Luke 12:49-53

Luke 12:49-53 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed! Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

Jesus, a man of peace, did not come to bring peace on earth. He came to bring peace with God to those who would accept him, but He did not bring peace to those who reject him, for they would be rejecting God's peace, the propitiation for their sins. The angels sang peace to men on whom his favor rests. His coming warns people they are not acceptable to God as they are. They must decide who Jesus is and accept him to have peace with God. If they reject Jesus as God's Son, they are under judgment, but if they accept him and place their trust in the work of the cross, they are acceptable to God, have peace with him, and will be "saved."

This need for a decision about Christ's divinity and purpose divides rather than unites people. History clearly reveals this dissension between Christians and the world. Christians have suffered much at the hands of worldly, unrepentant people, even death. Throughout history, people have banished Christians from their families, cultures, and lands for their beliefs. However, those who have made the world to suffer by their hands through the use of violence or force under the banner of Christianity are not Christlike in any way. They are pretenders, for Christ came to redeem, not to harm or to kill.

Jesus came with fire, a refining fire, a powerful fire of redemption. John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” To bring this baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire to the world, Jesus experienced a baptism of death on the cross: But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed! He endured the cross so He could bring God's refining fire to our lives: the Holy Spirit himself. This fire represents the very presence of God, the holy of holies within each individual who accepts the Lord Jesus as Savior. This is why we cannot rebuke or ridicule the Holy Spirit, for the very presence of God has come to reside within us. This awesome reality is nothing to take lightly. His fire separates and purifies us from the world, making us God's children. God's refining fire divides us from our natural families, from our cultures, from our lands. We have a new family, a new way of living, and an eternal abode. The Bible says we are "new creatures" made for a different land.

The world will never accept this paradigm. They will hate us for this belief in Christ as our Lord and Savior because this faith separates us, makes us different, and we become strangers here on Earth. We are aliens in our own land, just passing through. We are like Abraham, the epitome of a man of faith, always looking for the Promise Land. The Spirit of God tells us to keep moving and not to settle down and become comfortable in this land because it is not our home. He refines us as we move on, telling us about the Master and our home with him. Someday, either through our own personal demise or through the cloud-breaking appearance of Jesus, we will meet the Master face to face. Then our desire is to hear, "My good and faithful servant, you have followed me through the valleys and on the mountaintops, enter into my rest, you are home."

Luke 12:42-48

Luke 12:42-48 The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. “That servant who knows his master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

All the servants in this parable knew the master. They knew his character and how he ran things. They also understood what it meant to be in his household. They knew how he wanted them to act and what kind of demeanor they should display towards others. They understood if they violated his will, his authority, they would face discipline. Now the servant he gave much authority, the one he put in charge of others, is especially culpable, for he knew the master's complete will. Of all the servants, he has heard the master the most often. He has received exact instructions on running the household. If a servant with much authority and knowledge ignores the master's will, he or she will experience great wrath from the master's hands should he fail. However, if a servant knows little about the master's ways and has little authority, he or she will be punished with few blows. To know the master, to know God, and then to stray from his will and do our own thing is a dangerous place, a place of judgment, not redemption. If servants with intimate contact with the master fail to implement his will in their lives, they are in danger of everlasting judgment. The word is very plain is this area: the Lord takes no pleasure in those who quit, who give up, who fail to endure. They will face judgment of some kind. This is a caution for mature Christians.

Now, every Christian partaking of the breakfast this morning has been put in charge of something or someone. If we are parents, our children depend upon us. They are not only in our households, they are in the household of the Master. All of our friends, acquaintances, fellow employees, and people in general are in his household. If we mistreat members of God's household, people made in his image, we will be asked to give an account. God will not let us destroy relationships or willfully hurt people without retribution, for GOD IS A JUST GOD. The Bible says, "Vengeance is mine." We must always act towards our fellowmen in a way that Jesus would approve. What would He say to us if He returned while we were in the midst of mistreating people He made in his image, those for whom He died? What would he say if He appeared while we unrepentantly hurled vitriolic remarks towards people, even towards our loved ones? How would He deal with us then? The above parable tells us always to treat people well. We should not get drunk on our own importance, our own authority. Instead of reveling in our supposed independence, we should bring our will under the authority of the Master's will at all times.

