Living Water

Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side. Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits, and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. And he said to me, "Son of man, have you seen this?" Then he led me back to the bank of the river. As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other. And he said to me, "This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea; when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh. And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From Engedi to Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt. And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing." (Ezekiel 47:1-12 ESV)

A fountain will flow out of the LORD's house and will water the valley of acacias. (Joel 3:18b NIV)

On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea. It shall continue in summer as in winter. (Zechariah 14:8 ESV)

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:1 ESV)

Four Characteristics of a Revival

"The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:8 NASB77)

Genuine revival is a work of the Holy Spirit, not something generated by men using preaching, evangelistic methodologies or campaigns. This interesting article, "Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down" An essay on some aspects of the history of revival FEBRUARY 17, 2023 | MICHAEL A. G. HAYKIN, spoke of the history of revival. Here I would like to quote their four characteristics of revival.

QUOTE
Four characteristics of revival
Yet, for all this, there are some recurring characteristics in all revivals, whatever their historical setting and whoever the leadership involved. Let us look at a number of these characteristics as they occur in the following definition of revival by the Australian historian Stuart Piggin.

Revival is a sovereign work of God the Father, consisting of a powerful intensification by Jesus of the Holy Spirit's normal activity of testifying to the Saviour, accentuating the doctrines of grace, and convicting, converting, regenerating, sanctifying and empowering large numbers of people at the same time, and is therefore a community experience.

In what follows we focus on three marks of genuine revival that Piggin notes in this definition and add a fourth that comes from observations made by Jonathan Edwards, whom Piggin - following Martyn Lloyd-Jones - describes in his book as "the church's theologian of revival par excellence."

1. Revival is a work of God in which God takes the initiative and presences himself in power and glory.
2. In times of revival, according to Jonathan Edwards, the Spirit primarily uses the Word of God to powerfully impact people.
3. Revival is a powerful intensification by Jesus of the Holy Spirit's normal activity of convicting, converting, regenerating, sanctifying and empowering.
4. Revival involves also a powerful intensification of the Holy Spirit's normal activity of testifying to the Saviour - in other words, revival is a Christ-centred event.

UNQUOTE

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything the Father has is mine. This is why I told you that he takes from what is mine and will declare it to you. (John 16:13-15 CSB)

Since I found this article in Facebook, I will also add some comments by the one who posted the article, Joel Arnold, on the lack of theology of revival in the New Testament epistles.

QUOTE
Matthew Walker:
What is the difference between revival and walking in the Spirit? Why doesn't Paul pray for it in any of his prayers? Why is there no theology of revival in the NT epistles? (Maybe there's something close to it in Galatians as Paul calls the people back from potential apostasy?)

Joel Arnold:
I've tended to have the same concerns. My preset is to be reserved and wait for the clarity of time with things like the big recent event. The Haykin article was helpful to me by giving a pretty careful, thoughtful survey.
I'm thinking things through. There are a couple of events where OT kings or prophets were able to see a distinguishable, mass-conversion event. There are also some events like that in Acts thought it's harder because the period is transitional. It's not a slam dunk, but I don't think I can dismiss the possibility that transformation might come in punctuated, dramatic ways at certain rare historical junctures.
My core test for a purported revival would be whether it leads people towards careful attention to Scripture and Christ; also whether we begin seeing genuine, practical spiritual fruit that remains. Emotional outpourings have to be secondary to that.
I think your observations are helpful. This is why my preset is caution. I don't think we're supposed to live as though revival is our hope. The bulk of spiritual transformation is going to happen the slow, hard, pedestrian way. We ought to buckle down and work hard at it, then be delighted if God does something more dramatic that bears the marks of genuine salvation.
UNQUOTE

What Happens When We Are Born Again?

