Issue 3
July 2013
D eZine C FEATURES THIS MONTH
Dougie McCorm ack
Sharon Burrell
Book R eview
‘A New Day Dawning’ Page 8
‘Inheritance’
‘Café Café Theology’ Theology Page 13
Page 2
CONTENTS Inheritance – - - Pages 2 & 3 Funnies
– - - Page 4
There’s No Such Thing as “Supernatural” – Pages 5 & 6 July Birthdays – - - Page 6 ‘Brick Walls’ - - - Page 7 ‘A New Day dawning’ - - - Pages 8-10 Some Dates - - - Page 10 ‘Regrets of The Dying’ - - - Page 11 DEC Prayer Times - - - Page 12 Book Review - - - Page 13 ‘Listening Listening to Negative People Will Make You Dumb!’ - - - Pages 14 & 15 Teaching for July - - - Page 16
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We continue our serial by
July 2013
sharon burrell
S t or i e s o f f ai t h Story three: Grace “Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a lunch or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers of relatives, or your rich neighbours; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed”” Luke 14:12-14. “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality” Romans 12:13. “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling” 1 Peter 4: 9. Grace was born in England and lived there for
people in her church who would have spent
many years, marrying and raising a family,
Sunday alone. In opening up her home in this
before making Ireland her home. Grace lived
way she provided not only food, but warmth,
in the UK during the Blitz: the bombing of
kindness and Christian love to those in the
towns and cities across the UK for 76
congregation who might be facing loneliness
consecutive nights, which destroyed and
and isolation. Grace served in this ministry for
damaged homes and killed over 40,000
many years and many people told her when
civilians, half of them in London. In fact
she left how much they missed her “special
Grace can personally recollect seeing German
Sundays”.
bombers flying up the Thames, which must have been a terrifying sight. This must have been a very difficult time to practice faith, particularly when the horrors of fascism were encroaching so strongly and death and destruction were everywhere. Yet Grace remained strong in her faith.
Grace continues to be a warm and welcoming nurturer: not only to her friends in DEC, but also in her involvement with outreach projects, such as “Squeals on wheels”. She is involved in a variety of activities and is a much-loved, active and very popular member of many societies and clubs. She has always
Although Grace belonged to a church which
made herself available for other people in
did not encourage women to fully participate,
whatever way she can: offering hospitality,
she served the Lord through hospitality
volunteering in the kitchen when work needs
ministry and for many years and practiced an
to be done and providing food for countless
“open house” policy on Sundays. This
events held in the church.
ministry was aimed particularly for those
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July 2013
Though, as mentioned, the church she
woman who served the Lord faithfully and
attended in the UK did not encourage women
whose love and devotion evotion to the Lord
to study the Bible, Grace has enjoyed learning
produced a son, Obed, who became the
more since she moved to DEC and uses her
grandfather of the great King David. Grace
late husband’s Bible, which is underlined in
has also loved and served the Lord in
certain places, as a guide. She particularly
whatever way she can and has been a
loves the book of Ruth, which is a story of a
practical, vital presence in the church.
PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS ALL THOSE WHO ARE BROUGHT TO US ON THE PRAYER CHAIN
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July 2013
sgf
Funny Quotes I still miss my ex-girlfriend, but my aim is improving. The noblest of dogs is the hot dog; it feeds the hand that bites it. Why do we call them buildings when they're finished? Shouldn't they be called Builts? Always remember that you are unique; just like everyone else. Indecision is the key to flexibility. The Vending Machine Theory: "Stuff tastes better when it falls". A friend rang me up one time and said "come on over, nobody is home", so I went over, there was no one home! Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak. Coffee just isn't my cup of tea.
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July 2013
Got anything funny - a story, saying, picture? Email it in: ezine@dec.ie This is a blog I subscribe to and this particular one gave me a slightly different way of thinking about how our God does things. Hope you enjoy, it’s short.
There’s No Such Thing as “Supernatural” Things are changing around here. Slowly but surely. God is redirecting my words and thus, this blog. Yet despite this, I’ve had difficult time writing. But, God keeps nudging me…forward. Except that much of what I used to write is no longer how I want to write, or what I want to write.
So, if you want it…ASK. If you want to experience the things of God, the fullness of spiritual life, the Holy Spirit moving freely, ask. If you want to see miracles, sight restored, the sick healed, demons cast out, the dead rise, ask. If you are desirous or even just curious about the Spirit, words of knowledge, tongues, prophesy, and the like, simply ask. Either we can be afraid of what we do not know or we can believe the words of God and ask…
I sat the other day looking through my blog post ideas, a seemingly endless list of notes I’ve jotted down. While scrolling my post ideas, I found a draft titled “Supernatural Everyday.”
