Today’s Scrip-Bit 27 May 2014 Ephesians 5:15-16

27 May 2014 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Ephesians 5:15-16.   See then that ye walk circumspectly (carefully), not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Well hello there you beautiful people, all made in the remarkable image of our wonderful God! Top o’ the morning to you all! We are a tad late, but as always, better late than never. (smile)

And may our God of comfort, healing, provision, strength and security, bless and keep us all safely under the umbrella of His unconditional and everlasting LOVE!

Wow mih people! The ole fella’s certainly on a roll this summer-like Tuesday morning. But that’s how we ought to think as true believers in Christ, and as I mistakenly said yesterday, ‘flowers of Jesus’ instead of followers.

But after reviewing the situation, I concluded that ‘flowers’ was and even better description, because it implies that we are blooming, growing, maturing, looking beautiful in the sight of the unbelievers and the heathen. All praise and glory to our omnipotent, all-wise, all-seeing and ever-present God!

And all God’s people declared a loud and grateful: ‘Amen! So let it be!’

And today I want to share a quote attributed to Lord Chesterfield – Phillip Stanhope (1694-1773). In this, one of his many quotes, he wisely advises: ‘Know the true value of time; snatch, seize and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness, no laziness, no procrastination, never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.’ 

Words of awesome wisdom and truth my brethren! Words that we should all heed and attempt to live by, because time is one of the most valuable things we have, and unfortunately it is also one of the things that never comes back. We can never retrieve whatever time we’ve wasted or loss, not even one second of it. Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever!

So today, please let us look closely at the use we make of our time, and try to improve it, use it to the best of our ability. And the great thing about using time wisely is that it enhances our lives immeasurably.

And all of that measures up and segues nicely into our Bit: ‘ See then that ye walk circumspectly (carefully), not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.’

Oh Friends, what undeniable truth and godly wisdom! We do have to walk carefully and use our time profitably in these evil times. Please note that the evildoers are not procrastinating, but using their time wisely to do all the evil they desire. So too should we believers, provided we truly desire to knock their evil blocks off.

Now here is some info from the scholars’ re our Bit: ‘5:15. See then that ye walk circumspectly means “therefore watch carefully how you live.”

5:16. Redeeming the time (or, “making the most of every opportunity”): Contextually, the specific opportunity in view is that of exposing the sins of the lost and being a witness to them. Because the days are evil assigns a reason to seize each opportunity. It is because the sins being committed during these days are so evil.’

And we don’t have to wonder about that last sentence Friends, since we see it happening daily, for the sins and evil of this world are ever increasing!

Bruh Paul could never have imagined the sorry depths that mankind would reach two thousand years after he wrote these wise words to the Ephesians. Words that still very much pertain to our current situation.

Listen up closely friends. ‘Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. (scholars – since the current age is so perilous morally, Christians must clearly understand what the will of the Lord is). And be not drunk with wine wherein is excess (dissipation); 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; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.’ (Eph.5:17-21)

Oh my people, as true believers, that’s how we ought to live!

So today, please, let’s ponder all those things we’ve spoken of and try to successfully integrate them into our lives, or simply improve on each aspect, so that our lives will truly reflect the LOVE of God, and thus glorify Him, and further His righteous kingdom, as is expected of us. That’s wisdom of the highest order! Much LOVE!

…to every thing there is a season…and a time to every purpose under the heaven… (Eccl.3:1)…now is a time for repentance and return to godly living…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 22 May 2013 Acts 2:4

22 May 2013 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

  Acts 2:4.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Oh my beautiful Friends in Christ Jesus! How goes it this awesome Wednesday morning eh? I sure hope it’s going as well as possible with all of you. And if by chance it’s not going too good, then please don’t despair, turn to God, cry out to Him, lay your troubles before Him, and He will definitely help you through whatever problems you’re facing. That’s His faithful promise.

So ‘Let us hold fast the profession (confession) of our faith (hope) without wavering: (for he is faithful that promised:) And let us consider one another to provoke (stir up) unto LOVE and to good works.’ (Heb.10:23) Now that shouldn’t be anything new or strange, because that’s our basic mandate for earthly living. 
 
And with those few words of preamble, we’re going to jump right into our Bit, before I get sidetracked again today. (smile) ‘And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.’
 