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3 KJV)
Jesus replied, "I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3 NET)

What happens when we are born again?
We become a child of God.
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12-13 ESV)
We are born of incorruptible seed.
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (1 Peter 1:23 KJV)
We become the citizen of the kingdom.
Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:5 ESV)
We will receive an inheritance that is imperishable.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5 ESV)
The Holy Spirit is the down payment.
The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:14 CSB)

The Gift of the Holy Spirit

God gave us the Holy Spirit as a gift.
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. (John 20:22 ESV)
And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38 ESV)
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:16-17 ESV)
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (1 Corinthians 12:7 ESV)
The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:14 CSB)
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16 KJV)

Work of the Holy Spirit - 3

The Holy Spirit is sent by our Lord Jesus the Anointed One as our Helper. This word παράκλητον (paraklétos) has been translated as Comforter (KJV) Advocate (NIV,NLT,NET) Helper (ESV,NASB) Counselor (CSB,HCSB).

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:16-17 ESV)

These are the work of the Holy Spirit:
Teach us
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (John 14:26 ESV)

Speak about Jesus
"But I will send you the Advocate - the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me. (John 15:26 NLT)

Guide us
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. (John 16:13 ESV)

Glorify Jesus
He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. (John 16:14 ESV)

Convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgement
And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment. (John 16:8 NLT)

Help us in our prayer
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. (Romans 8:26 NIV)

Give gifts
It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. (1 Corinthians 12:11 NLT)

Bear fruit
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV)

Pour God's love into our heart
And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:5 NIV)

Valley's Battle Won At Hill Top

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16 KJV)

This is an extract from a sermon by Adrian Rogers, "Victory Over the Flesh".

Our three enemies:

1. World - external foe - Egypt
2. Devil - infernal foe - Pharaoh
3. Flesh - internal foe - Amalekites

God called the Israelites out of Egypt. God called us out of the world.
Where are the Israelites suppose to go? They were to go to Canaan.
On the way, they had water from the rock and then they were attacked by the Amalekites.

1. Spirit-filled life - Canaan
2. Water from the Rock - the Holy Spirit
3. The Rock - Christ

Flesh is our internal enemy, represented as Amalekites. When did the Amalekites attack?

1. Unexpectedly, after the biggest blessing;
2. Indirectly, attacking the weakest;
3. Arrogantly, without fear of God.

How did the Israelites win the battle against the Amalekites?
Moses went up to the hill with Aaron and Hur and Joshua battled the Amalekites in the valley.

Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. (Exodus 17:11-12 ESV)

The battle in the valley is won at the top of the hill.
The victory over the flesh is God given.
Stand in the victory that is already won.

Pictures From Exodus

Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink." And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. (Exodus 17:6 ESV)
For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:1-4 ESV)

Taken from a sermon of Adrian Rogers, "Victory Over the Flesh".
Pictures from Exodus:
World - external foe - Egypt
Devil - infernal foe - Pharaoh
Flesh - internal foe - Amalekites
Spirit-filled life - Canaan
The Rock - Christ
Water from the Rock - the Holy Spirit
Rod of Moses - power of God

Trinity - Bible vs Koran

Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One (אֶחָֽד). (Deuteronomy 6:4 HCSB)

You cannot find the word "Trinity" in the Bible. Why? Because there is no such thing. "Trinity" is a term invented by lazy theologians to give one word to describe what the Bible affirmed about God:

1. God is One;
2. The Father is God;
3. The Son is God;
4. The Spirit is God;
5. The Father, the Son and the Spirit is distinct (that is, the Father is not the Son, the Father is not the Spirit, the Son is not the Father, the Son is not the Spirit, the Spirit is not the Father, the Spirit is not the Son).

The Bible has very carefully avoided associating God with any number other than one. Search the Bible and you will know the I am writing the truth. We should never go beyond what the Bible says.

But you can find the word "Trinity" in the Koran!

People of the Book, do not exceed the limits of devotion in your religion or say anything about God which is not the Truth. Jesus, son of Mary, is only a Messenger of God, His Word, and a spirit from Him whom He conveyed to Mary. So have faith in God and His Messengers. Do not say that there are three gods. It is better for you to stop believing in the Trinity. There is only One God. He is too glorious to give birth to a son. To God belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth. God alone is a Sufficient Guardian for all. (Quran 4:171 Muhammad Sarwar version)

Koran says Jesus is the Word of God.
Koran says Jesus is a spirit from God.
Koran says do not believe in Trinity.

