Within the pro-life work that I am fully engaged in, we spend a great deal of time looking at the client…and well we should.  But what sometimes begins to trouble me is our near obsession with a focus on her choices: What she will choose for her baby, what she will choose about her body, and what she will choose about her relationship with God.  Now hear me when I say that those can all be legitimate things to talk about with a client and we can’t stop talking to her about the decisions she needs to make.  But I believe it sometimes happens that when we spend so much time emphasizing how we can best empower women to choose, we somehow begin to lose a bit of the awe and wonder and trembling that should come as we consider how God is over and bigger and sovereign even concerning these choices that are made.

The point that I am making is this: When we look at the whole of the Scriptures, through which God is revealed to us, the main thrust or emphasis and the ultimate deciding factor which determines the future is not the choices of mankind but the supreme power of God.  People get up in arms when they hear things like this and will try to look up every verse in the Bible that shows where there are decisions that people made that led to consequences.  Of course the Bible is full of those, and they are true, legitimate, good, and necessary circumstances to point out and teach.  But when it comes to the conclusions of the matter, when the prophets and apostles have to sum it all up, sometimes after having sorted through the most difficult concepts concerning the will, God’s control, and His plans/purposes, the writers were left where Paul felt himself in writing to the Romans: …from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.  To Him be glory forever.  Amen.

Let us be careful that we end in the place that Scripture does when we speak of the choices of women (and men), lest our end-of-the-day phrase look something more like, “The buck stops with the decisions of mankind, so we better decide where God fits into all this and what we’re going to do with Him.  Amen.”  It sounds almost silly, but it doesn’t take much for us to begin to make God look as if He is smaller than the “grand” decisions we all make about even some of life’s biggest issues.

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I look forward to Monday’s. I love Monday’s. I know you are dying to know why, right? Who in their right mind loves Monday’s? I DO! Monday’s are my Sabbath. Monday’s are the day that I do absolutely nothing. I plan no meetings. I do absolutely no work, I literally do nothing. I will sleep in until about 9 A.M. The rest of the day is just pure rest and relaxation. I love Monday’s!

As I am writing this I confess I am already looking forward to Monday. I have a busy few days ahead of me. I have several activities ahead of me all of them that are fun and that I will thoroughly enjoy but starting Friday morning it is non-stop until Monday morning. I am already anticipating Monday. I have found that life moves so fast that unless I purposely plan a day of rest it will not happen.

The only problem with Monday is that it eventually comes to an end and the busy week ahead begins and moves forward at an incredible speed. Even though I may plan a day of rest it will not be long until I am in need of another one.

As we are going through the book of Hebrews we come to an interesting discussion in Hebrews Chapters 3 and 4. The discussion is how Jesus Christ is greater than Moses. The author of Hebrews is going chapter after chapter discussing to the Jewish believers how Jesus is greater than everyone and everything. Chapters 3 and 4 deals specifically how Jesus is far greater than the Old Testament icon Moses.

In the middle of the discussion how Jesus is greater than Moses the subject of rest comes up and three different types of rest are mentioned that are in store for every believer. Let me share with you briefly what those three types of rest are:

Sabbath Rest of Salvation (Hebrews 4:3)

The first rest that we enter into as Christians is the rest that is found in our salvation. We are no longer at war with God. We are no longer like the ancient Israelites wandering around the desert in bondage and slaves to sin. We are free. We are at peace with God through the work of Jesus Christ. There is a peace that is given to the Christian when he comes to faith and repentance in Jesus Christ. His soul is no longer at war with God. His sins are forgiven. Spiritually for the first time the soul is at peace. That is a Sabbath rest.

