It is a whole new day for the believer in Jesus Christ . . . the Holy Spirit has come! Peter, James, John and the rest now understand what Jesus meant when he said, he [the Holy Spirit] dwells with you and will be in you.1 Suddenly, it all makes sense!.
But just before we see how this specifically impacts the lives of those early Christ followers in Jerusalem, let’s catch up with ourselves.
In the last weeks, we stood on the shoulders of this giant of old, Caleb2, considering why resilience is invaluable in our lives. Disciplining ourselves will surely be important if we are to be physically and mentally strong, able to go the distance, and get in the game, when given the opportunity.3
Alongside Caleb, the apostle Paul is another Resilience trainer for sure! Paul did not just teach, he humbly shared from his own life, so that we might learn—giving us a peek into his struggle with sinful thoughts, desires and temptations.4 “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”Romans 7.15 Does this ever sound like you?
And could it be that the quality of our lives rests on what we think about God? Yes, indeed. Whether or not we look to Him to lead us, whether we choose to open the Bible and follow its way as truth, and whether or not we endeavor to walk in God’s way – all depend on what we believe about God.5 Truly, what comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.6
The discussion of resiliencewas put on the back burner asthe calendar reminded us of the 40th day after Jesus’ resurrection when before more than a hundred people, Jesus ascended into Heaven. And then, our biographer Lukedescribed that radical occurrence in the upstairs room in Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit came7, impacting the lives of Christ followers in numerous ways!8
And now, one last look at resilience. It turns out that endeavoring to live a life of resilience is not entirely dependent on our self-discipline and determination. No, once we have set resilience9 as a spiritual priority, as we daily walk with God, the Holy Spirit gives us the power to do what we cannot by dint of our own grit.
Consider Paul’s words:
>the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness10
>the Holy Spirit prays for us!11
>so that we may be strengthened with power through the Holy Spirit12
We must bear in mind that Scripture clearly says
>the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us13
You stammer, 'but, but do you know who I have been?'
And another says, 'do you know what I am facing, what I am up against today?'
My friend, God knows, God sees. There is nothing too big, nor too bad, or out of reach of the grace of God. The Holy Spirit works as we pray and seek God's guidance each day. And then as we endeavor to walk resolutely each day, we do so boldly - why?
God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self control.14
Here's the Power to be Resilient.
by Christine
on Wednesday
Listen along here: https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/3b5e29af/heres-the-power-to-be-resilient-acts-no5
Strength and power.
It is a whole new day for the believer in Jesus Christ . . . the Holy Spirit has come! Peter, James, John and the rest now understand what Jesus meant when he said, he [the Holy Spirit] dwells with you and will be in you.1 Suddenly, it all makes sense!.
But just before we see how this specifically impacts the lives of those early Christ followers in Jerusalem, let’s catch up with ourselves.
In the last weeks, we stood on the shoulders of this giant of old, Caleb2, considering why resilience is invaluable in our lives. Disciplining ourselves will surely be important if we are to be physically and mentally strong, able to go the distance, and get in the game, when given the opportunity.3
Alongside Caleb, the apostle Paul is another Resilience trainer for sure! Paul did not just teach, he humbly shared from his own life, so that we might learn—giving us a peek into his struggle with sinful thoughts, desires and temptations.4 “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” Romans 7.15 Does this ever sound like you?
And could it be that the quality of our lives rests on what we think about God? Yes, indeed. Whether or not we look to Him to lead us, whether we choose to open the Bible and follow its way as truth, and whether or not we endeavor to walk in God’s way – all depend on what we believe about God.5 Truly, what comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.6
The discussion of resilience was put on the back burner as the calendar reminded us of the 40th day after Jesus’ resurrection when before more than a hundred people, Jesus ascended into Heaven. And then, our biographer Luke described that radical occurrence in the upstairs room in Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit came7, impacting the lives of Christ followers in numerous ways!8
And now, one last look at resilience. It turns out that endeavoring to live a life of resilience is not entirely dependent on our self-discipline and determination. No, once we have set resilience9 as a spiritual priority, as we daily walk with God, the Holy Spirit gives us the power to do what we cannot by dint of our own grit.
Consider Paul’s words:
>the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness10
>the Holy Spirit prays for us!11
>so that we may be strengthened with power through the Holy Spirit12
We must bear in mind that Scripture clearly says
>the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us13
You stammer, 'but, but do you know who I have been?'
And another says, 'do you know what I am facing, what I am up against today?'
My friend, God knows, God sees. There is nothing too big, nor too bad, or out of reach of the grace of God. The Holy Spirit works as we pray and seek God's guidance each day. And then as we endeavor to walk resolutely each day, we do so boldly - why?
God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self control.14
So, resilience? You better believe it baby.
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoTNHiFq0p0 Holy Spirit, Come!
Christine - PastorWoman.net
Acts, no.5
1 – John 14.17b
2 - Resilient… are you? https://conta.cc/44tLGI9
3 – Resilience? Step a little closer: https://conta.cc/44rh61Q;
Resilience and your thinking: https://conta.cc/4k8IJkB
4 – Good thinking leads to a resilient life: https://conta.cc/3ZbzyI4
5 – You got out of the boat for the same reason Peter did: https://conta.cc/43kEATP
6 – The Knowledge of the Holy, A.W. Tozer
7 – Acts 2.1-13, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts 2.1-13&version=ESV
8 - Promise made good…life changed! https://conta.cc/3Tc1CYu
9 – Synonyms for Christian resilience might include living a victorious life, thriving, flourishing, being an overcomer...
10 – Romans 8.26a
11 – Romans 8.26b
12 – Ephesians 3.16
13 – Romans 8.11
14 - 2 Timothy 1.7