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The only humility that is really ours is not that which we try to show before God in prayer, but that which we carry with us, and carry out, in our ordinary conduct; the insignficances of daily life are the importances and the tests of eternity, because they prove what really is the spirit that possesses us.” ― Andrew Murray, Humility
Tag Archive: Spirit
We may sometimes be stirred by a very real wonder as to why we have produced such a small amount of spiritual fruit in our lives (Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control – Galatians 5:22). The lack of fruit is really not as mysterious as we might think.
What if the sun did not rise tomorrow or the next several days or the next several weeks? If its life-giving rays were withheld from the orchards, what would be the production of their fruit? What if the clouds refused to release their nourishing and cleansing rains for weeks on end? Would not the result be nothing less than strain and barrenness upon the land? It is that simple for the soul as well.
May we not withhold the life-giving rays of the Son, nor the refreshing and cleansing nourishment of His water by keeping His holy and precious Word unexamined! Only by abiding in weekly, nay daily personal planting and watering can we guarantee continuous production of His spiritual fruit in our lives. Are you lacking Jesus’ daily power and peace? Is self-control dried up and love lacking any ripeness in your heart and mind? Then let the Light of Jesus rise up within you, casting out the shadows each and every day! His promises are not void. The Lord will keep His end of things. May we simply and daily abide in Christ!
Jesus says, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5
Another easily forgotten facet in this spiritual battle is this- people are not our ultimate enemies. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12. Oh, how easy it is to walk by sight, losing our eternal focus! Although men are the enemies of God, may we never forget they are also blinded by sin, self, and Satan. In the end God will be their judge, not us.
In an earthly battle, a sword is nothing less than an efficient and effective instrument of combat, one that has accompanied many a hand over the centuries. Before His arrest, Jesus even instructed the disciples to buy swords to carry with them in their travels. (Luke 22:36) Although many around the world no longer own swords, spiritually speaking the battle still rages and only a sword will do. God’s Word is our sword and the Word serves as the only effective offensive weapon in our spiritual arsenal.
The Word of God is both living and active, which reveals that the power of the Word does not merely come from the ink on the pages of the Book. Rather it is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Word of God. Working through the power of the Holy Spirit, His truth and love flow from Heaven’s throne, bringing to life His Word, bringing the light of the glorious Gospel to life in hearts and minds of all willing readers.
“When we study the New Testament record, we see plainly that Christ’s conflict was with the theological rationalists of His day. John’s gospel record 
is actually a long, inspired, passionately-outpoured account trying to save us from evangelical rationalism-the doctrine that says the text is enough. Divine revelation is the ground upon which we stand. The Bible is the book of God and I stand for it with all my heart; but before I can be saved, there must be illumination, penitence, renewal, inward deliverance. In our Christendom, we have tried to ease many people into the kingdom but they have never been renewed within their own beings. The Apostle Paul told the Corinthians that their faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God! There is a difference. We must insist that conversion to Christ is a miraculous act of God by the Holy Spirit-it must be wrought in the Spirit. There must be an inward illumination!” ~A.W. Tozer
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