Sabbath Rest of Submission (Hebrews 4:11-13)

The author of Hebrews compares this rest to the Israelites who have not yet entered the Promised Land and are waiting to enter into it with Joshua and Caleb. For the Christian there is a rest for all of us in Christ as we surrender each day our will over to Him instead of our own. It is why we pray each day for Thy will to be done Thy Kingdom come. When we come to Christ our desires and priorities fall to the ground and shatter because we are living in obedience to the King of Kings. The will of God for our lives and obedience to Him produces in our lives a true “rest” that the world will just never figure out. The truth is that Jesus’ yoke is easy and His burden is light. Amen.

Sabbath Rest of Eternity (Hebrews 4:9)

The Greek word used in Hebrews 4:9 is only used twice in Scripture. It is the literal word used to describe the kind of rest that God experienced on the 7^th day of Creation. It is used again in Revelation 14:13. It is the rest that all Christians will experience when we enter into Eternity. The word is used to describe a rest where all labor has ended and all battles have ceased. No more work or fighting. A final and eternal peace and rest for the people of God.

What does this mean for me?

I always try to ask that question, what does this mean for me today? I think we can walk away knowing a few things. First if our souls seem filled with busyness and overwhelmed most of the time perhaps we are not taking the time we need to spend with Jesus Christ. Perhaps we are running to much with the world and not sitting silently at the feet of Christ. Are we a Mary or a Martha? I think it also means that if our lives are so busy and so filled with countless activities that we are not preparing properly for eternity. Are we really living today in such a way that the kingdom of God has truly come into the world around us or does our world around us push out the kingdom of God. Thy will be done, thy kingdom come…these must be our prayers and priorities for each day.

There is a final rest that we all as believers look forward to and will experience but perhaps if we experienced more of the rest that God has for us in this life it will make our hearts long even more for that eternal rest we are finally with Him.

- Wade Lowrey

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Read Hebrews 1:4-14.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=hebrews%201:4-14&version=NIV

Have you ever met someone who thought they were ‘all that and a bag of chips?’. Someone who really did believe that they are ‘kind of a big deal’. It makes me sick to my stomach when I encounter someone like that. A person who is just completely arrogant and full of vanity. Usually a person like that is not someone that I will hang around for very long. The early Christians to whom the book of Hebrews was written were forgetting who exactly Jesus Christ is. The truth is Jesus is a big deal and is all that and a bag of chips. They were losing focus and began to drift away.

As we continue our study of Hebrews this week we now arrive at Hebrews 1:4-14. The author of Hebrews is going to prove chapter after chapter how Jesus Christ is superior to everyone and everything. The first priority that is set is to make the argument that Jesus is truly superior to angels.

Our culture is growing more and more each year it seems to becoming more fascinating with angels. There is almost a growing ‘cult fascination’ with angels almost to the point of worship. The Bible does have a lot to say about angels. Let me provide a quick summary. Angels were created to serve God and God’s mission in the world. They are ministering spirits but they also make up the army of God. An important fact though about angels is that they are not created in the image of God. The Bible is clear that humans are higher than the angels. There is a lot more to say but that is a just a quick overview.

The author of Hebrews is writing to a primarily Jewish audience (thus the name of the book). He is writing to a group of Jewish Christians who seem to be drifting away from Jesus Christ and falling back into their old way of life which was orthodox Judaism. This includes a fascination and almost god-like worship of angels. The author is making the argument why would you drift away and start worshiping angels when Jesus Christ is higher than all of the angels. The author makes his case in the following verses.

Jesus Is God’s Son (vs. 4-5)

He first makes the argument as to how Jesus is superior than the angels by noting that Scripture affirms that Jesus is God’s Son. If angels are meant to minister and serve God obviously they are not family but servant’s while Jesus is God’s one and only Son. An important note to remember is the doctrine of the eternal Sonship of Jesus Christ. Jesus has been from beginning to end the Son of God. It is easy to assume that Jesus only became God’s son when He was born of a Virgin to Mary. That is not what Scripture teaches and verses 4-5 the author is making this exact argument. Jesus Christ is eternally God’s Son from everlasting to everlasting.

