Orange Moon Friday, July 29, 2022 “The Power That Worketh In Us”

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

"The Power That Worketh In Us"

    

    Ephesians 3:20-21 proclaims "the power that worketh in us," whereby God "is able to do exeeding, abundantly above all we ask or think."

    What is this power?  Certainly, the Holy Spirit serves as God's mighty enabling in the hearts and lives of born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.  "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you" (Acts 1:8).  

   "It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).

    As with the power of electricity, the enabling of the Holy Spirit requires means of transmission to be available and effectual.  Without lines that carry electricity from plants that generate power to machines and devices empowered, things remain quiet, dark, and motionless.  Is spiritual terms, the power of God must be transmitted from Him to us through the current of faith.

   "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith" (Romans 1:17).

  

   God made us for personal, living relationship with Himself.  "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent" (John 17:3).  Nothing more speaks of the personal than faith.  When one trusts another, hearts connect in a singular way no other aspect of relationship can duplicate.  Little wonder then that a personal God created the race of beings in His image with the capacity for faith whereby we relate to Him, and whereby His heart and life flow through us (Genesis 1:26).  As we trust God, the Holy Spirit who so powerfully "moved upon the waters" in the original creation now effectually moves upon the hearts of those spiritually birthed into the new creation of Christ (Genesis 1:2; II Corinthians 5:17).  In our case, He does so through our personal connection of relating and responding to God by faith.  "He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6).

   Obviously, faith requires the knowledge of God declared by the Lord Jesus to be the essence of eternal life.  We trust someone to the degree we know them.  This behooves us to know our Lord better and better, more and more, and truer and truer.  Again, the Spirit of God provides the means.  "The things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God" (I Corinthians 2:1-12).  Yes, the power to know God, as enabled by the Spirit, results in the power to trust God by the same Spirit.  This leads to an empowered life of thought, word, deed, and relating to God and man in faith and faithfulness.  "The power that worketh in us" provides such grace, the power of God's Spirit working in us to generate and transmit faith and the fruits produced thereby.  The Apostle Paul commended the Thessalonians for such faith, resulting in such work, and we close with His affirmation…

"Remembering without ceasing your work of faith."

 (I Thessalonians 1:3).

Weekly Memory Verse

    Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying Abba Father.

 (Galatians 4:6).

   

   

   

  

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Orange Moon Thursday, June 28, 2022 "Fragrant Hearts"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

"Fragrant Hearts"

    "Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus" (Luke 24:1-3).

   The Lord's followers ventured to His tomb with spices because they expected to find decay rather than resurrection.

    What do we expect of the risen Christ?  Do circumstances, conditions, and situations find us "bringing the spices" to anoint death?  Or do we bear the expectation of finding an empty tomb?  Is the Lord Jesus the risen Christ in context of this troubling matter?  Or that challenging problem?  Or some perplexing dilemma?  Or even a painful heartache or heartbreak?  As we look at a a world ever fading into the darkness of its prophecied demise (before its ultimate redemption), do we direct our primary gaze Heavenward to see by faith an occupied throne where no anointing spices will ever be required?  Yes, Christ is risen from the dead, and His surpassing life beyond death bears its mighty impact in every venue of our lives.  "Because I live, ye shall live also.  At that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you" (John 14:19-20).

   We may leave the spices at home.  They will not be required at the empty tomb, or at the venues of life where the Prince of life awaits us in His risen glory.  Let us rather bring a heart fragrant with faith to every blessing, every challenge, and every seemingly mundane moment that actually serves as opportunity to remember the promise - "I will rise again" - and its fulfillment - "He is not here.  He is risen, as He said" (Matthew 27:63; 28:6).  Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ is risen from the dead as the hope of the ages, and as the hope of hearts fragrant with the faith to know He will be found alive in all things.

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God." 

(Colossians 3:1)

Weekly Memory Verse

    Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying Abba Father.

 (Galatians 4:6)

   

   

   

  

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Orange Moon Wednesday, July 27, 2022 “Paper and Ink, Spirit and Truth”

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

"Paper and Ink, Spirit and Truth"

    On first glance, the Bible appears to be like any other book, composed of paper, ink, and perhaps leather or some other sturdy cover material.  In the most basic sense, we also read it as we do other documents, seeking to assimilate words and their meaning into our minds.  Indeed, we can peruse the Scriptures in mere academic or informational terms, learning important facts, but without experiencing significant spiritual and moral impact.

    Conversely, we can approach the Bible by faith, believing it to be what it is, the very Word of God.  

    "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (II Timothy 3:16).

   We can also realize that to the trusting heart in Christ, the Holy Spirit speaks through Scripture to constitute our reading, pondering, and response in terms of inspiration no less than information.  As the saying goes, the Bible exists as the only book that comes with its author.  "I will pour out My Spirit unto you, I will make known My words unto you" (Proverbs 1:23).  Such awareness transforms the Bible into substance infinitely beyond paper, ink, leather, and information.  Through the Holy Spirit, reading ushers us into reality as the pages of Scripture become open portals through which the living God shines upon and within us.  "In Thy light shall we see light" (Psalm 36:9).

   It is possible for even committed believers to read the Bible as if we are merely reading.  It often seems or feel this way.  However, to the humble, trusting heart, something far more takes place before an open Bible.  The Lord who ever dwells nearer to us than our next breath somehow draws even closer.  We may or may not realize this special dispensation of His living presence.  Nor do we always realize how He impacts our hearts and lives on each occasion of our reading.  We can, however, be sure that things happen of eternal value and significance when we place our hearts and minds before the light of God's Word.  How could it be otherwise?  Words formed in eternity found their way onto pages of time without losing their power to change us forevermore.  "Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy Word is truth" (John 17:17).

   Paper and ink make possible our journey into Spirit and Truth.  Like every other book in many ways, the Bible nevertheless transcends all other objects in the world because it so personally and powerfully presents its sublime Subject to our hearts.  In these times when enemies violently reject its light, and when even seeming friends question its singular place and validity, we must realize the gift of grace God gives to all who approach Scripture in the realization that He awaits us there as we read, and as reading becomes something more, so very much more.

"I rejoice at Thy word, as one that findeth great spoil."

(Psalm 119:62)

"Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts."

(Jeremiah 15:16)

Weekly Memory Verse

    Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying Abba Father.

 (Galatians 4:6).

   

   

   

  

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