• Oswald Chambers wrote in My Utmost for His Highest, “When once we see Jesus, He does the impossible things as naturally as breathing.”

• The Dean of American Prayer writers, E.M. Bounds, wrote, “Faith does the impossible because it brings God to undertake for us, and nothing is impossible with God.”

• Chuck Swindoll said, “The One who directed that stone in between Goliath’s eyes, split the Red Sea down the middle, leveled that wall around Jericho, and brought His Son back from beyond, takes delight in mixing up the odds as He alters the inevitable and bypasses the impossible.”

• Warren Wiersbe stated:  “Our faith is not really tested until God asks us to bear what seems unbearable, to do what seems unreasonable, and expect what seems impossible.”

• Charles Spurgeon, well known as the Victorian Prince of Preachers, once thundered from his pulpit, “When you are dealing with Him who is omnipotent, faithful, and true, the things that seem utterly impossible will be those most likely to happen.”

The Undeniable Truth Of God’s Sovereignty

Let us begin by turning our attention to Psalm 103:19-22. Please read these passages along with me and prayerfully meditate upon them: “The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all. Praise the Lord, you His angels, you mighty ones who do His bidding, who obey His Word. Praise the Lord, all His heavenly hosts, you His servants who do His will. Praise the Lord, all His works everywhere in His dominion. Praise the Lord, O my soul.”

These passages of scripture clearly declare that God is sovereign over the universe; He rules over all things. His throne is settled and established. It cannot be shaken by the affairs of men or the adversary. His Kingdom rules over all for eternity. That’s what God’s sovereignty is all about, and we accept by faith that He is the God of the universe which He created.

Psalm 18:30 provides us with the blessed assurance: “As for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.” Although we may know that God’s plans for us are always perfect, we sometimes want to do things our own way, don’t we? Our heart needs to be saying, “Yes, Lord – Yes, Lord;” rather than “Yes, Lord, but . . . ” Jeremiah 1:5 provides us the knowledge that God said: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I set you apart.” As daughters of God, we acknowledge that our omnipotent, sovereign God is at the controls of our lives. Or, rather, He desires to be at the controls, but we have free will. God gives us the freedom to pilot ourselves as we wish. In doing so we often crash, much as we would expect to do if we took over the controls of an airplane we had not been trained to fly. “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines His steps” (Proverbs 16:9).

The more convicted we become through reading and understanding God’s Word of His sovereign control, the easier it will become to relinquish our control over to Him. The entire Bible is filled with beautiful passages regarding God’s sovereign control. Please explore this on your own. I will share three other verses with you that speak to my heart:

Daniel 4:17 – “The Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone He wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.” God alone is in control. The whole world is in His hands. This is a blessing we can depend on for eternity.

Daniel 5:23 – “But you did not honor the God who holds in His hand your life and all your ways.” This verse is truly convicting; that there is nothing more absolute than the power that God holds over me.

Ephesians 1:4-5 – “For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love, He predestines us to be adopted as His sons through Messiah Yeshua, in accordance with His pleasure and will.” Paul’s words describe a Creator who is the omnipotent and sovereign One in control of the universe, moving things in accordance to His divine purpose.

We have the opportunity to look at life in two vastly different ways: from the bottom-up or from the top-down. From the top down means to keep our eyes focused on God; then go to the problems of life. From the bottom up means to start with our personal problems, then work upwards to God. What difference does this make? Perhaps the difference between keeping our faith strong or struggling with it; the difference between joy and bitterness; between self-pity and living a life of victorious faith. My dear sisters, always keep your eyes focused heaven-bound towards God and you will never lose your way!

If we begin with God, we are seeking the only possible place to find His answers to life’s challenges. This may be the central message of the Book of Job. In the beginning Job faces unimaginable loss; a series of catastrophes left him on the ash heap, with his wife urging him to curse God and die. A lengthy part of the book is a dialogue with Job’s friends over why these circumstances have occurred. Then comes the most amazing fact: Similar to our lives, Job never finds out why God chose him for such suffering; his central question remains unanswered. By the end of the book, Job bows before the Lord, acknowledges His sovereignty, and declares to Him: “I know that You can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know” (Job 42:1-3). God’s plan for our life may not be revealed in its entirety this side of heaven. But, the good news is this: Our mighty, sovereign God is always in control! Indeed, what a blessed assurance.

It will serve us well to remember that God knows us far better than we know ourselves. After all, He is our Creator; we are made in His image. God knows our heart; He knows every hair on our head. He is aware of our strengths and our weaknesses; and He absolutely knows what is best for us! If we will only relinquish the control of our lives to Him, He will see us safely home. If we commit our way to Lord Yeshua and walk in obedience to Him, we will soon discover that every detail in our lives is being perfectly orchestrated by Him.

“The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His Kingdom rules over all” (Psalm 103:19). Having said that, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). The sovereignty of God fills the believer’s heart with comfort and peace. Our sovereign God who upholds the universe holds each of us in the palm of His hand. He who guides the stars guides our life too. Our God who knows all things from beginning to end knows each of us intimately. Thus, we entrust our life unto Him. Amen.

Entrusting my life unto God’s sovereign hands,
Your sister Eileen

Please indulge me a bit longer to share with you some beautiful words glorifying the sovereignty of God. I pray that you will be blessed as I am, in reading the lyrics to the following song:

LORD OF THE WORLD
By Philip Stanley Klein

Lord of the world, King of my life, Light of the world, change me inside. Make me as pure, as pure as You are. Wash me as clean as new fallen snow.

You are my rock when sorrows fall. My cup of life whenever I call. Into Your hands I place my soul. Lord of the world, make my life whole.

Adon olam asher malach, B’terem kol y’tseer neevrah, L’eyt na-asah b’heftso kol, ‘Azai melech sh’mo neekrah.

And when this age ceases to be, You will still reign in majesty. You were, You are, You’ll always be, All glorious eternally.

Lord of the world, King of my life, Light of the world, change me inside. Blessed and praised and glorified, Lord of the world, King of my life,
Lord of the world, You are my life! Amen.

What comes to mind when you think of the glory of God? Perhaps His great works, or His sovereignty and perfections? It may be God’s revelation of Himself through His Son Yeshua. Certainly, God’s glory is displayed in all these ways. But that is not all that the Bible means when it speaks of the glory of God. This week we will turn our focus to studying the Word and its revelations about…

The Glory Of God Is Reflected In All Of Creation

Throughout the passages of the Bible, there are scriptural references to the Glory of God, referring to His worth, honor, sovereignty and greatness. When the word glory is used of God, we could say that His majesty or supremacy is in view. All of creation has its purpose in the glorification of God. He created everything for His own glory. Everything that exists on earth and in heaven has its existence from God and for God’s purpose. Romans 11:36 reveals to us, “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.”

Creation is the theatre of God’s glory. The question begs, how do we who are His image-bearers glorify God? We are called to glorify God actively and intentionally, by serving Him and His Kingdom. Glorifying God means different things to different people, like worship, witness, acts of kindness and mercy. While these are certainly true, they are too narrow. God calls us to glorify Him in all that we do. 1 Corinthians 10:31, instructs us “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Apostle Paul calls us to consider our responsibilities to glorify God in all that we do, not just in the spiritual activities of life. There are two main focal points in this verse, our doing and God’s glory. The latter is to be the end result of the former. Hence, all of our doing is to be with a view to God’s glory. Since we were designed by God and for God we are obligated to bring glory only unto Him.

This is taught many times by direct commands. For example, Psalm 22:23 says, “You that fear the Lord, praise Him! All you descendents of Jacob, glorify Him and fear Him all you offspring of Israel.” The same call is made in Psalm 29:1-2, “Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, Give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”

The Bible also instructs us on how and when we are to give glory to God. We are to glorify Him, “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20); with our praise, for “Whoever offers praise glorifies Me,” thus says the Lord in Psalm 50:23. We are to glorify God through our works and daily life…”Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). We are to glorify God in our suffering, “Yet if anyone suffers as a believer in Messiah, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter” (1 Peter 4:16).

