Ed Horak's Blog

Living without regret 01 

Click on this PDF file to read my Free book to you.

Enjoy reading and please leave me a comment for feedback.

Thanks.

It’s Not All Up To God

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1

You and I have a responsibility to stay free. Jesus sets you free with His power, so that you can walk free and stay free. It is your responsibility to take hold of what you have been given, and resist becoming entangled again in bondage. In this chapter learn how to stay on track and maintain the liberty you have in Christ. The Bible teaches that you have to resist the devil. God will not do it for you. Yes, He will help you stand your ground. But you have to resist the devil for yourself.

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7-8

Why will the devil flee as in terror from you? You have the risen Christ living in you, and He is greater than the devil! When you speak His Word, the devil sees and hears Jesus coming through you, and this frightens him! The Holy Spirit in you is greater than the devil. Be sure not to talk up the devil’s power. The only power he has is the power he convinces you he has.

The Highway of Holiness

God’s pathway or the ‘Highway of Holiness’ is not set aside for some special holy men, but for all New Testament believers. We are called as a holy nation, a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9), and God’s protection and provision is found on this Highway.

A highway shall be there, and a road,

And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness .

The unclean shall not pass over it,

But it shall be for others.

Whoever walks the road, although a fool,

Shall not go astray.

No lion shall be there,

Nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it;

It shall not be found there.

But the redeemed shall walk there, Isaiah 35:8-9

Though you and I may act foolishly at times, and even consider ourselves to be simple, because God is in our lives, we can walk tall and safely on His ancient pathway.

How to Stay on Track

You may start well with all good intentions, and that is good. However, we live in a world that will distract us from the straight and narrow path if we let it. Ponder the following pointers in order to stay on track.

Forever remember God’s benefits.    

Bless the LORD, O my soul,

And forget not all His benefits:

Who forgives all your iniquities,

Who heals all your diseases,

Who redeems your life from destruction,

Who crowns you with lovingkindness

and tender mercies,

Who satisfies your mouth with good things,

So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalm 103:2-5

God wants you enjoy the daily load of benefits he has for you. Forgiveness, healing, redemption, mercy, good things are all yours in what Jesus has done for you on the cross. Exalt His grace above all the negativity in your life. He has taken you from minus to plus. Walk in the plus zone!

Fellowship regularly with your God.

You and I were created for healthy open fellowship with God. Sin entered in and spoilt that closeness when Adam sinned. But, thank God, Jesus came to reestablish close fellowship. The bible teaches that you can get as close to God as you want.

When you sin as a Christian, close fellowship is broken, but not your relationship with God. The accuser (the devil)will exploit this situation and try to heap guilt and shame on you, if you let him.

Be prepared to admit to God that, at times you have missed the mark and sinned. At the same time, reassert your faith in His righteousness in you as His gift. When you do, you walk in the light, are forgiven and even ‘cleansed’ from any tainting that came through the sin. This speaks of your conscience.

I believe God gives you a lot of room to grow. Not that He is slack and to be taken as the “Big Easy” who lets anything go. He knows and identifies with your infirmities, (Jesus faced temptation too), and so gives you ‘room’ to make mistakes as you grow. Of course He does not want you to take advantage of His grace and use it as a ‘license to sin’. On the contrary he wants His grace to be seen as a license to grow out of sinful habits. Otherwise you will be so tight and when you do slip up, as you are sure to do, you won’t spiral into despair and unnecessary guilt because you have done it again!

Think of the Corinthian Church, riddled with partisan strife, immorality, lawsuits, holding disorderly church and communion services, yet Paul describes them as still in the ‘church’ and ‘called to be saints’ (1 Corinthians 1:1-5).

He was ‘cultivating’ their faith by bringing to them sound doctrine, rebuke, correction and instruction all rolled into one letter. He called them brothers as they were still accepted in the beloved, and part of the body of Christ. Their position and calling was secure, even though their practice and conduct was shaky.

