Category Archives: Holy Spirit

Bible, Diligent, Holy Spirit, Peace, Preserve, Scripture, Union

UNIFIED

EPHESIANS 4:3

“being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

“All for one and one for all.” “There is no ‘I’ in TEAM.” You’ve heard all the cliches, I am sure. And they are all good to spur on teamwork and unity among a group of people. Just watch a riot on tv and listen. They are all shouting the same (usually hateful) message. You’ve heard them. Even though you may not agree with their tactics, you have to admit they sure work hard at being unified. You see, being unified isn’t just about being unified. You need to have the right message.

Paul tells us that message in verse 3 of chapter 4 of Ephesians. Look at the verse again. “being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Our goal for unification is the unity of Spirit in the bond of peace. These early Christians were still under a lot of persecution. It would have been easy to get a mob together and protest their treatment. Paul says they are to be peaceable and diligent. Think how you can exhibit those traits today.

APPLICATION

The phrase “being diligent” is spoudázō, which means to “be swift (go fast, be speedy);” (HELPS Word studies). Don’t mess around. Get it done. The same word is used in 2 Timothy 2:15. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”

Be diligent to do what? “To keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” What in the world does that mean? How can we put that to use today? The word “keep” is tereo and means to spiritually guard, keep intact. Do you know what I have discovered? Anything I want to keep intact has to have some borders or some kind of container. That’s what Paul means when he says, “the unity of the Spirit.” Nothing else can unify us.

This “bond” is the word sundesmos. Now, get this. This word comes from sun (closely identified with) and deo (to bind). In other words, it means “a close (inner) identity which produces close harmony between members joined closely together.” (HELPS Word studies). That’s what Paul is telling the Ephesians and us. As believers, we are to be closely bound together in peace. We cannot allow the world to tear us apart. Do your part today to keep the peace.

Father, only through Your Spirit can I keep this unity among my fellow believers.

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Abiding, Answers, Bible, Calling, Chosen, Following, Holy Spirit, Ministry, Salvation, Scripture

YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED

EPHESIANS 4:1

“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,”

I was saved at the age of 16 on July 31, 1977. I will never forget that day and where I was when I gave my life to Christ. But I also remember the vocational calling He put on my life during my senior year in high school. I do not have a specific date for that. I just know He called me to a lifetime of service in the ministry of the Gospel. My calling has been a little different than many. Called to work with children and youth for 38 years and now ministering to men around the world. But my calling to salvation was sure as is my calling to serve.

Paul transitions from his prayer in 3:14-21 with this opening statement in chapter 4. Don’t just read “Therefore I” and move on. Those two words are powerful. I love what Albert Barnes said about it. “The sense of the word ‘therefore’ – οὖν oun – in this place, is, ‘Such being your exalted privileges; since God has done so much for you; since he has revealed for you such a glorious system; since he has bestowed on you the honor of calling you into his kingdom, and making you partakers of his mercy,’” And by Paul saying “I,” he was drawing the Ephesians’ attention back to recognize his authority as their teacher and shepherd.

APPLICATION

But back to this calling! If you are a believer in Christ, you have been called to Him. That may have occurred through a song, a passage of Scripture you read, the preaching of the Word or through the still, small voice of God whispering and wooing you. In order to be saved, you must be called. No one comes to Christ unless they are called. Romans 11:29 tells us this calling, once accepted is unchangeabl, “for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”

I really love how Paul uses this word for “calling” in Philippians 3:14. “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” And how about this use of the word in Hebrews 3:1. “Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession: Jesus;”

I could keep going about this calling all day. Do a word search on that word. The Greek word is klésis. As you study that word, thank God for your calling. Thank Him for opening your ears to hear His voice. Thank Him for not stopping His call to you, even when you resisted. His calling is sure. His calling is permanent. His calling is for you.

Thank You, O Father, for calling my name so many years ago.

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Abiding, Building, Church, Dwelling, God's Will, Holy Spirit, Home, Indwelling, Kingdom, Scripture

GOD’S DWELLING PLACE

EPHESIANS 2:22

“in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”

My wife and I recently bought a new bed for our guest room. It is nothing fancy, just a metal headboard and footboard with side rails and middle support braces. When I finally got around to putting it together, I opened the box, laid out all the pieces and checked them off against the parts list (how many times have you come up short a piece without doing this?). Then I brought all the pieces inside, laid them on the bedroom floor and began the tedious process of trying to figure out from the drawing what part went where. In the end, I achieved my goal. We now have a bed someone can rest on when they visit.

