Fight the good fight of faith.…
— 1 Timothy 6:12

Many believers have the misconception that walking by faith means they should be able to effortlessly glide all the way to God’s destination for their lives with no hiccups or struggles along the way. But the Bible teaches quite the opposite in First Timothy 6:12. In that verse, the apostle Paul wrote, “Fight the good faith of faith….” According to this verse, the path of faith often requires a fight to see it through to completion.

The word “fight” is the Greek word agonidzo, which refers to a struggle, a fight, great exertion, or effort. It is where we get the word agony — a word often used in the New Testament to convey the ideas of anguish, pain, distress, and conflict. The word agonidzo itself comes from the word agon, which is the word that depicted the athletic conflicts and competitions that were so famous in the ancient world. It frequently pictured wrestlers in a wrestling match, with each wrestler struggling with all his might to overcome his opponent in an effort to hurl him to the ground in a fight to the finish.

The very fact that Paul would use this word, a word that was very well known in the world of his time, alerts us emphatically that when we step out to do something by faith, it often pushes us into a previously unknown fight. It throws us into some type of agony — anguish, conflict, pain, distress, or a struggle. It isn’t that God wants us to struggle. Instead, this is a fight that results from:

The flesh that resists the will of God.
The mind that struggles to understand what God has told us to do.
Circumstances that seem to stand in the way.
People who oppose us.
The devil himself who throws his weight against each step of faith we take.

The point you must see is that Paul recognized when we step out in faith, we don’t just effortlessly glide to the destination God is directing us toward. We must fight the good fight of faith to reach the victorious position that allows us to one day hear those cherished words, “Well done!” from our Commander-in-Chief. But rather than shrink from the match that is before us, the apostle Paul urges us to give this fight our best effort! He tells us, “Fight the good fight of faith…” The word “good” is from the Greek word kalos, which denotes something exceptional, of the highest quality, outstanding, or superb. In the context of a fight, it pictures one who has given his best effort to the struggle in which he is engaged; hence, he is one who is doing a first-rate or first-class job at resisting his opponents.

Then Paul repeated the word “fight” a second time in this verse. He wrote, “Fight the good fight of faith.…” This second usage of the word “fight” is also from the Greek word agon — the same word he used when he referred to a “fight” at the first of the verse. It conveys the idea of one who is giving his complete concentration to the conflict and is totally focused on engaging the conflict at hand and achieving victory, regardless how long it takes or how much agonizing effort is required. It is the picture of total commitment to victory.

This is a far cry from simply gliding to God’s destination for your life with no hiccups or headaches along the way! As Paul told us in this verse, anything that is done by faith will require a fight of some sort in order to win. So if you are experiencing a struggle along the path to your personal victory — if you’ve been fighting off some very real mental or spiritual assaults along the way — don’t be taken off guard or by surprise. The Holy Spirit warned in advance through the apostle Paul that you must commit yourself to giving the pursuit of God’s will for your life your very best effort and to doing whatever is necessary to finish the goal set before you!

God is calling upon you to stand up and fight — giving your concentrated efforts to stand firm for what you believe. Fight in a manner that is noble, admirable, and worthy of the reward that awaits you. And remember — the greater reward usually requires a greater fight. Keep this in mind as you press forward to be first-class in your determination to overcome every obstacle and resistance along the way. Stay in the fight until you can shout, “The fight is finished and victory obtained!”

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I admit that I’m in a fight. I need grace and strength to stay in this match and finish it to completion. I didn’t realize how much would be required of me. But I am determined and committed to keep up the good fight of faith until I can say the fight is finished and victory is accomplished. Holy Spirit, I ask You to fill me with a fresh supply of Your power, strength, and resolve — a supernatural level of commitment — so I will stay in the fight till my assignment is fulfilled.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I boldly declare that God knows exactly what I am facing. I am not fighting this good fight of faith by myself! The Holy Spirit lives in me and fills me with His power — enough power to resist any opponent that would try to stop me from fulfilling God’s plan. Today I yield to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to fill me to the brim with His power that resists every opposing force and endures strong to the end so I can stay in this fight until it is over and I’ve won the victory.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

Think of a biblical example of someone who fought a good fight of faith and stayed in the battle until his fight was complete and his victory was won. Can you name more than one?
Can you call to mind some contemporary examples of individuals who fought a good fight of faith? What did they achieve by staying in the battle? How long did it take them to attain victory? What would have happened if they had given up and not followed through to completion?
How long have you been fighting your good fight of faith? What is in jeopardy if you give up your fight and throw in the towel?

God Uses the Weak To Baffle the High and Mighty

…God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.
— 1 Corinthians 1:27

Consider for a moment just how incredible it was that God chose David to fight the giant Goliath. David was just a young boy when God called him. He was so young in age and immature in physical development that the Bible says, “And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance” (1 Samuel 17:42). Goliath took it as a joke when he saw who had been sent to fight with him. The giant laughed when he saw whom God had chosen!

First Samuel 17:43 tells us what Goliath said: “…Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.” Who would have ever dreamed that God would select a young, inexperienced boy like David to bring down this giant? It may have looked laughable in the eyes of the world, but this young boy who fearlessly faced Goliath in battle was the exact person God had chosen!

With that in mind, consider what Paul says in First Corinthians 1:27: “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” The word “weak” is the Greek word asthene. It refers to something that is weak, base, feeble, puny, or powerless. This word asthene describes something that is so substandard, second-rate, low-grade and inferior that it’s almost laughable!

When Paul wrote this epistle, the Corinthian church was the laughingstock of the city. In fact, believers were viewed as the laughingstock of the entire Roman Empire. Governmental authorities considered Christians to be a weak, puny, pathetic, useless group of religious idiots. They were literally the butt of all the jokes and were viewed as societal rubbish.

Yet these same Christians turned the world upside down in their day and evangelized the Roman Empire! Through their steadfast endurance and commitment to Jesus Christ, they liberated Rome from pagan religion and paved the way for the Gospel to go into the whole world.

The unbelieving world today views the Church very much in the same way. You see, the devil fears believers because He knows the power and authority they possess. That’s why he uses the entertainment industry, educational institutions, and other human agencies to try to belittle the Church and make it look irrelevant, inconsequential, and trivial.

The enemy does everything he can to give the impression that we are minor-league players — a worthless waste of time. He knows the power God has placed at our disposal, so he attempts to discredit us in the eyes of the world. Therefore, if we perceive that the Church today is the butt of jokes and viewed in a derogatory fashion, we just need to realize that this perception is nothing new.

