Category Archives: Holy Spirit

Bible, Holy Spirit, Information, Love, Scripture

INFORMER

COLOSSIANS 1:8

“and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit.”

In law enforcement people are often recruited as Confidential Informants. These are people who are usually involved in something illegal, are busted by the law and are “turned” to provide information about crimes. CIs are not the most trustworthy bunch. After all, they come out of the crime world themselves. They can, however, give information that can prevent future crimes or lead to the arrest of others.

Epaphras was NOT a CI. He was informing on the Colossian church to Paul while they were in prison together, but his news was not going to get anyone arrested. His information was going to give Paul joy. Look what he shared – their “love in the Spirit.” Now, that may not seem like much, but it was. These believers had learned to love as Christ loves. They were loving each other in the midst of potential persecution. They were there for each other. That must have truly warmed Paul’s heart.

APPLICATION

Paul didn’t always get good news about churches. In 1 Corinthians 1:11 we read, “For I have been informed concerning you, my brothers and sisters, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you.” How embarrassing! Don’t you think these believers were made to feel ashamed when they received this letter from Paul. You may be required at some point to share some less than flattering news about a brother or sister in Christ, in order to protect them and the church. Weigh that decision heavily. Seek godly counsel before doing so.

Do you know who else informs us of things? Jesus! Look at 2 Peter 1:14. “knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.” Jesus still speaks to us – if we are listening. He will reveal to us or inform us of things we need to know. That make come in a variety of ways – prayer, Bible study, other believers, quiet listening or circumstances. So, stay tuned in to His frequency to get your daily reports, lol.

What do you want to know about God? Ask Him! He’s not keeping secrets from us. He may not reveal everything to you at once. That’s how it’s been in my life. He usually gives it to me piece by piece because He knows how much I can handle. He may give you a bigger chunk. God wants to share with you His plans for your life. Once you ask and receive, do what He says. Amen? Amen!

O Lord, I can rely on the truth of Your information. All You speak is truth.

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Bible, Drunkenness, Filled, Holy Spirit, Scripture

FILLED WITH THE RIGHT STUFF

EPHESIANS 5:18

“And do not get drunk with wine, in which there is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,” 

Context is always important. Whether we are talking about conversations or studying Scripture, context can determine everything. For instance, I can use the word “read” but pronounce it two different ways. I read the paper yesterday or I will read the paper tomorrow. The context of the sentence determines the pronunciation of the word. Okay Carl, enough with the grammar lesson. Hang on. You will see my point.

In today’s verse, we see Paul telling the Ephesians to not get drunk because it is debauchery. This verse is used often to preach against the drinking of anything alcoholic. I am not going to talk about that. You have to remember the context of Paul’s letter. He has been talking about shedding all past ungodly behaviors and walking in God’s will, which we know is always to be filled with the Spirit. So, rest easy. This is not a devotion about drinking. Rather, it is a devotion about being filled with His Spirit.

APPLICATION

In the time Paul was writing there was a false god which the pagans worshipped which involved drinking until you were intoxicated. In fact, it is the same god that the Olympic Committee claimed was being portrayed in the opening ceremonies this year. His name was Bacchus. Bensons’ Commentary says this about this worship festival. “Plato tells us, that there was hardly a sober person to be found in the whole Attican territories during the continuance of these detestable feasts.” Debauchery! Riotous living! In fact, the adverb form of this Greek word for “debauchery” is used in Luke 15:13 to describe the prodigal son’s lifestyle. “And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his estate in wild living.”

Paul tells the Ephesians to avoid all that and instead concentrate on living their lives full of the Holy Spirit.  The Greek word used here for “be filled” could be better translated (I think) as “keep being filled” because it is a Present Imperative Middle/Passive verb. The Middle voice means you do the action yourself while the Passive voice means the action is done to you.

Hang on, don’t let me lose you. We have to allow the Holy Spirit to live through us. He will not force Himself on us. Therefore, the middle voice. But only He can do the filling – thus the passive voice. I am not Greek scholar, but I believe this verb could be either. The question is this – Do you want to be filled with His Spirit continually and live that out daily? If you do, the Lord is more than willing and more than capable to fill you to overflowing.

Now I’m filled to overflowing. I don’t mind the whole world knowing that I’m filled to overflowing.

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Bible, Holy Spirit, Scripture, Sealed

DO NOT GRIEVE

EPHESIANS 4:30

“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

When I was a teenager, I did some things that grieved my parents. They had raised me better than that. But I wanted to do what I wanted to do. I had no other reason. And when my sins were exposed (and they always are), they were grieved. Yea, they were mad too and issued out the appropriate consequence. But the grief I caused hurt more than the actual getting caught or the consequence.

Let me say right off that “grieving” the Spirit is not the same as “quenching” the Spirit. The latter refers to denying and refusing to believe, thus ends in damnation. That is not what Paul is saying here. We are sealed with the Spirt. We saw that back in Ephesians 1:13. He is in us, therefore, everything we do He is aware of and exposed to. The word used here for grieve is lupeo which means to pain, grieve or vex. I know you don’t want to pain the Holy Spirit.

