“THE SPIRIT HELPS US IN OUR WEAKNESS!”

 “THE SPIRIT HELPS US IN OUR WEAKNESS!”

Romans 8:24-30                                       (ESV)

“[24] For in this hope we were saved. NOW HOPE THAT IS SEEN IS NOT HOPE. For who hopes for what he sees? [25] But if we hope for what we do not see, WE WAIT FOR IT WITH PATIENCE.

[26] Likewise “THE SPIRIT HELPS US IN OUR WEAKNESS”. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the SPIRIT HIMSELF intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. [27] And HE WHO searches hearts knows what is the mind of the SPIRIT, because the SPIRIT intercedes for the saints according to the WILL OF GOD. [28] And we know that for those who love GOD all things work together for good, for those who are called according to HIS PURPOSE. [29] For those whom HE foreknew HE also predestined to be conformed to the image of HIS SON, in order that HE might be the firstborn among many brothers. [30] And those whom HE predestined HE also called, and those whom HE called HE also justified, and those whom HE justified HE also glorified.”

My “desire” is to live a HOLY LIFE, a life that GLORIFIES the SON without exception!  If you know me, it is more than evident that I fail JESUS daily.  The above verses of Scripture reminded me this morning that even though I am the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15 KJV), I will one day abide where sin isn’t allowed!   

Having your EYES OPENED to SEE who we are compared to THE SON OF GOD is a humbling experience.  Yet JESUS came to earth and lived the PERFECT LIFE that continues to be outside of my abilities in order to provide the sacrifice for my sinfulness.  ALMIGHTY GOD CHOSE me in HIM before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) even though I was the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15) with NO HOPE of redemption!  

Why did HE CHOOSE me?  That is something that I will have to ask in eternity, for my brain damaged mind cannot fathom HIS MERCY and FORGIVENESS!  All I know is that “THE SPIRIT HELPS US IN OUR WEAKNESS” because even my best is but “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6) before a HOLY GOD!  My ONLY Salvation is that “THE SPIRIT HELPS US IN OUR WEAKNESS” and I simply fulfill HIS PLAN for my life!!!

“BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING!”

 I think my devotional for today was just REVEALED to me by something a dear friend shared………”BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING”!!!!  (Philippians 4:6). 

That is all!!!

“THE PRISONERS WERE LISTENING!”

 Acts 16:25-32 (ESV)

“[25] About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to GOD, and “THE PRISONERS WERE LISTENING” to them, [26] and suddenly there was a GREAT EARTHQUAKE, so that THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE PRISON WERE SHAKEN. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. [27] When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was ABOUT TO KILL HIMSELF, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. [28] But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” [29] And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. [30] Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” [31] And they said, “Believe in the LORD JESUS, and YOU WILL BE SAVED, you and your household.” [32] And they spoke the word of the LORD to him and to all who were in his house.”

Allowing GOD to move you outside of your comfort zone can be a confusing place to be, especially for a person who isn’t SPIRITUALLY Mature. Thinking ourselves to be beyond trials is akin to Believing we are CANNOT be instructed by the HOLY SPIRIT on how to GLORIFY GOD! Paul and Silas were “in the inner prison” with their feet shackled in stocks, but only after they had been beaten by the magistrates and the crowds (Acts 16:22-24). It seemed NO ONE understood what they were going through!!!

Although we might not have to experience being “in the inner prison”, we can find ourselves in predicaments where it seems NO ONE UNDERSTANDS our plight. But do we fully grasp what JESUS went through ON OUR BEHALF on Calvary? Paul and Silas were “in the inner prison”, but the SPIRIT OF GOD was there WITH THEM! They were NOT ALONE, and NEITHER ARE WE!  

The SPIRIT OF GOD moved upon the guard of the prison to where he “drew his sword and was ABOUT TO KILL HIMSELF, supposing that the prisoners had escaped”! But, even though the restraints of the prison and inmates were reduced to rubbish, ALL of the prisoners were still there and there was no reason for him to KILL HIMSELF. He was led to ask “what must I do to be saved?” He probably wasn’t familiar enough with what BEING SAVED would mean, but he knew he needed the same SPIRIT that was IN CHARGE of the current situation living for and inside of him!

