Tag: Holy Spirit

Devotionals

Joy, win or lose

Loring Schultz

Read: Psalm 16 ESV – You Will Not Abandon My Soul – A Miktam – Bible Gateway

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 ESV

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The results of NFL’s ‘Super Bowl 59’ are in as the game was played last evening in New Orleans, Louisiana. As I write this, the game is a day away. I anticipate there will be many joyous celebrations from fans of the winning team, and not so joyous on the other side. Locally I reside 60 miles from Philadelphia and this morning there is either joy or sadness in the Philly area. In fact, there will be joy or sadness across the sporting world due to the outcome. Did Kansas City set a record with their 3rd in a row? Either way, whatever the result, don’t let it take away your joy.

David writes in Psalm 16:11, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (nlt) David says there is fullness of joy, or complete joy, in God’s presence. He is not referring to happy moments as when your favorite team wins the Super Bowl. David is referring to a lasting joy that overcomes any disappointment, sadness, or sorrow that comes our way in life. Our joy in God is not based on external circumstances, but on His internal presence in our lives with His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

To secure that internal joy that will never fade away receive Christ as your personal savior if you have never done so. If you’re a child of God but your joy is missing a beat, perhaps there is something in your life that needs to be corrected. Make it right with God and restore your joy, win or lose.

Devotionals

Live as Children of Light         

Loring Schultz

Read: Ephesians 4:17-32 NLT – Living as Children of Light – With the – Bible Gateway

“Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:24, 30 NLT

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New converts to Christianity have a hard time relinquishing their old sinful habits. Once a person accepts Christ as savior they are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, but the flesh takes time to surrender. In fact, total surrender will not happen until we’re with Christ in glory. We can make progress in our Christian Walk if we are constantly reminded of the old ways that we are to let go of and replace them with renewed thoughts and attitudes. We’ve been given a new nature in Christ to help us walk in the light.

Paul tells us to put on that new nature, but in a sense, we already have it. He is reminding us to live as if we have it, because we do. Paul is telling us it’s now time to remove our dirty old clothes and put on our clean new ones. In his letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul lays out a section of living as children of light. (Eph.4:17-32) Before we came to know the Lord, we were living in darkness. There was no need for instructions on evil behavior, it came naturally. But even with our new nature, the old one still hangs around. Paul tells us to get rid of it by saying, “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.” (Eph.4:21-22 nlt)

Listing some of the things that still creep into our lives, Paul tells us to throw them in the pile of dirty clothes along with other sins he didn’t mention. For every piece we throw off, Paul tells us what to put on in its place. It takes time, but a steady progression of living in the light eliminates the darkness.

Devotionals

Finding Your Second Wind: Strength for Life’s Marathon

Loring Schultz

“So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.” Hebrews 12:12-13 NLT

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 A phenomenon occurs for some athletes running a marathon known as a second wind. The runner beyond the point of exhaustion, out of breath and unable to keep the pace, suddenly finds the strength to continue. This can happen at various stages of the race depending on the individual. There are no sure explanations as to why this occurs. Several opinions have been introduced medically, scientifically, and psychologically to help bring some clarity, but it remains a mystery.

The Bible refers to the Christian life as running a race. (Heb.12:1) It is also fair to say that our life is a marathon. Running in a consistent manner day after day throughout our lives is not without a couple of stumbles along the way. We are all subject to times of weakness, stumbling, and running out of gas. The trials in life will sap our energy and knock us down. But we are to be encouraged due to a second wind which is available to every Christian. The writer of Hebrews puts it this way, “So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.” (Heb. 12:12-13)

How do Christians get a more secure grip on tired hands and have their knees not buckle under?  Is this second wind also a mystery? Well, sort of. All who have accepted Christ as Savior have in their possession the Holy Spirit. To most Christians that is a mystery. But it is true. The Holy Spirit is there to guide us through this marathon called life. He strengthens us in weak moments, provides much needed energy to keep going, and assures us that He will be with us right up to the finish line.

Getting a second wind in running a marathon is having those knees and legs strengthen as to keep moving, not stumble, and finish the race. Even a race in which you have trained for and are giving your best effort sometimes needs a little extra push from a mysterious source. Getting a second wind in the marathon of life simulates the marathon runner in every way except the Christian running in life’s marathon can be sure of the second wind, the Holy Spirit, and it is not a mystery.

