One Person at a Time...

Fruit of the Spirit Series Underway!

This past Sunday marked the start of our most recent "Back to Basics" series. This one's titled "The Fruit of the Spirit."  The nine message series will focus on each of the aspects of the Fruit of the Spirit defined by the Apostle Paul in Galatians 5:22-23:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  We got of to a good start with a focus on LOVE.  The Scripture focus was John 15:5-14.  The key point for the day is that LOVE is not a feeling but an action, and that LOVE=OBEDIENCE when it comes to God.

I want to make a quick point about that last "equation."   LOVE=OBEDIENCE.  When it comes to God who IS love, our love for Him is demonstrated by our willingness to do what He says.  In the end the same is true of love in ALL relationships where there is mutual love.   When a husband and wife love each other, or when parents love their children then LOVE=OBEDIENCE is a good maxim as well.  HOWEVER, when one of the members of a relationship is ABUSIVE LOVE does NOT equal OBEDIENCE.  I realize there are those who think that a Christian wife must ALWAYS obey her husband, or that Christian children must ALWAYS obey their parents.  I am not one of them.  In abusive relationships the one being abused must NOT always obey, and to do so is not loving. It can be dangerous and even life-threatening to do so. 

As we go through the series, those of you who are attending are WELCOME to send me questions or thoughts through comments to blog entries I'll be posting!

Next Step #41

This week’s “Next Step” comes from Acts 7:54-60. I call it “The Holy Spirit’s Ultimate Witness.” By that I mean that as Stephen, the first Christian martyr faced his death, the Holy Spirit filled Him and showed him a vision of heaven. Stephen had been arrested for bearing witness to Jesus.  Ultimately, Stephen was stoned to death for his faithfulness to Jesus. Read what happened just before his death:

⁵⁴The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage. ⁵⁵But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. ⁵⁶And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”

⁵⁷Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him ⁵⁸and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul.

⁵⁹As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.

Wow!  What an amazing testimony! Just as Jesus had asked His Heavenly Father to forgive those who executed Him, Stephen prayed for Jesus to forgive his killers! When the Holy Spirit is truly in charge of our lives, we gain the power to forgive those who sin against us—even if that sin is our own murder. Stephen’s death may have been the first “spark” in igniting the “fire” of the Holy Spirit in the life of Saul, who later became the Apostle Paul. We never know what our willingness to give control of our lives to the Holy Spirit will do, and while it may not be as dramatic as what the Spirit did through Stephen, the Spirit WILL witness to and through us in our times of need.

Next Steps 39 & 40

  As you hopefully noticed, last week’s “Next Step #39” never arrived, so this week you’re receiving a “double feature”—Next Steps #39 & #40.  Next Step #39 is titled “The Basic Job Qualification.”  In the early church, the number of believers “rapidly multiplied,” and the result was that some folks were upset. The problem was the church provided food for the widows, but some of the Greek-speaking widows seemed to be discriminated against in receiving their portion. Read what happened below:

¹But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.

²So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. ³And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. ⁴Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.” ⁵Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of

Antioch

(an earlier convert to the Jewish faith). ⁶These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them. ⁷So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in

Jerusalem

, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.

Notice several key points:  1)  The problem was affirmed by the leadership; 2) The leadership of the church decided it would NOT be good for them to handle the situation, because it would distract them from teaching and prayer. and; 3) Those selected to take over the ministry of feeding the widows had one, basic job qualification:  They were “full of the Spirit.” Yes, they were respected and wise, but without being filled with the Holy Spirit they would not have been suited for the task. The same is true in our day.  The church needs many workers to carry out the ministry God has put before us, but unless a worker is “full of the Spirit” he or she is not qualified for the task, no matter how many other good qualities the worker possesses. As you go about your work in the name of Jesus, remember always to live in the power of the Holy Spirit, because only then will you be able to carry out the job faithfully and effectively.

