God Presence and the Person of the Holy Spirit – Purity 1665
Purity 1665 05/22/2025 Purity 1665 Audio Podcast
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Good morning,
Today’s photo of a lush green meadow and a post lined trail in the foreground of a magnificent lake scene comes to us from an unknown FB friend who shared this tranquil view on social media back on July 27th, 2021. If this peaceful memory is yours let us know and we will photo-credit you on the blog after the fact.
Well, it’s Thursday and I share today’s pathway photo as a visual reminder or encouragement to get on or to stay on the path of Christian discipleship where the going may be rough at times but where the way is true and our guide is faithful.
Last night I hosted the Celebrate Freedom Support Group at Starpoint Church and I was blessed to here testimony after testimony of how the Lord has used our group to encourage people to overcome their hurts, habits, and hang ups and to welcome them to a lifestyle of walking in the Spirit. Participant after participant shared how although their lives are far from problem free, they now have the wisdom and power to reframe their experiences through the wisdom and power of God in their lives. Phrases like “I never would have been able to do this before” and “Now, I see things differently..” or “God is showing me…” bear the evidence that our participants are progressively learning how to live life “in the Spirit” and God is blessing them through His continuous presence.
Speaking of God’s presence in our lives, the In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanely devotion for today addresses that topic, so I am sharing it on the blog to encourage us all to appreciate and know more about God’s presence through the Person of the Holy Spirit. Dr. Charles Stanley writes.
The Holy Spirit: God’s Presence
After Jesus returned to heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to live in us.
Some people think the Holy Spirit’s first appearance was at Pentecost. But He’s mentioned in the creation account (Genesis 1:2) and throughout the Old Testament and Gospels. Then, in today’s passage (Acts 2:1-4) the Spirit arrives in the upper room with a fresh mission.
In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit empowered individuals for specific tasks. For example, Bezalel’s God-given wisdom and craftsmanship enabled him to become the tabernacle’s chief architect (Exodus 31:1-5). We also read that the Spirit settled upon leaders needing help in administration (Numbers 11:16-17), warriors facing formidable tasks (Judges 6:34), and men called to proclaim God’s Word (Ezekiel 2:1-4).
Indicating that the Spirit’s involvement with believers would be different than before, Jesus told the disciples, “He abides with you and will be in you” (John 14:17). God’s Holy Spirit had come alongside them during their time with Jesus but would dwell within them following the ascension.
Since Pentecost, every believer has received the Holy Spirit. If Jesus is the vine and we’re the branches, then the Spirit is the energizing sap that equips us. He no longer comes and goes but now remains permanently. He seals us in Christ—proof of the promise that we are forever in God’s presence (Ephesians 1:13-14).” – Charles Stanley
Amen. One thing that I would like to add to Stanley’s message is the assertion that The Holy Spirit is a person. For the uninformed, Stanley’s analogy of the Holy Spirit being like “the energizing sap that equips us” could cause one to think of Him as a mysterious force or power.
Like an elite athlete, truly the Holy Spirit is a force to be reckoned with – but He is a person and the work He helps (He is The Helper, right) us to accomplish is due to His very personal presence in our lives.
He leads us into all truth. Like a dear friend, He shows us our blind spots and gives us the wisdom to move forward – mysteriously in our spirit – through intuition, sudden revelations, or through a recollection of truth from our past or scripture. How did we suddenly get so smart? Our Friend is helping us to find the answer.
He is the Comforter. Walk the walk of a surrendered Christian disciple is a HARD walk. The rest of the world and those nearest and dearest to us will challenge our resolve or may even unwittingly tempt us to give up and go back into the darkness of our old worldly ways. When we try to go God’s way, the world and some of the people we love go another way and it makes our decision to do what’s right according to God to be unfair. The people who love us can make it harder to want to follow the Lord. But The Holy Spirit in You can comfort you when it seems like the rest of the world just doesn’t get it (because they don’t). While Holy Spirit will be there to comfort us, He also assures us that following Jesus is the best course to take through life and rather than consoling you and telling you it’s okay to join the crowd, He challenges you to accept these hardships as a pathway to peace.
And finally, our Friend and Constant Companion, The Holy Spirit empowers us. His strength, presence, and love flow through us to make us able to do “the impossible”. And His power in our lives is INCREASED with every “right word, thought, and action” that we step out in faith to do.
When we “walk in the Spirit”, The Holy Spirit confirms the rightness of our path and not only provides us with the power to do hard things but gives us the guidance we need for our next steps.
So don’t give up, don’t step off the path that God has put you on. The going may be tough. Life can seem unfair and lonely at times but Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be with us so we would never have to be alone and He will show us the way and give us the wisdom and power to walk it out.
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For those who want more evidence for Christianity than my simple encouragements provide, I offer apologist, Frank Turek’s website, https://crossexamined.org/.
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Today’s Bible verse comes to us from “The Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling” By John G. Kruis.
(While Bible verses on various topics of Counseling can be found with a quick Google search, we encourage you to purchase this resource to support the late author’s work. (The Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling By John G. Kruis on Amazon )
This morning’s meditation verse comes from the section on Mixed Marriages.
Amos 3:3 (NIV) Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?
Today’s verse falls under the second point of our counseling reference guide resource section on Mixed Marriages.
2. Two cannot walk together unless they are agreed.
Today’s Bible verse indicates that when we are in a relationship with others, it is placidly assumed that the two parties are in agreement with one another.
However, considering the discord that we can see in friendships and marriages, that is an assumption that we may not want to make!
In the context of “mixed” or unequally yoked marriages, this Bible verse convicts us. If you have decided to walk together in a lifelong commitment, surely your spouse and you agree on what you believe about God and the meaning of life and death, right? You don’t? How can that be?
Life is a long journey and our faith gives us the answers to what it means and where it is leading and if two don’t share the same beliefs about what the journey of life means and where it is leading, how could you ever expect to find peace together if you believe different things about the path itself and where it ultimately ends?
For those unequally yoked already, stay true to the path the God has put you on, ask for His help, and do your best to show your wayward spouse God’s way.
For those who haven’t made that commitment yet, seriously consider if you want to keep walking with someone you are not in agreement with. It may be best to go separate ways than have to walk thorough life with someone who is on the highway to hell.
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As always, I invite all to go to mt4christ.com where I always share insights from prominent Christian theologians and counselors to assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk.
Today we continue sharing from “Day by Day Along the Way” By Jay E. Adams.
As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage you all to purchase Adams’ books for your own private study and to support the late author’s work. This resource is available online for less than $20 at many sites.
Day 164
Anybody who puts his hand on the plow and looks back isn’t fit for God’s kingdom. – Luke 9:62
Come when Jesus calls and be willing to leave all else behind. That is the word given to this man also. The one who plows and looks back plows a crooked furrow. Plowing demands one’s full attention; he must keep his eye on the object ahead. Jesus wanted fully committed followers. He would have no half-hearted servants who tried to divide their interests between Him and what was left behind. He demands complete commitment. Jesus knows how divided our hearts tend to be. He knows your struggle to make Him supreme in your life. He knows how often you fail. He offers help if you will only ask Him for it. James said that God gives willingly without chiding us for asking (James 1:5). Are you having problems keeping your commitment? Does the past loom ahead rather than the object of your ministry for Christ? Ask. Ask for help for power to overcome every obstacle! Ask, then go and serve in His power.[1]
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Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship
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[1] Jay E. Adams, Day by Day along the Way (Cordova, TN: Institute for Nouthetic Studies, 2020), 172.
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