Tag Archive | Holy Spirit

Enduring Word

Aug5

“In the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord , saying, “Take a scroll and write on it all the words which I have spoken to you concerning Israel and concerning Judah, and concerning all the nations, from the day I first spoke to you, from the days of Josiah, even to this day. Perhaps the house of Judah will hear all the calamity which I plan to bring on them, in order that every man will turn from his evil way; then I will forgive their iniquity and their sin.” Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah, and Baruch wrote on a scroll at the dictation of Jeremiah all the words of the Lord which He had spoken to him.” Jeremiah 36:1‭-‬4 NASB

God spoke. His word is written. God’s Word was read to the people and finally made its way to the king.

“Now the king was sitting in the winter house in the ninth month, with a fire burning in the brazier before him. When Jehudi had read three or four columns, the king cut it with a scribe’s knife and threw it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier.”
Jeremiah 36:22‭-‬23 NASB

The Word of God burned in the fire even way back then and yet His Word is still alive today.

“Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to Baruch the son of Neriah, the scribe, and he wrote on it at the dictation of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire; and many similar words were added to them.” Jeremiah 36:32 NASB

Plant God’s word in your mind and heart and His word will endure in you. Reading, meditating on, memorizing. The Holy Spirit knows the word and will bring it to mind when needed as you walk and abide in the Lord.

Plant it so deep that you would be like Jeremiah. Not being able to hold back from proclaiming God’s word.

“But if I say, “I will not remember Him Or speak anymore in His name,” Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; And I am weary of holding it in, And I cannot endure it.”
Jeremiah 20:9 NASB

🌹What is worse than Bibles being burned? Dusty Bibles on the shelf that are never opened.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Wake Up Call

Aug3

I am reading through the Old Testament now and about the prophets that God sent to worn the people of Israel.

As I read and listened for the Holy Spirit’s direction on a devotion for the day, I couldn’t help but put myself in their shoes.

They came with good news that is dependent upon the action of the people. It sounds like bad news. It is depressing news. No uplifting sentiment. No “feel good” message.

As God’s church experiences the current situation in the world, are we listening? The prophets are of old. The Holy Spirit is now residing in the church. . . Or is He? All things, ALL things happen for a purpose. God is sovereign over ALL. Thus He will use our current circumstances to bring glory to Himself and fulfill His purpose.

We have a choice that can affect the outcome of these days.

Now therefore amend your ways and your deeds and obey the voice of the Lord your God; and the Lord will change His mind about the misfortune which He has pronounced against you. Jeremiah 26:13 NASB

🌹Are God’s warnings good news or bad news? The choice is ours. Choose to repent and follow or continue to live life as if what’s happening around you is not God calling His church to wake up.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Not My Fault

Jul29

Yet you said, ‘I am innocent; Surely His anger is turned away from me.’ Behold, I will enter into judgment with you Because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’ Jeremiah 2:35 NASB

Isn’t that our first inclination, to put blame elsewhere? God’s judgement upon the world is not “my fault”. And yet the decline in morality, salvation, growing churches, is not because of disobedient believers, is it?

Let us lie down in our shame, and let our humiliation cover us; for we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even to this day. And we have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.” Jeremiah 3:25 NASB

Did God not instruct all believers to go make disciples?

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19‭-‬20 NASB

Could it be our disobedience to God that we see the world in mass chaos?

“For My people are foolish, They know Me not; They are stupid children And have no understanding. They are shrewd to do evil, But to do good they do not know.”
Jeremiah 4:22 NASB

Where does your mind wander when you look at the turmoil around you? Does your mind turn toward your own self preservation so that you will do whatever it takes, including evil, ungodly action for yourself? Or is your spirit stirred within you to turn toward God where you will find true preservation?

What is the solution?

Wash your heart from evil, O Jerusalem, That you may be saved. How long will your wicked thoughts Lodge within you? Jeremiah 4:14 NASB

My soul, my soul! I am in anguish! Oh, my heart! My heart is pounding in me; I cannot be silent, Because you have heard, O my soul, The sound of the trumpet, The alarm of war. Jeremiah 4:19 NASB

Are you listening?

O Lord , do not Your eyes look for truth? You have smitten them, But they did not weaken; You have consumed them, But they refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; They have refused to repent.
Jeremiah 5:3 NASB

Are you ready to turn back to God and follow Him in obedience?