Jesus Is The Firstborn To Receive Worship (vs. 6)

Jesus is the firstborn of God’s creation. Firstborn does not mean that Jesus was born first. Jesus is eternal. The term firstborn refers to rank and honor not blessing. Solomon was declared to be the firstborn of the line of David even though he was David’s tenth child. The term is about blessing and inheritance. Jesus is the firstborn over all creation because He created all things and is the first to come back from the dead. When Jesus first entered the world the angels came to worship Him. Angels would never worship a mere creature, Jesus is God and deserves to be worshiped.

Jesus is God-enthroned and Worshiped (vs. 8-9)

The author of Hebrews is now quoting Psalm 45:6 which is used in reference to Jesus stating that His Throne, O God, is forever and ever. Jesus used this verse in reference to himself as well as the Apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost. Jesus is enthroned in Heaven and is worshiped.

Jesus Is Creator (vs. 10-11)

This is an exciting verse. The angels did not create the foundations of the earth and will not remain forever but only Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ created the angels, why would you seek to worship angels rather than the creator? Everything around us will change but Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever!

Christ Is Sovereign and Angels Are Servants (vs. 12-14)

Jesus sits enthroned over all and sits at the right hand of God. Angels serve to minister to Jesus and to worship him. In fact the author suggests here that those that are saved have angels at their disposal to serve the purposes of God. Why would you worship angels when you are higher than they are? They were created to serve and minister to you because of Jesus Christ.

The author of Hebrews makes his first argument of many in the book to come that Jesus Christ ‘is really a big deal’ and that there is none other like him. He is all that and a bag of chips because He is God enthroned, who reigns eternal, and never changes.

It is so easy in the Christian life to be distracted by so many other spiritual things or even concerns. We are so quick to lose focus from the King of Kings. This past week I doubt many of us were distracted or tempted to start worshiping angels but that does not mean we did not struggle to keep our focus and our eyes set only on Jesus Christ.

Whatever our distractions might be, let us keep our eyes focused on Jesus Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith. Amen!

- Wade Lowrey

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Putting on the Spiritual Ears to hear the Word of God instead of the World.

Hebrews 1:1-3

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

I have a great uncle who recently received a new hearing aid. He had been putting it off for some time but finally his family forced him into the doctor’s office to get his hearing checked. After going through a series of tests he was told to come back in one week to receive his new hearing aid.

Uncle Harley came back the next week to receive his new hearing aid. The doctor walked him through the proper instructions and tested him again with his new hearing aid. He left the doctor’s office and headed towards his car. During the fifteen minute drive back to his house he noticed a strange noise that he had never heard before. He became concerned and was convinced that something was wrong with his car. He pulled over a few times before he reached home to check the car but did not notice anything out of the ordinary. He finally arrives home to take a good look at his car.

He shuts off the car and walks around the car to see if anything might be wrong. He lifts the hood to do a quick but serious look to see if anything looked out of place. He went inside to get one of his daughters to get in the car with him to go for a ride around the block to see if she heard anything. They both got in the car. Uncle Harley started the car up and they went around the block. He heard the noise alright but only a few times it was not consistent. Finally he turned to his daughter and he asked, “Do you heart that?” His loving daughter who tried not to laugh simply replied, “Yes Dad, that’s your turn signal!”

It had been years if not a decade or more since he had heard his own turn signal in his car. His new hearing aid worked great but a sound that was is so common to all of us seemed foreign to him because he had not heard it in years.

I am going to be starting a weekly devotion through the book of Hebrews. The book of Hebrews is a solid book encouraging believers that Jesus Christ is superior to anyone and everything. It is a powerful book detailing the deity of Jesus and His resurrection. It is also a book of some powerful warnings for believers who refuse to ‘hear’ Jesus Christ and thus refuse to obey him as well.

The first three verses explode out of the book and set the tone to remind us that Christ is the exact representation of God, the Father, and Christ is to be worshiped. The book of Hebrews was written to a group of Christians who were not actively listening to the Word as they once had previously. As a result they began doing a lot of strange and unnecessary activities that serve as powerful distractions to truly worshiping Jesus Christ.