God desires that we always hear his voice as the Holy Spirit talks to our hearts and shares his thoughts with us. He wants us to succumb to his will and not our own. But if we become self-willed, unreachable in our inner persons, hardened to the Holy Spirit's voice, we place ourselves in jeopardy of discipline. My dear Christians, we should listen carefully to the Holy Spirit's voice, listen as He tenderly entreats us to do good and love righteousness. As we listen, portray his likeness, and obey him, He will make us as He is, full of goodness, mercy, and grace. The Master's will is that we display the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Paul cautioned the Galatians to seek this harvest in their lives rather than the works of the flesh. When Christ returns, He will say to each of us who fall under his authority, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

Luke 12:35-40

Luke 12:35-40 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

In the above passage, Jesus continues his teaching on how to live in this world. He has already told his followers not to fear death, but to love the poor, to trust God for daily provisions, and to lay up treasures in heaven by doing good work. Now He tells them to always be ready for the bridegroom's return. Jesus knew He would soon be separated from his disciples at the cross. He also knew they would be alone, without the bridegroom. Now He wants them to know they must be responsible servants, doing his will while He is gone from them. They are to keep his household functioning in his absence, while always anticipating his soon return. Those servants who are so focused will experience the master's love, even to the point the master will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready. In other words, He will lavishly care for them upon his return.

Jesus also likens the situation to someone whose house will be robbed by a thief. He says if a person knows a thief is coming, then he will prevent the invasion of his property. As a thief, Jesus will return when He is unexpected; consequently, He says, you must be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, so you will immediately open the door for him. This idea of readiness fits well with the previous teaching we have been studying in the last few chapters. One of the ways the world defeats us and pulls us too strongly into its influences is by distraction. As humans with various needs and appetites, we can be so easily distracted by other things that satisfy our flesh, forgetting our primary reason for being: to take up the cross and follow Jesus, to minister to those in need around us. If we lose track of who we are in Jesus and who Christ is in us, our vision can be dimmed and we lose our focus for life.

Does this mean that we should all separate ourselves as Christian hermits or ascetics, so we are totally committed to our Master? No, but it does mean that we should daily acknowledge the relationship we have with our Lord, remembering to seek first his kingdom of faith and his righteousness that will see us through to the end and eternal life with him. Scripture tells us to look for Christ's appearing while we do his work here on Earth. We are to live victoriously as Paul instructed Titus, by saying, “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:12-13) We must recognize that godlessness and worldly passions are part of our lives, the milieu of our existence; therefore, we must make good choices and live in a position of faith to resist the enemy's temptations.

We should remember our inheritance and the blessed hope of Christ's return. As Paul wrote, For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 KJV) Although we may face trials and sorrows on this earthly journey, we are greatly blessed by the Holy Spirit within us, who reminds us of the truths of the gospel, gives us the power to do the Lord's will, and comforts us until Christ's return or when we meet him in heaven. We are a blessed people. Today, let us rejoice in God's provision and rest in his love while we seek every opportunity to serve our Lord.

Luke 12:32-34

Luke 12:32-34 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

These are very blunt words, very direct, not at all ambiguous. But then, does that mean all of us should sell our houses and give the money to the poor? The early church had everything in common, so they sold their property and land, distributing the money to whomever had needs. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. (Acts 4:34-35) Very strong words. In the Old Testament, all land belonged to the Jewish people in common. All tribes and all people were allocated land, but none of them owned the land privately or exclusively. Every 50th year, in the year of Jubilee, all land was returned to the original owners because God gave the land to the Jewish people, and since it was HIS LAND, it was his to allocate. God abided in the Jewish kingdom; therefore in God's economy the land was not a commodity that could be transferred to other people's hands indefinitely.

What about the above verses? Should we not own houses and land? Yes, we can own houses and land. When Jesus talked about the man wanting to build store houses to hold his abundance, He did not castigate this man for owning a house or land; He faulted him for not giving his abundance to God's work. Jesus reveals the man intended to hoard his wealth for his own purposes rather than feeding the poor. This is wrong. Jesus called him a fool for such an attitude, for God provided him the good soil and rain for his abundant crop. Jesus says to us, Do not be afraid, little flock, for the Father is pleased to allocate the kingdom to you. He has a more permanent abiding place to give you than where you presently dwell. Therefore, set your mind on that eternal kingdom, not on the temporal, quickly fading kingdom here. Fix your heart where real life exists, not on this finite existence. Don't allow earthly possessions to distract from God's reality. If material goods, houses, and lands keep your mind occupied with this earthly kingdom, get rid of them, for they will all pass to someone else eventually. Set your mind on the things of heaven, permanent things; they are the only treasure you can keep forever.