APPLICATION

So, if we don’t want to do that, how do we prevent it? We live holy lives free from those things that could grieve the Spirit. Albert Barnes lists these behaviors that could lead to that:

  1. Open and gross sins
  2. Anger, in all its forms
  3. Licentious thoughts and desires
  4. Ingratitude
  5. Neglect
  6. Resistance

Here is a great verse to show you a comparison. It’s one most of us know. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 says, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as indeed the rest of mankind do, who have no hope.” If you have ever lost a loved one, you know the pain of grief. That is the same kind of grief we cause the Spirit when we sin.

I know this is a heavy lesson, but it is one we experience every day. We face the temptations of sin daily. If we stopped to think how much grief this causes God through the Holy Spirit Who lives in us, we may just stop ourselves. Better yet, we will let Him stop us. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit Who is within you, Who has sealed you for the day of your redemption.

Thank You, Father, that You have placed in me Your Holy Spirit to strengthen and encourage me towards holy living. 

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ALL FILLED UP

EPHESIANS 4:10

“He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)”

Have you ever experienced such joy and happiness that you thought you were going to burst? Maybe you were about to see a close friend whom you haven’t seen in years. Perhaps a loved one who has been away is coming home. Maybe, it’s the birth of a grandchild (I can relate to that one right now). Whatever the circumstance, you cannot really put it in words.

Well, Paul kind of feels that way in today’s verse. As he is describing our Lord Jesus and how He came to earth (descended) and went back to heaven (ascended), he just finishes by saying “so that He might fill all things.” Jesus just completes everything. His glory fills the heavens. The angels, I am sure, rejoiced at His return. He is reunited with His Father in glory. Ellicott’s Commentary explains the phrase, “fill all things,” in this way. “But the words are too wide for any limitation. In heaven and earth, and the realms under the earth, His presence and sovereignty extends, by whatever means and over whatever beings He wills.”

APPLICATION

There’s an old Christian song entitled “Fill My Cup, Lord.” The chorus goes like this:

Fill my cup, Lord;
I lift it up Lord;
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more.
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole.

When Jesus fills us, we should “want no more,” amen? We are told we are filled with the Spirit when we come to Christ. Jesus fills us completely, not halfway. Just as He fills all things, He fills all things in us. When I stop and get fuel for my truck, I am tempted sometimes to just get a little. But, of course, that means I will just have to stop again soon. So, what do I do? I fill it up. It lasts longer. Unlike my truck, though, the Holy Spirit fills us completely and permanently. I wish my truck could be filled permanently.

So, why do so many Christians have to keep “going back to their spiritual filling station”? May I suggest something? It’s not about getting more of the Spirit. It’s more about shedding more of their flesh. Our flesh keeps us from enjoying the fulness of Christ in our lives. Our flesh clogs our fuel lines and makes us start sputtering. Is your life sputtering right now? Check your fuel line. Check your faith. Come before the Lord and pour out your heart to Him today.

Thank You, Lord, for filling my heart with Your Spirit. Help me open myself up completely to You.

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Abiding, Bible, Body, Chosen, Church, Heaven, Holy Spirit, Scripture

ONE’S, PART 1

EPHESIANS 4:4

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling;”

Do you like one way streets? I don’t particularly care for them. I will never forget when I was in the 8th grade, I was selected to go to a Beta Club convention in Atlanta, Ga. I don’t remember how many of us went, but I do remember that our chaperone who was a teacher at our school, drove the wrong way down a one way street in downtown Atlanta. We were all screaming. I think our chaperone was screaming too, lol. He was able to turn off quickly to avoid an accident, but the police had already seen him. After our driver explained he was from out of town and got confused, the officer let him go with a warning. I guess he figured these South Georgia hicks were lucky just to make it to Atlanta. There was only one proper way to drive down that street, and we had blown it.

Paul begins a list of seven “ones” in today’s verse. You have to remember who Paul is writing to. He is writing to Gentile believers who have been grafted into the vine of Israel. Some of the Jewish believers were still trying to make a division between them and the Gentile believers. Paul says, “No! We are all one!” So, he says we are one body of Christ. There is one Spirit descended from God and sent to all of us. And there is only one hope of your calling from God, that being Jesus Christ.

APPLICATION

First of all, let me say this. I bet there is nothing in today’s verse that is not already known by you. Of course, you know we are all of one body – the church of Christ. As I drove to church yesterday with Chris, we passed probably a dozen other churches from various denominations. Why? Why can’t we all agree and come together? I can’t believe God is particularly pleased by all this division on Sunday mornings. Paul uses the same language over in 1 Corinthians 12:5. “so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another.”

Paul goes on to remind us that there is only one Spirit. There is not a separate Holy Spirit for the Baptist and Methodist or Church of Christ. There is one Spirit which we all receive at salvation. Listen to Paul’s words again in 1 Corinthians, this time from 6:19. “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” Did you catch that? He is in you. He is in every believer.

When Paul says in today’s verse that there is “one hope of your calling,” he is referring to all of us having that same hope of an eternal life with the Lord in heaven. Jesus said in John 14:2, “‘In My Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you.’” Excuse my grammar, but ain’t that a promise! There is one body. There is one Spirit. There is one hope. Celebrate that today!

O, my Lord, I give You praise for ones.

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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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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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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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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 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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