Paul told the Corinthians, “…God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” The word “confound” is kataishuno, which means to put to shame, to embarrass, to confuse, to frustrate, or to baffle. The word “mighty” is the word dunatoi, describing people who have political power. When you keep in mind that the political arm of the Roman Empire was trying to wipe out the Early Church, it becomes clear that this verse packs a powerful message!

First Corinthians 1:27 communicates this message to us:

“…God has chosen those whom the world considers to be puny and powerless — even laughable. These are the very ones God will use to confuse, frustrate, and baffle the political powers of the world!”

It took awhile for the Church of Jesus Christ to put to shame all the evil forces that had come against it. But in the end, that’s what happened! The Church eventually emerged in power and changed the face of history. The common, regular, run-of-the-mill people whom God had chosen were so mighty and powerful in the Lord that they “conquered the world” for Christianity in their day!

So quit seeing yourself as someone who is substandard, second-rate, low-grade, or inferior. You are filled with the Spirit of God and have the call of God on your life! Who cares what the world thinks? Even if your gifts and talents seem small in comparison to what others possess, that doesn’t mean you’re eliminated from God’s list of candidates.

In fact, your feelings of weakness and inadequacy actually qualify you as a candidate in God’s service! God is looking for people just like you, because He knows He will receive the glory for what He does through you. You’re exactly the kind of person God wants to use!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, thank You for reminding me that I am not the first to walk by faith. Others have walked this walk before me, and they did it with power and with grace. If they were able to do it, I know I can do it too, but I must have Your assistance to make it all the way through. So today I look to You to give me everything I inwardly need to keep marching ahead in order to achieve the things You have ordained for me!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that I can do whatever God asks me to do! He wouldn’t ask me if He didn’t think I could do it. Rather than doubt my abilities, I confess that His ability is working inside me. I lean on the Holy Spirit — His mind, His power, and His grace — and these divine forces enable me to successfully achieve the things He has designed for me to do today

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. How has your life changed since God spoke to you and gave you a specific assignment?

2. What should you do to stir yourself up and get encouraged when you are in the middle of a battle?

3. Who are your favorite Old Testament characters? Can you say why they are your favorites or why you find yourself relating to them so much?

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
— James 1:5

Have you ever asked someone a question that you knew he or she could answer, but instead of being helpful with a clear response, that person skirted the issue and answered indirectly? In these situations, it may have appeared that the person was hiding his knowledge to retain a sense of control by keeping you in the dark. What an unpleasant experience, especially when you know that the person could just simply answer you!

This is the way many people wrongly perceive God. They know that He has the answers to their questions, but often they don’t believe He will actually answer them. In their minds, He dangles the answer before them and then jerks it back out of reach just as they attempt to take hold of it. They think this is the way God keeps people on their knees in a humbled position of supplication. But in fact, James 1:5 gives us five guarantees that God does not act like this at all!

As we saw yesterday, God isn’t offended or upset when you ask Him for clarification on the issues you’re facing in life. In fact, He encourages you to come alongside Him and ask for the answers you lack. If you meet this requirement of drawing near to Him, pulling right up alongside His heart, James 1:5 says that God will answer you liberally. He’ll play no games with you once you meet this one condition when you ask.

James wrote that God “…giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” In this verse, we find five guarantees that God makes to those who seek answers to their questions.

We are guaranteed that God “giveth.”
We are guaranteed that God gives “to all men.”
We are guaranteed that God gives “liberally.”
We are guaranteed that God “upbraideth not.”
We are guaranteed that answers “shall be given” to the one asking.

Let’s look at each one of these five guarantees.

James 1:5 guarantees that when we ask for wisdom and we meet God’s condition of drawing close to Him, God will “give” us the answers we are falling short of. The Greek word used for “giveth” is didontos, a form of didomi, which means I give. But in this Greek case, the grammar does not describe the random, occasional act of God, but rather the regular behavior of God. In fact, the entire Greek phrase is tou didontos theou and is literally translated the giving God. Hence, God is not one who holds out on us when we need wisdom or information. He is, in fact, the giving God — one who is reputed for habitually giving answers to those who meet His conditions.
James 1:5 guarantees that God gives “to all men.” This removes the uncertainty that God may answer some and not others. If God’s condition has been met — that is, if we have drawn near to His heart and come closely alongside Him — He will answer us, because each of us fits into that phrase “all men”!
James 1:5 guarantees that God gives to all men “liberally.” This is the Greek word haplos. It denotes something that is bountiful. It actually portrays one who gives copiously, amply, extravagantly, generously, lavishly, liberally, plentifully, or richly. This is a person who has an open hand, as opposed to one who keeps a closed fist. Hence, God doesn’t dangle the bait before us and then quickly jerk it out of our reach. If we have met His conditions and pulled up alongside His heart, He reaches down with an open hand to give the answer we seek — and He gives us the answer bountifully.
James 1:5 guarantees that God “upbraideth not.” This is a translation of the Greek phrase me oneididzontos. The word me is emphatic for not, while the word oneidodzontos is a form of the word oneinidzo, which means to berate, to censure, to correct, to rebuke, or to scorn. In other words, God is not going to get upset with you if you ask Him for answers. He will never berate, censure, correct, rebuke, or scorn you when you come alongside Him to receive wisdom.
James 1:5 guarantees that answers “shall be given” to the one who is seeking them and who has fulfilled God’s conditions. The Greek tense used for “shall be given” makes this verse a promise. Even if you don’t know the answer right now, the answer that you seek will be given to you!

James 1:5 conveys this idea in the Greek:

“If you are short on the answers you need, insistently ask God for them. But God first requests that you come alongside Him. That is the one request He makes before He will provide the answers you seek Him for. God is the giving God. He is known for habitually answering those who seek answers from Him, and when He answers, He does so lavishly and with an open hand. He never berates, scolds, or scorns you for asking. One thing is for sure — answers will be given to you when you ask God’s way!”