🌹Repentance is necessary for restoration.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Jesus Our Disciple

Jul24

Jesus. Our example. Our model of the Christian walk. Jesus, in the Old Testament, displaying the faithful disciple.

Isaiah 50:4a
The Lord God has given Me the tongue of disciples,

— “All your sons will be taught of the Lord;“
Isaiah 54:13a NASB

We are taught through the word of God and the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the perfect example of a disciple. He is the Lord and He teaches us to be disciples.


Isaiah 50:4b
That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word.

— For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good. Psalms 107:9 NASB

— “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Matthew 5:6 NASB

— “but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” John 4:14 NASB

Jesus draws the heart to Himself. God is at work preparing hearts for Himself. Jesus sustains the weary one with His word.

Are you seeing the weary ones, the hungry souls, the thirsty ones around you? Ask God to open your eyes to those who are seeking and then as a disciple lean on the Holy Spirit’s guidance to lead them to the well of water.

Do you want to be like Jesus? Do you want to walk in His footsteps? Then you need to prepare.

Isaiah 50:4c He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.

In the morning, O Lord , You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch. Psalms 5:3 NASB

Give God your best. Your freshest time of the day to devote to Him in preparation to be the disciple Jesus demonstrated.

Eagerly watch for God’s work in the lives of the lost calling them to salvation. Eagerly watch for brothers and sisters who are in need of repentance, to become thirsty and hungry for righteousness once again.

Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul. Psalms 143:8 NASB

🌹Are you ready to surrender? To trust God to make you the disciple He wants you to be? Who does He want you to pour yourself into? Start praying for them now.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Sovereignty of God

Jun30

The Lord of hosts has sworn saying, “Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have planned so it will stand, This is the plan devised against the whole earth; and this is the hand that is stretched out against all the nations. For the Lord of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate it? And as for His stretched-out hand, who can turn it back?”
Isaiah 14:24‭, ‬26‭-‬27 NASB

God has a plan. He is always at work fulfilling His plan. From the creation of the Universe even up to today, God is working out His plan.

We can willingly be a part of that plan or we can rebel against that plan but His plan will come to completion either way.

My hope is that you look to Jesus, our hope for eternity, and walk according to His plan.

What is His plan? It is written out in His holy word. Read it and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal.

🌹Start by seeking Him daily through His word, asking through prayer for understanding, wisdom, the revealing of His word. Ask for a heart, a soul, a mind that will love Him in it’s entirety. Then watch as the Father transforms your willing heart into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

For You Are God

Dec18

Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
11 For the sake of Your name, O Lord, revive me.
In Your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.
12 And in Your lovingkindness, cut off my enemies
And destroy all those who afflict my soul,
For I am Your servant. — Psalm 143:10-12

You are my God and I am your servant. Teach me Your will. Lead me. Revive me. Protect me. All for the sake of Your name. Your glory. Your will. Your purpose. Your righteousness. Your lovingkindness.

Amen

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Whose Spirit?

Sep28

“To whom have you uttered words?
And whose spirit was expressed through you? — Job 26:4

In prayer this morning. Praying for the church. Praying that the church would see the need to put and keep Jesus as the head, to keep Him on the throne. That all decisions would be made under the influence of the Holy Spirit. . .

Then I read this verse. I could ask this question, and should, a thousand times a day, “whose spirit is expressed through me”?

Throughout your day, whose spirit is exposed through you?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Led

May22

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. — 1 Corinthians 12:1-4

Where are you being led and by whom?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

Effective Faith

May2

and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake. — Philemon 1:6

How is your walk of faith? Are you growing so as to be effective for the sake of Christ? Prayer is fellowship with God which is necessary to see things from God’s perspective, humble us, and to surrender our lives for His purpose.

Fellowship of faith is fellowship with other believers so as to encourage, be encouraged and to sharpen and be sharpened. Along with that is accountability.

Fellowship of faith is filling our mind and hearts with the Word of God. It teaches us His way and allows us to serve in a manner worthy of our Lord by the Holy Spirit’s guidance and bringing to remembrance what we have studied.

Again, how is your faith? “I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake”.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

God Of Hope

Mar30

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. — Romans 15:13

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon