Do not grieve the Holy Spirit

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Who you were sealed (marked, branded as God's own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin). Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind). And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:30-32 AMP

I don't know what happens in your heart as you read that list of 'bad behaviours' in verse 31. In my heart I feel convicted and sad as I recall the recent times when I acted out these behaviours, particularly resentment. I know I am not perfect. But when I read that list of 'bad behaviours' in relation to grieving the Holy Spirit, that realisation of my imperfections somehow goes deeper. Humility overcomes me as I reflect on my behaviour.

And then as I read the last words of verse 32, 'as God in Christ forgave you', I feel relieved as I am reminded of the grace that God has shown me.  Despite my imperfections, in the beginning of Ephesians, Paul tells us,  that God ..

'chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will - to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.' Ephesians 1:4-8 NIV

How wonderful it is to read that God chose us! He wants us to be in relationship with Him. He made a way for us, despite all our failings, to come into His presence, via His son Jesus Christ. This grace He has shown us, of course doesn't give us licence to continue with our 'bad behaviours'. His Holy Spirit is in us to help us change. However, when we do regress, His grace and forgiveness is also readily available. As His word says in James,

But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it). James 4:6 AMP

Questions for today, how do you feel when you read that passage of scripture, Ephesians 4:30-32?  Is there a conviction in your heart as you read it? Thank God for His grace, and that He chose you, and sent His Son, Jesus Christ for you. Ask God for forgiveness for your behaviour. Thank God for the power of the Holy Spirit in your life to help you change your behaviour. He loves you and His grace is sufficient for you.

But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

Grace wins hands down

All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn't, and doesn't, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it's sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that's the end of it. Grace, because God is putting everything together again through the Messiah, invites us into life - a life that goes on and on and on, world without end. Romans 5:20-21 MSG

This morning I had a very unfortunate incident. My mind was filled with frustration at an event earlier in the morning. The frustration took over my mind and I wasn't focusing on the task at hand. The lack of focus resulted in me inadvertently jamming three of my fingers in the car door! Ouch. Big big ouch! There was even blood! 

As I did a 'pain dance' outside the car, accompanied by screaming, our four children sitting in the car were greatly distressed by my distress. I managed to get into the car and we drove off to school. I was still venting my frustration in amongst feeling the throbbing pain of my fingers. 

As I took a breath, in the back seat I could hear one child speaking out God's word, and another child praying for me. God's grace was shown to me by my children, in a situation that I had created through my sin of lack of self-control and not maturely dealing with the frustration I had felt earlier in the morning. 

Within minutes of our children showing me God's grace, combined with listening to the Benediction by Matt Redman, God's wonderful peace that transcends all understanding was upon me. I prayed for forgiveness and accepted God's forgiveness and His grace, His grace that wins hands down.

Whilst we are here on earth we will always make mistakes, act immaturely, cause emotional upsets, and the list goes on. Here is one of the things that Paul has to say to Timothy about grace.

Though I formerly blasphemed and persecuted and was shamefully and outrageously and aggressively insulting [to Him], nevertheless, I obtained mercy because I had acted out of ignorance in unbelief. And the grace (unmerited favour and blessing) of our Lord [actually] flowed out superabundantly and beyond measure for me, accompanied by faith and love that are [to be realised] in Christ Jesus. The saying is sure and true and worthy of full and universal acceptance, that Christ Jesus (the Messiah) came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 1 Timothy 1:13-15 AMP

The same grace, the unmerited favour and blessing of God, that Paul is telling Timothy about is available to us too,  today and everyday, through Jesus. 

Question for today, is there something that you are needing to seek God's forgiveness for and accept His grace? Ask His forgiveness now, and if you can't, ask Jesus to help you to come to the place where you can ask for forgiveness, and then accept His unmerited favour and blessing for your life. Jesus loves you, and He wants you to a life of winning with His grace.

May grace (God's favour) and peace (which is perfect well-being, all necessary good, all spiritual prosperity, and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts) be multiplied to you in [the full, personal, precise and correct] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter 1:2 AMP

Simply calling out to God

It's the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us. This is the core of our preaching. Say the welcoming word to God - 'Jesus is my Master' - embracing body and soul, God's work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That's it. You're not 'doing' anything; you're simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That's salvation. With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud; "God has set everything right between him and me!" Romans 10:8-10 MSG

In a world we are so often told that we need to 'do this, to get that', it can be quite bewildering when you read for the first time that we don't have to do anything other than 'simply calling out to God and trusting him to do it', to gain salvation.

However, as it turns out, for some of us, coming to that place where we can 'simply call out to God' is not actually that simple.  We rationalise, surely there must be more to salvation. We must have to do something else, give something extra, achieve a certain thing, to gain salvation. It can't just be a gift. But it is God's gift to us.

