Series: Blessed Be
Romans 10:17 ESV
John 16:13 ESV
Isaiah 43:1b ESV
*Psalm 67:1 ESV
Hebrews 4:16 ESV
I Corinthians 6:17 ESV
Numbers 6:24-26 ESV
I Peter 2:9-10 ESV
Exodus 14-15 (Crossing Red Sea); Elijah 17:21-22 (Widow’s Son)
It’s difficult to understand why some people recognize our need for God, even early in life. In some cases they have heard the Gospel message and in other cases they have not.
I’ve read of instances where people recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit before they knew it was the Spirit of God.
Others have been told the Spirit is present and they do not recognize that the Spirit is near.
I have witnessed both. As far as I could tell the difference was because of a complex set of reasons why some hear and feel the presence of the Spirit and some do not.
In the same way some hear the message of the Gospel and they receive it and others hear the message and they do not believe.
By faith some hear and receive the message. Romans 10:17 says, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
By faith we believe the Spirit of God is present. By faith we believe the Word of God is OF God and we believe it.
God loves. God gives us a choice. However, God does guide us when we are open to receiving the helper.
Scripture tells us in John 16:13, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.“
Every day we choose to listen. While the choice to believe may have been made, we still have a choice every day to watch and listen for the movement of the Spirit. It’s not a question of salvation…it’s a question of recognizing the presence of the Spirit in our daily lives.
Isaiah 43:1b tells us of a promise when we turn to God, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you;I have called you by name, you are mine.”
Psalm 67:1 says daily when we turn to God and ask, “God be merciful unto us, and bless us, and cause his face to shine upon us;” God responds.
God’s mercy is always available when we turn to God.
Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
God’s greatest blessing is the presence of the Spirit in our lives. I Corinthians 6:17 testifies that, “he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.”
Psalm 67 was not the first time we see the same theme in scripture. The Lord spoke to Moses in Numbers 6:24-26 asking God to bless the children of God. We are told, “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”
God’s love shines on us for a great purpose because of love. We are called to spread God’s love.
I Peter 2:9-10, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
When we turn God is there. The Spirit of God in us is present.
Every day in every way the Spirit is with us.
The truth is, even when we know that fact we are still human and God knows we are human. Our human condition is not a surprise to God. We all experience good days and bad days.
So, even though yesterday may have been a rough day, when we belong to God we can begin each day anew when we choose to stop and sit with God.
We can breathe with the Spirit and take in the presence of God in our daily lives.
We are not alone.
Every day in every way God is with us and will not forsake us even when we fail to recognize the presence of the Spirit.
It’s remarkable that the very same Spirit that was with Moses when he crossed the Red Sea
(Exodus 14-15) is within us today.
The Same Spirit that was with Elijah when he raised the widow’s son from the dead (Elijah 17:21-22) is with us.
The same Spirit that was with Jesus is IN US. We only need to ask. We need to stop and ask God to help us see and experience the power of the Spirit of God in us.
Spiritual Practice: Stop
Sit and breathe with the Spirit
In Jesus, Deborah
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