Matthew 2-3

I've just started reading this book and so far, it is really interesting. I find it fascinating that the mind can cause so much discomfort. The book focuses on TMS (Tension Myositis Syndrome), what it is and treatment for it. So far, I haven't got to the point where we have treatment.

Matthew 2:

• The story of Jesus as a baby, dealing with Herod, fleeing to Egypt and his return. He really brings to life Jeremiah 29, where it says 'For I know the plans I have for you'.
• There is a lot of fulfilling of prophecy thus showing that Jesus is LORD.

Matthew 3:

• A prophecy about John the Baptist comes from Isaiah 40:3.
• John calls for confession, repentance and good fruit.
• John's baptism is one of repentance and does not have the Holy Spirit.
• Jesus is baptized by John and the Holy Spirit descends down to Jesus in the form of a dove. 

Back on Track - Day #2

Zechariah 4:6
So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.

This chapter is about the Dragon from The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, one of the Chronicles of Narnia books/movies. Specifically there is a moment where the dragon /boy has to become humble to never be a dragon again. He has to "undragon" himself by allowing Aslan to undress him.

Ephesians 5:18
Be drunk on the Holy Spirit of God verses the unholy spirit of wine. Why? Because whatever you are filled with it will be noticeable to others. What are people noticing about me?

(1 Thessalonians 5:19) Do I quench the Spirit or put out the fire? God gave me a Counselor (John 16:7) because I need to be counseled. God gave me a helper (John 14:26) because I need help. God gave me a comforter (John 14:16) because I need comforting. God told the disciples it would be better for them if they when he left (John 16:7), saying that the Holy Spirit would live within them. Do I believe that?! Would I rather have Jesus next to me or the Holy Spirit in me? Jesus says it is better to have the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2 the Holy Spirit shows up. Acts 4:29-31, it shows up again. The book of Acts is a living testimony to people who were changed not by their own might or power but by the Spirit of our omnipotent God.

Acts 4:13
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

People realized these men were who they were because of Christ.

Questions at the end of this chapter:

1.What dragon-like characteristics do you naturally exhibit?
I like to think of Galatians 5:19-21 for the dragon-like characteristics. And if that is the case, I find myself struggling with impurity the most, followed by fits of rage.

2. Write down everything you know about the Holy Spirit.
It lives in you. This feels like a test ;) The Holy Spirit is a counselor, God living in me, a helper, a comforter, a guide for my life.

3. How have you seen the Holy Spirit change your life in the past and in the present?
I have seen the Holy Spirit change how I view people. I have also seen my character change some in regards to purity, money, basic values such as friendship, respect, and love for others. I have become more patient in a lot of areas and I continue to grow even now.

4. How can you tap into God's power today and see his strength unleashed in your life?
I think requires a lot of prayer and a lot of studying the Bible.

A Loving Spirit

Luke 11:1-13
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."

He said to them, "When you pray, say: 'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.'"

Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'"

"Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

I have thought about this passage a good deal... and I think what Jesus may be trying to drive home is that when I pray, I should be bold, which is good... but I should also pray for direction from the Holy Spirit.

Ask: aiteō - pronounced: ahee-teh'-o

• To ask (in generally): - ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require.

Boldness: anaideia - pronounced: an-ah'ee-die-ah'

• Impudence, that is, (by implication) importunity: - importunity.

Importunate (adjective):

• Urgent or persistent in solicitation, sometimes annoyingly so.
• Pertinacious, as solicitations or demands.
• Troublesome; annoying.

Impudence (noun):

• The quality of being offensively bold.
• Offensively bold behavior.

My prayers should look something like begging... bold begging. Begging to the point of being annoying to God. So annoying that it comes across as offensive. And a request for the Holy Spirit to come to action in some way... I guess that will do it for now.

The Loving Spirit

Genesis 41:15-40

Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it."

"I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharaoh, "but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires."

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds. After them, seven other cows came up—scrawny and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt. The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first. But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up.

"In my dreams I also saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk. After them, seven other heads sprouted—withered and thin and scorched by the east wind. The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none could explain it to me."

Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.

"It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.

"And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine."

The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. So Pharaoh asked them, "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?"

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you."

This is a very cool passage. One, it tells us that the Spirit is a visualizing Spirit... it reveals things about us and others. Two, it is obvious who has the Spirit and who doesn't. Pharaoh pointed that out. Three, if one has the Spirit, that person should take charge. That person should lead.

Exodus 31:1-5

Then the LORD said to Moses, "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts- to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship."

How about this as being a charge to use the gifts God has given me... and you, for those who happen to read this. The Lord took this guy and filled him with the Holy Spirit SPECIFICALLY to do artwork! Wow. How convicted am I about this? Terribly convicted. I gotta go do some artwork... Johnny Out.

The Christmas Spirit

Well, not really the "Christmas" Spirit, but really the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost.
Genesis 1:1-2

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

In the first two verses of the Bible, it is pointed out that God was there, and he created everything. There was also the Holy Spirit there. Here is the definition of Spirit:

Spirit: rûach - pronounced: roo'-akh:
Wind; by resemblance breath, that is, a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions): - air, anger, blast, breath, cool, courage, mind, quarter, side, spirit (spiritual), tempest, vain, (whirlwind) wind (windy).

Genesis 6:1-7

When men began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. Then the LORD said, "My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years."

The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.

The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them."

Inclination (noun):

• A disposition or bent, esp. of the mind or will; a liking or preference.
• Something to which one is inclined.

Inclined (verb):

• To dispose (a person) in mind, habit, etc. (usually followed by to).
• To be disposed to a certain preference, opinion, or course of action.
• To have a mental tendency, preference, etc.; be disposed.

How sad is this? It really isn't sad as it is... I can come up with the words to describe the whole situation. Every habit was sinful. Every preference was sinful. Being sinful was so much a part of life, that the people did not think about it. They just did it. And because everyone did it, everyone approved of it. It was commonplace to act the way they did. Having a whole bunch of wives? It was common place. Homosexuality? It was acceptable. In fact, you were considered out of place if you did not practice homosexuality.

Nephilim: nephîyl - pronounced: nef-eel':

Properly, a feller, that is, a bully or tyrant: giant.

Feller (noun):

• A man or boy; a fellow.

I simply had to look up that word out of plain curiousity.

So, bullies are not a new thing. Bullies married many women, maybe practiced homosexuality, and every thought and action was rooted in sin. And bullies were pre-flood. They've been around forever. God is grieved by sin. The Spirit is grieved by sin. More to come... Johnny Out.