The SPIRIT OF GOD “NEVER” takes a break from the CARES of what is transpiring! There are BILLIONS of people alive today, yet the HOLY SPIRIT is working ALL THINGS (Romans 8:28) TOGETHER for HIS GOOD, even if we are “in the inner prison”! My prayer is that I will be aware that just as “THE PRISONERS WERE LISTENING” to Paul and Silas sing praises to GOD from the bowels of their confinement “in the inner prison”, GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE even in our difficulties!!!

“HERE I AM, MY SON!”

 Genesis 22:7-8                       (ESV)

“[7] And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “HERE I AM, MY SON.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” [8] Abraham said, “GOD will provide for HIMSELF the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.”

Last night in Bible Study the pastor of our church shared the twenty-second chapter of Genesis.  One thing keeps reverberating in my mind, and that is how Abraham told Isaac “HERE I AM, MY SON” when Ishmael was also fathered by Abraham through the handmaiden Hagar.  Did Abraham show Isaac favoritism because he was a son from Sarah, his WIFE!  

Abram and Sarai were husband and wife, yet GOD had yet to bless them with children.  Yet in Genesis 18:10 Scripture records “The LORD said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.”  In Genesis 17 GOD renamed the man Abram to Abraham and his wife Sarai was renamed Sarah.  The original name, Abram, means “exalted father” in Hebrew. His new name, Abraham, means “father of a multitude”.  On the other hand, the meaning of Sarai is recorded to be “She that strives," a contentious person wile Sarah is “princess; kings of peoples shall be of her”!  

Abraham and Sarah are NOT the focal point of this devotional though!  JESUS is!!!  Abraham KNEW GOD, and JESUS and GOD “are ONE” (John 10:30)!  “HERE I AM, MY SON” identified Abraham as the father of Isaac for “this world”, but it let me know that JESUS was IN THE MIDST of this event!  Even though we can’t SEE HIM in “the busyness” of our lives at times, JESUS is in our midst IF WE ARE ABLE TO IDENTIFY HIM!!!

Abraham KNEW that Isaac was coming back from Mount Moriah with him (Genesis 22:5), but he didn’t YET understand how??  As the story unfolds, we SEE that GOD was displaying HIS “substitutionary atonement” that JESUS would ULTIMATELY fulfill on Calvary!  It is difficult for us to grasp that the PERFECT CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES would sacrificially give HIS LIFE for me?  But when I stand before ALMIGHTY GOD at THE JUDGEMENT with nothing but my “filthy rags” to offer, I will once again hear HIM say “HERE I AM, MY SON”!  What PEACE is that???

IN THE WISDOM OF GOD!”

1 Corinthians 1:18-25                                          (ESV)

CHRIST the Wisdom and Power of GOD

“[18] For the WORD OF THE CROSS is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of GOD. [19] For it is written, 

    “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

        and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

    [20] WHERE IS THE ONE WHO WAS WISE? WHERE IS THE SCRIBE? WHERE IS THE DEBATER OF THIS AGE? Has not GOD MADE FOOLISH THE WISDOM OF THE WORLD? [21] For since, “IN THE WISDOM OF GOD”, THE WORLD DID NOT KNOW GOD THROUGH WISDOM, it pleased GOD through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. [22] For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, [23] BUT WE PREACH CHRIST CRUCIFIED, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, [24] but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, CHRIST the power of GOD and the wisdom of GOD. [25] For the foolishness of GOD is wiser than men, and the weakness of GOD is stronger than men.”

Many humans glory their wealth, popularity, worldly position, or anything other than the ONE WHO CREATED us!  As humans, we have no business comparing ourselves to anyone or anything as our CREATOR brought us forth to GLORIFY HIM, not get ahead on the most “whatever” list!  When we take our EYES off of the ONE WHO CREATED us, we begin to see things that DO NOT GLORIFY CHRIST, things that build up whatever we choose to be on the throne of our lives!

The Apostle Paul writes in verse 20 above “WHERE IS THE ONE WHO WAS WISE? WHERE IS THE SCRIBE? WHERE IS THE DEBATER OF THIS AGE? Has not GOD MADE FOOLISH THE WISDOM OF THE WORLD?”  The “wisest” person alive more than likely hasn’t been identified, for with wisdom comes great humility, for we realize how much we DON’T KNOW!  As humans, we DON’T KNOW when we are going to be born, nor when we will die, but we CAN KNOW WHO LIFE comes from, IF HE CHOOSES TO OPEN OUR EYES!  