When God’s holy Word calls us to give glory unto Him, it is not suggesting that we can in any way add glory to God. He is already infinitely glorious within Himself and nothing we can do will increase His inherent worth, sovereignty and supremacy. After all, He is God—the God of all creation, the God of providence, and the God of redemption who gave us His Son Yeshua. God is inherently all-glorious! No one could possibly do anything to add to His glory.

Having said that, God’s children can make His praise glorious. “Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious. Say to God, “How awesome are Your Works!” Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You” (Psalm 66:1-3). We are able to give glory to God by acknowledging, declaring and valuing the glory that is in Him alone. It is magnifying glory that is already possessed. The heavens declare the glory of the Lord (Psalm 19:1). This is what we are called to do when God’s Word admonishes us to glorify God. This is precisely what Paul refers to in 1 Corinthians 10:31 when he instructs us to do everything to the glory of God. The responsibility that children of God possess is to declare, to make known, to reflect, and to display the glory of God that He possesses at all times.

This is what the scripture means when it speaks of “magnifying the Lord.” Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together (Psalm 34:3). I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving (Psalm 69:30). Mary sang in Luke 1:46, “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” Mary was glorifying God, declaring His greatness and power, and ascribing honor unto Him.

John Piper has helped me to think clearly about this by distinguishing between the magnification of a microscope versus the magnification of a telescope, by explaining it this way: “God’s glory at every stage of creation and salvation is to magnify His glory. You can magnify with a microscope or with a telescope. A microscope magnifies by making tiny things appear bigger than they are. On the other hand, a telescope magnifies by making gigantic things (like stars), which look tiny, appear more as they really are. God created the universe to magnify His glory the way a telescope magnifies stars. Everything He does in our salvation is designed to magnify the glory of His grace like this.” (This explanation was quoted by John Piper, The Dangerous Duty of Delight.)

God is infinitely great and glorious, and we, who have been made in His image, are most responsible to make His glory known. Of all the image bearers, we, who have experienced His saving grace in Messiah Yeshua, have the greatest opportunity and obligation to bring Him glory. My dear sisters, how do we demonstrate the value and worth of God in all that we do? I have two responses to that question. First, we demonstrate the greatness of God not primarily by doing but primarily receiving. As Charles Spurgeon said, “We shall bring our Lord most glory if we receive from Him much grace. If I have much faith, so that I can take God at His Word…I shall greatly honor my Lord and King.”

This is what God says of Himself in Psalm 50:15, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” Put simply, since God is our glorious deliverer, then we glorify Him when we are joyfully delivered. If God is glorified in saving, then we glorify Him when we come into a saving relationship with Him. We glorify our gracious, giving, loving God by being loved and by rejoicing in all that He has provided for us in His Son, Yeshua.

Another way we can demonstrate the value and worth of God in all that we do, is by recognizing the relationship between our joy and God’s glory. “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever” (CS Lewis). Hence, glorifying and enjoying God are two sides of the same coin. Yeshua is the believer’s greatest of treasures. If we have Him and the Spirit of God dwelling within us, we have everything we possibly require in life. By faith alone we believe this, enabling us to live our lives according to God’s divine plan for us. As we do, we will reflect His great glory by finding our greatest joy in Him. So, my dear sisters, let us focus on demonstrating the glory of God in everything that we do.

In His humble service,
Eileen

Stewardship shapes every part of the life of a believer. The way we manage our time, money, spiritual gifts, and possessions shapes our relationship with God. Yeshua revealed to His followers that Kingdom living encourages those to whom much has been entrusted, much more is also required (Luke 12:48). As blessed daughters of God we are to be willing, even eager, to be a blessing to others. This week our focus will be . . .

Sowing And Reaping In The Kingdom Of God

We are reminded of the words spoken by Paul in 2 Corinthians 9:6-8: “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” A special blessing is promised for those who graciously care for the poor (Psalm 41:1-3; Proverbs 22:9).