For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favour) that you are saved (delivered from judgement and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; Ephesians 2:8 AMP 

Why do some of us have such trouble accepting this gift of salvation? Maybe it is the Giver that we have an issue with, not the actual gift. Maybe the bigger question we are asking is, Is God really trustworthy? Can I be vulnerable and surrender my heart to Him? What happens if I do call out and He doesn't answer?

The issue of trust. How do we build trust? One approach to building trust is by taking small steps and starting a dialogue with God. Daily, talk to Him as you would a friend, making sure you give Him space in the conversation to respond. Open your bible and read a passage of scripture, asking God to speak to you through it. Start putting in the time to build a relationship with Him. Time to get to know Him and His great love for you.

Over time, the truth of this scripture will be 'front and centre' in your heart. You will know, that you know, that you know, He is more than worthy of your trust.

With God rests my salvation and my glory; He is my Rock of unyielding strength and impenetrable hardness, and my refuge is in God! Trust in, lean on, rely on, and have confidence in Him at all times, you people; pour our your hearts before Him. God is a refuge for us (a fortress and a high tower). Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! Psalm 62:7-8 AMP

Question for today, are you having difficulty trusting God for something? Open the dialogue with Him, acknowledge that He is your Rock of unyielding strength and impenetrable hardness. Thank Jesus for His free gift of salvation and all that means for you. Call out to God, tell Him about the area you having difficulty trusting Him with, be brutally honest. Ask Him to help you to trust that He will set everything right, in Jesus Name.

Fear of man

The Lord of hosts - regard Him as holy and honour His holy name [by regarding Him as your only hope of safety], and let Him be your fear and let Him be your dread [lest you offend Him by your fear of man and distrust of Him]. And He shall be a sanctuary [a sacred and indestructible asylum to those who reverently fear and trust in Him]; but He shall be a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Isaiah 8:13,14 AMP

When I first became a Christian, fear of man was something I had to overcome. I had always been a 'people pleaser'. I would go out of my way to do the right thing, or that little bit extra, so I could enjoy the warm fuzzy feeling when the compliments came flowing my way. If I am honest, that need to get people's approval, along with pride, was a lot of what drove my actions. God had a lot of work to do in my heart, a lot of heart attitude adjustments were needed.

I was fearful of the response from people that would come if I didn't do the 'right' thing. I didn't want people to be disappointed in me. So what a challenge I faced when God spoke to me about doing something that I knew would upset and disappoint people. It was a major life decision. It was a time in my life when I had to make a choice - the approval of man or being disobedient to my Heavenly Father.

I had to spend a lot of quiet time with God. Quiet time, letting Him speak to my heart about it's 'fear of man'. Quiet time getting a heart understanding of His unconditional love for me. Quiet time knowing that obedience to Him was the best course of my life, not basing my decisions on people's reactions. As this scripture says, there is not want to those who truly revere and worship Him with godly fear.

O fear the Lord, you His saints [revere and worship Him]! For there is no want to those who truly revere and worship Him with godly fear. The young lions lack food and suffer hunger, but they who seek (inquire of and require) the Lord [by right of their need and on the authority of His Word], none of them shall lack any beneficial thing. Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you to revere and worshipfully fear the Lord. Psalm 34:9-11 AMP

Eventually after months of God teaching me, in those quiet times, how to revere and worshipfully fear Him, I was obedient. So with confidence in Him, joyfully and whole-heartedly I did what He had told me to do. And indeed I have not lacked in that aspect of my life.

Question for today, is there something God is asking you to do, but the fear of people's response is holding you back? Ask God to teach you how to revere and worshipfully fear Him, rather than man. Be prepared for a heart attitude change as you take another step in the journey of becoming more like Jesus.

Sow yourselves according to righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God); reap according to mercy and loving-kindness. Break up your uncultivated ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, to inquire for and of Him, and to require His favour, till He comes and teaches you righteousness and rains His righteous gift of salvation on you. Hosea 10:12 AMP

Postscript: These days I still go out of my way to do the right thing and bless people as much as I can, however my heart attitude is different, it is no longer about the compliments I receive, it is now about loving people because God loves me.

God's wisdom

We, of course, have plenty of wisdom to pass on to you once you get your feet on firm spiritual ground, but its not popular wisdom, the fashionable wisdom of high-priced experts that will be out of date, in a year or so. God's wisdom in something mysterious that goes deep into the interior of his purposes. You don't find it lying around on the surface. It's not the latest message, but more like the oldest - what God determined as the way to bring out the best in us, long before we ever arrived on the scene. 1 Corinthians 2:6-7 MSG

Wisdom, wisdom, wisdom. We all want more wisdom. The question is, where are we getting our wisdom from? In today's world there are so many places to go for wisdom. The internet is awash with 'wisdom'. Family and friends are another source of 'wisdom'. And then there is the not-so-fashionable source, God and His word.  As He says to us in 2 Timothy 3, 

Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose and action). So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well-fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16,17 AMP

If we want to be 'well-fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work' God has planned for us, then there is only one source of widsom for us to glean from. Our challenge is to be disciplined enough to look only to Him. We need to put the 'blinkers' on and not be distracted by the popular and fashionable wisdom we are surrounded with. 

