OUR LORD HIMSELF HAS GIVEN THE COMMAND

E.G. White, Mount of Blessing, MB 20.3

LET YOURSELVES BE CONSISTENTLY AND REPEATEDLY FILLED ANEW WITH THE SPIRIT!

Johannes Mager, Auf den Spuren des Heiligen Geistes (Lüneburg, 1999), Seite 101

His prayer lesson in Luke 11:1-13 has three parts: [1] The Lord’s Prayer; [2] the parable of the friend coming at midnight; and as a climax, [3] the continual request for the Holy Ghost.

After the Lord’s prayer, he shares the parable (verses 5-8) in which visitors arrive at a man’s home late in the evening and he has nothing to serve them. Because of his need, he immediately goes to his neighbor. Then he explains to him that “he has nothing” and asks for bread. He continues to ask until he finally receives the bread. Now he has bread – bread of life – for himself and for his visitors. He has something for himself and is now in the position where he can share.

Now Jesus links this parable (problem: I have nothing) with the request for the Holy Spirit by saying: “Therefore I say to you, ask, and it will be given you.” (Luke 11:9 NKJV)

Jesus’ special Appeal: Therefore ask for the Holy Spirit

In this particular Bible passage, Jesus emphatically commands us to ask for the Holy Ghost. There is no other passage where Jesus so lovingly urged us to take something to heart. These verses are found in His lesson on prayer in Luke 11. There, He emphasized 10 times that we should ask for the Holy Spirit. Luke 11:9-13 NKJV:

“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeksfinds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

In these few verses Jesus used the verb “ask” six times; then he replaced “ask” and emphasized it with “seek” two times – an action – and two more times with “knock” – also an action word.

Doesn’t He clearly show us that we have to take action in order to be filled with the Holy Ghost?

The last “ask” is used in the continuous tense in Greek. That means that we aren’t to ask only once, but rather to ask continuously. Here Jesus doesn’t only make asking a matter of urgency but also expects us to continually do it. Certainly He also wants to awaken our desire for the Holy Spirit with this heartfelt invitation. This urgent invitation shows us Jesus’ conviction that we would be missing something crucial, if we don’t continually ask for the outpouring of the Holy Ghost. He was clearly calling our attention to the fact that we absolutely need the Holy Spirit. In this way He wants us to continually receive the rich blessings of the Holy Ghost.

In Christ’s Object Lessons it says,

“God does not say, Ask once, and you shall receive. He bids us ask. Unwearyingly persist in prayer. The persistent asking brings the petitioner into a more earnest attitude, and gives him an increased desire to receive the things for which he asks”. (p.145)

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. Why do you think Jesus links the parable where the neighbor asks for bread with asking for the Holy Spirit?

2. What do you think Jesus repeated 10x the asking for the Holy Spirit?

3. ASK/SEEK/KNOCK, which one is more significant for your life today?

4. How can you make this essential request a constant? What is the one action you can associate with the request for the Holy Spirit, so you never forget? (Example: I ask for the Holy Spirit when I drik water in the morning – usually the first action I do after getting out of bed).

Jesus wants us to be sure that we will receive the Holy Ghost when we ask in the appropriate way. With this promise and other promises we can ask in faith and know that we have already received what we requested. (1 John 5:14-15)

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

This special invitation shows us that according to Jesus something essential is missing, when we don’t persistently ask for the Holy Ghost. He draws it to our attention that we absolutely need the Holy Ghost. He wants us to continually experience the rich blessings from the Holy Ghost.

This part of His lesson on prayer is a unique process. The Holy Spirit is God’s greatest gift – the gift which brings all the other gifts with it. This was Jesus crowning gift to His disciples and clear proof of His love. I think we can understand that such a valuable gift wouldn’t be pushed on someone. It is only given to those who express their desire for this gift and appreciate it.

He will be given to those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus; He will be given to those who live in continual commitment. Like He said in John 15: 4-5,

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. ‘I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing’.”

ALIGNMENT

Our life start to align with the Jesus when we abide in Him. How do we know we are aligned with Christ? Here are some characteristics that point how we can be aligned with Jesus,

• More yearning for God (“whoever thirsts” John 7:37)

• Trust in God (“he who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said” John 7:38)

• Complete surrender as a result of trusting God (“placing your whole life at God’s disposal” Rom. 12:1)

• Following God in everything (“those who obey Him” Acts 5:32)

• Give up their own way, go God’s way and do this according to God’s will (“repent and be baptized” Acts 2:38)

• Not to plan anything wrong (“if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear” Ps.66:18)

• Realize and admit to our great need (“I have nothing” Luke 11:6)

• Continually ask for the Holy Ghost (Luke 11:9-13)

Can’t you clearly see in these expectations that God has for us, how valuable this gift is? When you think about all these prerequisites, then you will probably find deficiencies in yourself.
I have made it my habit to pray daily for a desire for the Holy Spirit in connection with John 7:37 NKJV: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.”

We can pray today,

“Lord Jesus, I completely say yes to all the prerequisites for receiving the Holy Ghost. I sincerely ask that you now – for today – fulfill them in me.”

Our wonderful God is even there for us in fulfilling the prerequisites.

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. What was the greatest gift you received? How did that make you feel?

2. How did this precious and valuable gift made you feel about the person who gave it to you?

3. What are the aspects you are aligned with God? What are the ones you need to do better?

4. Write down a specific strategy on how you will ask/seek/knock aspects of your alignment with God?

Jesus made a clear statement about the reason He came to this Earth,

“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10 NKJV

Reaching that level of life here requires one to tap into the source of that type of supernatural life. Jesus affirmed,

“... ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit...” John 7:37-39 NKJV

“Rivers of living water” — isn’t that a good picture of a fulfilled life?

DID JESUS GIVE US THE EXAMPLE WHILE HERE ON EARTH?

We know that Mary conceived Jesus through the Holy Spirit (Matt 1:18).

We also know that after His baptism He prayed,

“And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him ...” Luke 3:22

Under these circumstances was it really necessary and important that He receive the Holy Spirit daily? Why does He admonish us to repeatedly ask for the Holy Spirit?

Ellen G. White once said about Jesus,

“Morning by morning he communicated with his Father in heaven, receiving from him daily a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit.” EGW, Signs of the Times, November 21, 1895

Another a statement about Jesus’ example is made in the book Acts of the Apostles,

“To the consecrated worker there is wonderful consolation in the knowledge that even Christ during His life on earth sought His Father daily for fresh supplies of needed grace...” Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 56

Jesus indeed was an example to us seeking daily Heaven’s help and power.

The honest follower of Christ will ask, if Jesus daily needed a refreshing from the Holy Spirit, then how much more important is it for you and me?

The apostle Paul really understood Jesus’ objective. In his letter to the church in Ephesus (the book of Ephesians), Paul confirms in chapter 1:13 that they had been sealed by the Holy Spirit when they became believers. In chapter 3:16-17, he encouraged them to be strong in the Spirit. In chapter 4:30, he admonishes them: “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God”. And in chapter 5:18 (NKJV) Paul, as an authorized apostle, calls the Ephesians and us to: “... be filled with the Spirit” or “let yourselves be continuously and repeatedly filled again with the Spirit”.

Even if we received the Holy Spirit when we were born again – we need a daily refreshing. Therefore, it is important for the spiritual life and growth of a Christian, that they be daily filled with the Holy Spirit.

What does it mean “to be baptized” with the Holy Spirit?

Jesus personally explained this with a synonym. A person is ‘baptized’ with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5) when the Holy Spirit ‘has come upon’ them (v. 8). To be baptized means to be fully immersed in something — usually water. It means that it involves the whole person.

Baptism with the Holy Spirit means to live completely under the influence of the Holy Spirit — to be completely filled by Him. This isn’t a one-time experience, but rather something that has to be continually repeated, as Paul illustrates by the tense he uses for the verb “filled” in Ephesians 5:18 – giving the idea of continuation and consistency.

GOOD GOODBYE

In Jesus’ farewell words He conveyed joy and hope by telling them that the Holy Spirit would come in His place. Jesus tells the disciples something surprising in John 16:7,

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”

Doesn’t it sound strange how Jesus communicates to His disciples that, “It is to your advantage that I go away”? He was giving him the new solution, that being with us through the Holy Spirit is more advantageous than being personally present. In this way He isn’t limited, but rather He can be together with each of us.

Even Jesus goodbye was something positive! He wanted to make sure that the access to the Holy Spirit is granted to all of us, in all times and all places!

We can pray today,

Father in Heaven, thank you for Jesus’ urgent invitation to ask for the Holy Spirit. I am sorry for the losses I have experienced because of a lack of the Holy Spirit. I need divine assistance so that Jesus can become greater in me. I need His help in every area of my life. Thank you that the Holy Spirit can change my character and can make me fit for God’s Kingdom. I completely surrender myself to you with all that I am and have. Thank you for accepting me and giving me your blessings. Help me to grow in knowledge about the Holy Spirit. Amen.

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. What affirmation can you make about your personal life on the reason Jesus came to the Earth?

2. In your opinion, how does life look like when a person becomes “river of living water”?

3. List a few things you can daily do to be refreshed/immersed by the Holy Spirit.

4. Even Jesus’ goodbye was good for us. How can you take advantage of His constant presence through the Holy Spirit?

FIRST, DETECTING THE ISSUE(S)

Is there a spiritual cause to our problems? Is the cause a lack of the Holy Spirit?

Our Lord Jesus invited us lovingly and insistently to ask for the Holy Ghost (Luke 11:9-13). (I hope) We understand that we should do this continually.

“They talk about Christ and about the Holy Spirit, yet receive no benefit. They do not surrender the soul to be guided and controlled by the divine agencies.” Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, (1898), p. 672

We have been praying for a revival for three days, today is the fourth! But our prayers must be followed by action, surrender, repentance. The Apostle James explained it plainly,

“Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss (according to the carnal mind, Rom. 8:5-7), that you may spend it on your pleasures.” James 4:2-3 NKJV

The problem begins with the lack of willingness to surrender. It continues with our prayers being stopped because we lack understanding on how to use it properly, since we want to spend it on our own pleasures. Third, we don’t want it enough, we don’t hunger it. Look to what the book Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, says,

“Why do we not hunger and thirst for the gift of the Spirit, since this is the means by which we are to receive power? Why do we not talk of it, pray for it, preach concerning it?” E.G. White, Testimonies for the Church Vol. 8, p. 22

There’s a need to talk about it, pray and preach it. But don’t you think that it is hard to speak about things you don’t know? It is like giving a review to a product you never used it! Revival calls for praxis – knowledge/theory becoming a reality!

BIBLICAL PRAXIS OF REVIVAL

It is good that we pray for revival, but we shouldn’t only pray for it, but rather – as Mark Finley says – it is “as we put into practice the biblical elements of revival.” (Mark A. Finley, Revive us again, p.25)

May I invite you to take the steps to personal revival? This will lead to a more powerful and fulfilled life.

To start with, [1] we want to analyze the problem. We want to do this thoroughly; otherwise there is the danger that we will consider a change neither necessary nor important. After that [2] we want to look at God’s solution, which offers us tremendous blessing; and finally, [3] how we can implement and experience this.

Our lack of the Holy Spirit doesn’t mean that everything we have done and are doing is in vain. There were and are many very good plans and programs. The Lord has surely blessed our human efforts. But how much greater the results and how much better the situation could be, when we would actually live or live more closely with the Holy Ghost – only God knows that.

It would have gone in this direction and would go in this direction in the future as Henry T. Blackaby expressed it:

“He (God) could do more in six months with a people that are devoted to Him, than we could do in sixty years without Him.” Henry T. Blackaby, Den Willen Gottes erkennen und tun (Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God), (Kassel, 2002), p.31

It is the question of immediately going the right way under God’s leadership and thus having much greater effectiveness (efficiency). That is the case when we are filled with the Holy Ghost.

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. What are the real problems concerning revival?

2. Considering the three things we lack to receive the Holy Spirit, [1] the lack of willingness to surrender, [2] the lack of understanding on how to use this power and [3] the lack of hunger for the Holy Spirit – which one is the hardest for you? What can you do today to start addressing this?

3. Grab a piece of paper or open a note in your phone to place in a period of six months for analyzing, looking at God’s solution and implementation of a plan to seek/ask/knock. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP TO GOD

God's Word differentiates between three groups of people in respect to their personal relationships with God. Within each of these groups there are many different shades depending on the parental training, character, training of oneself, age, culture, education, etc. But even with all the differences there are only three basic attitudes towards God,

• No relationship, the Bible calls this the natural man.

• Full, real relationship, the Bible calls this person spiritual.

• Divided or feigned relationship, the Bible describes this as a person of the flesh or carnal.

The terms "natural", "spiritual" and "carnal" in God's Word are not evaluations in this case. They merely describe a person's personal relationship to God.

These three groups are described in 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 and 1 Corinthians 3:1-4. Right now we only want to touch lightly on the subject of the natural man. He lives in the world. A quick glance at the two groups within the church will help us realize where the problem is mainly hidden. The most important thing to realize is to which group you belong. In this case, our examination helps our self-diagnosis. We want to take a look at our own lives and not the lives of others.

What are the criteria for designation in one group or the other? We will determine that in all three groups the designation occurs according to their personal relationship with the Holy Ghost.

The Natural PERSON

“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

1 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV

The natural person has absolutely no relationship with the Holy Ghost. This person lives in the world and doesn’t inquire about God at all or only rarely inquires about God. We were all here at one point in life but our souls ask for more!

Spiritual and Carnal are EVERYWHERE

These two groups are mainly introduced in 1 Corinthians 2 and 3 as well as in Romans 8:1-17 and Galatians 4 and 6. We need to note that the criterion for these two groups is their relationship to the Holy Ghost. This is so, because God has stipulated that the Holy Ghost is our only connection to heaven. (The Desire of Ages, p.322; Matt. 12:32) .

“The heart must be open to the Spirit’s influence, or God’s blessing cannot be received.” EGW, Steps to Christ, p.95

The Spiritual PERSON

Let’s read 1 Corinthians 2:15-16 in two different versions,

“But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him? (Isa. 40:13) But we have the mind of Christ.“ NKJV

“The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a per- son is not subject to merely human judgments, for, Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” NIV

The spiritual person is the true Christian. They are called “spiritual“, because they are filled with the Holy Ghost. Here too, the relationship with the Holy Ghost is the criteria for the designation as a spiritual person. They have a good and growing relationship with the Holy Spirit. Jesus is “in the center of [their lives]”; we also say sometimes that Jesus is on our heart’s throne.

