Tag: Spirit

28.s. “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you”

 

Philippians 4:6  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 Psalms 29:11   May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!

 Isaiah 26:3   You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you

 Psalms 85:8   Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly.

 Isaiah 48:18    Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea;

 Luke 1:79   to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

 John 14:27   Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

 Romans 5:1   Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 Romans 8:6     For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

 2 Thessalonians 3:16    Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

Peace of mind. How people are able to rise above fear, worry, anxiousness, confusion, hatred, and anger?  Everywhere we turn we are bombarded with fear, worry, anger, confusion by mainstream media news outlets and various social media outlets.  They tell us what we should be fearful of.  They tell us who to hate. They tell us we should be angry.  They tell us we should be anxious.  They tell us we should worry and what to worry about. These are all from the voice of those in darkness, without hope, and under the influence of Satan’s lies and deceitful deceptions.  This is what this world has to offer. It truly is a shame when Christians are influenced by these worldly thoughts. Paul is saying our lives will have trials and troubles and when we are blindsided our practiced response should be in humble prayer to God. Why? Because we trust, rely on, and have faith in God, the Creator, All-Powerful, All-knowing, and All-capable, Holy, Loving, Merciful and full of Grace… God.  There is a peace that passes all understanding. It can be found nowhere else but in God. And yet, Christians buy into the fear, worry, anxiousness, confusion, anger, and hate seemingly without one thought of God.  Have we drifted so far from Him that we have lost the ability to have peace in our lives? It is shameful to hear some of the thoughts and witness some of the actions Christians are doing. Is God ever limited? Is anything beyond the control of God? Do we even believe in the power of God? This world will offer many things to convince us where we can find peace.  It will tell us to listen and to follow them down paths with the promise of peace. When we allow ourselves to be influenced more by the world than by trust, reliance, and faith in God we are walking in darkness on a slippery slope of false hope that will lead to great grief, worry, fear, anxiousness, and certainly no peace.  We replace what God is able to do in our lives with false hope in what the world has to offer.  Does this make any sense? Will we ever find peace for our hearts, minds, and souls apart from God? Will God give peace to those who trust in and make peace with what the world has to offer. Oh that our eyes were more on the heavenly, holy, and eternal rather than on lies and deceptions the world proclaims. God is not limited in anything.  He is more than able to carry us through this life and into eternity with peace of mind no matter what occurs in this life. It is by intentional faith, trust, reliance, and obedience in Jesus Christ there is the hope of salvation, redemption, forgiveness, and eternal life. This is the beginning and completion of where we find and experience true peace.

28.h. “Make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires”

 

Philippians 2:12  Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

 Isaiah 66:2   All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

 Hebrews 4:1  Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.

 Hebrews 12:28-29   Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,  for our God is a consuming fire

 Romans 13:11-14    Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.  The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

We know that Paul did not mean “work so as to earn your own salvation.” Such a statement would contradict the whole of Paul’s gospel. What Paul did mean is to call the Philippians to put forth real effort into their Christian lives. This is not to work their salvation in the sense of accomplishing it, but to work out their salvation – to see it evident in every area of their lives, to activate this salvation God freely gave them. (Guzik)

“Some professors appear to have imbibed the notion that the grace of God is a kind of opium with which men may drug themselves into slumber, and their passion for strong doses of sleepy doctrine grows with that which it feeds on. ‘God works in us,’ say they, ‘therefore there is nothing for us to do.’ Bad reasoning, false conclusion. God works, says the text; therefore we must work out because God works in.” (Spurgeon)

Paul said our salvation is not by works lest any man should boast.  James said faith without works is useless. Working out our salvation means there is a demonstration of our faith by the works we do, what we say, what we think.  We do this out of reverence and awe and for the singular purpose of honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ.  Read again what Spurgeon penned above.  It is sad we find little to no need for continued growth in our faith, knowledge, understanding, in Jesus Christ.  We sit idly by day after day with no growth and no desire to grow. Examine your thoughts, words, and actions over the last 24 hours and try to determine how much of your time was “working”, with mindful attention and purpose, to honor and glorify Jesus Christ.  Until we dim the bright lights of what this world has to offer and intentionally choose to keep our focus on honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ, our works, or the lack thereof, will do nothing of eternal value.