Next Step #40

     Wow!  40 Next Steps! The number 40 is always significant in Scripture. For today, let’s revisit Jesus in the wilderness AFTER 40 days of fasting and prayer. It was the Holy Spirit who “drove” Jesus into the wilderness after His baptism for a time of temptation by Satan. As Jesus faced the temptation, the Spirit was with Him. How do we know?  Because each time the tempter offered Jesus the opportunity to turn from God’s ways and succumb to the “easy” way, Jesus responded with words of Scripture. The Holy Spirit does the same for us.  When we are tempted to take the “easy” way, to turn from God, to rely on ourselves, as we call on the Holy Spirit, He will bring to our remembrance God’s word that we, too, may overcome.   Jesus is the Son of God, so sometimes we find it easy to say, “Jesus succeeded because He’s GOD!” But remember Jesus was also FULLY HUMAN.  That means that He relied on the Holy Spirit just as we do to overcome temptation and sin. The next time the tempter offers you the easy way, quickly call on the Holy Spirit to bring God’s word to mind that you may overcome! God’s blessings as you live your life in the Spirit!

Next Step # 38

This week’s “Next Step” comes to us once again from the Book of Acts. In Acts 5:29-32, we find a record of Peter and some of the other apostles giving testimony before the Jewish leaders. They had been arrested for performing miraculous works in the Temple. The Jewish leaders told them that they had to stop talking about Jesus and acting in His name. Here’s how they responded: ²⁹But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. ³⁰The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross. ³¹Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven. ³²We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.”  Did you notice that both the apostles AND the Holy Spirit are witnesses of what God had done through Jesus?  This is another example of how the Holy Spirit works in our lives when we are facing questions or even persecution for living in Jesus’ name. Remember that we are never alone when it comes to being witnesses for Jesus. The Holy Spirit lives in us to guide us, empower us, and speak through us when opportunities come to tell others about Jesus and His salvation. If you are ever afraid of speaking up in Jesus’ name, make sure that you take the time to call on the Holy Spirit to speak through you, to give you the words to say, and then THANK HIM afterwards for His faithfulness to do just that!

Next Step #37

One of the most encouraging and empowering early records of the Holy Spirit’s work in the church, occurs when Peter and John have been imprisoned for performing a miracle of healing in Jesus’ name. After boldly proclaiming that the healing came in the name of Jesus before the Jewish ruling body—the Sanhedrin—and being instructed by the Sanhedrin not to preach again in Jesus’ name, Peter and John return to the other believers and give an account of what took place. At the conclusion of the account the believers offered this prayer to the Lord, ²⁹And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. ³⁰Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”  Obviously, the believers had not intention of stopping their preaching in Jesus’ name. All they asked the Lord is that he would give them GREAT BOLDNESS to continue. Here is God’s response to the prayer:

³¹After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.  The believers had already been filled with the Holy Spirit, but now they were filled again. The result was they were empowered to do what they had asked God—they preached the word of God with boldness. As we go about our lives, loving and serving in the name of Jesus, there will be those who oppose us. In such times, let’s remember the apostles’ prayer for GREAT BOLDNESS, and let’s call on God to fill us with that same boldness. God is always ready to fill and re-fill us with the Holy Spirit, and as we call on Him to do so, we will be made ready in every situation to continue to share the new life of Jesus with boldness and effectiveness to His glory!

Next Step #35

Hi Everyone,

This week’s next step comes to us from the Gospel of Mark, and may seem a bit extreme. Jesus was telling the disciples of what would happen as the “end” draws near. Notice what will happen to believers in this time, and the role of the Holy Spirit in what happens: 

    ⁹“When these things begin to happen, watch out! You will be handed over to the local councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me. ¹⁰For the Good News must first be preached to all nations. ¹¹But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.  Mark 13:9-11 NLT

     We live in a nation where we’re free to speak God’s word to others. Many believers around the world are not afforded that luxury. When (not if, since Jesus said the time will eventually come!) the time comes that we are not free to speak about Jesus (if it comes in our lifetimes!), then we may take the comfort of knowing that as we live in the power of the Holy Spirit, He will speak through us to local councils, governors and kings that they may know the Good News of Jesus! When we realize that our lives are not OURS, but HIS, then we begin to understand how important it is for us to live with the Holy Spirit leading every moment. Even for us, who have the freedom to tell others about Jesus, relying on the Holy Spirit to speak through us is the only sure way for our words to have His impact. The key from Jesus’ words is for us to BE READY! Whether the time is short or long, it is nearer than it once was and as those who are living in the Holy Spirit everyday, by His grace and power we will be ready!