Jesus does not ask us to run out and sell our possessions, but He asks us to live simple, pure lives, giving as much as we can to those in need. I just read about a family that sold their comfortable big home, downsizing to a smaller one, to give the excess money from the sale to the poor. I do not even know if they are Christians, but what a wonderful idea. The big, comfortable home was something the family above thought they needed, but they learned that they are happier with a much smaller home. They probably feel very blessed as a result of their actions, although living in less spacious quarters. Many of us could learn to do without some of the things we think so important in our lives.

Whatever our circumstances, our treasures should be laid up in heaven, not on Earth. The Bible consistently explains God's economy: Christians do not make this world our home, we do not store up goods for this life, and we do not love the world's things. We love people, and we love by doing good to them. We must focus on the right kingdom, remembering our treasure is there. We store up treasure in heaven when we share our means, providing comfort to a sick and dying world. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ (Luke 10:33-35)

Luke 12:27-31

Luke 12:27-31 “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

Is God clothing us or are we worrying about our clothes and setting our hearts on what we will eat or drink? Are we excessively concerned about this life and worldly essentials? Are we working hard to accumulate and experience as much as we can in this life? Is our primary focus on this world or on the kingdom of God? When we lack confidence that God can take care of us, Jesus asks us not to worry, but to behold the beauty of the lily, to consider how it grows. The lily grows naturally and quickly in good soil, without toil and worry. Such a life for us is like the seed Jesus talks about in Matthew 13: Other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop — a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. A mature lily plant flowers brilliantly, delicately, making the world more beautiful, fruitful, impressive. However, when we spend our efforts excessively worrying about the vicissitudes of life, Jesus says our lives are much like the seed that falls among thorns, choked by the plants around it. (Matthew 13:7) If we remain in a worrying mode, we will not come to maturity, and people will never see us clothed in beauty as the lily is clothed. They will never see the brilliant, attractive image of God in us. For certain, we will not bring his glory to a dark and dreary world.

What kind of soil do we require? Our lives should be built on faith in Christ's work at the cross. Jesus said, O you of little faith. If we are not of faith, we are in the wrong soil: earthly soil where we work and strive for the things of this world. This soil produces a faithless life, one that never comes to maturity. If we spend our energy and time serving and seeking the things of the world, Jesus says, we are as the pagans who have no god. The pagans watch out for themselves, but Jesus says, consider the lily that is planted in good ground, a soil of faith, it neither toils nor worries, yet produces beauty because God brings the plant to maturity in him.

To reiterate the theme of the last couple of breakfasts, we are worth more than a bird or a plant: we are beloved children of God, made in his image. As God performs his will in us, we shine for him. He promises to perfect the work He started in us if we will rely wholeheartedly on him in faith: good soil. Jesus suggests that to be mature plants who bring glory to God, we must seek his kingdom, God's will. We must enter into Christ's life by faith with full confidence in him, trusting his provision, knowing He will look after us on our earthly journey. He will always protect our spiritual beings because God never abandons his own. Might we feel abandoned sometimes? Yes, but God is always working on the eternal in us, on the eternal panorama. We can believe his promise to perfect the work he started in us, bringing us to full maturity as we endure to the end. As God incessantly works on our heavenly clothing, using the most delicate, translucent fabrics, He makes us heavenly citizens, comfortable in the kingdom of God. His still, small voice, the breath of life, weaves intricate and unique patterns. We look stunning in his clothing, as his creation; jaw-dropping more beautiful than the lily of the field. Consider this my friends of faith.

Luke 12:19-26

Luke 12:19-26 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.” Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Life is being rich toward God. If we are rich toward God, we will receive what we need in life, perhaps not be as much as we desire to eat, drink and be merry, but enough. This promise is to those who follow Christ. Does this mean you will never be hungry, never thirsty? No! This means God takes care of you, takes care of your eternal soul. He will see you through to the end. We know Paul sometimes struggled for sufficient food and drink. To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. (1 Corinthians 4:11). Today in Haiti, some Christians are hungry, thirsty, and homeless, but Jesus is still taking care of them. The Bible says if we are treated brutally as the slave with a froward master, God is still taking care of us.

