June 15 - FILLING by EMPTYING

T O D A Y ' S   Q U E S T I O N

How can I be filled ... and overflow? Part 2

 

Do not quench the Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5:19

 

Yesterday we said we were wanting to be like Jimmy Dean -- "drinking from my saucer 'cause my cup has overflowed."

 

Since overflow, we said, is the measure of being filled with the Holy Spirit, we started yesterday by praying to be filled (and by praising God from whom all blessings flow).

 

Today is the next important step ...

 

Our verse for today says, "Do not quench the spirit." Does it say that God quenches his Spirit? No. It implies that a quenched spirit is our own doing!

 

Therefore, the Apostle Paul talks repeatedly about how the flesh (the worldly side of us) battles with the Spirit and the spiritual. We call this battlefront "sin." And Paul reminds us -- Romans 8:6 -- that "To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace."

 

If prayer and praise were our first steps to overflowing with the spirit, then confession is the next. In the most famous confession in scripture -- Psalm 51 -- an utterly broken King David cries, "3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight ... 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from your presence, And do not take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by your generousSpirit."

 

If you desire the joy of salvation and the filling of the Holy Spirit, your next step is confession. Filling your heart with the Spirit begins by emptying it more fully through the confession of sin ...

 

What do you need to confess?

What do you need to quit excusing?

What subtle ways are you compromising

with the ways of this world?

In what ways are you too complacent? too comfortable?

From whom are you withholding your forgiveness,

even while you're asking God to forgive you?

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy that's easy to convict

June 14 - FILLED to OVERFLOWING

T O D A Y ' S   Q U E S T I O N

How can I be filled ... and overflow?

 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow

The Doxology

 

Yesterday we dealt with the "indwelling" of the Holy Spirit.

 

According to St. Paul, as soon as we believe, "You ... are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you." Some people call this "being filled" with the Spirit. But it's more helpful to reserve the word "filled" for additional spiritual gifting!!! 

 

One of my favorite old phrases is Jimmy Dean's, "I'm drinking from my saucer 'cause my cup has overflowed."

 

Overflow is the measure of being filled with the Spirit. Therefore, the question is: Are you overflowing with ...

 

Love, Joy, AND Peace?

Patience, Kindness, AND Self Control?

Acts of Service AND Generosity?

Hope? Mercy? Humbleness?

Forgiveness?!!!

 

If we're honest, most of us score about a 70. We have some peace, and we love those who love us, but quite truthfully, we can name a few too many people that we really can't forgive. Most of us are too tired and busy to serve too often, and there are a few too many ways in which we lack self-control. We have the Spirit, but some days it feels like more Spirit is evaporating from our cups than is being poured in.

 

Therefore, are you like me? The Spirit indwells us, but we're ready to be filled more fully and begin to see the overflow!

 

Here, then, are the first two steps:

1.    Pray to be filled more fully.

1b.  Pray some more.

1c.  Keep praying.

1d.  Pray that God will begin opening your heart for greater filling.

 

2.    And while you're at it ... make sure your prayer includes lots of praise. (Why? Because praise points up, while life continuously tries to draw us down.)

In Christ's Love,

a guy who wants to start the overflow

by praising God from whom all blessings flow

June 13 - How to be FILLED with the Holy Spirit

T O D A Y ' S   Q U E S T I O N

How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit?

 

when you heard the word of truth,

the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him,

[you] were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit

Ephesians 1:13

 

Do you know what a vacuum is?

 

Scientifically, it is "a space absolutely devoid of matter." The reason that a vacuum is known for "sucking" is that as soon as an utterly empty void cracks open -- even just a centimeter -- the surrounding atmosphere immediately rushes in to fill the void. The result? You get one big "slurrrrp."

 

So ... why am I talking about vacuums and slurps? Because every human has a God-shaped hole in their hearts. And today, I want you to think of that hole as a vacuum. As soon as our heart cracks open -- even just a centimeter -- and embraces the wonder of God through Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit rushes in to fill our void. In other words ...

 

If you believe, you are already

filled with the Holy Spirit!!!

 

But wait ... Let's not call this being "filled" with the Spirit. Being filled with the Spirit generally means something else. So let's call this an "indwelling"! Because of your faith, the Spirit already and permanently dwells within you.

