds me that He saved because he saw my condition and had mercy on me, he didn't withhold his love because of all of the sin I committed but instead offered me His presence, the gift of the Holy Spirit. He offered me hope, and promised to finish the work he started through Him.
I passed on the video with my wealth partner.
Well done Nori!
Delete1.) Ephesians 3:16 "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being," I definitely need strength. I have been asking for wisdom and strength. I am so glad that God will give it to us if we ask. If he's willing to give it to us, why not ask?
ReplyDelete2.) I shared the video with my family. They loved it!
SO SORRY IM EXTRA LATE
Glad you still commented Genesis. And school must be almost over!
ReplyDeleteYes! this is my last week. I'm so happy haha
Delete