"And a certain
woman named Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, (one)
reverencing God, listened, whose heart the Lord had thoroughly opened to pay
attention to the things being spoken by Paul.
And as she and her house were baptized, she implored (Paul), saying, 'If
you have judged me to be believing in the Lord, entering into my house, remain.
And she strongly urged us." Acts
16:14, 15
(This verse comes
from the Greek New Testament)
Sometimes we forget to "connect the dots," or put
together the Word of God as it began in the hearts of these faithful men, when
the Holy Spirit to came dwell in them, revealing God's Word of Life regarding
His Son.
What was Paul saying?
It says that Lydia listened. But
she did more than just listen. We are
told that the Lord Himself opened her heart thoroughly to pay attention to the
things Paul was speaking.
Later, God had Paul
to pen these truths in letters which are found in the Epistles. Paul also spoke of the Gospel as his
Gospel. And that he was not taught it by
man, but by and through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
We are so privileged to have God's Holy Spirit dwelling in
our hearts. God has said things about
His Spirit to which we also, need to pay attention.
1) He leads
and guides us into all Truth.
2) God's
anointing (His Spirit) abides in us - that teaches us that which is true and
has no part in a lie. I John 2:27
3) The Fruit
of His Spirit is love, joy, peace, goodness, gentleness, self-control,
forbearance, meekness - against such there is no law. Galatians 5
4) The
Spirit is Life and Righteousness. Romans
8
5) The
Spirit is Jesus Christ sent into our hearts crying, "Abba, Father." Romans 8
6) The
Spirit is everlasting. Galatians 5
7) The
Spirit are as the river of living waters flowing out from the innermost being. John 7
8) The
Spirit is the Law of Life in Christ Jesus.
He has set us free from the Law of Sin and Death.
Romans
8:2
9) The
Spirit and God's Word agree. I John 5
10) The Spirit
of God strengthens with might our inner man where Christ dwells through
faith. Ephesians 3:
11) The Holy
Spirit reveals freely the things given to us in Christ Jesus. I Corinthians 2
12) The Spirit
opens eyes with wisdom and understanding regarding the knowledge of
Christ. Ephesians 1
13) The Spirit
is also the Father. John
14) The Spirit
of God leads our human spirit. Romans 8
15) The Spirit
of God groans within our hearts making intercessions according to the will of
God, especially when we cannot make the prayers in articulate speech. Romans 8
16) The same
Spirit that rose up Christ from the dead, dwells in our mortal jars. Romans 8
17) God's Holy
Spirit is His gift. "And you will
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Seems to me, we need to do some more "unpacking,"
of God's unspeakable gift of His Spirit dwelling in us. Through Him we can know the Words of Life
found in His Holy Word. Through Him we
can know the Life of Jesus Christ very deeply, richly as we are Strengthened in
Him.
Let us be like Lydia:
Reverencing God and His Truth, listening, and letting the Lord open our
hearts THOROUGHLY to PAY ATTENTION to the things God gave His Holy
Apostles. AND judged as people who
continue to believe and agree with God about ALL His Words of Life.
Camping out on Romans 8: 1, 2 for a little while longer,
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