We can nothing apart from God, and it is time to realize that human power is no power at all. Jesus said these words in John 15:5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Time to put pride on the back burner and put the power of the Holy Spirit on the "front row" of our thinking. In Ephesians 6 Paul wrote this to the church at Ephesus immediately after he stated that we were in a spiritual battle. Ephesians 6:8 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Apart from God, we can do nothing. With God anything is possible. Hmmm. Right now think about these words in scripture and see how they speak to your heart. Remember, when you receive Jesus, you receive the Holy Spirit, so you understand His truth at a deeper level because of the Spirit of God showing you.
Our need to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit was a reality for the apostles of Jesus and it is a reality for present-day disciples. To do the work of the Lord takes a very Spirit-led lifestyle. We are .connected to the vine and as branches, it is a prerequisite that we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit to do the work of the Lord. Don't get me wrong. That statement is not some "pie in the sky" way of looking at our faith. This is a reality taught by Jesus to His apostles. The following scripture once again shows the importance of doing the work of the Lord led by the Spirit of God. Luke 24:49 49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” These were Jesus' parting words before ascending to heaven and the weight of this instruction cannot be discounted as unimportant. HIS FINAL WORDS. I don't know about you, but if I am standing there listening to those words I am going to think "I better do what He says, or I am doomed!"
Don't just realize that there is a Holly Spirit. Don't just read the words of Jesus and then walk away. Live according to what the Holy Spirit leads you to do. Nothing more, nothing less. If you rely on that relationship then you won't have to set aside "time" to pray as a reminder. You will be talking to God all the time. Or as Paul said to do in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing, or continually pray. Just read The Psalms and you will see that David had a prayerlike relationship with the heavenly Father, and guess what? Jesus made our relationship even more intimate than his. King David was known as a "man after God's own heart." We have Jesus IN OUR HEART! This relationship cannot get any closer than having God in our hearts. God is here. God is ready. God is listening. God is working.
We can do the work of the Lord, but we must do that work led by the Holy Spirit. Then and only then will we see powerful results in every area of our lives. Paul wrote in Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. When we begin to spend more time in God's Word and following the Spirit we will see that the power of God will come alive in us and then we can do the work of the Lord as He commanded. This is THE FAITH! And in this faith walk we see God using us for His work as never before. Romans 1:17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
LIVE THAT LIFE AND SEE HOW GOD WORKS!!
The Pilgrimage Continues...
David Warren