The Blessing Of Holy Spirit

If you would direct your heart right and spread out your hand to Him, if iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and do not let wickedness dwell in your tents; Then, indeed, you could lift up your face without moral defect, And you would be steadfast and not fear. For you would forget your trouble, As waters that have passed by, you would remember it. Your life would be brighter than noonday; Darkness would be like the morning. Then you would trust, because there is hope; And you would look around and rest securely. You would lie down and none would disturb you, And many would entreat your favor.  Job 11:13-19 NASB

People the world over are gripped by fear. Economic and financial pressure, political uncertainties, relational breakdowns, crime, health issues, job loss, rejection, abandonment. While at the same time becoming increasingly selfish, entitled, living independently from God, apart from His wisdom joy, peace, forgiveness.

When we leave these fears, independent mindsets and the needs for instant gratification unchecked, when we don’t fight fear with faith, when we don’t see the people God created with the open eyes of Jesus,  we will find ourselves in a stronghold of the enemy, bound in chains of world views and Capture starts with one subtle lie followed by another, and before we know it, a lie of huge proportions has us in its grip.

Nahum 1:7 NASB The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him. 

The key to blast the lock of fear? Jesus Christ. To be in Gods’ stronghold is to be fortified in a place of safety and refuge, a place where He keeps the enemy at bay. God’s church, yes it is a building, but they are His buildings, and His church is also the living room up the street, the coffee shop, downtown, the computer screen at the kitchen island with Holy Spirit sitting next to you. 

In the Bible God gives us the account of the children of Israel crossing the Jordan river, can you imagine their fear as they faced the raging waters of the river! But they faced the waters TOGETHER!

Maybe some had forgotten that God had delivered them previously, or they doubted that He would do it again. But He did. Once they had crossed over, Joshua issued a command to bring stones out of the river and these were to act as memorial stones to remind people forever afterwards that God would never forsake them in their time of trouble. 

God spoke to “them” - a group, His people who were gathered! They heard His word! He collectively reminds generation after generation that we dissolve fear with faith by immersing ourselves in the knowledge of God. In His very essence, He is good and utterly trustworthy. Even when we forget His provision in our place of fear, He is gracious in reminding us of His constancy. 

When we are faced with fear, let’s pray with Holy Spirit, remind ourselves of the times that God has come through in the past, and also share those moments with another who is going through a testing. 

And then because we gather TOGETHER , (again whether online via FaceTime, emails, in person at a kitchen table, text, good old fashioned mailing a letter) we will build up a collection of memorial stones which we can look back on when we are facing dark days and remind ourselves that God is our refuge, a stronghold in times of chaos, fear. 

There is a reality of God’s presence and anointing in unity that we are called to. It’s good and oh my so much more pleasant than discord and fighting. When we read the Bible, we remember that Jesus Christ shed His blood for our reconciliation with God. Therefore unity is possible because we all have access to the same Father through Holy Spirit, in one Body, because of Jesus’ gift of life! 

Reading the Bible, praying for this weeks sermon, I began to be made aware - (very aware by the countless interactions through the week with strangers, friends, family thank You for grace Holy Spirit), that living in unity is different than merely visiting there.

To live in unity, we must live in the presence of God, filled with Holy Spirit, under the oil of His blessing, keeping our eyes focused on Jesus Christ.