Encouragement 08-05-04
August 5, 2004
Encouragement for Today
Empowered by the Invisible
Sharon Glasgow, Speaker on Proverbs 31 Speaker Team
Key Verse:
"Do not be drunk with wine, but be filled with the Spirit." Ephesians 5:18 (NIV)
Devotion:
Millions of God's people go through life powerless because they are not living under the influence of the Spirit. They drudge through every day in their own ability, because they are not willing to let go of self. They work their guts out, fight off temptations with zeal, and volunteer for church activities. They do what's right, but feel powerless. Our own abilities can't give us supernatural worship times. Our own abilities fall short in comparison to what happens when we trust God and watch as his divine strength fuels us.
Are you worshipping from the depth of your soul in your private time? Is it consistent? Go to a quiet place each day and be quiet before Him. Don't chatter your prayer request, just be still and adore the quietness with Him. He is there - waiting for you. Wait for Him and praise Him. Acknowledge who He is and then talk with Him, emptying your self before him. His power will fill your heart and life. Being empowered is an act of daily surrendering to Him. Each day starts fresh and new, He forgives us when we ask and loves us unconditionally, filling us with Himself. Teach these truths to your children, to your neighbors to your co-workers, to everyone you know, because there are a lot of powerless people walking around.
In Ephesians 5:18 Paul commands us to be filled with the Spirit.
Ephesians 3:16 tells us when we are filled with the Spirit we are strengthened.
Mark 13:11 tells us our mouths will be filled with the right things to say when we are filled with the Spirit.
John 16:13 tells us when we are filled with the Spirit He guides you in truth.
I Thessalonians 5:19 warns us not to quench the Spirit. In Scripture, the Holy Spirit is often referred to as fire. Billy Graham writes, "When we quench the Spirit, we put the fire out. This does not mean we expel Him, but that we extinguish the love and power of the Spirit as he seeks to carry out His divine purpose through us. A fire goes out when the fuel supply is withdrawn. When we do not stir up our souls, when we fail to pray, witness, or read the Word of God, the fire of the Holy Spirit is banked. The second way to put out a fire is to extinguish it, by throwing water on it or smothering it. When we criticize, act unkindly, belittle the work of others, we smother the fire and put it out."
Are you experiencing the fullness of the Spirit? Are you spending time alone with Him? Have you grieved Him in some way? If you have, confess those sins to Him and repent. Begin again to walk with Him and worship Him.
My prayer for today:
Lord, Take possession of my life totally and completely. Empty me of self-desires, of self-love, self-will and self- ambition and place me in your complete disposal. Amen
Application steps:
Seek Christ through prayer and bible study and you will find Him.
Live by faith and not by sight. Step out in faith in one area of life today.
Glorify Christ in the way you live. Examine your life for areas of disobedience. Deal with that sin.
Be obedient. What has God been asking you to do that you refuse to do? Surrender to Him today.
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit. Ask the Spirit of God to convict of sin and give you a clean heart.
Reflection points:
Do I find my prayer time spent solely asking God for my own needs?
Am I worshipping God in my alone time?
Is there a sin that is separating me from being empowered?
Am I living a life of obedience or do my habits grieve the Holy Spirit?
Power verses:
And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. 1 Chronicles 28:9 (NIV)
If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment. Job 36:11 (NIV)
Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth. Psalm 26:2-3 (NIV)
Additional resources:
Becoming a Woman who Listens to God by Sharon Jaynes
http://www.gospelcom.net/p31/resources/womanlistens.html
Radically Obedient, Radically Blessed by Lysa TerKeurst
http://www.gospelcom.net/p31/resources/radical.html
How to Live a Life of Victory by Mary Southerland
http://www.gospelcom.net/p31/resources/victoryset.html
