Quick Thoughts

We may wonder if God, the Creator of all things would bother to hear us in our attempts to communicate with Him. Well, you may be happily surprised to know that God is very much interested in communicating with us on a very personal, one on one basis. God’s communication is through the Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirt we are given the ability to communicate directly to God without any distortion. Yes, we of course can speak and pray to God in our own understanding, but the Holy Spirit takes it to a whole new level when we pray in the Spirit (speaking in tongues).

Abraham is referred to in scripture as the friend of God. The testimony of Abraham is a wonderful demonstration of faithfulness, patience and uncompromising obedience. As a result of Abraham’s faith the Lord made many unconditional promises that established the foundation of God’s Great Plan for mankind—with the fundamental one being the promise of the Holy Spirit, which is now available to all because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Abraham laid down a wonderful blueprint of faith for all to ascribe. We do well to take heed to Abraham’s testimony by remaining faithful to the faith of God and doing those things that are well-pleasing to Him.

Imagine what it must have been like to be the High Priest of Israel who went into the Most Holy place of the tabernacle on that single occasion each year and into the presence of God. A bit scary perhaps or full of excitement and anticipation? How many questions by others would he have been asked? How many times did he give an account of his experience? This incredible experience was only available one day of the year (Day of Atonement). Was he hanging out waiting for it to come around again? Did the impact and impressions of the first occasion stay with him? Or did it wain?  Today, we are able to come into the presence of God 24/7. It happens when we receive the Holy Spirit. Our bodes become the tabernacle of God; His presence is now within us. As Spirit-filled people we are encouraged to continue to build ourselves up on our most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost and keeping ourselves in the love of the Lord.

Whilst, as spirit-filled people, we are not removed from the troubles of the world, our perspective is vastly different. Once we become a child of the living God we can confidently proclaim that ‘He who is for us is greater than all that can be against us’. As Jesus reminded His disciples when speaking about the coming of the Holy Spirit: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

God assures us that, no matter what, we are not alone. He is with his people for eternity.

When we are born again by water (full immersion baptism) and the Holy Spirit we enter into a one-on-one personal relationship with God, the Creator of all things. Collectively we become members of the body of Christ. We now are fully equipped and have full responsibility and accountability to ensure we live in accordance with the Word of God so that we accomplish the purpose of the good work that He has started in us; which is, to be translated into His kingdom when Jesus Christ returns.

The first act of autonomy is recorded as Adam and Eve doing their own thing in contradiction to what God had said. The impact of this act of self-determined rule proved catastrophic. Ever since that first moment, the autonomy of mankind has lead us further and further away from God. We all at times act on impulse, and without reason or consideration of others. But in doing so, we forgo the perfect and loving direction of God. The encouragement is to remain humble to God’s Word and freely follow His ways above our own.

When a person receives the Holy Spirit, they are given the faith of God. This faith is described in Hebrews 11 as being ‘the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.’ This hope does not reserve a space for doubt. It is a confident expectation. This confident expectation is in what God says and what He has promised. What God has promised for a spirit-filled overcomer is resurrection to an eternal glorious life with Him. Therefore, this hope is the source of our ever-present comfort in God.

There are a number of accounts in scripture where emotion and reaction to circumstances has been expressed in tears or weeping. Jesus Christ wept at the people’s unbelief and the state of Jerusalem. Peter wept bitterly after he had denied the Lord three times. Timothy shed tears over the pressures of ministry and of Paul’s plights. In his pleadings to the oversight of the church to stay the course and don’t go off track, Paul expressed tears of exasperation. Regardless of the reasons we may experience the salty discharge from our eyes, God has promised that He will wipe away all tears from our eyes because when His kingdom is finally and fully established, there is no more death or sorrow or pain.

God proved His existence to the people through Elijah’s challenge to the false prophets (1 Kings 18) by burning up the sacrifices with fire. The people were then left with a choice. One was to sit back and just be a spectator of the miraculous work of God and the other was to get up and do something. Today, we have the same choice. Just sit back and be a spectator, or to act on God’s word. When we receive the Holy Spirit we are given the power and authority of God to act on His behalf. Therefore, we should be doers of God’s Word, and not hearers only (James 1:22).