This speaks to me that God is well aware that you still fall short on the journey, and the grace, mercy and forgiveness that got you saved in the first place, will keep you saved.

Forget looking behind you.    

“Do not remember the former things,

Nor consider the things of old.

Behold, I will do a new thing,

Now it shall spring forth;

Shall you not know it?

I will even make a road in the wilderness

And rivers in the desert.  Isaiah 43:18-19

You have parted company with the devil, and now walk with God. Be forward looking. He has a future and a hope for you, not a past! Paul had to forget his religious past where he done much harm as an accomplice to murder, (Acts 8:1), and press on. He now based his life on God’s forgiveness and mercy, and refused to wallow in regret and self-pity. He was now moved by conviction, not convenience, circumstance or comfort! You don’t have to pay penance for past sins, only persevere in God’s new purposes.

Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit            

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

Romans 8:14-15

You don’t want to get ahead of God. Let Him lead you by His Spirit. Avoid pressing ahead in presumption without fully pursuing His perspective on things. It is what you learn after you think you have a handle on something that really counts. Let something settle before moving out. He will never lead you back into bondage. However, the enemy will take advantage of your zeal and subtlety position you for a fall if you are not safely behind the Lord’s leading.

Flow together in with others of ‘like faith’.

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Acts 2:42

One of the key reasons why the early church was so vibrant was because they understood the value of sticking together under God’s local covering apostolic fellowship. Today, people are often so casual about the church they engage with. The life that flows into you through your fellowship ought to be healthy. When you need to turn to someone to help you carry a load, you had better be amongst your own company of like-minded believers.

Finish the race.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

Paul had to fight and keep the faith in order to finish his race. The enemy tried to distract, discourage and deceive him along the way. He learnt that the circumstances he faced that seemed to overwhelm him were never bigger than God’s grace.

Realize that the good work God has begun in you He will see to completion, and whatever He does is forever. All else is subject to change. The devil is liar, and God is always truthful. He will keep you on track as you listen to His voice and wait upon Him to strengthen you on the journey.

There is a price to pay to finish the race. God will take from you only that which holds you back. In turn, He will always give you what you need to prosper on your journey. He is faithful and has never let anyone down yet.

As you grow in the Lord, remember that things take time to play out. There are seasons, and the word has to be sown in good soil and watered before reaping season follows.

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Galatians 6:7-9

If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing to the finish. Wait on the Lord, minister to Him in praise and worship and let His strength become yours so that you can finish the race and enjoy His abundant life and the way!

Throwing the Spotlight in the Right Place!

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  Hebrews 4:12

We are made up of the inner and outer man. God speaks to our hearts – the inner man. However what it hears is processed through the mind – the realm of intellect, emotions and will. The mentality or posture people adopt towards life is found in the soulish or mind realm. If we have a way of thinking or a mindset that does not line up with the word of God, then confusion prevails. The Word of God is given to divide, pierce, or separate out the spirit from the soul or mind. Much like a ruler, it becomes the standard against which all our thinking is measured. God and his Word are one. When we become one with God through Jesus, we become one with His Word. Our thinking has to be renewed to the Word.

The Importance of Recognizing the ‘Victim Mentality’

A person with a victim mentality will have a twisted view on life. Let me illustrate. As a sportsman I sustained injuries to my back on a couple of occasions. My back reacted by cramping up in muscle spasms. It was trying to compensate for the injury and in some way try to balance out the pain. It literally caused me to twist up and I could not even walk upright. Fortunately through time and therapy, things came right and I straightened up and regained my strength.

Likewise, the inner man can adopt a posture or attitude that compensates for emotional and spiritual pain. Relational hurts, harsh words, disappointments and family strife, for example, can cause people to react and become ‘bent.’ Subsequently even good things are now viewed with distrust, and misunderstood.

