Holy Spirit

So lately I've been wondering what exactly is the Holy Spirit and what does it mean for me. There are plenty of verses that have "Holy Spirit" in them but here are a few:

John 14:25-27 (New International Version) 25"All this I have spoken while still with you. 26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 16:12-16 (New International Version)
"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

16"In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me."

Hebrews 10:14-16 (New International Version)
because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. 15The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: 16"This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds."

The Holy Spirit is how we continue to give God glory. Yet He is still God. I find it interesting that it says "He" in these verses and many more. It is important to note that the Holy Spirit is still God just as Jesus is God. They are different expressions. The Holy Spirit isnt just a thing, or a force. He is a person just like Jesus or the Father. This has always been difficult for me to understand but I think what all this means is that God is a team but is still one.
The Holy Spirit brings us to glorify Jesus and makes Him known to us-
Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. -Corinthians 12:3

And Jesus brings glorify the Father-
Then Jesus cried out, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. -John 12:44

And by looking at these two verses you see can see something else. The Father sends the Holy Spirit and Jesus on his behalf. You see it is a perfect relationship. They each are God, Jesus said all authority was given to him. But as I said before the Holy Spirit is not just a thing. He loves us. He prays for us. He speaks to us. He has a will (just like God, because well he is God). And the scriptures refer to the Spirit as a person.

This is really cool to me because I can ask the Holy spirit for things and he will answer just as I would pray to God. Another thing to remember is that the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit is still ONE. We have one God in three forms that serve 3 functions. God has one will and one plan. He sends the Spirit to give us understanding and to reveal God to us. I think I need to be more in tune with the Holy Spirit if I want to see God better and to hear him. Also, I believe it is important to have a relationship with the Holy Spirit, just like we have a relationship with Jesus and the Father. But at the same time, we already do, because they are one in the same. Tough to grasp isn't it? Anyways, I am still learning what this means but I can definitely tell that the Holy Spirit is changing me and revealing things to me that I haven't seen before.

Welp, more on this later... to much for one post.

suffering for Christ

Clyde: yeah, i don't know... so the question is do you think jesus thought he had enemies
10:36 AM me: i think he knew he did
10:40 AM Clyde: i think jesus only reconized one ememy in satan.... everyone else was either someone who needed his love and grace more an more or satan was working through them to get at jesus
me: yea i could see that
10:41 AM i mean he really had power over everything
so his enemies only could do what he allowed them to do
i think that relates to us
10:42 AM Clyde: yeah i agree with that
me: which can be hard to understand when you consider people who are being persecuted daily for worshiping God
10:43 AM I mean I don't understand that
But people only stay in authority if it is in God's will
10:44 AM he might let crap happen but eventually they get what they deserve
10:45 AM Clyde: yeah, so i was reading Philippians today and this verse stuck out to me phil 1:29-30
For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, 30since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
10:46 AM and i have been trying to figure out how i truly suffer for christ... and does this verse mean that you are a believer because you suffer or your beliefs bring suffering
me: 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:2-3
Clyde: yeah, thats like one of my favorite verses
10:47 AM what trials do i face though... accept from me in times when my faith is lacking
10:48 AM me: well..
i dunno man you'll have to see that for yourself
10:49 AM Clyde: ha yeah, guess i will
10:50 AM me: suffering will come, we live in a broken world
Also, when you are in a time that your faith is lacking, that is a trial.
10:51 AM It shows the character of a person when you see how they act during times of lacking faith
If you continue to seek him you shall see a reward.
10:52 AM which is you will find him
thats what i think
10:53 AM Clyde: yeah, that is what me and kolia talked about last week, that it sucks but its also exciting to see that reward and to know that god will keep his promises to us
10:54 AM me: not everybody will have really tough trials, which sometimes I wonder if the reason I am not in a place where Christianity is illegal is because he did not trust me to be in that positon
10:55 AM Clyde: yeah, i have thought that to myself too, and god knows what we can handle and he won't push us past that until we are ready
10:57 AM me: yea definitely
11:01 AM my sister used to always tell me and encourage me that God would never give me more than I could handle.
11:02 AM not that she doesnt now..
11:05 AM 3Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. james 5:13-16
11:06 AM it is important to remember while you are not suffering, that you aren't doing anything wrong
We can remember and support those who are
11:07 AM as well as continuing in worship and praise
i think this is something i need to remember as i forget often
Clyde: yeah i agree
11:08 AM 1 cor 10:13
13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
me: yep yep
that one is pretty clear
11:18 AM Clyde: ha yeah, i like that verse, but i can never remember what it is :)
i need to work on that
11:19 AM me: yea i really wish i knew scripture well
Clyde: yeah me too
11:20 AM the verse i worked on today is phil 1:21
for to live is christ and to dies is gain.
hahah die
11:23 AM me: that is shohn's fav verse
he is going to have my sister paint it on his motorcycle

Seeing Jesus in many dimensions

So I am constantly reminded of my spiritual immaturity and that have still have a lot of "unplowed ground". This is only one example, I am going through Matthew right now and it has been great. Here is one thing that I believe God has revealed to me.