A couple days ago, we began trying to explain the workings of the Holy Spirit, centred on its two basic aspects; baptism and filling. We talked some about baptism, today I want to finish that and move on to the filling aspect. Now most of today’s Bit will consist of the scholars’ explanations, because they do a much better job than I can.
 
And we’ll begin with some of their thoughts on the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, based on this scripture, where Jesus is talking to the disciples. ‘He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly (heart) shall flow rivers of living water. (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.’ (John 7:38-39)  
 
The scholars then explain that, ‘One of God’s purposes since the beginning has been to dwell with humanity and enjoy fellowship with us. He does it in this dispensation through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit (1) occurs automatically when a person is saved; (2) is not an “experience” but produces spiritual experiences; (3) remains permanently; (4) is the basis of all the other ministries of the Holy Spirit; and (5) is the source of new life in the believer.
 
Illustration: When Paul met 12 disciples of John who did not know of the Holy Spirit, he knew they needed to be saved. So he preached the gospel to them (Acts 19:1-5).
 
Application: The Holy Spirit’s indwelling should motivate the believer to be careful not to harm his body nor indulge his body in sin. (1 Cor.6:19). (First Ref, Ex.35:31; Primary Ref. John 7:37-39; cf. 1 Cor.12:13)’
 
That gives us a basic foundation on the purpose of the Holy Spirit. Now let’s turn to a bit more in depth explanation of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, based on this verse: ‘For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond (slaves) or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.’ (1 Cor.12:13)
 
The scholars explain: ‘The baptism of the Holy Sprit is an act whereby the individual believer becomes united with Christ. Even though the effects of the Holy Spirit are realized at a believer’s conversion, which is thus experiential, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is not experiential.
 
Illustration: The fact that all the Christians at Corinth were baptized in the Spirit shows that the baptism of the Holy Spirit does not itself eradicate the sin nature. Some Christians are confused as to when the baptism occurs.
 
There are four biblical answers to this question: The theological answer states the baptism of the Spirit is the effect of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, and that the believer is united with Christ by this baptism. (Gal.2:20) Initially, the baptism of the Holy Spirit occurred on the Day of Pentecost when the new church was baptized by the Spirit. (Acts 2:2) Personally, a Christian is baptized in the Spirit at the moment of conversion (vs.13) As the believer submits to water baptism, he testifies of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. (Rom.6:4-6)
 
Application: Because all Christians have been baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ, they should also submit to the biblical ordinance of water baptism and become a part of a local church. (First Ref. Matt.3:11: Primary Ref. 1Cor.12:13; cf. Eph.1:13)
 
Oh Friends, that should suffice for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Let’s hope we’re all better informed now on that point.
 
As per the filling of the Holy Spirit, the scholars explain that ‘Though verse 4 (our Bit) mentions only the filling with the Spirit, both the filling and baptism occurred. Christ promised that the baptism would occur (1:4-5) and Peter later affirms that it did happen at Pentecost. (11:15-16) (1) Following Pentecost every believer receives the baptism of the Spirit (1 Cor.12:13);hence the New Testament never commands the Christian to receive it.
 
But the filling of the Spirit is not experienced by all believers, and so is commanded. (Eph.5:18) (2) The baptism is permanent, happening but once for all. The filling is ongoing, occurring continuously as seen in the present tense imperative of Ephesians 5:18, that is “Keep on being filled.”
 
The verse commands: “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess (riotousness), but be filled with the Spirit.” Since Paul compares the influences of wine and the filling of the Spirit, the word control can aptly express the idea of either.
 
The filling of the Spirit is the controlling influence of the Spirit within the believer. Such control is neither universal nor unending, thus it must be commanded and does recur within the believers (cf.4:8,31) Peter and the others had been previously filled on Pentecost (vs.4)
 
The adjective ‘full’ expresses the abiding character of a Spirit filled man. (6:3,5; 7:55;11:24); but the participle form ‘filled’ (used in 2:4; 4:8,31; 9:17; 13:9) expresses an action performed at that moment.
 
The baptism is the act by which Jesus, through the Spirit, at conversion brings the believer into relation with Himself and makes the believer a part of God’s people, the church. The filling is the continuous experience within the Christian whereby the Spirit, who already indwells him, keeps control over his life.’
 
Ah Friends, I do hope that those explanations from the Bible scholars help us all to understand the reasons for and the workings of the Holy Spirit of God in our lives. It can be confusing for believers, but like everything else practice, study, and personal experience are needed for each of us to mature and grow in our walk with Christ.
 