The spiritual person has committed essentially and completely to Jesus and as a general rule this is confirmed daily by surrendering self to Jesus every morning with everything he or she is. In the Laodicea message, this person is called “hot”. In the parable about the 10 virgins, they are called “wise”. Romans 8:1-17 and Galatians 5 say even more about them. They experience life “more abundantly” (John 10:10) or as Paul expresses it,

“…and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

Ephesians 3:19

“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.”

Colossians 2:9

The Carnal PERSON

A person can be a church-goer for a short time or for many years and still be a carnal Christian. If to your surprise you find that you are a carnal Christian at the moment, then don’t be upset about it, but rather be glad, because you have the possibility of changing it immediately.

You will experience great joy through a life with the Holy Ghost. Most carnal Christians are unknowingly in this condition and have a desire to experience more in their faith. Their ignorance if often not even their fault. Consider this, you will experience great joy through a life with Christ in your heart through the Holy Ghost. Jesus promised/affirmed this joy in John 15:11,

“…and that your joy may be full.”

Through this change you will step by step experience life abundantly and you will have well-founded hope for eternal life. Don’t you want more of that?

We can pray today,

Father in heaven, please make me willing to ask myself this question. If I am a carnal Christian, then please help me to realize this right away. Make me willing to desire everything you want. Please lead me to a happy Christian life – to the promised life in abundance and to eternal life. Please renew my heart. Thank you for answering my prayer. In Jesus name, Amen.

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. If you are here looking into growing your relationship with God, that’s amazing! Do you remember the time when you were a “natural person” (no relationship with God)? Try to remember how life was like. What did make you change?

2. Why should I desire to be a spiritual person? What are the costs and what are benefits?

3. We all have carnal moments, how to deal with them?

4. If you could give one advice to someone living a natural or carnal life using your experiences, what story of your life you would share? (Write it down and be ready to share!)

DEAR BROTHERS… BABIES IN CHRIST

Let’s read what the apostle Paul had to say to carnal church members in 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 (NKJV),

“And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, ‘I am of Paul’, and another, ‘I am of Apollos’, are you not carnal?”

Can you see here that the criteria for the designation into this group is the personal relationship with the Holy Ghost? In these few verses the apostle Paul mentions four times that they are carnal. What does carnal mean? It means, this person lives from the power of the flesh, that is the normal strength and abilities a person has. Furthermore, it means that he isn’t filled with the Holy Ghost or isn’t sufficiently filled with the Holy Ghost.

Some people think this group only consists of people, who live in blatant sin. But that is only one of the many shades within this group. I want to stress again that there are a lot of differences within each of these groups.

Paul addressed the carnal people as “dear brothers”. This shows that he was dealing with church members. Paul couldn’t speak to them “as to spiritual people”. They weren’t filled with the Holy Ghost or weren’t sufficiently filled with the Holy Ghost. He had to speak to them “as babes in Christ”. This shows that they haven’t grown in faith as they should have.

A person can have great biblical knowledge and still not grow spiritually.

Spiritual growth has to do with our complete dedication to Jesus and a constant life in the Holy Spirit.

Many carnal Christians feel dissatisfaction, disappointment, purposelessness or are under constant effort in their spiritual life.

THE OTHER “BABIES”

Other carnal church members have gotten used to this condition or are satis- fied with this condition. They might say, “We are just sinners! We can’t do any- thing about it!”

Again other carnal Christians might be enthusiastic. They are glad that they know Biblical truth. Carnal church members can be very active and even have leading positions in the local church or even in the church administration. They may even do a lot for God. Check what Jesus said in Matthew 7:22-23 (NKJV),

“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”

WHERE IS THE REAL PROBLEM?

Jesus said that He didn’t know them. They didn’t have a real relationship with Christ, but rather only a “fake” relationship. Two options here, [1] there hadn’t been a real commitment or [2] it hadn’t been maintained. Jesus didn’t live in their hearts through the Holy Ghost. Thus they had no personal relationship with Christ. “So there may be an apparent connection with Christ...” (E.G. White, The Desire of Ages, p.676)

When isn’t Christ in us? Before reading this quote, understand that we can all be free from the following things if we live a life with the Holy Ghost imprinting the character of Christ in us,

“A spirit contrary to the spirit of Christ would deny Him, whatever the profession. Men may deny Christ by evilspeaking, by foolish talking, by words that are untruthful or unkind. They may deny Him by shunning life’s burdens, by the pursuit of sinful pleasure. They may deny Him by conforming to the world, by uncourteous behavior, by the love of their own opinions, by justifying self, by cherishing doubt, borrowing trouble, and dwelling in darkness. In all these ways they declare that Christ is not in them.” E.G. White, The Desire of Ages, p.357

This can change by the grace of God. God’s Word says,

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1 NKJV

CHANGING THE CARNAL PERSON

Consider the following four important quotes about changing the carnal person.

[1] WORK OF GOD

“God desires to heal us, to set us free [from the tyranny of our ego and the bondage of sin]. But since this requires an entire transformation, a renewing of our whole nature, we must yield ourselves wholly to Him.” E.G. White, Steps to Christ, p.43

[2] GOD INVITES US TO FREEDOM

“He [God] invites us to give ourselves to Him, that He may work His will in us. It remains for us to choose whether we will be set free from the bondage of sin, to share the glorious liberty of the sons of God.” E.G. White, Steps to Christ, p.43

[3] THERE IS NO PARTIAL SURRENDER

“There is no such thing as a partial surrender. It’s no more possible to be partially surrendered than it is possible to be a little bit pregnant. Either you are or you aren’t. There is no middle ground.” Morris Venden, 95 Theses on Righteousness by Faith, p.63

[4] IT’S A DAILY MATTER

“Only those who will become co-workers with Christ, only those who will say, Lord, all I have and all I am is Thine, will be acknowledged as sons and daughters of God.” E.G. White, Desire of Ages, p.523

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. How is it possible for a person to have biblical knowledge and still be a carnal person?

2. How can the spirit contrary to the spirit of Christ?

3. In reading the list of the things contrary to the spirit of Christ, did you find yourself there?

4. From the four quotes about changing the carnal person, which one did get your attention the most? Why?

5. What would be your advice to a carnal person?

Why is it that so many Christians are lacking an experience with the Holy Ghost?

In order to answer this question, we will first have to take a look at the Laodicea phenomenon. Why did Jesus call the believers in the Laodicea church lukewarm? He gave us a clear indicator,

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” Revelation 3:20

Jesus wasn’t the center of the lives of the believers, but rather outside. He was standing outside in front of the door. Why didn’t He go in? Because He hadn’t been invited. He doesn’t force His way in, because He respects our free will decision.

Why do believers leave Jesus outside in front of the door?

There are different causes and reasons for this. Some only move on a purely intellectual and cognitive plane in their spiritual lives, like the scribe Nicodemus, and don’t understand what the Christian life is all about. (Compare with John 3:1-10). For others the “price” of discipleship is too high, they have to give up too much, like the “rich young ruler”. (Compare with Matt. 19:16-24). To follow Jesus it requires [1] self-denial and [2] the willingness to change life (compare with Matthew 16:24-25) and [3] completely surrender to God (Romans 12:1). Leaving Jesus outside can be caused by pure negligence – insufficient time in personal fellowship with Jesus.

Repeating, the reason for the lukewarmness in Revelation 3:20 is, “Behold, I stand at the door.” Sadly, Jesus is not in the center of their lives, but rather outside or on the sidelines.

The lukewarmness relates to the personal relationship with Christ.

An example, A man can invest a lot in his vocation and at the same time neglect his wife. He is committed to his job, but lukewarm in his marriage relationship. A person can even be a committed church member, a diligent church leader or pastor or president and still be lukewarm in his relationship with Christ. The person is so dedicated to accomplishing a lot of tasks, that he neglects his personal relationship with Christ. This is the lukewarmness that Jesus wants removed.

It is tragic that a person can be so busy with God’s work (in the church and mission work) that He neglects the Lord of the work.

OPEN THE DOOR

The reality is that most of the times we are so busy with important things. But even being important, they should never occupy the place of the essencial. Unless we come to the conclusion that Jesus is truly and really essencial, not just one more item in our to-do lists, we would never give Him the importance He deserves, and receive His presence imprinted in our souls by the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 3:7-8 says,

“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts…”

Jesus is outside of the door but He is there! Calling you by name. The invitation should’ve come from the inside, but it is still coming – as Revelation 3:20 says,

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

What are you waiting to open the door of your life for Him?

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. Is Jesus at the central or at the fringes of your life? (think about how you use your time, how many times you consider Jesus in your daily life, take a look into your budget, etc – is Jesus represented there?)

2. We read that following Jesus requires, “…[1] self-denial and [2] the willingness to change his life (compare with Matthew 16:24-25) and [3] completely surrender himself to God (Romans 12:1).” Which of the three is the hardest for you?

3. How do you feel knowing that Jesus didn’t give up on you, that He is at the door calling your name? (Close your eyes and imagine yourself behind your front door, and Jesus on the outside calling you by name.)

4. How can you open the door of your life to Jesus?

THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS

Let us read the Parable of the Ten Virgins, that can be found in Matthew 25:1-13,

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

“‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

“Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

• All 10 were virgins

• All had pure biblical beliefs

• Al l had lamps

• All had the Bible

• All of them went to meet the bridegroom

• All of them looked forward to the 2nd coming

• All of them went to sleep

• All heard the call and woke up

• All prepared their lamps

• All the lamps were burning

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE

All of them prepared their lamps and all of the lamps were burning; but burning lamps need oil. Energy was used. After a short time five of them noticed that their lamps were going out. The lamps of the foolish virgins that only burned for a short time show us that they did have something from the Holy Spirit. But it wasn’t enough. There was too little oil. That was the only difference.

When the five came asking to be let in, Jesus answered: “I do not know you.” They were too late in attending to the oil, the Holy Spirit. The door remained closed.

Jesus’ statement shows us that our personal relationship with Him has something to do with the Holy Spirit. Whoever doesn’t let himself be led by the Holy Spirit won’t be acknowledged by Jesus. In Romans 8:8,9 it says:

“Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. ... if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”

Actually, we only have a real personal relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Look to what 1 John 3:24 says,

“And by this we know that He [Jesus] abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.”

This means that the assurance I have that I am filled with the Holy Spirit is at the same time the assurance that I am in Jesus and He is in me.

TESTIMONY

This is exactly the experience a sister had, who took part in the 40 Days prayer time. Through the presence of the Holy Spirit in her life she experienced her relationship with God in a completely different way and others noticed the change in her life. A sister from southern Germany wrote the following after she had studied a booklet called ‘40 Days— Prayers and Devotions to Prepare for the Second Coming’ by Dennis Smith. It has become a great and long-awaited blessing in her life. Just like many of her church members have experienced. Something was always missing in their faith experience and now they had the privilege of experiencing how Jesus has entered in their lives and has begun to change them.

A brother wrote the following,

The booklet Steps to Personal Revival deeply touched me. The chapter on the ten virgins and especially on Romans 8:9b: ‘Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His’ greatly shocked me. Suddenly, I wasn’t sure if I had the Holy Spirit and if He was working in me, because I am painfully missing the corresponding “fruits” in my life. This Sabbath afternoon I finished reading the booklet and an infinitely deep sadness overwhelmed me. Then I read the prayer on page 110 and a deep desire rose in me to receive the Holy Spirit, that my heart would be changed and that God the Father would change me according to His will. ...Thank you for the booklet and the words, which deeply moved me.” A. P.

The greatest tragedy for the carnal person is that he won‘t receive eternal life if his condition doesn’t change.

“Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” (Rom 8:9b)

SUMMERIZING

Now to summarize,

The main difference between the spiritual and the carnal person has to do with the Holy Spirit. The spiritual person is filled with the Holy Spirit. The carnal person isn’t or isn’t sufficiently filled with the Holy Spirit.

Should you realize that you are a carnal Christian, then don’t be angry. God is offering you a remedy: the Holy Spirit.

In some circles, certain gifts of the Holy Spirit are overemphasized; on the other hand, in other circles, the Holy Spirit is neglected. May our dear Lord help us to follow his Holy Word, and neither go to one extreme or the other.

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. What does get most of your attention in the Parable of the Ten Virgins?

2. In the Parable, the Ten Virgins had so much in common but what was the difference and why that was a problem?

3. What is the biggest problem, to overemphasize or to neglect the Holy Spirit and why?

4. Try to meditate about why do you want to keep your lamp full and to ask for the Holy Spirit in this new day!

THE EARLY CHURCH AND OUR CHURCH

When we compare the early church with the present day church, we observe that the early church must have been predominantly made up of spiritual people. The book of Acts shows that this was the reason for their quick and positive development. They had no other aid. But they had the Holy Spirit.

We have excellent aids in abundance.

But we have a deficiency of the Holy Spirit.

The great theologian A. W. Tozer once said,

“If the Holy Spirit were taken away from our church today, 95 % of what we do would continue and no one would notice the difference. If the Holy Spirit had been withdrawn from the early church, then 95 % (this means almost everything) of what they were doing would have stopped and everyone would have noticed the difference.”

Preaching, praying publically, organizing church life, preparing evangelistic programs, worshiping, counseling — these all can be learned and also put into practice without the Holy Spirit. Ellen G. White described this dangerous possibility as follows,

“The reason why there is so little of the Spirit of God manifested is that [we] learn to do without it.” Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p.383

As a consequence, we will notice more and more that personally and collectively our central problem is the lack of the Holy Spirit. In the personal area we can quickly change this with God’s help.

The apostle Paul showed a very important concern,

“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.” 1 Corinthians 2:4–5

We wonder why God showed up in more supernatural ways in the early church – and today, across the ocean – than he does in our church. Could it be that our desperation and expectation are different here? Could it be that we have other alternatives so the supernatural is a “last resort” instead of a “first response?”

OUR Prayer TODAY

Lord, forgive me for conducting life and ministry like I can make it happen on my own. Forgive me for having expectations based on persuasive words rather than on the power of your Spirit. Launch me into the adventure of supernatural expectations. Empower me to lead like you are still doing miracles of conviction, salvation, deliverance, healing, reconciliation, calling, and more . . . because you are!

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. Why are we often powerless and to a large extent without victories in spiritual matters?