If we are not watchful, we may harbor hurts that cause us to look at life with less and less hope and optimism. We begin to view things in a cynical light and develop what we feel are defensive postures designed to protect us from further harm. The next step is to feel sorry for ourselves and ask what we did to deserve all this. If we do not get the Lord’s help at this stage we shift the blame onto others and start building a destructive victim mentality.

Our relationship with God and others becomes warped, and we lose perspective of the way things really are.

The ‘Fruit’ of a Victim Mentality

A tree is recognized by its fruit. When a person struggles with a victim mentality they usually show certain symptoms. First of all, there is a tendency to ‘shift the blame’ onto anyone else when things go wrong. This started early back in the garden when Adam would not accept responsibility for his own sin, and so shifted the blame to Eve.

The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.  Genesis 3:12

In our day we can see this tendency all around us. Think of how the government is blamed for everything from the price of gas to the level of reading and writing in schools! Look at who gets blamed for failures in church, marriage, business, and even some sporting events. Referees get blamed, the coach…and so it goes. I have heard people blame their parents for in some cases what they did, or then in others for what they did not do. The point is not really where the blame is or is not, but what happens to our hearts in times of difficulty. Unjust and unfair things do happen but if our faith in God’s forgiveness is secure, we avoid playing the blame game. We will focus on moving on, and do what is necessary to ensure that our tomorrows will be free from yesterday’s hurts.

Criticism and fault-finding is another fruit of the ‘victim mentality.’ When the focus is shifted to others we don’t have to face our own faults. It is easier to point the finger at someone else than at oneself. I have found that whenever I get to the point of admitting my mistakes and failings, there is a sense of release, and I can build on what God wants for me at that point.

Frequent use of the words ‘It’s just not fair’ or ‘why did this happen to me?’ are further victim expressions. Some people spend a lifetime trying to equalize things out, yet the Bible reveals that God has already squared up all unfairness through the sacrifice of His son Jesus Christ:

Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. Romans 5:18

He paid the price for unfairness. To many it is unfair that we suffer so much because of what Adam did. Think of all of the ravaging consequences of sin: sickness, distress, murder, pillage, famine, and earthquakes. Yet it is equally unfair that we enjoy the wonderful benefits of God’s salvation because of what Jesus did. The awesome thing is that we enjoy God’s forgiveness, provision and protection even though we don’t deserve it! Life is not about fairness, but about faith.

A ‘victim mentality’ causes warped relationships with God and man.  Correction and discipline is seen as rejection and punishment rather than an expression of love. Love and discipline are not mutually exclusive.  Earthly fathers educate, train, and discipline their natural children, and our heavenly Father does no less. He not only nurtures, but also admonishes. There are two sides to the coin of growing up in the Lord.

People who suffer with feelings of victimization generally struggle with being generous with their words and substance. They find it hard to praise God freely and pass on compliments to those around them. They display a subtle tendency to pull others down by speaking negatively about them. Some describe this as the ‘Crab bucket’ syndrome. If you can’t get out the bucket yourself, make sure that no one else does!

Frequent ‘pity parties’ and depression is another choice people make in an attempt to validate their suffering. They attempt to drown out the feelings of despair with diversions that do not address root issues. Substance abuse: drinking, drugging, even obsessive eating, are physical attempts to avoid facing reality. The Bible has several examples of people that have run from their problems only to find themselves and the problem at the end of the run! Think of Moses, Elijah, Jonah, and Peter. They all ran at some time in their lives, but God brought them back to reality and faith, restoring them all back to their calling and ministry. Thank God He is patient, and challenges our pouting behavior.

Escape is another symptom of the victim mentality. Hope is lost of ever changing things, and so comfort is found in food, alcohol, or other substance abuse. These represent short-lived efforts to swamp or dull the pain, but really do not provide real escape. So another dose has to be taken and so on. Only God can provide the true lasting way of escape.

