Inner Man's Strength

Ephesians 3:16-19

….According to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man.

What does it mean to have your inner man strengthened? It means that believers have yielded control to the Holy Spirit who controls our desires, thoughts, and actions as well as every part of our lives. It also means that at our weakest point we are strong because of the indwelling Holy Spirit who is God and through Him we can do all things.

Having the Holy Spirit providing our inner strength believers have the ability to live holy lives before God, manifest Christ-likeness for the world to see, be powerful witnesses for Christ and come into the perfection of the saints.  The indwelling Holy Spirit make real the presence of Christ in our hearts (vv 16-17a), enables believers to remain grounded in the word of God, have a greater revelation of God’s love, the fullness of God’s holiness and the inner most felling of the heart. Most importantly, having the indwelling Holy Spirit enables believers to live according to God’s will because all believers have been consecrated back to God.

It is noteworthy to say, the inner man’s strength comes from the residing Holy Spirit for the benefit of believers. Just as the apostle Paul realized that in his weakest hour he was strong in the Lord. This applies to believers today. It is important to know that the God in us is stronger and greater than the god of this world.

 Believers, rely on God for strength.

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Speak The Truth In Love Through Christ

Ephesians 4:15

…Speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.

If we were to define truth it would stating the facts as they are. Reflecting on my teaching as a child I was taught to tell the truth regardless of the situation. I failed to realize that mother’s teaching was biblically based. Being a parent I passed these teachings on to my children because the truth will stand the test of time. It is worth noting that there is something about speaking the truth; it tends to draw people closer and resolve many if not all problems.

That being said, in relation to the Christian community we maintain unity when the truth is spoken in love. Truth spoken in love supersedes traditions that are found in churches and believers. This is due in part to modern day society's norms. Truth spoken in love is based on God’s Word which is never to be comprised regardless of society’s norms. Speaking the truth in love is vital today as we see many of our institutions being compromised such as marriages, biblical training for all which includes prayer and daily scripture reading and obeying the moral laws of God.

What must believers do in today compromising society? Believers must stand firm on God’s Word and remain faithful to scriptures even if it means separating from family, church that have or is compromising the truth.

Speak the truth in love as God is love.

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Grow In Grace

II Peter 3:18

…Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever.

What is grace? The Student Bible Dictionary (P.106) provides several definitions for grace and they are: (a) God’s favor (Genesis 6:8), (b) God’s free gift and underserved love that never quits (Ephesians 2:8), (c) Grace is the gift of God that comes as eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23). That being said, how do you define grace or what does grace means to you? The most profound definition of God's grace is God’s Righteousness at Christ’s Expense. Additionally, grace to me is God’s favor and love on display in that He gave His best so that all believers can spend eternity with Him.

Let’s us look at grace in terms of God’s favor which is His kindness, love and  good will that He sheds on us daily. God favors us with His presence that can be seen in nature. God’s presence is felt in the times of trouble.

God left His holy word as our guide as well as the Holy Spirit who lives in every believer to teach, guide and direct our paths and serves as our protector. God’s Word reveals the holiness of God, His will and ways and every believer are to grow in the knowledge and grace/favor of God so that we as believers become more like His Son Jesus Christ.

We grow in the grace and knowledge of God through daily Bible reading, meditating on His word and prayer.

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True Freedom

John 8:36

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

All freedom is not free, whereas true freedom comes from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I say this because man gives us one kind of freedom while Christ gives us true freedom which cannot be taken away by man and his laws neither can it be given by man. It is important to note what man calls freedom is not true freedom.

If a sin is committed and man says you are free but the weight of guilt remains then where is the freedom? The guilty party knows in his or her heart what the truth is and the truth is what will stand before God.

The truth will set you free as God is truth.

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A New Creature In Christ

A New Creature In Christ

II Corinthians 5:17

…If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are past away; behold, all things are become new.

The central theme for this month's devotional is Christian Maturity; we begin by looking at becoming a new creature in Christ. Believers become new creatures in Christ by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. In doing so believers belongs to God as believers have been bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ and is under the control of God through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Believers become new creatures in Christ by taking on the image of God to share in His glory (3:18) as well as gaining new knowledge of God and His righteousness. This includes knowing and doing His will. Becoming a new creature in Christ, believers have the ability and desire to live holy lives unto God the Father.

God called believers out of darkness through the atoning work of Christ for a special purpose which is to be His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10), to witness Christ the world over thus building His kingdom (Matthew 28:19-20) and to live faithful lives so the world will see Christ manifested in us.

Being a new creature in Christ the believer have put away the old sinful nature and put on the righteousness of Christ as His atoning work sanctified, justified us before God the Father. Being a new creature in Christ, believers died to sin with Christ and rose with Him to a new life and now have on the righteousness of God the Father.

Out of Christ we remain in the old nature, but in Christ we are new creatures.

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Sealed By The Holy Spirit

Ephesians 1:13

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.

Today's topical discussion is focused on the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of believers and who He is.

First, the Holy Spirit is God in the third person as He was present during creation and is the "Spirit that was moving over the face of the deep" (Genesis 1:2). Second, the Holy Spirit is the one who indwells believers upon accepting Christ as Lord and Savior. Third, it is the Holy Spirit who seals believers with God's mark of ownership as believers have been bought with the precious blood of Jesus. This identifying mark provides evidence that believers are God's sons and daughters who have been adopted into His holy family. Fourth, the Holy Spirit makes real the presence of God in the lives of believers. Fifth, it is the Holy Spirit who guides believers around and through the troubles waters this life encounters. Sixth, it is the Holy Spirit who helps believers draw near to God through prayer. Seven, it is the Holy Spirit who gives believers ability to witness Christ with boldness and power. Eight, it is the Holy Spirit who motivates believers to maintain the unity of the Christian faith and come into the full likeness of Christ. Nine, it is the Holy Spirit who aid in our spiritual prayer warfare. Ten, it is the Holy Spirit who keeps believers from falling prey to Satan demonic tactics.

Believers we are sealed by God the Holy Spirit.

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Salvation By God's Grace

Titus 2:11-14

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men (11).Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Let me reiterate salvation is God's plan for delivering His people from the dangerous snares of sin that He spared no expense in delivering all who believe and accept the atoning works of His Son Jesus Christ. It was God's love, grace and mercy that He through His Son redeemed man. Justice demanded that man remain guilty of his sins and eternally separated from his creator, but mercy took its place. God had pronounced the whole world guilty of sin and man was doomed as he would face God's devastating wrath, but Christ said prepare me a body and I will go down and redeem man. What love!

God's grace is His free gift to all who believe through faith that yes Jesus Christ is His Son who came to earth to die for the world's sins.

If the question was raised, How do we receive God's grace? God's grace can and is received by (a) humbling one's self before God, (b) praying and fasting, (c) diligently seeking God, (c) worshiping God in truth, honesty and sincerity, (d) being continuously filled with the Holy Spirit who will overflow believers with His love and then yield to the His guidance. (e) Lastly, participating in the Lord's Supper in remembrance of Christ's death, burial and resurrection.

God's saving grace is a powerful act of love.

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