The Founding Of The Church

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Aren't all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs - we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?" (Acts 2:1-12 NIV)

Unlike many religions, Christianity is not started by one man's ideas. Christianity is started by a group of people who witnessed the resurrection of Jesus Christ and were convinced by His resurrection that He is the Lamb of God, offered as the Saviour of the world.

After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3 NIV)

For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (2 Peter 1:16 NIV)

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. (1 Corinthians 15:3-8 NIV)

And they went out to spread this good news to the all the nations, as commanded by Jesus.

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20 NIV)

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8 NIV)

The Holy Spirit is God

Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God." (Acts 5:3-4 ESV)

Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. (Matthew 12:31-32 ESV)

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (John 14:26 ESV)

But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. (John 15:26 ESV)

Some false teachers taught that the Holy Spirit is actually some form of energy. But the Bible clearly tells us that He is God. He is sent by the Father to bear witness of the Son. He can be lied to and blasphemed against. You cannot blasphemed against anyone except God.

Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20 ESV)

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14 NLT)

Gifts of the Spirit

Different gifts, but one body / same Spirit (Romans 12:4, 1 Corinthians 12:4)
Different gifts according to the grace given to us (Romans 12:6, Ephesians 4:7)

Romans 12:4-8	1 Corinthians 12:4-11	1 Corinthians 12:28-30	Ephesians 4:11-12
Prophecy	Prophecy	Prophecy	Prophecy
Serving
Teaching		Teaching	Teaching
Exhortation
Giving
Leadership
Compassion
	Healing	Healing
	Miracles	Miracles
	Tongues	Tongues
	Interpretation	Interpretation
	Wisdom
	Knowledge
	Faith
	Discernment
		Apostleship	Apostleship
		Helps
		Administration
			Evangelism
			Pastoring

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 ESV)

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? (1 Corinthians 12:27-30 KJV)

For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:4-8 KJV)

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (Ephesians 4:11-12 KJV)

Command
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (Ephesians 5:18 KJV)

Work of the Holy Spirit - 2

Another list of works of the Holy Spirit found in another website, which seemed to have summarized from Dr John Owen's "The Communion of the Holy Spirit in His Love", but added two more points 8 and 9.

1. The Spirit helps the believer remember the words of Christ and teaches what they mean.
2. The Spirit glorifies Christ.
3. He pours out the love of God in the Christian's heart.
4. He witnesses to the believer that he/she is a child of God.
5. He seals faith in the Christian.
6. As the earnest of our inheritance, He assures the believer of salvation.
7. He anoints the believer.
8. As the indwelling Spirit He sheds the love of God abroad in the believer's heart. (Romans 5:5)
9. He becomes to him the Spirit of supplication.

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Romans 5:5 KJV)

Work of the Holy Spirit - 1

The following was summarized from "The Communion of the Holy Spirit in His Love by Dr John Owen", the full version in be found here or here.

The first and general work of the Holy Spirit is to bring to mind the words and promises of Christ.
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26 KJV)

The second general work of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Christ
He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. (John 16:14 KJV)

The third general work of the Holy Spirit is to 'pour the love of God into our hearts'
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Romans 5:5 KJV)

The fourth general work of the Holy Spirit is to bear witness with our spirits that we are the children of God
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (Romans 8:16 KJV)

The fifth general work of the Holy Spirit is His work in sealing us
Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. (2 Corinthians 1:22 KJV)
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14 KJV)
And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30 KJV)

The sixth work of the Holy Spirit is his being an 'earnest' of 'deposit' or 'guarantee'
Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. (2 Corinthians 1:22 KJV)
Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 5:5 KJV)
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14 KJV)

The seventh general work of the Holy Spirit is to anoint believers
Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; (2 Corinthians 1:21 KJV)
But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. (1 John 2:20 KJV)
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (1 John 2:27 KJV)

Obedience Powered By The Holy Spirit

Read this in the blog How to Obey God -- Self-Pushing or Spirit-Empowering:
QUOTE
Imagine coming upon someone who’s pushing his car along the road. You assume he’s out of gas. So you stop, roll down the window, and offer to drive him to the nearest gas station. But think of how shocked you’d be if he said – Oh, that’s OK, I don’t use gas.  I just get to where I want to go by pushing my car. You’d think that was crazy. Because cars are not supposed to be pushed — by us. They are supposed to be powered — by gasoline.

