Let the Spirit Direct You to Help People at the Point of Their Need - John 16:13-27
"But when He, the Spirit of Truth (The Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (The whole truth). For He will not speak HIs own message (on his own authority) but He will tell whatever He hears (from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to him) and He will announce and declared to you the things that are to come (that will happen in the future). John 16:13 (Amplified)
Theme: The Holy Spirit gives supernatural wisdom, understanding and sensitivity to help people at the precise point of their most essential need.
The following are eleven ways that the Spirit of God enables, enlightens and engages us in the process of helping to meet people’s needs:
1. The Holy Spirit helps us sow
faith where there is doubt;
trust where there is envy;
love where there is hatred;
calm where there is anger;
assurance where there is fear;
peace where there is conflict;
contentment where there is jealousy;
healing where there is sickness;
maturity where there is immaturity;
unity where there is divisiveness;
progress where there is a stalemate;
trust where there is suspicion;
joy where there is sadness;
hope where there is hopelessness;
power where there is weakness;
control where there is a loss of self-control;
purpose where there is meaninglessness;
motivation where there is complacency;
peace where there is conflict;
direction where there is confusion;
light where there is darkness;
encouragement where there is discouragement;
knowledge where there is ignorance;
patience where there is impatience;
authority where there is anarchy;
wisdom where there is uncertainty; service where there is selfishness;
forgiveness where there is sin; and
solutions when there are problems.
Ask the Lord to help you look to the Lord for His all sufficient grace in all situations for every relationship and with every ministry. (2 Cor. 12:9,10)
2. The Holy Spirit knows how to add blessings to us without adding any sorrow. Solomon wrote, "The blessings of the Lord brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it." (Proverbs 10:22) Ask the Lord to let you be a channel of His blessings to people without adding any unnecessary burdens to them.
Illustration: Help people to pray as Jabez prayed, "Oh, Lord, would you bless me indeed and enlarge my coasts and would your hand be with me and would you keep me from evil that it may not do me harm and I know you will hear and grant my request." (I Chron 4:10)
3. The Holy Spirit gives SPECIAL grace during our times of need. David wrote, "The arrogant are attacking me O God; a band of ruthless men seeks my life - men without regard for you. But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Turn to me and have mercy on me; grant your strength to your servant... Give me a sign of your goodness that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me." (Psa. 86:14-17)
Application: Ask the Lord to help you to show people how they may find whatever they need through the Spirit’s power.
Illustration:Sometime back the Associated Press carried this dispatch: "Glasgow, Ky.--Leslie Puckett, after struggling to start his car, lifted the hood and discovered that someone had stolen the motor." Without the Holy Spirit’s power we are like that car without its engine.
Associated Press.
4. The Holy Spirit helps people make use of the rich resources they have in Christ. Paul wrote, "God has not given us the spirit of fear, but a Spirit of power, love and discipline." (2 Tim. 1:7) Ask the Lord to help you show people how they may better appropriate ALL of the rich resources they have in Christ.
Illustration: It was 1916, and Hattie Green was dead. Hattie’s life is a sad demonstration of what it is like to be among the living dead. When Hattie died, her estate was valued at over $100 million; yet Hattie lived in poverty. She ate cold oatmeal because it cost money to heat it. When her son’s leg became infected, Hattie wouldn’t get it treated until she could find a clinic that wouldn’t charge her. By then, her son’s leg had to be amputated. Hattie died arguing over the value of drinking skim milk. She had money to meet her every need, but she chose to live as if it didn’t exist.
Turning Point, March, 1993.
5. The Holy Spirit enables people to do things that they might think otherwise impossible. Habakkuk wrote, "The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights." (Hab. 3:19)
Application: Ask the Lord to show people how they can trust Him in doing the seemingly impossible through the Spirit’s empowerment.
6. The Holy Spirit inspires people when they see no visible resources available for their needs. Habakkuk wrote, "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior." (Hab. 3:17,18)
Application: Ask the Lord to help you become an example of one who rejoices in anticipation of what the Lord will miraculously provide to meet your personal, relational, family, social, financial and ministry needs.
7. The Holy Spirit is able to show us truths from scripture that minister to our precise emotional, mental, or spiritual need. Samuel wrote, "O Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant." (2 Sam. 7:28)
Application: Ask the Lord to direct you to the scripture that will best minister to people at the precise point of their need.
8. The Holy Spirit is able to fulfill God’s purpose in our life when we think all hope is gone. David wrote, "I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills His purpose for me." (Psa. 57:2)
Application: Ask the Lord to help you foster the kind of trust in people that encourages them to know that God will fulfill His purpose through them regardless of their circumstances, adversity or problems.
9. The Holy Spirit is able to overshadow any problem with God’s perfect solution. The angel spoke to Mary, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35)
Application: Ask the Lord to help you teach people more ways that the Spirit will overshadow their inadequacy with God’s adequacy.