My Uncle Harley could not recognize the simple sound of a turn signal in his car because he was unable to hear it for several years. As we go through a weekly study together of the book of Hebrews it is my prayer that all of us check our spiritual ears and begin listening closely to the Word of God. In the past God has spoken to our forefathers, the Prophets in various ways but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son – this is a call for us to listen and to listen to Christ alone! The question that the author of Hebrews is asking is simply this, “Is anyone really listening?”

- Wade Lowrey

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It doesn’t seem to matter what kind of abuse a person encounters-be it physical, emotional, mental, sexual or spiritual, it’s incredibly difficult to admit the abuse is happening. Or if it’s something that happened in the past, especially during childhood, it’s hard to admit that it did happen.

Admitting, accepting that someone hurt us, that they controlled us, feels almost impossible. But it’s the necessary first step in recovery. Acknowledging there is a problem and naming it for what it is.

I think there’s plenty of reasons someone might have for not wanting to admit the abuse. Even if they are willing to admit something isn’t right, they don’t like to call it “abuse.”

“It’s not that bad.”

“It can’t be abuse if I willingly stayed in the situation.”

“My pastor/church/loved one love me and are trying to do what’s best for me and don’t realize it’s hurting me.”

“What they are saying/doing can’t be abusive, they’re of God!”

No matter what the reason, it can be one of the hardest things to admit that we are being or were abused. Another common thought process I see is the idea of not wanting the “victim mentality.”

So many people use the word “abuse” to mean someone did something they didn’t like. Or they use it to not take responsibility for their own actions. I’ve known people who couldn’t admit they were being abused because they didn’t want to be lumped in with those who, well, abuse the concept of abuse.

Admitting you’ve been abused does not put you in the victim mentality, I can assure you. In my unprofessional opinion, it puts you at a crossroads. Once you recognize the behavior as abusive, you can choose that “victim mentality” route, where you just become angry at those who hurt you and use that anger and pain to behave irresponsibly. Or, you can choose to find healing. There is healing from abuse, including spiritual abuse.

I’m learning that healing is a life-time process, although the pain does seem to decrease over time to some degree. Healing and recovery comes from faith, time and support. Wait, I said faith. So what if someone was so spiritually abused that they no longer have a faith in God? There’s healing for you, too. I hope it finds you back with God and knowing of his grace instead of human judgment. Many who are spiritually abused have to take a healthy step back from God to examine who he really is. My hope and prayer is that for all who face this dilemma, it’s only a step back instead of running away with no looking back.

No matter what brought you to that crossroads of deciding the victim mentality or the the path of healing, you have a choice to make. It’s your responsibility. Even though you were not at fault for the abuse, you are responsible for the recovery.

I once heard this analogy that I just love: Say someone shoots you in the leg. You were just walking along, minding your own business and BANG. You have a choice. You can sit there and moan about how it wasn’t your fault and it’s not fair, or you can seek medical attention. One path leads to almost certain death and one leads to probable life.

Which way are you going to choose? What’s holding you back from healing and recovery?

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Imagine being in the awkward situation of not being able to answer that question! Strange, I know. But I’ve struggled to be able to tell people just when I became a Christian. This became an issue when I tried to start writing my testimony.

The history
Here’s the deal. I was raised in a strong Christian home and knew stories about Jesus from the time I was incredibly young. I’m not even sure how old I was when I accepted Jesus but I know I knew what I was doing and was making my own decision. It was also my own decision to be baptized in second grade.

So what happened? Lots that I won’t go in to, but basically over the years I got the idea of how many Christians behave mixed up with the idea of who God is. My heart and mind got trapped in the legalism and judgment of it all instead of focusing on God’s love, acceptance and truth.