Remember, God isn’t offended when you ask Him for clarification. He encourages you to ask! When He answers, you may not enjoy what He has to tell you, or you may not be mature enough to really understand it yet. But one thing is very clear: God likes it when you ask Him for His wisdom! So as you draw near to Him and ask in faith today, you better get ready to receive a bountiful, liberal, extravagant dose of divine insight and guidance for the path right up ahead!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

According to James 1:5, I should ask God for the answers I need for my life. So in agreement with this verse, today I’m asking for Your wisdom and guidance in every area of my life. Father, in Jesus’ name, I specifically ask You for answers. to my questions involving (fill in the blank) I receive Your grace to understand what You’re saying to me and to accept and apply Your wisdom to my life!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I declare that God has thrown open the doors and has invited me to come boldly to ask Him for the wisdom and answers I need for my life. There is no need for me to be embarrassed or to fear that God will get upset with me for asking. He wants me to be informed, and He asks me to ask! So today I ask in faith and I declare that I receive answers to the questions I have posed to the Lord!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

When you’ve prayed in the past, were you able to come boldly and unashamedly to God, or did you feel too unworthy to approach Him like that? Did you wonder if you’d be reprimanded for getting too specific in asking for the answers you needed?
Can you recall a time when you asked God for a specific, concrete answer, and He gave it to you? How did it affect you when you realized that God really answered you with the wisdom you needed for that moment?
What do you need to know from the Lord right now? Have you gone to Him in prayer and confidently asked Him to direct you? Why don’t you make a list of things you need to know from the Lord and officially present it to Him in Jesus’ name?

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
— James 1:5

When our sons were younger, I often asked them to take on certain chores or responsibilities that they didn’t really want to do. Nonetheless, I expected them to obey me. However, I was never offended if they asked me why I wanted them to do those things.

Whether or not I could answer my sons to their satisfaction — or whether or not they were sufficiently experienced in life to understand the reason behind my request — I still expected them to trust me enough to obey what I’d asked of them. They knew that I loved them and that I had more years of experience than they did, and that knowledge warranted their complete trust in me. My children understood as they were growing up that I’d only demand of them what I knew was ultimately good for them. Their close relationship with me caused them to know that they could trust me implicitly, even when they didn’t understand what I was telling them.

Likewise, God is never offended when you ask Him for an explanation. You may not understand His answer; you may not like it; or you may not be mature enough to understand it. But as your Father, He is not offended by your asking for clarification. This is why James 1:5 says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God….”

The word “if ” assumes that there are times when you need an answer from God. The word “lacks” is a form of the Greek word leipo and describes a deficiency. In the Old Testament Septuagint, it describes possessing something only in a measure — which, of course, means you were lacking the rest. Maybe you possessed a little bit of something, but it was just a remnant of what you really needed.

Later this word leipo came to depict a deficit, insufficiency, shortage, or undersupply. As used in James 1:5, it meant to be without, to have want of, to be in need of, to be lacking, to be short of, to be low on, to not have enough of, or something that exists in an insufficient amount. All of these meanings correctly convey the idea in the Greek text. But for our purposes, we will say it could be interpreted, “If you are short on wisdom…” or “If you find yourself to be lacking wisdom.…”

But what did James mean by “wisdom”? The word “wisdom” is a form of the Greek word sophos, which describes special insight or special understanding. Hence, this verse could be interpreted, “If anyone among you lacks special understanding [regarding an issue].…” This word denoted special insight and understanding that could be worked out in real-life practice. It was an answer, an insight, or an enlightenment that had some type of practical application. Thus, the verse could be interpreted to mean: “If any of you are short on knowing what to do…”; “If any one of you is experiencing a deficit regarding what action to take…”; or “If any one of you is in need of special answers regarding what to do.…”

Next, James told us what to do. He wrote, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask.…” The word “ask” is from the Greek word aiteo, a word that primarily means to be adamant in requesting and demanding assistance to meet tangible needs, such as food, shelter, money, and so forth. Additionally, it expresses the idea that one can possess a full expectation to receive what has been firmly requested.

This means you shouldn’t go to God only for spiritual blessings. The use of the word aiteo tells us that most questions about which you seek His wisdom will involve practical answers as well as spiritual — pertaining to tangible needs such as food, shelter, money, etc.

But God gives us one condition that we must fulfill before He will answer our petitions for wisdom. Verse 5 continues, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God.…” The word “of ” in Greek is para, which means close, side by side, or alongside. As used in this verse, this word provides the condition we must meet in order for God to answer us. To qualify for God’s answer, we must be in a close, side-by-side position with Him.

God our Father truly desires to clearly and abundantly answer our questions. He will not refrain from answering us — as long as we get in the right position to ask Him. You see, God doesn’t want to just answer our request for wisdom. He wants us to come alongside Him, close to His heart. In that position, He will not only answer us, but He will embrace us, cleanse us, and change us.

Hence, the Father first beckons us to draw as near to Him as possible. Then once we are in that close, side-by-side position, God opens His hand to show us the wisdom we lack and are seeking to gain.

Think of it! You are just a prayer away from assuming that close, side-by-side position with God!

With these thoughts in mind, we can read this verse as follows:

“If you are short on answers you need, ask God to give you those answers. But the one request He makes first before He will provide the answers you are asking Him for is that you come alongside Him….”

Tomorrow I will show you what God promises will happen when you put yourself in that close, side-by-side position alongside Him. But for today, I want you to see the point that if you are experiencing a shortfall of wisdom, God invites you to ask Him for insight. Your asking for an explanation does not offend God. In fact, in James 1:5, He encourages you to ask!

When God answers, you may not enjoy what He tells you or you may not be mature enough to truly understand it, but one thing is clear: He wants you to ask for clarification if you need it. So draw near to the Lord, and ask Him for the wisdom you lack. He is utterly faithful to His promises — and He promises that He will give you what you ask for, liberally and without reproach!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, You said if any man lacks wisdom, he is to ask of You, and wisdom will be granted liberally. I thank You for Your willingness to give me answers, understanding, and clarification about my life and the situations I am facing right now. If I don’t enjoy the answer or have the maturity to completely understand, I ask You for the grace to obey You regardless, as I know that You only have the best in mind for me and my family.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that God is not offended by my questions for explanation and clarification. He invites me – and even encourages me – to seek Him for answers. Whenever I am in need of understanding about what He is asking me to do. I declare that I know the Voice of the Holy Spirit and that He will not led me astray or misguide me. I can trust what He tells me, even if I don’t fully understand it. God has the best in mind for me; so regardless of how He answers, I will accept it and trust Him to be Lord and God of my life.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

Can you think of a time that you lacked wisdom about a specific issue, and when you asked God for an explanation, He answered you? Or can you think of a time that He answered you, but you didn’t like the answer or weren’t mature enough to understand it?
What issues in your life are you facing right now in which you really need some clarification or guidance from the Lord? Have you asked Him for wisdom, and do you firmly believe you’re going to receive what you asked of Him?
If drawing near to the Lord is His condition you must meet before He answers you, can you say that you meet His requirement? Are you staying close to His heart, or are you living far from the heart of God?

