Now What?-Lifetime of Purity

Now What?

Pure Life-Lifetime of Purity

1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 2 Timothy 2:22

Question: Have you ever wanted to make sure you were getting the real deal?

Introduction: When I was wanting to buy Morgan an engagement ring I was a poor college kid that had no consistent job. I did know, however, that I wanted to marry her as well as give her a ring I felt she was worthy of having. I worked real hard that summer building fences and performing other jobs to save as much money as I could to buy her the ring. After going to different stores to search for the ring I knew she would want, I found out that I really was poor.

In my quest to buy her “the ring,” the jeweler at Kay’s could tell two things. First, I had my mind set on a particular ring, and second, that I really wanted the love of my life to have something special. He told me of a particular ring he knew of that was available on their network of a store database. It was a “refurbished” ring, meaning that someone either bought the wrong style or the proposal didn’t go as planned. (Yes, Morgan knows about this). I found an amazing ring for a percentage of the price. Now, I wouldn’t have gone to a back alley for this sort of transaction, but I would only trust someone that knew what the real deal was for this particular ring.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11: “Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

My Inheritance, v.9-11: Hopefully someday you will receive some sort of inheritance. There is always something that our older family members have that we would like to own. Mine is the Bible and rifle of my grandfather. It was worth having and I wanted to make sure I received these particular items. In this life with Christ, we are called to a pure lifestyle. It is something where we should strive to only obtain the real things in this life, and to do so in a manner that is pleasing in the sight of God.

There is a wrong and a right way to live this life for Christ, especially in regard to a life of Godly purity. Unison with God is the goal if you are a Christian, but our Christian culture is being influenced by our culture of “equality” and “freedoms.” American Christianity is being influenced by the culture of society and not the culture of the Bible. We are not much different than the Church of Corinth. They were living as they pleased and were still acting the same as before. Understand that Christianity is not a club, but a relationship of purity that must be followed. God has called each of us to live a life that is set apart and sanctified before Him through the Blood of Christ.

If we are going to receive our inheritance in Christ , we must understand what God declares as pure living. Perverting the walk with Christ is unacceptable. We cannot live a life that is similar to the world and still claim to have a spiritual life. It is important to not abuse the grace and mercy of God. You are bombarded with impurity such as that mentioned by Paul everywhere, and it is not okay to perverse your lifestyle because your culture says it is okay. Strive to be different and commit to your inheritance.

Too much of our “Christian” culture says it’s okay to live together unmarried, to dress certain ways, to speak certain ways, to act like the world, to indulge in “what pleases you,” and you can still be a devout Christian. The Lord tells us to consecrate ourselves, to purify our lives, and to live a life worthy of our calling. We must ask God for the courage and the strength to stand for what He declares is right.

2 Timothy2:22: “Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.”

Run Away v.22: If you spend any time around a school playground, it will not be uncommon for you to witness boys chasing girls around the playground equipment and vice versa. They are young and don’t want any part of the opposite gender because of “cooties.” As we age though, we are drawn more to the opposite gender. While God designed man and woman for one another, it is important that we pursue that relationship with intentions of purity. 

Paul tells Timothy to run away from anything that gets your lustful thoughts and acts going. Paul actually wrote in 1 Corinthians for it is better to remain as he was and to be unmarried in order to focus your attention on the work of the Lord. However, he also encourages us to marry so we do not burn in our lusts (1 Corinthians 7). Marriage is not just meant to be a way to enjoy relationships with the opposite gender, but to be the symbolic reflection of the relationship God desires.

To get back on the subject a little more, images and ideas bombard us today in America. We must run away from lustful things and cling to the right things. Don’t stay in a place you know sin can happen. Don’t be alone with a significant other that you are not married to that you know you want to do something with. Don’t be alone in a room by yourself with a computer or phone. Remove yourself from weaknesses and find companionship with a stronger, more experienced spiritual believer to develop some accountability.

