Tag: Holy Spirit

A Matter of Emphasis

Iris Godfrey

I find I am constantly running into frustration when I listen to sermons given to God’s people. The well-meaning speakers are always (nearly always) trying to help their listeners to do things better or relate to God better. It seems the “self-help” or “application” theories have taken over the pulpit. 

A number of years ago, I was alerted to the problems with this through the writings of a fellow blogger (I do not remember his name). He was sharing how the Holy Spirit had arrested his spirit with the fact that “application” of the Word was the Holy Spirit’s job, not man’s to always interpret. (We all know that our Lord may apply His Word in differing ways to different people). So, this preacher increased the Word and cut way back on the application. 

This made an impact on me, and I began to seek the Lord in the matter. I stopped struggling to meet needs of the people, and began to genuinely feed the Word to those the Lord brought to us.

I am working now with another “arrest” in my spirit by the Lord. The Body of Christ, as a rule, are only relating to an exterior God. We do not easily relate to the inward Spirit God. “The Spirit is the Lord, and where the Spirit is Lord, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 (correct translation.)

The Spirit is everywhere. King David wrote, “Wither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?” (Psalm 139:1-13). But we all know that “freedom” is not everywhere. So, we are caught with the truth that with the Spirit of God in us and when we allow Him to be Lord, then there is freedom! 

As Spirit-filled believers, we must come face to face with the New Covenant fact that our God is directing us, speaking with us, living with us, daily walking in us (not just ‘with”), and we are called to become as He is. (1 John 4:17)

All this is true, and we must begin to relate to Him inwardly, not just outwardly. We must begin to discover what He has done in our “born from above” time and see that the Word is true and we are called to be in His likeness. Romans 8:29 

As we began to grapple with these truths, Lord, teach us how to relate to you inwardly, and allow you, Holy Spirit, to reveal our God to us through our Jesus more and more. May we know you, truly know you.  

Catching The Breath of God

Iris Godfrey

The Holy Spirit wants to uncover something not commonly seen as we read Scriptures. We must allow the light of the Holy Spirit shine on and through them. Otherwise, our concept of them will be very small and short-sighted.  Sometimes He will simply show us an unusual understanding or insight seen through the Holy Spirit through reading and or pondering a passage or individual Scripture. At other times, He will lead us to a word used and urge us to look up the word in the original language (all can do this with the web. Simply go to BibleHub.com, select the interlinear and discover what you never dreamed was said). 

“For the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 KJV 

Proverbs 2:1-7 KJV

“My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 

Yea, if thou criest after knowledge and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 

If thou seakest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 

Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. 

For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. 

He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.”

As you read the passage above there are several obvious things we see and understand. One of those “things” is simply that the more attention a person gives to what is written, the more they understand what is being said. 

Notice the progression: 

  1. Receive the word. (read, study)
  2. Hide the words in our heart (think on them, mediate on them.)
  3. Incline our heart to wisdom (begin to obey from the inside out)
  4.  Apply our heart to understanding (begin to be molded inside by its truth)
  5. Cry out for knowledge (Literally cry out to the Lord for his knowledge)
  6. Lift up your voice for understanding (again, it’s not a seeking head knowledge at all – rather cry-out, you’re all in – and make a big deal of it with the Lord); deeply desiring to “see” what is hidden.
  7. Seek her as silver (dig deeply like in a silver mine – not an easy nor surface search)
  8. Search for her as for hidden treasure (you are deeply intent and serious about seeing the unseen and knowing the unknown. 

Then…… you begin to “see and know” what can only be seen and known by the Spirit. It has been there all along. Bible knowledge that is on the surface will leave you empty in your heart. But Bible Knowledge that has been opened to you through the Spirit as you searched one level, then the next, and the next, and the next (you get the picture) results in an understanding of God Himself – not just things said about Him. 

I refer you to Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1:17, “I pray that the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, will give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:”

The first 14 verses of Ephesians 1 share with us the “automatic” things that occur when we become born from above. But in the above verse reveals that these things: “the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him” are not automatic, but rather granted through prayer and seeking. The knowledge in this passage is “full experiential” knowledge of our Father.

In today’s church body, most are casual seekers at best – wanting only what He can do for us, or how we can be better, or (and that list and reality is vast). However, that level of seeking (and it is answered) will never bring what the heart is longing for. Only the breath of the Holy Spirit blowing across the words and igniting them with fire and breath of the Holy Spirit can satisfy the longing heart. 