A Great Cloud of Witnesses

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses.…
—Hebrews 12:1

Do you see the word “cloud” in the verse above? It is taken from the Greek word nephos. It describes clouds — just like the clouds you see in the sky. When most people read this verse, they imagine big, fluffy white clouds with Old Testament saints scattered mystically throughout the glorious white billows. But is this really the picture that Hebrews 12:1 means to convey to us?

The Greek word nephos, translated “clouds,” has an additional meaning that is very exciting when understood in this context. In ancient, classical Greek times, the word “clouds” was used to describe the highest seats in the bleachers of a stadium. The seats at the very top of the stadium were called the clouds because they were so high up in the air. If you had gone to a sports competition with a ticket for one of these seats, your usher might have said, “Your seat is in the clouds today.” This meant you’d be seated in the highest row available in the bleachers.

We have seen before (see January 24) that the phrase “compassed about” is taken from the word peikeimenai, which is a compound of the words peri and keimai. The word peri means around, as to be completely encircled by something. The second part of the word, keimai, means to lie down. When these two words are compounded into one word, they mean to lie around, as if something has been piled high and is lying all around you on every side. This portrays the idea of being completely encircled by something that is stacked high on every side.

Thus, this verse carries the following idea: “Wherefore seeing we have lying all around us on every side.…” or “Wherefore seeing these biblical examples who are piled up and lying all around us….” But to make this point even stronger, the Holy Spirit uses the word “clouds.” Why is this so vital?

In Hebrews 12:1, the Holy Spirit is emphasizing:

“You’re not alone! The grandstands of Heaven all the way up to the ‘clouds,’ the highest seats in the bleachers, are piled high with people who stood the test of time and eventually saw their faith manifested….”

Let me stress again that the Greek word nephos (“clouds”) depicted the highest seats in a sports stadium. This is a powerful image because it jogs our memory to the fact that our walk of faith will remove us from the spectator sections and will put us right in the middle of the fight!

The devil hates it when people take a stand of faith or when they do something that benefits the Kingdom of God and drives back darkness. Like an opponent would do in a natural fight, Satan may try to wrestle you, pin you down, or even try to knock you out of the race altogether.

So when you have become illuminated with direction for your life, business, family, or ministry, you need to know that the contest has just begun. You are on the field. All eyes are on you. The fight of faith is on! But if you’ll look up into the bleachers of Heaven for just a moment, you’ll see that they are stacked all the way to the “clouds” with people just like you!

Just as you are taking steps of obedience now, the bleachers of Heaven are filled with people who have already faced the enemy and won their fight. They faced the impossible; they accomplished the unthinkable; and they stand as proof that you can make it too. They’re all cheering you on to victory! Just listen with the ears of faith, and you’ll hear them saying, “Go for it! You can do it! Your faith will carry you through!”

My Prayer for Today

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. How has your life changed since God spoke to you and gave you a specific assignment?

2. What should you do to stir yourself up and get encouraged when you are in the middle of a battle?

3. Who are your favorite Old Testament characters? Can you say why they are your favorites or why you find yourself relating to them so much?

Don’t Put Out The Spirit’s Fire!

Quench not the Spirit.
— 1 Thessalonians 5:19

Have you ever sensed the Holy Spirit leading you to do something, but because of fear you were afraid to do it? Even though you were sure it was God’s Spirit who was speaking to you, did you grit your teeth, dig in your heels, and decide that you would not do what He was leading you to do or say?

If the answer is yes, it’s time for you to stop doing that! The Holy Spirit is trying to use you to help someone or to accomplish some feat according to His plans and purposes. Don’t let the devil or a spirit of fear talk you out of experiencing the joy of being used by the Holy Spirit. This is exactly why Paul admonished us, “Quench not the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19).

The word “quench” in this verse is taken from the Greek word sbennumi. The word sbennumi means to extinguish, smother, suppress, douse, put out, snuff out, or to quell. It most often means to extinguish a fire by dousing it with water. In some places, it means to evaporate or to dry up.

There’s no doubt about what Paul is trying to tell us. If we ignore the Holy Spirit’s voice long enough and often enough, eventually we will become spiritually hardened and will no longer be able to hear Him when He does try to speak to us. It will be like His voice evaporates or dries up, and we will hear it no more.

You need to know that your own actions, fears, insecurities, and disobedience to the voice of the Holy Spirit can thwart the plan of God for your life! The Holy Spirit is willing and ready to give you a divine assignment, but you hinder His wonderful plans by ignoring and denying His right to use you time and time again.

If you’ve ever seen a campfire, you know that its flames can burn very bright and hot. But what happens if someone keeps throwing water on the coals? Initially it will only dampen the heat of the flames. But if the person continues to throw water on the flames, eventually that water will quench, smother, or put out the fire altogether.

Has the Holy Spirit been speaking to your heart, tenderly directing you to do something? Have you obeyed Him and done what He has prompted you to do — or have you turned a deaf ear to His voice? Let me encourage you:

Don’t ignore the Holy Spirit’s leading!
Don’t disregard His voice!
Don’t close your ears when He is speaking to you!
Don’t pass up an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to use you!
Don’t avoid moments when God wants to pour His power through you!
Don’t throw water on the flames until you quench the Spirit!

Instead of continually shutting your ears to the Holy Spirit’s voice and dousing the flames of the Spirit in your heart, it’s time for you to say, “Yes, Lord, I’ll do what You say. I’ll go where You send me. I’ll obey what You tell me to do!” When you adopt this attitude, you start putting fuel back on the fire again! Every time you say, “Yes, Lord,” and follow through with obedience, you stoke the coals and cause the Holy Spirit’s fire to burn more brightly in your life.

The primary reason we don’t obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit is that we are afraid of what may or may not happen if we step out in faith to do what He has asked us to do. But we need to learn to trust the Holy Spirit. He will never lead us to do something that is wrong or harmful; He will never fail us or let us down.

Determine in your heart today to obey whatever the Spirit of God tells you to do. As you stay true to that decision, you’ll see God do marvelous things through you. He will use you to set people free from whatever holds them in bondage — all because you determined to do what the Holy Spirit led you to do!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, help me to quickly obey when the Spirit of God prompts me to do something. The last thing I want to do is throw water on the flames of the Spirit in my heart. Forgive me for suffocating the life of the Holy Spirit in me by refusing to do what He tells me to do. From this point onward, I make the choice to quickly obey, but I need Your strength to do this. So today I am asking You to fill me anew with brand-new courage to step out in faith, to quickly obey, and to leave the results with You!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that I am quick to obey the voice of the Holy Spirit. When He tugs at my heart, pointing me in a specific direction or leading me to minister to a certain person, I do not hold back, hesitate, or resist. Instead, I say, “Lord, I’ll do whatever You want me to do!” I then step out in faith and watch as His power is demonstrated to me and through me!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Can you think of a time when the Spirit of God prompted you to do something, but you dug in your heels and refused to do it?

