-According to Moody, a Christian cannot have the Holy Spirit upon them for service because their heart is willed with other things. What are they? Can you think of any specific instance of this happening in your life? (You don't have to share this unless you want to.)
-What are the steps to becoming anointed by the Lord for His service? Here's some homework for you - determine in your heart to follow these steps until you have the anointing of the Lord overflowing from your life.
-"The Sword of the Lord and Gideon" What does this statement mean to you?
I am getting so stoked about this book and about the impact it could have on our team! Can't wait to discuss it this meeting.
Btw, if I understood him right last February, Pastor Juan's denomination doesn't teach a second filling or an overflowing of the Spirit but I don't know if I've ever seen someone more anointed by the Spirit...an obvious by-product of seeking God's face and allowing Him to cleanse you of your flesh like Moody mentioned at the beginning of the chapter. Any further thoughts?
6 comments:
Oh man my whole comment just got deleted, I hate computers. I will try again later. I think computers were the devils idea.
Ok, lets try this again.
I have definitely experienced the quenching of the Holy Spirit in my life due to my heart being filled with other things. I usually struggle with pride, love of money, and laziness. Such a contrast to walk in the flesh as opposed to the Spirit.
The steps to becoming anointed are easier said than done but here is what I think. First as Moody said we must empty our lives of sin and selfishness with the help of God. Next we ask on a daily baisis to be filled with God's Spirit, He is a good Father who likes to give good gifts.
The phrase 'The Sword of the Lord and Gideon" means a person of God walking in His Spirit and well versed in Gods Word, yielding the Sword of God expertly.
Here are a few things that I liked about Chapter 2:
1.)P.52 - if were are not filled with God's Spirit we can't expect to be effective with God's Word.
2.)P. 53 - I need to stop using my theories and ideas to witness to people. I need to get back to the Word of God and the Spirit of God, the only things that can change people.
3.)P. 53 - Wow,I am so glad God chooses to use man in the conversion of lost souls. There is no greater joy in life than to lead someone to Jesus.
4.)P. 55 - Similar to #2, if we are filled than we will spill God's Word.
5.) P. 62 - We are leaky vessels, so we must be continually refilled. I need to stay under the fountain of Jesus Christ.
To me it comes down to the bucket theory Moody uses, in 2 possible ways. You can have so much going on in life that you can't or won't prioritize room for The Spirit or the works of The Spirit. You can also have so much false "christianity" going on in your life also known as going through the motions, that ther is no room for the real deal, mostly because your comfortable or it's just easier that way. Who are we to turn away God & his gifts?
Well Jesse said it best and I agree 100%. For me, my heart can often get focused on selfishness and being concerned with money. I think Moody described the steps of becoming anointed by the Lord for His services are first to be cleansed of all unGodly focuses and to be purified. Then ask to be filled with His Spirit and fully submit all aspects of our life to Him.
"The Sword of the Lord and Gideon" to me means that we need to be followers of Christ in such ways that we can overcome all evil by knowing and living and trusting God's word and constantly applying it to our life, and being faithful servants of Him even in the hard times where we feel nothing will help us.
I really enjoyed this chapter!
Amongst many things that stood out to me was a section on P.51 at the end of the first paragraph "In other words, God has a great many sons and daughters without power." As a believer, we should ask for the Holy Spirit to fill our life daily, but if we aren't able to use that power because we haven't denied our fleshly desires, then of what use are we? It was a good sentence to read to think about and to really understand what it means to ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
AHHHHH so mad!!! I wrote out a whole LONG thing and it deleted it!!! Holy Spirit help me not lose my temper at a computer.....
Okay, sorry I am so late...I have been traveling and my book was at home then lost my post...
1) The holy spirit is always working in our lives. In mine I lose sight because I am overcome with earthly things! Oswald Chambers has convicted me on this before.."f we rely on the Holy Spirit, we shall find that our prayers become more and more inarticulate; and when they are inarticulate, reverence grows deeper and deeper." I am not sure why I am disobedient with this when I know the truth...
2) The steps to becoming anointed sound easy. I agree with Jesse that they are easier said than done. Walking our talk and fully relying on God are difficult when they shouldn't be. (See above)
3) I think "The Sword of the Lord and Gideon" means that we must allow God to do the work. However in the process we are to shine brightly for him, and be obedient. We are to be known as Christians by the work we do for our Lord. So that others are drawn to Jesus. We cannot be idle but always serving. We also cannot rely on our own strength but the Lords. There is so much packed into that one sentence!
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