Good stewardship encourages us to live according to three principles that will allow us to be faithful stewards in the body of Messiah: The first principle is humility. Only when we see our hearts as God sees them will we recognize how little we have done to deserve His abundant grace. The second principle comes from Deuteronomy 8:3b, “Man does not live by bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” As humans, our deepest hungers can only be fed by the love of Yeshua and the Spirit of the Lord. The third principle is faith, by completely trusting in who God is and what He has promised. When these three principles are manifested in our lives, we inevitably realize that God owns everything, and that everything we are and everything we have belongs to Him and must be used for His Kingdom. It is then that we will be drawn into a deeper relationship with our Heavenly Father.

As daughters of God we need to share one heart and one mind: the heart and mind of God. Thus, central to the heart of Kingdom living is found in Deuteronomy 15:1-11. I encourage you to read these passages. God’s desire for His children is that there would be no poor living among them. The early body of believers were also marked by an intense concern for the needy in their midst (Acts 4:32-37). The great evangelist, Jonathan Edwards (1703-58), said that “the most absolute and indispensable duty of a people of God is to give bountifully and willingly for the supply of the wants of the needy.” Good stewardship involves so much more than giving financially. We can all donate our time, talents, and spiritual gifts to the body of believers.

I was recently reminded of an inspiring story that the Los Angeles Times covered at a 2008 championship soccer match between two Christian schools, Azusa Pacific University and Westmont College. This amazing event turned out to be far more than which team would win the event. Three days prior to the game, a wildfire had swept through the Westmont campus, destroying several academic buildings, faculty homes, and student rooms. Unable to host the game, the rules required Westmont to forfeit. Instead, Azusa Pacific University invited their opponents to play at their campus where they welcomed Westmont fans with free admission and lunch.

On the field, Westmont won an emotional 2-0 victory, while Azusa Pacific won admiration for their good will. Los Angeles Times reporter Bill Plaschke wrote: “Rarely in Southern California sports has there been a better show of sportsmanship than this, Azusa Pacific sacrificing its chance at a title defense to give Westmont a fair shot at taking it. As impressive as the resilience of the conquerors, was the kindness of the conquered.” What a beautiful story from which we can glean God’s truth as an example of good stewardship. So often we may think only of money when the Bible calls us to give willingly and bountifully. As we discover through being good stewards, there is so much more we can do to serve God and His Kingdom.

If we plant seed in fertile soil, then the more we plant, the more we receive by way of harvest. The harvest would be souls won into the Kingdom. People who give with a vision for ministry give for the sake of souls saved, lives liberated, and hearts healed. When we possess this spirit, it transforms our giving from an obligation to an opportunity; from a chore to a cheerful celebration of what God can do through faithful stewards.

Sowing and reaping in God’s Kingdom involves keeping His Light aglow, and maintaining a powerful presence in the body of Messiah. It is about creating a place where the lost are found, souls are restored, the empty are filled, the hurting are healed, and true compassion for others is lived out. We are reminded in Acts 20:35, what our Lord Yeshua said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” This week let us be a blessing to others by giving cheerfully, giving from our heart, giving with thanks, and giving by faith. Let’s begin by planting seeds this week and experience the blessing of sowing and reaping in the Kingdom. The gifts that we give and the deeds that we do, most truly honors God when self is given too!

Deeply blessed to serve the One Most High,
Your sister Eileen

Serving on the Beth Ariel Prayer Team throughout the past years has been an incredible blessing to me. Through God’s divine grace and the power of prayer, I have witnessed the Lord’s miraculous healing touch upon critically ill brothers and sisters, including my own cousin Karen Anne. Through the Holy Spirit of God, numerous people have made their profession of faith in Yeshua as their Lord and Messiah. I have also witnessed other blessings to those who requested prayer for forgiveness and unity within their family; God opening doors to brothers and sisters who were unemployed; and vast numbers growing in spiritual maturity. This week we will focus our attention on . . .

