Spirit-filled Christians have a song in their heart. Paul and Silas were able to sing praises to God in the Philippian jail, resulting in the conversion of the jailer and his family. What a happy time they had.
Ephesians 5:18,19 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
God gave us gospel music to minister joy, hope, and faith to our hearts. I play it on my IPod in the car everywhere I go. Sometimes a song grabs me, and I play it again and again, anxious to introduce it to the Children's Choir. "Meat-filled" gospel songs will lead them, strengthen them, and bless them on the path of life.
One day around the throne of glory we will join thousands upon thousands of angels and saints, praising the Lamb of God in song. But the angels will fold their wings and listen as we sing our redemption hymn. They have never experienced salvation. I wonder if it will be Amazing Grace. I can only imagine the delight and harmony.
. . . but God know when its from the heart. Today, before my "petitions", I just wanted to give the Lord a big hug and thank Him for the times He rescued me.
- A mid-wife delivered me at home thirteen hours after my twin brother. A few days later my folks asked Dr. Mary Alice Chester to come to our house and examine me. She said I wouldn't make it. RESCUED: Thank you, Lord.
- As a child, I almost drowned while swimming with the other kids in Shoal Creek. RESCUED: Thank you, Lord.
- At sixteen, a surgeon told me the cyst on my right ovary, infected with gangrene, would've killed me if I had come an hour later. RESCUED: Thank you, Lord.
- A split-second head-on miss in my sister's rocking Nash Rambler on Highway 60 in 1959. RESCUED; Thank you, Lord.
- Breast cancer survivor with a 15% recovery for my kind of cancer. RESCUED: Thank you, Lord.
- Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. RESCUED: Thank you, thank you, thank you, Lord.
- And, the frightful drive on I-40 in a blizzard. Peeking through a fogged saucer-size opening, eighteen-wheelers whizzed by. RESCUED: Thank you, Lord.
. . . walk and work. The sequence is important: first, wisdom; then walk; then work. I can't work for God unless I am walking with Him, but I can't walk with Him if I am ignorant of His will.
The believer who spends time daily in the Word and in prayer will know God's will and be able to walk with Him and work for Him. But its not we who work for God, its God who works in us and through us to produce the fruit of His grace.
Philippians 2:12,13 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence; work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Christian service is the result of Christian devotion. The work that we do is the outflow of the life that we live. It is by abiding in Christ that we can produce fruit.
. . . and them at Loadicea, prayed for them and encouraged them through a letter.
Colossians 2:2,3 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Knit together in love is what seasons the comfort of sweet fellowship in spiritual churches.
We will never understand everything here on earth, but we can know the riches of God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and the Son -- the Trinity. We can know that's where all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden, available to bless us every day.
Are you struggling with something in your life? If you have a Bible, the Holy Spirit will give you the treasure of God's truth to help your situation as you study the Word.
Many have yet to discover the preciousness of this treasure in Christ. Ask God to lead you there.
. . . We'd rather do it our way. The dreadful swing set construction comes to mind. It's not so different with our lives. Many believe their good works will get them to heaven. God's instructions disagree.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourself; it is the gift of God: Not of works lest any man should boast.
You must be saved to go to heaven. Its by the grace of God (unmerited favor). You can't earn salvation, buy it, or be good enough.
Isaiah 55:6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found; call ye upon Him while he is near.
The invitation is to all sinners. Its to those who have spiritual thirst, hunger, and needs. Is this you? Come to Jesus as you are. Don't clean yourself up first.
The price of salvation is the blood of Jesus Christ shed on Calvary's cross for the sins of all mankind. The same grace that saves you keeps you saved forever, because you're not perfect. The Bible says you are a new creature. Your "want to" changes.
Only Jesus can satisfy your soul. Ask Him to come into your heart.
. . . its the beginning. We are a part of God's "new creation" and God continues to work in us to make us what He wants us to be -- more like Christ.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
But how does God work in us? Through His Holy Spirit, "both to will and to do of His good pleasure". Jesus is in heaven carrying on His unfinished work of perfecting His church, equipping us for our work here on earth. To do this, He uses the Word of God, prayer, and sometimes suffering.
As we read God's Word, understand it, meditate on it, and feed on it; it goes to work in our lives to cleanse and nourish us. As we pray, God's Spirit works in us to release power. As we suffer, the Spirit of God ministers to us. Suffering drives us back to the Word and prayer.
God cannot work through us unless He works in us. This is why its important for you to spend time daily in the Word and in prayer and to yield to Christ during time of suffering.
