July 30, 2019

The Light in the Darkness – God Within Us

Jesus is the light of the world. When we have Jesus in our hearts and walk in His ways, and our relationship deepens with Him, our light can shine in the midst of darkness. Just like when you switch on a light in a dark room, the light of our Lord cuts right through and always overcomes the darkness. It doesn’t sometimes overcome darkness, but always. It cuts right through.

Image courtesy of: Wake Up Freeman

Scripture:
“See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.” – Isaiah 60:2

Observation/Application:
These are the words of Isaiah who prophesied it. And Jesus fulfills it. And even when “thick darkness” is over us, we can count on our Lord to be with us and his glory to appear over us. There is no problem too big for our God!

Chapter 60-62 of Isaiah talk a lot about the coming of our Lord and the blessings that follow Jesus. As we read these chapters and better understand His promise, it is easier to know when the Spirit of the Lord is upon us, and see his light that is within us. And this light within us is the same light that always overcomes darkness.

When Jesus ascended into heaven, he gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit, which is God within us. That is the same Spirit that rose Jesus from the grave, inside of us. What an amazing gift!

What role does the Holy Spirit have in our lives? The Word of God tells us the Holy Spirit exists to:

to give us us life – (Ephesians 2:1-5)
to give us a new beginning – (2 Corinthians. 5:17)
to teach us – (John 16:13-15)
to free us from the power of sin – (Galatians 5:16)
to be our advocate and bring our needs to God – (Romans 8:26)
to produce fruit in and through is – (Galatians 5:22-23)
to transform us into the likeness of Christ – (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18)
to continue working through all our lives – (Philippians 1:6)

Jesus defeated death and the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. And as if that were not enough, he left us the Holy Spirit! Thank you Jesus. How great is our God!

I call you blessed.

#Knowing-Who-We-Are-And-What-We-Have

Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your great Word. Thank you for your Holy Spirit and your light within us. Help us to get out of our own way so that your light will shine brightly within us, and for the world to see. Unleash your Holy Spirit within us, and let your power overcome our desires of the flesh so that I may walk in your Ways. Help us to seek you first Lord in all that we do. Restore us a clean heart Lord. Protect us from the attacks of the enemy. Deliver us from evil. Restore our steps. Now we declare your goodness over our lives, because we know that your promise is true. We thank you in advance for all that you have done and are going to do. And we give you all the honor and glory and praise, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today’s full reading: Isaiah 60-62; John 1

Scripture References From Today’s Reflection:

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'” – John 8:12
“God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” – 2 Corinthians 5:21
“And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. But stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” – Luke 24:49
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” – Ephesians 2:1-5
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” – John 16:13-15
“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” – Galatians 5:16
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” – Romans 8:26
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22-23
“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” – Romans 8:29
“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” – 2 Corinthians 3:18
“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 1:6
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:31-39