The biggest effort we must attempt is to run towards God. When we devote more attention to Godly things we will find ourselves desiring things that will draw us closer to God. Use the Holy Spirit as your guide to push you through temptations and to remind you of the Word of God. The enemy is looking to destroy you anyway that he can and he desires to destroy your life the most through impurity. Impurity will break the special bond that God desires with you and the relationships you form with other believers, especially a spouse. As Christians we must strive for the excellence that God has for us.

I understand that this devotional hits a little close to home, and may even feel a little more judgmental and intrusive than other devotions. This is meant to encourage you to seek a pure lifestyle for a lifetime before God. Please do not lose sight of the fact God wants you pure before Him and do not let the world around you construe what He actually desires. May God bless you and give you the strength to endure to the end and fight through and beyond the snares of the enemy.

Blessings,

Nick Engleman

Now What-Yearly Mentorship

 Now What Series

Yearly Mentor-In Your Steps

Philippians 4:8-9

Question: Have you ever had to follow in someone else’s footsteps?

Intro: No one wants to be the guy after “the guy.” There can be so many expectations that have been established by your predecessor. From following the likes of Tom Brady to Nick Saban, the weight of being the next guy can become overwhelming. Now, imagine being the guy to continue the Gospel mission after Paul or Peter. Timothy had to take that role, as well as Titus. However, doing God’s work is never about us, but rather it is about being Spirit led to direct the spread of the Gospel. While the Holy Spirit is the ultimate reminder and teacher, we need earthly vessels to encourage, teach, and direct us throughout this mission. Also, we must look to invest in the next generation to help mentor them to grow in their callings. 

Philippians 4:8-9: “8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”

Continue Your Focus: Focus for my dogs depends on what is happening around them that stimulates their mind. If I am eating, they are laser focused on me, waiting for any moment in which food may fall. Bruzer, my Boxer, will have slobber dripping from his mouth into a puddle on the floor. He is carefully waiting in anticipation for even the smallest of morsels to hit his mouth. However, if I take either Bruzer or Stanley for a walk, maintaining their focus is tougher. They will wander all over the road, looking to chase squirrels, smell a bush, or eat something they found on the ground. As Christians, we must look to develop a high level of focus. Our main point of focus will determine what will influence us in this life.

In this letter, Paul encourages the Church in Philippi to focus on things that are a reflection of Christ. Paul takes on the role of teacher and mentor in many of his letters. Whether he was writing to whole groups, or specifically to individuals like Timothy, Titus, or Philemon, Paul was focused on each person becoming a reflection of Christ and living as Christ would have lived. Likewise when we have a Godly, Jesus-focused mentor that person is going to give us advice and direction that focuses on the kingdom mindset. Make sure to pay careful attention to what they are saying, and examine it against God’s Word.

While this verse tells us to focus on many things, it can be summed up in this easy statement, “Think About God.” God tells us to “Be Holy, for I am Holy.” When our thoughts are focused on God, we see things in the way God sees them. When we listen to a mentor that is directing us toward God, we begin to praise the Creator and not the mentor. Be careful to measure everything that your mentor says to the Word of God. If it doesn’t measure up, just politely and privately ignore it. As we listen to our mentor, measure everything to focus on God. It is important to remember that we are following Christ more so than a Godly mentor.

Follow a Godly Example

Paul is encouraging his audience to not only remember what he has taught them, but also to place it all into practice. Paul as much as anyone in history established a Godly example for anyone to follow. Paul even states in another letter that those who imitate him are imitating Christ. The weight of this is two-fold. Any mentor we follow and listen to should be an example of Christ, as well as any mentee that we have should be looking to follow our Christ-like attributes.

What is the point of having a godly influence in your life if you don’t practice what they teach? Paul wanted the Philippian church to put into practice what he had taught them. As we dive into a relationship with a mentor, we need to measure and practice what they have taught us. If we have a mentor and don’t listen to what they are saying they are just a vent for our problems in which we might as well say that we do not care about their wisdom. We must learn to value Godly mentorship and seek their wisdom and knowledge to be applied to our own lives.