 

Then starting tomorrow, we'll talk about being filled in a different way. In fact, I can't wait to learn more fully how to be filled to overflowing because I can't wait to feel more power and more purpose in my life through the Holy Spirit. 

 

But for right now ... if you can confess that Jesus is your Lord, then take a minute to pray:

 

Thank you, Holy Spirit, for coming

to permanently fill the void in my heart.

Now help me begin a journey to get to 

know you and your gifts and your power

more and more and more.

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who no longer has a void in his heart

(if I could only do something

about the void between my ears)

June 12 - PENTECOST - Acts 2:1-4

When the day of Pentecost had come,

they were all together in one place.

And suddenly from heaven there came

a sound like the rush of a violent wind,

and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them,

and a tongue rested on each of them.

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit

and began to speak in other languages,

as the Spirit gave them ability.

Acts 2:1-4

 

Today is Pentecost Sunday. Today we remember the Holy Spirit rushing into the world, filling Christ's disciples, and birthing the church.

 

Today also marks the beginning of a new devotional interest: Who is and how do I receive the Holy Spirit?

 

In the coming days, we'll talk more fully about the role and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. But today, I want to invite you to till the soil and prepare your heart to receive the Holy Spirit more fully.

 

More fully is the key phrase there.

• Before we believe, the Holy Spirit is already wooing us.
• When we believe -- at that instant -- the Holy Spirit rushes in to fill us.
• Then as we grow in faith and make ourselves more available to the Holy Spirit's leading, the Spirit fills us more fully, gifts us more thoroughly, and uses us more completely.

If you want more, then below is a list of six Biblical methods for receiving the Holy Spirit. Today, start with at least the first -- prayer. Pray: Come, Holy Spirit. Cast out my sin, and enter in. Be born -- more fully -- in me today. (Indeed, take some time to pray on your own. Come, Holy Spirit ...)

 

How to Receive the Holy Spirit

 

P R A Y

[Peter and John] went down

and prayed for them that

they might receive the Holy Spirit

Acts 8:15

 

W O R S H I P

While they were worshiping the Lord

..., the Holy Spirit said ...

Acts 13:2

 

F A S T

While they were ... fasting,

the Holy Spirit said ...

Acts 13:2

 

H E A R   T H E   W O R D

While Peter was still speaking,

the Holy Spirit fell upon all

who heard the word.

Acts 10:44

 

L I S T E N    T O    W I T N E S S E S

The Spirit told me to go with them ...

and as I began to speak,

the Holy Spirit fell upon them

just as it had upon us at the beginning.

Acts 11:12,15

 

L A Y I N G    O N    O F   H A N D S 

[Peter and John] laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8:17

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who's hungry for more

June 11 - 1 Kings 12:3-4

all the assembly of Israel

came and said to Rehoboam,

"Your father made our yoke heavy.

Now therefore lighten the hard service

of your father ... and we will serve you."

1 Kings 12:3-4

 

We've just been reflecting on Solomon's Ecclesiastes for the last few days.

 

Solomon was once a man of great faith. He talked to God. He built a magnificent temple.

 

But the headings for the final chapter of his life -- 1 Kings 11 -- are: "Errors," "Rebellion," and "Death." Indeed, it says, "11:9 The Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from God."

 

That's bad.

 

Here's what's worse: Our sin often infects the next generation.

For example, a sinful young romance leads to an ill-conceived marriage and an all-but-inevitable divorce. And who's the victim? The next generation.

An abusive father often produces what? An abusive next generation.

A racist mother often produces what? A racist next generation.

Laziness. Greed. Drug addiction. Faithlessness. All these sins of the fathers are often visited upon the next generation.

The end result of Solomon's reliance on human wisdom was clearly visited upon his son, Rehoboam. When Rehoboam ascended to the throne, the people said, "Your father made our yoke heavy. Lighten the hard service and we will serve you." Therefore, the first consequence of Solomon's humanity visited now on young King Rehoboam, was his father sowing the seeds of unrest.

 

The second consequence of Solomon's reliance on human wisdom, was that when the people confronted Rehoboam, the young king sought wise advise from humans. Some was good (12:8-9), and some was not good (12:10-11). And then Rehoboam relied on himself to make the final judgment, and relying on the worst of the advice, he made matters even worse. Israel rebelled.

