As a believer the Holy Spirit is given to us that we might live the Christian life successfully. 1 Corinthians 2:10 reminds us that we have received that Spirit so that “we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.” It is the Holy Spirit that enables us to understand the Word of God, and to obey that truth. 1 John 3:24 reminds us that the wone “who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.” It is the Holy Spirit that energizes us and makes us alive to the truths of God’s Word. Jesus ascended to heaven so that He could send the Holy Spirit to indwell us, and that Spirit makes us alive. The mark of life is growth. Growth should always lead to maturity, not perfection. The privilege of the believer is seen in that it is the Holy Spirit that brings about in us the life that helps us grow more and more like Christ. It is the Spirit that is with us at all times, it is the Spirit that … READ MORE

Christ’s promise in John 14:12 to send the Holy Spirit to the disciples offers them further comfort because with the coming of the Holy Spirit comes power to live the Christ centered life. Though Jesus would no longer be visibly present with them, the Spirit would provide them with all the power they needed to extend the work He had begun. The reason that Jesus was going to send the Holy Spirit was to provide power for living. We attempt to often to live the Christian life in our own power, but the Christian life cannot be lived consistently without the power of God to enable the believer. We must be transformed out of darkness and into light! 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us that “If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” The ability to understand what it means to have a new relationship with Christ is found in the ministry of the Holy Spirit as He “guides us into all truth” (John 16:13). The wonder of the Christian life is found in the reality of God’s eternal presence with those who are His through the work … READ MORE

As we live our life before the world, we are to be salt and light, but what does our walk before the world include? Daniel had such a reputation for following God that his enemies attempted to entrap him through that relationship, and his King honored him by his relationship in Daniel 6. Proverbs 4:18 tells us that “the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Our reputation before the world is so very important in how we live. We are also told in James 1:22 to “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” Obedience to the Word of God is another way we live our lives before the World. Obedience does not gain us salvation, it grows out of our salvation. If we love God we will be obedient to Him. Also out of our love for God, we serve Him out of our gratitude. 1 John 4:19 says “We love Him, because He first loved us.” Our service is not out of duty, but out of our love for Him. Our Testimony also, involves our stewardship of His gifts. 1 Peter … READ MORE