As mentioned previously, it is important to mimic the Godly attributes of our mentors. We must learn to seek the Holy Spirit’s discernment when looking to apply lessons that our mentors are trying to teach us. When we see our mentors performing Godly commands and actions, we must strive to put those actions into place in our own lives. Godly action demonstrates our faith, in which James echoes by saying I will show you my faith by my actions. As we try to mimic their behavior that reflects Godly values, we can utilize them to help us when we fall short. While our mentor is not to replace Christ as our Lord, the mentor should be the best physical example of Christ we can utilize to grow ourselves into the image of Christ.

I have heard it said that every Christian should have Paul/Peter in their lives as well as a Timothy and/or Titus. While it is good to have a mentor we can use to develop our own walk, it is equally as important that we look to pour wisdom and knowledge into others. Please hear me though, be careful to become influential if you are still young in the faith. Paul once again cautions new believers to be careful, if not hesitant, to begin to preach and lead because they may become too prideful and fall. 

Seeking a mentorship is not something that any Christian should take lightly. Seek God’s wisdom and direction before committing to a mentor or to being one yourself. The worst place we can be is to follow or lead someone astray from the faith. The Word speaks on this in regards to causing children to fall away. How we lead others matters and mentorship carries extreme weight. May God give you the strength, wisdom, and endurance to take on both roles.

Now What-Monthly Evangelism

 Now What?

Changed View-Monthly Evangelism

2 Corinthians 5:13-21

Question: Have you ever had your views changed?

Intro: Growing up as someone that has always enjoyed politics, law, and government, I have leaned conservative in those beliefs. It probably started in Third Grade in Mrs. Ford’s class when we did class elections and I ran on the Republican ticket for the office of Class President. I lost in the primary and was selected as the vice presidential running mate for the Republican candidate. We lost in the general election, but I was appointed by the Class President as the Treasurer of his Cabinet. Can you believe I remember all of this from Third Grade? I know some people are thinking that I am a nerd and I totally embrace that title. I also will admit that I tried to start the impeachment process on our class president because he was always in trouble. 

Now, you are probably wondering where the changed perspective is coming in? Well, as I have matured I have found that as a Christian it is hard to be either conservative or liberal. Jesus was not anti-political, he was anti-controlling. This is not meant to be a political devotional, but we are dealing with more and more people that dive into identity politics. We will find more people that identify with a political affiliation more so than any other status. We must learn to be compassionate, selfless, kind, and respectful. Evangelism requires the ability to be empathetic, to talk less, and encourage beyond what we are capable of doing. Evangelism is not about us, it is about others finding Jesus. It has to be about developing an identity that reflects Christ more so than any other entity we associate with in this life.

2 Corinthians 5:13-21: 13 If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. 14 Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. 16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Crazy Change, v.13-15: One of the biggest changes that happened in my life was when we accepted the call to foster children. The first placement that we had had little to no time for preparation. Morgan and I were getting ready to leave to go watch a basketball game when we received a phone call about a placement being needed for three boys. We made a decision in 30 minutes to open our home for 18 months to three pretty amazing little boys. Within a week of those boys returning home, we brought in a brother and sister who are now officially our own adopted children. 

Evangelism can be just like these scenarios. Short notice with no real time to think but only to react. This is why I believe that Paul writes in another epistle to ready in and out of season to proclaim the Gospel. Our preparation starts with having the mindset to always be looking to honor and glorify God in everything we say and do. When we submit to an obedient lifestyle before God, we should no longer reflect our old selves, but be a reflection of the new creation that we are in Christ. For lack of a better analogy, we are walking billboards for Christ. Furthermore, we are no longer our old persons, but we are God’s. The word declares that we are no longer slaves to sin, but slaves to the authority of Christ. It is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives through me.

Re-evaluate, v.16-17: In a book I read called Lead Like “It” Matters, Craig Groeschel mentions that every leader must develop the ability to evaluate and re-evaluate programs and initiatives that they put into place. The understanding is that by taking an honest look at different plans it allows for leaders to understand why something may have: worked, didn’t work, partially worked, or just needs more time. Groeschel mentioned there can be various reasons why something worked or did not, so the evaluation process allows for true assessment. The re-evaluation process that we see here in Paul’s letter is the ability to navigate and understand how God views individuals.