28.g. “Have this mind among yourselves”

 

Philippians 2:1  So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

If there is any, consolation in Christ, comfort of love, the fellowship of the Spirit, affection, and mercy how should we act.  In Christ, we find encouragement, reassurance, help, hope, and relief. The comfort of love. Think about when you have had a less than a loving day at work.  Everyone seems to be against everyone, you included.  At lunch, you witnessed rude and inconsiderate people. On your way home to witness angry and rude drivers.  You can not only see but you also feel the division, anger, and lack of love.  You pull into the drive, get out of your car wondering what is going on.  Has the world and everyone in it lost their minds?  Is this what life is to be like? Then you walk through the door to your home and one of your children comes running up to you, jumps into your arms, and says, “I love you”.  You turn to your spouse and they say, “Hi honey, I am so glad you’re home, I love you, How was your day?” At that moment everything is right in your life.  There is a comfort of being loved. Fellowship of the Spirit is something that should yield fruit as we yield to the guiding, power, and precious leading of the Holy Spirit.  The affection and mercy of God are something we should never lose sight of.  It should always be in the front of our minds.  We were lost and without hope, doomed to eternal hell, and then God showered us with grace, mercy, and love through Jesus Christ.  

Paul is laying out why our lives ought to be different.  Why they ought to be victorious. Why they ought to be in unity with other believers. How we should be thinking and the effect of that thought process should form how we act, what we say, what we think.  Be mindful of how much you allow the world to rob you of living for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ.

28.b. “Those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.”

 

Ephesians 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

 Galatians 5:22-25  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

 Galatians 5:16   But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

 Romans 8:5    For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

 Paul contrasts the effect of the Holy Spirit with the state of drunkenness. Alcohol is a depressant; it “loosens” people because it depresses their self-control, their wisdom, their balance, and judgment. The Holy Spirit has an exactly opposite effect. The Holy Spirit is a stimulant and influences every aspect of our being to better and more perfect performance. (Guzik) 

Man alone may attempt a state of display of the fruits of the Spirit, but it is unattainable by training, reasoning, and human will and wishing.  It is God the Holy Spirit alone who transforms us into a continual display of supernatural effects of the Holy Spirit within us. (Moule)

There must be a complete surrender of self and a complete yielding to the Holy Spirit to experience this in our lives. Though the completeness is ongoing as we continue to mature our lives in what we say, think, and do, we will display the work the Holy Spirit is doing in and through us.  The desire of our heart must want to be lead and moved by the Holy Spirit.  

28.a. “Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you”

 

Ephesians 5:15   Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

 1 Corinthians 14:20    Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

 Hebrews 12:25   See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.

 Philippians 1:27   Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

 Proverbs 14:8    The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.

 John 12:35     So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.

While walking in the dark we are always exposed to some danger we did not see.  We learn this very early in life and will always choose to walk in lighted areas rather than darkened ones.  We understand there is a risk associated with walking in the dark.  

When we choose to walk in the dark (apart from Jesus Christ and the light of His Word) we foolishly tell ourselves there is no danger. We think we can see the dangers but we can’t and don’t.  We blindly walk about without a care.  We actually can be accustomed to the dark and shun the light.  This shunning takes on many forms; neglect of God’s Word, little to no generosity, kindness, patience, hope…., little to no commitment to attending church yet alone becoming active in serving in some area, thinking, speaking, and doing fleshly/worldly things, having no outward testimony that you are even a follower of Jesus Christ, the busyness of life, worry, fear, confusion, unthankfulness, division, gossip, hopeless, faithless, anger, hate, lusts of the flesh, ………….. and the list continues to whatever it is in the dark that draws you and keeps you from desiring and seeking to walk in the light.  Paul said to walk carefully, wisely, and make good use of your time.  Any time we spend serving anything other than honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ is not a good use of our time.  It is reckless and unwise.  Desiring and seeking to honor and glorify Jesus Christ will always be a guiding light for your path in all you think, say, and do.

27.q. “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions”

Ephesians 4:14  so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

 Acts 20:30-31   and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.

 Romans 16:17-18    I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.  For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

 Colossians 2:4    I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.

 Colossians 2:8  See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

 1 John 2:26     I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.

 2 Thessalonians 2:2-5   not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.  Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

 1 John 4:1    Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

 2 Timothy 4:3   For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,

Once people leave the Word of God they often then embrace fantastic fantasies. When a man rejects God’s truth, it isn’t that he believes in nothing; he will believe in anything. Their ears crave it. Their hearts feed on it. Their minds believe it.  