2. How do we develop a life without the Holy Spirit? What are the dangers of it?

3. Do many of the serious problems in many areas come from carnal attitudes?

4. How can we access the supernatural source of power God makes available?

This shows us that the main problem for carnal person is that it is a life solely in human strength. We can’t do God’s will alone in our own strength. Let’s read a few Bible verses on this topic,

Isaiah 64:6 NKJV: “And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags.”

Jer. 13:23 NKJV: “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil.”

Ezekiel 36:26-27 NKJV: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.... I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.”

Rom. 8:7 NKJV: “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.” And NIV:“Themindgovernedbythe flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.”

Ellen White said very clearly and accurately:

“He who is trying to reach heaven by his own works in keeping the law, is attempting an impossibility. Man cannot be saved without obedience, but his works should not be of himself; Christ should work in him to will and to do of his good pleasure.” E.G. White, Review and Herald, July 1, 1890.

I think these references show sufficiently that we are not capable of doing God’s will without the Holy Ghost. Our main concern is that we always need to make a decision for God’s will and that God gives us the strength to implement it. This understanding of the doctrine of righteousness by faith is extremely important and liberating. However, we can’t discuss it in detail here.

WHAT COULD HAPPEN, WHEN SOMEONE TRIES TO DO SOMETHING THAT EXCEEDS THEIR STRENGTH?

What happens when I often realize: I can’t do it! Now I’ve failed again! I think that to some degree we experience disappointment.

This problem is much more prominent in the younger generation rather than the older one. Older people are used to a stronger sense of duty, obedience in the family, school and business. Thus they aren’t as easily annoyed by a disappointment as younger people are. But the problem is equally present in young and old. Only a younger person notices it more distinctly. Traveling the path of faith in their own strength is the foremost problem of every carnal Christian, whether he knows it or not.

How do we try to solve this problem? One person may pray more intensely for God’s help and decide to try harder. Another person may think that we shouldn’t be so narrow-minded. Now he starts to take things more casually and feels freer. Still another completely abandons his faith and may even feel better. The only problem is that these apparent solutions are false solutions, because the conse- quences will come sooner or later. The correct way is to take God’s laws seriously, because they were given in love and are for our own good. However, we need God’s strength for this. The right way is to live in the power of the Holy Spirit with increasing joy, motivation, strength, fruitfulness and victory.

THE CENTRAL PROBLEM

I think we have recognized that this mostly has to do with carnal Christianity. Isn’t it becoming clearer and clearer why Jesus doesn’t want any lukewarm followers? They don’t have life in abundance like God wants to give us and they are a bad example even though most of them don’t even know it. The problem is much more serious than we think.

“Half-hearted Christians are worse than infidels; for their deceptive words and noncommittal position lead many astray.” EGW Letter 44, 1903, quoted in Adv. Bible Commentary, Vol.7, p.963 on Rev. 3:15-16

In the book Christ our Righteousness by Arthur G. Daniells we read the following:

“But formalism is most deceptive and ruinous. It is the hidden, unsuspected rock upon which, through the centuries, the church has so often been well-nigh wrecked. Paul warns us that the 'form of godliness', without the power of God will be one of the perils of the last days, and admonishes us to turn away from the deceptive, bewitching thing.” Arthur G. Daniells, Christ our Righteousness, p. 30, - Christus unsere Gerechtigkeit (Hamburg 1962), S.20

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. Why can’t we do by our own?

2. How do you think people are trying to reach heaven by their own?

3. Why is it worse to be a “half-Christian” than to be completely “out”?

4. In your opinion, what can you do to surrender completely?

Possible Factors leading to Carnal Christianity

For a few days, we have been looking into the differences in between a spiritual and a carnal person. Like when we go to a doctor and exams are asked to detect and solve an issue before it becomes untreatable, we also need to be able to diagnose what leads a person into being carnal.

The following factors or reasons are things which can lead to carnal Christianity:

1. Ignorance – We haven’t devoted ourselves enough to the topic of life with the Holy Ghost or we haven’t found the key for putting it into practice.

2. Unbelief or Small of Faith – Being filled with the Holy Ghost has the pre-requisite of completely surrendering our lives to Jesus Christ. This too could happen because of ignorance, or maybe because we are afraid that the Lord will lead us differently than what we want. This means that we don’t trust God’s love and wisdom enough.

3. Erroneous Notions – A person can think they are filled with the Holy Spirit, even though they aren’t in reality or not sufficiently. This seems to be the most frequent problem.

4. Being too Busy – People are so over burdened that they think they don‘t have any or enough time to maintain a relationship with Christ. Or they take the time, but don’t make any progress in connecting with God.

5. Hidden Sins, perhaps missing reparation – this is like a short-circuit, meaning there is no connection with God’s power.

6. Act mostly according to their feelings – God’s word says, “The righteous live by faith”. Do I make decisions by trusting God or according to my feelings? This statement from Roger Morneau really impressed me,

“The spirits would encourage people to listen to their feelings instead of the word of Christ and His prophets. In no surer way could the spirits obtain control of people’s lives without the individuals realizing what was happening.” Roger Morneau, A Trip into the Supernatural, Review and Herald 1982, p.43

BE ON GUARD AND GROW

We can move confident that the Spirit of God will help us in the process to become more and more like Jesus. It makes a huge difference to think that this Bible verse was written by Peter, someone who understood the importance of God’s infinite grace to restart and understanding of our Master!

“But you, friends, are well-warned. Be on guard lest you lose your footing and get swept off your feet by these lawless and loose-talking teachers. Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. Glory to the Master, now and forever! Yes!” 2 Peter 3:17,18 (The Message)

Peter comes to the conclusion that growing requires grace and understanding of the Master. Grace is a favor we don’t deserve and understanding of the Master is the knowledge of His life and teachings – the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19,20) has both: baptism, symbol of the new start; and, understanding, part of the Great Commission has to do with a biblical knowledge, knowing the truth about life and how to live like Christ.

Only by the work of the Holy Spirit we will be able to live with grace and understanding. What are you waiting to ask the Father to send His gift?

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, take from my life whatever is making me carnal. Help me to be graceful to myself and to others, receiving your forgiveness, remembering that You will never leave or forsake me. But infuse in my mind and soul the understanding of Christ, His teachings, and love for others. Because of your faithfulness, I come to you and I ask you the greatest promise, the promise of your presence through the constant presence of your Holy Spirit. In Jesus name I pray, amen.

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. Why is important to diagnose the carnal person in us?

2. From the six factors, choose one or two that are the “stone in your shoe” (the hardest ones for you)?

3. Grace and understanding, which one comes first? Why?

WHY SHOULD WE ASK FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT?

AFTERALL, WE RECEIVED HIM AT OUR BAPTISM.

IS THERE A PROBLEM HERE?

On the one hand:

Jesus said in John 14:17 NKJV,

“For He [the Holy Spirit] dwells with you and will be in you.”

Acts 2:38 NKJV says:

“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized ... and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

On the other hand:

When Jesus taught about prayer, He said in Luke 11:9-13 (NKJV),

“... ask, and it will be given to you; ... how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

Ephesians 5:18 says,

“... be filled with the Spirit.”

In both hands the original Greek text points to a continual request.

SOLUTION

Ellen G. White says,

“Yet the operations of the Spirit are always in harmony with the written word. As in the natural, so in the spiritual world. The natural life is preserved moment by moment by divine power; yet it is not sustained by a direct miracle, but through the use of blessings placed within our reach. So the spiritual life is sustained by the use of those means that Providence has supplied. If the follower of Christ would grow up ‘unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ’ (Eph 4:13), he must eat of the bread of life and drink of the water of salvation. He must watch and pray and work, in all things giving heed to the instructions of God in His word.” Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p.284

Here are some important things for us to pay attention from this beautiful quote,

[1] Eat of the Bread of Life

[2] Drink of the water of salvation

[3] Watch and pray and work

ABIDE IN ME

We received life at our birth. In order to sustain this life we have to eat, drink, exercise, etc. It is exactly the same in our spiritual life. We have the Holy Spirit through our baptism by water and the Spirit (we were ‘born again’) so that this spiritual life remains in us our whole life. In order to sustain this spiritual life it is necessary to use the spiritual means that God provided: the Holy Spirit, God’s Word, prayer, our testimony, etc.

As Jesus told us in John 15:4,

“Abide in me, and I in you.”

Ellen G. White explains what is to abide in Christ,

“Abiding in Christ means a constant receiving of His Spirit, a life of unreserved surrender to His service.” Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p.676

That is why we need to daily ask for the Holy Spirit by faith and surrender ourselves to the Lord every morning with everything we have and are.

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. If we did receive the Holy Spirit through the baptism, why do we need to keep asking?

2. What can we understand about the spiritual world from the natural?

3. What is to abide in Christ?

It is crucial that everyone who is carnal realizes this, or they will not be able to ask for God’s help to change.

God in His love wants to richly bless us through an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.

As result, great loss can be avoided and immeasurable blessing can be experienced. And the wonderful thing is that we can quickly remedy the situation with God’s help.

DIFFERENT WAYS TO DESCRIBE IT

The problem of carnal Christianity is described in the Bible in different ways. Individual groups and the people in the groups can have very different focal points, but the central problem is the same. The different descriptions are,

• “in the flesh or carnal”, Romans 8:1-17; 1 Corinthians 3:1-4, Galatians 5:16-21, just to mention a few.

• “foolish”, the parable of the ten virgins, Matthew 25:1-13.
  “The state of the Church represented by the foolish virgins, is also spo- ken of as the Laodicean state.” Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, Aug. 19, 1890

• “lukewarm”, the letter to Laodicea, Revelation 3:14-21
  “I wish you were cold or hot.” (Revelation 3:15) Isn’t it amazing? Jesus prefers cold to lukewarm. What is His reason for this? “Halfhearted Christians are worse than infidels; for their deceptive words and noncommittal position lead many astray. The infidel shows his colors. The lukewarm Christian deceives both parties. He is neither a good worldling nor a good Christian. Satan uses him to do a work that no one else can do.” Ellen G. White, Letter 44, 1903, quoted in the Seventh Day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 963 on Rev 3:15,16

• not “born again” or hasn’t remained in this condition, John 3:1-21. “The new birth is a rare experience in this age of the world. This is the rea- son why there are so many perplexities in the churches. Many, so many, who assume the name of Christ are unsanctified and unholy. They have been baptized, but they were buried alive. Self did not die, and therefore they did not rise to newness of life in Christ.” Ellen G. White, MS 148, 1897, quoted in the Seventh Day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, p. 1075

• a form of godliness, “Having a form of godliness but denying its power.” (2 Timothy 3:5). About this Arthur G. Daniells says the following, “... But formalism is something extremely deceptive and destructive. It is the hid- den, unexpected cliff, which the church has threatened to shatter on many times throughout the centuries. Paul warned us that this ‘form of Godliness’ (2 Tim 3:5) without God’s power [without being filled by the Holy Spirit] would be one of the dangers of the last days and admonishes us not to be taken in by this comfortable, self-deceiving attitude.” A. G. Daniells, Christ our Righteousness, p. 20
  
  

A FEW SERIOUS QUOTES TO THINK

Here are some statements about the carnal person. They are being added for us to understand and comprehend (grasp, take in, apprehend, follow, make sense of…) how serious is this issue, even if sometimes we think it is not.

Very, very few
“In my dream a sentinel stood at the door of an important building, and asked every one who came for entrance, ‘Have ye received the Holy Spirit?’ A measuring line was in his hand, and only very, very few were admitted into the building.” Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, vol. 1 (1958), p.109

Not one in twenty are ready
“It is a solemn statement that I make to the church, that not one in twenty whose names are registered upon the church books are prepared to close their earthly history, and would be as verily without God and without hope in the world as the common sinner.“ Ellen G. White, Christian Service (1925), p. 41

Why are we so sleepy?
“Why are the soldiers of Christ so sleepy and indifferent? Because they have so little real connection with Christ; because they are so destitute of His Spirit.” Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy (1911), p. 507.3

A great danger
“I will not here dwell upon the shortness and uncertainty of life; but there is a terrible danger — a danger not sufficiently understood — in delaying to yield to the pleading voice of God’s Holy Spirit, in choosing to live in sin; for such this delay really is.” Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, vol. 1 (1958), p. 109.2

TO FOLLOW HIM IN EVERYTHING

What is at the core of sin? “Because they do not believe in Me.” (John 16:9)

The sign that we really believe and trust Jesus is that we completely surrender ourselves to Him. It has to do with our complete surrender; our willingness to follow Him in everything.

Today we had a very serious message because it has to do with our personal happiness now and in eternity. It is also a hugely important factor in how we influence others, especially in our marriages, families, communities and churches.

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. Why do you think the Bible has so many different ways to describe this issue?

2. After the reading today, what is your opinion on why the carnal person loses his/hers connection with Jesus?

3. What are you missing to complete surrender your life to God?

Jesus said,

“Remain joined to me, and I will remain joined to you.” (John 15:4 NIRV)

And this quote the same idea of consistency and surrender,

“Abiding in Christ means a constant receiving of His Spirit, a life of unreserved surrender to His service.” Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages (1898), p.676

TWO-PART SOLUTION

This two-part divine solution for our central problem is at the same time the way to a happy Christian life. Why? Jesus commented on these words,

“These things I have spoken to you, that My Joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:11 NKJV

Through these two steps, [1] continually receiving the Holy Spirit and [2] complete surrender to His service.

Christ lives in us and this is the way to perfect happiness.

Colossians 1:27 speaks about the riches of the glory, Christ in you.

“To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Isn’t it remarkable that Jesus embedded this parable of the vine in between the promise for the Holy Spirit in John 14 and the work of the Holy Spirit in John 16?

The crucial point is that we (as a rule) daily remain in Jesus, including everything we are and have and that we also daily ask and receive by faith the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Our daily death to what culture (even Christian culture) ascribes value to — fame, comfort, power, pleasure, money — is what positions us to multiply. It is only when we are dead that we can freely give ourselves away to others without thinking, What’s in it for me?

The Message paraphrases John 12:24 this way,

“Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over.”

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. What is your usual rationale to solve problems?

2. What is the steps necessary for “ God’s remodeling” of your heart?

3. What does solving the problem has too do with being fruitful?

Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

Jesus said that discipleship is a daily matter. To deny oneself means giving Jesus the control over my life. Carrying a cross doesn’t mean that we will have difficulties every day. Here it means: to daily deny our egos and to submit gladly and willingly to Jesus – just as Paul said about himself, “I die daily.” When someone carried a cross in Jesus’ day, then he had been sentenced to death and was going to the place of execution. So it also has to do with accepting difficulties, which arise from following Jesus.

