The prophet Isaiah said of Israel: “‘Woe to the rebellious children,’ says the Lord, ‘who take counsel but not of Me, and who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin’” (Isaiah 30:1). The Hebrew word for woe here signifies a deep sorrow and grief over what God describes as rebellion, meaning backsliding, stubbornness, a turning away.
The Lord is preparing to pour out his Spirit on his people in these last days and I know you want to have a part in it. In order for this to happen, we must move ever closer to him — in our worship, obedience and diligence. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8).
“He said to them, ‘Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given’” (Mark 4:24).
Jesus knew these words might sound strange to nonspiritual ears, so he preceded his message by saying, “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear” (4:23). He was telling us, in essence, “If your heart is open to God’s Spirit, you will understand what I have to say to you.”
Jesus rules the nations of the world. The Bible tells us, “He rules by His power forever; His eyes observe the nations; do not let the rebellious exalt themselves” (Psalm 66:7). “The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all” (Psalm 103:19).
The Lord is very patient with his children. He actually invites us, “Bring forth your strong reasons” (Isaiah 41:21), meaning that it is fine to have moments of questioning. We might receive some sudden, awful news — the death of a loved one, a pending divorce of a son or daughter, unfaithfulness of a mate. In such moments, God sends the Holy Spirit to bring us comfort, ease our pain, and settle our hearts. Our Lord feels every jolt of pain, fear and panic that strikes us.
God can restore whatever has seemed dead in our lives with just a single word. Are you having financial problems, unable to pay your bills? So it was with the Lord’s disciples.
When tax time came around, Christ and his disciples had no money to pay the needed amount. So how did the Lord fix the situation? He sent Peter out to fish. “Go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give to them for Me and you” (Matthew 17:27).
Are you growing in grace? To me, grace is Holy Spirit empowerment to become more like Jesus; therefore, growing in grace means increasing in Christlikeness through the unmerited power of God’s Spirit. So let me rephrase the question: Are you relying on the Holy Spirit to make you more like Jesus — at home, at work, in relationships?
“The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). At the time these words were proclaimed, the Israelites had just returned from captivity in Babylon. Under the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah, the people had rebuilt Jerusalem’s ruined walls, and now they set their sights on reestablishing the temple and restoring the nation.
If you claim to have no enemies, I would love to hear how you managed to get this far in life without having a single person oppose you. Surely at some time someone has envied you or tried to wreck your goals or interrupt your plans. And, the fact is, these things are what make someone your enemy.
There seems to be a counterfeit for just about everything today. It used to be that as you walked down the streets of New York City, you encountered street vendors hawking “authentic” Rolex watches, designer purses, jewelry and other desirable wares. They looked great but they were cheap imitations of the real things.