Philosophy threatening us Christians is dangerous because it is not obviously sinful. It is high-sounding and seems highly intelligent. Vain speculation replaces God’s truth. Deception and false direction pulls and takes captive those who are not rooted, watered, and growing (maturing) in the Word of God and their understanding and knowledge of Him. Paul is warning them about people who would come and speak charismatically about vain things that seem plausible because of the way they are presented, but in truth, it dilutes the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We have to be mindful of our innate desire to chase after worldly and fleshly stuff rather than the spiritual living water and bread of life found in Jesus Christ alone. As we grow in the knowledge and understanding of God’s grace, mercy, and love the things of this world become less important.  Our hearts and minds daily continue to be filled to overflowing with more light, wisdom, discernment in what is God-honoring and glorifying and what is not.  A shallow commitment leads to neglect.  There will be no growth in our lives.  In fact, there will be just the opposite.  Once there is no desire for growth – a withering and shrinking decline takes place and tossing to and fro from every wind of doctrine takes root.  

We are given the fullness of the Holy Spirit when we were born again.  We are given free will to choose to listen, follow, and obey its leading.  When we intentionally choose to desire more understanding and knowledge of God and what it means to live in such a way that honors and glorifies Him alone in all we say and do, then and only then will we display the peace, hope, and joy that only comes in and through Jesus Christ.

27.n. “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love”

 

Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

 Psalms 138:6    For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.

 Proverbs 3:34  Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.

 Isaiah 57:15   For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

 Zephaniah 2:3  Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility;

 James 3:15-18   This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.  For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.  But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.  And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

 A worthy walk before God will be marked by lowliness and gentleness, not a pushy desire to defend our own rights and advance our own agenda. Lowliness is a glorious virtue and means we can be happy and content when we are not in control or having things go our way. “Do not measure His love by your circumstances,” wrote Al Bryant. “If you do, you must, of necessity, reach a false conclusion. Judge not according to the outward appearance. Never reason from your surroundings. Get to the heart of Christ, and reason out from that blessed center. Never interpret His love by your circumstances, but always interpret your circumstances by His love.”

We, as Christians are to keep the unity of the Spirit in a bond of peace.  We allow ourselves to be wronged rather than seeking retribution or revenge.  We don’t create a unity, that is created by the Holy Spirit and we do well to be able to recognize and keep it.  We do all kinds of things to create unity but seldom do we seek the Holy Spirit’s direction and leading of our heart.  

We are confident that this unity is found in Jesus Christ, by the Spirit of God. “We want unity in the truth of God through the Spirit of God. This let us seek after; let us live near to Christ, for this is the best way of promoting unity. Divisions in Churches never begin with those full of love to the Savior.” (Spurgeon)

Just to be clear, I am not saying we should buy into every wind of thought or that we should tolerate obvious sin as though it was not. Let our hearts be humble before God and with meekness and gentleness allow the Holy Spirit to guide and direct what we say, think, and do for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ our savior and redeemer.

27.m. “I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called”

 

Ephesians 4:1  I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

 Romans 12:1   I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

 Acts 9:31   So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

 Colossians 1:10  so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

 1 Thessalonians 2:12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

 2 Timothy 1:9    who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

What does it mean to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called?  Our salvation is in Jesus Christ alone.  Nothing we could do or did do would add or take away from His complete work on the cross.  There is not a single “Good” person who has done good enough to merit what Christ did on the cross.  There is not a single “Bad” person who has done such vile bad things that the work of Christ on the cross will not save them completely.  The good and bad people are both sinners, lost, apart from God, walking in flesh and doing fleshly things, and in need of redemption, forgiveness, and salvation.  Once they have come to the saving grace knowledge of Jesus Christ, repent of their sin, and trust in, cling to, and rely on Jesus Christ they are saved, born again, a new creation.  The Holy Spirit is given to each one of them, to lead, comfort, and die them unlimited power to live in this world in a manner worthy of the price Jesus Christ paid for their sin.  So I ask again what does it mean to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called?

