Saturday, June 13, 2009
Isaiah 44:6 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: "I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God."
THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES YOU KNOWLEDGE OF THE ONE, TRUE GOD
With the Holy Spirit we have knowledge that not everybody has. We know God not as some vague spiritual force, but as the Redeemer, the Lord of hosts (armies). We know that He is eternal (the first and the last), and that besides Him there is no God. This is how He has identified Himself to us, and by faith we believe it to be true.
In your life you will be bombarded by opinions to the contrary. As you enter into universities and the work force you will be given many alternatives to what verse six states. You will be frequently offered the theory of evolution. You will be exposed to situation ethics, the idea that there is no moral code such as the Ten Commandments, but right or wrong depends totally upon the time and situation. You will be taught that there are many paths to heaven, that it doesn't matter where or what you worship as long as you worship something. That is natural thinking, not spiritual thinking.
The Holy Spirit reveals that there is but one, true God and He is triune. He reveals that there is no God besides Him. He reveals that God has always been around, and that there is only one path to heaven--through Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit reveals that the LORD is righteous and that He is love. That's not being bigoted or hateful. It's very loving to talk about the truth of salvation.
You will be tested and tried daily. You will be asked by God to take a stand for your faith. There will be times that you will be asked to prove what you believe and you will find no proof other than Holy Scripture, but that's more than enough. God's Word tells the truth and the Holy Spirit will work through that precious Gospel of Jesus Christ to strengthen and sustain faith.
Just as God changed hearts and changed the world at Pentecost, so also He's working to change hearts and the world today. The Lord will equip the next generation to be salt and light in this world as well. He has promised to pour out His Spirit. God has always responded in the past and will continue to do so. Don't be afraid. The Holy Spirit is at work.
