The moment you are born again you receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the gift. God doesn't give you some thing, He gives you Himself. The Holy Spirit is God. As He lives out His life through you, you have Almighty God dwelling within you, carrying out His purposes. The Spirit will manifest Himself through your life, not for your good alone, but for the benefit of those around you. The Spirit will lead you to a church body where He can minister through you to each person in that body (1 Cor. 12:18). God does not add you to a church body so you can be an observer. The Spirit has an assignment for you within the body, and He will equip you by His presence for this work. In the Old Testament, God gave specific assignments to His servants and then placed His Spirit upon them to enable them to accomplish their work. In the New Testament, God placed each member as a vital part of a living body. He placed His Spirit within each believer and manifested Himself through the believer to encourage and equip every other member of the body. What an exciting commission from God! Today the Holy Spirit equips believers because He has given each of His servants a task. How is the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life benefiting those around you? God has equipped you with exactly what is needed for the edification of the body in which He has placed you. If you allow the Holy Spirit to work freely within you, others will be blessed as a result. - Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day
In this second post for today, look at what happens to the life of one who has come to Christ.
It slowly, really, becomes the life that Jesus wants for them. As Scripture says my life is not my own. It's Christ in me.
As I heard a long time ago, so I repeat here, there are no lone wolf Christians.
There's not to be someone coming to Christ only to live apart from God, apart from the Church.
The only way for Iron to sharpen iron is contact. Continuous contact.
Friction? Yes! Oh but it hurt and now you shrink back? Without that friction, those times of hurt, the sword isn't a sword. It's just a piece of metal. Without storms there is no deep roots for a tall tree.
Without growing side by side trees rarely stand for centuries.
We need each other. We need accountability. Discipleship. To pass on what we have learned to those new into the faith.
My friends, if discouragement is gripping you, make sure of where you stand. If indeed Christ is in you. If indeed you are attending a Church, if it's not working as the body of Christ, maybe it's time to look elsewhere. If you have strived to connect and it's not working. If indeed you have given your best effort, move on. Find that place where you can grow in Christ. There comes a time when a transplant of a plant is necessary to further its growth.
The Holy Spirit will teach us all things, as Christ said, but we need to be where He's working.
Be in your Bible. Be praying. Spend time with Jesus.
You can't go it alone. Who will encourage you? The mirror?
My friend, we are of the family of God, those who have come to Christ that is. One family.
Walk with Christ as He beckons you to do. Seek Him with all your heart and you will find Him. Scripture says so.
Discouragement is easy to find. Sadness as well. Do as the Bible says, fill your life with songs, hymns and Spiritual songs. Making melody in your heart to God.
That's what you can do. Make that effort and He will meet you there.
Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you. He said so.
Start your day with His Word and a conversation with Jesus. Go from there.
I guarantee it will change you.
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