Archives for July 2014

July 6, 2014 By Clint Scott Leave a Comment

Empty Faith

Today’s Reading: 1 Sam 12:1–13:23, James 2:19–26, Ps 119:81–96

Today’s Theme: Empty Faith

Empty things

And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. 1 Samuel 12:21 (ESV)

Samuel charges the people to follow the Lord and not empty things that cannot profit or deliver.

We need to hear this today too. It is the enemies plan to get us distracted with things that are ultimately empty and worthless.

We need to live our lives on purpose, we should not waste our lives pursuing vain goals or put our trust in any substitution for the Lord.

Avoid the empty promises of idolatry and sin, instead follow the Lord in faith.

Useless faith

Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? James 2:20 (ESV)

Even the demons believe in God so believing in God is simply not enough. Faith that does not have corresponding works is completely useless.

James goes on to make the argument that we are justified not only by faith but by works accompanying that faith in verse 24.

James concludes the chapter by stating works is like the spirit in a man’s body, remove the spirit and all you have is an empty corpse. Faith without works is dead, empty and useless.

Firmly fixed

Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Psalm 119:89 (ESV)

God’s word is trustworthy, it is backed up by God himself and is fixed which means it does not change with the times or cultures. The truth of God’s word is not relative it is absolute and final.

Gods word is not empty, it is solid, firm and fixed. We can put our faith in it today.

July 6, 2014 By Dennis Greenidge Leave a Comment

50 Things the Holy Spirit Does

Here are some Things the Holy Spirit Does

The Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8).
The Spirit guides us into all truth (John 16:13).
The Spirit regenerates us (John 3:5-8; Titus 3:5).
The Spirit glorifies and testifies of Christ (John 15:26; 16:14).
The Spirit reveals Christ to us and in us (John 16:14-15).
The Spirit leads us (Rom. 8:14; Gal. 5:18; Matt. 4:1; Luke 4:1).
The Spirit sanctifies us (2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Pet. 1:2; Rom. 5:16).
The Spirit empowers us (Luke 4:14; 24:49; Rom. 15:19; Acts 1:8).
The Spirit fills us (Eph. 5:18; Acts 2:4; 4:8, 31; 9:17).
The Spirit teaches us to pray (Rom. 8:26-27; Jude 1:20).
The Spirit bears witness in us that we are children of God (Rom. 8:16).
The Spirit produces in us the fruit or evidence of His work and presence (Gal. 5:22-23).
The Spirit distributes spiritual gifts and manifestations (the outshining) of His presence to and through the body (1 Cor. 12:4, 8-10; Heb. 2:4).
The Spirit anoints us for ministry (Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38).
The Spirit washes and renews us (Titus 3:5).
The Spirit brings unity and oneness to the body (Eph. 4:3; 2:14-18). Here the Holy Spirit plays the same role that He plays in the Godhead. The Spirit is the life that unites Father and Son. The Spirit plays the same role in the church. When the Holy Spirit is operating in a group of people, He unites them in love. Therefore, a sure evidence of the Holy Spirit working in a group is Love and Unity. Not signs and wonders (those are seasonal and can be counterfeited).
The Spirit is our guarantee and deposit of the future resurrection (2 Cor. 1:22; 2 Cor. 5:5).
The Spirit seals us unto the day of redemption (Eph. 1:13; 4:30).
The Spirit sets us free from the law of sin and death (Rom. 8:2).
The Spirit quickens our mortal bodies (Rom. 8:11).
The Spirit reveals the deep things of God to us (1 Cor. 2:10).
The Spirit reveals what has been given to us from God (1 Cor. 2:12).
The Spirit dwells in us (Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 3:16; 2 Tim. 1:14; John 14:17).
The Spirit speaks to, in, and through us (1 Cor. 12:3; 1 Tim. 4:1; Rev. 2:11; Heb 3:7; Matt. 10:20; Acts 2:4; 8:29; 10:19; 11:12, 28; 13:2; 16:6,7; 21:4,11).
The Spirit is the agent by which we are baptized into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13).
The Spirit brings liberty (2 Cor. 3:17).
The Spirit transforms us into the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18).
The Spirit cries in our hearts, “Abba, Father” (Gal. 4:6).
The Spirit enables us to wait (Gal. 5:5).
The Spirit supplies us with Christ (Phil. 1:19, KJV).
The Spirit grants everlasting life (Gal. 6:8).32. The Spirit gives us access to God the Father (Eph. 2:18).
The Spirit makes us (corporately) God’s habitation (Eph. 2:22).
The Spirit reveals the mystery of God to us (Eph. 3:5).
The Spirit strengthens our spirits (Eph. 3:16).
The Spirit enables us to obey the truth (1 Pet. 1:22).
The Spirit enables us to know that Jesus abides in us (1 John 3:24; 4:13).
The Spirit confesses that Jesus came in the flesh (1 John 4:2).
The Spirit says “Come, Lord Jesus” along with the bride (Rev. 22:17).
The Spirit dispenses God’s love into our hearts (Rom. 5:5).
The Spirit bears witness to the truth in our conscience (Rom. 9:1).42. The Spirit teaches us (1 Cor. 2:13; John 14:26).
The Spirit gives us joy (1 Thess. 1:6).
The Spirit enables some to preach the gospel (1 Pet. 1:12).
The Spirit moves us (2 Pet. 1:21).
The Spirit knows the things of God (1 Cor. 2:11).
The Spirit casts out demons (Matt. 12:28).
The Spirit brings things to our remembrance (John 14:26).
The Spirit comforts us (Acts 9:31).
The Spirit makes some overseers in the church and sends some out to the work of church planting [through the body] (Acts 20:28; 13:2).