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7
It got me thinking. I have to admit, I’ve been surprised by your reactions to my recent posts. I suppose I shouldn’t be. Perhaps I didn’t give you guys enough credit. Perhaps I underestimated you. For that, I’m sorry.
Because there is no such thing as the supernatural. There is only that which is natural to God.
But, I am thankful that the threshold has been crossed–that door has been flung wide open. Cliché as it is, there’s no going back. Because what I have come to realize, no, what I’ve come to know, is that there is no such thing as the supernatural. People either whisper this word or refuse to speak it. The “supernatural”, the spooky-spookiness of God. God the vodoo doctor. God the charlatan. And what I’ve also come to know is that they are afraid. Fear feeds their belly. They would rather wrap themselves up in theology, or intellectualism, or feel-good feelings than be surrounded and cloaked by the Living God. They would rather dismiss or ignore that which alludes them, then press in and ask of the Father for that which is available.
And asking should be easy…
God is not bound by our expectations. He does not yield to our desires, nor is He constricted by our limitations. He does not answer to the laws of nature or the rules of man, for He existed before them and exists apart from them. “He stretches out the north over the void and hangs the earth on nothing.” Job 26:7. “To admit that there is One who lies beyond us, who exists outside of all our categories, who will not be dismissed with a name, who will not appear before the bar of our reason, nor submit to our curious inquiries: this requires a great deal of humility, more than most of us possess, so we save face by thinking God down to our level, or at least down to where we can manage Him.” –A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy Yet, it is natural, meaning it is the character of God, to perform miracles, to heal the sick, and bind up the broken-hearted. It is natural, meaning that through these acts, God can and has, chosen to reveal Himself to us.
Issue 3 As Tozer continues to explain,”…He is everywhere while He is nowhere, for ”where” has to do with matter and space, and God is independent dent of both. He is unaffected by time or motion, is wholly self-dependent self and owes nothing to the worlds His hands have made.”
July 2013
This is our God, however, whom we may know and beseech and ask of because of His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus allows us to ask for the he natural things of God. The Holy Spirit empowers us to participate where and when God is moving. It may all seem “supernatural” to us, but it is natural to the Lord. So, I beg you to ask…and see what happens.
Do you believe in the “supernatural” “supernatural” or is it a bit of a scary, uncertain idea? Do you believe God can and does naturally want to exceed our expectations, on all levels? What do you need to ask of God? Copyright © 2013 Modern Reject, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you signed up at my website. Our mailing address is: Modern Reject 5343 E. Nisbet Rd. Scottsdale, Arizona 85254
Published blished by kind permission of kim cottrell
Happy Birthday all you July Babies!
3rd Hannah Fleming, 4th Jackie Rohu, 5th Jennifer Lewis & Caoimhin Rohu, 8th Persis Quin, Quin, 12th Margaret Kearney, 13th Jonathan Bumale & Abbie McDonogh, McDonogh, 14th Mark Rohu, Rohu, 24th Mark Plunkett, 26th Simon Nolan, Nolan, 28th Rachel Long, Long, 28th Gillian Wells, 31st Eve MacCaughey
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July 2013
Some brick walls are very colourful – just like this one. Some are grey gr y and dull. But at the end of the day they are just that – walls, walls barriers. They keep us in or out. They separate and hide us.