Faith Is The Foundation For God’s Answer To Prayers

I have often wondered why it is so challenging for some people to accept all the man-made miracles such as nuclear fission, airplanes, media broadcasting, televisions and computers, and yet find it so difficult to accept the miracles of the Bible? Lord Yeshua provides us with His assurance in Matthew 21:21-22, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to the mountain, ‘Go throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Faith in our Almighty God does not come all at once. Faith is a step-by-step process that begins with one small step. Our faith multiplies as we grow in God’s Truth and mature in our spiritual walk with Him. Faith in the Lord is our unconditional trust in Him that He will perfectly orchestrate every detail of our lives according to His divine plan. We may not always understand His will, but we do need to always trust in Him. One of my favorite passages in Scripture on faith that speaks to my heart, is found in Hebrews 11:1: “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” God’s Truth rings strong in providing us with this powerful message on faith. Faith is such a personal issue, often demanding that we give up what we can see for what we cannot see. Just because we cannot see it, does not mean that it does not exist. Please allow me to share some ways to strengthen your faith:

Read the Bible consistently – Romans 10:17 instructs us that “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Messiah.” When it comes to faith over doubt in God’s Word, we weaken our doubt by strengthening our faith in God. Being in the Word of God daily feeds our new nature that God provides us by His grace, when we surrender our life to Him. As that new nature grows stronger, the old sinful nature becomes weaker. Then as our old nature becomes weaker, our faith in God grows stronger. A steady diet of God’s Word produces strong faith. If you are not already committed to doing so, perhaps you will consider reading the Bible every day, and memorizing a verse of Scripture each week.

Turn to God constantly – Mark 9:14-29 tells of a man who brings his demon-possessed son to Messiah Yeshua and pleads, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” Our Lord responds,”If I can! All things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “Lord I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Has that statement ever sounded familiar to something you may have prayed on? We believe, but we may also have some lingering doubt. If this is so, our faith may be lacking strength. In these moments, we must be honest and cry out to God. As you are aware, Yeshua did not punish this man for his doubt and He healed his son. God always responds to honesty.

Focus on God continually – Psalm 34:6 reveals, “This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.” Sometimes we may focus on the steepness of the mountain we need to climb to overcome a trial, all the while crying out to God for help and wondering if He will answer our prayers. It is important to be mindful of God’s promises, as well as what He does not promise. God does not promise to remove the mountain or that we will even understand the mountain or trial. However, God does promise to help us climb the mountain and He also promises to climb it along side of us! We must make a continual choice to fix our gaze on God and our glance on the circumstances, regardless how challenging the trial.

Seek out faith-builders persistently – Ecclesiastes 4:12 instructs us of the following: “One standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer; three is even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” It is important to seek out other believers who will encourage us to be faithful, rather than looking for ways to undermine our faith. Seek relationships with people who walk in faith, who believe in the promises of God, and study His Word. They will encourage and support you in building up your own faith.

Another one of my favorite passages of Scripture relevant to having faith, is found in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” This is such a powerful message!

In Romans 3:22, Paul tells us that “we are made right with God by placing our faith in Messiah Yeshua. And this is true of everyone who believes, no matter who we are.” In Romans 5:1-2, we are promised that “since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Messiah Yeshua, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace, in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” What encouraging messages of hope in our Lord through our faith in Him.

I invite you to pray along with me the following prayer: “Abba, Father, I desire being a woman of great faith, but I occasionally find myself weak. Please give me a new thirst for Your Word. I choose to focus on you, Father, rather than focusing on my circumstances. Please help me to strengthen my faith in You, Lord, and also become a faith-builder to others. In Yeshua’s holy name I pray. Amen.” I wish each of you a blessed week ahead, rejoicing in the Lord and strengthening your faith in Him.