2. How did you feel afterwards, knowing that you had resisted the voice of the Holy Spirit?

3. How will you respond the next time the Holy Spirit tells you to do something?

But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you….
— 2 Thessalonians 2:13

One day Denise and I were talking about different things we had survived throughout our many years of ministry together. It started out as a positive conversation, but before I realized what was happening, I had slipped into thinking of all the people who had wronged us over the years. Soon I felt myself sinking mentally and emotionally into the sticky mire of those negative thoughts.

Finally, I realized my thoughts were going in the wrong direction and swiftly put on the brakes. I shifted into reverse to get out of that mode of thinking and began to mentally compile a list of everyone who had been a blessing to us over the years. The number of individuals who had been a blessing to us was so long that I couldn’t stop listing them! In comparison, the sheer number of these blessed connections swallowed the names of those who had become negative memories in our lives.

One brother’s name in particular literally made me smile. Just the mention of his name put a smile on my face. I decided I would say his name to several other people who knew him to see how his name affected them — and every person, without exception, smiled when I mentioned his name. I thought, What a blessing that the mere mention of a person’s name would make people smile!

This must have been how Paul felt about the Thessalonian believers, because when he wrote to them, he said, “But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you…” (2 Thessalonians 2:13).

The word “bound” is the Greek word opheilo, which describes an obligation. Whenever Paul began to ponder the great things God had done in the lives of the Thessalonian congregation, he felt obligated to stop what he was doing and give thanks to God for that group of believers. The mere thought of the Thessalonians put a smile on his face! They had been such a blessing to Paul that he literally felt an obligation to stop whatever he was doing to thank God for them.

Likewise, we, too, must learn to stop and thank God for what He has done in the lives of those around us — especially those who have been a blessing to us and who cause us to smile at the mere thought of them! We have an obligation to stop and remember all that God has done and to give Him thanks.

The phrase “to give thanks” in this verse is the Greek word eucharistos. The first part of the word is eu. This word means good and implies a good feeling or a pleasant, inner warmth. The second word is charis, which is the Greek word for grace. By compounding these two words, Paul revealed that when he thought of the Thessalonians, the feelings he had for them were so rich, warm, pleasant, and gratifying that thanksgiving flowed effortlessly out of his heart like a river of divine grace. Thanking God for these believers wasn’t hard for Paul; on the contrary, restraining his thanksgiving for them would have been much more difficult. It was easy for Paul to thank God for this particular group of believers.

The word “always” is the Greek word pantote. In this context, it means every time we think of you or at each and every opportunity. Paul’s memory of the Thessalonians was so sweet that whenever he thought of them, thanksgiving arose in his heart.

This part of Second Thessalonians 2:13 could be interpreted to mean:

“Every time we think about you, thanksgiving floods out of our hearts! We are so overwhelmed with thanksgiving that we actually feel obligated to stop whatever we are doing to take a few minutes to express to God how much we appreciate you.…”

I don’t know if you’ve ever slipped into the mode of remembering everyone who has ever done something wrong to you. If you have, you know what a negative experience that can be. But today I want to urge you to do the opposite — make a list of those who have been a blessing in your life! I believe you’ll find that your heart begins to overflow with thanksgiving to the Lord, just as was true for the apostle Paul concerning the Thessalonians. The mere thought of certain people He has brought into your life to bless you will probably put a big smile on your face!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, I want to say thank You for the people who are so faithful, kind, and encouraging that the mere mention of their names makes me want to smile. I am grateful for such people. Forgive me for focusing on the negative experiences I’ve had with people when the actual list of people who have been a blessing to me is so large. I ask You to help me remember those who put a smile on my face when I am attacked, hurt, or offended by others. Help me quickly remember that bad experiences with people are in the minor category, and that most people have been a blessing to me. As I make a list of those who have been true blessings in my life, show me how to express my gratitude to You and to them for the blessing they have been in my life.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I boldly and easily declare that my life has been blessed with people who have loved me, cared for me, and have been a blessing to me. When I am tempted to drag up the names and memories of those who have hurt me in some way, I will refuse to dwell on those memories but will put on the brakes and act in reverse, compiling a list of the people who have been a blessing. The truth is, there are more who have been for me than those who have been against me. When I think of all the longstanding relationships with people who have loved and forgiven me in spite of myself and are still being kind to me even today, it would be ungrateful for me to dwell on negative people. So with the help of the Holy Spirit, I am reversing my mental focus! I’m going to thank God for the people He has used to put a smile on my face.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

Have you ever made a list of people who have been a blessing to you over the course of your lifetime? It may be easier for you to think of people who have wronged you, since human nature has an easier time remembering negative experiences. But why don’t you set aside some time to write down the names of those people who have been a blessing to you? I think you’ll be surprised to see how long your list becomes!
Do certain individuals come to mind when you ask yourself who always put a smile on your face? Have you ever stopped to tell them what they mean to you? Put yourself in their shoes, and think how much it would mean to you if someone told you how much you had been a blessing to him or her. It doesn’t take long to write a note, make a call, or send a text message. Why not do this for someone today?
Are you the kind of person that the mere mention of your name or the mere thought of you makes someone else want to smile? Does the thought of you uplift others and put a smile on their faces, or does your name evoke a sense of heaviness and negative memories? If the answer is the latter, what areas might need to change in your behavior to reverse that negative testimony with other people?

Be a ‘Holy Terror’ To the Kingdom of Darkness!

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh.
— 2 Corinthians 10:3

You have been delivered from Satan’s power through the victorious, redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Make sure you keep that wonderful truth in mind the next time you have to deal with the devil’s attack on your life. And don’t try to defeat a spiritual enemy with fleshly weapons and techniques because fleshly weapons are for fighting fleshly adversaries; they were never intended to defeat a spiritual foe. Spiritual adversaries must be fought with spiritual weapons!

Paul makes this point in Second Corinthians 10:3 when he says, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh.” The word “walk” in this verse is taken from the Greek word peripateo. This is a compound of the word peri, which means around, and pateo, which means to walk. When these two words are compounded together, the new word means to walk around or to habitually live and carry on in one general territory. It is the picture of a person who has walked in one general path for so long that he can now almost walk that path blindfolded. He knows that area well because he has habitually lived and functioned there.