Why do I use that illustration? Because the phrase “being built together” is exactly that. God has taken all the “pieces” and put them together to make His “bed,” His dwelling place. Once again, this Greek word has the preposition sun which is that permanent “with.” We are being built up together with other believers into a place where God says He will dwell here on this earth until one day we will dwell with Him in His kingdom in heaven.

APPLICATION

I love what Ellicott’s Commentary says here. “This verse seems primarily intended simply to emphasize the truth already enunciated in Ephesians 2:20, that the Ephesians themselves are now being made part of the Church of Christ, ‘being built up together in Christ.’ But it may also illustrate to us the character of the unity of the Church, as, primarily, a direct individual unity with Christ—each stone being itself a complete and living stone—and, secondarily and indirectly, a unity with others and with the whole.”

Did you get that? We are individually the dwelling of God through His Holy Spirit, and we are part of the corporate dwelling of God as part of His church. Ain’t God good? Two houses in one. Only God can do that. And God’s house has no flaws. There are no plumbing leaks or cracks in the foundation. His building warranty is eternal.

Okay, enough building metaphors. Simply put – we are God’s dwelling here on earth. He chooses to live in and through us. What an honor! Are you keeping His dwelling presentable? Can others see Him in you? As the cliché goes, “You may be the only Jesus some people ever see.”

Live in me, Lord. Shine Your eternal light through my eyes so that others are drawn into Your dwelling.

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Abiding, Bible, Comfort, Disciples, Division, Divorce, Holy Spirit, Peace, Scripture

PREACHING PEACE

EPHESIANS 2:17

“And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near;”

Have you ever played the part of a peacemaker? It can be a very dangerous job. I remember one time sitting in on a mediation between a husband and a wife. I was there to simply be a support to one of them. The mediator remained so calm. Even though the words got heated and threats were even made, that mediator kept bringing them back to a peaceful resolution. Unfortunately, all their efforts failed, and the couple still divorced.

In today’s verse, Paul points us back to a passage in Isaiah 57:19 which says, “‘Creating the praise of the lips. Peace, peace to him who is far away and to him who is near,’ says the LORD, ‘and I will heal him.’” In the Bible I use; this verse is marked as the key verse of chapter 2. Why? Because this was Christ’s message before and after the resurrection. In John 14:27, while speaking about the coming Holy Spirit, the Helper, Jesus said, “‘Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.’” What a promise!

APPLICATION

What do we do with this message? We rest in Him. After the resurrection Christ appeared to the disciples. We see this in Luke 24:36. “Now while they were telling these things, Jesus Himself suddenly stood in their midst and said to them, ‘Peace be to you.’” Christ was not going to leave them in fear. Neither does He leave us in a place where we should be fearful. His peace still reigns today.

Over in John 20:19 and 21 we have John’s account of His post resurrection appearance. “19 Now when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were together due to fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them, ‘Peace be to you.’ 21 So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be to you; just as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’” Can you just picture that scene? Christ is with you today.

Let me encourage you today to rest in His peace. He has sent His Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to live in us. As a believer, you can rest in His perfect peace. Why? Because the Father has sent Jesus who has sent the Holy Spirit. Be at peace, beloved.

I’ve got peace like a river. I’ve got peace like a river. I’ve got peace like a river in my soul.

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All, Attributes, Bible, Fullness, Holy Spirit, Scripture, Whole

ALL IN ALL

EPHESIANS 1:23

“which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

Do you remember the Three Musketeers? They were in it together. All for one and one for all. They had each other’s backs. They never left a man behind. You know, all those “together” cliches. We still use those cheers today in our sports competitions. I remember one year our football team broke every first huddle of the game with “All for one.” It sounded good but didn’t insure a victory on the field that night.

As Paul finishes up chapter one (I know, there were no chapters in the original letter), he gives us this last phrase, “the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” What did Paul mean by that? What was the message the Holy Spirit was trying to portray in these words? It undoubtedly is referring to the omnipresence (all presence) of Christ. He is everywhere, filling all things.

APPLICATION

What does that mean for us? Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 12:6. “There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.” The All Present God Who is in all things is working all things in us. Isn’t that just coolest thing you have ever heard? He wants to give you His all.

A few chapters later in chapter 15 and verse 28 of I Corinthians, we find this from Paul. “When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.” Christ is all in all. God is all in all. God wants us to have His all. What else could you ask for?

And then in Colossians 3:11, we have this verse, “a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, and free, but Christ is all, and in all.” So, “all in all” isn’t just a cute catchphrase. It has serious meaning for us as believers and followers of Christ. He is our everything. Is He your everything today?

