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Daily God Walk Devotional

12/16/2014

The Holy Spirit Convicts Men

The Holy Spirit Convicts Men
When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment. In regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. – John 16:8-11

Jesus is teaching his disciples about the primary work of the Holy Spirit in the world. He had already told them that the Holy Spirit would take the place in their life that he had taken, but in a deeper manner because he had been with them but then he would be in them (John 1416-18).

He went on to say that the counselor would teach them all things and remind them of what he had said (14:26). Then he tells them that the Holy Spirit will testify to the world about Jesus (15:26). Are you beginning to get the picture? A primary purpose of the Holy Spirit is to reveal God’s plan and purposes to man through the witness of those who believe.

The Message Bible has an interesting way of expressing our passage for today: “When he comes, he’ll expose the error of the godless world’s view of sin, righteousness, and judgment: He’ll show them that their refusal to believe in me is their basic sin; that righteousness comes from above, where I am with the Father out of their sight and control; that judgment takes place as the ruler of this godless world is brought to trial and convicted.”

The Holy Spirit has come to reveal the purposes of God and to reveal why the world is ruled by sin rather than righteousness. How does he do that? Through the witness of those who have already been renewed by the Holy Spirit. Our lives are to be so influenced by the Holy Spirit that those around us will see him through us.

Believers are carriers of Holy Spirit and our very presence in the world expose show the world to what they are missing.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, help me to live in such a way that you can show Christ to the world around me. Amen.

Principle: The Holy Spirit has come to reveal the purposes of God and to reveal why the world is ruled by sin rather than righteousness. How does that through the witness of those who have already been renewed by the Holy Spirit.

Affirmation: Holy Spirit has convicted me of sin, righteousness and judgment. Therefore his life in me is a witness to those who are around me.

Reflection: In this devotion we are told that Holy Spirit will speak to the world about Jesus. How is He to do that? What part to we, as believers, play in the revelation of God's will and purposes to the world?

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Daily God Walk Devotional

12/12/2014

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Remain In The Father's Love

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. – John 15:9-14

In the previous verses Jesus was encouraging his disciples to remain in the vine. In this passage he is encouraging them to remain in his love. Is there any real difference? We will not have the love of the Father if we are not in the vine and if we are in the vine we will have the Father’s love abiding in us.

Jesus gave us some perspective on why some believers do not demonstrate much love. He said, “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love.” We could conclude the opposite to also be true – If we don’t obey his commands we will not have his love. Could it be those who don’t love are in disobedience?

It appears that staying connected to the life-flow (remaining in the vine) also keeps us connected to the flow of love from the Father. Look at the way love flows from God: It flows from the Father to Jesus, then flows from Jesus to the believers, and finally, as we remain in Christ his love remains in us. It’s just that simple. If we are in Christ we will have God’s love flowing through us – If we aren’t in obedience to Christ we don’t have God’s love flowing through us.

Then he adds another component to this matrix of the vine, the branches, love and obedience. The new ingredient is joy: “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” There you have it. His purpose in all of this is so that we will have complete joy in him.

How is your joy lately? Check out your connectedness to the vine. Evaluate how freely love flows. Maybe your obedience level is hindering the love and joy flow. Something to think about.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be obedient that I may remain in the vine and your love will flow, making my joy complete. Amen

Principle: Jesus tells us to remain in the vine and bear fruit. We remain in the vine by obeying his commands. The test of whether we remain in the vine is if we continue in his love.

Affirmation: I know I am continuing in the vine because I obey his commands and his love is in me.

Reflection: The whole concept of being connected to Christ as a branch is connected to a vine is interesting. An observation: When we see a vine with many branches we do not distinguish between the vine and the branches. We say, "Look at the vine." We don't say, "Look at the branches." We see the vine and the branches as one. It is the same in Christ. We who are in the vine are one with the vine.

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A New Counselor - Comforter

12/9/2014

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I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. – John 14:16-18

The Disciples are slowly beginning to understand. They are beginning to realize that Jesus is going to be taken from them. They will no longer have him with them with his words of strength and comfort and they were beginning to feel that.

That is why Jesus begins John 14 with, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” Now he is explaining why they shouldn’t be troubled. He said “yes, I am going away, but you will not be left alone. The Father is sending you another to comfort you, to guide you and to give you strength.”