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.  1 Corinthians 10:13

Summary

A person who feels victimized in life will struggle to relate to God and other people. They will not see the positive opportunities that every setback presents, and will stick on the treadmill of self-pity, rather than step up on the back of their problems and turn them into stepping-stones.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

 

The Holy Spirit helps you enjoy the ‘divine advantage’ Jesus promised when the Holy Spirit came. You might say He helps you ‘draw water from the wells of salvation’ (John 4:13) – things that benefit you personally.

 

In this article we look at  what the Holy Spirit does through you for the benefit of others. His power now flows out of you like a river (John 7:38-39).

 

 

What He does Through You for the Benefit of Others

 

Acts 1:8

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

 

When Jesus commanded His disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit’s power before launching out into the world, He introduced what has come to be known as the ‘baptism’ or ‘immersion’ in the Holy Spirit.  John the Baptist pointed out that Jesus would be the baptizer in this baptism. He would baptize the believer with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matt 3: 11), giving them power to be His witnesses.

 

                                   

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

 

This baptism was promised in Acts 1:4-8, and fulfilled in Acts 2:1-4 after the disciples had spent ten days preparing their hearts to receive this outpouring on the Day of Pentecost. Although they had experienced miracles before, now they were to step through the gateway of baptism into a lifestyle characterized by the miraculous.

 

Acts 2:1-4

Now when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

 

Note that they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, not just some only. From this scripture, and also Acts 8:14-17 / Acts 10:44, it is clear that God’s will is for all believers to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Peter in his Pentecost sermon boldly declared that the gift of the Holy Spirit’s power was to all generations in all places (Acts 2:39).

 

As on the Day of Pentecost, where the initial outward evidence was speaking in tongues, later recipients of the baptism also spoke in tongues. Although this may be controversial to some, it need not be, as the scripture is clear even down to Acts 19:6, that when a believer is truly baptized with the Holy Spirit, they will speak in tongues.

 

Acts 19:6-7

And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

 

The people Paul laid his hands on were already believers who previously had only been taught the baptism of John, a baptism of repentance. Paul thus took them further in their knowledge of God by introducing them to the Holy Spirit. This subsequent infilling empowered them for fruitful service and witness.

 

 

Devotional and Ministry Tongues

 

The Word teaches a difference between what may be called a ‘devotional tongue’ or ‘prayer language’ that is received when a person is baptized in the Holy Spirit, and the ‘ministry gift’ of speaking in tongues in a public setting for the edification of all.

 

1 Corinthians 14:4-5

He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

 

When you read around this passage you find that the context of Paul’s instruction to the Corinthian Church is how to properly conduct public meetings with regard to the use of the gifts. If a person speaks in tongues in a public setting, there ought to be an interpretation, and given for the purpose of edifying everyone else, not just themselves. In no way does he forbid speaking in tongues for personal edification (1 Corinthians 14:39. That practice of personal ‘devotional’ tongues is to be treasured, and exercised regularly for personal edification (Jude 20). However, when together in a public setting with ‘uninformed’ people present, when you speak in your ‘ministry gift’ tongue it ought to be interpreted, so that others can be edified. The public practice of tongues must conform to guidelines (two or three at a time) so that all things are done decently and in order.

 

Having said that, there times when believers get together in a meeting, and in unison ‘magnify’ God together by speaking and even singing in tongues at the same time. This is not out of order.

 

Personally, there have been many times when I and fellow believers have been mightily edified as we magnified God together by yielding to the Holy Spirit and making melody in our hearts by singing in tongues. On other occasions we have prayed or interceded for others in tongues when we did not know how to pray for them ‘as we ought’ according to Romans 8:26. The divine ‘helper’, the Holy Spirit was there for us in our ‘weakness’ or inability to pray properly as we ought. But, when a message in ‘ministry’ tongues was given, an interpretation was expected.

 

 

Jesus was Anointed

 

Acts 10:38

…how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

 

The anointing or empowerment of the Holy Spirit was one key aspect that defined Jesus as the Messiah. Messiah literally means ‘anointed one.’ He was anointed for service at age 30 years after growing up in the Word all His life.

