Recently, a Facebook memory of mine from 15 years prior popped up that said “my boy is home, my fridge is empty, and my house is messy again… Let the schlepping begin!” I chuckled as I remembered how frustrated I would get when my house was a mess and life seemed too busy, especially for long quiet times spent with my Lord. How things have changed through the years.
Suddenly, I had a longing for that messy house and that full schedule along with all of its aggravation and chaos. Because, as I looked around my new home with everything in its place, I realized that sometimes neat and tidy can feel empty.
I asked Jesus, what was the sudden emptiness I felt? Was it boredom? I pondered, what is the point of all this perfection? And I realized, there is a fullness in messy. Lots to do, busying myself making it neat. (Lol) But seriously, when every thing is in shambles or disarray, when the drama is flying high, and all I can do is pray, there is a fullness that is not easily understood. After writing this in my journal, my purpose to write for the glory of God came to mind and the momentary emptiness was gone. Oh how quickly God can turn things around when you set your mind to meditate on Him. When you take your thoughts to Jesus and ponder, He shows up and doesn’t disappoint.
“We demolish arguments and everything pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, we take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5)
The emptiness I felt was simply a pretense setting itself up against the knowledge of God. By taking those thoughts captive and making them obedient to Jesus, He showed me the emptiness was a lie. I realized how I had been given the desires of my heart because I delighted myself in the Lord (psalm 37:4). Therefore, I had no good reason to feel empty, or did I? I prayed: search me God and show me my anxious thoughts and offensive ways, and I was led to confess and repent. As I re-centered my thoughts around Christ and started writing them down, my God-given purpose welled up within me, and that feeling of satisfaction and contentment returned and the Lord downloaded this blog into my spirit.
So let me give you more reasons for Why the Word. We’ve already covered that Jesus is the Word of God made flesh. Now, before He ascended to Heaven, He promised the Holy Spirit, also known as the Helper, the Counselor and the Advocate to His followers.
Only the Holy Spirit can truly fill one with lasting contentment. Everything else is temporary. The Spirit of truth helps one become fruitful in life. When you are filled with the fruit of the Spirit, worldly lusts and desires (the things that temporarily satisfy) don’t seem important any more.
Fruit
“But the fruit of the Spirit is peace, love, joy, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control.” (Galatians 5:22)
When you become a new creation in Christ, faithfully seeking God and his plans for your life, these characteristics begin to develop in you. They will eventually define your testimony (or your personal witness), and then others will see Christ in you. Then you will be doing your part to share the good news of God’s salvation through Jesus, a.k.a. the gospel.
“Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
Now, there are some people who become so zealous to tell others about Christ that they can become legalistic in teaching others to obey all Jesus commanded. Be very careful about telling others how to live their life, because no one likes hypocrisy. You must be fruitful, walking in the Spirit, before saying a word. Jesus respectfully said: “take the log out of your own eye before removing the speck from your brother’s”(Matthew 7:3-5)
I have often heard it said: preach the gospel, and use words if necessary. This points to your life as a living testimony, full of the fruit of the Spirit, so others will want what you have. Your life becomes the witness without saying a word. And when others ask what it is about you that that makes you different, the Holy Spirit will provide the words, and you will not risk coming off as a hypocrite.
Gifts
God is a good Father who gives good gifts to His children. Through the Holy Spirit you are not only able to bear good fruit, but you also get to have special gifts, if you desire.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)
Every gift, both material and spiritual is from God! The Holy Spirit gives people gifts that help them find satisfaction and contentment in life, and build up the church (the body of Christ).
“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:7 NIV)
Here, the manifestation of the Spirit is referring to spiritual gifts. The individual spiritual gifts we receive are determined by God for His specific plans for our life and how we fit into His Kingdom.
My gift is teaching and encouraging others to live their best life through the Truth of God’s Word. His Word says to eagerly desire the best gifts. God knows what you need, and what you are capable of. So seek Him and He will lead you into your God-given purpose.
The Spirit Within and the Spirit Upon
You make an outward appearance of an inward experience when you accept Jesus as Lord and become water baptized. This is the full measure of the Holy Spirit “within you”. However, there is another time when the Holy Spirit can come “upon you” to receive power from on high. Some call this the baptism of the Holy Spirit which is another filling of the Spirit of God “upon you”. Some times it happens simultaneously when water baptized and sometimes it’s a separate occurrence. Theology differs here for many, but that is not important.
Before Jesus ascended to the Father, he breathed on his disciples and said: “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22) This was when the disciples received a new spiritual life, enabling them to bear good fruit for all the world to see, aka being “born again”.
However, Jesus also told His disciples on another occasion to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit comes upon them and fills them with power from on high to be effective witnesses. (Acts 1:4). These are two separate instances and two separate experiences. One is to help them bear fruit and the other to impart Holy Spirit power, with special gifts to effectively operate in their specific purpose. The gifts were different for each of the apostles and it is different for each of us.
Purpose
When we recite the prayer Jesus taught His disciples to pray, known as the “Our Father”, or “The Lord’s Prayer” and say the words “thy Kingdom come, thy will be done”, we are basically asking the Father to help us live according to His kingdom purposes. Everyone has a part to play. One can live their whole life bearing the good fruit of the Holy Spirit, and not operate with power from on high with their spiritual gifts. You must desire to be a powerful, effective witness for the Kingdom of God. This is how you delight yourself in the Lord and receive those desires of your heart. They are desires that line up with God’s will for your life.
There are many parts that make up the body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12-27) The apostle Paul describes a parallel to the many parts of the human body and how they function together as an analogy for the church and its many members with diverse gifts and roles who, when united, form one body. When you are doing your part, not any part, but the specific purpose God has planned for your life, using the specific gifts He has in store for you, you will walk in your God-given purpose. And there is great satisfaction in that! Check out all of 1 Corinthians chapter 12 for a list of some of the gifts God bestows on His children to help them live in their God-given purpose.
So in conclusion, if you are feeling empty, discontent or even bored, invite Jesus in to your heart. Experience the fullness of operating in the Holy Spirit. Find a church where you can grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, get water baptized and make an outward appearance of the inward experience of a new life in Christ, having been set free from sin and shame. And by all means, read God’s Word daily!
Then, further seek the baptism in the Spirit where you will receive Holy Spirit power from on high to use your God-given gifts and build up the kingdom of God here on earth. I promise you will find that contentment you are looking for and get answers when you’re feeling discontent.
Thank you for reading my blog and more reasons for Why the Word. God bless you all until next time.
Recent Comments