Father God, You are my All in all. You fill my life with Your presence

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Belief, Bible, Holy Spirit, Promises, Scripture, Sealed

SEALED

EPHESIANS 1:13

“In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise,”

Marking something that belongs to you is pretty customary. Ranchers brand their livestock to identify them as belonging to them. Libraries stamp books. Notaries put their seal on a document signifying that they have legitimized it. There are all sorts of seals that we use today. None is more important than the seal we are going to see today in verse 13 of Ephesians 1.

Paul sets out an order of things in this verse. First you listen to the message of truth (the gospel), then you believe and then and only then are you sealed with the Holy Spirit (of promise). We could stay on this verse for a month and not teach everything in it. Don’t worry, we won’t do that. Let’s concentrate on the sealing that Paul talks about here.

APPLICATION

You are sealed when you accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. The Greek word used here is sphragizo. It means “to seal (affix) with a signet ring or other instrument to stamp (a roller or seal), i.e. to attest ownership, authorizing (validating) what is sealed.” (HELPS Word-studies). What is important about this word is how it is used. It is in the Aorist tense which implies a one-time act. It is in the Passive voice which means it was done to you by someone else. God sealed you with His Spirit. You did not seal yourself.

The same word is used over in 2 Corinthians 1:22. Let’s look at that verse in context. “21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, 22 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.” The Holy Spirit is proof that we have been identified as belonging to God. Now, understand something. Why is a seal important? Because you want others to see it. Others should see the mark of God on us.

Are you showing God’s seal today? Do your lost friends see the Spirit’s influence in your life by how you live? They should. The seal of the Spirit should be very apparent. We should wear that seal proudly. Make your seal known. Let others be drawn to God through the Spirit of God that dwells within you. Let’s keep “branding” others for Jesus.

Father, I am proud to wear Your seal of the Holy Spirit on my heart.

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Bearing, Bible, Burdens, Caregiver, Compassion, God's Will, Holy Spirit, Love, Modeling, Scripture

BEAR OTHER’S BURDENS

GALATIANS 6:2

“Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”

I don’t know about you, but I have enough burdens of my own without bearing someone else’s burdens. Am I right? Well unfortunately, we don’t get off that easy. The Bible tells us to step up and help others when we see a need. Now, wait a minute, Carl. I don’t have the time or the energy to do that. I understand, but let’s look at what Paul says about this.

“Bear one another’s burdens.” That’s what the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to say to the Galatians (and to us). But what does that mean? The Greek word translated as “bear” is bastazo which means literally to lift up or to carry. This verb is a command in the Present Tense, which means it is not a one time thing. You should do this constantly. Why? Because by doing this, you will be doing exactly what Jesus would have done. That’s what the rest of the verse means, “fulfill the law of Christ.”

APPLICATION

Do you have a particular weakness which you need help with? I remember when I went through my last stem cell transplant how I needed my wife’s help. I was so physically weak at times that I required a walker or cane to walk without falling. She watched me so closely every time I stood to walk. She was right there by my side to lend a hand if needed. I could not have gotten through that time without her.

In the same way, we see our brothers and sisters in Christ who need help. It is our responsibility to come to their aid. Maybe it’s a husband who is struggling in their marriage. Step up! Perhaps it’s the single mom who needs help picking up a child from daycare. Step up! It could be a believer who is fighting the temptation of porn. Step up! We are called to help carry these loads for our fellow believers.

Just as Jesus carried you in His arms when you were weary, we can do the same for others. Obviously, there were those in Galatia who needed help. Paul wanted them to help each other, to lift and carry each other when necessary. The blessing we receive far outweighs any effort we put in. Be there for someone.

O Lord, You have done so much for me. Help me be there for others.

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Abundance, Bible, Blessing, Faithfulness, Fruit, Goodness, Holy Spirit, Joy, Love, Patience, Peace, Scripture

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT, PART 1

GALATIANS 5:22

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”

When I was a Children’s Pastor, one of the favorite music videos of the kids was one of Uncle Charlie’s entitled “Fruit of the Spirit.” It was fun and interactive for the kids. But it also taught them about the fruit of the Spirit which we will see in today’s and tomorrow’s blogs. Those fruit that are listed are not of us. They come from the Spirit. Let’s take a look at some.

Paul lists seven of the nine fruit of the Spirit in today’s verse. Many scholars argue about Paul’s lists throughout his letters. Many of them say that the first thing he lists kind of characterizes the rest of the things in the list. That may be true here, because none of these are possible without “love,” which is the first thing listed. MacLauren says this, “‘The fruit of the Spirit,’ says Paul, not the fruits, as we might more naturally have expected, and as the phrase is most often quoted; all this rich variety of graces, of conduct and character, is thought of as one. The individual members are not isolated graces, but all connected, springing from one root and constituting an organic whole.”