This world is not our home. Jesus says, do not fear those who can kill you, but fear God who can remove his eternal presence from you. If this world is not our home, the things of this world are not our things. Therefore we should not strive for this world or worry about it. Jesus illustrates this attitude through the raven, a carrion eater. As an unclean bird, he eats the decaying flesh of carcasses, but Jesus says that even an unclean bird receives care in God's economy. How much more are you worth that the carrion eater, the eater of dead flesh? We are God's children, partakers of the bread of eternal life. Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." (John 6:35) Will our physical bodies experience hunger or thirst sometimes in this life? Yes, but our eternal souls will never hunger or thirst. In Christ, we find our sufficiency: an eternal home, satisfying food, and water to slake our thirst as we trust him and partake of the living water and the bread of life.

As children of the MOST HIGH we are more valuable than the birds. He is preparing us for his presence, not this earth's atmosphere. God provides his strength for eternity, not for a limited, finite existence. Yes, God blesses us in this life, but his primary focus for his beloved children is to perfect that work which He has begun in us. His purpose is to allow HIS LIGHT to shine through us. Sometimes, HIS LIGHT shines the brightest in the darkest places of our lives. We display saving faith best when we struggle, when life in the natural seems out of control. If God answered every concern, rewarded every endeavor, and heeded every request, we would not need enduring faith. If God always came through as WE DESIRE, who needs faith? He just answers.

In a spiritual life of faith, we believe in God, relying and depending upon him even when our lives are full of problems. As with Paul, when we thirst or hunger, when we lack possessions or even a home, we place everything in God's hands and say by faith, "I will not worry or complain, for I know I am more precious than the birds. I know I am your child, God." IMPOSSIBLE! Yes, impossible, unless you hear the still, small voice of God say to you, "Son, daughter, you are mine. I am with you, and you are more precious to me than life itself, for I gave Jesus, my Son, to you." Rejoice in his abundant life today.

Luke 12:16-21

Luke 12:16-21 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”

The rich man's focus in life was on himself: his needs, his desires, his entertainment, his fulfillment. But Jesus says that kind of lifestyle is not being rich toward God. Later on in this homily, Jesus indicates that pagans basically live a self-centered life. They tend not to look out for anyone but themselves. But Jesus warns Christians not only to love and care for those who are close to us, but also to love and care for our enemies. Jesus' definition of living is completely different from the world's concept of living. He places God and his purposes front and central in our daily lives. Without God being uppermost in our lives, we are not as spiritual as we suppose, and for sure we do not truly comprehend the Spirit-led life. We might be religious, maybe even wear the name of Jesus stenciled on our clothes, but we are still pagan in our outlook and actions.

Our American culture orients us towards the pagan god of mammon. A really successful person in our culture will have enough money to take life easy; eat, drink and be merry. How many of us are working day and night, not just for sustenance, but for an eventual life of ease? Even today, many retired people spend most of their money and energy on themselves. As they congregate in Florida, Arizona, and other sunny environments to get as much from life as possible, they remove themselves from their extended families to enjoy life without distractions. They place life entirely in the context of the pleasures of living, eating, and drinking: a life of ease.

Such self-absorption is the American Dream, success in the capitalistic system. This goal motivates many of us as we work, plan, and worry about our futures. This is why our homes and garages overflow with possessions as we attempt to live a comfortable life of riches and material goods. Most Americans find it hard to conceive of any other lifestyle or any other purpose for living. But Jesus said the rich man was not rich toward God? He focused on gaining as much as he could for himself and not for God. His spent his energy for himself and not for God, choosing a lifestyle centered on self and not God.

Every farmer knows good weather and great soil produce a bountiful harvest. Consequently, the rich man obtained wealth from the blessings of God, yet he did not give back from his earthly bounty to his heavenly Father. As with the prodigal son, he intended to spend his wealth on himself. Jesus titles this man a fool because he lacked good sense, not knowing he was made in the image of God for GOD'S PURPOSES. Sadly, he was a man bound for destruction. Well, my Christian friends, we are not fools if we live for Christ, if we commit our energy, goods, and money to him. However, we are fools if we live only to satisfy ourselves, wasting our energy on our own endeavors, acquiring and accumulating all the world offers to satisfy ourselves. As soldiers of the cross, our focus should always be on others, on God's plans for us in his world. A life of love, obedience, and service separates Christians from pagans, and places us in the camp of the Lord.

