Apples of Gold
Radio Script for October 20, 2008
“Tap Into the Wonder of God in Us”
Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.
One of the great things about being a Christian is having the Holy Spirit inside me.
I don’t have to wonder where God is, out there roaming around the vast universe. Yes, He’s out there, but He’s also right here, inside me, in the form of His Holy Spirit.
When I pray, I don’t have to scream out so He can hear me. I don’t have to go to some temple somewhere because my very own body is His temple.
In John 14:17 Jesus told His disciples what was coming. He said that the Holy Spirit “will be in you.”
Romans 8:11 talks about the Spirit of God, “who lives in you.”
Second Timothy 1:14 says, “…the Holy Spirit who lives in us.”
Second Corinthians 1:22 says that God put His Spirit “…in our hearts…”
Ephesians 3:16 says His Spirit is in our “inner being.”
Not only is He in us, but Ephesians 5:18 tells us to “be filled with the Spirit.” And over and over in the Bible we read about people who were, indeed, full of the Holy Spirit.
So God’s Spirit is in me, and look what that means, according to First Corinthians 3:16 and 6:19. “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” “Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you received from God?”
So how does a person get God’s Holy Spirit inside of them?
Well Jesus said in Luke 11:13 that God gives the Holy Spirit “to those who ask Him.”
Galatians 3:2 indicates that we receive the Holy Spirit by believing in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Verse 14 says it’s by faith.
In Acts 2:38 Peter preached, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
And I like that phrasing, which is also used in Acts 10:45 – “the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
“So Doug, are you saying the Holy Spirit is not inside you one minute, then the next minute He is?”
In Acts chapter two, the first disciples in Jerusalem were suddenly filled with the Holy Spirit.
In Acts chapter 8, Peter and John went to Samaria, prayed with them to receive the Holy Spirit, and they did.
In Acts 19 Paul told the Ephesians about the Holy Spirit, and right there they received the Holy Spirit.
Where does this Holy Spirit come from?
First Peter 1:12 says the Holy Spirit is sent from heaven.
Jesus said in John 15:26 that He would send the Holy Spirit from the Father.
So what does the Holy Spirit do?
Ah, this is the good part.
First of all, you need to know what it says in Galatians 5:17. The Holy Spirit wants what is contrary to our sinful nature. So when the Holy Spirit comes in contact with our sinful nature, it brings conviction. Then we can either accept that conviction, or run from it.
When we accept that conviction, the Spirit shows us our sinful state and our need for a Savior.
Then the Holy Spirit does an interesting thing. According to John 15:26, He testifies to us about Jesus.
This is an incredible moment in your life. The almighty Spirit of God lovingly takes you under His wing and tells you about Jesus Christ. John 16:14 says He brings glory to Jesus. If you ever wonder if it is really the Spirit of God speaking to you, this is how you will know. He will always testify about Jesus Christ.
Then we have the choice of believing or rejecting the Gospel.
When we believe, it triggers a marvelous chain of events.
First Corinthians 6:11 says we are “justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
Then God puts His Spirit in our hearts. Second Corinthians 5:5 says God gives us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Ephesians 1 says, “Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance.”
Ephesians 4:30 says we are sealed with the Holy Spirit “for the day of redemption.”
Then the Holy Spirit communicates to us, speaking inside of us to our own spirit. Romans 8:16 says, “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”
First John 3:24 says that we know that God lives in us “by the Spirit He gave us.”
Then the Holy Spirit begins to bring freedom to our sin-shackled souls. Second Corinthians 3:17 says, “…where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
And He begins to sanctify us, setting us apart for the Lord. Romans 15:16 talks about people “becoming an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”
First Peter 1:2 says we have been chosen for obedience to Jesus Christ, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit.
And the Holy Spirit begins to give us gifts like hope and love and peace and joy.
And He begins to teach us. Jesus said in John 16:13 that the Holy Spirit will guide us “into all truth.” Jesus even called the Holy Spirit “the Counselor.”
Romans 8:14 indicates that the Holy Spirit will lead us.
Romans 8 also says that the Holy Spirit will intercede for us.
Ephesians 2:18 says the Spirit gives us access right to the Father Himself.
Jude 1 says we can pray in the Holy Spirit.
Philippians 3:3 says we can worship by the Holy Spirit.
And this only scratches the surface of what the Holy Spirit does in our lives.
So as a believer, are you in tune with the Holy Spirit? Do you listen to His teaching and respond to His leading? Galatians 6:8 talks about pleasing the Spirit. Are you working to please the Spirit?
Ephesians 4:30 warns us not to grieve the Holy Spirit.
First Thessalonians 5:19 warns us, “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire…”
Perhaps you have not taken advantage of this beautiful gift from God.
Well now is the time. Start today.
Tap into the wonder of God in us…the Holy Spirit.
Comments?
E-mail me: dougapple@wave94.com.
May God bless you today! With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
© 2008 The Arrow’s Tip
To subscribe to your own daily “Apples of Gold” e-mail, write dougapple@wave94.com.
If you want to be removed from this e-mail list, simply click reply and type UNSUBSCRIBE on the subject line.
If you want to catch “Apples of Gold” in its original audio format, go to www.wave94.com
To search through the large archive of past articles, go here: http://www.wave94.com/modules.php?name=Stories_Archive
If you have trouble reaching me at my main e-mail address, try this one: douglas_apple@msn.com
(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)
Why “The Arrow’s Tip”? Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold. Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.” I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.
Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL 32315
(850) 926-8000
-vi-
No comments:
Post a Comment