Flowing from Our Union

 

God calls us to live as Spirit-filled Believers (Ephesians 5:18). This starts when we receive the Holy Spirit at salvation (Romans 8:9). A renewal of His fresh anointing in us each day allows rivers of life to flow from within us  (John 7:38). This Holy Ghost power enhances our life and empowers our ministry for God’s Kingdom.

Sin clogs the communication between us and God and it grieves the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). Therefore, we confess every sin, great and small, on a daily basis. The Spirit leads us to live a consecrated life and to put down addictions and vices, which cripple us. Even an unkind word, a fit of temper, an unscrupulous act or a little white lie are all things we deal with on occasion.

Staying confessed of our sins humbles our flesh and gives us greater victory over those sins the next time Satan tempts us with them. Humility allows us to willingly surrender our day for God’s purpose. Of course, we must go to work to earn a living, but we can do our job directed by God’s Spirit. This way, we accomplish more and are in the right place at the right time to live out God’s will for us.

We are branches on the Vine of Christ (John 15:5). Consider a branch. It does not work or stress or struggle. It simply rests in the vine. That is the life God prepared for us. We rest in Christ and His life flows through us and nurtures us. When we bear fruit for Christ, it does not separate us from Him, but flows from our union with Him.

Our ministry is not a drain or wearisome, but a natural outpouring of the nutrients from the Vine to the branch. Ministry does not rob us of time for prayer, but is the result of prayer and our union with the Vine. The Spirit strengthens us with might from within (Ephesians 3:16). He anoints us to accomplish God’s will for our day. He blesses us with perfect peace, rest, joy and strength.

Prayer:

Father God, as branches of the Vine we are absolutely dependant upon the life of Christ flowing through us. You are the Vinedresser and You prune us so that can bear more fruit (John 15:1; 15:8). You know just where to separate us from the aspects of our life that are dead wood and preventing our fruitfulness.

Thought for the Day:

The branch depends on the vine for everything.

On Dry Land

Read: Joshua 3:1-17

“He rebukes the sea and dries it up; he makes all the rivers run dry.” - Nahum 1:4

The verses in Joshua 3:15-16 always intrigues me, "As soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away." No miracle occurred until the priests took that first step of faith into the flooded waters of the river. They had to look beyond their natural fears and inhibitions and obey God. Before revealing His mighty hand in our life, God is patiently waiting for full commitment from us, as well.

There are so many skeptics in today’s society that believe the Bible is a book of fairytales and stories written by men, rather than inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16). They do not believe in the power of God because they do not see His power working in the world today. Is it because we have too little faith? Or is it because when He does things for us, we do not share His goodness with the rest of the world? The entire Bible is filled with testimonies of miraculous feats that God performs for His people.

When circumstances get out of our control, or present a problem too complex for us to handle, that is when God’s power manifests in our life. When Jesus healed people in the Bible, many took the time to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for them. Everyone was amazed at the testimonies (Mark 5:20). We have many avenues for sharing these miracles every day. Facebook is a great way to give God glory. Giving personal testimonies to our friends, relatives, associates and neighbors is another way to tell of His glorious and personal touch in the lives of those who serve Him.

Or perhaps due to disobedience or a lack of devotion on your part, God does not intervene on your behalf. There is an easy fix for this problem…repentance and reconnection to God is only a prayer away. Another problem is that many people are afraid to turn total control of their life over to God. They fear what He will require of them. They do not want to go to Africa as a missionary or sell all of their earthly good and give all the money to the poor. God rarely calls people to these drastic commitments of faith; but when He does, He gives us so much more than He ever requires from us.

Our Creator God, in all of His majesty and power, is just waiting to work miracles for us and for those whose lives we touch. He asks for total surrender of your will to His and a total commitment to spiritual goals and focus. Compare the deficient lives we live to God’s great universe. What do we have to lose? With the Trinity dwelling within us there is nothing we cannot do as we walk in obedience to the direction of the Holy Spirit moment by moment throughout the day.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You are the Mighty One who does great things for us (Luke 1:48) Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you” (Joshua 3:5). Help us to keep our life set apart to You, so that You can continue to do great things for us. In this story in Joshua, the moment the priests set their feet on the dry ground on the other side of the river, the waters of the Jordan River returned to their place and ran at flood stage again (Joshua 4:18). There is no denying the might works You do for those who love You, and they fill us with great joy and inspiration (Psalm 126:2-3).

Thought for the Day:

Surrender every area of your life to God and walk in the power of His Holy Spirit.