By using the word peripateo in Second Corinthians 10:3, Paul is making a very strong statement about his humanity. He’s saying, “Nearly everything I do, I do in the flesh. I eat in the flesh; I sleep in the flesh; I think in the flesh; I study in the flesh. My life is primarily lived in this earthly realm.” Although he was a spiritual man, he still lived in a body made of flesh.

Paul knew that he was locked into his fleshly body and couldn’t get out of it — nor could he trade it for another! I’m sure he would have taken that option if it had been available because he had been brutally beaten and terribly abused during the course of his ministry. His physical body permanently bore the scars, marks, wounds, and disfigurement of those beatings (see 2 Corinthians 11:23-25 and Galatians 6:17). Having a body free of scars and disfiguring wounds would have seemed like a terrific prospect to Paul!

In addition to the beatings he had endured, Paul was naturally a man of small stature. In fact, the name Paul means “little one.” Although he was an intellectual giant who was highly educated, cultured, and even skillful in the political arena before he came to Christ, he did not have a striking physical appearance. Even historians record that he was a small and unimposing man.

It seems that the appearance of Paul’s body was even an issue in the Corinthian church. Those who were against his ministry and wanted to eliminate him used his physical appearance as a reason to discredit him. In response to this, Paul wrote and said: “…In presence [I] am base among you…” (2 Corinthians 10:1). Because his adversaries were judging him according to the flesh, he asked them: “Do ye look on things after the outward appearance?…” (2 Corinthians 10:7). Finally, Paul actually quoted what they were saying about him: “For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak…” (2 Corinthians 10:10).

Notice that Paul never argues with them about the condition of his body. In fact, it seems that he agrees with them, even stating, “I am base among you.” But whereas some may have judged him according to the flesh, Paul’s confidence was not in the flesh but in the spirit. That is why he told them, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh” (2 Corinthians 10:3).

I think this message is important because we live in a day when people tend to judge themselves by the appearance of their bodies. If they are skinny, they feel good about themselves. But if they gain just a little weight, they are tempted to think that they are ugly and disgusting. Because of modern movies and advertisements, people are continually inundated with thousands of subliminal messages that say, “If you’re not skinny and youthful-looking, you don’t rate!”

Amazingly, even believers get caught up in judging themselves by their outward appearance. Although it’s true that we should do what we can to stay in good shape physically, there are millions of people who are in great physical shape but couldn’t win a spiritual battle if their lives depended on it!

You see, physical muscles make you look great in the natural, but mere flesh and blood has no effect on the devil or the spiritual realm. Spiritual battles are not to be fought or won with flesh, because the flesh is no match for spiritual foes. This disadvantage of the flesh is the reason God has supplied spiritual weapons for the believer.

Paul was aware of the weakness and futility of his flesh. He knew that when it came to dealing with the devil, he had to turn his attention to the realm of the Spirit where supernatural assistance was available and spiritual weapons existed for him to use against the devil. He knew his greatest weapons did not lie in his mind, his talents, or his flesh, but in spiritual weapons that exist in the realm of God’s Spirit.

In Acts 19, a group of exorcists, whom the Bible identifies as the seven sons of a man named Sceva, attempted to cast an evil spirit out of a demon-possessed man. But when they commanded the evil spirit to come out of that man, the spirit answered them: “…Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?” (Acts 19:14,15).

Think of it! That evil spirit knew who Jesus was and who Paul was! Even though Paul lived in a small body that had been mercilessly beaten and abused, he was so powerful in the spiritual realm that hell knew his name! Perhaps the limitations of Paul’s flesh turned out to be to his advantage! Because he couldn’t lean on his flesh, he had to learn how to function in the realm of the Spirit — and that’s the reason the evil spirits knew who he was!

That’s exactly what you need to do as well. Yes, you may live in a fleshly body that has all kinds of limitations, but you can go forth with spiritual weapons to do warfare in the Spirit! Regardless of what you look like in the natural realm, you can be a holy terror to the devil in the spiritual realm. So reach out and take the loinbelt of truth, the shoes of peace, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. When you’re clothed in the whole armor of God, you can win the victory over the kingdom of darkness every time!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, help me remember that real spiritual battles are fought and won in the Spirit. I’m so often tempted to focus on my physical appearance and the condition of my body. I even frequently judge myself by how physically “in shape” I am. But the fight I need to win isn’t going to be won by my physical appearance. Yes, I want to be in good physical shape, and I ask You to help me achieve that goal. But please keep me from getting distracted by the less-than-pleasurable aspects of my physical body. Help me stay focused on the spiritual realm where the real battle is being waged

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I proclaim that regardless of what I look like in the natural realm, I am a menace to the devil in the spiritual realm. In that sphere, I am anointed and powerful, with the ability to pull down strongholds from peoples’ lives and minds. I am so mighty in the Spirit that the devil and his forces flee when I resist them!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Do you tend to accept or reject yourself on the basis of how much you weigh or how you look physically? Be honest!

2. Do you spend as much time focusing on your spiritual development as you do fretting and complaining about your physical appearance?

3. How much do you think you could grow spiritually this year if you invested the same amount of time you now spend worrying about your body in developing yourself spiritually?

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
— 1 Corinthians 2:4,5

When Paul first came to the city of Corinth, it was in the wake of his experience in the illustrious Greek city of Athens. During his stint in Athens, he had marvelously presented the Gospel message, yet his teaching did not produce outstanding results. As Paul left Athens and began traveling toward Corinth — a city rife with demonic activity and wholly given over to idolatry and extreme sexual perversion — he must have pondered his performance in Athens. He probably thought about what he had done right, what he done wrong, and why his results weren’t as outstanding there as they had been in other cities.

However, when you study Paul’s ministry in the cities where he had his most dramatic results, you find that he did something in those places that he did not do in Athens. In Athens, he labored to preach a brilliant, intellectual, culturally relevant message to the Greek judges on Mars Hill. But when you look at how he ministered in other cities, you find that in addition to preaching brilliant messages, he also demonstrated the miraculous power of God. That demonstration of God’s power was very important in pagan communities where the occult was pervasive and supernatural manifestations were commonplace. For example:

In Acts 13:6-12, Paul had a face-to-face confrontation with a local sorcerer. The power that Paul demonstrated as he rebuked this sorcerer was so dramatic that city authorities were stunned. Verse 12 tells us, “Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed….” This demonstration of God’s power threw open the door for the Gospel in this region.

