Review of Living the Spirit-Formed Life

This book, 'Living the Spirit-Formed Life' is so practical!

The author, Jack Hayford, says that living the Spirit-formed life is when we allow the Holy Spirit to set the structure for our lives and get our lives organized, under control and disciplined. To bring fullness to ourselves. To get maturity under Christ's Lordship by linking our souls to timeless practices and principles set forth in Scripture and proven valid.

He says we are to learn God's grace, but live Christ's laws.

And to do this he says first we have to have faith. And it doesn't have to be a lot of faith; only a basic, foundational trust in Jesus. Faith in who He is and confidence in what He has done for us as man-kind's only Savior.

We are to be a strong support to others also. A faithful church worker, a dependable employee, loving spouse, wise parent, good pastor, considerate boss, helpful neighbor, etc. When we put our faith in Jesus, HE makes us dependable disciples who work for the Kingdom.

Next we are to spend time in God's Word. And every time we read it we are to listen. Listen to what He wants us to do. And then do it! God's Word has been given to increase growth, fruitfulness and blessing both in and through our lives. So we should listen with a heart ready to be taught and to obey. Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice and they FOLLOW me."

God's Word is essential to everything in our lives. Every issue is covered by the truth and wisdom contained in His Book. And simply giving the Word a place in your life every day is taking the oath of allegiance. This invites His direction.  "In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths." He is a lamp today and a light for tomorrow. Details for today, discernment for tomorrow. Daily reading keeps us pure.

I liked what the author said about communion too: "Communion is a celebration of victory won! Our salvation is complete, our sins are forgiven and we are justified by His death. So we give thanks! We are proclaiming His coming back!

These are just a few of the golden nuggets in the book. I recommend it highly.

God Has Told Us How to be Happy

In church yesterday the opening prayer printed in the bulletin was written by Richard Allen, African Methodist Episcopal Bishop in the 19th century.

“We believe, O Lord, that you have not abandoned us to the dim light of our own reason to conduct us to happiness, but that you have revealed in Holy Scriptures whatever is necessary for us to believe and practice. How noble and excellent are the precepts, how sublime and enlightening the truth, how persuasive and strong the motives, how powerful the assistance of your holy religion. Our delight shall be in y our statutes, and we will not forget your Word. Amen.”

So true.

1st John 4:1-3

1 John 4:1-3 “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.”

There are a lot of different teachings going around. There always have been. We shouldn’t believe everything we read and hear. In the past we’ve been told to compare it ourselves to scripture. John gives us the ultimate test. For him Christian belief can be summed up in one sentence, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” And he wrote that in John 1:14. Any spirit, any teaching, which denies that is not from God.

If Jesus didn’t become man and live on earth, then we can’t use Him as our example. If He wasn’t God, then He didn’t have the power to save us!

In verse 3 John writes the spirit of the antichrist, even now is already in the world. The word spirit is important. It’s not the final antichrist. He’s not saying the guy was alive and walking around earth while he was writing this. The spirit was (and is) on earth: the kind of people who are against Christ and spreading false teachings.

Growth

G Go to God in prayer daily (John 15:7)
R Read God’s Word daily (Acts 17:11)
O Obey God, moment by moment (John 14:21)
W Witness for Christ by your life and your words (Matthew 4:19)
T Trust God for every detail of your life (1 Peter 5:7)
H Holy Spirit. Allow God to control and empower your daily life (Galatians 5:16-17; Acts 1:8)