Author: Aaron Hufty

Aaron Hufty is the Associate Pastor for Worship and Music at FBCSA.

Be Like Paul

Re:Verse passage – Philippians 1:12-19 (day two) 

Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, vs. 18

In reading this text again I was reminded how often I allow circumstances to determine my value, my effectiveness, and my outlook. I would venture to say that I am not alone in this. I would like to believe that in whatever situation I can find a way to rise above the circumstances, but I am often deterred by current climate, poor resources, lack of motivation, or a myriad of other reasons why my particular task can’t be accomplished to the degree I had hoped. I need to hang out with Paul more. In that case I will likely find myself in more dire situations that I have ever imagined, but I will also come to understand that it is Jesus who had defined my worth, not my circumstance. This shift in focus in attitude is essential for each of us. Paul isn’t grousing, he’s witnessing. He’s not complaining about things not being fair, he’s looking for ways to share the gospel. Let’s be like Paul.

Participation in the Gospel

Re:Verse passage – Philippiand 1:1-11 (day two)

…in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. Vs. 5

Paul’s salutation to the believers at Philippi had some common elements that we see in his other letters, but it was this statement in the fifth verse that struck me today as I re-read it. Paul is not only addressing and greeting the church, but he is reminded of their no nonsense, elbows deep living out of their faith. He may remember how they gave time that they didn’t really have to pack a box of food for a hungry family in their neighborhood. Perhaps it was his memory of how they opened there homes for prayer meetings and area fellowships. He might have been buoyed by remembering their generosity to a mission work even when their giving was more than they could afford. Paul knew the cost of following Christ, and his affirmation to other believers was not lip service. It was genuine gratitude for fellow co-laborers in the work of the Gospel. Who are those people in your life. Send them some encouragement today.

Do You Want Fries With That

Re:Verse passage – Galatians 5:22-25 (day one) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; vs 22-23a

We know this text well. It is one of the hallmark passages of the New Testament that we learn from a young age, but do we treat the fruit of the spirit like we are ordering from a fast food menu? “I’ll take two joys, a love, and an order of peace. I’m not really a patience or self-control guy” To quote a favorite commercial of mine – that’s not how any of this works.

I am so grateful that God has made each of us as unique, individual beings. But that individuality does not preclude the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. On our own, it is true, we may struggle to be kind or gentle, but that’s the point, isn’t it? God is not looking for people who are gentle to say – look here’s that fruit I was talking about. No, we all have access to the same work of the Holy Spirit. Knowing that we would not be patient without God’s work in our lives is part of what makes it so wonderful. Don’t limit the Spirit’s work in your life today. Seek the full menu.

Connect the Dots

Re:Verse passage – 1 Thessalonians 1:2-6 (day two) 

You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, Vs. 6

Regional question for you: Where you grew up did you have connect the dot pictures, or dot to dot pictures? I confess that I had never heard of dot to dot until a two years ago. When I read this passage this morning I was thinking of the long line of faithful men and women who have served as faithful followers of Christ since the time of Paul. We all share the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives who has connected each of us together. We will never fully appreciate the grand design that the Lord is putting together until we reach Heaven, but don’t you imagine that it will look incredible. Think also about how Paul describes what he sees in the Thessalonians believers. They imitated what they saw lived out in other believers who had in turn lived out what they had received from the Lord. Again, the Holy Spirit has helped shape our faith by allowing us to see others live out this great testimony. Think of who the Spirit has connected you to, and to whom you are being called to connect.

SING MORE

Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 5:18-19 (day two) 

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

I am a doctor. My grandmother would hasten to add, “just not the kind that can help people.” However, today, I think I can help. If I could give one prescription to just about everyone I know, it would be: SING MORE. Feeling down, not a problem: SING. Feeling great, excellent: SING. Everything in between, I’ve got you covered: SING.