We received our physical life at birth. In order to maintain our life, strength and health we normally eat every day. We received our spiritual life when we were born again. In order to keep our spiritual life strong and healthy it is also necessary to take care of the inner person daily. If this doesn’t take place in our physical life as well as in our spiritual life, then we will become weak, sick or even die. We can neither eat meals ahead as reserve meals nor can we stockpile the Holy Spirit.

In the book The Acts of the Apostles there is valuable advice on this,

“As in the natural, so in the spiritual world. The natural life is preserved moment by moment by divine power; yet it is not sustained by a direct miracle, but through the use of blessings placed within our reach. So the spiritual life is sustained by the use of those means that Providence has supplied.” Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p.284

This comment in the book The Desire of Ages really impressed me,

“We are to follow Christ day by day. God does not bestow help for tomorrow.” Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 313

If you haven’t discovered the necessity of daily conversion, it can be a major breakthrough in your life. Morris Venden said,

‘If you will seek the Lord and be converted every day... all your murmurings will be stilled, all your difficulties will be moved, all the perplexing problems that now confront you will be solved.’” Morris Venden, 95 Theses on Righteousness by Faith, p. 96

“The abiding daily relationship with God leads to abiding surrender, moment-by-moment dependence on Him.” Morris Venden, 95 Theses on Righteousness by Faith, p. 233

CONSCIOUS SURRENDER

We may be certain that, when we consciously surrender ourselves to Jesus every morning, then we are doing what He wishes us to do, because He said: “Come to me ...” (Matt 11:28 NKJV) and: “... the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” (John 6:37 NKJV)

The great influence that God can exert through us when we completely surrender ourselves to Him is described by John Wesley as follows,

“God can do more with one man, who has committed himself 100 % to God, than He can with a whole army of men, who have only committed themselves 99 % to God.”

“All who consecrate soul, body, and spirit to God will be constantly receiving a new endowment of physical and mental power... The Holy Spirit puts forth its highest energies to work in heart and mind. The grace of God enlarges and multiplies their faculties, and every perfection of the divine nature comes to their assistance in the work of saving souls ... And in their human weakness they are enabled to do the deeds of Omnipotence.” Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages (1898), p.827

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. What is being shown every day that shows you became a disciple?

2. How can you care for your “inner person daily”?

3. Can you detect how you have been using the blessings placed within your reach?

4. In your opinion, what does it mean “conscious surrender”?

5. Can you number the things you need to surrender?

In the book The Acts of the Apostles we can find this beautiful quote,

“To the consecrated worker there is wonderful consolation in the knowledge that even Christ during His life on earth sought His Father daily for fresh supplies of needed grace ... His own example is an assurance that earnest, persevering supplication to God in faith — faith that leads to entire dependence upon God, and unreserved consecration to His work — will avail to bring men the Holy Spirit’s aid in the battle against sin.” Ellen G. White, Acts of the Apostles, p.56

If this was a daily necessity for Jesus, then how IS THAT much more important for us?

In 2 Corinthians 4:16 NKJV there is an important statement,

“... yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.”

Our inward person needs daily care. In what way does this daily renewal take place? According to Eph 3:16,17,19 NKJV it happens through the Holy Spirit,

“That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love ... that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

A DIVINE COMMAND

As a rule it is necessary to pray daily for a renewal of the Holy Spirit. As a result Christ lives in us. A very important principle for the daily renewal is found in Ephesians 5:18 NKJV,

“... be filled with the Spirit.”

Take note that this is more than just advice. This is a divine command. Our God expects us to want to live with the Holy Spirit. The Greek experts say that this text says more precisely, quoting Johannes Mager,

“Let yourselves be consistently and continually filled anew with the Spirit.” Editor Werner E. Lange, Unser größtes Bedürfnis (Lüneburg, 2011), S. 42

The apostle Paul wrote this in Ephesians chapter 5, even though he wrote the following in chapter 1:13: “... in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.”

The Ephesians had evidently already received the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, it was necessary for them to be, [1] “strengthened with might through His Spirit” and to [2] “be filled with the Spirit” and [3] “let yourselves be consistently and continually filled with the Spirit anew”.

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. Thinking of Jesus seeking for daily renewal, how does this make you feel about YOU seeking renewal daily?

2. Do you remember the last time you receive a direct command from someone that wanted your good? Did it work? What did happen with you obeyed it?

3. Paul gave some important advice to the Corinthians, which one do you like the most?

Daily worship is the foundation for a spiritual life. Sabbath brings the “real flavor” – the why we worship God daily: He is not only the Almighty Creator of the Universe but the One who loved and redeemed Earth.

We have already read Bible verses and diverse quotes that show us that the inner person is renewed day by day. This casts a clear light on the great importance of our daily personal connection with God.

KEEP NOTHING

The whole foundation for the worship service in the tabernacle was the morning and evening burnt offerings. On Sabbath there was an additional Sabbath burnt offering (Numbers 28:4,10). What importance did the burnt offering have? The scholar Fritz Rienecker answers that saying,

“The burnt offering represented the complete surrender of the sinner to the Lord. Here the person kept nothing for themselves, but rather everything belonged to God.” Fritz Rienecker, Lexikon zur Bibel (Wuppertal, 1964), S. 1017

“The hours appointed for the morning and the evening sacrifice were regarded as sacred, and they came to be observed as the set time for worship throughout the Jewish nation... In this custom Christians have an example for morning and evening prayer. While God condemns a mere round of ceremonies, without the spirit of worship, He looks with great pleasure upon those who love Him, bowing morning and evening to seek pardon for sins committed and to present their requests for needed blessings.” Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets (1890), p. 353

HOW IS THAT CONNECTED TO SABBATH?

“This is the burnt offering for every Sabbath, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.” Numbers 28:10 NIV

Isn’t that interesting a special burnt offering for every Sabbath? Keeping the Sabbath Holy has to do with understanding God as the Creator and Holy, capable of blessing. The fourth commandment clearly says in the end, “For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” Exodus 20:11 NIV

The Sabbath keeps us in check with our priorities. For our personal worship to be real, authentic, and produce its fruit, we need to ask the essential question, Is God my priority?

The most important spiritual principle is, to give God priority over everything every day.

Our daily worship gives us the strength we need to face live daily, but that spiritual strength must be linked with the reason we worship, because the loving Creator of the Universe made all things with a purpose and after that he rested, blessed and made Sabbath holy.

The author Wayne Muller detects humanity’s issue with making work priority,

“We are expected to sacrifice more of our time to work, seeking more work, being on call for work, and recovering from overwork.” Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives, p.160

The Sabbath makes us more humans. It helps us to understand we are not the Creator with His unlimited power and wisdom. The same author points to the need of these creatures, children of the Creator living in this broken world, full of its limitations and insufficiencies,

“We do not feel how much energy we spend on each activity, because we imagine we will always have more energy at our disposal. This one little conversation, this one extra phone call, this one quick meeting, what can it cost? But it does cost, it drains yet another drop of our life. Then, at the end of days, weeks, months, years, we collapse, we burn out, and cannot see where it happened. It happened in a thousand unconscious events, tasks, and responsibilities that seemed easy and harmless on the surface but that each, one after the other, used a small portion of our precious life.” Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives, p.19

In this sense, Sabbath is necessary to differentiate Creator and creatures, and at the same time it points to our need to reconnect and reconcile with God, as He affirmed in Ezekiel 20:20 NIV,

“Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.”

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. What happens when you do daily worship?

2. What meaning did the burnt and daily offering bring to the life of the Israelites?

3. Why are priorities important? Can you define yours?

4. How can Sabbath help to define your priorities?

5. Why is it important to recognize the difference in between Creator and creatures?

CHRIST IN YOUR HEART, NOW

The kingdom of God is when you have Christ in your heart now. Jesus personifies the Kingdom of God as Mark 10:15 and Luke 17:20-21 say,

Receiving the children to Himself….

“Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Mark 10:15 NIV

And answering to the Pharisees about the Kingdom of God,

“Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst’.” Luke 17:20-21 NIV

This is why we need to daily surrender and to daily ask for the Holy Spirit during our worship time. The decisive moment will be when we stand before God, Did we have the saving personal relationship with Christ and did we stay in Him? (see John 15:1-17) Don’t you long for more – for greater fulfillment in your faith?

DO YOU EAT?

Whoever spends little or no quiet time with God or only has an inadequate worship time will probably only be strengthened by their worship once or twice a week. That is similar to someone only eating once or twice a week. To make a comparison: Wouldn’t it be absurd to only want to nourish yourself once a week? Doesn’t this mean that a Christian without worship is carnal?

This also means that if he stays in this condition then he isn’t saved. When we are carnal Christians worship can be just an obligation.

When we are spiritual then worship will become more and more a necessity and joy.

In order that we may have the righteousness of Christ, we need daily to be transformed by the influence of the Spirit, to be a partaker of the divine nature.

In Jim Vaus booklet “I was a Gangster”, he was a criminal who became converted. He wholeheartedly confessed his sins – for example perjury, theft, etc. He experienced tremendous divine intervention. Isn’t that impressive?

We could say to ourselves, “I am doing fine in almost every way, but I don’t have experiences like that.” Maybe we should start praying to the Lord…

“Father in heaven, I also want to confess all my known sins and all the sins that you will yet show me. In addition, I will get up an hour earlier to pray and read the Bible. Then I want to see if you will also intervene in my life.”

Praise God! He can and will intervene in our life. Especially in our morning worship and in connecting with Him through Sabbath – both factors show if we are seeking the Kingdom of God first.

Through daily surrender and through being daily filled with the Holy Spirit our lives will be beneficially changed. As a result, our new life “in Christ” will be preserved and will bear fruit. This happens during our personal worship time.

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. Repeating the question in the first section today, Are you having the saving personal relationship with Christ and did we stay in Him?

2. What would happen if you just had one meal a week? Why do we think one spiritual moment per week would do?

3. We all like to hear stories of transformation and get impacted. Why are we all not producing those stories? What is your “gangster” story?

RECEIVING THE FORMER RAIN

Jesus gave us a promise, the constant company of the Holy Spirit. The later rain image in the Bible points to that powerful presence just before Jesus’ Second Coming – the most prevalent promise in the Bible.

Jesus’ followers would become “…perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:4) in the days preceding the glorious appearance of Jesus. For that, God would send a special rain, the early and the latter rain – a language taken from farmers. The early rain prepares the seeds to grow and the former rain gets the crop ready for the harvest.

Read these two quotes with lots of attention,

“The former rain, being filled with the Holy Spirit, brings us the necessary spiritual maturity, which is essential so that we can benefit from the latter rain.” Dennis Smith, 40 Days — Prayer and Devotions to Revive Your Experience with God, book 2 (Vienna, 2013), p.175

“The latter rain, ripening earth’s harvest, represents the spiritual grace that prepares the church for the coming of the Son of man. But unless the former rain has fallen, there will be no life; the green blade will not spring up. Unless the early showers have done their work, the latter rain can bring no seed to perfection.” Ellen G. White, The Faith I Live By (1958), p.333

RECEIVING THE BIBLICAL SANCTIFICATION

Sanctification is growing spiritually. Paul explained that to the Thessalonians,

“But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 2:13,14

The presence of the Holy Spirit helps us to grow in the knowledge of the Word of God, as Ellen White explained,

“This work (biblical sanctification) can be accomplished only through faith in Christ, by the power of the indwelling Spirit of God.” Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy (1911), p.469

RECEIVING POWER TO SHARE THE GOSPEL

Could great institutions, successful evangelistic programs and powerful mission strategies have been developed without the Holy Spirit? Andrew Murray, the great missionary to South Africa, knew that this scenario was very possible and, indeed, reality in most of Christendom when he wrote,

“I may preach or write or think or meditate, and delight in being occupied with things in God’s Book and in God’s Kingdom; and yet the power of the Holy Spirit may be markedly absent. I fear that if you take the preaching throughout the Church of Christ and ask why there is, alas! so little converting power in the preaching of the Word, why there is so much work and often so little success for eternity, why the Word has so little power to build up believers in holiness and in consecration — the answer will come: It is the absence of the power of the Holy Spirit. And why is this? There can be no other reason but that the flesh [see Gal 3:3] and human energy have taken the place that the Holy Spirit ought to have.” Randy Maxwell , If My People Pray (Pacific Press 1995), p.145

We all have so much to receive when the Holy Spirit is present and a lot to lose when the Holy Spirit is absent. Pray again, to receive His presence today!

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. Why do you think Jesus links the parable where the neighbor asks for bread with asking for the Holy Spirit?

TAKING IT SERIOUSLY

A temple is God’s dwelling place.

God said to Moses, “And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.” (Ex 25:8)

If we take this statement seriously, then taking care of our health and our lifestyle will become a deliberate part of our discipleship. Our body belongs to God. Do you want to treat God’s property carefully?

It all depends on how you see God and how you understand the importance of our influence according to God’s instructions.

FILLED AND NOT FILLED, THE GREAT DIFFERENCE!

Taking care of our bodies demands a certain amount of discipline. Someone, who is filled with the Holy Spirit, can and will usually implement this discipline with joy. The reward is better health in body, soul and spirit. Someone, who isn’t filled with the Holy Spirit, will struggle and suffer disadvantages.

God expects that we maintain the best possible health in body and spirit for His glory, for His service and for our own joy. In this area there is also no replacement for being filled with the Holy Spirit. When Jesus lives in us through the Holy Spirit, then He is also “the Lord who heals you”. (Exodus 15:26) Healing is always manifest in a way that is best for the person concerned and also to God’s glory. This can raise the question,

Does the divine doctor heal everyone?

“An older Cambodian woman came as a refugee to a mission hospital, which was in a refugee camp in Thailand. She was dressed in the clothes of a Buddhist nun. She asked to be treated by Dr. Jesus. So they told her about Jesus. She placed her trust in Him and was healed body and soul. When she was able to return to Cambodia she was able to win 37 people for Christ.” Our Daily Bread — Worship book (RBC Ministries), 26th November, 1993

During loyal king Hezekiah’s sickness the Lord sent him a message: “Surely I will heal you.” (2 Kings 20:1-11) But why didn’t the Lord heal him with a word, but instead gave him the task of putting on a fig poultice? Could it be that the Lord expects our participation through natural remedies or changes in our diet, exercise, rest, etc.? Why didn’t God heal Paul, but left him with a “thorn in his flesh”?