Luke 12:13-15

Luke 12:13-15 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Jesus sarcastically answers the man who seeks his inheritance. Rather than telling him to pray to God that justice prevails between the two, Jesus says, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Literally, he replies, this is not my mission. I have not come to ensure you will have justice or wealth, to make everything right in your life. We often substantiate God's love for us by what goes on in our lives. "Lord, bless me with a second car." Hmm, no second car, God must not be concerned with me; he does not answer my prayers. But, God is concerned with our lives. He knows every hair on our heads, but the daily pursuits enveloping our lives are not his primary concern for us. While He will guide us in buying a car when we need one, his primary purpose is to bring eternal life to us, perfecting our souls and using us for his glory.

Should we not pray or want God to make our brother divide his inheritance with us? We should pray about everything, but realize Jesus has a greater miracle and focus, our eternal salvation. Christians are inundated with this man's fleshly attitude. Lord, stop the wars. Lord, why are there wars? Lord, why do disasters happen? Lord, why did my brother, sister, or loved one die early? Lord??? These are all important questions, but none of them restore our souls or lead to life eternal. In Matthew 8:22, we read Jesus'rather callous remarks, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead. Otherwise, there are more important activities on our agenda than burials. He indicates the world and the priorities of the Spirit are much more important than our earthly experiences. Since we go around once in this life, our flesh may struggle with this concept. Certainly, the Lord should be concerned about our inheritance, wars and injustice, and early demises, such as Martin Luther King's death or any untimely death. Yes, He is concerned, but that is not his primary mission. Jesus came to bring LIFE to people. His cross is the means to life, and his words alone give life. His death and resurrection ensure life, now and for eternity.

The mission of Christ remains clear: to rescue us from the throes of sin and its resultant death. We are his mission, not our lives. Yes, some people die early, face disasters, and are treated unjustly. God's heart is moved with compassion for the needs of people, but God's mission is not to erase or mitigate all the world's troubles, but to bring LIFE to a lost world. We need to keep that perspective or we will get discouraged. Jesus promised in this life we would face trouble, persecution, even unexpected deaths. He said people of the world will do evil to us, thinking they are serving their gods. He did not promise that everything will work out in our lives, that nothing deleterious will happen, but He did promise us LIFE, everlasting life with him and the peace and joy of that life.

YES, WE SHOULD PRAY. Prayers are answered and miracles do happen when we pray. My wife and I pray about everything in our lives, down to whether we should buy a shirt or not, but we know God is in charge, and his ways and plans are not always our ways and plans. Paul prayed continuously, and he prayed in tongues more than those around him, but I am sure he focused his prayers on God and his perfect will. So should we pray, for God alone knows our lives. Paul lived a spirit-filled life; however, things did not always work out for him; yet he prayed continuously, acted in faith, and moved for God. He was not overwhelmed by circumstances, did not despair and quit when people thwarted or harmed him. He prayed without ceasing and followed God. We follow his example, not looking back but moving forward. Instead of saying, woe is me, we rejoice always in all circumstances. This is extremely difficult, and I fail often, but we need to remind ourselves we are immersed in HIS WILL, not our own. We are immersed in his eternal sufficiency, not our own abundance. Jesus warns us to be on our guard because life does not consist in the abundance of possessions (the desires of our flesh), but in doing the will of God.

Luke 12:12

Luke 12:12 “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”

Luke 11:13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

John 1:33 I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’

Acts 1:5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:3 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.

From all of today's verses, we see that Christians cannot over emphasize the part the Holy Spirit plays in our salvation and in our spiritual walk. The Bible says the Holy Spirit seals our souls for heaven, talks to us, leads us, protects us, cares for us, ministers through us, bears fruit in us such as joy, and imbues us with power to perform God's work. We cannot know Jesus and receive his likeness without the indwelling Holy Spirit. Some people want to have Jesus the philosopher, the sage, the worker of good deeds, but they do not want anything to do with the life-changing Spirit. We cannot negate God's messenger and expect all God has for us including life eternal. If we are alive In Christ, we are redeemed because of the work of the cross made alive in us through the Holy Spirit. We should not be afraid of the infilling of the Holy Spirit, for He alone makes us fully alive to God.