Summary

The Holy Spirit unites us to Jesus Christ and to His body. The Spirit reveals Christ to us, gives us His life, and makes Christ alive in us. The Spirit takes the experiences of Jesus . . . His incarnation, ministry, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension . . . and brings them into our own experience. Because of the Holy Spirit, the history of Jesus Christ becomes our story and experience. Unfortunately, some movements have become known for their excesses in regard to the Holy Spirit’s work.

July 6, 2014 By Dennis Greenidge Leave a Comment

1Samuel 12-13; James 2:19-26 and Psalm 119:81-96

1Samuel 12-13

12:1-3 Help us to be like Samuel, Lord, faithful to the end. May they say of us that we was not one to cheat or lie or take advantage of anyone weaker than ourselves. Where we have done any wrong, show us how to make it right. Make us Your servant. Make us like Jesus.

12:14-15 Time after time, You warn Your people to stay close to You. Time after time, they fail. Lord, have mercy on me when I fail You, too, either by choice or by indifference. Thank You for Your willingness to work with me and to forgive.

12:23 Is there someone you love who continues in sin? Do you feel like giving up on them? Ask The Lord to help you persevere in prayer, like Samuel. While there is life, there is hope. Pray for that person right now.

13:6 Sometimes life is scary, Lord, and I want to hide from it’s battles and strife. I pray that You will give us Your strength and Your perspective. You are with us. We have nothing to fear.

13:7-14 You know our hearts, O God. You see our every act. Help us not to blame others when we are caught in sin. There is no deceiving You and no one else’s opinion matters. Cleanse us and make us pure before You.

13:15 It is clear that Saul bases his assessment on a worldly assumption, size and strength determine the course of the battle. His equation leaves out God. How do you assess your potential for success? Is God’s help part of your equation?

James 2:19-26

2:21-26 Pray that God by His Holy Spirit will draw you and support you as you take that difficult step of faith and obedience He has been prompting you to take for Him.

Psalm 119:81-96

119:83 Ask The Lord in these trying
days to give you the spiritual stamina to cling to His principles and obey them even when you are exhausted with waiting.

119:95 Ask The Lord by the help of the Holy Spirit to help you to memorise verses of Scripture so you can quietly keep your mind on His decrees.

July 5, 2014 By Clint Scott Leave a Comment

Faith and Works

Today’s Reading: 1 Sam 10:1–11:15, James 2:14–18, Ps 119:65–80

Today’s Theme: Faith and Works

The work of the Holy Spirit

Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. 1 Samuel 10:6 (ESV)

God’s Holy Spirit would come upon Saul causing him to prophesy and would even change him as a person while under the Spirit’s influence. This would serve to confirm his calling for Saul himself and the people.

