The Weak and Despised

“Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness… make straight your way before me.” ~Ps. 5:8
“But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.” ~Ps. 5:11
“O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint…” ~Ps. 6:1-2a
“Jesus wants us to come and receive the fulfillment of the promise, ‘whoever believes in me… streams of living water will flow from within him’ (Jn. 7:38).” ~Andrew Murray, pg. 59
“Lord, anything, but I must be filled with Your Spirit” ~Andrew Murray, pg. 64
How prone my heart is to wonder! I once saw myself to be a lot more one who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked and who delights in the law of the Lord but in recent months my eyes have been opened to the sinful creature I struggle with inside of me. I desire so much to be that man who is planted by streams of water and to yield “fruit” from my life. There are some strong promises/statements of the Lord… ones I must grab a hold of and allow the Lord to continue doing the great work He started within me.
This last statement is where I need to constantly be… to give the Lord everything so that I might have the Spirit’s filling daily. That I might have more of the Lord, walk more in step with Him and to pour forth the rivers/streams of living water upon the people of this world. So much God/Jesus shows His desire for His people to bear fruit and to pour forth his Spiritual water! If we are not bearing this fruit it is not because of the Lord but because of us. God wants it, we must get our lives right, keep them right and through prayer take hold of those promises. May I/we pray fervently for the work of God to spring forth on our land!
“Lord, I thank you for your great patience and mercy upon me. Thank you that you do not give up on me when I fail so many times and when I am so weak. I praise you for using the weak and despised things of the world to shame the “strong” and for showing your mighty power through using people like me. Help me to stand strong and to walk in the way Everlasting, to walk in your Righteousness and fullness. Spread your protection over me and deliver me from evil. Father God, fill me continually with your Spirit and help me to lay down everything at your feet knowing who you are and your great loving-kindness for all who are yours. Help me to more and more trust in you and be strengthened in my Faith toward you and your work. Amen.”

Filled with the Spirit

"The first and most important need of our Christian life is fellowship with God... As every moment I need fresh air to breathe, and as the sun every moment sends down afresh its light, so it is only in direct, living communication with God that my soul can really be strong." ~Andrew Murray, "The Deeper Christian Life"

So, I have this sidebar thing on my computer called "Impact", basically while I'm connected to the Internet it will have a verse every day come up and if you click on it there is a discussion going on. It is a cool tool, something that should happen a lot more then in does (only in a personal, real-life situation). Through it I've come to realize that too few people know what it truly means to be "filled with the Holy Spirit" (as in Eph. 5:18, and many other places). Too many are "content" with (as Andrew Murray of old would say...) living the "low life, that is the life of mediocrity and hypocrisy. As Christ followers we are called to be "filled with the Holy Spirit" (Eph. 5:18)... The Holy Spirit cannot fill us if we allow our filthy sins to linger within us, no more then one would care to drink out of a cup sitting in a manure pile. First we must be purified by the Lord by coming before Him daily confessing and repenting (turning from) our sins and giving our all to Him. Then as we are washed again by the blood of the Lord, we ask and receive the filling and indwelling of the Spirit of God!

As far as what that filling is... Gal. 5 shows the fruit of the Spirit; the Holy Spirit as He dwells in our lives produces those things (Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control). We also experience a heightened sensitivity to God's desires in everyday life, a sensitivity to the "grey areas". As well, we can understand when we are to make a call; saying something to someone or do something. We better understand and have the heart and mind of the Lord within us leading, guiding and directing us along the right and true path.

Andrew Murray points out the Father's words to the elder brother in the parable of the Prodigal Son... "My Son... you are always with me and everything I have is yours." ~Lk. 15:31. Likewise, and by extension, the Lord says to each one of us, "My child, you are always with me and everything I have is yours... when are you going to grab a hold of my blessed promise?" This is not the only place in the Scripture where God brings this promise before us. See Ja. 4:8, "Come near to God and he will come near to you." or Jn. 14:13-14, "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." There is a powerful rich life out there for each believer let us throw off all that hinders and run for the prize, let us take hold of that life and dwell in the arms and care of the Lord Almighty!

"The true reason of the absence of God from us in rather found in our sin and unbelief, than in any supposed sovereignty of His. If the child of God is walking in faith and obedience, the divine presence will be enjoyed in unbroken continuity." ~Andrew Murray

What is keeping you from enjoying the wonderful presence of the Lord today?