I never stopped believing in God, I just had an ever-decreasing desire to have a real relationship with him. I used to do devotions out of guilt (or as a homework assignment, I went to Christian schools growing up). But somehow they never meant much to me. I was wracked with guilt over this and wondered if I was really a Christian. Sure, I lived the lifestyle but there was no spiritual relationship there. My theology says yes, I was a Christian, because I had accepted God’s gift of salvation and never stopped doubting his power. But something in my heart wondered how that could be possible that I could still be a Christian when I had no real, faithful relationship with Christ.

Fast forward about 15 years. I was in my late 20s and had quit going to church or even trying to read my Bible. I decided doing anything out of guilt was wrong and I couldn’t do it any more. I was trying to figure out my standards on a lot of issues and I knew I wasn’t settling on Godly solutions. In the back of my mind I knew returning to God was the right thing to do but I was so filled with anger and mistrust I couldn’t do it.

I reached a point of rock bottom emotionally, spiritually and mentally. I knew the life I was living was tearing me down and in my head I knew God was the answer but my heart was still leery. So that’s when I made my “deal” with God.

I told him I would try the relationship “thing” under one condition. That it be all about him. Not about Christians and the rules or expectations they place. Not about life’s disappointments and pain. Just him. Focusing on his power, his glory, just him.

Remember the old Amy Grant song “I Have Decided”? A part of the lyrics go like this: “I have decided, I’m gonna live like a believer, turn my back on the deceiver. I’m gonna live what I believe.”

I feel like that song could be one of many anthems that describe my life in the last couple of years.

The conundrum
So back to the original point. I wasn’t sure when I became a Christian. Was it when I asked Jesus into my heart, just like my theology (and I believe the Bible) says? Or was it when I decided to start actually having a real relationship with God?

I’ve asked many wise Christian friends and one of my pastors and I think I’ve settled on an answer. I can, in clear conscience, say that I became a Christian as a child but that I started truly living it a few years ago.

I see it as something of stages. The actual salvation happened as a child but as we all grow and develop in our relationships with God and others, things change and we either get closer or farther away. I went farther away but then I came back. I think this is part of the natural process of growing in Christ, I just did it in a more extreme way *smile.*

I liked how my pastor put it so I’m going to quote him for a moment.
“In the Romans message we talk about the fullness of Salvation—God saved us (justification). God is saving us (sanctification). And God will save us (glorification). When someone becomes a Christian, they get the whole package of salvation. But they may not realize or grow into that whole package right away. This is especially true of children who receive Christ at an early age. They buy into the justification part of salvation … Jesus forgives my sin and pays my debt. But they don’t know what it means to embrace the rest of salvation… Jesus is changing me continually as I walk with Him (sanctification)… and I can’t wait until He finishes the job when I’m with Him (glorification).”

So what now?
I’m hoping to be rebaptized sometime but don’t know when. God will tell me when my heart and mind are ready! I don’t consider my original baptism “invalid” (in fact, the implication I get of that from some churches downright offends me), but I want to make a new statement. The last time I was making a statement of childlike faith. Now I want a grownup relationship with Christ and I want something that symbolizes that.

I pray that as I trudge forward in this life, I will continue to keep my eyes on Christ … and him alone.

PS…just wanted to share this video of the song “I Have Decided” that has the lyrics. I find it encouraging and I hope you do as well!

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Ephesians 5:15-18
Look carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.

I have yet to meet a 4 year old that has any problem singing or making up their own songs.  In fact, most adults know that this is one of the primary ways in which a young child learns.  But hanging around any 4 or 5 year old for very long and you will know that not only do they have no problem singing a song they know or even making one up they in fact will ask you to sing with them!

Inconceivable!

They will even be willing to teach you the song if you do not know it.  I honestly wish I remember myself at that age and the easy ‘joy’ that goes with being that young.  What happened to me?  What happened to all my friends and my peers?  When did we all stop singing?

I’m writing this post actually because I see so many individuals that I care about that are “living for the weekend” and choosing not to fully live for God.