This is an ever-changing goal in the life of a Christian.  As we grow, here a little there a little, precept by precept, line upon line.  As we grow in our knowledge and understanding of God and His grace, mercy, and love, our understanding of what walking in a manner worthy will also grow.  That is why it is an ever-changing upward goal.  We do well to grow in our knowledge and understanding, precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little and there a little.  Too often our attainment of growth is limited because of our lack of knowledge and understanding of God’s Word.  Too often we neglect it.  Too often we are complacent.  Too often we get caught up in the busyness of life and worry about walking worthy of what our neighbors and family will think rather than the one who freely gave His life to redeem you.

27.j. “I will strengthen you, I will help you”

Ephesians 3:16  that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 

 Psalms 28:8   The LORD is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed.

 Psalms 138:3   On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.

 2 Timothy 4:17    But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me,

 Isaiah 41:10     fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

 Ephesians 6:10    Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

The Lord is my strength, I will strengthen you, my strength of soul, strengthened with power, all speak of leaning on, accepting, and allowing God’s Strength in our lives.  If you have ever raised children or been around young children and you have seen them struggling with something, you offer or try to help and they say No I can do this myself, or I want to do this by myself. Even as adults we have all offered to help someone with a problem and they turn you down or flat out reject the offer of help.  If we are honest, I think we all have done this.  Sometimes we just need to work through the problem, find the solution, and get on the other side of it. But do we? We may know the person who wants to help us routinely takes shortcuts and their workmanship is not quite the same as ours.  We may know that they will hold it over our heads if we allow them to help.  We may know they will tell others of our lack of ability in an area they helped us in.  We may just have a bit of pride in us that says, “I can do this”, “I know how”, “I got it”, “I am smart enough”, “I am wise enough”, “I am strong enough”, “I am………”.  Whatever the reason we seem to turn away help.  Don’t get me wrong, there are times when we should turn from someone’s help. 

Do you ever think about how many times we reject God’s power, strength, might, wisdom, knowledge, love, peace, grace, mercy, refuge, fortress, shelter, shepherd, savior, redeemer, Heavenly Father,………?  He not only is willing and able, He also promises to be all of these in our lives. Year by year, month by month, week by week, day, hour by hour, minute by minute, second by second, He offers us all of these and we turn away, stiffen our necks, harden our hearts, deafen our ears, and close our hearts and minds to His continued offers.  Why is this?  I fear it is because we do not live for God.  By this I mean where we do not develop hunger and thirst for His Word, desire and seek His continued presence, have no want to understand and know more of Him, and do not know want it means to honor and glorify Him in all we say think and do.  The shallowness of our commitments toward all of this most certainly will keep us from knowing about His grace, mercy, love, and promises.  We will not see our need for help and thereby we won’t ask for it.  We can start by intentionally choosing to live to honor and glorify Him in all we say and do.  We can start by thinking less about self, self-interests, and the busyness of life. We can start by repenting from our shallowness.  We can start right now.

27.e. “Having no hope and without God in the world”

Ephesians 2:12  remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

19- So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Without Christ: These are terrible words, and the implications of them are the sum of the woeful condition of the lost man or woman. To be without Christ means to be: without spiritual blessings, light, peace, rest, safety, hope, a place of refuge, purpose, satisfaction, lasting joy, discernment, wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and eternity in Heaven. Look around, be observant, and see if this is not true.  Read or listen to almost any news being stated, listen to family, friends, government officials, and people at large, and you will see they lack the peace of God that only comes through Faith in Jesus Christ. In the worst of them, they are greedy, boastful, arrogant, fearful, liars, creating division, confusion, and hatred.  In the best of them they are just plain lost and without a solid foundation that can only be found in and through Jesus Christ.  They have a form of purpose, peace, satisfaction, and joy, but there is no depth and lasting foundation on which it can stand.  

This is exactly where each of us was prior to believing in Jesus Christ.  Lost and without eternal hope.  We were alienated from God.  We were tools of Satan.  We were destined to eternal Hell.  And, somehow, through God’s grace, mercy, and love, our hearts were softened and our minds understood the gospel, our sinful nature, being separated from God, deserving Hell, and without hope in anything we could do to be made right before God, and we repented from our sin, turned away from self-worthiness and self-reliance, and we trusted in and relied upon Jesus Christ alone, by faith in Him alone.  

Paul is saying remember this.  You were “without Christ”.  In remembering this our hearts and minds should be in constant thankfulness and our lives surrendered to humbly serving Him for the single purpose of honoring and glorifying Him in all we say, think, and do.