Month: June 2022

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Do you hunger for the supernatural, then snuggle up to the Holy Spirit.

Reading Time: 2 minutes 
“But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭2:10-13‬ ‭NLT‬

This past Sunday I spoke on Jesus final words before leaving for heaven. But before he left, Luke tells us that Jesus “opened their minds to understand the scriptures.” It takes God to help us connect the dots. Paul explains it so well here to the churches in Corinth. Corinth was totally into all things mystical and fantastic.

The Spirit of God shows us the deep secrets of God himself. I believe those deep things are God’s plans and His ways. Paul even says we need “Spirit” words to explain spiritual truths. Jesus was the master of this concept. His words, illustrations and object lessons were simple yet profound. He was taking eternal ideas and making them reachable, accessible to those who had “ears to hear” what the Spirit was saying. He also spoke in parables that cloaked truth just enough to cause the listener to press in an be curious and inquisitive to learn.

Paul certainly was impressive explaining a lot of spiritual truths, especially when it came to wisdom of God and the workings of the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote more about the function and ways of the Holy Spirit to Corinth than any other church. You don’t see him write about things of the Spirit nearly as much in Romans or Ephesians. Corinth must have had a curiosity about the workings or “deep” things of God and Paul was boldly explaining them. I think these “spiritual truths” and “deep secrets”

Paul words are difficult for us westerners to understand. Last Sunday I said, we are “mystically challenged.” Oh, we enjoy our sci-fi, fantasy entertainment in movies, books and podcasts. But to explain or experience the the reality and truth of God’s word we are uncomfortable around miracles and the supernatural. It is dangerous to dabble in the fantasy world of spells, wizards, or even the paranormal while denying the very real spiritual realms of God himself and the purpose of power behind it. Let’s do as Paul suggests and reign in our imaginations or “casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Cor 10:5.

Do you want to explore the mystical, supernatural wonder of the spiritual world? Snuggle up to the Holy Spirit and let the Spirit of God lead you into all truth!

Prayer:

Dad,
Let our imaginations, our fascinations, our affections be set on you and only you. Help us not be carried away and tricked into seeking and believing the fantasy world of magic while disbelieving and even denying your deep secrets of plans and purposes of heaven. There is plenty of mystical wonder in the workings of your Holy Spirit. There is a very real power to experience and transform our lives and the world we live in. Let us press in to find the real and not be all enamored with the fake.

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Is Proverbs a Pollyannic, positive thinking pusher?

Reading Time: 2 minutes 
“If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you!” Proverbs‬ ‭11:27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Wowza! Talk about a cycle of self fulfilling prophecy, right? Whatever you look for, you’re sure to find it. This could be a conversation about your job, family, relationship, life or even your church.

If you put on the “evil” lens glasses everyday, guess what? Yeah, everything looks evil! If you put on “good” lens, you see… you get it.

Previously this was called putting on “Rose colored” glasses or seeing a Pollyanna perspective in all things. There are plenty of idioms about being a half-glasser, and whether it’s full or empty.

I’ve spoken with folks who are critical, suspect or conspiratists about almost anything. Their defense? “I’m a realist,” they say. Are they happy being a realist? No, I don’t believe they are. They are just super low on the trust factor.

The wisdom writers are not trying to make grand sweeping, total lifestyle statements. They are just stating a truth, a wisdom nugget to remember.

Was the Apostle Paul being a Pollyannist by telling the churches in Philippi, “If…” If there is anything excellent. If there is anything worthy of praise. Think about these things.” (Phil 4:8). There may not be excellence or praise in EVERYTHING going on in our lives, but there is bound to some!

Look for it, search for it. Hold onto that thought rather than letting evil or gossip, anger or hatred drag your soul down to the darkness of the abyss.

Prayer:

Dad,
Not only do I need your favor in living this life and following Jesus. We need your help to find favor by our choices of what we focus on, what we choose to dwell on. As our friends and family struggle to claw our way out of a post-pandemic, highly divided season of life, please God – help us find good. Help us search for good. Help us to FIX our gaze on the hope that you are in control, that you are at work in the messes we’ve made, that you are WITH US even in our suffering. Thank you for your grace and mercy that is new and fresh and given to us each and everyday.