In Yeshua’s love,
Your sister Eileen

This week we will be concluding our study of the divinity and ministry of the Ruach HaKodesh. During our spiritual walk we discover and follow God’s course for our lives. At times God may take us on the scenic route past spectacular views, or down some bumpy back roads. As daughter’s of God we know that wherever He takes us, His direction is always for our own good and safety. When we put our faith and trust in God, we will reach His destination for us with a joy and a peace in our heart. This week our focus will be on the knowledge that…

The Holy Spirit Of God Is Our Navigational System

It never ceases to amaze me how my GPS enables me to travel unknown roads and destinations where I have never gone. While recently traveling down an unfamiliar street in the San Fernando Valley, I noticed quite a bit of construction where the two lanes going east bound had merged to one lane. Warning lights and flashing signs were visible, alerting drivers to slow down and heed caution. Nevertheless, some of the drivers threw caution to the wind. The signs were highly visible and strategically placed well before the change was required, and yet there were weavers and tail-gaiters causing unnecessary risk to fellow drivers.

God has warned His creation from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:16-17) to the New Jerusalem (Revelation 11:18-19) to be mindful of His instructions. For centuries ordinary men and women have been chosen as prophets and disciples to remind us how to live and to steer us away from danger. The Bible is filled with God’s holy Word of His instructions to His children. Dashing through life at our own pace and not having God in the center of it, will certainly cause us to miss many a warning sign. We have each experienced the unfortunate consequences. The good news is there is no need for any of us to be uncertain of where to go and how to get there, nor should we rely on our own internal navigation system to steer us right into harm’s way.

When Yeshua fulfilled His purpose on the cross of Calvary, He sent His replacement in the form of the Holy Spirit. If you are walking by faith with Yeshua, the Holy Spirit has taken up permanent residence in your heart and spirit; and He becomes your new internal navigational system. With the help of the Holy Spirit we will walk in victory and never lose our way! Psalm 60:12 assures God’s children that…”With God we will gain the victory, and He will trample down our enemies.”

I invite you to read Isaiah 30:15-22. The nation of Israel desperately needed a reliable GPS system, and God desired being that for them. Rather than trusting God to deliver them from Assyria, the people of Judah turned to Egypt for help. Even as God warned of judgment (Isaiah 30:1-17), He lovingly urged His people to repent, promising blessings to those who trusted in Him (Isaiah 30:18-33). God graciously promised that one day, He would be their navigator: “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying:This is the way; walk in it ” (verse 21).

What a blessed people we are that God would provide us with an internal navigational system. Yeshua sent the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us to guide us into all truth (John 6:13). Whenever you need direction as to where to set the course of your life, do not rely on your own way. Use God’s GPS system – the Spirit of God – as He will always lead you in the right direction. The Spirit gives us power to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord. He also guides us and provides us direction in God’s holy Word.

Yeshua says “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Yeshua is therefore the guide that God has given to us, to follow in our journey through life towards our final destiny of heaven and eternal life through Him. The Holy Spirit is the navigation system that has been planted within each of us, and Yeshua is the guiding satellite who steers the navigation system.

Our route is planned for us to reach our destiny in Messiah, but how often does God’s navigation system need to recalculate our route because we choose not to follow His plan? Each time we choose to ignore the Holy Spirit’s direction and miss a turn in the road, God needs to recalculate our path. Have you ever traveled down a rough and bumpy road because you missed the turn that was clearly indicated for you to follow; the smooth highway of life? Psalm 91:4 provides us with the assurance that “He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”

God’s GPS System of life becomes activated the minute that we accept Yeshua as our Lord and Messiah. Immediately, our end destination is set as being “Eternal life in Heaven.” God’s instructions are heard when we spend time in fellowship with the Lord through prayer and quiet time with Him. The more we spend time with Him, the more we travel the smooth highways of life. The GPS screen to follow is the Bible, which clearly indicates the route that we need to follow in life. Being in God’s Word each day ensures that we will not miss the instructions that God desires for His children; hence our route will not need to continually be recalculated. Our faithful obedience to God’s Word provides the assurance of the joy in traveling a smooth road to our final destination.

From the garden to the grave we travel, but Yeshua came from Heaven to earth to show the way; from the earth to the cross, our debt to pay; from the cross to the grave for us to be saved; and from the grave to the sky, so on the Holy Spirit we rely. We face many crossroads on our life journey. It is not always easy to know whether to go to the right or to the left, but it is always clear that God’s ways are perfect. Psalm 18:30 reminds us that, “As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.”