 

The Holy Spirit settled upon Him in the river Jordan when John the Baptist baptized Jesus in water to fulfill all righteousness. From that moment on, Jesus began to perform miracles (John 2:11). His miracle ministry began because He submitted to God’s will for empowerment.

 

If Jesus submitted to the empowerment of the Holy Spirit for service, how much more do we need to step through the gateway of Holy Spirit baptism into the miraculous? Signs and wonders should follow all believers.

 

 

How to Receive the Holy Spirit Baptism

 

Acts 8:14-15

 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit .

 

First, respect and reverence God’s desire to empower you through the Holy Spirit’s baptism by asking Him to fill you to overflowing.

 

Second, realize that speaking in tongues has three key benefits:

 

• Speaking in tongues helps you magnify or exalt God in a special way that takes you beyond your regular devotion. (Acts 10:46 / John 4: 23-24).

 

• Speaking in tongues edifies or strengthens you spiritually. It is as if your spiritual battery is being recharged. (Jude 20 / 1 Corinthians 14:4 / Eph 5:15-21).

 

• Speaking or praying in tongues helps you intercede more effectively in matters not always clear to you. (Romans 8:26).

 

Third, recognize that receiving the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues is an act of your will that requires you to cooperate with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:4 / 1 Corinthians 14: 15).

 

Prepare your heart through prayer and confession, ask the Lord to baptize you with His Spirit (either on your own, or with a minister who has experienced this baptism himself), and yield to the Holy Spirit by taking a breath and speaking out your new heavenly prayer language (tongues).

 

Remember that, like a good father, if you ask God for the Holy Spirit, you will receive the Holy Spirit and no other foreign spirit. Be comforted by this.

 

Luke 11:10-13

For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish , will he give him a serpent instead of a fish ? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

 

 

The Holy Spirit’s Power to Witness in Word and Deed

 

You might have noticed that in some Christian circles most of what is said about the Holy Spirit baptism revolves around speaking in tongues. Speaking in tongues is no doubt a unique manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s power in the New Testament. Yet it is equally important to see the following examples of God’s manifest power that are still available to every believer. These are not for someone else in another place and time. They are for every believer empowered by the Holy Spirit to extend God’s kingdom.

 

• Boldness in the face of intimidation: Acts 4:31

In this account the disciples were ‘refilled’ with the Holy Spirit – ‘topped up’ you might say, and began to speak God’s word with boldness.

 

• Continued faithful witness under persecution: Acts 5:28-42

Here Peter and the apostles continued to faithfully teach and preach Jesus even after being unfairly beaten by the religious authorities.

 

• Stephen’s Spirit-filled witness before he was stoned to death: Acts 6:8-7:60

Stephen was able to plead for their forgiveness with his dying breath by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

• Phillip performed healing miracles and deliverances: Acts 8:5-8

God’s miracle working power brought great joy to Samaria.

 

• Peter’s Spirit anointed preaching at Cornelius’ household: Acts 10:34-47

The Holy Spirit fell as Peter preached.

 

• Paul casts out a demon spirit by the power of God: Acts 16:18

Then, He and Silas were then thrown in prison, yet were mightily comforted by the Holy Spirit throughout the night. Their praise invoked God’s miraculous deliverance at midnight!

 

I encourage you to seek God in prayer, for His power to play your part in the consummation of the great end time harvest that has already begun.

 

 

The Fruit and Gifts of the Spirit Work Together

 

Typically, some factions in Christendom emphasize the fruit whilst others the gifts. God does not want you not to get involved in arguing one against the other. Both are vital for a well rounded Christian witness.

 

Take the view that each compliments the other. The same way as character compliments charisma, the fruit compliments the gifts and vice versa.