Paul himself said,

“Lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

However Ellen G. White tells us,

“The influence of the Spirit of God is the very best medicine that can be received by a sick man or woman. Heaven is all health; and the more deeply the heavenly influences are realized, the more sure will be the recovery of the believing invalid.” Ellen G. White, Medical Ministries (1932), p.12

Doesn’t this show that being filled with the Holy Spirit can motivate us and give us strength along with joy to accept a healthy lifestyle?

A life with the Holy Spirit will greatly promote health reform. It is a matter of [1] health information linked with [2] power to change. Don Mackintosh once explained this way,

“The real need of our day is not simply health education — we have excellent information. What is needed is health information coupled with power to put it into practice, which is the power to change.” Dave Fiedler, D’Sozo (Remnant Publications), Foreword

Dr. Tim Howe says,

“Health education alone is not medical missionary work. Health education does not provide healing any more than the law of God provides salvation. To realize health or salvation the transforming power of God must be experienced.” Dave Fiedler, D’Sozo (Remnant Publications), Foreword

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. How do you take care of something very valuable and important given by someone you care?

2. Why does God want you to be healthy?

3. What are you lacking the most, health information or power to change? How can you get each of them?

4. Think about simple steps you can implement this week about your health and lifestyle. (Remember, we have a health ministry in our church that can help you with more information! CLICK HERE.)

5. Let’s pray today saying to God that He is welcome in His temple, our body.

Personal Relationship to Christ

Jesus said,

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3 NKJV)

“Know” has a deeper meaning in the Bible than it does today in the English language. It means a complete, mutual and loving commitment. It is only present in a life with the Holy Spirit. This thought is expressed in the following quote,

“We must have a living connection with God. We must be clothed with power from on high by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, that we may reach a higher standard; for there is help for us in no other way.” Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, April 5, 1892

In the parable of the 10 virgins Jesus said to the foolish ones, “I do not know you.” What was the reason? The lack of oil, which represents the lack of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 25:1-13). The men, who crucified Jesus, had great knowledge of the Old Testament. But because of their false interpretation they didn’t look for a personal relationship with Jesus.

Righteousness by Faith

God’s last message to humanity in the three angels’ message has to do with the question of the proclamation of the “eternal gospel” (Revelation 14: 6-7),

“Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth — to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water’.”

What is the essence of this message that the whole world should and will hear?

It is righteousness by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9),

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Those who proclaim this last day message with power, must experience the power of the message themselves. They have to know and experience righteousness by faith through Jesus alone as the forgiver and redeemer from sin. This is only possible in a life filled with the Holy Spirit through which Jesus Christ who enables our obedience. Jesus dwelling in us is shown by obedience to all of God’s commands. The world will be illuminated with this message (Revelation 18:1),

“After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor.”

Love for the Truth

2 Thessalonians 2:10 NKJV says,

“... those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved”.

Those, who cannot be misled, have the love of truth in their hearts. How do we get this love? We can only have heavenly love when Jesus Christ lives in us through the Holy Spirit. Romans 5:5 says that the love in our hearts comes from the Holy Spirit. Eph 3:17 tells us that we will be “rooted and grounded in love” through the Holy Spirit. In John 16:13 the Holy Spirit is called “the Spirit of truth”. This shows us clearly that it is necessary to be a spiritual Christian in order to have a love for the truth. Do we have problems today with the love for the truth, to God’s word, to prophetic writings? Consider the times ahead of us,

“Only those who have been diligent students of the Scriptures and who have received the love of the truth will be shielded from the powerful delusion that takes the world captive... Are the people of God now so firmly established upon His word that they would not yield to the evidence of their senses?” Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy (1911), p.625

God doesn’t ask if we have discovered all truth, but rather He asks if we love the truth.

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. Are we aware that the generation of the last days, due to end time circumstances, will we need an intimate connection to God?

2. What is the essence of this message that the whole world should and will hear in Revelation 14:6,7?

3. What effects will be present in our lives today with or without a life filled with the Holy Spirit in reference to love for the truth, studying God’s word and implementing the truth in our lives?

4. In your opinion, what is the difference in between knowing the truth and loving the truth?

“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

The Holy Spirit brings His fruit and gifts. Let’s learn a little about it.

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

“The influence of the Holy Spirit is the life of Christ in the soul. We do not see Christ and speak to Him, but His Holy Spirit is just as near us in one place as in another. It works in and through every one who receives Christ. Those who know the indwelling of the Spirit reveal the fruit of the Spirit...” Editor Francis D. Nichol, Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, p.1112

The Bible gives us a couple of lists of the fruit of spiritual growth. The fruit of the Spirit is important because it indicates our progress and to show the results of His work. Here are some of those lists.

Galatians 5:22,23 NKJV,

• love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Ephesians 5:9 NKJV,

• all goodness, righteousness and truth.

Galatians 5:16-21 NKJV,

• shows us that the power of sin will be broken in us through the Holy Spirit.

“... walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” (see also Romans 7:23 + 8:1) “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS

“Under spiritual gifts we mean the gifts given by the working of the Holy Spirit as they are listed in 1 Corinthians 12:28 and Ephesians 4:11: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, miracle workers, healers, helpers, administrators, a variety of tongues. These gifts play a part in ‘the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry’. ... They validate the testimony of the church and give it leadership and guidance.” Hrsg. Gerhard Rempel, Schlüsselbegriffe adventistischer Glaubenslehre (Hamburg), S.44

The Holy Spirit also gives other talents for specific purposes: “in knowledge and in all manner of workmanship” (Exodus 31:2-6) or architecture (1 Chronicles 28:12, 19).

When we want to become Jesus’ disciples we surrender to Him everything we have and are. The result is that all our talents and abilities, inherent as well as learned, are placed at His disposal. God can give us additional talents and/or He can refine and purify our natural abilities.

Remember, if you lack in any of them, ask! God will take you BEYOND! Ephesians 3:20 NKJV says,

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. Can we have spiritual gifts when we have a lack of the Holy Spirit?

2. What is the “flavors” of the Fruit of the Spirit you can see being developed in your life?

3. Are you lacking in any of them? How can you ask for God to produce in you the fruit?

4. Remember to ask for the Father His wonderful gift, The Holy Spirit.

We have a worldwide democratic structure in the church. But it was never thought of as popular democracy. The real goal of our votes is that everyone personally listens to God’s voice and casts his vote accordingly. By listening to God’s voice it makes God’s will known through the vote. We certainly pray before taking part in any Board meeting. Often the opportunity is given before a vote is cast for personal prayer so that it becomes clear to each person how God wants them to vote. Nehemiah said,

“Then my God put it into my heart ...” (Nehemiah 7:5)

And Ellen G. White said about Nehemiah chapter 1,

“And as he prayed, a holy purpose had been forming in his mind ...” Ellen G. White, Southern Watchman (www.egwwritings.org), March 1, 1904

Will a carnal Christian hear God’s voice? If the person hasn’t consciously and completely surrendered to the Lord, then this person certainly won’t get an answer (See Psalm 66:18; Psalm 25:12).

If someone, who is a carnal person, votes sincerely to the best of the knowledge, then humanly speaking it is ok. But in the moment human agreements are made, it becomes manipulation and sin.

The leaders have a great influence on God’s work. It definitely makes a big difference and can have major consequences if brothers and sisters are leading who have been called by God or who have been chosen only by a human vote.

While reading a book on prayer I realized that we may ask God to show us the way we should go (Psalm 32:8). The quiet listening to God’s voice changes our whole life.

It is essential that we directly seek God’s counsel more and more in the last days.

Joel 2:28-29 indicates this,

“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.”

Ellen G. White comments,

“We must individually hear Him speaking to the heart. When every other voice is hushed, and in quietness we wait before Him, the silence of the soul makes more dis- tinct the voice of God. He bids us, ‘Be still, and know that I am God’ (Psalm 46:10).” Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages (1898), p.363

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. Why is it so hard to seek and listen to God’s voice?

2. One of communication problems is called noise or interference. What are yours?

3. How can you address the issue with the noises preventing you from having direct connection with God?

PRAYER AND BEING FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

It is important that we go on this journey through faith and that we ask with faith for the Holy Spirit. That means that after praying for the Holy Spirit we need to trust and be certain that the Lord has answered our prayer and that He has already given us the Holy Spirit while asking.

Galatians 3:14 NKJV says,

“... that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

Another translation (NIRV) says,

“... that we might receive the promise of the Holy Spirit by believing in Christ.”

God has given us a great help so that we can easily trust our heavenly Father. We call it “praying with promises”.

“To blot the promises of God from the Word would be like blotting the sun from the sky.... God has placed the promises in His Word to lead us to have faith in Him.” Ellen G. White, My Life Today, p.338

POSSIBILITIES AND IMPOSSIBILITIES

Here is a helpful example… Let’s assume that my child isn’t good in French at school. I want to encourage my child to work hard at French. I promise him that if he gets a good grade on his report card that he will receive $20 from me. The child starts to study hard. I also help him with French and he really does get a good grade. What happens now? When the child comes home from school and comes through the front door he calls loudly: “Dad, $20!” Why is he so certain that he will get $20? Because a promise had been made and he has fulfilled the requirements. In fact, this is normal for most people today.

But it could be that at that moment I don’t have $20.

Can it be that God doesn’t have something that He has promised? Impossible!

Or it could be that I take my promise back and say: “I read in a book on education that you shouldn’t use money to motivate children to study. So I can’t give you the $20.”

Does God change His mind later? Impossible!

We can see that when we have a promise from God and have fulfilled the requirements, then there is only one possibility: We receive the promise!

Through God’s promises He wants to encourage us to move in a certain direction. He bids us receive the Holy Spirit, which will give us God’s power in our lives. He wants to make it easy for us to trust Him. Trust is at the heart of faith.

BY FAITH

Now let’s read this key concept found in 1 John 5:14,15 NKJV for praying with promises,

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”

God gives a general promise that He answers prayers that are according to His will. God’s will is expressed in commandments and promises. We may rely on them in our prayers. Then in verse 15 it goes on to say,

“And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

Another translation (NIRV) says,

“If we know that God hears what we ask for, we know that we have it.”

What does that mean? Our prayers according to God’s will are answered in the same moment that we bring them to God. But emotionally we usually don’t notice anything. Our prayers are answered by faith, not by our feelings. The feelings will come later on.

In praying with nicotine and alcohol addicted people… At the moment when they pray for deliverance they don’t notice anything. They receive the answer by faith. But a few hours later they notice that they don’t have any craving for tobacco or alcohol anymore. At this moment they have received the practical answer to their prayer.

RECEIVE THE ANSWER

Jesus said in Mark 11:24 NKJV,

“Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”

Ellen G. White said,

“We need look for no outward evidence of the blessing. The gift is in the promise, and we may go about our work assured that what God has promised He is able to perform, and that the gift, which we already possess, will be realized when we need it most.” Ellen G. White, Education (1903), p.258

So we shouldn’t be searching for outward proof or an emotional experi- ence. Roger J. Morneau said,

“The spirits [demons] would encourage people to listen to their feelings instead of the word of Christ and His prophets. In no surer way could the spirits obtain control of people’s lives without the individuals realizing what was happening.” Roger J. Morneau, A Trip into the Supernatural, Review and Herald 1982, p.43

BEYOND

Praying with promises opens God’s treasury for us. Our loving heavenly Father opens an inexhaustible account for us – He will always go beyond!

“They (the disciples) may expect large things if they have faith in His promises.” Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages (1898), p.668

“... plead for the Holy Spirit. God stands behind of every promise He has made. With your Bibles in your hands, say: ‘I have done as Thou hast said. I present Thy promise, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.’ Christ declares: ‘What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.’ ‘Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.’ (Matthew 7:7; Mark 11:24; Joh 14:13)“ Ellen G. White, Testimony Treasure, vol.3, p.213

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. Why should you pray with promises?

2. Explain the importance of God’s faithfulness and immutability.

3. What can get on the way of not seeing God’s answers to our prayers?

4. God will always go beyond. What can you understand about Him though that?
   

“[1] The spiritual promises – for forgiveness of sin, for the Holy Spirit, for power to do His work – are always available (see Acts 2:38-39). But [2] the promises for temporal blessings, even for life itself, are given on occasion and withheld on occasion, as God’s providence sees best.” Morris L. Venden, 95 Theses on Righteousness by Faith, (Pacific Press 1987), p.60

A LITTLE DIFFERENT

Let’s look at a good example in Isaiah 43:2 NKJV,

“When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.”

God kept this promise in a wonderful way for the three friends in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3). But on the other hand, the reformers Hus and Jerome were burned at the stake in Constance.

We could say that their prayers weren’t answered.

But nevertheless, weren’t they answered in a fashion that we aren’t acquainted with? Why? A papal writer described the death of these martyrs as follows,

“Both bore themselves with constant mind when their last hour approached. They prepared for the fire as if they were going to a marriage feast. They uttered no cry of pain. When the flames rose, they began to sing hymns; and scarce could the vehemency of the fire stop their singing.” E.G. White, The Great Controversy, p.109

If someone is burned, they can only scream. Their behavior shows that God did intervene, just not in the manner which is readily visible for us – they were answered “a little different” than we can think it was the best way! This shows us that the temporal promises still have significance for us.

THANKING FOR THE ANSWER

Another important aspect, when our requests have been granted at the moment we asked, then it is right to thank God for the answer in the next.

Our thanks at this moment expresses our trust in God that He has answered our prayer and that we expect it to be fulfilled when we need it most.

Some believers notice something immediately after they pray. But for many believers it is similar to Elijah’s experience: The Lord wasn’t in the storm, in the earthquake or in the fire, but rather in the still, small voice (1 Kings 19:11-12).

If after a long period of time you think that nothing had happened but there will be a moment that you will notice that many things had taken place.

CHANGE MY THINKING

This means, it is necessary to change my thinking at this moment,

“... but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...” (Romans 12:2 NKJV)

Now it is correct to say,

Thank you that you answered my prayer.

Thank you for already granting my request.

Thank you that I will experience it at the right time.

This is not self-manipulation. With self-manipulation you are trying to persuade yourself. When you have prayed with a promise, then you have a divine basis for my changed thinking, because you have already been answered through faith.

In this case, if you don’t change your thinking, then you are showing God that you don’t trust Him, but rather you trust in your feelings – a feeling-oriented type of person.