He used an interesting Greek word to describe the one who would come to them. It is parakletos. This word literally means called to one’s side, or to one’s aid. It was used in court referring to legal counsel. It is also used to denote one who is offering aid, assistance or counsel.

Jesus seemed to be saying that I have been with you as comforter, or counselor, but now I am going. However, you will not be left without comfort. He was not referring to another who would walk with them, but he was referring to the one who now walked with them but who would then live in them.

He was relating an entirely new relationship. Jesus was with them, but the one who would come, though in a different form, would be the same as the one who dwelt with them, except now he would be in them.

When Jesus said, “I will not leave you without comfort but I will come to you he was revealing that physically he was gone, but his Spirit would come to them. He would be in them.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for returning to live in me. Grant me the wisdom to accept the wisdom of the counselor. Amen.

Principle: Jesus was with them, but the one who would come, though in a different form, would be the same as the one who dwelt with them, except now he would be in them.

Affirmation: The comforter/counselor has come and I am comforted by his presence. I also turn to him for guidance and He is my comforter.

Reflection: Jesus is teaching an interesting concept. He had been their comforter, their confidant. Now he was leaving them, but he wouldn't stay away he would return, not to be with them but to be in them. Now we do not need to go to another for Christ himself abides in us.

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Show Us the Father

12/7/2014

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If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. – John 14:7-9

Jesus is revealing yet another truth to his disciples. They now understood that he was the Messiah, the Christ of God, but they as yet did not comprehend his deity. He is about to reveal a great truth to them.

Philip was probably a little confused when he said, “Lord, show us the Father,” and he most certainly was not prepared for the way Jesus responded. “Don’t you know me Philip?” Jesus asked.

It seems that Jesus had saved the best revelation for the last. There had been many prophets and many false messiahs; but there had never been one to make such a bold claim. They have just barely grown to accept him as Christ, now he is revealing that he indeed is Christ, but he is so much more; he is the very physical presence of the eternal God.

The concept of incarnation for the purpose of redemption is unique to Christianity. In mythology there are stories of gods becoming men, but none of them have the concept of God becoming man do die as a man so that all men might have access to the grace of redemption.

The apostle Paul tells us that, “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV). Yes, when they saw Jesus they saw very God made manifest before them.

We have hope today because God, the very God of eternity, became man, lived on earth to show us the way, died to give us the opportunity of redemption, rose again to give us hope and he is coming again to take us to our eternal home. Hallelujah.

Prayer: Thank you for the redemption that is by faith in Christ. Amen.

Principle: We have hope today because God, the very God of eternity, became man, lived on earth to show us the way, died to give us the opportunity of redemption, rose again to give us hope and he is coming again to take us to our eternal home.

Affirmation: I have hope today because the very God of eternity became man to die for all men and to be raised from the dead to give all who trust him hope in eternity.

Reflection: The very core of our faith is that God became man that he might reconcile man to himself through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, the Christ of redemption. How many other religions can make such a claim?

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Daily God Walk Devotional

The Holy Spirit Convicts Men

I would like to read your comments on this devotion. Let me know your thoughts on this devotion and I will send you the entire month of devotions.

Daily God Walk Devotional

Remain In The Father's Love

Did this devotion on the Father's love inspire you? Please give your comments

Get the Daily God Walk for the whole month of December - Free

A New Counselor - Comforter

Tell us about your experience with this "Counselor - Comforter"

Use The Daily God Walk In Your Bible Study Group

Show Us the Father

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Daily God Walk Devotional

The Holy Spirit Convicts Men

I would like to read your comments on this devotion. Let me know your thoughts on this devotion and I will send you the entire month of devotions.

Daily God Walk Devotional

Remain In The Father's Love

Did this devotion on the Father's love inspire you? Please give your comments

Get the Daily God Walk for the whole month of December - Free

A New Counselor - Comforter

Tell us about your experience with this "Counselor - Comforter"

Use The Daily God Walk In Your Bible Study Group

Show Us the Father

If you enjoyed "Show us the Father" let us know and we will send you a printed copy of the next month of Daily God Walk

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Take A Knee In Prayer ChallengeGet information on this challenge that will change you life JUST CLICK HERE

Take A Knee In Prayer Challenge

Get information on this challenge that will change you life
JUST CLICK HERE