The Behold File » Daily Devotional

Following the Leadership of The Holy Spirit – 2

davidluiz — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:45:00 +0000

In the previous series of this message, we stated various reasons why we need to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading. To view the previous post, click here. We will move on in this second series on following the Leadership of the Holy Spirit to talk about the first way by which the Holy Spirit leads his people: the Inner Witness.
“The Spirit beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Romans 8:16
This form of the leadership of the Holy Spirit is called the Inward Witness because the Holy Spirit confirms a certain truth, step we want to take or direction in which we want to move by giving us peace in our hearts or withdrawing peace from our hearts about the issue. This method of Gods leading is considered as the basic way by which God leads his children because that’s how he confirms in our hearts that we have become his children after we confess Jesus as Lord. Most times, God doesn’t send an angel with a heavenly hymn on his lips or give us a major spiritual experience to assure us that we have become his children, rather, we just have an unshakable knowing in the pit of our stomachs (or in our hearts) that our sins are washed away and that our names are written in the book of life. An illustration of this method of Gods leadership will drive home the point more clearly:
“Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the Word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.” Acts 16:6-7
This passage of scripture gives us a clear example of how the Holy Spirit led Paul and his team as they journeyed from place to place to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Although the passage does not specifically mention how the Holy Spirit forbade them from preaching the Word in Asia, we come to get a clearer understanding of what most likely happened in the second verse. It says that they assayed to go to Bithynia; in other words, they were about to go there when the Holy Spirit “suffered them not”. It is worthy of note here that if God uses the Inward Witness to assure us that we have been accepted into his kingdom and that we have become his children, it is also highly certain that he will use this same method to lead his children from day to day in their various activities.
As I round up the second part of this message, I feel the need to refer to the fact that many of us from day to day actually have this inward witness to do certain things (like to take a particular document to the office) without knowing why or seeing the need to, only to realize later in the day that that was the most important thing we needed for the success of the day at work or in school. Such gentle promptings are so easy to ignore yet firm enough to get our attention even for the briefest of moments. The problem is most of us are in too much of a hurry most times to pay attention or to consider what we sense in our hearts; much less to act on it. It is therefore on this note that I urge that we slow down and pay attention to such promptings and see God lead us by the Inward Witness.

Following the Leadership of The Holy Spirit – 1

davidluiz — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:30:59 +0000

The issue of following the leadership of the Holy Spirit is one that many Christians desire to understand in greater detail. There are a number of reasons why this is of major importance to the believer; one of which is the fact that our followership with the blessed Third person of the Godhead is our ticket into the world of the supernatural, the miraculous and into a realm of abundance that can defy the harshest of conditions. The bible makes a very daring statement regarding the sons of God.
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:14
Taking a critical look at this verse of scripture, we come to understand a great truth regarding the family of God. We understand that only those who are led by the Spirit of God or to put it in reverse order, those who follow the Spirit of God; can claim to be the Sons of God (notice it does not refer to the children of God. Different criteria exist for one to be a child of God). It can thus be implied that our ability to follow the Spirit of God, our sensitivity to his leadings and how well we understand how he leads his children is the main determining factor in our becoming his Son.
The scriptures clearly define the difference between one that is referred to as a child of God and one that is referred to as a “Son” of God (note that the term “Son” in this case is not gender specific). The difference between both is their level of maturity.
“He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:” John 1:11-12.
Taking our cue from the scriptures above, we see that those who received him are noted as different from the “Sons of God” referred to because he gave them the power to become the Sons of God. That power that he gave came through the Holy Spirit; who is the source of all power. So we understand that it is literally impossible to become a Son of God without the Holy Spirit. This among other reasons is because our Son ship is determinant on how well we can follow him.
Having established why we need to follow the Holy Spirit’s leadership, we will go on to look at the three major ways by which the he leads his people in a bid to understand how he leads us. Please check for the second series of this article or click here to continue reading.

