Monday 29 October 2012

Are You Using Your Compass

Are You Using Your Compass

The Holy Spirit is there to remind us of our right standing with God but also to make us aware of our sins.  Jesus said He will send us a Comforter (John 14:26).  His Spirit in us is our Comforter. The Holy Spirit is there to speak to us about where we are and where we are meant to be. To show us what is right and what is wrong according to God’s Word.  It is our SatNav, our compass to the place of righteous in Christ. It is Christ in us. The Bible teaches us that we are not controlled by the sinful nature but by the Spirit and if a man does not have the Holy Spirit then he does not belong to Christ (Romans 8:9).  We live in a world that does not have the Holy Spirit because the world is not seeking the Holy Spirit, a world that seeks human philosophy and not the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 2:5). Without the Holy Spirit we are continually faced with questions without answer because our minds are continually in the dark.  This world bases its’ faith in religious laws and rituals but we are made righteous by our faith in Christ (Romans 5:1)  Once our faith reaches its rightful place our Spirit will align with God’s laws. We are renewed as Christians by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). It is only by the renewing of our minds that we can see clearly and come into line with the laws of God (Romans 3:28); (Galatians 2:16).  The Spirit is a gift given freely to us by God and it comes with benefits (1 Corinthians 12-14).  When we operate in the Spirit of God we gain the peace that surpasses all understanding, not that the world can give or take away (Philippians 4:6-7).  To operate in the spirit is to let peace be the umpire in our entire decision making.  God alone can give us that peace through His Spirit.  The devil cannot counterfeit that peace.  He lives in a world of confusion and does not understand the peace of God.  When we obtain that peace we no longer need to fight the unseen evils of the world.  The Spirit becomes our defender.  We no longer have to fight the things of this world by our might or strength but by the power of the Holy Spirit (Zachariah 4:6)

It is through the Holy Spirit and the conviction of our faith that we fall into obedience with the laws of the Word and Gods will (Romans 3:22-31).  As our Spirit grows we are drawn to do things that are pleasing to God.  As our faith grows so does our Spirit and we are then able to stand in obedience to the laws of God’s Word.  Obedience to the Spirit is key to a fruitful Christian walk and a devoted relationship with God. Every act of obedience is rewarded by God and no act of disobedience goes unnoticed (2 Corinthians 5:10).  Like any parent who rewards and disciplines their children, it isn't always done at the moment of the act.  As a child growing up I knew that when I did something good, an act of obedience, my parents would reward me..eventually, either by praising me or with a token gift.  At the same time, I also knew that when I did something wrong, an act of disobedience, at some point I will have to pay the penalty by way of some form of chastisement.  My obedience or disobedience never went unnoticed or unrewarded.  Disobedience is the sin that removes Gods Spirit from us.  Saul lost his life because of disobedience (1 Samuel 15:1-35); Moses never saw the Promised Land because of disobedience (Numbers 20:12). The Spirit of the Lord left Saul (1 Samuel 16:14), Samson (Judges 16:20) and Solomon (1 Kings 11: 1-13) but neither of them realised it until it was too late.  Obedience is the act of faith for which we are rewarded.  Noah obeyed God and was rewarded (Hebrews 11:7). Abraham was blessed for his obedience (Genesis 22:1-18).  Job was faithful and obedient and got double for his trouble (book of Job).

The whispers we hear; the voice of reason that makes us uncomfortable with any given situation; the awakening of our conscience to guilt or discomfort, these are the vessels used for awakening us to Gods Spirit in us.  It is an inherent blue print of what’s right and what’s wrong.  It’s our built-in compass.  Let the Spirit be your guide to the Truth, the Light and the Way (John 14:16)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

It is so good to hear a man preaching abt sin. And to b aware of falling. Having a compass and knowing the filling and guiding of the Spirit of God. It is Him and Him alone that can keep a person from being harden by sins deceitfulness. I thank u Carl 4 faithfully reminding us of our need to b filled on a day to day bases. Praise God jerry