When we submit to the calling of Christ in our lives, we should begin to develop a new perspective on people. As mentioned prior, we start to develop more empathy and understanding for people. Even though we may see the flaws, the “glasses” we start wearing allow us to see the potential of others through the blood of Christ. Furthermore, we will recognize that God gave us grace and mercy which is available to every person. Though God does not need us, He chooses to use us in His attempts to reach every person. We must begin to see that Christ died for every person, no matter how wicked a person may be in this life. God can redeem any person who is open to receiving His message of redemption.

We Have A Job, v.18-21: Every little kid wants to be a part of tasks that are being performed. They have a desire to help even if they cannot truly comprehend what is happening or are unable to physically provide any assistance. Still, they are eager to play a role in the project that is being performed. As believers, we need a willingness to participate in the expansion of God’s kingdom. Not only are we called to point others to Christ, we also play a role in the discipleship of new believers. This gift is available to all and we must be willing to share it with everyone.

The role of an ambassador is to represent the interests of their home country in a foreign land. As Christ’s ambassadors, we represent the interests of God in reconciling humanity back to Him. In this, we are acting not under the blanket of our own authority, but under the blanket of the authority established through the blood of Christ. Our job is to represent Christ well and to help others see the benefits of living a life under the covering of and submission to Christ.

The essence of this devotional is to encourage you to play an active role in evangelizing for the Kingdom of Christ. The design of “monthly evangelism” is to commit to one person per month to reach for the kingdom of God. Each one of us can probably think of a person right off the bat that we know that is not living a life committed to Christ. Now this person may not be our easiest conversion, but we can’t lose sight of the Great Commission. We must be willing to work to point others toward Christ, baptise them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and make them disciples of the Lord. As we do this, we must be willing to be the reflection of Christ that promotes relatability and connection for each person.

Now What? I'm Starving-Weekly Devotions

 Now What?

I’m Starving-Weekly Devotions

1 Peter 2:1-3, Hebrews 4:12-13

Question: Have you been so hungry you would eat anything?

Intro: My wife would proclaim that I am a picky eater. Here is a list of things that I am willing to eat: green beans, asparagus, brussels sprouts, cooked cabbage, carrots, and more. Things I won’t eat: pickled beets (I tried and spit it back into my mother-in-law’s hand), tuna salad, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, ranch dressing, sushi, just to name a few. If you noticed, the things I typically don’t like are condiments. They are food maskers, to help mask the taste of bland food. I tell my son that he doesn’t like salad, but it’s the only way to eat ranch without getting curious looks.

What we eat spiritually matters. We are not called to rely on masking our faith (Sunday church attendance). God desires us to grave fellowship with Him, to dig deeply into His word and prayer, and to develop unity with His Holy Spirit. We are not called to just eat the condiments of this spiritual life, but to develop a deeper appetite for the meat of God’s word.

Got Milk, 1 Peter. 2:1-3: “So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. 2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, 3 now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.”

The Got Milk? Campaign is still incredibly large today. To this day, this campaign uses professional athletes and musicians to promote the drinking of milk in cafeterias across America. Growing up, I remember seeing the likes of Serena Williams, Michael Phelps, and Mark McGwire promoting the drinking of milk in our own cafeteria at school. There is only one problem; I am not a fan of white milk and the chocolate milk at school was to be desired (Chocolate skim milk, ick). 

The goal was to rid America’s youth of sugary options that did not promote a healthy lifestyle. Milk was pushed to help students have a more nutritious option that helped build stronger bones and bodies. Young believers must make active choices to rid ourselves of the junk (sinful living) and begin to pursue pure things. We must be willing to change our diet in pursuit of drawing closer to God and seeing His plan for our lives come to fruition. 

With any good diet, if we are to be spiritually healthy we must remove things that reflect our old selves: anger, lying, hypocrisy, envy and gossip. Peter tells us that as new Christians, or young Christians, we must crave the Word of God like a newborn infant. Think of the infant; it cries until something is given to him. We too must earnestly seek God’s word as it provides nourishment to our souls as a newborn seeking milk to grow stronger and healthier. 