They sometimes keep
us safe (walls aren’t all bad!). bad!) As followers of Jesus, we aren’t called to be safe or separated. We are IN the world but not OF it. We often put up barriers to keep us afe from the ‘World’. Our separation is spiritual and moral – not physical. Is our ur favourite hiding place...the church? chu Stop hiding! Jesus said: In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:15-17 5:15
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July 2013
A New Day Dawning…………
By Dougie McCormack
1 Cor. 1312 We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! 13 But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love. (TMSG)
I was asked for the email address of a friend. I found the last email sent to me from him and at the end of it were the above verses. I read them a couple of times. They were like a cold drink of water on a hot day after a run through the park. I realise I’ve already entered the realm of fantasy, as I don’t really know what a cold drink is like after a run. It’s time to finally admit that a brisk walk is walking, not jogging, not running. I’m a walker, not a runner! Anyway, the verses from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians hit me powerfully again. I suppose it’s because I’ve been in a bit of a fog. I’ve been peering through the mist. We won’t too quickly forget the visit of Pastor Umar Melinde to DEC. His passion for Jesus mixed with ongoing pain and
suffering, and the power of his words to us. Above all things I was struck again by the idea that we are called to action. Faith demands action. “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:17 (NIV). Umar was of course right that sometimes prayer is not enough, action is required. Sixteen months ago I left hospital after surgery. The prayers and love of God’s people and my family had buoyed me up and I was full of hopefulness, determination and a revelation that a new day was dawning for us as a family. It’s hard to explain, but in truth I never really felt discouraged or looked behind me at what could have been. Although, physically it was tough, I could only walk for 5 minutes before exhaustion in the
Issue 3
beginning, I was on a road that I knew would lead to wellness. The psychological, emotional and physical pain was manageable because I could see the future – there was a goal and it was possible to get there. The only potential serious barrier to improving health was Liz, who at times was considering smothering me during the night! I knew I wasn’t a model patient (she called me Mr. Im-patient) and I suppose in many ways she suffered a lot more than I did. Whilst I don’t want to lessen the struggle that those days brought for both of us, the truth was we knew where the battle was taking us. Action was effective. I grew fitter and stronger. I finally ended up in the hospital gym on machines that I had previously only dreamed of using. I began to dream of fitting into those clothes that had sat forlornly at the back of the wardrobe because they exposed the bulge or were no longer viable without stopping blood flow. Indeed as I’m thinking about writing this, coming up to lunch time, I’ve decided to drop the bag of crisps I intended to have with the sandwich and have an open brown instead of the closed white I was so looking forward to. I suppose the rockshandy I spotted in the fridge will have to give way to water too. Hmm, it might take a bit longer to have a body like Ross! I’ve been alluding to the fact that even though circumstances may be tough, when you can see the goal ahead and can work towards something that is tangible and reachable, it’s generally an OK place to be in. We can get our heads around it. What about the times when action is either inappropriate or impossible? The times we’re in the fog. Action is both good and important a lot of the time, though it’s not always an option. Sometimes we’ve said the
July 2013
prayers, taken the action, are moving forward and then the lights go out. Circumstances or events can overtake us that can leave us reeling. We may end up confused and unsure of what to do next. We can be tempted to take action that is either unethical or unwise or both. It’s particularly hard when we are looking at someone we love suffer and there is little we can do outside prayer, loving them and trying to be there. I talked to a friend recently who shared with me the despair they often feel about a situation that they can do nothing about. How it hurts and stings and yet they are powerless to effect change because they can only look in from the outside. Whether you are on the inside or outside of a situation where action will not bring about a result, or where it is inappropriate or just not possible, what are we to do? Such places are as much a breeding ground for despair and doubt as hot, damp swamps are for mosquitoes. Not that doubt is always such a terrible thing. Os Guinness suggests to us that doubt can be a path towards mature faith. It’s different to unbelief because it is not willful refusal to believe. We can end up trying to figure everything out, fighting to get out of the fog of confusion for it to get thicker. As an ex-colleague used to say, “The darkest hour is……. just before it goes completely black!” Occasionally we have an option to take matters into our own hands and work outside of God’s will in an inappropriate way. There are many examples in Scripture, but the one that comes to mind is Abraham and Sarah. God promises a baby and Sarah sneers. If she had lived in 21st century Ireland she may have said something like, “Yeah right, like I’m going to have a baby”. Abraham took the wrong option and fathered a
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child with Hagar causing her and her son Ishmael problems. It wasn’t what God had planned; it wasn’t his sovereign will. Therefore sometimes the right thing to do is to pray full stop. Inappropriate action can damage us and damage others. We have to know when to act and when to stay still. When we are following God’s will and when we are taking matters into our own hands. In the midst of the fog, it’s easy to panic as we become disorientated. Panic is often caused by doubt. Peter walked on the water, but panic got him wet. (Mind you he still walked on the water!). We can panic when we are hit with difficulties that block the way ahead. When we can no longer see an exit route from the problem or when our dreams have been dashed we can lose heart.
July 2013
It’s at such times that Paul’s words to the Corinthian believers become such help to us. There is always action that can be taken. The action is to trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly and love extravagantly. Especially love extravagantly. It’s no wonder we are so often exhorted to love each other by the New Testament writers, they knew that we need each other in the struggles of life. God never stops loving us and never gives up hope in us. He brings the light from the darkness and a new day dawns. If you’re in a bit of fog I hope that you will know God’s love as you wait. I had the crisps and compromised by having a ciabatta roll…….. though those thoughts belong to the next post.
