Tag: Holy Spirit

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Thrive!

AUGUST 9

MATTHEW 6:29_And yet I say unto you …

This verse begins with another of Jesus’ pay attention proclamations.

Previously, you were meditating on the beauty of the lilies of the field. All they do to acquire their beauty is to be in good soil, and take in some sunshine. But something is missing. Rain. All life is dependent upon water.

Rain is another part of the lily’s effortless beauty. Lilies do not make rain any more than they make the sun or the soil. In order for a lily to be a lily, it requires all three. All three come from God.

If you’ve done any gardening, you know during dry spells you must water plants to keep them alive. Earth water will satisfy your plants’ thirst.

If you’ve done any gardening, you know something else. Earth water keeps plants alive, but rain from heaven causes them to thrive.

Human life is made of three parts, a body, a soul, and a spirit. For a life to become the beautiful, fragrant creation it is intended to be requires three ingredients: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These life sustaining ingredients make the difference in a life that survives and one that thrives.

Don’t miss what’s coming. Jesus’ and yet means that after all you’ve learned about lilies—there’s something deeper.

 PRAYER

Dear Jesus, Help me to thrive in the power of the Triune God! In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ calls me to thrive—He has made a way!

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In the Son

AUGUST 8

MATTHEW 6:29_the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin.

Now that you know how to consider, note accurately the growing process of lilies. 

A field full of flowers of any kind is beautiful—that includes wildflowers. A field is an area of open land. A piece of land which is open to the sun. Free from the presence of anything which might hinder the sun’s rays. From my experience of growing lilies in my yard, they like and need sun. Sun makes them happy. When they are happy, their colors are vibrant and especially lovely. True lilies, Oriental or Asiatic, are also very fragrant. 

What have you learned as a disciple by considering the growing process of lilies? You grow spiritually stronger (and wiser) when exposed to the Son—free from hindrances which block His rays.

In the Son, you vibrate with His presence.

In the Son, you are filled with the fragrance of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control.

This kind of life brings freedom from toiling and working to try to make yourself good. Staying in the Son allots time to God and His Word.

Any work of transformation to be done, God will do.   

PRAYER

King of All Kings, Teach me and help me to stay in the Son. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ wants me to grow in Him—I want to!

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It Just Can’t Be Done

JULY 16

MATTHEW 6:20_But lay up for yourselves treasures  in heaven…

When you are consumed with something it fills your life. It takes over all your space.

The love of wealth is so consuming the fruits of the Spirit have no growing space. The sad thing is those fruits are what every human craves. Bondage to wealth deceives. You believe wealth can buy what will satisfy your cravings. It just can’t be done. The fruits which the Spirit produces in you cannot be bought with money.

The first three fruits of the Spirit, love, joy, and peace, are the most sought after virtues in existence. The wealthiest people on the planet would give their treasure to possess those virtues. These are virtues God uses to reward salty-lit-up disciples of Jesus.

People who are not disciples have a thing going with their love of money: believing eventually it will satisfy. 

Acts 5:1-3 (KJV) tells a story of the bondage of wealth: “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the price, … 3 But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why hath satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?'”

Peter said Ananias could have kept all his money. But when Ananias lied to keep from giving all—his money bondage was his destruction. 

PRAYER

Magnificent Jesus, I want space for Your fruits to grow in my soul. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ cultivates fruit in me—I will give Him space!

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Because He Knew the Truth

JULY 8

MATTHEW 6:18_That thou appear not unto men to fast…

We have discussed how after His baptism, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into a time of great self-denial. Matthew 4:1-4 (KJV), “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.  2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, ‘If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.’ 4 But he [Jesus] answered and said, ‘It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.'”

There were no people in this wilderness experience. Jesus did not have anyone to show-off His great piety for God. The devil came up with another form of temptation, since his, “See how good I am,” scheme would not work. The devil tempts Jesus to break the fast and eat. Jesus overcame the temptation because He knew the truth. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

Jesus understood the purpose for His fast. He was led to fast in preparation for His earthly ministry. Jesus knew He needed this set-apart time.

You may think the cross was the only sacrifice Jesus made for you—but there is much more.

PRAYER

Lord God, Praise You for all the sacrifices You made for me. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ gave all of Himself—He did it to love me!

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A Specific Purpose

JULY 6

MATTHEW 6:17_But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head…

Jesus’ reference is not to a priestly anointing—more like a personal anointing. I don’t know if oil is used in this anointing. I see set-apartness with Jesus as the issue here.

When oil is used, it is used sparingly and discretely so as not to attract attention. After all, if you pour a bucket of oil on your head and walk around in public, people want to know what is going on. Be careful not to fall into the hypocrite category. 

When Jesus tells you to anoint your head, He is saying, “Get serious about your spiritual life if you are fasting.” There needs to be a specific purpose for this fast. It needs to be about increasing your relationship with Jesus.

Spiritual fasts are not some extreme crash diet in order to lose weight. That is not a good idea even if the fast is not spiritual. Again, this is an adult thing. Children and youth are growing bodies. Seldom will the Holy Spirit lead them to fast.

Fasting has nothing to do with causing you to be saved, or not. Don’t worry about such things. Trust your faith to grow, and the truth of the Bible to free you.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, I trust You to grow my faith and to lead me to freedom. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ calls me to be set-apart for Him—I will!