Wednesday, March 2, 2011

If He Dwells


Romans 8:9-11 ESV
9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. 

Paul seems to use the ideas of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit interchangeably in speaking of God as dwelling within us. 

On Each One Of Them


Acts 2:3 ESV
3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.

The Holy Spirit is uniquely given to to the twelve. Jesus chose them for this task and honor. 

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

You Shall Not Profane


Leviticus 22:32 NASB

32 “You shall not profane My holy name, but I will be sanctified among the sons of Israel; I am the Lord who sanctifies you,

They do not impart sanctity to the Lord, but are commanded to do nothing that will conflict with or betray His holiness. To do is to take His name in vain. He has given His name to this people. It is He that sanctifies.

I Will, I Have


Psalms 56:3-4 NASB

3   When I am afraid,

 I will put my trust in You.

4   In God, whose word I praise,

In God I have put my trust;

I shall not be afraid.

 What can mere man do to me?

We must decide to put our trust in the Lord. It does not always come naturally, in fact it is supernatural act, for it requires faith in something beyond nature: Our God is awesome and mighty, to whom nothing is impossible. His hand is upon us, by our side, and we are sealed in His promise. We don't know, but He knows all things and we know Him.  

A Long While


Luke 20:9 ESV

9 And he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while.

The Greek word translated here as long carries in its meaning the idea of the fullness of time according to God's purpose. We often struggle with the thought that something is taking too long. It can be helpful to remember that everything works to the good for those that love the Lord. 

CWS:
 [ an,aj G2425 ἱκανός * hikanos * hik-an-os' * From ἵκω hikō (ἱκάνω or ἱκνέομαι; akin to G2240; to arrive); competent (as if coming in season), that is, ample (in amount) or fit (in character): - able, + content, enough, good, great, large, long (while), many, meet, much, security, sore, sufficient, worthy.

As His Property


Leviticus 22:10-11 ESV
10 “A lay person shall not eat of a holy thing; no foreign guest of the priest or hired servant shall eat of a holy thing,
11 but if a priest buys a slave as his property for money, the slave may eat of it, and anyone born in his house may eat of his food.

Jesus purchased us with His blood, a ransom paid and we are His. We can therefore eat and share in the bread of life. 

Father To Son


Luke 20:42 ESV
42 For David himself says in the Book of Psalms,


 “‘The Lord said to my Lord,

Sit at my right hand,
Luke 20:43

43 until I make your enemies your footstool.’

The same Greek word is used for both Lords in this passage. It is the one God speaking to Himself, Father to Son. 

CWS:
 [ art,nn G2962 κύριος * kurios * koo'-ree-os * From κῦρος kuros (supremacy); supreme in authority, that is, (as noun) controller; ...