He gave us His word and Something else……

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

¹³ In Him you also who have heard the Word of Truth, the glad tidings (Gospel) of your salvation, and have believed in and adhered to and relied on Him, were stamped with the seal of the long-promised Holy Spirit.

¹⁴ That [Spirit] is the guarantee of our inheritance [the firstfruits, the pledge and foretaste, the down payment on our heritage], in anticipation of its full redemption and our acquiring [complete] possession of it—to the praise of His glory.  Ephesians 1:14

God has promised us so much. The things He has planned for us

are beyond our comprehension.

Is God true to His word, yes!

Does God keep His promises, yes!

I think we can all agree, that God’s word is solid.

If He says,

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

We can be assured He means it….

If He says,

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19

We know it’s a done deal right? Why, because He said it…!!!!

(a big DUH…..)

Let me get to my point.

We know God’s word is true and He knows

it too but according to Ephesians 1: 14, He has gone an extra step:

He has given us His Holy Spirit as a guarantee we will get

everything He has promised us!!

Let that soak in for a bit…….

 Let me read the word again:

¹⁴ That [Spirit] is the guarantee of our inheritance [the firstfruits, the pledge and foretaste, the down payment on our heritage], in anticipation of its full redemption and our acquiring [complete] possession of it—to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:14

Are you spirit filled? Does the Holy Spirit live in you?

You now know what that means!!!

God wanted to give you a guarantee that He would do

EVERYTHING He promised you so He gave you the

Holy Spirit. He really didn’t have to because

we know His word is ALWAYS true but He did it anyway!!

How He loves us!!!

But the Holy Spirit is not a dormant “force”

that sits idly in you, No!

He is directing you, speaking to you, teaching you and

a whole lot more.

²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  John 14:26

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  Acts 1:8

“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 14:15-18

I will stop there….

When I considered this I was encouraged. There have been really

crazy times, times when I lose sight of what God

is doing in my life, there are times when I struggle with the truth

that God has a plan for me but to know that the Holy Spirit

is THE guarantee I will receive ALL of God’s amazing promises

is too wonderful to comprehend……….Selah!

 

I have taken the presence

of the Holy Spirit in my life so lightly. Please forgive me Lord!

The Holy Spirit loves me but I overlook Him a lot…..!

He is in my life because He was sent by God.

He is in my life because God

has an amazing plan and He wants to guarantee that I will

walk in it!!!

 

Take heart friends….You may be going through hell but the

Holy Spirit is in you making sure God’s word comes to

pass in your life………

 

He is making sure God’s amazing promises materialize

in your life.

If you ever doubted God’s love for you just remember the

Holy Spirit who lives in you…..

He is your guarantee, that God’s word is true….

Amazing right…..All praise and glory to Him!!!

Amen and Amen…..!

 

Forgive me for my ignorance Lord….!

 

Rolain

 

What Does It Mean To Follow Jesus??

 

But Jesus said to him, Follow Me, and leave the dead [in sin] to bury their own dead.
And after He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him.
And suddenly, behold, there arose a violent storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered up by the waves; but He was sleeping.
Matthew 8:22-24

As I was reading this passage of scripture something caught my attention. The word says, after Jesus got into the boat, His disciples got into the boat and suddenly there arose a violent storm! Not just a storm but a violent storm. Why did Jesus go on to the boat then? In fact why did He allow the disciples to follow Him onto the boat?? I am sure He knew a storm would come. They could of stayed on  land until the storm passed but instead He went on to the boat! The disciples had no idea what they were getting themselves into.
It is not easy following Jesus. A lot of people think it is but it’s not! Following Jesus doesn’t guarantee a pain free life. In fact it might mean more challenges and more trouble but why???

The answer is found further down in the scripture I shared. The disciples were freaking out. They thought they were in mortal danger!!! (Matthew 8:25)
And that is the thing about this walk we have chosen. The danger is real. The trials are real. The troubles we face can take us out! As the disciples thought they would die so it is with us. But Jesus had a plan. He wasn’t taking them into the storm for the fun of it. He wanted to teach them something. He wanted them to learn something.

And He said to them, Why are you timid and afraid, O you of little faith? Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great and wonderful calm (a perfect peaceableness). Matthew 8:26

Jesus equated their fear and timidity for a lack of faith!!! Very interesting….They were not over reacting when they were asking Jesus to save them. The storm was real, the boat was sinking so one would think their reaction was totally normal but no, Jesus equated it to lack of faith!!!!
In the storm we need to trust God. He is the ONLY One who can get us out of it. The only One!!
Your foreboding and anxious thoughts and your fear are showing Him how much you DON’T trust Him!!
Fear is a natural response to danger but how we respond when fear comes is important.

I want you to know, Jesus is with you in the storm. He wants your faith. Will you stop looking at the magnitude of the storm and turn to Him in faith? He will save you. He wants to strengthen your faith in Him. He is good. He does not allow storms into our lives for the fun of it. He has a plan.

Rolain