10. The Holy Spirit is able to give us direction when we seem confused or overwhelmed. Paul wrote, "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." (I Cor. 2:16)
James wrote, "If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God (Who gives) to everyone liberally and ungrudingly, without reproach or faultfinding, and it will be given him." (James 1:5)
Many people do not have the sensitivity required to maintain healthy relationships or the rapport that fosters trust because they do not ask God for the wisdom and compassion that only He can give.
Application: Ask the Lord for help in teaching people how they can gain the mind of Christ to see all things from His insight.
Illustration:HOLY SPIRIT, infilling
A walk in the Spirit will of necessity be a walk in accordance with the Word the Spirit has inspired. The parallel between Eph 5:18-21 and Col 3:15-17 is significant. The same results are said to flow from being filled with the Spirit in the first cast, and being filled with the Word in the second. To remain filled with the Spirit, and thus enjoy His continuing sanctifying work, will mean continuing to be filled with the Word. The relationship is obvious.
J.O. Sanders, Enjoying Intimacy with God, Moody
11. The Holy Spirit is able to take all of us successfully through our Job like experiences. James wrote, "We consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about." (James 5:11)
Application: Ask God for His total blessings in whatever you need. Trust the Lord to use the trials of life to sensitize you to the needs of others.
Paul wrote, "He comforts us in all our afflictions so that we can comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort we receive from God." (2 Cor. 1:4)
Conclusion:Moody was to have a campaign in England. An elderly pastor protested, "Why do we need this ’Mr. Moody’? He’s uneducated, inexperienced, etc. Who does he think he is anyway? Does he think he has a monopoly on the Holy Spirit?" A younger, wiser pastor rose and responded, "No, but the Holy Spirit has a monopoly on Mr. Moody." Let the Spirit have a monopoly on your life and He will empower you to do extraordinary works for Jesus.
Source Unknown.
Illustration:THE 7 DEADLY HABITS OF TRULY MISERABLE PEOPLE!
A college president recently told his graduating seniors: "It matters little what you’ve learned here, if in the end you can’t find ways of getting along and working things out with others." Dr. William Glasser says emotional turmoil and misery come from trying to control others through:
(1) criticizing;
(2) complaining;
(3) nagging;
(4) punishing;
(5) bribing;
(6) blaming;
(7) threatening.
When you say, "I wouldn’t have this headache if you’d just tidy up around here," or, "If you really loved me, you’d do what I ask," you’re practicing control. Actually, the way we manipulate each other, it’s a miracle we’ve any relationship left!
Where did these habits come from? We saw them practiced by teachers, parents and others, and started usiing them ourselves. And they do work-but only short-term, because as human beings we’re all genetically wired to withstand outside pressure. What you resist, persists. When you coerce others they usually dig in their heels, or sneak around behind your back. Until you stop trying to control others, your relationships will keep ending in power struggles that makes everybody miserable.
So what’s the answer?
Listen: "Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you." That means:
(a) Admit that, as difficult as it may be, your current tactics don’t work.
(b) Remember, "Where there is no vision, the people perish" ( Prov 29:18 ). Take time to create a concrete, mental picture of the land of person you want to become.
(c) Work gradually on changing yourself by adopting the scriptural principles you’d like to integrate into your life.
"MAKE ME TRULY HAPPY BY GREEING...LOVING ONE ANOTHER...WORKING TOGETHER." ( PHILIPPIANS 2:2 NLT )
THE 6 HABITS OF TRULY HAPPY PEOPLE
Somebody said, "If you want to break a bad habit-just drop it!" And we might add, replace it with a better habit like:
(1) acceptance;
(2) encouragement;
(3) listening;
(4) respect;
(5) support;
(6) trust;
If you think this sounds simpler than it is, you’re right! But here are some beginner steps you can take to make it work:
(a) Wherever you are, be there! Ask yourself: "Do I encourage others? Support their choices? Listen with concern? Or do I just nod, while everything goes in one ear and out the other?" Paul says, "Don’t be selfish...he interested in others...and what they are doing" ( Phil 2:3 NLT ). Sit down and focus on them without the interruption of cell phones, pagers, TV and other distractions, You’ll be amazed how good it feels once you develop the habit.
(b) Evnision the new you! It’s easier to act your way into right thinking, than think your way into right acting. You’ll grow quicker by developing a mental image of yourself as someone who already practices these habits.
(c) Choose your battles! Before you blame, complain, criticize, nag, threaten, punish, or bribe, ask yourself, "How important is this in the big picture? So what if the beds aren’t made-up perfectly, or dinner’s a little late! Is it worth hurting the relationship over?"
(d) Ask the all-important question! When you’re not sure how to handle things, ask, "What would Jesus do?" Then do it!
From Linda, the prayerwarrior:
http://lindashere.homestead.com/home.html