 

Rehoboam, like his father before him, relied on human wisdom and himself. And the kingdom of Israel split in two.

 

That's my natural human tendency too. Rely on myself first. Rely on the wisdom of others second -- whether it's consulting others or reading "how-to's." Ask God last. Oops. I need to remember what it says in 1 Corinthians 1:25, "the foolishness of God is wisers than human wisdom."

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who wants to be

much, much, much less wise

(and a whole lot more faithful)

June 10 - Ecclesiastes 12:13

The end of the matter ...

Fear God and

keep his commandments

Ecclesiastes 12:13

 

The whole of Ecclesiastes is "1:2 meaningless, meaningless." But at "the end of the matter," there's a glimmer of perspective.

 

I read it like this ... Solomon is saying essentially:

 

"I've based my life on too many worldly ways,

and I've relied on too much human wisdom,

and all I've reaped is meaninglessness.

Therefore, I will try the one thing I've missed doing

-- at least missed doing completely.

I will fear God.

I will keep all of his commands --

even the ones that don't make sense to me.

Why? Because doing it my way

didn't work completely.

It's time to do it His way.

It's time to devote myself fully to God. 

 

What time is it for you?

 

Solomon invites us to fear God. And Luke invites us -- Acts 9:31 -- to "fear God" too, but he adds one more delightful piece. When we "fear God" we also and simultaneously receive "the comfort of the Holy Spirit."

 

Ironic, isn't it? The thing our prideful, wise, and human self avoids most -- fearing, respecting, following, and completely trusting God -- is the one thing that finally brings us comfort.

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who is very afraid

(of only the right thing)

June 9 - Ecclesiastes 7:15

I've seen it all

in my brief and pointless life --

here a good person cut down

in the middle of doing good,

there a bad person

living a long life of sheer evil.

Ecclesiastes 7:15

 

Ecclesiastes is a sad song. It's a sad lament at the end of a life which was based on worldly ways and human wisdom.

 

If we aim at earth, we're bound to ask "why do the good die young"? And why does it seem like the evil people go on and on and on? 

 

Wisdom says: If life was fair, then we ought to reap what we sow. But do you remember what you're mom said, "Sometimes life's not fair."

 

We didn't like to hear it then. We probably don't like to hear it now. But it's true. In a broken sinful world, unfairness continually strikes at us like a viper -- too often quick and unawares.

 

Fortunately God is not fair either.

 

What?! Wait?! That doesn't sound right, does it? But if God was fair, we'd all get what we deserve. And since we all sin and fall short of the glory of God, fairness would be guilt. Grace, however, is completely undeserved. The Biblical doctrine of salvation is completely unfair. We're saved, not because we earn it, but because God loves!

 

You are loved, forgiven, blessed, redeemed, chosen, and adopted. It's so unfair.

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who prefers to aim at God's unfair grace

rather than the world's unfair brokenness

June 8 - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Turn, turn, turn.

 

One of the classic songs of the sixties is based on Ecclesiastes 3. The Byrds' sang, "Turn, Turn, Turn," reflecting on "a time for every purpose under heaven." For those of us who know this song and/or scripture, we almost forget what it means.

 

Therefore, for today's reading, I've included the wisdom of Eugene Peterson's paraphrase of this passage in The Message. Let these familiar words wash over you in an unfamiliar way and ask, "What is God saying to me through this today?"

There's an opportune time to do things,

A right time for everything on the earth:

A right time for birth and another for death,

A right time to plant and another to reap,

A right time to kill and another to heal,

A right time to destroy and another to construct,

A right time to cry and another to laugh,

A right time to lament and another to cheer,

A right time to make love and another to abstain,

A right time to embrace and another to part,

A right time to search and another to count your losses,

A right time to hold on and another to let go,

A right time to rip out and another to mend,

A right time to shut up and another to speak up,

A right time to love and another to hate,

A right time to wage war and another to make peace.

         Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who's enjoying this right time

June 7 - Ecclesiastes 1:2

Meaningless, meaningless.

All is meaningless.

Ecclesiastes 1:2

 

Ecclesiastes is arguably the most depressing book in the Bible.