I wish they were talking about Sunday morning church but obviously they are not.  Obviously they are talking about going out Friday and Saturday and in various ways completely get wasted in various ways.  The irony that for as long as alcohol as existed – alcohol and singing almost always go together.  Whether it is Pub songs from 400 years ago or karaoke bars or dance clubs of today, music and alcohol have always been consistent wonderful friends for one another.

In the middle of Ephesians 5 Paul reflects for a moment regarding something that saddens his heart about his day just as I’m writing about something I see that saddens my heart with people that are important in my life.  If I could sum up what saddened Paul’s heart as well as mine in just a quick phrase it would be simply this:  “stop wasting life and live for a God who loves you dearly”.  But a sobering thought as I reflect on my own culture as well as the Apostle Paul, Paul reminds me in verse 15:  “but the days are evil”.

It is the 2nd part of that thought that I want to spend the majority of my time on right now, the idea of “living for God”.  I want to explore the idea of what it means to be “Filled With The Holy Spirit”.

What Does It Mean To Be Filled With The Holy Spirit?

The phrase “baptize in (or with) the Holy Spirit” was first used by the Prophet John the Baptist. All four of our gospels record that he said, “I have baptized you with water, but he (i.e., Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33). The only two writers in the New Testament who refer elsewhere to the phrase “baptize with the Spirit” are Luke in the book of Acts, and Paul in 1 Corinthians. Luke refers to it twice, quoting John each time (Acts 1:5; 11:16), and Paul refers to it once (1 Corinthians 12:13). But I don’t think Paul and Luke use this phrase to refer to the same thing. For Paul, it is virtually identical to regeneration or new birth (conversion). For Luke, it is essentially the same as being filled with the Spirit and refers to that first experience of  being filled.

I do want to share my thoughts on this issue.  First, it is important to note that a phrase can change in meaning by various degrees when used by different authors.  It will not always mean exactly the same thing every place it occurs in Scripture. Good interpretation lets a word or phrase mean whatever the immediate context demands. What really matters in Scripture is not that a phrase everywhere have the same meaning, but that the reality which a phrase describes does not contradict other descriptions of reality in the Bible. The gospel writers of both Paul and Luke do not use the  phrase “baptized with the Spirit” in the exact same sense.

How Paul Uses The Phrase  “Baptized/Filled With The Spirit”.

Paul uses the phrase only once. He says in 1 Corinthians 12:12, 13:
Just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

Paul’s understanding conceived of Spirit-baptism as the act by which the Spirit made us members into Christ’s body.  Once we were alienated from God, cut off from Christ (Ephesians 2:12), but then the Holy Spirit came came us and brought us to life by uniting us to the living Christ and thus to his people in one body. This is a once-for-all event. It is never repeated, neither Paul nor Luke ever commands a Christian to be baptized by the Spirit.

How Luke Uses The Phrase “Baptized/Filled With The Spirit”.

A quick look through the Book of Acts written by Luke it is clear that Luke means something different by the phrase of filled with Spirit.  Luke suggests that this is not a once only event but something that is both ongoing and repeated.  This is clear in the book of Acts.  In Acts 1:4-5, Luke records that Jesus told the disciples to wait for the promise of the Father of ‘before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.  This is a simple reference to Pentecost in the next chapter.

Here’s how Luke describes it:
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.   It is essential to point out on the day of Pentecost that it was only the Apostles gathered who were the ones speaking in tongues and not the entire crowd which numbered in the thousands.

Luke uses the phrase in Chapter 1 that Jesus says they will be baptized by the Spirit and in chapter 2 Luke uses the phrase to describe that promise being fullfilled as “filling of the Holy Spirit”.

Luke does the exact same thing in Acts 11 describing the experience at the house of Cornelius.  He quotes the John the Baptist again describing the baptism of the Holy Spirit using both phrases baptism and filling.

