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| Holy Spirit - Celebrated or Tolerated? |
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God goes where He is celebrated not where He is tolerated!
Mark 6:4-6 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. (5) And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. (6) And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.
Have you ever heard of the saying, familiarity breeds contempt? Well, this sure looks like what happened here. Those who saw Jesus grow up in the flesh. They saw Him as a boy, in their eyes they had limited the work God could do in a person. There was no honor for Him, no real faith in their midst and as a result, no mighty work done. Jesus even marveled in [amazed by] the state of their unbelief.
We are to know no man after the flesh [2 Co 5:16] or in another words, we are not to become familiar with others. We are not to see them as just a natural being but a supernatural, God anointed believer who can make a world of difference because God is now in them and with them.
This familiarity can be in the church, among God's people and they don't even realize it. You can become familiar and religiously dead concerning the moving of God. That's why we need to celebrate and welcome the Holy Spirit among us.
The power of the Holy Spirit is needed so desperately today. In our lives, in the church, in our ministries, in our homes, in our society. We are in a time where psychology is just not getting it done. The mere words of men are falling to the ground and bearing no fruit. We need the big guns, we need the person of the Holy Spirit whom Jesus left us to be our comforter [John 16:7;14:26, which in the Greek is defined as our helper, He's the one that is called alongside of us to assist us in this life]. With the Holy Spirit comes power [Acts 1:8]. He's our teacher [John 14:16]. He's our guide [John 16:13], He leads us into truth because He is the Spirit of truth [John 15:26].
CELEBRATED OR TOLERATED?
I see people in church that just tolerate the things of God. They are the attenders. Sure, they show up and many of them are faithful. But there's no joy in their lives. If you saw them in society, you couldn't separate them from the rest of the crowd. They're tired looking, run down and easily offended. Most of them are just barely making it. But then there's another group and they celebrate the things of God, the Holy Spirit, the Word of God. They're hungry, happy, growing and brining disciples to Jesus. These are the ones that have allowed the Holy Spirit to touch them. They let Him guide them, teach them and even correct them. God's power is working in their lives, the grace of God is working in their families and it's a joyous thing to see them prosper. So what's the difference?
THE HUNGER FACTOR
John G. Lake who lived in the late 1800's and early 1900's made a statement that moves in me every time I read it.
Oh, if I had one gift, or one desire that I would bestow on you, more than all others, I would bestow upon you the hunger for God - John G. Lake
Hunger is the difference. Hunger for God, for His Holy Spirit, for the Word. We can have more if we will desire more. I mean, really desire, get desperate for so much so that it changes your course.
John 7:37-39 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. (38) He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (39) (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Thirst for the Holy Spirit, an attitude that celebrates Him. The word celebrate means to observe, commemorate with ceremonies or festivities. To make known publicly, proclaim. To praise widely or to present to widespread and favorable public notice. Do you celebrate Him or tolerate Him? Do you really need Him to the point of making a place in your life, your home, your church where He wants to reside, where He wants to manifest Himself and show His might in whatever you do? He will come to you because He goes where He is wanted.
~ More to come ~ |
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Jim |
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April 05, 2008 at 1:40pm |
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| Great blog, Pastor! You are absolutely right. The Holy Spirit is needed now more than ever. God sent His Spirit to be with us for a reason. There is so much that the Holy Spirit does, but to say it all in one sentence is this: The Holy Spirit is to be to us what Jesus was to His disciples. Think about that awhile ... everything Jesus did with, for, and through His disciples during the 3 years of His ministry is exactly what the Holy Spirit is sent to do with, for, and through us. He led them, taught them, provided for them, rebuked them, prophesied to them, was their friend, their helper, their comforter, etc. Jesus had to return to heaven, but His ministry was to continue on until He returns. The Holy Spirit is here (among many other things) to keep the ministry of Jesus Christ going through us. We are to save the lost, heal the sick, cast out devils, feed the hungry, help the poor, preach & teach the word of God, make disciples, etc, etc, etc .... Praise the LORD !!!!!! |
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Lisa |
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April 07, 2008 at 7:51am |
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The Spirit of Christ. Wow. That He is working in my life is truly the greatest treasure.
The fingerprints all over my children...please, more. God, give them that hunger for You.
Only He can satisfy. |
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| The Holy Spirit bever points to himself. Its supposed to be about Jesus |
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