So the last few weeks the Lord has been teaching me alot about the Holy Spirit. Especially in John 16 when we read:
The Work of the Holy Spirit
... I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for h if I do not go away, i the Helper will not come to you. But j if k I go, l I will send him to you. 8 m ... 13 When t the Spirit of truth comes, u he will v guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but w whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will x glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 y All that the Father has is mine; z therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
This passage got me really excited about the Helper (holy spirit) that lives inside of me. Especially when he says "it is to your advantage that I go away" so that he may send him to us. It says the Helper will guide us into all truth.
I have noticed alot lately how Satan is the "father of all lies" and I listen to them more often than I thought I did. Since I have been back from camp he is telling me:
-I am worthless because I'm not living for him every second like I was at camp
-I have to have a girlfriend to really enjoy this life
-My roommates don't want me to be hardcore about the Lord
-I am selfish when I am in college
.... And the list goes on. Usually I dwell on these thoughts and do not even idenify them as lies from the devil. But since I have read John 16 I know that those thoughts have no place in my mind because the Spirit of Truth lives within me. I have been able to take those lies captive in the power of the holy spirit.
I'm excited about continuing to read in Acts and see how the Lord uses the apostles through the Holy Spirit to do amazing things (like heal the lame in chapter 3).
this is extremely encouraging, because i have been struggling with those satan-fed thoughts as well. everyday i find myself thinking: i am not who i said i was. i am not doing enough for God's kingdom. i am not being disciplined enough or doing as much as i did at sky ranch. i am worthless to those around me. or that i am not worthy of being loved. all of these are ridiculous and i did not realize that until just now. this post seriously lifted my spirits...thanks cam. we all need to be reminded of the role of the spirit in our lives--that it is dwelling within us and that because of its presence, we are "guided into all truth..."
ReplyDeletenot to mention cameron, you seem to be living for Him just as much as you did at sky. you posted on this thing on your BIRTHDAY. you're a stud.
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