Now that the home groups are taking a break, there are some other events you may like to attend: •
The next Engaging with Islam course will be starting Thursday 4th July 2013 For more information please contact: Jenny Johns: jensa30@hotmail.com or Davood: davoodiranianchurch@gmail.com
•
Don’t forget the Late Late Women’s Breakfast this Saturday 6th July @ 10.30am With a “Word For Today” from Emma Lynch. Also this month: Samira Rekab, Costume Designer Any questions contact Marie Kirker 087 9877332 or Lynda Dible 087 2392409.
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July 2013
A nurse has recorded the most common regrets of the dying, and among the top ones is 'I wish I hadn't worked so hard'. What would your biggest regret be if this was your last day of life?
There was no mention of more sex or bungee jumps. A palliative nurse who has counselled the dying in their last days has revealed the most common regrets we have at the end of our lives. And among the top, from men in particular, is 'I wish I hadn't worked so hard'. Bronnie Ware is an Australian nurse who spent several years working in palliative care, caring for patients in the last 12 weeks of their lives. She recorded their dying epiphanies in a blog called Inspiration and Chai, which gathered so much attention that she put her observations into a book called The Top Five Regrets of the Dying. Ware writes of the phenomenal clarity of vision that people gain at the end of their lives, and how we might learn from their wisdom. "When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently," she says, "common themes surfaced again and again." Here are the top five regrets of the dying, as witnessed by Ware: 1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. "This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it." 2. I wish I hadn't worked so hard. "This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret, but as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence." 3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings. "Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result." 4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. "Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying." 5. I wish that I had let myself be happier. "This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content, when deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again." What's your greatest regret so far, and what will you set out to achieve or change before you die? Based on this article, Bronnie has now released a full length book titled The Top Five Regrets of the Dying - A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing. It is a memoir of her own life and how it was transformed through the regrets of the dying people she cared for. This inspiring book is available internationally through Hay
House.
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July 2013
PRAYER TIMES in DEC • Sunday Mornings 9.30: Prayer for The
• Tuesday Evenings 8.00 – 9.30pm: Main Church Prayer Meeting - 1st Tuesday of each month we pray for missionaries
• Thursday Mornings 10.30 – 12.30am: Ladies Prayer & Bible Study
• Saturday Mornings 8.00 – 9.00am: Prayer for the church
• Sunday Morning Service: Intercessory Prayer •
Wednesday of each month @ 3.00pm: Prayer for Grá
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July 2013
Book Review - Café Theology: Exploring Love, the Universe and Everything Posted on June 26, 2013 by Louise Halpin
Café Theology: Exploring love, the Universe and Everything - By
michael lloyd (416 pages)
First published 2005, New Edition 2009. Publisher: Alpha International
It has been said that a good teacher is someone who can make complex issues accessible. Michael Lloyd on the evidence of this book is a good teacher. He has taught theology at Cambridge Cambridge and Oxford universities and now teaches doctrine at St Paul’s Theological Centre in London. In 10 chapters the author takes us on a journey from Creation to the New Creation, en route devoting chapters to the Fall, Providence, Incarnation, Atonement, Atonement, Resurrection and Ascension, Spirit, Trinity, The Final Victory of God and the Church. His exploration of these theological concepts is never stuffy or arid. Breaking each topic down to clearly graspable ‘bites’, he maintains a light touch with his sense sens of humour often breaking through. This does not mean that issues are dealt with thoughtlessly or casually, but rather that whilst one is called on to engage one’s mind, this engagement is earthed in the reality of everyday life and stimulates practical application. pplication. Whilst acknowledging some of the major controversies surrounding particular concepts, he avoids becoming embroiled in the nitty-gritty nitty gritty of these disputes, and humbly presents what he understands to be the core truths, which otherwise may get lost lost in the heat of the debate. At the end of each chapter he provides references to resources which allow the reader to explore in greater depth alternative viewpoints particularly when these differ from his own perspective. Throughout the book he draws on many many diverse sources to illustrate and support the arguments he presents. These sources include biblical references, many expected theologians/authors as well as some unexpected ones such as children’s writers and poets, and the wide range cited helps to keep ke the material in the book relevant and applicable to everyday life. His own and quoted comments provide many memorable gems, which I for one will note for future use. An example is found on page 129, when quoting Ronald Rolheiser, he writes: ‘We need a theology theology of brokenness…….which teaches us that even though we cannot unscramble eggs, God’s grace helps us live happily and with renewed innocence far beyond any egg we may have scrambled.’ In IBI we often refer to two essential characteristics of leadership, leadership, namely humility and vulnerability. Perhaps these are no less applicable in teaching and the author of this book demonstrates both these qualities in abundance. Obviously books have been written on the individual themes addressed in each chapter, so Café Theology can only provide an introductory outline to the topic, but it does so very well. And indeed, although there is a flow to the whole book, each chapter can be read independently. It could perhaps be described as an updated version of John Stott’s Basic Basic Christianity published many years ago by IVP. Having considered a variety of titles for the book, including From Primeval Soup to Apocalyptic Nuts, The Big Picture and Mere Theology, Michael and the publishers eventually agreed on the selected title, but I wonder if in fact Basic Theology might not have been a better choice. I’d recommend the book to anyone embarking for the first time on an exploration of theological ideas and also to ‘old hands’, who may have become either dry or jaded in their studies. studies. Café Theology brings fresh insights, nourishes the soul and warms the heart. In the process it often provides helpful and very usable ways to tackle some ‘old chestnuts’ which we can experience in our daily encounters. During the time I was reading thiss book, I encountered one such common chestnut, (featured in the free newspaper Metro), contained in an interview with David Attenborough, which he advances when challenged about his rejection of a Good Creator. On pages 83-4, 4, Michael provides a very credible credible riposte to Attenborough’s argument, which you too can discover when you buy the book! Ruth Burns, Irish Bible Institute, June 2013
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July 2013
How to Be a Spirit-Filled Christian Listening to Negative People Will Make You Dumb! - By Dan Delzell , Special to CP So you got saved. Welcome to the family. But now what? Before you are tempted to go out and try to imitate other Christians who are living a good life, I have a better idea for you to consider. Forget "imitation." Think "impartation." Think filling. Think fullness. The key to your salvation is the blood of Jesus. The key to your abundant life of discipleship is the power and the filling of the Holy Spirit. The blood washes away the sins of those who trust Christ to do it. The power of God fills the believers who daily long for and receive an impartation of power from on high. He already lives inside of you as a believer. (1 Cor. 6:19) But now He wants more of you....so that you can live everyday filled with His love and holy affections. "But I thought I had to have the gift of speaking in tongues to be filled with the Spirit." Who taught you that? Do you realize that there have been many believers over the centuries who have been filled with the Holy Spirit, and yet have not claimed to have the gift of tongues? If the Holy Spirit decides to give you that particular gift, receive it and use it wisely. But you don't need to ever confuse the gifts of the Spirit with the fullness of the Spirit. Some Christians who have this gift or that gift are not living a Spirit-filled life. They are grieving the Holy Spirit by sinful choices they are making on a consistent basis. God has not taken away their spiritual gift, but they simply are not flowing in His power at the moment. That happens to all of us Christians whenever we choose to think or behave in a manner that goes against the truth and against the will of God. Therefore, the Word of God says, "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God." (Ephesians 4:30) In other words, don't offend Him. By God's grace, stay away from sinful thoughts....sinful words....and sinful behaviour. You and I will not be filled with the Holy Spirit until we are first emptied of anything that stands in the way of His fullness. Do you have such an issue in your life....perhaps a "secret sin" which you seem to give into over and over again? God is going to drill down deep until He gets to the very root of that thing. He will keep his finger on that issue in your life until it has been put to death in you by refusing to feed it....refusing to give into it....refusing to coddle it. It must die....and then you will be a step closer to the fullness.
D.L. Moody said, "We are leaky vessels, and have to keep right under the fountain all the time in order to stay full." How true it is. Yesterday's filling will not be enough for today. It's like the manna the Israelites received from God everyday in the wilderness. We must wait on God....and watch for His blessing....and depend only upon Him to be our provision. When our soul becomes that hungry for God, we are in a position to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Follow us Your religious pedigree does not guarantee your filling. It's not about your label....it's about the desires of your heart. If you desire to be filled with the Spirit more than anything else in life, stay on that train....ride it all the way into the station. Whenever your flesh rises up with desires which threaten your fullness, ask Jesus to cover those enemies of your soul with His blood. A Spirit-filled life will always result in a life that is filled with the fruit of the Spirit. "But the fruit of Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." (Galatians 5:22) If you have the gift of tongues, but have not His fruit....you are not living a Spirit-filled life. If you have been gifted by God to preach the Word, but have not His fruit....you are not living a Spirit-filled life. If you are a Bible scholar, but have not His fruit....you are not living a Spirit-filled life. Gifts, knowledge, and experience are no substitute for His fruit. This is why even a person who has lived as a mature Christian for decades can enter a period where he or she is not Spirit-filled. It might last a day, or an hour, or a year. It all depends on today's manna from heaven. Am I hungry and ready to receive? Or am I distracted by the desires of my flesh....and feeding those desires by choosing to dwell on them and give into them? Some say that "happiness is a choice." I would say that "a Spirit-filled life is a choice." And it's pretty hard to argue against that premise if you just take God at His Word. So Christian....here's the drill: Saying 'no' to sin....meditating on Scripture....praying everyday....doing what God says to do....singing in your heart to the Lord....Christian fellowship with other believers....utilizing your spiritual gifts to His glory....sincerely praying for those who get under your skin....hungering and thirsting to be Spirit-filled today....and then riding the wave....and staying out of the way of what God is doing.