 

It is a song of Solomon. As the wisest man in history -- remember God granting that wish? (1 Kings 3:5-9) -- Solomon uses this book to reveal what all human pursuits inevitably lead to: Meaninglessness. Wisdom is one of those human pursuits. We do what we think is best -- irregardless of God's guidance.

 

Ecclesiastes is Solomon's sad lament and the end result of all his humanly wisdom. In order to build the Temple, Wise-Solomon bartered and made treaties with all the neighboring kingdoms. To ensure peace, Solomon bound the kingdoms together by often marrying the other kings' daughters. Seven hundred of them!

 

Now, maybe peace treaties were humanly wise, but I'm pretty sure that marrying 700 wives was a little iffy!!!

 

I've always viewed Ecclesiastes as Solomon's viewpoint at the end of his days. Listen to my translation of selected verses in chapter 1. (And I urge you to read it outloud in the most dull, dry, sad, and monotone voice possible.)

 

Meaningless. Meaningless. All is meaningless.

A generation comes, and a generation goes.

The sun rises, and the sun goes down.

The blows to the south, to the north, and back again.

All the streams run to the sea, but the sea is never full.

All things are wearisome. More than one can express.

What has been will be. What is done is done.

There is nothing new under the son.

 

Blah.

 

If we live our lives based on any human foundation, the generations will come and go, and we'll inevitably get to the season when our generation is going. And all that we've built is crumbling, decaying, and passing away. And we'll inevitably be left crying like Solomon crying, "Is there such a thing of which it can be said, 'Behold, this is new'?"

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who finds his hopeful answer

on the last page and a half of the Bible:

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a beautiful bride prepared for her husband. 3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, "Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever." 5 And the one sitting on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new!"

Revelation 21

June 6 - Proverbs 31:25

Strength and dignity are her clothing.

Proverbs 31:25

Most of Proverbs 31 is labeled in my Bible, "An Ode to a Capable Wife."

Reflecting on these verse, I remember my young wife getting a little monthly newsletter from a new woman's ministry called "Proverbs 31." That was twenty-one years ago. And that Charlotte-based ministry is still going strong. Indeed, it keeps on growing, blessing the lives of thousands of women daily. (And in case you didn't know, one of our own Spirit of Joy members, LeAnn Rice is the current executive director of this major, national ministry.)

My question today is what song do you sing about the key relationships in your life?

• Is it a love song to your spouse -- my capable wife, my charming husband? Or is your marriage song currently a little off-key?
• Do you sing a song of delight over your children? Or is your song about your kids an old country twanger, full of heartache and pain?
• Do you sing joyfully about your friendships? Or are your songs all about betrayal and unforgiveness?

Try this question ... How would songwriters fill in these blanks about you?

• An Ode to ___________ Wife/Husband
• An Song about a _____________ Parent
• A Refrain about a _________ Friend
• A Canticle about a ___________ Employee
• A Chorus about a __________ Witness to the Gospel

You life is a song. What kind of melody are you producing?

In Christ's Love,

a guy who always wanted

to know how to play an instrument

without ever really practicingmajor, national ministry

June 5 - Proverbs 28:8

One who walks in integrity will be safe,

but whoever follows crooked ways

will fall into the Pit.

Proverbs 28:8

 

Do you know my favorite measure of integrity?

 

It's who you are

when no one's looking.

 

How do you measure up? Do you whisper things out the side of your mouth that you wouldn't say to someone's face? Are there things you hide away from other's eyes? Is your public face the same as your private persona? Indeed, in private is there excess anger, a tendency toward addiction, a knowing superiority, or a threat of revenge. Who are you when no one's looking?

 

And how about this: How does this keep us "safe," rather than teetering us on the edge of a "fall"?

 

Ahh ... the edge of a fall? Which politician, public figure, star, or starlet has fallen this week? And yet, do you know the only difference between them and most of us? Their failures play out in the headlines. Our faults play out in quieter ways. Nevertheless, the hurts we cause to ourselves, our character, our family, and our small town reputation can be just as damaging.

 

Who are you when no one's looking?

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who grew tired

of playing hide-and-seek

June 4 - Proverbs 27:14

Whoever blesses a neighbor

with a loud voice rising early in the morning,

will be counted as cursing.

