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Would you accept an offer to have the power to do whatever you wanted? I know I would! Now, can you imagine what kind of trouble we would ALL be in if I had this kind of power? Selfish power is dangerous. We should seek power for godly purposes; that is, power to serve.
Yesterday, we opened with How He Loves Us
Here are my notes on this week’s scripture section.
1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
-In former verses, the Apostle Paul has given plenty of reasons why we should follow Christ, rather than false teachers and our own ideas. He reminds us that It is time to stop thinking of heaven of just some faraway place that we hope to see when we die. We should focus on heaven here and now. Heaven is a place of worship and holiness. We can be instruments of worship and live holy lives. We can dwell in the presence of the Almighty as He lives within our hearts. If we realize the reality that Christ is here, we will live our lives in greater purity and passion.
Way back in June I shared the words to a new song, “Come, Holy Spirit.” Today, I am finally releasing the finished project on YouTube for free after many months and a decent amount of cash spent. It will soon release for download on iTunes and several other online music stores. But I couldn’t wait to share it with the world.
It would be fun for someone to buy the rights and to make money off of what I produce. But I mostly want to release God’s gifts as quickly as possible. So, here you are. I hope you enjoy “Come, Holy Spirit.” As soon as the download is available, I will let you know.
Don
Download it on iTunes here.
Song Credits:Studio Engineer and recording advisor: Glen DickersonVocals: Caitlin CapelloKeyboards: Josh BrewerDrums: Randy SloanAcoustic Guitar and Bass: Brad SingletonElectric Guitar: Kevin SmithSongwriter: Don Terry
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Fear makes us do stupid things. We run from trouble when we should stand up and fight. We cower from confrontation when we should fight for our principles. Instead of running to God for help, we seek it through the counterfeits of alcohol, drugs, sex.
While counterfeits are more immediate, our fears will keep coming back until confronted and conquered appropriately.
Paul said, ”So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you.(Ephesians 5:15-18-NLT)
Alcohol was my favorite tool to numb my mind from the troubles of the day and the pain of the past. But the troubles always returned. Emptiness, shame, anger and, of course, fear always came back.
If running away from confrontation where an Olympic sport, I would hold a gold medal. Instead of fighting for my first marriage, I avoided conflict and let divorce happen. I have left schools, towns, friends and walked out of jobs without notice. All because of fear.
There is another kind of fear. According to Strong’s Concordance, the meaning of the word as used in Psalm 111 includes terror, respect, and reverence. God. It is the kind of fear that demands respect and acknowledges great power. This fear begins and ends with God.
The psalmist warns, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever. (Psalm 111:10-NKJV)
In his sermon, “Sinners in the hands of an angry God“, Jonathan Edwards emphasized the reality of hell as a real place. Not a bad reminder.
Hell can begin here on earth. The emptiness of the counterfeits we choose can torture us, as fear’s grip tightens its hold. Granted this is nothing in comparison to the eternal torture of separation from God.
While the fears of the world make us weak, the fear of the Lord gives us strength. It is the latter fear that offers salvation. For, when we fear God enough to do as He commands and walk in His ways, then He can help us. Fear draws us to Him and His loving power sustains us. God is no counterfeit. Instead of numbing, God brings healing. Instead of temporary relief, He brings assurance and eternal salvation.
What will you do with fear? What kind of fear will you follow? Don’t choose a counterfeit. Don’t run away.
Run to God, who is able to help, change and renew you.
Please note: I am dropping back to writing here once a week, as I am writing two books, So, You Want to Serve in a Church and Living in God’s Peace. The first will hopefully be published next month. I should be releasing a new song, “Come, Holy Spirit” next month on iTunes. Of course, as each becomes available, I will let you know. Besides these things, I have a full-time job, exercise three days a week and attend weekly football games to help my son’s band. I am blessed to have so many great things happening and am not trying to show off. It’s just that sin and shame bottled me up for so long, I’m in a season of outpouring. Hopefully, it will continue.
Blessings to you all,
Don Terry, donterry@ising4God.com
Photo Credit: Michael Ely, Creative Commons
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