As we gain this access to this nourishment, we will start to see a craving for more of God’s Word. This will lead to a desire to seek avenues to grow on our own merit. Christians must learn to begin to feed themselves beyond being served at church by a pastor, small group leader, or an evangelist. Part of “crying out for nourishment” means that we begin to seek ways to pursue growth in ourselves. We must develop a consistent devotional life, find uplifting podcasts, and listen to music that points to Christ.

Down to the Bone, Hebrews 4:12-13: “12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.”

Have you ever cut yourself really deep? I did it two Christmases ago and it was not so fun, ha! Morgan bought new end tables and while she was gone I thought I would be a good husband and put them together. The metal legs were zip-tied together and I decided to use my new pocket knife to cut the zip-ties. (Such a bad idea). About the time I thought to myself that this was a bad idea, the knife slipped along the metal leg and I stabbed my hand. Oh my goodness, did that hurt. I started to look for super glue because I never go to the doctor’s office. In an attempt to find super glue, I started to look for gauze and tape to wrap my hand. I could not find either of these items so I used a folded up paper towel and painter’s tape to cover the wound. 

To make a long story short, I decided to go to the doctor’s office to get stitches and a tetanus shot. I was also hoping to do this all before my wife arrived back home. That failed and she ended up meeting me at the doctor’s office. There is so much more to this story overall, from my emergency contact to how my wife found out, but I will save that for another day.

We see here that the Word of God cuts us deep spiritually. The more we read God’s word, the more it begins to pierce us and change how we think and act. The word division is significant here because our mind and spirit work against each other. If we are truly committed to growing in our relationship with God, we must submit to the Word of God inserting its way into our hearts and transforming us into a new being. As long as we allow things of the world to influence our behaviors and thought process, we will never reach the fulfillment of God’s plan in our lives. The Word of God is meant to be a tool that cuts away the bad and mends us toward the will of God.

The more we study God’s Word the more we will become aware of issues that are hindering our growth in Christ. The Word of God is living and breathing, which means that it moves in our lives to redeem, transform, and renew us. We must learn to study the Word of God, meditate on it, and let it breathe transformation into our lives. As we develop a commitment to understanding God’s Word, we will begin to seek God’s wisdom, intervention, and guidance in all that we commit to do.

If you are a new Christian, understand that as babes of the faith that you need the presentation of God’s Word in ways that your spiritual stomach can tolerate as you consume it. Like a newborn’s digestive system can only handle the gentleness of mother’s milk, a newborn Christian must develop a tolerance for more substantial food. Be careful to not get overwhelmed in deeper studies to the point of developing a sense of confusion of the Word.

Likewise, as you grow, don’t stick to the simplicity of the Word of God. Be willing to dig deeper and study God’s Word in more profound ways that will stretch and grow your individual faith. God wants so much more for you and as you develop more reliance on His leading and understanding, you will see the Holy Spirit reveal more depths of God’s Word. Commit today to studying God’s Word on a daily basis in a variety of ways so that you will find yourself hungering for more of God’s Word.

Blessings,

Nick Engleman

As always, if you have any questions about this devotional, or would like to know more about Jesus, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at nengleman902@gmail.com, or by phone at 417-808-1049.

Now What? Daily Repentance

Now What?

Daily Repentance-Right Feeling

2 Corinthians 7:9-11

Question: Have you ever felt like you knew something was right?

Intro: One of the best feelings in sports is when you hit a baseball right in the perfect spot of the bat, especially a wood bat. It is almost as if you did not hit anything at all. The ball explodes off the bat and there is no negative feedback from the ball making contact with the bat. It flies off the bat and many times this is the no doubt home run that a hitter hits in the game. As a hitter you know you performed everything exactly right. To be honest, it is hard to explain this moment to someone that is a non-baseball player. 