APPLICATION

How do you show joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness if you do not have love, specifically the love of Christ? Paul says over in Romans 8:9, “However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.” It is because of that indwelling Spirit that you have love for Him and others. As a result, the fruit is produced.

You may have heard people say, “Well, we can’t judge but we can sure be fruit inspectors.” That’s a dangerous view and one I have been guilty of. Of course, we expect a believer to be a fruit producer if they are walking with Christ. But sometimes life gets hard, and we experience a crop failure. There isn’t any fruit.

Then what do you do? You return to the One who gave you that love to begin with. Remember the words of Paul over in Ephesians 1:13-14, “13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, 14 who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.” You’ve been sealed. That love is sealed in. Therefore, let that Spirit of Christ produce in you what He wants to produce.

Father, I want to yield a bumper crop of fruit for You.

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Bible, Following, Holy Spirit, Leading, Scripture, Submission

LED BY THE SPIRIT

GALATIANS 5:18

“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.”

There have been many decisions that I have made in my life as a believer that were not led by the Spirit. I simply chose to do what I wanted to do because I wanted to do it. Those decisions seldom if ever turned out for the best. But whenever my wife and I prayed about a matter and listened to the Spirit’s direction, things turned out better. I am not saying it was always the easiest way, but it was the better way.

Paul knew all too well the controlling power of the Law. He knew how it bound people to a rigid, unforgiving, impossible lifestyle. Once he was set free by Jesus on that Damascus road, Paul couldn’t wait to tell others about this freedom. Read Acts 9 sometime and see how Paul responded. He says in today’s verse that we are to be “led by the Spirit.” What does that mean?

APPLICATION

Being led somewhere is very different than being driven or pushed somewhere. Let me give you an example. Get a piece of string and lay it on a table so it’s straight. Now place your finger on one end of that string and push it towards the other end. What happens? The string just bunches up in a wad. Now, straighten it out again and this time, place your finger on one end and pull the string away from the other end. What happens? The rest of the string follows. That’s “being led.”

In Luke 4:1, we see Jesus being led by the Spirit. “Now Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness.” The Spirit doesn’t always lead us somewhere that is comfortable. He led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. Jesus submitted to the Spirit in order to show Satan who was boss!

Over in Romans 8:14 Paul says, “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God.” We should follow the one God has sent to dwell within us. Do you understand that the God of the universe indwells you through the Holy Spirit? That person of the trinity lives in each of us if we have accepted Jesus as our Savior. So, follow Him.

Forgive me, Lord, when I buck up and refuse to follow Your Spirit. I know He only wants what is best for me. 

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Attacks, Battles, Bible, Choices, Defeat, Enemies, Flesh, Holy Spirit, Opponents, Scripture

BEING AGAINST SOMETHING

GALATIANS 5:17

“For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want.”

A lot of times when we hear someone is against something we automatically assume it’s a negative reaction to something. There are some things in this world that we need to be against. We should be against child abuse in any form. We should be against domestic violence against men or women. We should be against heresy in the church. And we should be against the deeds of the flesh, which is Paul’s topic in today’s verse.

Paul is discussing the battle we are up against every day with our flesh. He says the Spirit (which resides in each of us as believers) is in opposition to our flesh (which we are born with – that old sin nature). The Greek word he uses here for “opposition” is used eight times in the New Testament, six times by Paul himself. It can be translated as enemy. Get the picture. Our flesh is no friend to the Spirit. So, each day we must destroy that flesh and yield to the Spirit.

APPLICATION

Antikeimai is defined as “someone being thoroughly unreconcilable.” You have probably heard of a couple divorcing due to “irreconcilable differences.” That’s the picture here. Our flesh and the Spirit cannot coexist. Many believers try to do that. They are trying to live in the world according to fleshly standards. It just won’t work. The world will eat you up. It loves to cater to the flesh. It will not honor the Spirit.

Now, we can’t escape this flesh as long as we are in this world, but we should always stand against it. I shared earlier in this study in Galatians my life verse, which is Galatians 2:20. “I have been crucified with Christ; and 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 up for me.”

My flesh has been crucified with Christ. It is dead to this world. I still have the choice each day whether to let it resurrect itself in my life or to keep it nailed to that cross. I choose today to live by the Spirit. It is through the Spirit that I can communicate directly with my Lord. Don’t you desire the same? Today, choose Spirit over flesh.

Thank You, Lord, for giving me a new life in the Spirit. Help me keep that flesh defeated each day.

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