When we deviate from God’s plan for us, we leave the comfort and safety of His covering. The Holy Spirit came to provide us guidance, wisdom, comfort, peace, and the power to overcome the trials in our lives. The warnings that the Holy Spirit provides may be visible signs or internal counsel. Either way we have the blessed assurance that the Holy Spirit will guide us where to go and how to get there. When He dwells within our heart and spirit and we willingly submit to His authority, we will enjoy the journey, appreciate the blessings, and be living testimonies for the world to follow.

Deeply grateful for His shield, covering, and refuge,
Your sister Eileen

As we continue our journey of walking righteously with God through His Spirit, we will travel a little deeper in our study. God the Father and the Son sent the Holy Spirit, “another Comforter,” to take the place of Yeshua when He departed this earth and sat at the right hand of the heavenly Father. In John 14:26, our Lord promises us that “the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I have said to you.” The Holy Spirit is to every believer what Yeshua was to His disciples when He was in the flesh here on Earth. Yeshua walked, talked, and had fellowship with them; He guided, instructed, and protected them. When the time had come, our Lord said, “I am going away, but I am sending another Comforter to walk with you, befriend you, and be with you always.” This week our focus will be on . . .

The Blessings Of The Indwelling Presence Of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit of God is our divine connection to the Father and to the Son. As we are aware, the Ruach HaKodesh is the third Person of the Trinity; He is God. Yeshua commands that we become personally acquainted with the Holy Spirit; that we love, trust, and believe in Him, whose indwelling presence guides and teaches us all things. We are to look upon the Holy Spirit in the same manner as we would Yeshua, if He were here in the flesh. The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit ministers to us and blesses each of God’s children in so many ways.

The Holy Spirit Convicts Us: Yeshua revealed the work of the Holy Spirit in John 16, verses 5-16. I encourage you to read these passages of Scripture. Yeshua assured His disciples, “But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7). Without the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, we would never have seen our need for a Savior. No one would willingly give up his own ways and desires of the flesh in genuine repentance, if it were not for the Holy Spirit putting His hand on the heart of each believer who seeks God with full submission.

The Holy Spirit Draws Us In AndTeaches Us All Things: The Spirit of God opens our understanding of the gospel and teaches us the knowledge of all truth in our relationship with God. Acts 6:14 exemplifies how the Holy Spirit brought Lydia to an understanding of the Good News of Messiah, as the Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. The Spirit of God alone opens the hearts of unbelievers so they come to understand the saving grace of our Lord. Without the Holy Spirit, we fail to comprehend spiritual things: “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:14).

The Holy Spirit Seals Us: “In whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise” (Eph. 1:13). The ministry of the Holy Spirit does not cease after we enter into a saving relationship with Yeshua. The Spirit of God seals us into the body of Messiah: “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: The Lord knows those who are His” (2 Tim. 2:19). The seal is a stamp of ownership, between God and ourselves. When we get saved by grace through faith, we are signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit of God.

The Holy Spirit Indwells Within Us: 1 Corinthians 6:19 tells us: “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God?” God dwells within the heart and spirit of all believers. We are no longer our own; we have been bought with the priceless blood of Yeshua our Messiah. We each become the temple of the Holy Spirit of God.

The Holy Spirit Comforts Us: In John 14:16, Yeshua provides us with His assurance: “And I will ask the Father; and He will give you another Counselor [the Spirit of Truth], that He may abide with you forever.” Once the Holy Spirit seals us into the body of Messiah and indwells within us, He then abides in us forever, as He carries us through life. From the smallest sorrow to the deepest heartache, The Holy Spirit of God provides us with comfort that no one else can provide.

The Holy Spirit Guides Us: God never intended His children to be stumbling in darkness, fumbling around like a ship without a rudder on a dark, stormy night. Yeshua promises us in John 16:13, “When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” We have the blessed assurance of being able to safely walk in the light of God, as the Holy Spirit opens our understanding, guides us, teaches us, instructs us, and leads us through this broken world.