In Acts 14:8-18, Paul again demonstrated supernatural power. Seeing a crippled man who had never walked in his life, Paul told him, “Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked” (v. 10). This event had such great impact that verse 11 says, “And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.” As a consequence of this wonderful miracle, people turned their attention to the Gospel message with outstanding results.
In Acts 16:16-18, Paul encountered “a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination.” After this girl harassed Paul and his associates for a number of days, Paul turned to her and addressed the spirit of divination. In verse 18, he said, “…I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he [the spirit of divination] came out the same hour.” When the demon exited that damsel, it created such a mighty stir with the local people that the apostolic team was thrown into prison for doing damage to the fortune-telling business of the city. That night Paul and Silas were praying and singing songs when another act of power occurred. Acts 16:26 says, “And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.” This act of power was so colossal in its impact that the keeper of the prison cried out, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (v. 30). These combined acts of power led to the salvation of this man’s family. History tells us this keeper of the prison eventually became of one of the chief leaders in the church of Philippi.

In Acts 19, when Paul found himself in the midst of Ephesus — the world center of Artemis worship and a city filled to the brim with demonic supernatural activity — it was a moment when a demonstration of God’s power was desperately needed. Acts 19:11,12 tells us that in Ephesus, “And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: so that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.” When the Ephesians saw this demonstration of power, verses 18 and 19 tell us that “…many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts [occult activities] brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.” As a result of these combined manifestations of God’s power, verse 20 tells us, “So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.”

In Acts 28:6, Paul was shipwrecked on an island that was filled with barbarians. When he was helping the shipwrecked sailors gather wood to build a fire, a venomous snake latched hold of Paul’s hand. Instead of dying from the bite, he simply shook it into the fire with no physical harm to himself. When the local barbaric people saw the snakebite had no effect, they were so taken aback that they said he was a god. Because of this miraculous event, the door to this island was thrown wide open for Paul to boldly preach the Gospel to them! When Publius, the chief man of the island, saw that his own father was critically ill, he knew whom to call for help! He called upon Paul to come pray for his father, and Acts 28:8 says, “And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.” Because of this miraculous demonstration of power, verse 9 says, “So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed.”

When Paul came into new and dark territories to bring the light of the Gospel, the book of Acts shows us that he repeatedly came with a demonstration of God’s power that had a powerful effect upon his audience.

Is it possible that in Athens Paul was so gripped with the need to present the Gospel in an intellectual, culturally relevant way to the judges on Mars Hill that he overlooked the need to accompany his message with a demonstration of the power of God as he had done in so many other cities? Did he become mesmerized by the intellectual tone of the environment and leave the Holy Spirit and the power of God out of the equation of his preaching and teaching?

Because Athens was a world center of idolatry, it was overflowing with demonic, supernatural activity, and if a demonstration of God’s power was needed anywhere, it was certainly in the city of Athens. Just for a moment, ponder what could have happened if Paul had allowed the gifts of the Spirit to operate in front of those judges so they witnessed phenomenal manifestations of God’s power far superior to anything they had ever seen in their pagan temples? Is it possible that such a demonstration of power may have shaken those listening judges and that the results that day would have been different?

It seems that as Paul approached the city of Corinth, he was reviewing his performance in Athens. By his own testimony in First Corinthians 2:1, he wrote, “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.” In Athens, he had brilliantly used “words of man’s wisdom” as he quoted their poets and their Greek philosophers — a message that, no doubt, could be included in the most exceptional messages ever recorded.

But when Paul later recalled his first ministry in the city of Corinth, he said, “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:4,5).

It is clear from his own testimony that when Paul preached the powerful message of the Gospel to the Corinthians, he had determined to go one step further than simply preaching an intellectually and culturally relevant sermon. This time he had made up his mind to also come with the “demonstration of the Spirit and of power,” as he had done so many times in other pagan cities where he was the first person to penetrate the darkness with the preaching of the Gospel.

The word “demonstration” is translated from the Greek word apodeixsis, and it means to display, to show off, or to demonstrate. Paul knew that to reach the pagans in Corinth, it would require a demonstration of power so outstanding that it would convince the unbelieving audience that his preaching was more than mere words — it was a message backed up by Almighty God Himself! He knew it would take an awe-inspiring demonstration of power to get their attention and to persuade them that his Gospel message was true. Thus, Paul started his ministry in Corinth not only with words, but also with a “demonstration of the Spirit and of power.”

The word “power” is dunamis. This Greek word and its various forms are used 119 times in the New Testament, and it denotes the mighty power of God. As used in this verse, the word denotes not merely power, but tremendous power. In fact, the word dunamis is where we get the word dynamite. I believe this is an important fact to point out, for the word dynamite — denoting an explosive power — very well expresses the type of power Paul is describing in this verse. This word dunamis denotes God’s supernatural power, which when released on a human level, is explosive, mighty, and awe-inspiring to those who see it or experience it.

An interpretive translation of these words in First Corinthians 2:4 and 5 could be taken to mean:

“And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but I came with a display of power so outstanding that it really showed off the power of God.”

There is no concrete record in the book of Acts about Paul’s earliest preaching in Corinth. But from his own memory recorded in First Corinthians 2:4 and 5, we know that Paul’s objective was to bring such a mighty display of power with his preaching that the unbelieving Corinthians would be taken aback by the power of God and forever changed.

I feel compelled to ask you: What kind of power do you demonstrate with your life and your message as you share Christ with your friends, family, or acquaintances?

So often we preach the right words to people, but they are constantly hearing words — words from other people, from all forms of media — television, Internet, advertisements — and from all kinds of other sources. This constant stream of words that is trying to get people’s attention or to lure them to spend money or to make some kind of decision. People are inundated with words and messages in our world today.

But when they are confronted with a bona fide manifestation of God’s power so outstanding that they cannot debate its reality, they are forever impacted and changed by it. Certainly we must be wise in the way we preach and present the Gospel, but we must never forget the importance of preaching the Gospel with a “demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” Nothing impacts an unbelieving crowd more than the power of God! The need for divine power is just as important today as it was 2,000 years ago when Paul wrote these words to the Corinthians believers.

After reading today’s Sparkling Gem, what do you need to do differently in the way that you present Christ to people who are lost and unsaved? Are you making room for God’s power to operate and show off in front of the unsaved or unbelieving? Today I want to encourage you to open your heart to the possibility that God may want to demonstrate His power to those people you are trying to reach.

Instead of relying only on your own careful selection of words, why don’t you start seeking the Lord with greater fervency than ever before for His divine power and articulation as you present the Gospel to people who are in darkness? The impact of His words spoken with His power behind them through your mouth will leave your listeners inwardly reeling — and those words will hang in the air and rest in their hearts, not to be easily forgotten by them.

