Tag: 1 Thessalonians

Find your Deliberate Dance

Published on by DanLeave a comment

It has been my observation when searching for how the Holy Spirit empowers us (as defined in scripture) that we owe everything to the superior strategy and planning of God the Father, including the amazing purchase of our soul by the Son (redemption), and the transformative power and implementation of God’s Plan in us by the Holy Spirit (infilling).

We read in Romans 8:9 — Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. All believers have the Holy Spirit. Continuing, we read in Ephesians 5:18 — Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit. This suggests we are not continually filled, but we are filled for a purpose, a season, then there is rest. Consider the plight of a Gas engine with a nitro injection system. We do not always use the nitro system, just when power is required. We are told to seek the infilling; seek all the fullness we can garner; and, at the same, we are cautioned to avoid quenching the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19) and to avoid grieving the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). This is a deliberate dance.

Let us look at four overlapping ideas that lead to the infilling of the Spirit. First, we are told to meditate on Scripture. There is a life-giving connection between the Spirit of God and his Word. Jesus said — It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are Spirit and life. (John 6:63). Paul says — Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart. (Ephesians 5:18–19). Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16).

Second, we are told to believe what we read in the Word. Paul asked (Galatians 3:5), “Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?” I think it is clear the Holy Spirit is supplied to us and works powerfully in us as we hear the word with faith — as we believe it – as we put it into practice. Stephen and Barnabas were men of faith and full of the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5, Acts 11:24). I think we are wise to not trivialize the relationship between faith and the infilling of the Spirit. It is by meditation and faith we experience the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. This leads to belief in what we read in scripture.

Third, we to be obedient to scripture. One of the disciples asked Jesus — Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world (John 14:22)? Jesus answered — “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:23). When you keep his word, he draws close – really close.

Fourth is the thirst, the desire to know God. The glue that brings together meditation, belief, and obedience is desire. We are told to thirst for Him. Our dance with God is to be Deliberate. Jesus says — If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink … Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive (John 7:37-39). The Psalms says — Drink from the river of [his] delights” (Psalms 36:8). As a deer pants for flowing streams, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God for the living God. (Psalms 42:1–2). O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. (Psalms 63:1).

Embrace meditation on scripture, believe what you read in scripture, become obedient to the guidelines in scripture, and thirst for God. You do this and the Spirit of glory will rest upon you (1 Peter 4:14). Do not hold back. Implement the plan. Seek his presence. Seek the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Find the ‘deliberate dance’ in your life.

I choose Jesus.

Our Best Friend

Published on by DanLeave a comment

Essay by Dan

It has been my observation that 1 Thessalonians provides us with an interesting call to unconditional love and prayer for the people who surround us and the people we meet every day. Read this slowly and note the message from Paul — Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:15-18).

Rejoice always, not sometimes, not just when it feels good, but rejoice always. This is not the normal emotional response we usually postulate and execute when being mistreated. You might be wronged; you might be spurned; you might be in jail for a false charge. Yet, Paul says Rejoice!

And then comes the direction to ‘Pray continually’. About what? We are told to give thanks in all circumstances. for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Our directive is clear. We should do the right thing for everyone; even when you are not treated fairly. Huh? Find the joy you are looking for in your walk with Jesus, overlook the way you are being treated. Let God do his thing in you. Pray without ceasing. Diligently keep a continual disposition of thankfulness to God. We will have no time to be grumpy if we are continually praising and rejoicing with the Boss of all Bosses.

To ‘pray continually’ brings a sense of dependence upon God. Even when we are not articulating words (the Spirit is busy praying our thoughts) we know we are connected, he is listening, we are spilling out our heart, he is listening, even when we are not speaking consciously to God, there is a deep, abiding dependence on him in our message that represents the essence of our faith. I think – this gets at one of the core elements of a vibrant Walk with God. We are connected to Jesus by constantly communicating our feelings and observations. Any observation, we see it, we talk, we listen, we talk, unfiltered, clear, honest. Listen, talk. For me – this is an essential approach to stay out of harm’s way.

But please understand — we are better off if we do not always view prayer as a ‘jukebox’. What I mean by ‘jukebox’ is — we form a prayer request — we pray — and God plays exactly the song we asked for. Huh?  I think the reason we pray is to be sure he puts us in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing. We pray to be connected, corrected, encouraged, and directed. We pray for others with the same reasons — that they be connected, corrected, encouraged, and directed. We pray to become part of the solution (God’s solution) not part of the problem (our problem or somebody else’s problem).

When you move this way, the outcome becomes less important than a willing contrite heart. Never doubt that he is in control. Prayer is God’s way of bringing us to the right mindset. Never give up looking to him — wanting to be part of His solution. Come to him repeatedly during the day. Make your state of mind a ‘God focused attitude of gratitude.’  Make yourself available, willing to be directed, willing to be a part of God’s plan. Let God fill in the details. Leave the strategic planning to God, he is better at it than we are. People who function this way are in prayer do not need to set times for prayer. They just start talking in the morning when they get out of bed. Observing, thinking, listening, and talking. Reading scripture, more thinking, listening, and talking. This is not formal communication. This is inviting God into our self-talk, our internal thoughts, our inner sanctum. Let him be God!

The deeper truth — I hope you consider praying without ceasing for prolonged periods of time each day. If you find yourself with a little mental dead space – talk to God. Paul suggests we can enjoy continual communion with God (I Thessalonians 5:15-18). I think, after months of steady listening and talking with God, He will become our best friend.

I choose Jesus.

Angels all Around Us

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Pepper asked me a few weeks ago – “What exactly is an Angel?”  I did not have much of an answer. So, a few days ago I scribbled the word Angel on a blank page and started learning afresh. Here is a portion of what tumbled out of scripture. There will be more from me in other missives soon to be written on this topic. Continue reading “Angels all Around Us” →