Devotionals

A Cry for Individual Revival

Loring Schultz

“Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.” Psalm 119:88 NKJV

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I’m sure you have the cry, ‘we need a revival in our land,’ or ‘we need a revival in the church.’ I would agree with both of those cries and have heard them many times. Have you ever heard the cry within yourself, ‘I need a revival?’ I can’t say I have heard that too often to my shame. Probably my sense is I don’t need revival, and maybe you don’t either. But if revival doesn’t start with us individually, where will it start.

Revival needs a spark to set ablaze those around them hungry for a spiritual awakening. As I write this, the northeast corner of the United States has numerous  wildfires that have started from a spark of some kind due to the dry conditions from lack of rain. They only need a little spark to ignite the dry brush and send the flames along its path. Spiritual revival works much the same way, a little spark from you or me can ignite those around us who are dry spiritually. A spark in a dry forest is dangerous and deadly, but a spark to an individual dry soul, dry souls within the church, and dry souls in the land where you live is refreshing and lifesaving.

The response to the saying, ‘May there be peace.’ is ‘let it begin with me.’ May our response to ‘We need a revival in our land and in our church,’ be ‘let it begin with me.’ The different Psalmists used the words ‘revive’ or ‘quicken’ in this sense fourteen times in the book of Psalms. They were aware of their need to be revived from time to time to live in obedience to God. We are all in need of revival, so may we cry out to the Holy Spirit to put a spark within us and ignite an individual revival in our souls to spread across His church and across the land.

Devotionals

Put into practice what you have learned

Loring Schultz

“Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:9 NLT

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A vital element of living the Christian life is continuing to grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are to be continually learning and being built up spiritually. Christianity is an on-going educational process in the Word of God. There are no semester breaks, no spring trips to Florida, or summer vacations. Education never stops, and gradation day is not until the Lord calls us home.

The purpose of education, whether secular schooling or studying the Bible, is to put into practice what we have learned. In secular education we put into practice that which will help us in life get a job, provide for our needs, help others, be an instrumental part of society, and learn from history what worked in the past and what hadn’t worked. There may be graduation days in secular education, but if we are wise, we will continue to be a student using what we have learned as a foundation. As an old saying’ goes, ‘things are always a changin.’

The world is always changing, and I might add mostly not for the better. However, there are many positive changes that do occur in our world today and we should embrace them. The changes in which we are never to agree are those that are contrary to God’s Word. Although our world is constantly changing, the Word of God never changes. It is not subject to change, nor does it adapt to current culture. If it did, the Bible would not be the Word of God. It is the world who changes the words of Scripture to adapt to its culture, not the Lord God. It is His Word, and he hasn’t changed it.

Having now confirmed the immutability of the Bible, we know what was written stands in truth as much today as it did in the days it was written. We should not hesitate to put into practice what we learn. As Christians the Bible teaches us how to live and grow spiritually through the Holy Spirit and the teachings of Jesus. No matter how long one has been a Christian, none of us have arrived at full knowledge. We are continually learning new things in our modern world putting them into practice. More importantly there is still a lot to learn from the Bible. Paul told the church at Philippi to, “Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me.” (Ph.4:9a nlt) Paul taught them from the Old Testament Scriptures and what the Lord had revealed to him at that time. He knew they would be encouraged and grow spiritually in doing so. So, whatever our age so let us continue or start our study of God’s Word and put into practice what we have learned.

Check out the following sites for help in studying the Bible:

https://www.gty.org/library/articles/A178/how-to-enjoy-bible-study

https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/5-tips-studying-bible-effectively

6 Bible Study Methods You Need to Know (and Try)
Devotionals

Mr. Know It All

Loring Schultz

“When I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the task which has been done on the earth (even though one should never sleep day or night), and I saw every work of God, I concluded that man cannot discover the work which has been done under the sun. Even though man should seek laboriously, he will not discover; and though the wise man should say, ‘I know,’ he cannot discover.” Ecclesiastes 8:16-17 NASB

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I’m sure all of us at one time or another have met someone who thinks they know it all. A Mr. Know It All! If you haven’t met that person, I should hope it’s not you. Please take no offense, but the wisest man who ever lived, Solomon, said, “Not even the wisest people discover everything, no matter what they claim.” (Ec.8:17b nlt)

King Solomon was granted wisdom from the Lord surpassing every person who ever lived before him and every person who will live after him. The Lord was pleased with Solomon that he asked for wisdom in leading God’s people as king and did not ask anything for himself. Solomon’s wisdom has been unmatched ever since that eventful day 3,000 years ago.

