Author: Scott Lane

Re:Verse passage – 1 Thessalonians 1:2-6 (day five) “for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.”
Far too long we have settled for a weaker presentation of the gospel. What I mean by that, is we have relied on or exclusively trusted that just living a devoted Christian life would be our way to effectively share the gospel. The phrase “lifestyle evangelism” is a popular term for this approach.  I’ll just live out my faith and that will be my witness for Christ.
Paul challenges that mindset with his explanation of evangelism.  Relying on actions alone was not his approach. There must be both words and actions. Talking and teaching were just as essential to present the gospel as deeds and attitudes. Notice as the Holy Spirit works in both the words and actions together in the life of believers, there is power.
Do we talk and teach about the gospel as much as we live out the gospel?  We should.  We must use both (our words AND actions) to tell and show the world of the hope, love, and joy found in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

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

“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,”

What does being filled with wine (drunkenness) cause?  A loss of self-control. What does being filled with the Holy Spirit cause? Self-Control. Self-control is easily evidenced in our relationship with God and our relationships with others.  Debauchery is self indulgence/glorification at the expense of others- I will do what I want so I can feel good at any cost to others.

Self-control provided by the Spirit will guide the believer to glorify God (in our text this week thru singing) and building others up by our speaking (remember last weeks text). A spirit filled person desires to praise God and build others up in speaking and singing with a thankful heart. That is the focus every believer needs- which comes only by the constant filling of the Holy Spirit.

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

“Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another.” 

God never intended us to be isolated in our faith. There is a relational component to the Christian Faith. With Him and with other believers. He promises to be with us till the end of the age (Matthew 28) as well as designing our Christian lives to be in community with other believers. The Greek word translated one another is used 100 times in the New Testament. 59 times its used to teach us how (and how not) to relate to one another. Even if we don’t believe it, the scriptures describe the influence every believer has “in the body”- negative and positive. Let’s look for opportunities to influence one another.

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;” Ephesian‬ ‭5:1.

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

“you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,”

The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Promise in Ephesians. Even in the Old Testament, God is promising to send His Holy Spirit to live in and influence believers.   “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.” Ezekiel‬ ‭36:27‬

Jesus promises the same thing in John. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”‭‭John‬ ‭14:26‬

There are hundreds promises from God throughout scripture. And He has kept every one of them. Which ones do you need to remember today?  Which ones will bring peace and courage to your heart?  Search the scriptures with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  He will help!  God has promised!!

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

“So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.”  Peace with others is a lofty goal. If that were the only admonition we would have our work cut out for us. Being peace keepers and peace makers will definitely require the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit. But, according to verse 19, being in God’s kingdom means fellowship, relationship, and accountability with others.  In a sense we ARE accountable for the holiness and righteousness of our bothers and sisters through encouragement, kindness, and service. Building up one another (as we might guess) is a process that will take time and faithfulness and dependence on  the work and help of the Holy Spirit. Who are you building up?  Who is building you up?

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

“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness… but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words… because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

Isn’t the Holy Spirit amazing?  We are told (and rightly believe) that the Lord is watching us. Proverbs 5:21, “For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his paths”. In the same way, we also believe that God knows us- Psalm 139.  And with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, we can be encouraged that God understands us.  Being understood is one of our biggest needs.  How many parents have been told by their teenage children, “You just just don’t understand”?  Not so with our Heavenly Father. He has provided a means for us, even in our own confusion (distress, angst, suffering) or lack of understanding, a way to be perfectly (according to the will of God) understood. What peace, comfort, and confidence believing that truth can bring to the heart of a believer!!

Re:Verse passage – Romans 8:5-11 (day five)

“For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God;”
Paul makes it clear where the struggle and battle between the flesh and the Spirit are first waged-  in the mind. Our thoughts are an on-ramp to holiness or destruction. Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinks within himself, so he is.”  Later in Romans 12 “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  Tim Keller sheds more light on this.  “The mind is not neutral ground and cannot love one preoccupation without rejecting the other.”  This why Paul calls the mind set on the flesh, an enemy of God. Can you think of anything worse than being an enemy of God?  So we must set our minds on the Spirit (become focused and preoccupied with the things that preoccupy the Spirit). Let us constantly ask the Spirit to teach and lead us to discover and understand the Spirit’s priorities, principles, and practices.

Re:Verse passage – Romans 8:1-4 (day five) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
The work of the Holy Spirit is integral in salvation.  In this week’s Re:Verse passage, Paul lays out 2 aspects of this work. First, we are saved from the penalty of sin. No condemnation and Freedom from the law of sin and death. Second, we are saved from the power of sin. Life in the Spirit brings righteousness. Sin’s effect and influence are in direct opposition and conflict with the Spirit. The Sprit brings the opportunity and capability to glorify God through our living “in the Spirit”. The Spirit’s power is greater.

Thank God for His work and provision through the Holy Spirit to save us.

Re:Verse passage – Acts 1:8 (day five)  

What do you suppose the attitudes and mindsets of disciples were like as they waited for the Holy Spirit?  Frightened? Anxious? Hesitant? Sad?  Luke tells us in chapter 24 of his gospel that in fact, they were filled with joy, faithfully worshipping and praising God. Yet, God was sending something through the Holy Spirit. What was it?  They were doing pretty well. They were comfortable and in a good place spiritually. God sends them “power” through the Holy Spirit. This power looked like conviction- they would be convinced and passionate they needed to testify about Jesus to anyone and everyone. This power looked like courage- they would be ok, being unpopular (Jerusalem/Judea), unwelcome (Samaria), and in unfamiliar places (remotest part of the earth).

Seems like these days, we are in a spiritually complacent and comfortable nation. May God send us power through the Holy Spirit, to be His witnesses that we might risk being unpopular, unwelcome, and eager to serve in unfamiliar places for Glory of God and the spread of the Gospel!

Re:Verse passage – John 1:29-34 (day five). “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
These days, people don’t need to be convinced that the world is broken. We see it in the news. Something is wrong. We feel it in our souls. Something is wrong with us (humanity). The scripture continually points to sin as the root and cause of it all. We all have sinned. That is why we all feel the weight and burden of the broken world. That is why we don’t love and care for one another as we should. That is why we can name a thousand things that are wrong with us and the world. But there is good news!! God knows how big and how destructive sin is. That is why Jesus came. Look at the scope of Jesus mission- the sins of THE WORLD. All of it- the habits, hatred, failures, wickedness, idolatry, and selfishness. Jesus came to take it away through repentance and forgiveness.
Anyone want that today? Anyone need that today? Thank God for this good news!!