Next Step #35

Hi Everyone,

This week’s next step comes to us from the Gospel of Mark, and may seem a bit extreme. Jesus was telling the disciples of what would happen as the “end” draws near. Notice what will happen to believers in this time, and the role of the Holy Spirit in what happens: 

    ⁹“When these things begin to happen, watch out! You will be handed over to the local councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me. ¹⁰For the Good News must first be preached to all nations. ¹¹But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.  Mark 13:9-11 NLT

     We live in a nation where we’re free to speak God’s word to others. Many believers around the world are not afforded that luxury. When (not if, since Jesus said the time will eventually come!) the time comes that we are not free to speak about Jesus (if it comes in our lifetimes!), then we may take the comfort of knowing that as we live in the power of the Holy Spirit, He will speak through us to local councils, governors and kings that they may know the Good News of Jesus! When we realize that our lives are not OURS, but HIS, then we begin to understand how important it is for us to live with the Holy Spirit leading every moment. Even for us, who have the freedom to tell others about Jesus, relying on the Holy Spirit to speak through us is the only sure way for our words to have His impact. The key from Jesus’ words is for us to BE READY! Whether the time is short or long, it is nearer than it once was and as those who are living in the Holy Spirit everyday, by His grace and power we will be ready!

Next Step #34

Next Step #34

Hi Everyone!

This week’s next step reminds us That the source of our strength as followers of Jesus is the “INNER STRENGTH” of the Holy Spirit:

¹⁴When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, ¹⁵the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. ¹⁶I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. ¹⁷Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. ¹⁸And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. ¹⁹May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

²⁰Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. ²¹Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.  

Ephesians 3:14-21

NLT

     The Apostle Paul reminded the Ephesian Christians that as we rely on the Holy Spirit we will be strengthened from the INSIDE, and equipped to face whatever comes to us. What a promise he gives us—that Christ will “make his home in our hearts as we trust in him.” We will know that reality is taking place when we experience the width, length, height and depth of his love! This is no empty promise—each of us may know that reality as we let the Holy Spirit fill and indwell us. Remember, the concluding promise that “through his mighty power at work within us—His Spirit, we are able “to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” There is literally no limit to what God can do in and through us when we let HIM empower us. The key is to take seriously God’s word, and to LIVE it in the power of the Spirit!

Grace and peace,

Chris

p.s.   As always you may read this Next Step and any of the previous Next Steps on my blog at www.chrismarshall.typepad.com

Next Step #33

This week’s next step reminds us that we don’t need to be CONTROLLED by our old, sinful nature.   Romans 8:9-17 is an amazing reminder that because of the Holy Spirit living us we have victory over sin. Read God’s promise below:

⁹But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) ¹⁰And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. ¹¹The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

¹²Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. ¹³For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. ¹⁴For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

¹⁵So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. ¹⁷And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

Powerful, isn’t it!  When we give our lives to Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit, we NO LONGER have any obligation to do what our sinful natures urge us. Certainly, we still can do those things, but we do not have to do them. Take some time right now to thank God that in His Spirit we have victory over sin, and then live into that promise!

Next Step #31

    In one of the more amazing passages of Scripture relating to Jesus’ birth, we find that John the Bapitizer “announces” Jesus’ birth, while John was still in his mother’s womb! ACTUALLY, it was Elizabeth, John’s mother who was filled with the Holy Spirit and did the announcing, but John seemed to be aware of what was taking place. Let’s look at Luke 1:39-45: 

        ³⁹A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town ⁴⁰where Zechariah lived.   She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴²Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. ⁴³Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? ⁴⁴When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. ⁴⁵You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”     (Emphasis Added) Luke 1:39-45 NLT.

     The Holy Spirit did not come to EVERY believer in those days, but only to those selected by God to carry out a specific purpose. Thus, when the Holy Spirit filled Elizabeth, this was a major event—particularly so, since Elizabeth was a woman. The Holy Spirit made it clear that Jesus was “the Lord,” when she called Mary “the mother of my Lord.” This is the first “announcement” of Jesus’ birth, and of course it was only announced in the hearing of Mary, Elizabeth—and Jesus and John! As we continue through this Christmas season, may we let the Holy Spirit FILL us daily that we, too, may announce not only our Lord’s birth, but also His life, death, resurrection and coming again! May our words be filled with the Holy Spirit’s power that others may respond to them and know the joy of Jesus’ salvation!

     Brothers and sisters in the Lord and in His Spirit, I want to wish all of you a blessed Christmas and joyous and productive New Year for His Kingdom! I will be taking a two week “vacation” from Next Steps during the Christmas and New Year Holidays and will present Next Step #32 during the weekend of January 5-6, 2008! God’s Blessings!!!