Spiritually, the feeling that one has when they come to the realization that God is real and that Jesus is His son is freeing. When an individual steps into this realm of humility and forgiveness, the weight is removed. However, this is something each believer must decide to do as an active step in pursuit of a lifestyle of repentance. Jesus told the disciples that if they desired to be His followers that each of them must deny themselves, pick up their own cross, and live like him, daily. (Luke 9:23)

2 Corinthians 7:9-11: 9 Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. 10 For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. 11 Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right.

Sorrow

Sorrow is deep sadness that many times cannot be explained in words. It is this emotional weight that bogs us down to a point that can hinder our ability to move forward and function properly. However, here is the thing about sorrow. Sorrow can actually have an effect on us that can lead to positive change. If you are mourning the loss of someone close to you, that change can mean learning to live without that person in your life. But the sorrow that is discussed here by Paul is meant to express a desire to change something negative in us to something new and promising.

Without remorse, there is no self-recognition that something must be changed within us. Paul writes to the Corinthians here that he rejoices in the fact that they feel sorry for their actions. He is not doing this because he finds it comical, but he is recognizing that they are self-aware in that they must make some changes to reach the standards established by God through the blood of Christ. This is the recognition that they are developing a deeper connection with God as they are becoming more in tune with their actions that are not pleasing to God.

What we should see is a correction of course to continue the pursuit of the path that leads to God’s righteousness. When you feel sorrow for your sins, it is evident that you recognize that God is convicting you to redirect your own desires and actions. It is important that we see this as a need to lean on salvation through Christ and find our worth in what God says about us. This is not meant to be viewed as condemnation, but a renewal of body, mind, and spirit.

As we live in Godly sorrow, it is not about self-defamation, but self-denial and living through the anointing of the blood of Christ. Furthermore, we take daily action to live our lives under the covering of the blood of Christ. Sorrow of this magnitude is realizing that we must make a daily commitment to live in the salvation of Christ.

Serious

If you know me, you will know that I am a very serious person and would never hide behind sarcasm. Okay, if you really know me, you would know that my sarcasm typically is so strong that people sometimes cannot tell whether I am being serious or not. I really enjoy taking advantage of gullible people. (FYI, gullible is not in the dictionary). 

Now, something to know about Paul is that he was someone that wrote with a little bit of sarcasm in his letters. This is not one of those times. Paul is genuinely encouraging the readers for their willingness to become serious about their relationship with God. He sees that they have taken measures to live a life of cleanliness and righteousness before God. They have committed to God’s standards.

As for us it means we must develop a willingness to live our lives wanting what God wants. In this verse, Paul celebrates the Corinthians because of their seriousness to make things right with God. They do not waver away from what God wants for them, but they press on in their faith. Paul’s statement here is to commend them for their faith and actions to pursue a better walk with God. Likewise, we must develop this same sort of zeal to commit to the same daily standard.

When you become serious about your relationship with God, you begin to push and work to find yourself approved in God’s eyes. Part of daily repentance is working beyond the sin of your past and your present to pursue God’s love. It always requires an assertive effort to be honest with your own struggles and your strengths. God does not expect you to be perfect, but he desires obedience, effort, and tenacity in your pursuit of His love and righteousness. Once forgiven, God expects you to take this new life seriously. He expects daily repentance and renewal of your own life.

The point of this new series is to create a practical design to help you to continue to push deeper and further in your relationship with God through the blood of Christ. These should be simple ways to increase your desire to live a life as a believer in Christ. 

Disclaimer: In the coming weeks, each one of these five practices were developed by Ythology founder Jeff Grenell from Minneapolis, MN. I developed my own devotional content tied to his five practical actions of faith that all believers should commit to in their individual walks with Christ.

Holy Spirit-Emotional Support

 Holy Spirit

Emotional Support

John 14:15-30

Question: Who/what is your emotional support when you need comfort and advocacy?

Intro: If you walk into a public place it is not uncommon to see someone with a dog of some sort. Sadly, many of these people have dogs because they are dealing with some sort of emotional, physical, or mental issue. These support animals are there to provide help or assistance whenever the individual may need it. This support can lead to life saving action by the animals to find aid for their human. The Holy Spirit is our support system, our emotional and spiritual advocate to continue to push us towards the aid that God desires for our lives.