 

Whereas fruit is developed over time through continued abiding in Christ, gifts on the other hand, are given or imparted at a particular time for miraculous service. That is why a ‘gifted’ believer who has simply received a gift may yet have to grow in Christ likeness, that is, develop fruit. They may act up carnally at times yet still operate in the gifts. This may be confusing to some, but not to God who gives gifts as He wills, not on the basis of maturity but on openness and desire. He continually works with all His children to bring them to spiritual maturity. Let Him be the judge. Your part is to that all believers grow in Christ like character.

 

Furthermore, fruit speaks of who we are created to be, whereas the gifts speak more to what we are to do in breaking spiritual yokes with God’s power or anointing.

 

 

Two Psalms reveal a fascinating revelation of the authority we wield as the ‘saints’ of God. The foundation is laid in Psalm Two, where the ungodly attitude of the nations and its peoples towards the restraining influences of the Lord is revealed. They vainly seek to be free from the ‘bonds’ and the ‘cords’ that hold back their evil. When you look at the world today, there are rulers and nations that set themselves against God, the Lord Jesus Christ and His purposes. They do so by opposing God’s His church in some way or another.

 

Psalm 2:1-3

Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break their bonds in pieces And cast away their cords from us.”

 

Psalm 149 speaks of the authority and honor that saints have in the field of praise and worship. This has everything to do with spiritual warfare! Their joyful song of praise executes ‘vengeance’ on the nations and ‘binds’ their kings with chains. Their nobles are also restrained with fetters of iron. This speaks of the powerful and significant consequence of a lifestyle of praise and worship!

 

Psalm 149:5-9

Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand, To execute vengeance on the nations, And punishments on the peoples; To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute on them the written judgment– This honor have all His saints. Praise the LORD!

 

In the same way that satanic music and song looses demonic influence in people, Godly music and song binds the work of the enemy! Praise and worship, alongside prayer and the preaching of God’s Word (the ‘two-edged sword) is central in spiritual warfare. When believers are weak in their praise, the enemy is more at liberty to move in their lives. But when the high praises of God resound with great rejoicing, the enemy is bound!

 

I believe this is one of the keys of the kingdom that Jesus spoke of to Peter when God had shown him Jesus’ true identity. When we get a revelation of Jesus true identity and nature, our praises will also bind the enemy. Make it your practice to fill your dwelling with praise music and song. Sing praises to God as you go about your daily doings at home and even at work where you can. You invoke God’s presence as you do, and run off the enemy too.

 

Matthew 16:16-19

Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

 

Keys speak of authority, and when you praise God you exercise authority over evil.

 

In serving the Lord there is a temptation to miss the better part and be busy with the work of the Lord to the neglect of a vital devotion to the Lord of the work Himself. God saved us for His pleasure and seeks worshippers first, not workers. We are saved from a life of striving. He wants us to learn to sit at His feet first, so we can then go out in the strength of that intimacy and truly carry His grace to those who have no real knowledge of His love.

 

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha , you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:38-42

 

Martha was distracted with much serving. Maintaining a balance between ministering to the Lord, one another and the lost is something we are responsible for. The Lord will allow you to overwork, just the same way as He will allow you to overeat. Imbalance is not His fault. It is ours. He has given us His word and expects us to attach the proper weight to our worship that He demands. Jesus showed that the good part that Mary chose, to sit at His feet in devotion, would not be taken from her. He implied that work would someday be taken from a person, but not worship. He thus set a priority in ministry. Worship first, work second. We are expected to minister out of the overflow of our intimacy to the Lord, bringing the warmth of fresh bread straight from the heart of God. Remember God first breathed His life into Adam, then Adam breathed out. This is the divine pattern of ministry. Breathe in, then breathe out. Daniel learnt that in order to do great exploits we must first know God.

 

…the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. Daniel 11:32

 

Know God and make Him known. That is our mandate. The apostles learnt the danger of improper balance and focus early on in their ministry. A situation arose when they labored at the tables to the neglect of their ministry to the Lord in prayer and the word. So they met and instituted deacons to help them attain a balance to their ministry.

 

 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.

Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” Acts 6:1-4

 

Later on, we see that Paul and Barnabas were sent out together on their apostolic ministry in an environment of ministry to the Lord. The leadership of the church at Antioch were given to worshipping the Lord, praying and fasting together.

 

Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. Acts 13:1-3

 

They ministered to the Lord and fasted. God wants any and all ministry to be birthed in worship and prayer. He is the source of ministry. Not our own zeal.

John 16:7-15

Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

In this passage we see a number of key areas in which the Holy Spirit gives you a divine advantage you’re your life and witness. If ever you have needed an advantage it is now, and God has given you one in the person of the Holy Spirit. His ministry in your life should not be seen as an ‘after market’ accessory, but rather as vitally central. The time for a casual approach to His ministry in the modern church is long gone.

Let’s therefore look at each of the following things the Holy Spirit does:

• He convicts the world of sin
• Guides you into all truth
• Shows you things to come
• Glorifies Jesus in your life.

 To Convict (or Convince) the World of Sin, Righteousness and Judgment

First, the Holy Spirit works with you in your witness in word and deed to convince people of their need for Jesus. In this context, sin may be defined as refusing to accept Jesus as the solution to all root problems or ‘sins’. When you tell someone about Jesus, you provide the witness through what you say and do to demonstrate God’s goodness in Christ, and the Holy Spirit does the convicting.

            When Peter preached the gospel to Cornelius’ household one day, the Holy Spirit was there to help him convict the hearers of their need for Jesus.

Acts 10:44

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 

Learn to leave the convicting up to the Holy Spirit. Simply speak of and demonstrate God’s love, and leave the convincing up to the Him. Only He can change people’s hearts and give them a heart of flesh receptive to God’s ways (Ezekiel 36:26-27). Only He can regenerate them, (Titus 3:3-7), and make their hearts brand new. If you ‘overplay’ your part, you get in the Holy Spirit’s way.

Second, the Holy Spirit works with and in you to convince the world of righteousness. Righteousness simply means to be right with God. It is a gift from Jesus through the Holy Spirit that must be received in the ‘soil’ of your heart and cannot be earned by self effort.

2 Corinthians 5:21

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

As a follower of Christ you live your life from a position of righteousness, not towards one. The Holy Spirit must convince you of this liberating spiritual truth.

Romans 5:17

For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

When your heart is seeded with righteousness, you can now grow and produce righteous fruit. You begin to live right because you are in right standing (righteous).

Allow the Holy Spirit to convince you that in Christ you are righteous, and begin enjoying living life with a cleansed spiritual conscience.

Hebrews 10:22

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

You will grow in leaps and bounds when you trust God enough to acknowledge every good thing in you.                       

Philemon 1:6

…that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

The third area the Holy Spirit has been given to convince us of, is that satan has already been judged! He’s been found to be sorely lacking: a liar, thief and murderer (John 10:10). In contrast, Jesus came to give us life and has been raised from the dead and declared the victor in the cosmic battle for the souls of men.

Yet, it still remains true that what you don’t know can hurt you! Like the proverbial little old lady who died in a small cold apartment, not having opened the attorney’s letter mailed to her many years before stating that she had inherited a fortune, we too can live and die without enjoying our ‘divine advantage’.

Every believer needs convincing that satan is defeated, because circumstances around us seem to portray the opposite.

Colossians 2:15-16

Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

When Jesus rose from the dead, He took the keys (authority) of life and death from satan (Revelations 1:18 / Matthew 28:18), even going so far as to delegate authority to the church on earth to enforce satan’s defeat

Matthew 16:19

“And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

The same Jesus, who lives in your heart today by the Holy Spirit, has been seated (in a position of authority) far above any demonic entity. All things are under His feet and by association, they are below our feet too! Only the Holy Spirit can convince you of this powerful revelation.

Ephesians 1:19-23

…and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Sin or satan no longer has dominion over you, and the Holy Spirit has been given to convince you that satan has been judged, is to be resisted and crushed under your feet by the God of peace!

