September 19th

SEPTEMBER 19th

Do you want the Holy Spirit to take charge of you and your life? Do you want Holy Spirit results in your life or your results? Do you want the blessings that come from walking in the Spirit? Do you want the peace of God that passes understanding and the fruit of the Spirit in your life?

We can’t be overwhelmed/overcome/ruled by the Holy Spirit if we just dabble in faith. We have to be surrendered/totally committed/sold out/all in if we want to see miraculous works of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Notice the first part of these verses that precedes the results listed.

Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Too often we want the benefits and results without anything on our part, but these verses tell us to sacrifice, not conform to the world and be transformed before we can know what God’s will is and the next one tells us not to be anxious but pray about everything so that the peace of God can settle on us.

Luke 9:23-24 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”

To be His disciples we must deny ourselves and take up our cross. This verse links self denial with sustained obedience, not a one time decision but a lifelong act of carrying the cross of Jesus which symbolizes our obedience. It is not possible to carry a cross and carry other “stuff” realistically. The fruit of being a disciple, the privilege of following Him, of bearing His name, comes after we deny ourselves and take up the cross.

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost followed waiting on the Lord in Jerusalem. They were “waiting” on God, intertwining with Him, praying.

Acts 1:4-5 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but WAIT for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 1:13-14 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. THEY ALL JOINED TOGETHER CONSTANTLY IN PRAYER, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

They all joined together constantly in prayer…

They weren’t playing poker or watching a ball game or scrolling on their phones. Not that those things are always wrong, but they waited expectantly, are we?

If we want the fullness of the Holy Spirit poured into our lives we can’t dabble, we have to be all in.

Let’s decide today what we want and live it.

Lord thank you for providing so many benefits and blessings to those who follow you. I want to be completely in your will. I want to be all in. I want all that you have for me Holy Spirit. Forgive me for being half hearted and help me to let go of my own will and follow you completely. Thank you for your perfect love.