Question for today, is there some area of your life you are needing wisdom for right now? Ask God for wisdom for the circumstance. Look at what God promises us if we turn to Him for wisdom.

For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

He holds victory in store for the upright, 

he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,

for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. 

Proverbs 2:6 - 8 NIV

You may think that I can't have God's wisdom because I am not upright and I certainly am not blameless in my walk. Well neither am I. But because of Christ Jesus, God sees us blameless and upright, so God's wisdom is available to us. The victory is in store for us! Jesus is our wisdom from God. Thank you Jesus.

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV

The authority of His name

Reverently respect GOD, your God, serve him, hold tight to him, back up your promises with the authority of his name. 

Deuteronomy 10:20 MSG

Today's blog post is a little different. It is a wander through the scriptures, stopping at some places that tell us about the authority of the name of Jesus. As you read through them, as God to help your heart fully understand the authority in His name.

At the end of the book of Matthew, Jesus tells us straight out about His authority.

Jesus approached and breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Matthew 28:18 AMP

In Mark we are told of when Jesus showed people His authority and we can see the impact of it in their lives.

But that you may know positively and beyond doubt that the Son of Man has right and authority and power on earth to forgive sins - He said to the paralyzed man, I say to you, arise, pick up and carry your sleeping pad or mat, and be going on home. And he arose at once and picked up the sleeping pad or mat and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and recognised and praised and thanked God, saying, We have never seen anything like this before! Mark 2:10-11 AMP 

In John we are told to ask and keep asking in His name, Jesus name so that our life may be complete.

Up to this time you have not asked a [single] thing in My Name [as presenting all that I AM]; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your  joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete. John 16:24 AMP

In Philippians, we are reminded that Jesus name has authority over everyone and everything.

Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name. That in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. And every tongue [frankly and openly] confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9 - 11 AMP 

Question for today, is there an area of your life that you need to ask for change In Jesus Name? If there is, ask with confidence, not confidence in your asking, but with confidence in the power and authority of His name. And when those doubting thoughts crept in, remind them that Jesus has authority over the circumstance, His name is above every name. 

Be encouraged, as Jesus said to Thomas, in John, 

Because you have seen Me, Thomas, do you now believe (trust, have faith)? Blessed and happy and to be envied are those who have never seen Me and yet have believed and adhered to and trusted and relied on me. John 20:19 AMP

This passage of scripture then goes on to say

There are are also many other signs and miracles which Jesus performed in the presence of the disciples which are not written in this book. But these are written (recorded) in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ (the Anointed One), the Son of God, and that through believing and cleaving to and trusting and relying upon Him you may have life through (in) His name [through Who He is].  John 20:30-31 AMP 

There is only one name that has all authority, the name of Jesus.

Foundations

And [further], You, Lord, did lay the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the works of Your hands. Hebrews 1:10 AMP

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to create the earth? Where would you start? What would it be made of?What would you put at it's centre? How big would you make it? What would you put on the final layer? What would be it's purpose? How would it live day after day?

When I start to think about all the thought that went into laying the foundation of the earth, I find the whole process of creation mind boggling! What power and creativity does our God have! Here is another description of His creation process and on-going control over His creation.

But God made the earth by His power;

He established the world by His wisdom

and by His understanding and skill stretched out the heavens.

When He utters His voice, 

there is a tumult of waters in the heavens,

and He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth.

He makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind out from His treasuries and from His storehouses.

Jeremiah 10-12,13 AMP

Sometimes in our daily life it can be easy to lose sight of the magnificence of creation. Just as it can be easy in the busy-ness of our lives to lose sight of another foundation that God laid especially for us, you and me, Jesus.

Therefore thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation, a Stone, a tested Stone, a precious Cornerstone of sure foundation; he who believes (trusts in, relies on, and adheres to that Stone) will not be ashamed or give way or hasten away [in sudden panic]. Isaiah 28:16

Jesus, is our sure foundation. Unlike this earth, He will not perish, but He will remain and continue permanently (Hebrews 1:11). 

Question for today, are you going to choose to remain and continue with Jesus, the permanent foundation our Heavenly Father gifted to us? Ask God to show you how, amongst the busy-ness of your life, to remain in Him.

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to my disciple. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commends, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Fathers commands and remain in his love. John 15:7-10 NIV