Well, beloved, we have some work to do, don’t we. None of the above is talking about us getting somewhere or becoming someone. It is all based on getting to know Him, the fellowship of His sufferings, and the power of His resurrection. (Philippians 3:10 JKV) 

We Turn Our Hearts . . .

Iris Godfrey
sunrise-blue-clog
I have been pondering the fact of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within us. Since the Lord Jesus has eliminated every definition of distance between us and because we have, by the fact of this indwelling, been drawn into the fellowship of the Trinity (John 17:20-23), what does the Scripture mean when it says to “Draw near” (James 4:8) since it is impossible to get any nearer?
I know we are all limited by our language, regardless of what language that might be. So the writers of our New Testament were also very limited by what they could conceptually place within a text. When it comes to pondering the things of God in the Spirit, truth is so marvelously grand, that our words fail in our attempts to share it. Remember in the book of Revelation how the Apostle John was always saying, “It was like…” simply because there were no words (regardless of his language) to adequately express what he was trying to convey. He was experiencing “picture” after “picture” in seemingly a rapid-fire movement (much like our short video’s today). So language failed him. So it is with us – we dwell in “It was like….” often.
I am thinking that the title of this post gets close to how we can effectively and progressively think and work. “We turn our hearts.” He is always with me and in me. However, I am not always tuned into His voice nor His presence. Oh yes, I know my Lord Jesus is here with me, but it takes an act of my will to turn my heart and my mind that direction. This is His plan. He does not force us to belong to Him, nor does He force us to fellowship in Him, once the birth into His family and heart occurs.
So to “draw near” would still mean, to “draw near” with the understanding that to do so simply means to turn my heart to Him and turn my ears and mind into a listening stance. We can always hear and always fellowship.
So Lord we turn our hearts to hear yours and to dwell sweetly within our home in your heart. Here we worship and share.
Next post: Sharing in His heart, or what we commonly call “prayer.”

Seeing Pieces-Parts

Iris Godfrey

“Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that would come to you searched and carefully investigated. They inquired into what time or what circumstances the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when He testified in advance to the messianic sufferings and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you concerning things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Angels desire to look into these things. 1 Peter 1:10-12 HCSB

(Precious Readers, I am choosing to go back to Scripture instead of trying to summarize the Elim Conference. There was so much poured out and I need time to process it. You may find some of it in a post occasionally, but let’s go back to the main thing for our time right now. Bless you for reading).

Many do not understand that Peter had much the same revelation on grace and its Messiah as Paul. He does not write nearly as much (evidently was not appointed to do so), yet I think his writings reveal a much deeper thinker and “seer” than is commonly thought. In this passage he begins to explain that the Old Testament prophets knew they saw only “pieces-parts” and they searched to see what we now have plainly before us when we read the Scriptures. They wanted to know “when” and “how” as “the Spirit of Christ within them” was indicating as they talked about the coming Messiah. 

Well, that will rock some of our theology. Peter plainly says that “the Spirit of Christ” was within the prophets of old, well so much for believing the “within” was only in the New Covenant. Back to the drawing board on that one. Isn’t it beautiful how the Lord has a way of giving us truth that far exceeds our own understanding? Indeed! So as we study, much of our divisions, and understanding of dispensations etc… finds challenge. I knew John the Baptist had the Spirit within, for he had the Spirit from conception. (See Luke 1:39-45). But now we see that all the Old Testament prophets who prophesied of the birth of Christ, were inhabited by the Spirit of Christ.

They were not told “when” nor “how.” But revelation came and let them know their prophecies were serving those who would live in the future. Their ministry was a service to us. How awesome! We have such purpose living in the strength and revelation of grace. They longed to see and understand. But were given simply the knowledge of their service. 

Can’t you see, in your mind, a crusty old Isaiah, writing out words. Then stopping and inquiring of the Lord about them, searching deeply all avenues of study and Torah to try to find answers. In the Spirit, Isaiah washed our feet – served us who would come later. Now we, in this age are the recipients of this service and grace.

“Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God and no one is like Me. I declare the end from the beginning and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: ‘My plan will take place, and I will do all My will.'” Isaiah 46:10 HCSB