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)

Previously, I have seen this passage and only seen Jesus as saying this in a narrow, almost aloof way as if "Its just too bad" but this is far from what I think Jesus is feeling while saying this. Yes, I know that Jesus is very frank sometimes and that he wants to get the truth out there so people are aware of the harsh realities of our destination. I also believe that Jesus has come not for just peace and rescue but to change the world

"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." Matthew 10:34 (NIV)

You can take what you think about this verse, but I feel like its pretty straight-forward. Jesus came and people had to make a decision. Those that choose him would not be condemned. "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." Mark 16:16 (NIV) I think these verses go hand-in-hand. This is why I believe it is important to see Jesus and God in more than one "dimension". I feel like Jesus is bringing a sharp path and is very clear about what he demands.

The reason I am writing this is because I feel like I fail to remember sometimes that Jesus' heart aches for us to chose Him and follow Him. He anxiously is waiting to accept him and enter a relationship with him. It hurts him that only a few will choose his path. As he says that "few will enter" it cuts him deep. He desires that we would want to spend time with Him. This relates to the whole "bride-groom" image of Jesus I believe. But I also think it is just the character of God. Jesus came to Earth for one purpose. He loved us enough to die for us and to take on all our sins past, present, future. He did this so we would have the ability to enter His kingdom and to enter into His fellowship. We have been given the privilege to work for His kingdom and glory.

So as I read scripture I will try and do a better job of remembering this. Jesus is both bringing a sword but also a message of the greatest Love story ever. Ever.

Meek and Bold

Meek:
1. enduring injury with patience and without resentment(mild)
2. deficient in spirit and courage (submissive)

from Webster's online Dictionary, http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary
Bold:
1. without fear
2. confident, assured
3. adventurous, free


from Webster's online Dictionary, http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary

God is teaching me how these two are related and not opposites.

To me, I have in the past struggled with being meek. I seem to get defensive fairly easy when people take me out of context or try and manipulate what I say about my faith. Also I get very angry when people think that I should be perfect because I am a Christian. Meek seems hard for a Christian, I mean how am I supposed to go after people for Christ and still be meek. Doesn't it seem to you that meek can sound as if we give up? If we are supposed to be submissive, then how are we supposed to also be bold.
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." Matthew 5:5 (NIV)
"Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ." Acts 28:31 (NIV)

But I don't think this means that we should let things get in the way. It just means that let God worry about things and do not fear others.

"What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31 (NIV)

I think God is saying through Paul and Jesus that we should submit ourselves to the Holy Spirit and submit to the will of the LORD. But we should also take courage in the fact that we have nothing to fear.

In the past I think I might have had the wrong image of "bold" and "meek". Being bold isn't being forceful and without tact. Being meek is not having a submissive look on other people's views. We can not be silent, Jesus is pretty clear on that I think. NO, now I see being bold just literally as the dictionary says. Without fear. Meek I see differently now too. I think he is saying that we must be submissive to the spirit. Submissive. Let God do what he wants in your life, after all he made us. I think he would know what is best.

Another note, as I read through Kolia's email he pointed out,"When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate (console)." Taken from 1 Cor. 4:9-13. This was very helpful for me. This relates to being meek very well. It also relates to what I have been thinking a lot about lately with enemies. People can do what they want to us, it doesn't change the fact that we are called to love them. We need to look at our enemies in this way.

Also, it is important to remember that the only reason we have enemies is because the Devil is afraid of us and is trying his best to stop what God is doing through us in different ministries. I have always taken this as encouragement because it reminds me what I am doing is for the right side and what I am doing is changing things. Don't you enjoy making it harder for the Devil to tear you down?

scary prayer

I am going to ask for you all to pray for me as I go through this, because today I prayed a scary prayer. In my experience, God generally grants people the opportunity to learn whatever it is that they ask God to teach them, so I would love your support in this prayer I made today. Anyways- So I try to let the spirit speak through me in prayer, and this morning as I was spending time with the lord I came across this passage :

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." Matthew 5:43-45.

Then I thought, "Who are my enemies? Do I have any real enemies besides Satan making it hard for me to do ministry or other things?" I am not really sure that I do. We all have people that get on our nerves from time to time. I think this is normal, due to personality differences we will not be fully able to get along with everybody. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying you can not love everyone. I just think there are always people in our lives that we bang heads against, not so literally sometimes and other times quite literally. And other times, opposites do attract like that dumb sitcom "Dharma and Greg". Or my co-leader and one of her good friends who disagree on much of everything other than the fact they believe in Jesus.