Remember, Romans 1:16 says that the Gospel is the power of God, and I assure you that He is just as willing today to back up His Word with a supernatural display of power as He was 2,000 years ago!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, I ask You to help me surrender myself to the power and working of the Holy Spirit as I present the Gospel to people in darkness. Yes, I need to speak the right words and to speak it in a way that is relevant to those who are listening to me, but I also need to come with a demonstration of the power of God. Holy Spirit, I am looking to You to help me find the right words, to empower me and flow through me, and to do Your mighty work as I share Christ with people who are lost and in darkness. Today I ask You to release Your great power through me and to help me surrender when it’s time to allow that power to operate!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am an instrument through which the power of the Holy Spirit can flow to touch other people. I am not afraid of the power of God, nor do I hinder the operation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. When it is time for God to show up in all of His marvelous supernatural ability, I move out of the way and make room so that God can do exactly what He wants to do. Rather than hinder or thwart the power of God, I am a facilitator that creates environments and provides time for God to show up and show off so that people will see and know His mighty strength!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

Can you think of a time when you seemed to have said all the right words, but because you didn’t allow the Holy Spirit’s supernatural power to operate in conjunction with your message, the results weren’t so outstanding?
Can you think of a time when you did allow the Holy Spirit to move, and you watched in amazement as people’s hearts were softened and touched — and afterward they wanted to know more about the Lord?
What are you going to do differently when you present the Gospel to lost people as a result of today’s Sparkling Gem? Is the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart, providing you with direction? If so, what is He saying to you?

And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
— 2 Thessalonians 3:5

Often I am invited to attend meetings with other ministers in Moscow who gather to discuss spiritual leadership issues. These meetings take place in a different location each time in order to maintain a sense of neutrality, and they are often held in places that are completely unknown to me. In fact, trying to find the exact meeting room for these events can be difficult because the buildings are often expansive and the layouts unfamiliar.

Because of this potential difficulty, individuals are appointed to help guide leaders like me to the new meeting room. They meet each of us outside where our cars drop us off, and they escort us to the room where the event is to be held. If these individuals were not present to help us find the meeting room, we would all eventually find our way to the place where we were supposed to be, but the experience would take longer and potentially create needless confusion. Believe me when I tell you that we all greatly appreciate the service that these people graciously provide as they escort us right to where we need to be so expeditiously.

Similarly, Paul taught that the Lord Himself wants to be our Escort to lead us directly into the love of God with no distractions along the way. In Second Thessalonians 3:5, he wrote, “And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God….”

Today I want you to particularly notice the word “direct” in this verse, as it reveals so much about God’s great desire to guide us directly into His divine love. The word “direct” is translated from the Greek word kateuthuno, which is a compound of the words kata and euthus. The word kata gives a sense of force or direction, and the word euthus describes a straight path as opposed to a path that is wandering or a route that is indirect. Although an indirect route may eventually get you to the same location, it takes longer; it involves unnecessary expense of energy; and it is more time-consuming. A direct path will get you to your destination more quickly and less expensively, and you will expend less energy. However, if you’ve never made the journey before, finding the shortest route may be difficult unless you have a guide who will direct and escort you along the way.

This leads us back to Paul’s teaching in Second Thessalonians 3:5, where he wrote, “And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God.…” The word “hearts” is the Greek word kardias, the plural form of kardia, which describes the heart. Although this word was sometimes used to denote the heart as a physical organ, it was regularly employed throughout the Old Testament, Classical Greek literature, and the New Testament to describe emotions, instincts, and passions. In Second Thessalonians 3:5, Paul used it to portray the inner aspects of a person’s life — intellectually, psychologically, and spiritually. Paul was literally praying for a person’s inner being to be directed into the love of God, as opposed to contrary paths that would lead elsewhere.

Furthermore, because the Greek word translated “direct” (kateuthuno) in this verse begins with the prefix kata, we see that God does more than merely guide and escort us. He wants to meet us and lead us so our hearts don’t wander aimlessly on the way to completion in His love. In the context of Second Thessalonians 3:5, it tells us that God Himself wants to put us on a straight path and steer us right into His love. In fact, the word steer is exactly how the word kateuthuno (“direct”) could be translated in James 3:4. God doesn’t want us to waste time and energy or to take too long to get into His love. He wants to steer us right into His love. The Lord desires to put us on a straight path and be our personal Guide, escorting us into His love with no distractions or unneeded detours along the way.

An interpretative translation of the first part of Second Thessalonians 3:5 could read:

“May the Lord steer your hearts and put you on the path that leads you directly into divine love itself. We pray that you encounter no rough roads on this journey but rather that your heart reaches its ultimate destination — the love of God.”

As you grow in your relationship with God, remember that He wants to meet you and escort you along every step of the journey. He doesn’t just say, “Here is what I want for you — now figure out how to get there by yourself.” God wants to step in front of you and lead you! If you’ll listen, you’ll hear Him say, “I’m here to lead you, so follow Me, and I’ll lead your heart to the place where I want you to be — right into the center of My love!”

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

I prayerfully admit that so often I have tried to figure out my route in life on my own, even though God has desired to lead me each step of the way. My heart moves out of peace when I struggle to figure out what steps to take, which way to go, or what to do. Since the Holy Spirit wants to be my Guide to personally escort me into His perfect plan for my life, I surrender to His leadership today and yield to Him as my Escort. Father, thank You for meeting me where I am and leading my heart on the most direct route into Your plan and Your love.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

Today I declare that I am sensitive to the leadership of the Lord in my life; therefore, I no longer wander aimlessly about as I attempt to fulfill God’s will for my life. I want to do God’s will, and He wants to lead me so I can get into the center of His plan more quickly, less expensively, and without wasting needless energy. Instead of trying to figure it all out by myself, I will heed God’s Word; I will carefully listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit; and I will let the Lord be my personal Guide to escort me along the path of His love and into His plan for my life.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

Can you think of a time when God wanted to lead you on a short route to His destination, but you didn’t listen? Did it end up costing you more time and energy than was necessary for you to get into His will for your life?
How do you know when God is leading you? What are the signals you sense when the Holy Spirit is saying, “Follow Me, and I’ll get you there more quickly and less expensively?” Could you describe to someone else what it’s like for the Lord to lead you on a straight path?
Can you remember a moment when you didn’t listen to the leading of the Lord and ended up way off-track? What did it cost you? How would things have been different if you had listened? What did you learn from that experience that you would want someone else to learn so he or she could avoid your mistakes?