Solomon made an exhaustive study on the work of God. Day and night examining all of God’s creations, His magnificent wonders, understanding them and applying them in the many proverbs he wrote. He soon realized he could never discover all of God’s works. “I concluded that man cannot discover the work which has been done under the sun……though the wise man should say, ‘I Know.’ He cannot discover.” (Ec.8:17 nasb)

Christians are blessed having the Holy Spirit in their lives. Many times, the Lord has given me wisdom through His spirit in handling difficult situations. Sometimes I amaze myself with what seems like profound wisdom coming from my lips. But then I remember, it’s not me, or my wisdom, its God’s wisdom working through me. God doesn’t need any ‘know it all’s in His kingdom. Even Solomon realized in all his wisdom that he was not a Mr. Know It All! That title belongs to the Lord God of heaven.

Devotionals

Confidently Waiting for the Lord

Loring Schultz

“Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.” Psalm 27:14 NLT

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Are you able to say with confidence that you always wait with patience for the Lord to help you? Do you have confidence that He will? It is not easy when a heavy burden overshadows your light of day. You find it difficult to concentrate, thinking ahead waiting for the burden to be lifted. You have prayed, but you just can’t leave it there with the Lord. Rehashing it in your mind causes anxiety and you feel the answer can’t come soon enough. Let’s take a look at King David in Psalm 27. He had a mounting problem with those who were conspiring against him, but he prayed to the Lord and waited patiently with confidence.

First of all, David knew he needed not to be afraid. He said, the Lord was his light, his salvation and his protection from danger. (Ps.27:1) David came to this conclusion from the experience of God’s help in the past. You can probably recall instances when God answered your prayers in the past. Rest on that! Secondly, David portrays God’s protection from his enemies as concealing and hiding him in His sanctuary. (Ps.27:5) The sanctuary in David’s day meant the presence of the Lord. If you are a believer in Christ, you have the Holy Spirit residing in you. Rest also in that! And third, David had an intimate prayer session with God. “My heart has heard you say, ‘Come and talk with me.’ And my heart responds, ‘LORD, I am coming.’” (Ps.27:8 nlt) Rest in the fact you are invited by God to come and talk with Him!

David prayed earnestly pouring out his heart. He held nothing back and we shouldn’t either. God desires our honest prayers from the heart, so let it all out. David did and was able to say, “Yet I am confident I will see the LORD’s goodness
while I am here in the land of the living.” (Ps.27:13 nlt) And he closes his psalm by saying, “Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.” (Ps.27:14 nlt)

Read: Psalm 27 NLT – Psalm 27 – A psalm of David. The LORD – Bible Gateway

Bible Studies

An Act of God

Loring Schultz

“And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea……Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.” Matthew 8:24a, 26b ESV

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An act of God as defined today is an uncontrollable event such as an earthquake, tornado, hurricane and other related storms. Insurance companies rely on information regarding these disasters in settling payments to cover damages as a result of an occurrence in which the policy holder had no control over. When we think of natural disasters, we cannot help but see the great power and strength that are accompanied with them. The inability and helplessness we feel is real as there is not a thing we can do to deter them. It is truly out of our hands. The media in reporting these disasters and the insurance companies in dealing with them are theologically correct when they call it an act of God. It is truly an act of God.

Jesus’s disciples experienced an act of God in a fierce storm that came upon them as they attempted to cross the Sea of Galilee. Storms were common in the region and often came about without any warning especially on the water. Most of Jesus’s disciples would have been familiar with the storms known to affect the region. A number of them were experienced fishermen who spent long hours on the sea as their livelihood. Yet, scripture records the terror the disciples felt as a result of the storm. Their experience and knowledge were no match for the magnitude of the storm. They felt helpless and were indeed helpless. They cried out to Jesus, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” (Mt. 8:25b esv) Whether they knew that Jesus could truly save them in that hour the Bible doesn’t tell us, but the only hope these men had been in the one who they had seen perform miracles as they followed Him. So, they called on Him to save them.