But too often that’s exactly how we try to obey God. By what power do we obey God? Jesus doesn’t just give us commands which he wants us to push ourselves to obey. He also gives us gasoline — reasons and promises and warnings in God’s Word – by which the Holy Spirit empowers us to obey.

When we pray over the reasons, promises, and warnings in Scripture — the Spirit changes our hearts, motivates our hearts, energizes our hearts so we want to obey God.

How do you obey God?
Most Christians know God’s commands. But do we know the reasons, promises, and warnings accompanying those commands? For example — we all know that Jesus commands us to love our enemies. But do we know the reason Jesus gives for that command — the reason which He wants to motivate us — the reason by which the Spirit will empower us? What is the reason?  "Love your enemies … and your reward will be great" (Luke 6:35). But if we haven’t known that was the reason — then that reason has not empowered our obedience, which means our obedience has probably involved more self-pushing than Spirit-empowering.

How to obey God
When Jesus gave the command to love our enemies, He did not just tell us what to do — He also told us how. He wants us to start by considering the greatness of the reward — the joy of seeing Jesus Christ face to face — knowing Him, fellowshiping with Him, worshiping Him. When we consider the reward of seeing Jesus — the Holy Spirit will change our hearts. He will satisfy us with the joy of Jesus, and stir us to want more of the joy of Jesus. The result?  The pain our enemies have inflicted will be so comforted by the joy of Jesus — and our hearts will be so filled with the joy of Jesus — that we will overflow with love to our enemies.

This is not easy
I’m not saying it’s easy to obey God. It takes effort. But the effort doesn’t focus on making ourselves do what we don’t want to do. The effort focuses on trusting God’s reasons, promises, and warnings until — by the Spirit’s work — we are full of joy in Jesus and want more joy in Jesus. When we are full of joy in Jesus and want more joy in Jesus we will obey — every time. That’s why wherever you see a commands in God’s Word — if you look closely — you will find a reason, a promise, a warning nearby. Because that’s the gasoline the Spirit will use to empower us to obey God.
UNQUOTE

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24 ESV)
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12 KJV)
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. (Hebrews 4:11 KJV)

Spiritual Lessons from New Camera

Yesterday I bought a new camera. I am not such a good photographer and probably will not be able to make full use of all the features of the camera. But a good photographer would probably be able to do much more with my camera.

Likewise, we may be talented. But we may not be able to make full use of our talents. If we yield ourselves fully to the Holy Spirit, He will be able to make full use of our talents.

Truth needs a guide

Copied from C. H Spurgeon's Daily Check Book:

October 6
The Leadership of Our Guide

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth. (John 16:13)

Truth is like a vast cavern into which we desire to enter, but we are not able to traverse it alone. At the entrance it is clear and bright; but if we would go further and explore its innermost recesses, we must have a guide, or we shall lose ourselves. The Holy Spirit, who knows all truth perfectly, is the appointed guide of all true believers, and He conducts them as they are able to bear it, from one inner chamber to another, so that they behold the deep things of God, and His secret is made plain to them.

What a promise is this for the humbly inquiring mind! We desire to know the truth and to enter into it. We are conscious of our own aptness to err, and we feel the urgent need of a guide. We rejoice that the Holy Spirit is come and abides among us. He condescends to act as a guide to us, and we gladly accept His leadership. "All truth" we wish to learn, that we may not be one-sided and out of balance. We would not be willingly ignorant of any part of revelation lest thereby we should miss blessing or incur sin. The Spirit of God has come that He may guide us into all truth: let us with obedient hearts hearken to His words and follow His lead.