Monday, December 10, 2012

Listen to the Spirit (Rev. 3:13)


SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR

03/22/2005

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Listening to the Spirit

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Revelations 3:13

 

            Message of the verse:  “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”  (NAS95)  “Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” 

            As stated before this same verse is repeated after each letter to these early churches, and it is even repeated in one of the later chapters of Revelations without having “what the Spirit says to the churches.”  I think that because these words are said at the end of each letter to these churches it can be concluded that this something important for the readers to understand, and that is that the Holy Spirit’s message must be heard because it is important.  Each of these letters to these churches has somewhat of a blue print for churches to follow throughout the church age, and if they pay attention to all of these things that Christ has spoken about here, both the things that should be done, and the things that should not be done, then the churches will be better off because of their obedience to the Lord.  The message of this verse is to have you spiritual ears open so you can hear what the Spirit has to say to you.  This can be done by following some things that are in the other parts of Scripture, such as confessing all sin so that one can be in proper fellowship with the Lord, to treat one’s wife in a godly manner, to read the Scriptures each and every day for this is one of the main ways that the Spirit can speak to one’s heart, to attend church services and pay attention to what the Pastor is saying because he is God’s messenger to the church, to have an active prayer life with both praying and listening, and be attentive to your circumstances for at times the Spirit uses them to speak to those that are His.  I’m sure that there are other things that I have missed, but to follow these that are written here will make a difference in one’s spiritual walk with the Lord.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I think that because this verse has said to listen to what the Spirit has to say to the churches, and as stated above that one of the ways that the Spirit speaks to the churches is through the Pastor’s message that I can say that the Spirit has spoken to my heart through the message that Dr. Warren delivered on Sunday evening, and that is that I must forget what has happened on our wonderful life these past six months in Aruba, and to move on to do what the Lord now has for us whatever that may be.  There may be times when some of the things that happened will be good for someone to hear, but I must do what Paul spoke and wrote about to “press on,” and there are two times he has spoken about that:  “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  Phi. 3:12 & 14

 

The Word of God has been both convicting and also challenging to my heart this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  Forget what lies behind and press on towards laying hold of what Christ has for me to do.  To listen to what the Holy Spirit has to say to me, and by His grace to obey it.

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