Read John 14:15-30 (For sake of space, I encourage you to use a physical copy of your Bible, online source, or application on your phone to aid your reading today.)

An Advocate

Each one of us desires to have an advocate, a person that is in your corner. As an educator I have found myself a witness to some pretty bizarre situations in which I have noticed a parent being an advocate for their child despite their child’s pretty poor behavior. These parents have been adamant that their child was the victim or in the right to act as they did in a particular situation. It honestly has been astonishing to see parents essentially condone terrible behavior and decision making for their child.

While Jesus is our stopgap, it is not so that we can continue to live and act in poor behavior. Jesus advocates for us through the Holy Spirit to press us towards living as a reflection of Himself. My wife and I are licensed foster care workers. In this we have found that we are advocates for the children that come into our home because they enter from a position of vulnerability into our care. We see them in ways that really no one else really does. The Holy Spirit is the one that continues to advocate for us due to His presence always being with us and pointing us towards the standards that God desires from us.

This advocacy is to ensure that we see ourselves as Jesus does, children that need the restoration and redemption of God. Though our sin separates from God, Jesus is always advocating for us through the Holy Spirit to stay in the atonement of His blood. Furthermore, Jesus acts as the advocate for us to remind God that His blood is the atonement of our sins.

A Gift

The Holy Spirit is a gift for us to utilize as a tool to strengthen our relationship with God. Everything that the Holy Spirit provides to us is meant to aid us in some capacity of our spiritual journey. In this portion of Scripture, Jesus is teaching us that the Holy Spirit is a gift that points to the love of God, His standards, peace of mind, and comfort of heart. If we utilize the Holy Spirit correctly in our individual lives, we will see that the Holy Spirit is always helping us to sustain a position of connectivity to God and the standards He has for us individually. 

Another essential of the Holy Spirit is that He provides us comfort in this life. There are many different things in this life that may cause us to feel stress and anxiety. The Holy Spirit is meant to comfort us and lead us in the wisdom and discernment of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit gives us peace of mind that though this world has various burdens and difficulties we can always find peace and rest in God. The Gift of the Holy Spirit is a reminder that God is working all things together for our good despite the trials and struggles we face in life. 

 

A Reminder

I do not know about you, but it would have been nice to have an expert whispering in my ear during a test to provide the correct answers. Now, I am grateful that God has blessed myself with a fairly strong memory so tests were not always that stressful. However, there are times it would be nice to not have to stress about anything on the test that we call this life. The Holy Spirit works as a reminder of all the things that we have been taught about the goodness and grace of God.

Growing up, I remember many times it was as if my father or mother was right there whispering to me a lesson that they had taught. It was in those moments that I was thankful for the memory that God has blessed me with because it definitely kept me out of more trouble than I could have easily gotten myself into growing up. I believe that the Holy Spirit is like my parents’ voices in my head, always pointing to do the right thing. Or in this case, always pointing to follow the standards that God has established. It is not about following the rules, but living by the fruit of the Spirit. In doing so, we are able to showcase that God is empowering us to live through the reflection of Christ.

The Holy Spirit led life is about living as a complete reflection of Christ. While doing so can be difficult, the more we remove the flesh and let the Holy Spirit live through us, the more we can live up to the standards God has for us. The standard that we are living up to is Jesus, and thankfully, Jesus has given us the gift of atonement and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

Blessing,

Nick Engleman

If you have any questions about starting a relationship with Jesus, or about this devotional, please feel free to reach out to me at 417-808-1049, or at nengleman902@gmail.com.

Holy Spirit-My Superpower

 Holy Spirit

My Super Power

1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Question: Have you ever desired to have a superpower?

Intro: Unless you are born Superman, it’s more than likely that you have not been born with supernatural abilities. While you may have talents, I don’t think you can fly, run at supersonic speed, or lift and throw large objects. (If you can, please reach out because I am taking applications for a new best friend). While I have been born with talents, as well as you, I am not able to perform in ways that have supernatural influence. My talents will only be enhanced by any supernatural intervention that I, and others, experience through God’s anointing of the Holy Spirit. I gain supernatural abilities and influence the more I let the Holy Spirit impact my life and calling. The Holy Spirit is my superpower.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11: ““There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.”