The Power Of Information

davidluiz — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:53:12 +0000

Nothing empowers like knowledge! Information could be defined as any news that influences your thoughts, actions and motives. It is the one that is informed that rules the world. We are at a stage in our world were you gain the upper edge by reason of how exposed you are in your field of study. It is the informed that rules the world. We are living in the information age, where the power is in the arsenal of leaders with the demanded information. The depth of your understanding determines how outstanding you will be. All pace setter rides on the wings of information. The news you access influences the events in your life which in turn generate what you become because you can never outperform the level of your wisdom. Information is the currency of destiny. It gives you options in life; it makes you a person in demand; and promotes to become a star.
We now live in crucial times where the world is very perplexed regarding the way forward. However, that the way forward is through adequate information built on knowledge from the past. It was Albert Einstein who said “The significant problem we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were when we created them”. So if the world needs a change, we need to explore new information, we need to harness what have never been taught, we need to understand what is yet to be understood. Only committed researchers will be rewarded with tangible results in this time and period. So, it is important that you study wide, buy books, go for seminars, etc. Every book is a print of the authors mind. Hence, when you read great books, you are rubbing you mind with that of the author.
As you desire to create lasting impact; whether in your office, company or relationship, please settle down to discover what is missing and go for it. Bishop Oyedepo once said “If you buy clothes, you are decorating your body but if you buy a book, you are decorating your destiny”.
Be informed to reign as Kings and Priest God made you and you be a man and a woman of dominion.
Study to show thyself approved unto God as a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
God bless you.

Moving From B.A. To M.Sc

davidluiz — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 07:15:59 +0000

“Now I say, that the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing form a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.” Galatians 4:1-2

God is calling all believers to graduate from the BA level and move into the level of M.Sc!
In case you’re wondering what I’m saying, I don’t mean B.A, Bachelor of Arts, nor do I mean M.Sc, Masters of Science, rather what I mean is B.A for Born Again and M.Sc for Master of Situations and Circumstances.
In the academic world, the way you move from BA to M.Sc is by increase in depth of knowledge; the same thing applies in the spiritual world. The knowledge in this case, is known as Revelation knowledge.
When you obtained your first degree and proceeded to get your second degree, you had to undergo deeper and more advanced learning. What you used to know as an undergraduate became clearer and brighter as you progressed in your graduate studies. You received deeper insight into what you already knew and even became a specialist in a particular area. At the undergraduate level you had general knowledge of things and you operated by guesses and ‘trial and error’ methods, but now as a Masters holder you have specific knowledge, you know exactly how things work. General knowledge shows you what is available, specific knowledge takes you deeper and shows you how to access what is available.
When you became born again and began to grow, you fed on milk (1 Peter 2:2). Milk is the general knowledge of God’s word. It shows you what you have available in Christ and how He wants you to live. However, if you are going to graduate to the “Masters” level, you cannot continue to feed on milk, you must feed on solid food which the bible refers to as “Strong Meat” (Hebrews 5:13, 14). This is when you receive Revelation Knowledge from God’s word. You not only know what is available for you in Christ, you now know how to access and take delivery of it. You no longer work by trial and error; you now know exactly what to do to get things done.
At the beginning period of your Christian growth, you were affected by the situations of things around you. It affected you spiritually, physically and emotionally. The bible calls it being “in bondage under the elements of the world” (Galatians 4:3), and therefore you would have to stay “under tutors and governors until the time appointed by the Father” (Galatians 4:2). You’ll have to undergo proper schooling until the time is ripe for you to manifest your son-ship and take delivery of your inheritance in Christ. Let’s take an instance where we have health as one of our inheritances in Christ, spiritual children struggle with sickness and disease and so require healing for their body, that’s why Jesus called healing the “Children’s Bread”; but sons on the other hand have gone beyond needing healing. They know what to do to be healed and stay healthy because they’ve received Revelation Knowledge on divine healing and health.
Until you get to the “Masters” level, you don’t have what it takes to be a commander of the situations and circumstances of life.
Jesus our Lord was a master of situations and circumstances. He calmed the ragging storm and caused the sea to be at peace; he turned water into wine and healed the sick. The scripture also bears witness that He was a Son, as declared in Isaiah 9:6
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a SON is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
The world is waiting for the manifestation of the “Sons” of God not the “Children” (Romans 8:19) because it’s the Sons who know what to do to make things happen just like it was said of Jesus in John 6:6 when he fed the Five thousand in the desert. This is the reason why it’s dangerous to be in a church where the pastor is still in the child level. The bible says in Ecclesiastes 10:16-17
“Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! Blessed art thou O land, when thy king is the son of nobles and thy princes eat in due season, for strength and not for drunkenness!”
Don’t settle down or be satisfied with your present spiritual level, it’s time to move up to a higher ground. You have lived a life of struggles too long but by reason of this word you have received today, you are moving up and taking charge in every area of your life in Jesus name!
Get down or be satisfied with your present spiritual level, it’s time to move up to a higher ground. You have lived a life of struggles too long but by reason of this word you have received today, you are moving up and taking charge in every area of your life in Jesus name!
Remain Blessed.