Both in Acs 2 and Acts 11 Luke sees what happened at both the day of Pentecost and the House of Cornelius as both a baptism of the Spirit and a filling of the Holy Spirit.  Luke uses the phrase filling of the Spirit three more times in the book of Acts referring to disciples being filled.

Both Paul and Luke mean two different things by this phrase:  Paul is describing regeneration and Luke is referring to the initial filling of the Spirit after an individual trusts Jesus Christ.

But now that Christ has come and through his death and resurrection purchased all the blessings of God, it is God’s purpose to call all his people to experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit. When a person first experiences this fullness of the Spirit, that is what Luke means by being baptized with the Spirit.

While Luke’s definition of filled with the Spirit leans towards a powerful experience Luke does not ever make the case and it is impossible to argue rightly from the book of Acts that God intends for the baptism of the Spirit to always be accompanied by speaking in tongues.  In Acts only the Apostles preaching spoke in tongues not the 3,000 that were saved.  Paul plainly teaches in 1 Corinthians 12 that God does not give the gift of tongues to everyone.

This truth is the same as it was in Acts 2 or for us today that being baptized with the Holy Spirit, to be filled with the Spirit of God may or may not result in tongues speaking and as a result speaking in tongues is not a necessary part of either Luke’s or Paul’s understanding of being baptized with the Spirit.  I would also add that if on the day of Pentecost only around a dozen spoke in tongues while 3,000 did not, I believe it is very easily to say that the act of speaking in tongues will not be the normal experience for the vast majority of believers.

I do want to be clear on two issues:  I do not reject by any means the validity of the gift of tongues for today.  It is a powerful gift for many. It is only God who determines who receives various gifts. I also want to make clear that it is doctrinally wrong to insist that speaking in tongues are a necessary part of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. As I look through the book of Acts I do see three common experiences that do accompany those that have been filled with the Holy Spirit.  While more are possible I do see three that are common to most believers in Scripture..

Three manifestations that seek consistent in Acts with those described to be filled with the Holy Spirit seem to be filled with joy, victorious over sin (repentance), and have a bold witness for their faith in Jesus Christ.  While Luke does draw the conclusion that being filled with the Spirit of God is an experience and something powerful does take place Luke is also very clear to point out that something must be done with that experience if that experience was really from God.

How Do You Know If You Are Filled With The Holy Spirit?

Ephesians 5:15-18
Look carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.

How do you know if you are filled with the Holy Spirit?  Let me be very practical from our verses in Ephesians 5:  Are you getting drunk?  It is interesting the word for debauchery literally means an abandoned life.  Are you doing things by drinking heavily or frequently or by using drugs to abandon/get-a-way even if it is just a happy hour.  Here’s a simple practical way to tell from the text if you are filled with the Spirit:  Do you enjoy singing to God and to others about what Christ has done!  Look at Ephesians 5 again, it is all about singing!

But here’s the real answer if you are filled with the Holy Spirit?  Instead of Paul giving us a complete checklist of things to look for to know if we are filled with the Holy Spirit he actually does something else in the context.  Look at the context of Ephesians 5.  What follows immediately following verse 18, the command to be filled with the Spirit?

Instructions on Husbands and Wives, Children and Parents, Masters and Slaves.

Perhaps the question, “Am I Filled With The Spirit” should not be a question we ask ourselves but something we ask those that know us best including our present and our past.   Husbands you need to ask your wife and your children for an accurate answer.  Wives you need to ask your husbands and children for the best answer.  Children, ask your brothers and sisters whether or not you are filled with the Spirit, they’ll be honest, I promise!  Dare I also suggest simply ask your boss or your co-workers about your work ethic and integrity on the job as well.

How Do We “Get Filled” When God Does The Filling?

Now let’s ask the final and most humbling of all the questions in regard to being “filled with the Spirit”.  Ephesians 5:18 commands us to be full of the Spirit but the problem is we are not the filler; the Spirit is.  The truth is the answer is that God has ordained and promised to move powerfully into our lives with fullness through faith.