The Holy Spirit Empowers Us: Our Lord Yeshua tells us in Acts 1:8, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” This is our mandate. We praise and glorify God for the power of the Ruach HaKodesh, who energizes us, enabling us to bear witness to the truth of Yeshua, our Lord and Messiah.

The Holy Spirit Intercedes For Us: Romans 8:26 reveals that “The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groans that words cannot express.” The Spirit of God is the Spirit of prayer and intercession.

This week I invite you to be prayerfully meditating upon the ministry and blessings we receive by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit of God. Together let us give all praise and glory to the One Most High for these blessings. Next week we will conclude this mini-series on the power and glory of the ministry of the Spirit of God. Until next time . . .

May His Spirit indwell mightily within you,
Your sister Eileen

As we continue our journey in exploring the Ruach HaKodesh and His divine purpose for us, we discover how utterly important He is in the life of a believer. It is possible to undertake the most sacrificial acts imaginable for other people and still not please God. It is also possible to be eulogized by the world as the greatest philanthropist and not be pleasing in God’s sight. Why is this so? Because what truly pleases God is walking in the Spirit, being led by the Spirit, and bearing the fruit of the Spirit. It is absolutely crucial in the life of every believer because we came to life by the free and sovereign work of the Spirit; therefore, we need to learn to walk by the free and sovereign work of the Spirit. The question begs, what steps do we take as women of faith to be . . .

Walking Righteously And Filled With The Spirit Of God

It is God’s desire that every aspect of our lives be permeated with the Spirit of God. First and foremost, believers need to acknowledge that we cannot do anything pleasing to God without the continuous enabling grace of His Spirit (Romans 7:18; John 15:5). Second, we need to be in God’s Word and in prayer every day. God promised to put His Spirit within us and cause us to walk in His statutes (Ezekiel 36:27). Pray that God will do that for you by His almighty power. Our former ways and desires, prior to the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, were overcome by a new and stronger desire for God and to follow His ways in righteousness. To whom do we attribute that new desire? It came from the merciful Holy Spirit.

Therefore, let us pray like Paul did in 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13, for that chief fruit of the Spirit: “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Yeshua comes with all of His holy ones.” Let us also pray like it is said in Hebrews 13:20-21: “May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Yeshua, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Messiah Yeshua, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).

The third step involved in walking righteously and filled with the Spirit of God is our faith and trust in Him. Are we living in complete submission to the control of the indwelling Spirit of God? We must believe that since we have come under the gracious Spirit of God, “sin will no longer have dominion over us” (Romans 6:14). Romans 8:14 instructs us that we cannot be a child of God unless we are led by the Spirit. If you are a child of God, you have a solid and unshakable promise that God will give you victory over any powerful desires of the flesh.

The fourth step in walking righteously and being filled with the Holy Spirit is equally as crucial, as we are commanded to yield to the Holy Spirit. Only after we have appealed for the Spirit’s enabling grace and committed ourselves to His promise and power to work in us, will we be able to say like Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:10: “By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God which is with me.” Similarly, in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Messiah, it is no longer I who live, but Messiah who lives in me.”

We are admonished in Philippians 2:12-13 to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling because God is at work in us to will and to act according to His good purpose. “If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Messiah Yeshua. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:11).

The final step in walking righteously and filled with the Spirit of God is to express our gratitude to God, not only when we receive His blessings but during our trials and valleys in life. “If we live by the Spirit, then let us also walk by the Spirit.” Let us acknowledge daily from our heart that we are unable to please God without the continuous enabling grace of His Spirit. Let us pray and trust confidently in the power and promise of the Spirit of God; then let us exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. Having done these things, let us turn and say with all the saints, “Not I, but the Spirit of Messiah within me.” Thanks be to God. To Him alone be glory for ever and ever! Amen. Next week we will focus on the blessings we receive from the indwelling Spirit of God. Until then. . .

Love and blessings upon you,
Your sister Eileen