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There is nothing subjective about God the Holy Spirit, (Romans 8:14) “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27) He’s not the product of our human feelings or imaginations. He’s the Creator of the universe. We need to learn to discern the difference between our own thoughts, the temptations of the devil, and the voice of the Holy Spirit.
The more we die to (Galatians 2:20) and deny ourselves, (Luke 9:23) the more we can recognize and align with the living God and with the inner objective teaching of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:13, 1 John 2:27, & John 14:26) Then our life and character will begin to clearly and outwardly demonstrate the objective inner reality of the Spirit in and through us. (1 Corinthians 2:4-5) The world desperately needs to see people who call themselves Christians begin to surrender to and demonstrate the real presence and power of God the Holy Spirit.
“Submit yourselves then to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:7-8) The battle you experience within you between the devil and God is real. It’s not your subjective imagination. “Fight the good fight of faith.” (1 Timothy 6:12)
* Resist hatred. Draw near to love.
* Resist sadness. Draw near to joy.
* Resist anxiety. Draw near to peace.
* Resist frustration. Draw near to patience.
* Resist rudeness. Draw near to kindness.
* Resist badness. Draw near to goodness.
* Resist rebellion. Draw near to faithfulness.
* Resist harshness. Draw near to gentleness.
* Resist self-focus. Draw near to self-control.
* Resist pride. Draw near to humility.
* Resist despair. Draw near to hope.
Amen! Beautifully worded, Steve. I love the simple clarity of the “resist…draw near to…” list. We, meaning of course myself, tend to wander off the simple and direct path. Thank you.
Wow
Are you saved? YES
How do you know?
For in the gospel, a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last!” Romans 1:16-17
(Living by faith in the sweet story of the cross, I hear the man on the middle cross say COME INTO MY KINGDOM.)
When you ask, “how are my relationships?” Do you agree that sometimes one can be pursuing love toward a friend and the subjective experience of that relationship feels off although you are seeking to love them as God sees them? I think when you ask the question about relationships, I immediately go to hard relationships not my closest ones like wife, kids, and close friends.
My Wake Up call has been off a lot lately and I REALLY miss it. I missed April 30, May 2-10, 12-14. So thrilled I got it today—May 15. I need it to get my day going in the right direction. I have prayed and will continue that I can keep getting a Wake Up Call every day. I love it.
I really enjoy hearing you and your Dad sing together! What a special relationship!
How blessed I am by your wake up call and I love to share these sweet and sobering nuggets with my sisters and husband going out into the world like spokes on a wheel moving the Body of Christ Thank you and the Word of God!!!
Wow! This stung more than I would like to admit, but they say confession is good for the soul. My “go to” scripture is Romans 8:16, whereas my husband rests on Romans 10:9, especially as it relates to our adult children and their spiritual walk. Instead of either/or, I see these scriptures as a continuum on the journey of sanctification. It begins with a confession (Rom 10:9); as we grow, we become aware of the Holy Spirit’s work in maturing us (Rom. 8:16), and over time we see growing evidence of His work, in how we love God and people (1 John 3:14-15). Case in point, just this morning in my devotional time I was led to Romans 5:5 – “the love of God has been poured out in our hearts”. I was convicted that until I can really bask and rejoice and bathe in the reality of God‘s overflowing, unconditional love for me, I will be unable to love others the way God has called me to do. I praise God for the awareness and the conviction. I know that even this is because of His great love for me. I pray one day I’ll be able to stand on 1 John 3:14-15 as the evidence of my salvation, but in the meantime, I’m rejoicing over Romans 8:16.
Re: Romans 8:16 –
I have always resisted the mushy, subjective interpretation of this passage. Yes, there IS a subjective witness, but if the Spirit’s witness with our spirits does not produce external, visible fruit (Gal. 5:22-23), a change of attitude and behavior, then it is just self-deception.
Your father has a nice voice. I think he could be considered a “crooner.” Maybe you could let him do a solo of some sort??