So please study the material, there are lots of references in the explanations, look them up. For others can tell you all sorts of stuff, but until you look them up for yourself, you’ll still be lacking in true and total understanding.
 
Please realize that it’s ever so important for each believer to read the Word them self, to fully grasp its real meaning. And there’s plenty for us to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest today, so let’s get to it nuh. Much LOVE!
 
…the Father created the universe and all therein…Jesus paid for its sins…and the Holy Spirit helps us to walk a righteous path…
 
 
 
   
  

Today’s Scrip-Bit 4 June 2012 Acts 1:5

04 Jun 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , ,

Acts 1:5.     For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
 
Oh Friends, it’s Monday; back to labouring for massa’s crumbs! And don’t fool yuhself, if he has his way, we’ll soon be labouring for crumbs! But hopefully we’ve used the weekend wisely, so now we’re ready, set and able to go out into Lucifer’s cruel, evil world and give him heck. And to further boost our enthusiasm and strength of purpose, let’s proudly sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with much gusto! All together now: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together. We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies. But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle. Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’ And now for the last time, (smile) let’s turn to our wonderful Bit; prophetically promised by Christ, then so amazingly fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost, and since then, down through the ages, in each new believer, in so many different ways. ‘For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.’ And in Bruh Paul’s case, none more mysterious and miraculous, who, after being a serious persecutor of the early Christians, through the intervention of Christ’s Spirit, became the most famous, zealous and expert authority on the subject. Though, as the scholars point out, he was commissioned to work in Christ’s name by a God-appointed disciple, Ananias (Acts 9:15-17), by contrast, his apostolic authority did come directly from Christ, not by succession through one of the apostles. As he says at the beginning of Galatians: ‘Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.)’ (Gal.1:1) Unlike the other apostles, he received his call from the resurrected, glorified and exalted Jesus. Wow! Yes Friends, in Bruh Paul we certainly see the amazing and mysterious workings of our God. He didn’t know Jesus in the flesh, but yet wrote most of the New Covenant (Testament) that Jesus made with man. How? Through the workings of the Spirit, revealing God’s desire and intent to him. It’s amazing that he preached and wrote about the workings of the Spirit more than all the other apostles, even those who personally walked with Christ on earth. He certainly impacted the lives of the Gentiles, to whom he was commissioned to preach the gospel, with the importance of the Spirit. Today, I just want to highlight some of his extraordinary, but oh so truthful remarks on the ways of the Holy Spirit. And we’ll begin with when he talks about ministers in the New Testament to the Corinthians. ‘Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able (sufficient as) ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.’ (2 Cor.3:5-6) He’s talking here about the difference between the external ways of the Old Testament, as opposed to the internal approach of the New. Bruh Paul bombards both the Galatians and the Ephesians with much talk on the Spirit, but unfortunately we only have time and space for a few of the more famous ones. In Galatians it’s Chapter 5, re walking in the Spirit: ‘This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.’ (Gal.5:16-18) Then there’s oft the quoted one later on in the same chapter. ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness (kindness), goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance (self-control): against such there is no law…If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory (conceited), provoking one another, envying one another.’ (Gal.5:22-23, 25-26) And the last one from Galatians: ‘For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.’ (Gal.6:8) From Ephesians comes first a prayer for inner growth: ‘That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.’ (Eph.3:16)  And re the armour of God; ‘And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.’ (Eph.6:18) And in Colossians, re false teaching he reminds them: ‘For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your (good) order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.’ (Col.2:5) Oh Friends, Bruh Paul talks about the Spirit so much in his writings, that you’ll have to look up the Concordance of your Bible to see them all. However, we’ll end this series of messages on the Holy Spirit with a rather appropriate reminder from Ephesians: ‘And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess (dissipation); but be filled with the Spirit.’ (Eph.5:18) Yes my people, if we have to be filled with, be under the influence or controlled by anything, please let it be the Holy Spirit of Jesus which will leads us aright. And in closing, I sincerely hope that our conversations on the Spirit have been useful, have increased our knowledge and will benefit us immensely in the future. Much LOVE!…remember…it’s the Spirit…the worker bee of the Holy Trinity…that’s been commissioned to lead and guide all believers…but He can’t do it without your conscious permission…
 

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