While it may be safe to say the disciples had a good idea that Jesus could help in their dire need, they certainly were not prepared for end results. Jesus arose after being rattled out of a sound sleep by His panicking followers, He called them out for their lack of faith, and then rebuked both the winds and sea. A great storm on the sea was rebuked and a great calm came over the sea that not even a ripple was upon it.

The Bible says, “And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?” (Mt. 8:27) The disciples were in the presence of God the Son. Those of us who know the Lord Jesus as their Savior have the spirit of Christ within us, the Holy Spirit. The storms in our lives may seem too much to bear at times, but we have the assurance of God with us, Immanuel, who can rebuke the storms and bring calm into our lives, truly an Act of God!

Read: Matthew 8:23-27 ESV – Jesus Calms a Storm – And when he got – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Confidence in Christ

Loring Schultz

“Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13 NASB

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For many Christians the idea of sharing their faith is an intimidating experience. Over the years it has become increasingly confrontational in our political and cancel culture environment. Most likely the most controversial experiences occur when quoting Jesus’s own words found in the gospel of John when He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (Jn.14:6 nasb) Jesus is stating as a matter of fact that He is the only way of salvation and eternal life with God the Father. He said it in confidence because it is true.

Peter and John, in the book of Acts, made a similar statement about Jesus. They were brought before the Jewish ruling body, the Sanhedrin, to answer by what power and name a cripple man had been healed. Peter and John wasted no time in claiming it was in Jesus’s power and name that the healing took place. Then added, “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12 nasb) Peter and John told the Jewish rulers that the Jesus they rejected is the only way to God and they spoke it in confidence.

The cultural climate in the days of the early church although different than ours, did possess some similarities. Many nations around them had other gods, and the Jewish leaders were stuck in their traditions.  All claimed they had the way to eternal life. Peter and John’s remarks went against the religious culture of their day, but it did not stop them from proclaiming Christ as the only way.

Christians today need to be encouraged by the confidence Peter and John had through the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Jesus promised us the helper, the Holy Spirit, would come. Every born-again Christian possesses the Holy Spirit to help us in the confidence needed in sharing our faith. Let us find our confidence in Christ and boldly speak the word.

Read: Acts 4:1-22 NASB – Peter and John Arrested – As they were – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Your Comforts Delight My Soul

Loring Schultz

“In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.” Psalm 94:19 NKJV

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Interpretation of the word ‘soul’ varies both in its modern usage and in the Bible. The Hebrew writer as in the text above sees ‘soul’ as his very self, his living being, desire, emotion, and passion. In our modern-day language, the palmist means his complete being, who he is including his inner self. The use of ‘soul’ in the New Testament is ‘breath or breath of life’ also as in the Old Testament includes feelings, desires, affections, but most notably the soul is designed for eternal life not dissolved by death but lives on.

The psalmist writes during his days in the midst of injustice being done to the weak and defenseless, “In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delights my soul.” (Ps.94:19 nkjv) The wrongs were being committed by arrogant and evil people who were in authority. What he saw the murders of the innocent and orphans, and heard their arrogant and boastful speech, the Hebrew writer’s soul was filled with anxiety. He describes it as a multitude of anxieties that keep piling up in an evil society and the psalmist reaches out to the Lord to comfort him during these times. (Ps.94:12-16) The Lord’s help comes, “Unless the LORD had helped me, I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave.” (Ps.94:17 nlt)

You may be under uncontrollable stress and anxiety this day. You are not alone. Many people suffer from increased anxiety from everyday pressure in the current times in which we live, even Christians. This is not a new development for God to handle. He has had a lot of experience in providing comfort to souls. If your total being, your soul, has had anxieties building up within you it’s time to have your soul comforted by the Lord God. It will be a delight.

Read: Psalm 94 NKJV – God the Refuge of the Righteous – O – Bible Gateway