The Work of the Holy Spirit
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven. And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.”
Luke 12:10–12
Charles M. Alexander, who was the song leader for many of R. A. Torrey’s great revival campaigns told of attending a service in Tennessee where people were praying for God’s power on their lives. One of those who was loudest in prayers was known in the church for continual backsliding and going away from God. Alexander said that once, as that man prayed for “the filling of the Holy Spirit,” a woman who was sitting nearby watching, knowing his pattern of hot and cold living prayed aloud, “Don’t bother filling him, Lord. He leaks!”
The Holy Spirit who indwells our lives from the moment of salvation is given to us both as a guide for our lives and as a seal that God will never forsake us. But we must walk according to His guidance if we are to benefit from it. Paul wrote, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). This is a direction—not for a one-time event, but for a continuing action. We all “leak” and need to yield ourselves to Him to be filled again and again.
The Holy Spirit only guides and teaches those who are listening. Through our obstinance and refusal to obey, however, we can hinder His work in our lives and disappoint and sadden Him: “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30).
Luke 12:10–12
Charles M. Alexander, who was the song leader for many of R. A. Torrey’s great revival campaigns told of attending a service in Tennessee where people were praying for God’s power on their lives. One of those who was loudest in prayers was known in the church for continual backsliding and going away from God. Alexander said that once, as that man prayed for “the filling of the Holy Spirit,” a woman who was sitting nearby watching, knowing his pattern of hot and cold living prayed aloud, “Don’t bother filling him, Lord. He leaks!”
The Holy Spirit who indwells our lives from the moment of salvation is given to us both as a guide for our lives and as a seal that God will never forsake us. But we must walk according to His guidance if we are to benefit from it. Paul wrote, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). This is a direction—not for a one-time event, but for a continuing action. We all “leak” and need to yield ourselves to Him to be filled again and again.
The Holy Spirit only guides and teaches those who are listening. Through our obstinance and refusal to obey, however, we can hinder His work in our lives and disappoint and sadden Him: “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30).
Today’s Growth Principle:
A Christian who does not walk in the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit will find that his walk is not pleasing to God.
Be a Lifetime Learner
by Joyce Meyer - posted May 19, 2016Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…
—Ecclesiastes 9:10
Over the years we have released several great people from the ministry because they did not continue with their training, even when we offered it to them, so they could go into the future with us. It has always amazed me how some people will be aggressive and obtain whatever training they need to be all they can be in life, while others do nothing but complain because nobody is dropping opportunities in their lap.
We don’t deserve a promotion and pay raise just because we sit in a company chair for another year. We must be willing to be more valuable to our employer, and the only way we can do that is by taking more responsibility or doing the job we do better than we have done it in the past.
Be a lifetime learner. Read, listen, and learn. Go to school or take special classes to keep up with advancing technology in your field. If you make an investment, you will reap a reward. The more you know about what you are doing, the more confidence you will have. The more confidence you have, the more confidence others will be able to place in you. If you get prepared now, you will be promoted later.
Lord, I don’t want to be left behind in my life because I was too lazy or inattentive to get the training I need to stay current and relevant. Help me to invest in the right things that will reap a reward. Amen.
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