This behavior places God in the position of a liar and will thus not receive anything. It is also important that I act accordingly, even when I don’t notice anything.

IT COMES DOWN TO TRUST

God always integrates the necessity to believe. He wants us to trust Him. Think about the crossing of the Jordan River. The priests first had to step into the water and then the water divided. Naaman had to dip in the water seven times before he was healed.

Maybe you are saying, “I can’t do that. I can’t even imagine doing that.”

Please remember that there are a lot of things we can’t explain. To this day, we don’t know what electricity is, although we all use it. To this day, we don’t know how children learn to talk. But they all learn it.

“In the natural world we are constantly surrounded with wonders beyond our comprehension. Should we then be surprised to find in the spiritual world also mysteries that we cannot fathom?” E.G. White, Education (1903), p.170

Let’s think about Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV,

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Here we find clear prerequisites from God for this promise of directing our paths.

Every prerequisite is also a commandment.

If we aren’t sure that we have fulfilled the prerequisite, then we may pray for willingness with the surety that the Lord will answer us immediately.

“...but if you are ‘willing to be made willing’, God will accomplish the work for you ...”  E.G. White, Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing (1896), p.142

Our prayer today (and every day from now on) should be,

“Lord, I believe… but if I don’t, help my unbelief.”

Trust!

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. What are the types of promises? Which one is the hardest to understand?

2. Do you remember a prayer you made and God answered a little different than what you asked? What were the lessons you learned after that?

3. When it comes down to trust, do you have a specific biblical promise you like to remember?

4. Why should we thank God in our prayers?

5. Use the search tools and find promises that you may be needing for the moment you are living.

ASK

The Lord has given us wonderful promises for receiving the Holy Ghost,

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Luke 11:13 NKJV

Hasn’t our heavenly Father made a binding commitment here? The requirement in this wonderful promise is, ask! Yet Jesus doesn’t mean asking one time, but making a constant appeal.

OBEDIENCE

However, it is important to see the context here. We should also read the other texts, which speak about the same thing, for example,

“And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” Acts 5:32 NKJV

The requirement here is, obedience! We can see here that we can’t support ourselves with only one text, we also have to consider the context of the promise. It doesn’t have to do with being obedient once with something that is pleasant for us. Rather, it has to do with obeying Him, our wonderful redeemer and friend. Obedience creates joy. Pray every morning for an obedient heart. Pray that the Lord will make you willing to do everything He wants and will help you accomplish it. This creates a good prerequisite.

DESIRE

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” John 7:37 NKJV

Here it has to do with the desire for the Holy Ghost. If you have no desire, or think you have too little, then you may pray for desire. It is a request according to God’s will, which will be immediately answered. When we ask our wonderful God He will create in us “the desire and the accomplishment”. We may also pray for the desire for a close relationship with God, to love Him with our whole hearts, to serve Him with joy, to have a growing desire for Jesus and His soon return and reunion in God’s kingdom, a desire to read God’s word and to learn from it, as well as the desire to help and be equipped to help save the lost.

BELIEVE

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive.” John 7: 38-39 NKJV

Here the condition is, belief! We see here that our faith in Jesus Christ, our trust in God, is an important prerequisite for receiving the Holy Ghost. But when we pray with promises, then believing is easy.

THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16 NKJV

We actually have a promise here, which is expressed as a command. When God wants me to walk in the Spirit, then that clearly means that He wants to fill me with the Holy Ghost. And He shows us here that when we are filled with the Holy Ghost, then we aren’t at the mercy of our lusts anymore. The Holy Ghost [1] breaks the power of sin in us (Romans 8:1-17, especially v.2). Through the Holy Ghost [2] “the deeds of our body” are put to death (Romans 8:13).

Think of Paul, who said about himself,“I die daily.” It is something tremendously valuable not to be at the mercy of the works of the body (Galatians 5:18-21), but rather to grow the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

We can compare sin not being able to invade our lives to the assembly of binoculars. In order for no dust to get into the lenses the room has to be accordingly over-pressurized. This means that the air moves outwards when the door is opened. No dust can enter. In the same way, when we are filled with the Holy Ghost, “you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh”.

SPRING IS HERE

“That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love... that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:16-17&19 NKJV

Maybe we don’t notice any of the power for a long time. It could be like it is in nature. In the winter the trees are bare and in spring green. There are tremendous power at work in this revitalization. But we can’t see or hear them. But then we see the results.

Thank God that He gives us abundant power.

Another example: We have known for a few decades that we have electric currents in our bodies. They are there. But we aren’t aware of them.

Ephesians 5:18 NKJV, “...be filled with the Spirit” or “let yourself be continually and repeatedly refilled with the Spirit”. Johannes Mager, Auf den Spuren des Heiligen Geistes, (Lüneburg, 1999), Seite 101

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me ...” Acts 1:8 NKJV

The disciples had the commission to wait until the power came. They didn’t wait idly.

“The disciples prayed with intense earnestness for a fitness to meet men in their daily intercourse to speak words that would lead sinners to Christ. Putting away all differences, all desire for supremacy, they came closer in Christian fellowship.” EGW, Acts of the Apostles, p.37

ASK. BE OBEDIENT. DESIRE. BELIEVE. THE WORK OF TEH SPIRIT. SPRING IS HERE.

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. Why do you think we have the best qualification to receive the Holy Spirit?

2. Which is the hardest and why, to ask, be obedient, desire or to believe?

3. We have “electrical” power available through the Holy Spirit. What should we do with that power?

Father in heaven,

I come to you in the name of Jesus our Savior. You said: Give me your heart. (Proverbs 23:26) I want to do that now by submitting myself to you today with everything I am and have.

Thank you that you have already answered this prayer according to Your will, because Your Word says that if we pray according to Your will we know that we have already received it (1 John 5:15). And you also said that you would by no means cast anyone out who comes to you (John 6:37).

Jesus told to His disciples that,

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.” Luke 11:13

You further said that you would give the Holy Ghost to those, who believe in you (John 7:38-39), who obey you (Acts 5:32), who let themselves be renewed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) and who walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). This is my desire. Please accomplish this in me. For this reason I sincerely ask you Father to give me the Holy Ghost today. Since it is a request according to Your will, I thank You that have given me the Holy Ghost now (1 John 5:15).

Thank You that I have received Your divine love at the same time, because Your word says, “The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 5:5; Ephesians 3:17) I want to say with the psalmist, “I will love You, O Lord, my strength.” (Psalm 18:1) Thank you that I can love my fellow human beings with Your love.

Thank You that through the Holy Ghost the power of sin has been broken in me (Romans 8:13, Galatians 5:16). Please save and protect me today from sin and from the world, give me protection from the fallen angels, save me from temptations and when necessary snatch me and save me from my old corrupt nature. (1 John 5:18)

And please help me to be Your witness in word and deed (Acts 1:8). I praise You and thank You for hearing my prayer.

In Jesus name,

Amen.

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. What would you add or take away from this prayer?

2. How would you make it your own?

3. Write your own prayer.

CAN A PERSON REMAIN SPIRITUAL?

Yes! When we don’t allow an attitude of unbelief to develop and we breathe spiritually, “exhaling” by confessing our sins and “inhaling” by making use of God’s love and forgiveness and by renewing our prayer of faith to be filled with the Holy Ghost.

It is like the relationship to our children. When a child was disobedient, it still remains our child. We can feel a disruption in the relationship. The child may not be able to look us in the eye. But the disruption can be corrected by confessing and forgiving.

ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED?

But a person can naturally become carnal again in the long-run. The Bible doesn’t speak about “once saved, always saved”. Our sinful nature is still existent. A good reminder is that,

“None of the apostles and prophets ever claimed to be without sin.” E.G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p.561

But through a life with the Holy Ghost and with Jesus in our hearts the power of sin is broken so that we can live a happy and strong Christian life.

Our righteousness is only in Jesus Christ “... who became for us wisdom from God – and righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30 NKJV).

If we have become carnal again by a lengthy neglect of the spiritual life or by the failure to breathe spiritually, then we can know that a compassionate redeemer is waiting for us.

It is important that we know the way that we can be renewed by God’s grace and hopefully lead a spiritual life forever. No one need to remain carnal.

WHAT IS THE EFFORT WE NEED?

Remember both personally and in general what Randy Maxwell said,

“Do we think that the resuscitation of God’s church from near spiritual death can be accomplished without effort?” If My People Pray (Pacific Press,1995), p. 158

The abundant life here and eternal life, the salvation of many people and our thanks for Jesus’ great sacrifice is worth the effort. The crucial thing is meeting our Lord in the morning for worship. It is here that He equips us with power.

We read the following about the apostle John:

“Day by day his heart was drawn out toward Christ, until he lost sight of self in love for his Master. His resentful, ambitious temper was yielded to the molding power of Christ. The regenerating influence of the Holy Spirit renewed his heart. The power of the love of Christ wrought a transformation of character. This is the sure result of union with Jesus. When Christ abides in the heart, the whole nature is transformed.” E.G. White, Steps to Christ, p.73

OUR PRAYER

Like the psalmist, we can also pray,

“Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from your law.” (Psalms 119:18 NKJV) Thank You for leading me and I can say, “I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure.” (Psalms 119:162 NKJV)

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. Why do we MUST breathe spiritually? Is there a way you can do it more effectively?

2. How do deal with our sinful nature that wants to come and take over again?

3. The apostle John had a huge change in his life. What was his “secret”? How can you achieve a renovation of heart and transformation of character like him?

In this short parable about the leaven, Jesus speaks of the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit. When you first read the parable, you don’t even think it could have something to do with the Holy Spirit.

Leaven, or yeast, is used in baking different kinds of bread. When it is added to flour, it starts a fermentation process that makes the dough softer and lighter. In this way it is made more enjoyable to human taste.

Jesus wants to make certain principles of God’s kingdom clear to us through this illustration. The leaven represents a marvelous process in us, which starts very small but then has an astonishing end, as the parable says: “till it was all leavened.” Jesus wants to grow His selfless love in us in place of our egoism.

FROM US TO THE WORLD

In one sense of this parable, Jesus wants to show the influence of the gospel on the world. Even though the gospel started out small, it will permeate the whole world in the end. In another sense, Jesus is showing us how God’s life-changing power works in us through the Holy Spirit. He says in Luke 17:20,21,

“The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.” (NIV)

For the people of the first century, the kingdom of God was in their midst through the person of Jesus. Today, the kingdom of God begins in our lives when we receive Jesus as our Savior and Lord. When we remain in Him and He remains in us, then at Jesus’ second coming the visible kingdom will begin for us. Right now, we want to look at the development of the kingdom of God within us by the in-dwelling of Jesus.

He can only live in us through the Holy Spirit.

The changing power works quietly

The “leaven is used to represent the kingdom of heaven. It illustrates the quickening, assimilating power of the grace of God… The change can be made only by the Holy Spirit.” Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p.96

Here it has to do with an inner power that pervades everything and can completely change us. In this way, God wants to positively change our character through the Holy Spirit.

The Bible tells us that the first era of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in biblical times was sometimes accompanied by audible and visible indications. But character change within us happens quietly — provided that we are filled with the Holy Spirit. And then we suddenly discover that a positive change has taken place in us.

“The leaven hidden in the flour works invisibly to bring the whole mass under its leavening process; so the leaven of truth works secretly, silently, steadily, to transform the soul. The natural inclinations are softened and subdued. New thoughts, new feelings, new motives, are implanted. A new standard of character is set up — the life of Christ. The mind is changed; the faculties are roused to action in new lines. Man is not endowed with new faculties, but the faculties he has are sanctified. The conscience is awakened. We are endowed with traits of character that enable us to do service for God.” Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p.98,99

Why does God change us so quietly, so imperceptibly until we see the result?

A quiet time is necessary for change just as nature goes through when it revives from winter. Strong plants such as oaks grow very slowly. Does God tests us in this way to see if we really have a desire for the Holy Spirit? Does He test our faith? Yes. And He wants to give us a fruitful life (see John 15:1–8; Galatians 5:22).

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. How does the parable about the leaven impacts your life? What are the main lessons inside this short parable?

2. Why does God work quietly?

3. How do you know God is at work in your life? What is the role of the fruit of the Spirit?

Jesus once said,

“For without Me you can do nothing!” John 15:5

Shouldn’t we consider Jesus’ words about such an important issue?

Jesus shows us here that we need a power that comes from outside of us for character change. Knowing that we have limitations, specially to change our own character – yesterday’s reading should remind us that,

“Man cannot transform himself by the exercise of his will. He possesses no power by which this change can be effected. The leaven — something wholly from without — must be put into the meal before the desired change can be wrought in it.” Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p.96.

DAILY TRANSFORMED BY THE INFLUENCE OF THE SPIRIT

“In order that we may have the righteousness of Christ, we need daily to be transformed by the influence of the Spirit, to be a partaker of the divine nature. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to elevate the taste, to sanctify the heart, to ennoble the whole person.” Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, vol. 1, p.374.

The important advice from Jesus is completely the opposite of what is usually taught today. Whether in humanism or esotericism, human philosophy or some areas of pedagogy, the message is that the power for us to develop is within ourselves. It only has to be awakened by this or that method. “Self-realization” is often talked about. The apostle Paul said about himself, and it applies to us all,

“For I know that in me ... nothing good dwells” Romans 7:18

Under these conditions, what would be the result of self-realization? We can read about it in 2 Timothy 3:1,

“There will be terrible times in the last days” (NIV).

Egoism reigns in our days.

For us it doesn’t have to do with self-realization but rather with Christ-realization. Someone noticed it, saying, “I have found my self-realization in Christ.”

The Holy Spirit living in us produces the changes we all need.

HELP IS COMING

Of ourselves we have no power to change our character. It has to come from outside. That is why Jesus so clearly called our attention in Luke 11:9–13 to the fact that we should ask for the Holy Spirit — continually,

9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to givegood gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Luke 11:9-13 NKJV

During Jesus’ time here on this earth, He was daily refilled with the Holy Spirit. For us it is even more essential.

God wants to daily give us through the Holy Spirit. He is wonderful and wants to hug us every morning, just like a married couple hugs every morning (or at least should!)

