Excerpt from Spirit Rising: Tapping into the Power of the Holy Spirit by Jim Cymbala.
Learn More |
Regardless of whether we have had good influences or bad influences, we still get to decide what will influence our future. It is heartbreaking to meet people who instead of seeking God's strength during the battles of life, have become hardened, embittered, unforgiving, and cynical. You probably know some people like that. You say to them, "Hey, what a beautiful day," and they answer with, "Well, it's not gonna last long." ... Those people didn't start life that way... Somehow they have let the negative influences in their lives control them...
As Christians, our lives have been purchased for a price, and we now belong to God. The price was the blood of Jesus Christ, which he shed on the cross... We're God's people now. We belong to him — rescued out of the clutches of sin, guilt, and condemnation, and adopted into his family. In this case, being bought and owned by someone isn't a negative thing; it's a beautiful thing.
Is Spiritual Growth about "Trying Harder"?
The irony of Spirit-filled living is that we have to give up power in order to gain a greater power. How many times in your Christian walk have you come to a place where you struggled to do something, so you just tried harder? Have you ever tried harder to have the self-discipline to read your Bible more or pray longer? Have you ever tried harder to love an unlovely person? Have you ever tried harder to be bold when you felt afraid? How did that work out for you? Trying harder has never gone well for me.
Christianity is not a self-effort religion but rather one of power — the ability and might of the Spirit. "For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose" (Phil. 2:13). The Spirit is the only one who can produce self-discipline, love, and boldness. But to do so, he has to control us daily. We can't rest on a religious experience we had years or even months ago.
Keep the Fire Going
'For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.' (2 Tim. 1:6–7) |
Paul's last letter was written to Timothy, a young minister he had ordained. In the letter, Paul said: "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline" (2 Tim. 1:6–7). We get a picture of a fire that's almost out, embers that need to be breathed on to keep the fire alive. Paul wanted Timothy to fan the flames of the Spirit. He warned Timothy not to neglect them, but to stir up the fire and keep it going. Whatever Timothy did, he was to prevent the fire from being extinguished; he was to give attention to the Spirit's work in him...
When we refuse to yield to the Spirit, we miss out on the holy excitement of living beyond ourselves. |
When God takes control of a life or a church, he takes control through the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit is the Helper Jesus sent to do the job. When we fear giving control to the Spirit, we really fear God's control over our lives. When we refuse to yield to the Spirit, we miss out on the holy excitement of living beyond ourselves.
As Paul told Timothy, God did not give him the spirit of timidity; rather, he gave power, love, and self-discipline. Notice, God is the one who gives those gifts, and it is only through the Holy Spirit working in our hearts that we receive them. We cannot live the life God desires for us without the presence of the Holy Spirit, but with him in control of our lives, our hope is in his power and his gifts are available for us to receive.
Would you like to love more deeply and more freely? Do you wish to have more self-discipline? Are your life and ministry producing fruit? For those things to happen, you have to surrender to the Helper. But oh the rewards that come when you hand control of your life to the Holy Spirit...
You and I are going to be controlled by something. There is no question about that. |
I encourage you to get alone with God today and spend some time praying about who or what is in control of your life. You and I are going to be controlled by something. There is no question about that. So before you go any further, decide now whom you will yield to. Tell God your questions about being controlled by the Spirit. Present him with your hopes and longings for something more.
The first step in the process is giving him control.
- Jim Cymbala
Learn More |
Learn more about Spirit Rising
(Some styling above is a web-exclusive feature not included in the text of Spirit Rising. This post does not represent the views of Zondervan or any of its representatives. The writer's personal opinions are shared only for information purposes. To receive new Zondervan Blog posts in your reader or email inbox, subscribe to Zondervan Blog.)
I know that when I am convinced that I have surrendered my life to the will of the spirit and accept events that cross my path as His will, that I have a sense of peace and safety. The difficulty for me in getting there is accepting that what He has in store for me is good but not knowing what and when it will be. Also I have to fight the fear taht it is not what I want. Like right now my fiancé has distanced herself to the point of breaking off. She doesn't blame me, but won't listen to me or try things I propose. Maybe in HIS divine plan for me this is to be so, but of course I am having difficulty accepting to surrender to this possibility and have her dissappear out of my life. Yesterday I sent her flowers and yet another note of encouragement, suggestion and plea. I don't know why I did this, not my usual style or ideas, so is this my human frailties or part of his plan. A temporary but rude break off for me to learn something and he His having me do what he wants after having me go through this break to learn something. Not feeling His intention and not knowing what the truth is requires faith and surrender, yet in the meantime the human pain of sadness, loss, some selfishness at what I am struggling to get back and all the physical ailments that accompany this breakdown are painful. I am asking him to forgive me from my selfishness, especially since it may not be what he has in mind, and free me from the pain I am feeling. If I love her as I say I do, I am praying that he will free me of the torment of thoughts where I am trying to figure out what can I yet do to get through to her and obtain a favourable outcome for my desire. I am praying the he will free me of my pain and desires of her, so that by my stated love for her, she can get what she wants or seems to right now, distance or a new start elsewhere. I am praying to not have hope for her return, that is the hardest, that is my human frailty. That is what is hardest in surrendering and letting Him and the Holy Spirit in to help me, and bring me where He has planned to have me. Keeping in check your human desires to let his will for me be done is hard. May he help me and help me find the strength. Amen.
Posted by: Jean Cahuzac | February 28, 2012 at 11:15 AM
Jean, thank you for sharing your experience. I am so sorry to hear about the struggle you are going through. I will indeed pray that God will give you strength and wisdom. -Adam
Posted by: Adam Forrest | February 28, 2012 at 11:19 AM
Thank you for listening and for your prayers.
Jean
Posted by: Jean Cahuzac | February 29, 2012 at 12:11 PM
I am in a terrible situation i always feel a very deep pressure with my will to follow God but there is this other pressure that won't let me be, and whenever i pray i tell God to take my heart dat i want him dat what ever he want to use my life to do he should do. but i discovered that i still do what is wrong the evil pressure is to much on me i need help i really want God in my life that my desire.
Posted by: Damilola | March 02, 2012 at 06:44 PM
Damilola, so glad you left your comment. First of all, I want you to know you're not alone. This is a problem that pops up in every Christian's life. Those dueling pressures you feel inside of you - the will to follow God on the one hand, the more sinful pressure on the other - did you know that even the Apostle Paul dealt with this problem? For example, see chapters 7 and 8 in the book of Romans: http://zndr.vn/ygAdQR.
I'd especially like to emphasize what Paul says in Rom. 7:21-24 because your thoughts reminded me so much of the Bible passage: "So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
I want to point out 2 things from that passage: (1), if Paul dealt with the same thing as you, you don't need to be ashamed around other Christians. It is good that you acknowledge the truth about yourself, because this shows your willingness to let God work in your life! (2) Have hope because Jesus Christ, our Lord, delivers his followers like you and me through his grace. He knows we are prone to stumble, but doesn't give up on us. In fact, Paul reminds us we can be "confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." That means while we probablty will never become sinless while in this life, Christ will stick with us. We need to continue to trust and rely on him, who is the source of our forgiveness and strength.
I hope this helps, Damilola! Thank you for leaving your comment. If you have more questions I may be able to recommend books for you, but I also recommend you talk to a Christian you know who you can trust. Blessings, -Adam
Posted by: Zondervan Blog | March 03, 2012 at 07:05 PM