Tag: Holy Spirit

Using The Spiritual Gift(s) Given to Us

On By Ed AlgreenIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

The Holy Bible – New Living Translation

1 Corinthians 12:4-7

4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. 7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

My Thoughts:

Believers in the Corinthian church had challenged Paul with their doubts, questions and misunderstandings about the gifts that Christians are blessed with by the Holy Spirit after accepting Jesus as Lord. I believe that God influenced Paul to write about this and that his writing and explanation would be included in the Bible to serve a purpose in our churches by Christians even today. Friends, it is so easy to sit back and soak in the preaching of God’s Word, pat the preacher on the back and go on back home feeling satisfied that we have done our Christian duty for the week. After all, many churches see most members for a weekend morning service, and provided that all the expectations are adhered to, such as no more than 1 hour service, then they may return the next week. I hate to burst your bubble Brothers and Sisters, but that’s not Christianity, that’s church attendance – much like you might do when you take your spouse to the movies. Paul is explaining here that as a child of God, we receive God’s Holy Spirit, who resides within us to guide us, protect us, give us God’s wisdom and be our personal comforter. We are also given a spiritual gift that is customized just for us. Some of us may have the gift of preaching, or of teaching, or encouraging each other, or praying for each other, or witnessing to unbelievers, etc. However, because these gifts are given by the one and only God, they are to be used for His glory while helping others out. Because our gifts are used for the glory of the same God, we can conclude that we are on the same team, making every effort to please the same team leader, God. To sit and sour and say that you have no gift, is to call God a liar, because He declared through His servant Paul that a gift is given to every believer. For us to say that we are incapable of fulfilling or using the gift given to us is an insult to God, because we are actually doubting His Word and His ability to fulfill His promise. Friends, let us seek God’s face and ask Him to make very evident to us the special gift(s) He has blessed us with, then lets commit to using it/them for His glory, through the power of His blessed Holy Spirit. Others will be blessed and God will be glorified. Imagine the joy this will bring to your heart!

My Prayer:

Holy Father, thank You for the precious gift of Your Son, Jesus who, through His sacrifice we can become a child of the King. Thank You for going a step further and providing Your Holy Spirit to indwell us with power from above to handle everyday situations and to overcome challenges that are often beyond our control. Thank You for the gifts given to us to bless others with, so that You may be glorified. Please highlight the gift within each one meditating on this devotional today so that we may be refreshed on our purpose here on earth, and so that Your church may indeed be Your church. I can only imagine the overwhelming offerings of praise at our weekend services if Your children would be obedient to You and actually use the gifts empowered by Your Holy Spirit to bless others this week. Please glorify Yourself through us dear Jesus, for I ask all this in Your precious and wonderful name, AMEN!
**If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray.

Hide God’s Word in Your Heart & Truly Live for Him

On By Ed AlgreenIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

The Holy Bible: The Good News Translation

Psalm 119:10–11

10             With all my heart I try to serve you;

keep me from disobeying your commandments.

11             I keep your law in my heart,

so that I will not sin against you.

Thoughts:

I heard at a conference last Friday that if every American paid their fair share of taxes, then each American who currently pay, would pay $2,000 less per year! I have no political agenda friends, but I thought that statistic would help me to introduce my thought on this short passage. For I believe that if every Christian took the stand as David did in vowing to sincerely serve God from the very depths of our hearts, and with God’s help, vowed to obey His commands, then I believe several things will occur:

  • We will not be looked upon by non-Christians as hypocrites, for we will live our lives in accordance with what we say we believe;
  • Individually we would have such an influence on non-Christians, that we associate with, that they will be under constant conviction by God, because they will feel the presence of God in such a real and sobering way;
  • We will naturally humble ourselves, kneel and pray, so that God might hear from heaven, heal our land and perform mighty works among the people and governments of our land (2 Chronicles 7:14);
  • Our worship services will be so filled with praise and worship to our Lord and Savior that non-believers walking into our midst will be immediately touched by God’s Holy Spirit that will be very evident in the place of worship.

So friends, how important is it for us to draw near to God, commit to obeying His commands and actually live out His whole teaching? It could mean the difference of life eternally for a friend or loved one. If not, we could continue to live our lackadaisical lives content with seeing these special folk die every day around us and go to hell. It can make the difference of life and death for them, and a much more pleasing experience for us when we stand before our Master. What will it be for you, friend?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, walking the Christian life and living according to Your will is influenced by everything talked about in this devotional today. Thank You for the reminder through Your servant David, on the importance of committing Your Word to our hearts so that our lives will be influenced by it, and not the alternative – the evil things of this world and its leader, Satan. Others need to see Jesus in us to help convince them that there is a living, loving, everlasting God. Oh that they may see just that today dear God. This can only be possible through the power and might of Your precious Holy Spirit, so I plead my case before You dear God, in the precious and powerful name of Your Son, Jesus, my Lord, AMEN!

NOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray.

Your Actions Reveal Who You are Controlled By!

On By Ed AlgreenIn All have sinned, Bible Believing, Born Again, Christian, Eternal Life, Faith, Follow Jesus, Forgiveness, Listen to the Word of God, Obedience, Peace, Victorious LifeLeave a comment

The Bible –Good News Translation

Romans 8:5-6

5Those who live as their human nature tells them to, have their minds controlled by what human nature wants. Those who live as the Spirit tells them to, have their minds controlled by what the Spirit wants. 6To be controlled by human nature results in death; to be controlled by the Spirit results in life and peace.

Thoughts:

I believe that anyone thinking straight and reflecting on their life would probably say that they have made a lot of decisions based on what they want; to make themselves happier; richer or more comfortable. Now, to switch gears and truly respond to the question of whether you are a Christian or not, I believe would depend on whether you can ultimately respond that your life is so aligned with your Lord and Savior that you make decisions based on what His Holy Spirit leads you to do. Some might respond that they must be a Christian because they were told by their parents about a time in their life when, as a child, they raised their hand with all the other children in Bible school (that they were forced to attend every week) and they accepted Jesus as their Lord! Friends, if my marriage was only as good as the day, 39 years ago, when I said I do, would you say that I truly make decisions for the benefit of my wife and I? Because I have totally committed my whole self to that relationship and I work on it daily, I make decisions that first of all please my wife, then perhaps that might please myself. Likewise, if you have personally invited Jesus into your heart, and you daily work on that relationship with Him through prayer (your conversation with God), digging into His Word (so that you may learn His will and character and listen to His responses to your prayers) and, make your decisions based on what you discern from God and that would please Him, then I believe that you have a real, active, living relationship with Jesus, and one that will lead to life and peace, as indicated in verse 6. If you do not have this latter type relationship that I spoke of, then you may very well fall under the first option mentioned in verse 6 – you are controlled by your human nature that results in eternal death. There is no middle ground friend. The Bible is clear – you either know Him personally and you have the promise of eternal life with Him and peace forevermore; or you are convinced that you are in control of your life – knowing that you will face eternal death in Hell with Satan and his angels. Given the options, I believe that the choice is easy and very clear, friend. Why not meet with a local, Bible Teaching pastor or church leader today, or contact me using the email address below, so that we may work, and pray with you and help you make the most important decision of your life?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You have declared in Your Word that Your choice would be that none should perish, but that all Your children are precious in Your sight. And because You sacrificed Your life for the redemption of our sin, You would really like to see us make wise decisions and accept the gift of eternal life that is offered through accepting You as our Lord and personal Savior. Dear Jesus, there are family and friends that I know that have not yet made the wise decision to accept Your love and Your offering of eternal life and peace. Please tender their hardened hearts and convict them of the need to make this vital decision today, as they have no assurance of future opportunities. May my friends who read this today be especially convicted by Your Holy Spirit, and may these words inspire them to not delay such important decisions any longer. I ask all this in the precious name of Jesus, the only One with power to convict the hearts of the lost, AMEN!

 

Note:

**If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray.

The Encouraging Power of Prayer

On By Ed AlgreenIn UncategorizedLeave a comment
In vs 24, when Peter and John returned from jail to their fellow believers, they all joined together in prayer to God. They reminded themselves of ways that God had previously answered prayer for their ancestors, and then in verse 29, they asked God to allow them to continue to speak His message boldly. Let us be encouraged by this action, because old Satan would much prefer seeing us sit down and weep over our lost power and give him credit for victory in stalling the work of the Lord. However, because of their sincere prayer, we read in vs 31 that immediately after praying, the whole building shook and they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and immediately began speaking God’s message with boldness! Friend, that’s the same God that we pray to and serve today! Are you encouraged by His power and His answer to prayer? We need to earnestly believe that He can, and will answer our sincere prayers today also! Prayer is a powerful tool that Christians often underutilize. Let us PRAY!
Book cover

And now, Lord, take notice of the threats they have made, and allow us, your servants, to speak your message with all boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal, and grant that wonders and miracles may be performed through the name of your holy Servant Jesus.” When they finished praying, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim God’s message with boldness.