Issue 3 As a believer, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. (Philippians 4:13) You will need to cooperate with the Holy Spirit if you are going to live this day as a Spirit-filled Christian. Your job....don't feed your sinful desires....and then hunger for today's impartation. His work....provide a wellspring of living water and a daily impartation of His Spirit. It's not like God has hidden the blueprint from us. It's right out there in the open for anyone who desires this experience in their Christian life. The Holy Spirit inspired St. Paul to explain it this way: "Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:15-20) Jesus said, "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him." (Luke 11:13) Do you want to live a Spirit-filled life? I mean with all of your heart? If you do....and it's not just a passing fad....then go for it. Do the drill. Do your part. Ask God to do what only He can do. And then wait....in faith....and expectation....and desire. And then repeat it tomorrow, and every day for the rest of your life on earth. You may be very close to "entering the zone" so to speak. There is more power available than you have known up until now....this could be your breakthrough. Hey believer....Jesus did not die on the cross for no reason. Likewise, He did not send the Holy Spirit at Pentecost for no reason. Once you figure out why He came, then figure out how you plan to become filled with this One our Lord called "the Comforter." (John 14:26) You can empty yourself today....and receive a filling. When tomorrow comes....empty yourself again....and receive another filling. It's like the Israelites and the manna all over again. Only this time, the Presence of God is dwelling within His people. Hallelujah! Are you getting hungry and thirsty yet for God?
July 2013
"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?" (Psalm 42:1, 2) Let me tell this you my friend....the minute you begin to experience that reality and that desire from the bottom of your heart, you will be on the verge of His fullness. So don't give up....today could be your day to enter a whole new dimension of Christian experience. By the way....when you get to that edge....and you are so thirsty you can taste it....as God begins to pour out more of His grace upon you....stay in that place....on the edge....hungering....thirsting.....giving....serving.....singing. ... praying....loving.....receiving an ongoing outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon you. That, my friend, is the place where all of us who know Christ really want to live. Nothing this world has to offer can touch it! Let's get to that place every morning and hang out under His waterfall all day....there is glory there in that marvellous place of worship, thankfulness, and praise! God's presence and filling truly brings the fullness of joy, the power to serve others, and spiritual insights you could never even come close to understanding by your own wisdom. So go for it! There really is a solution for any believer who feels bored with his Christian life, or distracted by the cares or temptations of this world. Do you think the early Christians were ever bored in the book of Acts? Think again. That book began with Pentecost. You may be in need today of a "personal Pentecost" in your own life. If so, just remember....the Comforter has never left the world since He was first sent here 2000 years ago. He has been filling Christians around the world for all of these centuries. He is still doing it today. In fact, He is either filling you right now, or He isn't. This might be the perfect time for you and Him to have a little alone time. He is a gentleman and will typically not fill anyone unless He has first been given an invitation to do so. How strongly do you as a disciple of our Lord desire the Holy Spirit's fullness in your life? Your answer to that question will explain a lot about your current experience as a Christian.
Dan Delzell is the pastor of Wellspring Lutheran Church in Papillion, Neb. He is a regular contributor to The Christian Post. Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/how-to-be-a-spirit-filled-christian-80534/#olMLY31SeFSxM0z7.99
Issue 3
July 2013
Sunday for Teaching for July July 7th 14th 21st 28th
Speaker Dougie McCormack Paul coulter Dougie McCormack Dougie McCormack
Topic Dispatches From The Front Line – Lessons in Joshua N/A Dispatches From The Front Line – Lessons in Joshua Dispatches From The Front Line – Lessons in Joshua
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