God the Holy Spirit comes upon us today too, to empower us with gifts to be used for God’s glory and to change our hearts. See 1 Corinthians 12:11 and Hebrews 2:4

The Holy Spirit’s work of regeneration in the heart of believers is one of the greatest miracles. See Titus 3:5 and John 3:3

Empowered for war

And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled. 1 Samuel 11:6 (ESV)

God’s Holy Spirit is not in our life for superficial reasons or just for show. God’s Spirit comes upon us to equip us, empower us, make us bold for the battle. Ephesians 6:12

God the Holy Spirit wants to capture our hearts today to be engaged in the spiritual war raging in God’s Kingdom. We should be filled with God’s passion to see God glorified, to see his kingdom established and for the flourishing of church. Galatians 5:17

The World Cup is on right now and it is easy to get passionate about a team we are supporting, however we should be even more passionate and driven when it comes to things concerning God and his kingdom. Philippians 1:27

Saul did not waste the passion and anger he felt when the Spirit of God came upon him, he made a plan and executed it in verse 11. We need to channel the energy God gives us, make a plan and execute it.

Just Faith!!

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? James 2:14 (ESV)

“Can that faith save him?” the answer to the question is No!

Faith alone will save no one, just believing in God or believing the gospel will not save us.

Many people believe God is God, believe the bible is true and the gospel is true but they do not have saving faith because they do not obey the gospel.

Inactive faith is ineffective, dead, and worthless, it is literally not worth having because it brings no benefit to those who hold it.

True faith will always have the fruit of behaviour, deeds and works that correspond to, conform to and come from the proclaimed faith.

God calls us to real faith not to mere intellectual agreement.

Dead faith

So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:17 (ESV)

James writes in such and understandable way there is little room for confusion. Here he makes it clear that faith without corresponding deeds is dead.

Man may try to redefine faith and even what it means to be saved but the fact remains that what we believe will show fruit in our lives through our behaviour and actions.

Faith by itself is dead. True faith goes beyond the mind and heart and ends up right here in the real world, showing itself through the things we do and refrain from doing.

Only God can grant us live giving, saving faith by his Holy Spirit.

Show your faith

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. James 2:18 (ESV)

Faith is not a private affair, it’s a community project. Our faith is not a privately held opinion it is a publicly proclaimed message and a life lived openly in community with the body of Christ.

We are called to actively show our faith by the things we do.

Our society tries to force us to keep faith private which is not biblical and is a ploy to silence the proclamation of our faith and make our faith impotent through no obvious displays of faith in life.

Today’s culture is always talking in the movies and stories about believing, if you just believe… they don’t talk about believing in God just believing in general. In fact it is quite fashionable to have belief… just in general not anything as specific as believing the Gospel of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ or believing the bible.

Determine to actively exhibit your faith today.

God does good

You are good and do good; teach me your statutes. Psalm 119:68 (ESV)

God is good and so does good. The same should be true for us, if we have been made good through faith in Jesus then we should do good, just like God.

July 5, 2014 By Dennis Greenidge Leave a Comment

1 Samuel 10-11; Psalm 119:65-80

1 Samuel 10-11

10:7 Thank The Lord for all the ways He guides you. Ask Him today to make you aware of the signs that light your path and keep you faithful to follow His lead. 10:9 It is just amazing how the unwilling become willing when God’s power enters. Ask The Lord to make you willing to do whatever He ask you to do. If necessary, ask Him to change your heart.

10:23 Saul stood head and shoulders above the others physically but he wavered in his commitment to obey The Lord. Ask The Lord to make you tall and strong of spirit.

10:26 Lord, thank you for sending faithful companions to Saul to stand with him as he becomes king. Please send committed companions to us to support us on this earth. Give us the same faithful heart for them.

11:6-7 I can see the Saul’s anger is an effective tool in God’s hands, but it leads him into sin when he allows it full reign. Ask The Lord to refine your anger for His purposes but save you from it’s folly.

Psalm 119:65-80

119:67 Consider the benefits of God’s discipline in your life. Remember that God disciplines those He accepts as His children. ( Remember Hebrews 12:6).

119:74 Lord, may my love for You and Your Word be so obvious to those around me that they experience joy because of me. And may I find joy in those around me who honour You.

Have a blessed day bringing glory to our King.