The Consecrating Holy Spirit

I've been thinking of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives lately, actually more specifically my own life, as I've been passing through some pressing times.  What has been capturing my thoughts is His role as our Sanctifier. That is, He is the One who draws us more toward God in relationship and knowledge of His Person. Sanctification is basically defined as being separate from that which is unholy, so that we may become holy, and increase in our holiness. It can also carry the aspect of being consecrated, or set apart to God. I like that aspect of sanctification. Often we as followers of Jesus are told repeatedly to withdraw from those practices and attitudes that we in our sub culture would define as "worldly." That is a good teaching, but it has a way of putting us under a kind of legalism.  It can allow us to have an unhealthy condemnation as to the way we live or don't live. It can set up a standard in our hearts and minds that we will never be able to live up to, being the imperfect people that we are.  The role of the Spirit in our consecration is therefore a very precious and liberating action. He is the one who is granted to us by God at salvation, and He creates within us a deepening desire to know the Savior who redeemed us, loves us, justifies us and promises to never leave us alone. As we respond to His work within us we desire His word, desire to pray, and to be in close relationship with like minded followers of Christ. As we draw near to God, the natural benefit  of that is to withdraw from "the world." Nothing legalistic about that, it comes from within ourselves now that the Holy Spirit is at work, revealing to us the precious value of Christ.  These are days when we as followers of Jesus, claiming the claims that we do about Him and the christian doctrine, have to really practice what we say we believe. These confused days are the context when Christians can really shine in lives of consecrated holiness. It's not that we can think of ourselves as better than anyone else, but that we simply display in our day to day lives the validity of Christ, by living in such a way that tells everyone that we are set apart and consecrated to Him. It can be a strong witness to those around us in these distressing times.

The Mantle Of Elijah

When Elijah the prophet cast his mantle on Elisha, the man who would be his successor, very much was involved in that gesture. That mantle was symbolic of the prophetic ministry, and all that went with it. What went with it was the vocation of the prophet to stand in the absolute truth and Presence of God and deliver that word to His people. Elijah had experienced great victory and tremendous moves of God as he served Him. He also felt the wrath of a nation who didn't want his ministry or the word from God, yet Elijah was faithful to his calling. He threw the mantle on Elisha, almost with an air of relief, as if he was saying,"take it, it's your now." Elisha responded, saying goodbye to his people, offering a sacrifice of the oxen he was plowing with, and followed, freely accepting this calling and mantle.
I wonder if we as the church in the USA are willing to pick up the mantle that has been throw onto us. Ours is to be faithful to the word of God preserved for us in the Bible, and to speak, teach, live and display the truthfulness of God's reality to those around us. We may experience great demonstrations of Gods love and power, or the great resistance of ungodly persons who, like those in Elijah's day want no part of God's revealed truth. It's up to us. We have to decide if we will be like Elisha, who let go of all his worldly trappings, said goodbye to those closest to him, and followed God's call.
Pick up your mantle now. Stand for the Lord Jesus Christ in these confusing and pagan times. The mantle of Elijah has been thrown onto us for this generation.

The Vanity of Humanity Psalm 2

While we are in the midst of a political election process, we watch the proceedings with a certain amount of frustration at the character of the presumptive nominees. The media and all the television personalities are commenting, making jokes, insulting the contenders as well as making their predictions. 

As a follower of Christ we must remember that ..."He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them."  We are in the world, but are certainly not of this world, and as we consider our meager options as to who we will vote for, let us remember that Jesus is Lord, and all things are in His mighty and just hand. We may be a bit confused amid all the activity and myriad of opinions we hear each day, but one thing is clear- the vanity of humanity will not thwart the good and perfect will of God to be completed in His due time.  Pray for our nation, for the church in particular, that we will repent of our own sins, to see clearly the real need of our nation. May God deliver us from the vanity of humanity.