Everyone partaking of this breakfast should search the Bible and see how many times The Spirit or The Holy Spirit is mentioned. After studying, you will realize the importance of the Holy Spirit to the Christian faith. Even in the Old Testament, before the Spirit came upon all believers, we read about the Holy Spirit everywhere. God's ongoing work on Earth has come primarily through the Third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. We are transformed into spiritual beings through the work and power of the Spirit. Jesus told his followers not to worry when brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities . . . for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say. Jesus is confirming the Holy Spirit as a real entity who will speak through God's people. They will speak the Spirit's words and not their own words.

As Christians we must seek God's words and not ours. This is what the Holy Spirit tells me all of the time. This knowledge comforts me and also makes me realize I must be cognizant of what I say. I should desire his words and his leading for my daily walk. If we believe in Christ with our whole hearts and dedicate our lives to him, our words and also our lives should reflect Jesus. As men and women of this world, we sometimes fail to speak his words or to act as He would. But as members of the Body of Jesus and joint heirs with Christ, we are instruments of God through the Holy Spirit. The Bible, our powerful sword, did not come from the will or the inspiration of man, but by the Holy Spirit, working in people to fulfill God's message of salvation and grace. Today we read the INSPIRED WORD, not just the good words of people.

As we serve Jesus, we should pray, "Lord, let this act, this word, be inspired by you. Forgive me if I somehow implant my own finite perspective on your holy action or word. Let your purity and truth pour from my being." Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to teach us all things, so we might reveal Christ to needy people. The Spirit longs to pour out God's love upon mankind through Jesus Christ and his sacrifice at the cross. The Bible tells us not to grieve the Holy Spirit or to restrict his will. We do not want to thwart his work by not depending on him, by not trusting him to guide our footsteps, by not speaking his words through our voices, by not allowing him to motivate our actions. If we bind the Spirit by not giving him his rightful place in our lives, we face sorrow and a lack of purpose and fulfillment as we walk in our own strength and knowledge. The Holy Spirit provides the spark that sets us on fire for God. Therefore, follow Jesus with your whole heart, obey God's voice, and be filled with the Spirit. Jesus said, But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8) Your life and the lives of others will never be the same.

Luke 12:8-10

Luke 12:8-10 “I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

1 John 3:24 Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.

Hebrews 10:29 How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

These are grave words: anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. How interesting to note that God will forgive people for blaspheming the name of Jesus, and people do all over the world and in every culture, but will not tolerate denigrating the Holy Spirit. Lots of people believe in Christ as some Superman or divine-like person or mighty prophet, but they do not believe and trust in him with their whole hearts to the point the Holy Spirit comes to abide in them. This Spirit is the Spirit that makes you alive to God. He is the transmitter of your thoughts and your life to God. Without him, you do not have an intimate relationship with the Lord. God's Spirit communes with God's Spirit. We Christians just get on the line. We, who Jesus loves, are infilled with the Spirit so that we can be in an intimate relationship with God, so that we can know him.

If we make fun of the Holy Spirit or if we do not believe in his existence or if we disregard his work, we are left without an intimate contact with God. If we negate the Holy Spirit, we are lost in our own selves, our own hope, our own strength, our own world. How do we really know that God exists, that Jesus is real? We know through the Holy Spirit, abiding within us. How do we understand the new life God has given us? Again, the Holy Spirit, abiding within us, expands our knowledge of spiritual truths. We who are Christians are children of the WORD, Jesus Christ. We eat of him, drink of him, participate in him. And we do that through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

We have life because we are IN CHRIST and HE is in us. All of this takes place through the ubiquitous Holy Spirit. He is the amniotic fluid of our existence. Jesus says, we cannot make fun of the Holy Spirit who harbors life, for without him new life will never come forth. He protects every Christian and He perfects that work that God has begun in us. As Jesus says, we must be born again. The Holy Spirit makes sure that new life prospers and comes to maturity. If we reject the Holy Spirit, we reject the means of new life, eternal life. Rejection of God's best plan for us will bring the judgment of death.

Many wonderful Christians fear they somehow have blasphemed the Holy Spirit. Well, if you believe "NEW LIFE" COMES FROM GOD THROUGH TRUSTING AND RELYING ON JESUS CHRIST, you have not blasphemed the Holy Spirit. Every believer struggles and works through fear and doubt, but they do not reject the Spirit of God. Today, rest assured that you are alive in Christ. Allow the Spirit to comfort and to guide you. The Holy Spirit, who is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, will perfect the work He has begun in you and present you spotless before the Father, for He rejoices in your proclamation of faith.