My life may never be confused with the wealthiest, WISEST, most handsome, most giving, nor most physically fit person alive!  But I can be known as the MOST BLESSED!  “IN THE WISDOM OF GOD” HE CHOSE me to be a follower of JESUS, a servant of THE MOST HIGH, not because I am healthier, wealthier, or wiser than others?  It is because “IN THE WISDOM OF GOD” HE CHOSE me from the foundation of the world  (Ephesians 1:4)!!!

“HIS STEADFAST LOVE ENDURES FOREVER!”

 Psalm 118:1-4; 14                                               (ESV)

HIS STEADFAST LOVE ENDURES FOREVER

    “[1] Oh give thanks to the LORD, for HE is good;

        for HIS STEADFAST LOVE ENDURES FOREVER

    [2] Let Israel say,

        “HIS STEADFAST LOVE ENDURES FOREVER.” 

    [3] Let the house of Aaron say,

        “HIS STEADFAST LOVE ENDURES FOREVER.” 

    [4] Let THOSE WHO FEAR THE LORD say,

        The LORD is my strength and my song;

        HE HAS BECOME MY SALVATION.”

   

    [14] The LORD is my strength and my song;

        HE HAS BECOME MY SALVATION.”

The writings of King David are exquisitely recorded in Scripture, especially in the book of the Psalms.  King David was “gifted” from HEAVEN ABOVE to write the WORD given to him by our CREATOR!  In verse 4 & 14 above David writes “The LORD is my strength and my song; HE HAS BECOME MY SALVATION.”  Since David declared “The LORD is my strength and song”, the fact that the LORD was his SALVATION should be rather obvious to we who also have WALKED THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH (Psalm 23:4)!  

However, THREE TIMES in THREE VERSES King David writes “HIS STEADFAST LOVE ENDURES FOREVER”!  Most writers tend to repeat what needs to be emphasized and remembered!  “HIS STEADFAST LOVE ENDURES FOREVER” is comforting to we who have placed our FAITH in JESUS.  HE has NEVER failed me, even when HE was crucified on Calvary, JESUS was being obedient to HIS FATHER in order to purchase my salvation!  “The LORD is my strength and my song; HE HAS BECOME MY SALVATION” can be sung because “HIS STEADFAST LOVE ENDURES FOREVER”!!!

“ALL SCRIPTURE!”

 2 Timothy 3:16-17                       (ESV)

“[16] “ALL SCRIPTURE” is breathed out by GOD and PROFITABLE for TEACHING, for REPROOF, for CORRECTION, and for TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, [17] that the man of GOD may be complete, EQUIPPED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK.”

It is almost baffling that as Believers we want to look at every source available for what others offer to answer the questions presented to “this world”, when we are continually instructed by “ALL SCRIPTURE” to TRUST in HIS WORD.  Yet most of humanity finds what “this world” considers as true to be TRUTH, even though our CREATOR says in John 14:6 “I AM THE WAY, AND THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE”!  Looking for truth outside of TRUTH can be a confusing and dangerous conundrum (A paradoxical, insoluble, or difficult problem; a dilemma)!  

The same CREATOR that spoke in John 14:6 inspired the Apostle Paul to write in his second letter to Timothy “ALL SCRIPTURE” is breathed out by GOD and PROFITABLE for TEACHING, for REPROOF, for CORRECTION, and for TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, that the man of GOD may be complete, EQUIPPED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK”!  HIS WORD is PROFITABLE for TEACHING, even the spiritually immature when it glorifies HIS NAME!  

HIS WORD not only is PROFITABLE for TEACHING, but for REPROOF (conviction), CORRECTION, and for TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, EQUIPPING FOR EVERY GOOD WORK!  Why would anyone convolute HIS WORD with what “this world” offers as an alternative? “The enemy” comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10), yet we sometimes “prefer” to listen to his lies when THE TRUTH is TOO HARD for us to CHOOSE!  

We should store “ALL SCRIPTURE” in our hearts to cause us to avoid the traps and confines of “the enemy”!  OUR CREATOR formed us in our mother’s womb for a specific purpose, TO GLORIFY HIM!  HE gave us “ALL SCRIPTURE” for the same reason, TO GLORIFY HIM!  Achieving great worldly success IS NOT an indication of “being blessed”!  Exhibiting what we have instilled from “ALL SCRIPTURE” should be every Believers goal!!!