Spiritual Gifts We each have specific physical gifts that allow us to minister or work in life. Some can sing, some are great speakers, while others can teach. While physical gifts are important, God uses spiritual gifts to reveal His Power to those who do and do not believe in Him. The basic principle behind spiritual giftings and anointing is that many people need supernatural experiences to acknowledge a supernatural being. 

God uses spiritual gifts through the empowerment of the baptism of the Holy Spirit to reach the lost, heal the broken, and intervene in ways only He can in people’s lives. God intended for the giftings of the Holy Spirit to work through His followers that have been baptized in the Holy Spirit. Each one of us has the opportunity to access these Spiritual gifts to allow the voice of God to speak in our lives. Paul tells us in another chapter to earnestly seek all the gifts, because in these we see the power of God move through us to reveal His will and glory.

In doing so, God can and does provide an array of gifts to showcase His power and authority in a variety of ways. God is like the host of a great variety show that will display this array in order to awe those who do and do not believe in His presence. God uses these different gifts in his people to reach those that need to know Him and need a touch from Him.

Through these spiritual giftings, God’s power is displayed through His people to provide growth, healing, and direction. Don’t forget that these powers are for the displaying of God’s power, not our own benefit. God desires to showcase His authority through faithful servants of His kingdom. Like the example Jesus set before us, these gifts should be to display God’s desire to heal the hurt, sick, and broken, not a display of show. When Jesus was asked to display a sign or miracle, he only did so when people had faith that he could restore and heal, not use it to display his supernatural ability. God’s spiritual giftings are not to be used to showcase our abilities, self promote, or to profit. These gifts are used by God to heal, mend, and reveal His power.

For God’s Glory: When we people do great things, it is easy to take credit for it. Think about group projects in school. Of four people, one does most of the work, another helps but is mostly in the way, another does nothing but watch the first two, and the last person disappears until the end. All get the credit, but only one truly does the work. What we need to understand is that when God works through us in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we are usually the person that helps but if we are not careful we will get in the way. We must see that we are like an instrument in that we can’t do anything unless someone plays it.

The Holy Spirit is the one that works through us. Spiritual gifts are great tools that God provides to believers that are baptized by the Holy Spirit. These gifts are meant to display the power of God through us. The Old Testament was full of great speakers of God that displayed God’s voice to His people. The Holy Spirit was active then as much as He is now, but the Holy Spirit was not actively working in “ordinary people.” The Holy Spirit now works through these gifts to be the voice of God to the current generation. If we place our hearts into a faithful position, we can become active instruments in the kingdom of God.

The active movement of the Holy Spirit is evident in those that have an active desire to see God’s presence impact the lives of others. Furthermore, we must also note that God has to reach people in different ways. God does not always work in the same manner, mostly because each person is different and will have different variants of supernatural anointing response. While some people will believe through simple means, much like a child believes in simple ideas, others will need greater convincing because of the hardness of their hearts.

If we desire to see a great move of God, we must recognize that the gifts of the Spirit will need to play a significant role in reaching the hardest of hearts. We must be willing to let the Holy Spirit work through us to accomplish the goal of reaching people for God’s Kingdom. This may mean reaching others through miracles, signs, and wonders. The gifts of the Spirit can and will honor God when our objective is to reach any and all of those who are lost,  and not just to be a dog and pony show of the faith. Remember God uses His Holy Spirit in His people to reach people that need a relationship with Him. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to Christ followers to reach those that desperately need Him

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not a requirement to reach heaven, but a way to better equip believers to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to non-believers. The Spiritual gifts we discussed are God’s way of using us in a variety of ways for those who need different and even extreme revelations of the power and authority of God. Be willing to ask God for different gifts and be ready to see Him use you in extreme ways.

Blessings,

Nick Engleman

As always, if you have any questions of Jesus Christ or this devotional, please feel free to reach out to me by email, nengleman902@gmail.com, or by phone at 417-808-1049.