“All the culture and education which the world can give will fail of making a degraded child of sin a child of heaven. The renewing energy must come from God. The change can be made only by the Holy Spirit. All who would be saved, high or low, rich or poor, must submit to the working of this power.” Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, pp.96,97

Winston Churchill, prime minister in Great Britain during World War II, is supposed to have said, “We have gained control of everything with one exception: people.” People cannot be radically changed by human influence alone. For this to happen, a power from out of this world is necessary. It has to do with the power of God, which can only effectively work in us through the Holy Spirit.

God’s Word tells us that the inward man is being renewed day by day,

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16 NKJV

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. What was Jesus affirming when He said that “without Me you can do nothing!” ?

2. Why cannot self-realization complete the “job” of transforming our characters?

3. What is the help God wants to send? Why is it so important in our days?

The Holy Spirit begins His work inside

Another important lesson Jesus taught in the parable about the leaven is that when we have the leavening effect of the Holy Spirit, we will begin to do things differently from the inside out,

“As the leaven, when mingled with the meal, works from within outward, so it is by the renewing of the heart that the grace of God works to transform the life. No mere external change is sufficient to bring us into harmony with God. There are many who try to reform by correcting this or that bad habit, and they hope in this way to become Christians, but they are beginning in the wrong place. Our first work is with the heart.

A profession of faith and the possession of truth in the soul are two different things.

The mere knowledge of truth is not enough.

We may possess this, but the tenor of our thoughts may not be changed. The heart must be converted and sanctified. The man who attempts to keep the commandments of God from a sense of obligation merely — because he is required to do so — will never enter into the joy of obedience. He does not obey. When the requirements of God are accounted a burden because they cut across human inclination, we may know that the life is not a Christian life. True obedience is the outworking of a principle within.” Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p.97

REVIVAL ADVANCE

As the revival advances in us, what we think and do and say arises from the Holy Spirit’s work. Others will see the difference in how we live. Ralph Luther comments,

“Jesus vigorously objected to acknowledging faith that is a mere inner religious attitude, which leaves practical life unchanged at the root.” Ralph Luther, Neutestamentliches Wörterbuch, S. 71, quoted in O. S. von Bibra, Der Name Jesus (Wuppertal, 1964), S.98.

In the book The Desire of Ages we read,

“The Holy Spirit is the breath of spiritual life in the soul. The impartation of the Spirit is the impartation of the life of Christ. It imbues the receiver with the attributes of Christ. Only those who are thus taught of God, those who possess the inward working of the Spirit, and in whose life the Christ-life is manifested, are to stand as representative men, to minister in behalf of the church.” Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p.805

In summary, Jesus taught us the following about the Holy Spirit,

• The life-changing power of the Holy Spirit works in us imperceptibly. We

  often just notice the results.

• The changing power in our life has to come from outside of ourselves.

• The changing power starts in our hearts and then works outward.

Jesus’ last words: Listen to the Holy Spirit

Do you know what the last words are that Jesus spoke from His glory in heaven to the end-time church? “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 3:22) Jesus calls each of us to listen to the Holy Spirit, and that is what we want to do.

Change me!

Can Jesus really change me? Let’s take a beautiful painting as an example. Its value doesn’t come from the quality of material used. Only a little paint, sometimes even of low quality, in the hand of an expert can be transformed into a valuable painting. Likewise, we have a sinful nature, “low-quality” material. It is only important that this “material” is being worked on by a great artist. Jesus wants to do this, and He is able to do it. He can form you and me into something that honors Him. Completely commit yourself daily into His hands and ask in faith for the Holy Spirit. You will be amazed at what He can do for you, in you, and through you.

An old man sat on London Bridge and was playing his violin. There were only a few coins in his hat. A man walked past him but then returned and said to the man: “Give me your violin for a moment.” He started to play so beautifully that more and more people stopped to listen. It even caused chaos in the traffic. The man’s name was Niccolò Paganini, the famous violinist.

It is your choice if you want to play first violin in your life or if you want to place your life in the hands of the great Master – Jesus Christ!

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. Why does the Holy Spirit start on the inside?

2. Have you noticed the work of the Holy Spirit in your life?

3. Jesus’ last request to His church was to hear the Holy Spirit. Think/Write about the area of your life you want the Holy Spirit to touch now.

What does the Bible say about surrender?

Romans 6:13 says,

“Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness” (NIV).

According to this text, surrender means to yield yourself to God and to place yourself at His disposal.

Hanna W. Smith, a Christian author, comments on this text as follows,

“To surrender something means as much as to hand over something, to give something into the possession and administration of someone else. To surrender ourselves to the Lord means the same thing. Subsequently, the Lord has the power of control and ownership of us. This means renunciation of ourselves and surrender of our self.” Hanna W. Smith, Christsein täglich (To Be a Christian Daily) (Asslar, 1994), p.38

Another important verse in Romans says,

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship” Romans 12:1 (NIV)

What reason does this text give for surrendering our lives to God? “The mercies of God.”

Surrender is our answer to a God of mercy, a God of love.

THE MEANING OF BIBLICAL SURRENDER

Surrender means completely placing ourselves in God’s hands, being at His disposal, giving our lives to Him as a sacrifice, not as an Old Testament sacrifice that was burnt, but as a living sacrifice that lives for Him from the moment of surrender.

When we look back at our life, we can say that before our surrender it seemed to that surrendering was a sacrifice. Later, we realize that it wasn’t a sacrifice, but rather it was an infinite blessing.

Johannes Mager comments,

“Surrender, abandonment, commitment, being entirely at God’s disposal — these are serious, but uplifting terms. Surrender has nothing to do with emotions or moods. It means to give ourselves to the One we love.” Johannes Mager, Unser größtes Bedürfnis (Our Greatest Need) (Lüneburg, 2011), S. 47, 48.

THE RESULT

2 Corinthians 5:15 says what is the result of surrendering to God,

“Christ died for everyone. He died so that those who live should not live for themselves anymore. They should live for Christ. He died for them and was raised again.” (NIRV)

Surrender means living for Jesus – to live for Jesus does not merely mean serving Him full time, but rather,

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” Colossians 3:17, NIV

Charles T. Studd said,

“If Jesus Christ is God and died for me, then no sacrifice is too great for me to bring to Him.” Norman B. Grubb, Charles Studd, Kein Opfer zu groß (No Sacrifice Is Too Great), “Introduction.”

This man practiced what he said. He was a top athlete in England. When he became a Christian, he gave up his career, donated his millions to a missionary society, and went to China as a missionary, later to India, and finally to Africa. The missionary society he founded is still active with 1,800 missionaries working worldwide. He surrendered his life to Jesus.

JESUS IS OUR EXAMPLE & THE BENEFITS

An essential fact should not be overlooked. Surrender is not a one-sided affair. Jesus gave Himself to us first – He is our example!

He gave us everything that God could give, and He invites us to give everything that we can give. It is a matter of everything for everything. But there is a world of difference between God’s everything and my everything. Even so, nobody can give more or less than everything.

There are several benefits of surrendering,

• Surrender leads to a marvelous relationship with Jesus and the Father. (You will abide in Him — John 14:23; Jesus will manifest Himself to you — John 14:21).

• Through surrender we come to a knowledge of truth. (John 7:17 — If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know... ESV)

• Through surrender we gain great power in prayer. (1 John 3:22 — Whatever we ask for, we will receive.)

• Surrender is the way to perfect joy. (John 15:11 — Your joy may be full.)

• Surrender is the key to an abundant life. (John 10:10; Ephesians 3:19.)

• Surrender is the foundation so that God can work through my life. (John 7:38 — rivers of living water; John 14:12 — greater works; John 15:4, 5 —

  much fruit.)

• Satan is denied access to those who are surrendered to God. (1 John 5:18 – the wicked one does not touch him, except under God’s specific permission, as in the case of Job. All things work together for good and are never more than what we are able to bear.)

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. What does biblical surrender mean?

2. Do I lose myself surrendering to Christ? What is the result?

3. If we follow Jesus’ example, our generous God will give us many benefits. Which of the benefits touches your life the most today?

Dean Kelly wrote about five levels of surrender,

• Giving money is the lowest level of surrender.

• Next is the surrender of time.

• Then comes the surrender of our power and skills, our service.

• After that, the surrender of all our fears and hopes, which includes everything mentioned before.

• The surrender of our whole being, which means completely surrendering our will and life to Jesus.

  (Dean M. Kelley, “How Adventism Can Stop Growing,” Ministry, February 1983, p.4)

The last point describes real surrender.

It’s wonderful when we surrender ourselves to our heavenly Father, because we trust in His love and do not let things go so far as the prodigal son did in Jesus’ parable. He capitulated when he hit rock bottom in his life, and only then did he decide to go back home. As he came close to his parents’ house, his father came to meet him and wrapped his arms around him. He fully accepted him as his son. Only then did the son clearly comprehend his father’s love. This turned his capitulation into a surrender of love.

A tragic incident

The following incident occurred in France and helps illustrate this.

The wife of a rich Frenchman confided a secret to someone. She was carrying a small bottle of poison in her hand. She was planning to take her life because of difficulties in her marriage. She said, “Just yesterday I complained to my husband, but he answered in surprise and bewilderment: ‘What more do you want? You have my checkbook [meaning that she had his money at her disposal], you own my house, you eat at my table. Everything that prosperity and rank can offer you belongs to you, and yet you complain?’ I told him,” the woman continued, “‘I want your heart, I want you to love me.’ And he exclaimed, ‘You can’t have that. You know that my heart belongs to another woman. Everything I own is yours, but my heart, my love, it is impossible for you to demand that from me.’” Oswald Smith, The Man God Uses (New York: The Christian Alliance Publishing Company, 1925), p.26

No one who loves someone would be happy with such an answer. The woman didn’t care how much her husband owned. What did matter to her was him as a person.

“Our great Lord does not want something from me. He wants me. Jesus doesn’t want part of my time or part of my assets, nor of my talents or abilities.” Johannes Mager, Unser größtes Bedürfnis (Our Greatest Need) (Lüneburg, Werner E. Lange, 2011), S.48

He wants me, because He loves me and wants to make me happy.

We ought to surrender ourselves; we ought to hand over our self with everything we have and everything we are. We ought to surrender ourselves to the care, leadership, direction, and will of God. This is our reasonable service that Romans 12:1 calls us to.

When the Word of God says about complete surrender, “[This] is your rea- sonable service,” then it can only mean that surrender to God is the most rea- sonable thing we can do. What is more reasonable than to put our case into the hands of a skillful physician when we are sick? What is more reasonable than to entrust ourselves to an experienced guide when we are lost?

Complete surrender is not a loss, but rather a huge asset. Compared with God, I am poor, foolish, and helpless. Wouldn’t it be sensible to place myself in God’s hands? I should trust the One who created me, who wanted me to be, who loves me and can care for all my needs. Through our surrender, God’s infinite love and power are on our side. This is entering a life led by God.

Our complete surrender is the beginning of a more abundant life (John 10:10) that Jesus wants to give us. And this surrender also brings victory over evil, as Revelation 12:11 affirms: “And they overcame him [1] by the blood of the Lamb and [2] by the word of their testimony, and [3] they did not love their lives to death.” This shows that complete surrender is necessary to overcome sin and Satan, and that this is the best thing we can do.

In Christ’s Object Lessons, we read the following:

“Let no one say, I cannot remedy my defects of character. If you come to this decision, you will certainly fail of obtaining everlasting life. The impossibility lies in your own will. If you will not, then you cannot overcome. The real difficulty arises from the corruption of an unsanctified heart, and an unwillingness to submit to the control of God.” Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p.331

“To Jesus, who emptied Himself for the salvation of lost humanity, the Holy Spirit was given without measure. So it will be given to every follower of Christ when the whole heart is surrendered for His indwelling.” Ellen G. White, Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing (Nampa, ID: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1999), p.20

TO THINK AND MEDITATE THROUGH THE DAY

• The Holy Spirit lived in Jesus without measure.

• He desires for us to live in complete surrender so that the Holy Spirit can live in us to the same extent.

• For this reason, Jesus gave the command, “Be filled with the Spirit.” In the original Greek text, this means, “Let yourself be continually and repeatedly filled with the Holy Spirit” (see Ephesians 5:18).

• His object is that we will have life more abundantly (see John 10:10; Colossians 2:10).

It is Christmas Day! Not that we believe the date is the day Jesus was born. But never allow the discussion about the date to distract you of the wonderful fact that Jesus was born!

Being a Christian means allowing Jesus to find a place in our hearts, every day.

Remain in Christ

“Religion means the abiding of Christ in the heart.” Ellen G. White, The Review and Herald, May 24, 1892, par.4

“It is through the Spirit that Christ dwells in us; and the Spirit of God, re- ceived into the heart by faith, is the beginning of the life eternal.” Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p.388

Note the following:

• Through the Holy Spirit, Christ lives in us.

• We receive the Holy Spirit by faith.

• This is the beginning of eternal life.

The knowledge that Jesus wants to live in me through the Holy Spirit, and actually does when I am filled with the Holy Spirit, is very valuable to me. This is a wonderful biblical truth.

Jesus not only wants to have intimate fellowship with us by living in us through the Holy Spirit, but He also desires consistency and a deepening of our relationship with God. He says,

“Abide in Me, and I in you” John 15:4

This is a wonderful invitation and, at the same time, a command. This means that a consistent Christian life is possible through God’s power.

Jesus emphasizes the term abide eleven times in John 15:1–17. He wants us to have a lasting relationship with Him. He connects splendid and incredible promises with this idea.

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” John 15:7

“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:11

Ellen White clarifies Jesus’ appeal to “abide in Me, and I in you”,

“Abiding in Christ means [1] a constant receiving of His Spirit, [2] a life of unreserved surrender to His service.” Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p.676

Elsewhere she says,

“A connection with the divine agency every moment is essential to our progress. We may have had a measure of the Spirit of God, but by prayer and faith we are continually to seek more of the Spirit… He [Jesus] will live through them, giving them the inspiration of His sanctifying Spirit, imparting to the soul a vital transfusion of Himself.” Ellen G. White, Ye Shall Receive Power (Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 2012), October 24, pp.305-306.

We may see David’s prayer as a promise for ourselves: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Ps 51:10)

MERRY CHRISTMAS, MAY OUR HEARTS BE THE MANGER JESUS WILL ABIDE.

OIL AND SPIRITUAL POVERTY

A famous oil field in Texas is called Yates Pool. During the American economic crisis, a man named Yates had a sheep ranch. He was not able to earn enough money with sheep farming to pay his debts. Then men from an oil company came and informed him that they thought they might find an oil deposit on his property. The company proposed doing a trial drilling, and so Yates signed a contract.