I don’t want to be flippant, but I take scripture to be completely true, and this isn’t a suggestion. God has designed a release valve for us, and it is wise that we avail ourselves of it. It is cathartic and healthy. it builds community, and it follows the example of Jesus (Matthew 26:30). Every age, every stage, this is for you. This is one of the signs that we are a Holy Spirit-filled people. Our singing should overflow from our heart’s condition. Stop believing the lie that you can’t, or that you shouldn’t, or it is for others. Scripture does not affirm that. Sing More. Sing at home, sing at the office, sing at the gym, and by all means sing at church.

Be Angry

Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 4:25-32 (day two) 

Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, vs. 26

Time for confession. How many of you have the second part of verse 26 memorized, but did not know the first part? Both parts of this verse work well together, and the following verse is a caution when this advice is not followed. Unhealthy, un-dealt with anger is an invitation for the deceiver to work sin into your heart.

Be angry – that doesn’t seem like something you would read in the New Testament. We particularly struggle with this verse because we see so little application of what it says. In 2020 anger invariably means sin. It manifests in violence, abuse, neglect, inappropriate language. As a society we do not process these feelings in a healthy biblical manner. If we recognize injustice, or unrighteousness, or sin around us we have cause to feel angry. It is what happens next that we, as believers, must not look like our society. Paul offers solutions, forgive and remember your forgiveness, don’t speak words that will escalate the problem, show grace where possible.

Blessed Assurance

Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 1:13-14 (day two)

 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

Of the many things that the Holy Spirit does in and through us, it also acts as assurance of our salvation. When you experience the power of the Spirit in your life, make sure to thank God for that reminder of that seal on your heart. The Spirit is powerfully active in the world, but is also personal. The way it intercedes for your in your prayer life is a reminder of God’s promise of hope. When you are given the words to witness that you never thought you could put together, it is a gift and a reminder of his working in your walk. The Holy Spirit is only available to those who know Jesus as savior, and as such should serve as a confident assurance.

Measuring Faith

Re:Verse passage – Romans 14:17-19 (day two)

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Vs. 17

How do you measure your faith? Do you look for a quantifiable measure that gives you comfort that you are on the right path? Do this, do that, eat this, don’t eat that. It is human nature to want to have some measuring stick to guide our journey. It is one of the reasons the law played such a large part of church history. The believers in Rome must have known this struggle all too well. Although it gives us a sense of peace to have a checklist, it is not the nature and character of the Holy Spirit. Righteousness, peace, and joy are harder to quantify, but are the essential markers for our spiritual growth. Try to explain it less, and live it more. You will certainly know the difference.

Even in Our Weakness

Re:Verse passage – Romans 8:26-27 (day two)

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

There is so much to consider when discussing the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The disciples at Pentecost were filled with the Spirit and able to boldly proclaim the truth of Jesus in every language. It was monumental in the establishment of the early church. Boldness is one of the characteristics that we often associate with the Spirit’s work. The disciples were already accustomed to telling others about Jesus’ life and work, but the Spirit enabled them to proclaim with a newfound authority.

The Spirit also works in our weaknesses. Areas of our lives where we are not confident, or even where our brokenness is most pronounced. A life lived in the Spirit is one that accepts that those areas can be used to glorify God. If you are redeemed, you are fully redeemed, even those areas where the only way you can grow is by the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus knows our every weakness (by the Holy Spirit) take it to the Lord in prayer.

A Spirit-filled Life

Re:Verse passage – Romans 8:5-11 (day two) For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. vs. 5

In the next verse Paul will go on to describe a life lived in the Spirit is evidenced by abundant life and peace. If this were the only time that Paul spoke about a Spirit-filled life, it would be enough, but in his letter to the church in Galatia he provides further evidence of someone whose mind is set on the Spirit. He says that their life will be filled with things like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control (Gal. 5:22-23). There is no law against such things. How cool is that? Stop and take stock of your walk with Christ right now. Can you sense those spiritual fruit in your life? Are other thoughts or actions crowding out the ability for you to walk with a Spirit-filled focus? God has promised us these things as another barometer of our faith journey. Continue to ask for the Spirit to remove all other things that take away from His perfect plan for you.