Weekly Wisdom

February 16, 2009

“Living in the Life of the Holy Spirit”

I’m very excited today because of Jesus. I hope you never get tired of an excited pastor. To me, living for Jesus is an adventure. God didn’t just offer us heaven when we got saved, He also gave us the right to live in the Holy Ghost.

Let’s look at Galatians 5:25.

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

In this verse, we see that Christians are living in the Holy Spirit. The words 'to live' mean to dwell or make your abode somewhere. If I ask you, “Where is your natural address?” You might say, “3204 N Adams in Lawton, OK.” That address identifies you with Lawton. It tells people where you live, but it also pinpoints your connection to planet earth. Now because Lawton is a place with earthly riches, you could be a very blessed person if you had claim to some of those riches. It would be different if you lived out in the wilderness.

God has given us the right to live in the Holy Spirit here on earth; therefore I don’t just live in Lawton, OK, but I live in the Holy Ghost. I live on Galatians 5:22 Street. At this address, spiritual forces of love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance are in manifestation.

In Galatians 5:16, God tells us to walk in the Spirit, and we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Many Christians are struggling with the world, the flesh and the devil. They are constantly being knocked down because they keep leaving HOME. I don’t like going out of the Holy Ghost’s power and protection.

God told me that if I live in the Spirit, I also ought to walk in the Spirit. What is the difference between living in the Spirit and walking in the Spirit? Let me give you an example: if I live in an apple orchard, I should eat the fruit of the orchard. As long as I’m there, I will have a great supply of apples. If we live in the Holy Ghost, we won’t have a problem having a great supply of forgiveness; because love is bountiful. If we live in the Holy Ghost, we won’t be depressed all the time; because the Holy Ghost is full of joy. If we live in the Holy Ghost, we won’t be impatient with people; because we will be long-suffering.

I could go on and on, but I believe you get the point! In Ephesians 1:13-14, we see that the Holy Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance. In Ephesians 5:18, we see that we are not to be drunk with wine; but we are to be filled with the Holy Ghost. The way to be filled with the Holy Ghost is in verse 19-20.

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Live in the Holy Ghost!

I love you,

Pastor Paul

P.S. You learned to worry…now learn not to!

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February 2, 2009

“Buy Gold Tried in the Fire”

In Revelation 3:18-22 Jesus said, “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich: and white raiment (or clothing) that thou mayest be clothed and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Be zealous therefore and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him and He with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”

Some of you are going to hear something today that will shock you into spiritual growth. As you read this newsletter, let it strike a blow to satan’s control over your life. God has been telling me, “My people must take My counsel and buy of Me gold tried in the fire.” Jesus told me that the way you buy gold from Him is by spending the most valuable thing you have – your time! Each one of us has things which have a monetary value to us. The value of a car is short lived compared to eternity. All the “things” that are really valuable to us will lose their value, as we pass form this natural life into our new spiritual life. The most important thing you have is your time. What you do with your time on this earth will pass on into the next life.

In Ephesians 5:15-16, God tells us, “See then that ye walk, circumspectly, or (carefully) not as fools, but as the wise; Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

We must not spend our time on things that are evil. The world is pulling our flesh to spend our time on the things of this natural world.

In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

Have you ever had visitors come to your house, and you were busy? They wanted to talk to you, but you didn’t have time. We can fill our lives with time- consuming things to a point that Jesus and His powerful life-changing words never reach our ears. Jesus is telling us, “It’s time to repent from letting the devil steal our time with God.”

As Jesus lived on this earth and walked out His life in the flesh, what did He overcome? I believe it is very clear what He overcame. He overcame the pull of the world on His flesh and the pleasures of sin that are just for a season.

Hebrews 4:15 says, “Jesus was tempted in all points like we are, yet without sin.”

Even at 12 years of age, Jesus was spending His time learning how to be about His Father's business. Most 12 year-old boys are outside playing. Jesus wasn’t. He was spending His time in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors (teachers) learning from them.

Jesus was buying gold tried in the fire! He wanted to do His Father’s will, so He gave all of His time to find out what the will of the Father was. Jesus is asking us to let Him into our lives and share the gold with us. God wants us to live like Jesus. I’m repenting for letting satan steal from me hours of precious time that could have been used listening to Jesus. I encourage you to not neglect your time with Jesus.

I love you,

Pastor Paul