At about 1,200 feet deep, the drill found a huge oil deposit. And it all belonged to Mr. Yates! On the day he had purchased the land, he had also received the right to any oil or any other natural resources on it. He didn’t realize that he was a multimillionaire living in poverty. What was the problem? He didn’t know about the existence of the oil. (Story found in Dr. William R. Bright, Erfüllt mit dem Heiligen Geist—Wie erfährt man das? (Neuhausen, 1971), S.27)

Do you know what is written in 2 Peter 1:3,4?

“His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (KJV).

The rest of the verse could be translated as follows, through an intimate relationship with Jesus, and while in this relationship, praying with the “exceeding great and precious promises” (KJV).

CHILDREN AND HEIRS

At the moment we, by faith in Christ, become the children of God, we also become God’s heirs, and all His resources are at our disposal. Everything we need in order to be men and women of God and fruitful witnesses for Christ — including wisdom, love, and strength — is at our disposal. However, many Christians live in spiritual poverty, because they do not know how to make use of the spiritual riches which God has already bestowed on them! Like Mr. Yates before oil was discovered on his property, they live in ignorance of their unlimited possessions.

And what does that mean?

“Without this connection, no man can be saved. Without the life of Christ in us, we cannot withstand the storms of temptation. Our eternal safety depends upon our building upon the sure foundation. Multitudes are today building upon foundations that have not been tested. When the rain falls, and the tempest rages, and the floods come, their house will fall, because it is not founded upon the eternal Rock, the chief cornerstone Christ Jesus.” Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, pp. 599, 600

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. Why will someone live in spiritual poverty?

2. Which one would you choose, wisdom, love or strength?

3. Now, knowing that all God’s resources are at your disposal, does it change the way you see/manage life? What about your prayers, should they change?

We need strength every day. A life full of strength brings us joy. Our wonderful Lord wants us to have abundant strength in our lives. This strength for the inner person is provided by the Holy Spirit.

It is necessary to consecrate ourselves daily to Jesus and to pray daily for the Holy Spirit – praying with promises we can be sure to receive the Holy Spirit as soon as we ask.

Christ in us

What comes next, according to Ephesians 3:17?

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith” (KJV).

Are we sufficiently aware of this marvelous truth?

When we live with the Holy Spirit, then it is a fact that Jesus lives in our hearts. We can neither feel nor measure this. We have to believe it. If you believe this, then speak to Him now and again, and tell Him: “Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You dwell in my heart.” Or, “Lord, I am so glad You live in me.”

Andrew Murray says,

“In this way Jesus takes you into fellowship with Him with the objective that His life becomes part of your life.” Andrew Murray, Bleibe in Jesus (Remain in Jesus) (Leun, 2012), S.149

Ellen White adds to this idea saying that,

“The influence of the Holy Spirit is the life of Christ in the soul.” Francis D. Nichol, ed., Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, p.1112

And,

“…in the plan of restoring in men the divine image, it was provided that the Holy Spirit should move upon human minds, and be as the presence of Christ, a molding agency upon human character.” Ellen G. White, Ye Shall Receive Power, February 8; p.47

And also,

“A healthy Christian is one who has Christ formed within, the hope of glory [Colossians 1:27].”  Ellen G. White, Ye Shall Receive Power, February 8; February 4; p.43.

The text says that Christ dwells in our hearts by faith.

Trust is the foundation of faith.

It is a matter of entrusting our whole life to Jesus — our first basic surrender of our lives and then, consequently, the daily surrender to Jesus Christ.

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. How are you going to invite Jesus into your heart every day?

2. What is the connection in between the presence of the Holy Spirit and Christ abiding in the heart of a person? How can it be achieved?

3. As Jesus takes His place in our hearts, what does change?

What connection do faith and feelings have?

God’s Word says,

“That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love.” Ephesians 3:16,17

We are being filled by the Holy Spirit for the indwelling of Jesus Christ in our hearts, and this should take place through faith. Jesus said,

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38

It is necessary that we always carefully pay attention to this. Why? The core of faith is trust. I trust what Jesus has said. He said of His Father,

“Your word is truth” John 17:17

Ellen White said, “Faith plants itself on the promises of God, and claims them as surety that he will do just as he said he would.” Ellen G. White, The Signs of the Times, May 22, 1884, par.3

Trusting God means relying on His Word. This is the foundation of a strong faith, not trusting in our feelings. Our feelings have their place but it cannot occupy the place of our faith/trust.

WHAT DO I DO WITH MY FEELINGS?

How is it when I act according to my feelings? Then I am trusting in something in myself. Roger J. Morneau, whom God saved from Satan’s church, opens our eyes,

“The [demonic] spirits would encourage people to listen to their feelings instead of the word of Christ and His prophets. In no surer way could the spirits obtain control of people’s lives without the individuals realizing what was happening.” Roger J. Morneau, A Trip Into the Supernatural, (Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1999), p.43

We are not searching for a mystical-emotional experience.

We don’t need to “trash” our feelings but they are far from being trustworthy. If you would listen to your feelings you would almost never workout or even keep a diet that is compatible with longevity! Faith has a lot to do with trusting in the process or doing what is right because it is right, and not because “I’m feeling like doing it”.

TRUST IN GOD’S WORD AND PROMISES

Faith means trusting in God and His Word, upholding the Bible as binding for our lives and not merely an ingredient or garnish. Many argue that we cannot obey God’s Word in our own strength. That is true for carnal Christians. But whoever lives with the Holy Spirit has Jesus in their hearts and is equipped to obey God’s Word. Romans 8:4 says,

“That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

DEEPER EXPERIENCE

Trusting God and experiencing how His promises are fulfilled in our lives will strengthen our faith in Him and gives us deep roots in His love. Ultimately this love of God satisfies the deepest needs of our hearts. It is like a small child in his father’s arms experiencing comfort and safety. The child’s feelings can change since he is still immature. But when the child’s feelings change, this doesn’t automatically change the father’s love. As we mature in God’s love, we realize that our superficial feelings cannot give us any certainty about our relationship with God. Our feelings are unreliable because they are unstable. Our assurance comes from our trust in God and His constant Word.

We don’t need to desperately search for empty feelings. When Christ lives in us through the Holy Spirit, then the fruit of the Spirit will increasingly develop in us. These are gifts of deeper emotions from the Holy Spirit. Joy has a clear part there,

“The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

In a life of faith, joy will not come up short, but rather will be strong in us through our life with God.

It is crucial for us to differentiate between discipleship by trusting God and discipleship by feelings. The great tempter will show us wonderful things, even about Jesus, but behind this revelation is enticement through feelings and mysticism. It will go so far that people will seem to have wonderful “faith experiences” and come to completely rely on their feelings instead of God’s Word. They may even think that they don’t need God’s Word, since they see themselves as spirit-led through their emotional experiences. Jesus’ words spoke clearly against this in Matthew 7:21–23,

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven [according to His Word]. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”

Don’t rely on your feelings. Listen to God’s Word – like the song used to say,

Trust and obey, for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey.

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. How to deal with the duality faith and feelings?

2. Why do demons encourage people to listen to their feelings instead of God’s word?

3. How God’s work can provide a better platform for us to understand and deal with our feelings?

Let’s read Ephesians 3:18,

“…may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height.”

The first part says, “[That you] may be able to comprehend with all the saints.” What should we comprehend? Just what the previous verse explained, the secret that Christ lives in us (through the Holy Spirit) and thereby our lives are being changed, because we are rooted and established in the love of God. That is the secret of Jesus Christ developing His character in us.

Dennis Smith, who wrote extensively about the work of the Holy Spirit says,

“The truth about ‘being in Christ’ and ‘Jesus in us’ is so simple and yet so difficult to comprehend that most Christians have not fully understood it.” Dennis Smith, Spirit Baptism and Abiding in Christ (2010), p.12

Paul says in Colossians 1:25,26,

“I have become its servant by the com- mission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness — the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people.” (NIV)

Here comes the question of today, What secret? And the answer can be found on verse 27, which says,

“To whom [the saints] God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (KJV)

THE MYSTERY IS REVEALED

The mystery hid for ages and now revealed is that Jesus Himself wants to live in us through the Holy Spirit. The text says that this is our hope of glory. This means that the fullness of life that God wants for our present life, and at the same time bestows us with eternal life, is thus guaranteed.

Ellen White expands on this secret, called “Christ in you,” the hope for glory (Colossians 1:27), as follows,

“A knowledge of this mystery furnishes a key to every other. It opens to the soul the treasures of the universe, the possibilities of infinite development.” Ellen G. White, Education (Nampa, ID: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 2002), p.172

The Bible often uses expressions such as “Christ in you” and similar terms such as “in Christ,” “in Him,” “in the Lord,” and “in the beloved.” These expressions are used 170 times in the New Testament. For example, this expression is the key word in Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians. Think about his testimony,

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which 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, NKJV

In Romans 15:18, he wrote,

“For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me.”

A few other important Bible verses says,

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” 2 Corinthians 2:14, NKJV

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV

The focus here is placed on the change of character by the fruit of the Spirit,

“Created in Christ Jesus for good works” Ephesians 2:10, NKJV

“But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in Him. By this we know that we are in Him.” 1 John 2:5, NKJV

“God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:3,4

If we look in a concordance, we find many such valuable texts under the key words “in Christ,” “in the beloved,” “in the Lord,” “in Him” (Christ).

“in Christ” or “outside Christ”

E. Stanley Jones has said,

“Paul... focuses on the phrase ‘in Christ’ and uses it 97 times in his letters... With great care He realized that these two words divide humankind into two groups, ‘in Christ’ and ‘outside Christ’... Who ‘is in Christ’ is ‘in life‚’ and who is ‘outside Christ’ is ‘in death.’” E. Stanley Jones, In Christ (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1961), p. 9; re-translated from German.

God revealed enough for us to understand the mystery of His love for humankind, demonstrated ultimately in Jesus Christ and imprinted in the human soul by His Spirit. Knowing that you have more on your side than against you… Understanding such unlimited love and mercies… Seeing the enormity of the sacrifice done for you… What is going to be your choice today?

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. What is the secret revealed?

2. Why would I want to have this secret as part of my life?

3. What can prevent me to be “in Christ”?

4. Seeing the importance of the human family for God, how that should move me to choose Jesus today?

CHRIST GIVES US WISDOM

“But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God — and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” 1 Corinthians 1:30

Christ is infinite source of wisdom for those who choose Him. The books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes – we could agree that they are books specialized in wisdom – says,

“For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.” Proverbs 8:11

“Then I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.” Ecclesiastes 2:13

Without being in Christ, we can be very intelligent but we can be very foolish at the same time.

Let us remember Adam and Eve. They were highly intelligent and acted very foolish as they acted self-determined instead of trusting God. My being ‘in Christ’ determines whether I am intelligent AND wise. “Wisdom makes one wise person more powerful than ten rulers in a city.” Ecclesiastes 7:19

Always keep the promise found in James 1:5 in mind,

“But if any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. He is generous to everyone and will give you wisdom without criticizing you.” NCV

CHRIST GIVES US HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS

Christ was righteous and He gave us His righteousness. This means that the righteousness lost at the fall of humankind (and because of our sins) can be regained through Him. A valuable text is Romans 8:3,4,

“God ... sending His own Son ... condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

Please note that the text says that righteousness is fulfilled through Jesus in those who walk in the Spirit. This is how Christ lives in us.

Dennis Smith wrote,

“Righteousness by faith has a justifying and sanctifying aspect. Righteousness means that God frees the believer from sin and the penalty and clothes the repentant sinner with Christ’s righteousness (complete obedience).” Dennis Smith, 40 Days: Prayers and Devotions to Revive Your Experience With God, book 2, p.18

That’s when the most marvelous trade takes place, Christ takes my guilt and gives me His righteousness. Through this trade we stand before the Father as if we had never sinned,

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12

By God’s grace we can walk through life free of guilt. Although we need to harvest the consequences of our choices, we can be sure of a new start. That’s what God’s grace offers us, Christ’s righteousness!

CHRIST WANTS TO MAKE US BETTER

Have you ever heard the word sanctification? What does it mean?

“True sanctification means perfect love, perfect obedience, perfect conformity to the will of God.” Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p.565

It means getting always better – and God is the standard! Is it possible to get there?

We can’t do it alone and we don’t need to do it alone! Christ offers us Salvation and it involves forgiveness of all guilt, freedom from the bondage of sin and eternal life in God’s glory. Not only that, He promised the constant presence of His Spirit helping us!

Since Jesus already paid the ransom with His sacrifice, Salvation means we can look forward – traumas of the past, problems that happened, old heart and mind inclinations, addiction, pain, etc – they don’t have power over life anymore. In Christ we are free to live abundantly, not as slaves.

During the time of slave trafficking in Africa, the prisoners had an iron collar locked around their necks and were then linked to the other prisoners with a chain. Occasionally one of these poor people was ransomed along the way. As soon as the ransom was paid, the prisoner was freed from his iron collar. Jesus has ransomed us — He has paid for us.

CHANGE OF MIND, CHANGE OF ATTITUDE

The freedom Jesus granted us will change our mind-set, that is developed step by step over time. We can claim Philippians 2:5 when we pray,

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”

When we allow Christ in, then He will let His manner of thinking and acting unfold in us. We will love the way He loves. We will keep away from the things He doesn’t like.

That change of mind will result in what Ephesians 2:10 says,

“We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

The life God has prepared for you entails good works — this means, God has a purpose for you! By fulfilling three things come into play – according to the book Steps to Personal Revival entitled “Spirit-Filled Co-Workers of Jesus — How Can I Become That?”,

1. A constant healing of my egoism because I work for others

2. Others receive blessings through me

3. The Lord sends great blessings back to me

Being used by God will grow our faith; our practical, mental, and spiritual abilities will develop, our joy and strength will increase, and in the process, we are working for God’s Kingdom.

God’s ingenious plan benefits all. Don’t you want to take your part accepting God’s call for your life?

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. Which would you choose today: Wisdom, Righteousness or Making you better?

2. Why is it so hard to get away from guilt and accept Christ righteousness?

3. Exercise, JESUS AND ME WATCHING MY DAY: close your eyes by the end of the day and imagine you seated in a sofa with Jesus, reviewing your day in a screen from the moment you woke up. If you give Jesus the opportunity to make observations to help you get better, what would be those observations? (Remember His compassion and unconditional love dealing with everyone He ever met).