Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
In this world we may not always have joy, but in God there is joy and peace.
Forgiveness and Bitterness
Jesus in Matthew 6 teaches us to pray: “Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ” Then He says: 14 “For if you forgive people their wrongdoing, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. 15 But if you don’t forgive people, your Father will not forgive your wrongdoing.
Jesus mentions the word “forgive” six times, it must be significant. The opposite is to hold a bad feeling, and eventually get bitter. Bitterness is subtle and hurts ourselves more than others. Both an unwillingness to forgive and bitterness will hinder prayer. That’s why the Lord mentioned it in Matthew 6 when talking about prayer.
Disobedience produces Failure
The secret of failure is disobedience – Mary Slessor (1848-1915) was a Scottish missionary who served the Lord Jesus Christ in Africa.
Faith is the end of Anxiety
The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety. George Mueller
Law of the Spirit of Life
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. In Romans 7 and 8 Paul uses the term “law” several times. Let’s focus on the best and top law – the Spirit of Life that sets us free from another law. This law of the Spirit is like a rocket blast that is able to free an object from the law of gravity. One law frees from another law (or overcomes it). So the more we live in the Spirit the move we can overcome the effects of sin and death.
The Spirit Exalts Christ
In the example of Philip in the desert we see the Spirit leading and the result is Christ preached. (I think Acts 16)
John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
The Spirit said to Philip
In the desert, the Spirit is speaking. He spoke to Philip in Acts chapter 8. Verse 26, Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place…..8:29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” The result of this glorious sovereign circumstance is that Christ is preached, taught and exalted. The person riding on the ancient vehicle learned about and was brought to Christ. The passage in Isaiah was used by the Spirit to exalt Christ. We should always trust the Spirit to bring circumstances for Christ to be made known.
Things Going Wrong?
Things in our lives may seem to be going funny (all wrong), but God understands our circumstances better than we do. Jesus in John 14 says: 1“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” Here is the secret, just lean on Jesus and let Him…