Proverbs 27:14

 

Have you ever heard this more recent piece of wisdom than Solomon's:

 

Some people wake up in the morning

and say, "Good morning, Lord!!"

Others wake up in the morning and say,

"Good Lord! It's morning."

 

I've been in the latter category for most of my life. In fact, I'd still rather structure my life around the proverb: "Later to bed, later to rise, helps me not come as close to Proverbs-27:14-cursing."

 

Nowadays, I'm really not too late to bed. And I truly have way too much to do to rise too late. Indeed, I have definitely gotten much better in recent years. But I am, nevertheless, surely not a morning person!

 

And that brings me to today's point ... all of us a different. My way is not right. And it is not wrong. Part of it is the way I'm built. And we're all better off if -- as long as it doesn't involve outright sin -- we're not judging other people based on the way we'd prefer things to be done.

 

We'd all do better if we all embrace our uniqueness.

 

It takes many people ... with many gifts ... and even a few quirks to build the kingdom. And as long as uniqueness is pointed toward God and not mired in anger, pride, jealousy, sloth, or any of the other deadly sins, then I say, "Serve God your way!!!" 

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who's weird

(yet tries to point oddly and

wonderfully toward God)

June 3 - Proverbs 22:6

Train a child in the way they should go,

and when they are old, they will not stray.

Proverbs 22:6

 

This is arguably the most famous Proverbs.

 

And many look at Proverbs as promises, guarantees. And if and when a well-trained child goes astray -- and because of sin, too many do -- too many parents feel betrayed by God. 

 

Proverbs are not promises. They are nuggets of wisdom. In general, if you raise a child well, you get good results. In general, if you allow your child to be subjected to dubious values, disoriented friends, and damaging abuse, you get dangerous results. Occasionally, some children of broken environments will absolutely soar -- God can redeem anything! And occasionally, some well-raised children will stumble, fall, and break their parents hearts -- the wages of sin is heartbreak, and hopefully not worse. But in general, we know this age-old wisdom is true.

 

But here's the most important part: This proverb deserves to be a very comforting word to parents in the midst of the terrible two's and the teenage trials!

 

Almost every parent has experienced happy days of drifting lazily down glorious stretches of the Grand Parenting River. And almost every parent can tell you about times when that lazy river turned suddenly into a harrowing stretch of rapids. Many of us have feared for our children's health, virtue, and/or life. 

 

And here's the good news -- and it hearkens back to this Proverb -- generally they get through it!!! Very few white water rafting companies lose too many passengers. 

 

While we'd generally like to rescue our child from most of the wild rides, sometimes the best we can do is just hold on and get them through it. And remember ... that in general, if we train a child in the way they should go, when they are old, they will not stray from it.

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who believes that the hard work

of training a little child to canoe -- up-front --

usually makes the rest of ride toward adulthood

much less stressful

June 2 - Proverbs 18:24

Some friends play at friendship

but a true friend sticks closer

than one's nearest kin

Proverbs 18:24

 

How's the weather today?

 

I ask that because if the weather is fair, I wonder if it's reminding you of too many people -- Indeed, do you know any people who "play at friendship" and are "fair weather friends"?

 

Now, the self-satisfying way to read this passage is to point at other people and judge whether they are fair-weather or true. The more challenging and most accurate way to read this is: Am I fair-weather or true?

 

Which relationships do you need to work on?

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who hopes he's occasionally

a captain in a storm

June 1 - Proverbs 16:2

All one's ways may

be pure in one's own eyes,

but the Lord weighs the spirit.

Proverbs 16:2

 

I'm sure -- just like me -- that you have NEVER justified an action ... right?

 

Ha!

 

Here are the top 3 ways we tend to justify our actions ...

1. It's not that bad.
2. Everyone's doing it.
3. God just wants me to be happy. Therefore, it's okay.

I wonder what my spirit weighs whenever I try to dust off one of those excuses and use it again. (Heck, sometimes, those excuses are so well-used that I don't even have to dust them off.)

 

God is all-knowing, all-seeing. Just because no human sees your actions, doesn't mean that they're not seen. Passages like this always convict me: My standard needs to be in his eyes ... not mine.

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who wants to return to the Gold Standard --

His (gold) ... not mine (dust bunnies and lint)