One Year Bible, August 19

ESTHER 4:1 - 7:10                                                                                                                 REACTIONS TO THE THREAT OF DEATH:  Sackcloth, ashes, grieving, distress. ACTION: Unity in assembling, fasting, going before the King.  Jesus IS the "golden scepter" (our Righteousness, giving us access to the Throne) - we are privileged to come into His Presence.  WE are "come to the kingdom for such a time as this" - it is time to bring deliverance and forgiveness.

"BANQUET OF WINE":  (Acts 2:13) This is the Holy Spirit's outpouring in us to destroy the FLESH (Haman).   Our King Jesus has given us "all things" (5:3).  Haman's 50-cubit (7-stories) gallows (it pleased the Flesh to kill the Spirit) - will come back on him.  The Flesh is destined to hang!  Actually, they hanged Haman and his 10 sons (the Law). The Flesh, Satan, the carnal mind have been dealt with.

RESPONSE:   Sometimes I feel the weight of the responsibility of the Gospel. We have been entrusted to spread the Gospel "at such a time as this..." and we KNOW the import of the timing.   Haman is in power and the decree has gone out - we have been targeted for persecution if we are born again.   We are not allowed to speak against anyone EXCEPT Christians!  But God has His person in places where their influence counts.  His Name may not be in the book of Esther or NOW, but He is CLEARLY SEEN at work.

1 CORINTHIANS 12:1-26                                                                                                      
NOW CONCERNING SPIRITUAL MATTERS (the word "gifts" does not appear in the original language):  What are "spiritual matters"?  They are the behavior of spiritual people,  the manifestations of the Holy Spirit, as opposed to the manifestations of the FLESH.   Gal 5:17 says that the two are OPPOSED to each other.   Paul contrasts the manifestations of each in this chapter, pressing home his concern that manifestations of the flesh, especially in a church service, are inappropriate in spiritual people.   There is no occasion for offensive inequality, but for grateful remembrance of all the Lord has done in delivering us from the flesh, the world, and the devil.

BEFORE WE START: EXACTLY WHAT IS GOD'S GOAL IN REFORMING US?   As Paul has already stated, JESUS has purposed a BODY, of which He is the Head, and we are all parts of that Body.  One cohesive body - not two.   Eph 2:15 calls it "one new man".   The Body of Christ is a corporate being and together reflects the character and ministry of Jesus. In addition, GOD THE FATHER wants "MANY SONS" made in the image of His Son, Jesus. (Heb 2:10; Rom 8:14). The HOLY SPIRIT comes into our "temple" (1 Co 6:19), bringing GLORY AND DUNAMIS , radically weighing things in God's favor.   "Glory and dunamis " are the impact of the Presence of the Living God in us.   And when He manifests, it is for the common good. The Holy Spirit is a Spirit of Unity (Eph 4:3).

LEGITIMATE DIVERSITY:  God LOVES diversity, but not divisiveness.  1 Corinthians stresses over and over that we are ONE PEOPLE, ONE BODY, ONE BAPTISM, ONE SPIRIT, ONE LOAF.  The diversity comes in expression.

Diversities of Gifts               Differences of Administrations          Diversities of Operations
(1 Co 12:4)                          (1 Co 12:5)                                     (1 Co 12:6)
(what motivates us to work) (church servants)                             (spontaneous expressions of HS)
Gr: charismata                    Gr: doma                                        Gr: pneumatikos
Romans 12:6-8                    Ephesians 4:7-16                            1 Corinthians 12:7-11
Divine endowment                People-gift to the church                  Manifestation of the Spirit

MANIFESTATIONS OF THE SPIRIT: They are just that...manifestations of the HOLY SPIRIT, and consequently they BELONG to the Spirit of God, NOT to individuals who may express these gifts. And ALL may prophesy, but not all are prophets!   Prophets are an "administration" -  they are the ELDERS in the church, and do the "work of the ministry" and lead the church in spiritual matters.   The "gift of prophesy" in Romans is an orientation and perception of life in a person, who sees things and sorts them out all the time. They tend to see life as or good-or-evil, with no gray areas.  The "gift of prophesy" in 1 Corinthians is something that COMES ON a person for a specific time, specific message, and then leaves; because that "gift" belongs to the Holy Spirit.

RESPONSE:  There are people who seem to "flow" in some manifestations better than others. But EVERYONE who has the Holy Spirit can manifest in ANY of the gifts at any time, on an as-needed basis. I am always asking the Holy Spirit for help in finding things that I have misplaced. He gives me a "word of knowledge" as to where they are! When I don't know what to do in a given situation, I ask for wisdom, and often He gives me a "word of wisdom". I have even interpreted my prayers in tongues at times! The Holy Spirit distributes HIS "gifts" however He will. Isn't that exciting? As we get to know Him better, and as we learn how to "stir Him up" inside us, we can cooperate with Him better.

PSALM 36:1-12                                                                                                                       
THE WICKED (1-4) VS THE SERVANT (5-9):  The "fear of the Lord" is learned through discipline and correction. We must be BROKEN to really understand it. The fear of God is manifested in submission and obedience, worship, hating sin, repentance.   On the other hand, the characteristics of a wicked man are rebellion, no hatred for sin, no fear of God, perverse tongue.

**IMPORTANT: HOW IS ONE "ABUNDANTLY SATISFIED"?  (v.8) Through WORSHIP. In John 4 Jesus promised to satisfy and fulfill us to the point that we would never thirst afterwards. The worship that disappoints, and leaves us empty and frustrated is not TRUE WORSHIP.  We must stimulate the flow of the "satisfying water of the Spirit" through NEED and through CRYING OUT. This is just like a hungry baby who stimulates its mother's milk to produce and "come down".  We must stay in His Presence long enough to receive all we need, otherwise we are just "teasing Him".   We "call out" through praise and thanks for all God's goodness and God's greatness.

PROVERBS 21:21-22                                                                                                           
Jesus, Who is the most savvy Person ever to live, said we were not to pursue longevity, things, or honor.   They are temporal and external. Rather, we are to pursue the "kingdom of God and His righteousness".   (Mat 6:33) BUT....in the pursuit of God's Kingdom and God's Righteousness, we also RECEIVE the "things".   Maybe not always in the form we want them, or even when we want them, but God's sufficiency is there when it is necessary.  And really, how do you define "enough"?

Wisdom is better than strength. Wise counsel is better than brute strength.

RESPONSE:   Long ago, someone told me that if it takes MORE THAN JESUS to make me happy, that I had a problem!   I did not know that Jesus could satisfy the abysmal hungers that were in me.  I didn't know that happiness was a choice, either.  I had TWO problems, and didn't know it!  When we are discontent, complaining, restless, want something but don't know what it is --- THAT'S JESUS.   The ONLY way to satisfy that kind of problem is with more of God.  BUT, we have to train ourselves to believe it.  Our hearts are so deceptive, so deceived, so insistent on doing it "my way" - that we have to make up our minds that we are going to pursue God until we get results.  Don't trust your emotions or your opinions, or what you knew before.  LEARN THE TRUTH.  Teach your heart to trust God for satisfaction and fulfillment.  Everything else is only temporary, and carries with it the law of diminishing returns. Most thing don't have the ability to really satisfy us, but only to stimulate more hunger.

I started at home. I cried out like I meant it.  I was like a baby who insists on being fed right now! I called out to Jesus to COME FILL ME UP.  I cried desperately and loudly.  I opened myself up for all He would pour on me.  I refused to go away disappointed.  AND I WAS FILLED!  Again and again.