More Washing Ahead

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 08:03:16 -0700

S – Hebrews 9:14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God.
O – There is a direct connect between the atoning death of Christ and the cleansing of our conscience. I cannot reform my conscience by my own will. I leave my fingerprints of preference and comfort and self-justification on every detail of my spirit that I touch.
The work of the Word and the Holy Spirit leave me clean. I am transformed by their work in my inner person.
As I submit to the God-breathing of the Word, changes are shaped and molded in my spirit. I have new direction, new preferences, new goals, new ability, new power, new mission, new values. Wow. I am being made new, being remade into His image.
A – How much more – incentive that is eternal and rooted in omnipotence. I want that partnership to reveal itself today.
P – Cleanse the stuff that attracts and distracts away from your Full glory. Today. Here. Amen.

No Speed Insights

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 07:20:24 -0700

S – 2 Timothy 2:7 “Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.”
O – There is no short-cut to spiritual insights. The Holy Spirit processes inspiration through our mind processes. That does not mean at the speed of our calculation, rather the speed of our comprehension.
Reflect – allow the Holy Spirit to enlighten the facets of any truth.
The reason we gain new observations from even a most familiar passage of scripture is because of the omniscience of the Holy Spirit.
Paul has just reflected on a spectrum of Kingdom details: conscience (v. 3), genealogy (v. 5), ordination (v. 6), prison (v. 8), resurrection (v. 9), Asia (v. 15), desertion (v. 15) as starters.
Insight appropriates the wisdom of God. It gives us understanding of options for leveraging God’s solutions in the details of our lives and ministry. I can seize the resources of God to overcome the resistances of human life.
Insight must be intentional. I must desire God’s revelation and instruction. I must want the will and mind of Christ. I must want my heart to reflect His heart. He will not force growth insights into my spirit. These are the fruit of intimacy with Him and passion for my servant hood to serve His Kingdom.
A – What I gain from seeking insight surpasses what I attain from seeking information. I can speed read for gaining the gist of a passage. I must reflect to gain the fuller power of its revelation.
P – Guide my mental openness and desire for your teaching. Amen.

Gospel Goal

Sat, 6 Dec 2008 08:11:42 -0700

S – Philippians 1: 12-14 “Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
O – The goal is the Gospel – lived and proclaimed – a city on a hill.
Opposition propels believers from the shadows to the spotlight. Conflict is a catalyst for courage and clarity.
Left to themselves, most believers would live in smug silence. Some who are vocal are not the best representatives of the gospel.
The Gospel is proclaimed by lives living in full obedience to the full gospel. We do not get to magnify or minimize our preference or comfortable commands. We do not get to use the Gospel as a club of judgementalism or condemnation.
Condemnation is not part of the Gospel. (Romans 8:1)
A – the only measurement that matters is what’s happening to the Gospel? Is it being advanced or is it being misrepresented? Is what I’m doing serving to advance the Gospel or retard its kingdom?

Happy in Holiness

Thu, 4 Dec 2008 08:07:23 -0700

S - Eph 4: 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
O – This is nature-change. It is not self-promotion. Something happens inside this human body – it happens to the mind and spirit – I am created in a new image – the image of God – in true righteousness and holiness.
The mind leads this process. I am taught the truth about the sinfulness of my mind, the bent towards sin and sinning.
I must put it off – intentionally jettison - this spirit of my mind, this carnal nature attraction.
A – This action requires consistent reminding – my humanity drifts back to its old norms. It is only by appropriating the work of the Holy Spirit that the new “set” of my mind and spirit begin to replace the natural, old self.
P – Create in me a new mind and nature, true in righteousness and holiness. Amen

Word Treasure

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 07:24:26 -0700

S – Romans 3:1-2 “What advantage is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God.”
O – Forbid that we casually hold the Word of God. We have been entrusted with the only solution for sin for our planet.
It is not for ourselves only. It is for all the world. It is sin-solution for every person. It is sufficient if it is made known.
There ought never to be satisfaction in the soul of a believer if there are options to participate in extending the word to others.

Building Blocks

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:25:43 -0700

S – Matt 7:24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on a rock.”
O – We are building every day. Adding options to our lives.
The greatest resource is God’s word. It is the revelation, information, insight, direction, correction.
Hearing requires intentional listening. Careful listening. Get the channel clear. Be sure to hear the enunciation of what God is saying.
A – My reading of the Word must be intentional, deliberate, careful, sensitive to the work of the Holy Spirit.
And I must put them into practice.

Encourage

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 07:22:28 -0700

S
- 2 Cor 7:5 For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.
O – Following a God-given vision does not mean easy street. Paul had worked his way through Asia Minor by obedience and dependence on God.
He had a vision of a man from Macedonia saying “come over to Macedonia and help us.” This vision moved Paul past his historic prejudice since Haman (Esther 9:24) was identified as from Macedonia. And this archenemy of the jews left a residue of reluctance in all Jews.
Alexander the Great had set his capitol here. But the area had been devastated by wars.
And the vision called Paul to come with the gospel. Vision-driven means provision. Paul’s first European converts were in Macedonia.
And Paul lists the emotional and physical and spiritual cost: no body-rest, harassed, conflicts, fears.
It is the intercession and intervention of Titus and Corinthian believers that gave hope to Paul.
A – We need intercessors – those who lift our hearts and minds and bodies to Christ for His resources to meet our challenges.
P – God, resource my life from the intercession of others and may I serve you and them. Amen

Strict - to Win

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 07:15:43 -0700

S – 1 Cor 9:25 “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown which will not last, we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
O – Athletes are obsessed. They are obsessed with training their body and mind to respond to every option of competition and win. All that for temporary wins. How temporary? Before this game is over they are talking about the next game.
It is strict training. Every minute and every muscle is focused on improvement.
Paul lived the first segment of his life in strict training under the law. He studied, memorized, discussed, argued, debated, defended. He worked his way to the Pharisaical top.
Then he encountered Christ.
And he refocused his strict training. He trained in grace. Faith. Love. Redemption. Forgiveness.
He trained to win. To win others. To win for the gospel community. To win for Christ.
And that win is eternal.
Paul is still winning. The words he penned from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit spoke to millions this morning in all kinds of conditions and cultures around our planet.
A – What happens today will add to or take away from forever in someone’s life. I must understand strict. Focused. Precise. Important. Crucial.
I must rivet my attention on the spiritual goal. So Much Is At Stake.

Gaining God’s Mindset

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 08:49:33 -0700

S - 1 Corinthians 7:25 “… I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy” v. 40 “I think I too have the Spirit of God.”
O – Paul lives with a spiritual dependency on the perpetual processes of the Holy Spirit.
Our God is to have God reproduce His heart and His mind in us.
His value statements here are given out of his processing of all known aspects of the gospel community in its maximum effectiveness. His only use of leverage it to encourage every possible person to accomplish all God can do through there obedience.
He is not establishing a cult that reveres his authority. He is investing truth in the church of Jesus Christ.
There is intensity: v. 29 “what I mean, brothers, is that the time is short.”
Every believers time is short when compared to the time line of history. Whether it is terminated by death or interrupted by the return of Christ, there are no days to waste, and no relationships in which to coast spiritually.
Intensity does not require manipulation.
A – Good servants give a clear reflection of the full counsel of God. It’s not about my preferences or comfort. I must teach truth that pleases God – fully pleases God.
I want the counsel of His Word and the counsel of His Holy Spirit to speak into every situation where I have responsibility and influence. The product will be gratitude.
P – God, fashion my mind today in the crucible of your mercy and spirit. Amen.

HSDD - Holy Spirit Dependent Daily

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:29:20 -0700