What I am trying to say (without rambling) is that there are people who we don't get along with, but these people are different from enemies. Webster defines enemy like this:
1. One that is antagonistic to another; especially one seeking to injure, overthrow, or confound an opponent
2. Something harmful or deadly
I guess the point could be made that anyone you don't get along with can be considered "antagonistic". But I don't think that is all what Jesus is saying here. He says "pray for those who persecute you". I don't know of anybody right now that is persecuting me. Well as I am writing this I just had another thought- since we all belong to the body of Christ, isn't anyone that persecutes a fellow believer or the church as a whole an enemy? Yea, I know this. But still I guess when I was in prayer and while I read this passage this morning I was pondering over personal enemies. In high school there were many times people made fun of Christians and would make it a point to give believers a hard time. This was done far too easily as questions such as "If there is a God why would he allow [insert catastrophe here] happen?" And these questions were all to given to kids who believed in Christ but were still immature spiritually, they were only kids. I remember a time when we were in some computer class and one of guys thought it would be funny to make fun of the teacher, who was openly a Christian, by playing Christian music via Internet radio and mocking it.

Additionally, I had a manager for a long time who was very atheistic. (Yes atheistic, because a true atheist is a scholar in religion and has studied most all of them and has come to the conclusion through research that there can not be a God. This was not his case) He would make remarks, although always in a light-hearted way, to the me and others who were Christians and would always try and prove atheism was correct. Well, it turned out that this actually helped me and others as we questioned our faith and put research into it. Anyways, I did not really take it that harshly and would always end the conversation in "well it doesn't change the fact that I am praying that God will reveal himself to you and that you will see what it is to have a relationship with him." He would always laugh it off, but I meant that. I did pray for him, consistently. And you know what, he is now involved in a church with one of the other guys I used to work with and told me he is a believer now. Wow, I think I am getting a little off track... Anyways, I don't really know that right now I have enemies.

So you are probably wondering why the title of this post is "scary prayer" by now. Well I could not think of any personal enemies who are persecuting me. And I couldn't think of anybody besides Satan holding me back from my ministry. So I prayed-you ready for this?-that God will put enemies in my front, so that I can pray for them and so I could be challenged. I feel that maybe I have become to comfortable in my faith and I have taken it too casually. I am not looking at my faith in Christ as something that is urgent which is what I should do. I have almost become numb to any hindrances in growing in my faith.

Currently, the only thing holding me back in my faith is me. I do this by not giving him enough time or submitting everything in my life to him. I am trying to learn what it means to offer everything I do as an act of worship to God. Such as my work, or exercising or driving. Anyways, I am personally responsible for not letting God work in my life. Which is why I prayed for "enemies" to come into my life. I want to relearn what it is like to have to rely on God. Do you ever feel like you are not completely relying on God in everything? For instance- God is the reason I made it to work today. He gave me this day, am I truly grateful, are we truly grateful? Or do we just take for granted the things he puts in our lives?


(By the way, Kudos if you actually read this post in its entirety. Sorry for its monstrousity...)

Random Encounter

So recently I was reminded of “what I failed to do” in high school. In high school I worked at one place for about 2 ½ years. I was also very involve in Young Life in high school and tried to get my friends and people around me to come around. I also tried to be open about my faith and share what I believed and my relationship with Christ to other people. Well, there was this one guy I worked with that seemed interested in Young Life and in Jesus in general. We talked about God every now and then, but I never really talked to him one on one and discussed the gospel and what Jesus did for us and asked him what his response was the message of the gospel. Then I quit McD’s and never really saw this kid again.

Then I went back home recently and I saw this guy. I try not to judge people by their appearance, but I noticed his eyes were bloodshot and had other signs that he might not be doing well. Still I figured he could just be sick or had worked a long day. Then I started to talk to him, asking him questions like “What are you doing these days?” and “Where are you working?” These were simple small talk questions that one uses to start a conversation, right? Well, he did not hesitate to tell me that he has just been “smoking-out”. He also told me about his kid that he has, which he does care about very much. The mother apparently is not fit to take care of this child so he is working somewhere trying to support him and his daughter all at the age of 20. He is doing this all while still paying for his habit of weed. I am not one to judge ones actions, for God alone has this power. In fact I would not care enough to blog about it if it were just the fact that he had a kid. I mean we all make mistakes in our life, it’s the fact that he doesn’t know what he is doing and still continuing in a habit. There is nobody in his life to tell him what he is doing is not the most responsible thing with a kid. I mean I know a lot of people who had kids really young and yes this is not the best thing to do out of marriage or when you are young. It just seems like he is not in the greatest place and I wish I had remained in his life and was close enough to him that I could have the right to be heard. Anyways I didn’t really know what to say to him I just said that it was really exciting that he has a kid b/c he does seem to care about her, which is awesome. Anyways this kid seemed to miss my radar while I was in high school. I know that it is not my fault for where he currently is b/c it is not up to me for his salvation, God will take care of that. I just felt like I could have a few things a lot better back then, like being more intentional with spreading the gospel and remaining in contact with people. For the most part I feel like I am still not that good at this and wish I was better at it. I know God loves me, why can’t I tell others that? Why am I not screaming at the top of my lungs how great it is to know God loves me and to belong to him?