Time with Jesus - Tuesday, 22 May
2012
Hi all,
Today we take a look at the
Holy Spirit and what He does in us. Most of us are never aware of Him walking
alongside as Jesus Promised. Today’s meditation should help this.
Blessings
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
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Time with Jesus – Tuesday, 22 May 2012
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY
LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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DON’T FORGET THE
PARACLETE
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The
Christian lifestyle is impossible. None of us can do it. I’m not being
negative. I’m stating a fact. Only Jesus has ever managed it. Those who say
they are or have are mistaken. There is only one Who can do so. Jesus Christ.
So how do we get Jesus to live a Christian life for us? He does it by the
Holy Spirit.
Paul
tells us how it’s done in Galatians 5:16-25.(Read the entire passage).
Because of space considerations I’ll quote two verses. 16 But I say, walk by
the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires
of the flesh. 25 If we live by the Spirit,
let us also walk by the Spirit. Galatians
5:16 & 25 ESV
Here
then is the way we can live the Christian life. Note that what is happening
is that the Holy Spirit leads and guides us the way we should go. Without
Him, it can’t be done.
In
better words, when we are tired of trying to do the impossible a Christian
can ask the Holy Spirit to do what He does best. He is the “Paraclete”. This
means “the one who comes alongside”. He is the One Jesus told His disciples
would come and take His place.
Jesus
told us that it was good for us that the Holy Spirit “takes His place”. John
put it as follows: 7 But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don't,
the Advocate won't come. If I do go away,
then I will send Him to you. John 16:7 NLT
An
obvious reason is that Jesus is in one place at a time. The Holy Spirit is
anywhere and everywhere simultaneously. Another reason is that He (the Holy
Spirit) can “live in you” This is because our bodies are temples of the Holy
Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells in us. He knows what is going on anywhere and
everywhere. So although you may have no idea what to pray, the Holy Spirit
within us knows exactly what we should be praying. So He intercedes on our
behalf in ways we cannot tell. All we know is that there are “groans” within
us that are His prayers expressed in ways we cannot imagine.
One
of the most beautiful “features” of the Holy Spirit is His gentlemanly
conduct. He is our leader and our guide. He does not “take over”. He will never
seek to “control” you. That would violate the freewill we have been given. What
we do is our decision. He will lead us and guide us and empower us to keep
out of sin. He enables us to “walk in the Spirit” But we are the ones who do
the walking. He is not responsible for what we do. We are. He “comes alongside”
as our helper. He even helps us do what is right. But we must do it. The
final decision is ours. He can never be accused of sin.
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
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26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.
For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit
prays for us with groaning that cannot be expressed in words. 27
And the Father who knows all hearts knows what
the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with
God's own will.
Romans 8:26-27 NLT
26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as
My representative--that is, the Holy Spirit--He will teach you
everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
John 14:26 NLT
19 Don't you know that your bodies are temples
of the Holy Spirit? The Spirit is in you. You have received him from God.
You do not belong to yourselves.
1 Corinthians 6:19 NIrV
13 For God is working in you, giving
you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.
Philippians 2:13 NLT
14 He knows us inside and out, keeps in mind
that we're made of mud.
Psalms 103:14 MSG
3 He will not break a bent twig. He will
not put out a dimly burning flame. He will be faithful and make
everything right.
Isaiah 42:3 NIrV
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping.
"Couldn't you men keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter.
41 "Watch and pray. Then you won't fall into sin when you are
tempted. The spirit is willing. But the body is
weak."
Matthew 26:40-41 NIrV
A Psalm of David. 1 The LORD
is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green
pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
Psalms 23:1-2 ESV
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The lifestyle of a Christian is not a life of ease.
In fact, it is impossible to even try to please,
The people who are watching us each moment, every day.
They long to point a finger, to look at us and say,
“You say you are a Christian. I
don’t believe it’s true.
That which I see you doing, A Christian shouldn’t do”.
Of course, it’s very easy to comment from the side.
Their actions aren’t important. They don’t try to abide;
Within the sort of framework of what they think is right.
They’re not in competition and love to see us fight!
And that is what we’re good at. To squabble and to brawl,
With our fellow Christians to prove we’re best of all!
Our attitude is terrible. In fact it’s upside down.
We ought to help our brothers and see them wear the crown.
For if we would be best of all, then we must be the least!
Give them place of honour and let them be the priest.
But every time we try it, we seem to get it wrong;
Forgetting that when we are weak, then Jesus Christ is strong!
We’re also quite forgetting that we are not alone.
There is no need for us to try and do it on our own.
We have the Holy Spirit and when He is in charge,
Then He will be the helper of Christians at large.
He is the “paracletos” and He is on our side.
He isn’t just a an ornament, He is a Special Guide
He helps us do the things we know that we can never do.
When we don’t know what to pray He prays inside of you!
We recognise the groaning that comes from deep within.
We know that He has “got it right” without committing sin!
He truly is a gentleman and knows us inside out.
He is my Lord and Shepherd. I’m His without a doubt.
And He is always willing to help me get things right.
So even unbelievers will say that I’m polite!
He will not break a broken reed
He won’t snuff out a flame;
And everything He ever does is done in Jesus name.
He’s always working in us to please the Lord most High.
And he will keep on doing this until the day we die.
So while folk are comparing you, with what they think is right,
Don’t forget the “paraclete” will help you win the fight.
Relax and just be normal and to His will submit
And all your every action with Jesus Christ will fit.
Jim Strickland – Written 22nd May 2012
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