Luke tells us in Acts 6:5 that Stephen was a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit,”.  They both belong together.  The truth is when a person is filled with faith, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of joy and peace.

Paul shares it this way in Romans 5:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”    Paul makes the connection that it is in our believing that we are filled with joy and peace.  Let’s make the connection that Paul makes.  Through our faith the Spirit fills us with His hope as well as His Joy and His peace.  In the end, God is ultimately the God of hope, Amen!

While it is the Spirit that fills us it is our responsibility to purposely place ourselves in continual opportunities for our faith to be fed.  We must place ourselves at the Spiritual dinner tables that God does provide so that our faith will be fed.  Only God can increase our faith but our role is to sit at the table when the Word is preached, when Worship is underway, when Fellowship is gathering, and when Service in His Kingdom arises.

The truth is nobody is filled with the Spirit all the time.  I have yet to meet a Christian who is always full of joy.  When I do I make fun of them just to bring them down a little (I’m teasing!).  I have yet to meet a Christian who is always full of hope.  I’ve never met someone who is always submissive to the Will of God, have yet to meet someone that still does not have something that they need to repent of and give to God.  To be practical to the text:  I have yet to meet a Christian who can’t stop singing about Jesus all the time.

While the world longs for a Happy Hour to escape from the world; the justified, regenerated Child of God hungers to be filled with the Spirit of the Living God while He or She waits for their new home.

As a believer in Jesus Christ if I have to choose between the world offering a so called “Happy Hour” or the Heavenly Father who offers “Oh Happy Day” I will choose Oh Happy Day every time.  In the end, Christians have the best song to sing!

As the hymn says: Oh Happy Day, When Jesus Washed, My Sins Away!  Amen!

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Nick’s authentic love of Christ shines through him so penetratingly that people are literally captivated and disarmed by the fact he can genuinely rejoice in his circumstances. Almost without realizing it, they discover that they want desperately that same factor that they see so clearly displayed in Nick’s life and messages, in their own lives. That factor that they desire for themselves is, of course, Christ…living in him, and working through him.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F14AFjqoQw

Visit Nick Vujicic’s Ministry website at Life Without Limbs

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I wanted to share this quote that I read from an online book recently from a 17th century puritan named Thomas Brooks in his book “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices”.

“That Christ should come from the eternal bosom of his Father to a region of sorrow and death; that God should be manifested in the flesh, the Creator made a creature; that he that was clothed with glory should be wrapped with rags of flesh; he that filled heaven and earth with his glory should be cradled in a manger; that the power of God should fly from weak man, the God of Israel into Egypt; that the God of the law should be subject to the law, the God of the circumcision circumcised, the God that made the heavens working at Joseph’s homely trade; that he that binds the devils in chains should be tempted; that he, whose is the world, and the fullness thereof, should hunger and thirst; that the God of strength should be weary, the Judge of all flesh condemned, the God of life put to death; that he that is one with his Father should cry out of misery, ‘My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?’ (Matt. 27.46); that he that had the keys of hell and death at his girdle should lie imprisoned in the sepulchre of another, having in his lifetime nowhere to lay his head, nor after death to lay his body; that that head, before which the angels do cast down their crowns, should be crowned with thorns, and those eyes, purer than the sun, put out by the darkness of death; those ears, which hear nothing but hallelujahs of saints and angels, to hear the blasphemies of the multitude; that face, that was fairer than the sons of men, to be spit on by those beastly wretched Jews; that mouth and tongue, that spake as never man spake, accused for blasphemy; those hands, that freely swayed the sceptre of heaven, nailed to the cross for man’s sins; each sense annoyed: his feeling or touching, with a spear and nails; his smell, with stinking flavour, being crucified about Golgotha, the place of skulls; his taste, with vinegar and gall; his hearing, with reproaches, and sight of his mother and disciples bemoaning him; his soul, comfortless and forsaken; and all this for those very sins that Satan paints and puts fine colours upon.

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