Romans 16:19-20

For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly…

To Guide You Into all Truth

Another ministry of the Holy Spirit to the world and especially the believer is to guide us into all truth. The ‘all’ truth talked about here refers to matters that pertain to your own life. In order to fulfill God’s will in your life you cannot afford to ‘blindsided’ by ignorance of what is relevant to you. You must know ‘all’ things and only the Holy Spirit can cause you to know, understand and apply this truth in your life.

Regarding truth, people have argued what it is over the ages, but when the Holy Spirit convinces you, the matter is settled! The Bible says that Jesus is the “truth’ (John 14:6).

The Holy Spirit is the ‘Spirit of Truth’, so there is a witness that can be enjoyed in your heart as to the truth in any situation.  Learn to yield to the Holy Spirit who guides you into all the truth.

John 16:13

 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth

In a later chapter we look at more of how the Holy Spirit guides you, speaking of and confirming what He hears from Jesus and the Father.

 To Show You Things To Come

God knows your future and what is required of you today in order to ensure that you step into His plan for you. He has given you the Holy Spirit to show you things to come, so that you can prepare. Life does not just happen. Tomorrow is a product of choices you make today. The Holy Spirit is here to give you prophetic insight into your future by showing you ‘things to come’.

 In my experience, my wife and I spent a year preparing our hearts (and circumstances) before we made a moved our family across the world from our native land in Africa. The Holy Spirit had shown us in our hearts that change was coming, and we began preparing.

 Become still and allow Him to give you the ‘divine advantage’ of His perspective of where things are going (or should go) in your life. Then make choices that propel you towards that future and hope.

 To Glorify Jesus in Your Life

 When you allow the Holy Spirit to control your life, the result will be that you will glorify Jesus. The Holy Spirit loves to glorify Jesus in what you say and do.  You are Christ’s representative on earth, and in order to accurately portray God’s nature and will to your fellow man, you need the Holy Spirit’s help. The way you speak, what you speak and also what you do, and how you react in different situations, either glorifies Christ or it does not.

 When you are born again the Holy Spirit indwells your spirit and helps you produce ‘fruit.’

 To Produce Fruit in Your Life

John 15:5-8

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

In this passage the connection between Jesus (the vine) and you and me (the branches) is clear. We are to bear fruit in proportion to the degree to which we abide in Him. To ‘abide’ means to make it our practice to yield to the Word of God that the Holy Spirit illuminates to us. You bring glory when you bear fruit out of your human spirit indwelt by the Holy Spirit. He does not bear the fruit, you do. He helps you make right choices, say the right things at the right time, hold back from this or that etc.

 The ‘fruit of the spirit’ that are described in the book of Galatians are a product of the interaction of your newly recreated spirit and the Holy Spirit who now lives within your heart.

 Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control.

If it were all up to the Holy Spirit to produce fruit, without any cooperation, obedience and sacrifice on your behalf, then why the instruction earlier on to ‘walk in the Spirit’ (Vs 16), that is, make a commitment to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading?

Your life in the Spirit is like a ‘divine dance’ with the Holy Spirit’s hand in yours, leading you across the dance floor in a heavenly waltz. He takes a step, and you follow in unison. Harmony in this divine romance comes with time as you learn to yield to His ways.

 On another note, if you want to know whether the Holy Spirit is in control of a ‘Holy Spirit meeting’, check to see whether Jesus is exalted. If a man, movement, or anyone else is, then put a question mark over that meeting.

Take Hold of Your Advantage!

It is to your advantage that the Holy Spirit now lives within you. Learn to live with an expectancy of the Holy Spirit’s ministry within your heart.

1 Corinthians 3:16

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

 Remember the words of Jesus:

 John 14:16-17

And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever– 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

 The Holy Spirit lives within the heart of every believer and must be cooperated with to enjoy the ‘divine advantage’ God wants to give you in every area of your life.