“Our Daily Bread”
http://odb.org/2012/11/08/the-legacy-2/
The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie
http://www.harvest.org/devotional/daily-devotions/home.ht
2 Corinthians 4:8-9… We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— (NKJV)
I wrote about the Apostle Paul’s amazing conversion by the grace of God yesterday (Acts 9:1-22); as this Christian killing Pharisee formerly named Saul, became Christ’s most effective teacher and preacher of God’s Word for the balance of his life… There is no one in the Bible (except possibly Job, and of course Christ Himself), that suffered more for the Lord, than the Apostle Paul… The long list of the Apostle Paul’s suffering for Christ is found in…2 Corinthians 11:22-28…
And yet through all of the Apostle Paul’s physical abuse he received, because of his determination to share the gospel of Christ, he never lost his love and dedication for the Lord… (He never lost heart)
The opening scripture was written by the Apostle Paul about his own persecution; but it could describe any Christian today, never losing heart like the Apostle Paul, even though that may be going through any number of life’s trials… Life’s trials may include the loss of a job, or a loved one… It may be the devastation of our home, like many saw in this recent Hurricane Sandy… And worse yet, it may be a terminal disease or some other physically debilitating disease that is ravaging our mere mortal bodies…
In our own meager strength, we would be crushed by many of life’s trials and tribulations… But a heart that is filled with the love Christ, is a heart that is also filled with the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit that God gives to every Christian, at the time they become a new child of God… The Holy Spirit is the Christian’s Comforter (John 14:26 – KJV), their Helper (John 14:26 – NKJV), their Teacher…and in general, their live-in Advocate (1 John 2:1), who knows everything about them…
But remaining filled with (controlled by) the Holy Spirit, is a continual day by day commitment the Christian must make to the Lord…where any sins that are committed, must be confessed and repented of, in order to remain walking with the Lord, and righteous in His sight…1 John 1:9… If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NKJV)
Every human gets 1day closer to perishing each and every day, as our bodies’ age… But the mature Christian who dedicates their lives to the Lord; and who daily (or whenever they sin) confesses their sins to Him…will never loose heart when the trials of life hit home… The Apostle Paul knew this, when he wrote…2 Corinthians 4:16… Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. (NKJV)
This inner strength the fullness of Holy Spirit will provide the obedient Christian, will far exceed our mere mortal comprehension, giving the Christian a supercharged power to overcome any of life’s obstacles; and is summed up in the following scripture written by the Apostle Paul…
Ephesians 3:16-20… that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, (NKJV)
Heavenly Father, Your Word is filled with all kinds of supernatural benefits that the full power of the Holy Spirit will be able to provide to those Christians, that continuously day by day are renewed with the awesome strength that the Holy Spirit can and will provide to Your obedient children… Help all of Your children Lord, no matter where we are in our spiritual walk with You…to understand this truth; that there is a supernatural joy and a peace that will surpass all mortal understanding (Philippians 4:6-7), awaiting those who humble themselves to totally submitting their lives to Your will and Your ways… I pray for this total submission to You by all of us, in Jesus’ most precious name and for His sake…Amen…
written by bruce r mills
P.S. How to become a Christian, who is filled with this awesome supernatural power of the Holy Spirit, is presented in the link below; along with steps to plant the seed toward salvation for those who want to become part of God’s family; to be sure they are deemed righteous in God’s eyes…
God's group 