Scripture

God has given us His Spirit as proof that we live in Him and He in us.

~1 John 4:13, NLT

Quote

I do not understand how a person can be a true believer unto whom sin is not the greatest burden.

~John Owens

John said God has given us proof or evidence that He lives within us. This evidence is the Holy Spirit. Anytime we get into the subjective, it gets confusing because our emotions get involved and they are volatile. When things are going great, we feel great but when they go sour, we feel bad. So how do we know that God’s Spirit abides in us? If His Spirit is in us then He is in us. Martyn Lloyd gives us a litmus test: just answer the following questions…

• Are you concerned about spiritual things: do you deeply desire an answer to the question, is the Holy Spirit living in me?
• Are you deeply concerned about the life of your soul?
• Are you concerned about knowing God?
• Are you concerned about immortality, things invisible and eternal?
• Do you have a sense of sin?
• Are you aware that sin indwells your human nature?
• Do you feel a sense of misery and wretchedness that you are not able do as you ought due to this sinful nature?
• Is there a fountain within that emits unworthy, ugly, and foul thoughts?
• Does this cause you to loathe yourself?
• Can you say with Paul, and mean it, “O wretched man that I am?”
• Do you have a growing distaste for sin and the world?

If you can say yes to these questions give God thanks for the presence and work in your life. I rejoice today that He included me. The wonder of wonder that fills my soul, is the fact that Jesus loves me. Dana Ortlund says, “Our sins can darken our awareness of God’s love but they cannot darken the reality of His love.” Praise Jesus!

Extra

Well we got enough rain to tack the leaves down to maybe lunch time today. This is the third time in the last 70 days that we have had less the .01 of rain. I was on the other side of the county when it started and from New Center to Hartselle it rained. I had to use the wipers but it let up by the time I got to Iron Man. It is better than nothing and it gives us hope. Maybe we will get a real rain next week. I had been tracking the system since it was in Arkansas three days ago and the further it moved east the more power it lost. In other words, it just fizzled out. Some trees and shrubs will be lost by this drought but it is part of life. I did enjoy the rain as long as it lasted.

Seth’s mother, Gloria Green, has a celebration of life service today at 4:00. Joe David is helping with the service, I will be an attender. Trunk-A-Treat tonight and jambalaya afterwards. I think it is 5:30-6:30, not sure, check the FB page. Some of our folks fell back last Saturday night but it is this coming Saturday night that we get an extra hour of sleep. It will not matter, those who are always late will still be late and those who get to church on time, will be there on time. Time is not the problem.

Have a great day and thanks for reading the blog.