COUNTING THE OMER - WEEK 4

May 9 – Iyar 8 – Omer 23    Hebron or more?

Week 4 Day 3

When we declare with our mouth and believe in our heart that Jesus is Lord, we are saved and sealed in the Holy Spirit for eternity.

But there is more to being saved.  The more of being just “being saved” is in “living a Christian life.”

Lance Wallnau gives an analogy using three locations in Israel. 

The city of Hebron is the first location, just outside Jerusalem. Those in Hebron are saved. 

The second location is Jerusalem, those dwelling here are saved and Spirit filled.  In Jerusalem the people are, actively seeking Jesus, building relationships with Jesus and other Christians, reading their Bibles, going to conferences, assembling with the saints, living a Spirit-filled life.

While Mt Zion, the third location, is the hill on which the higher and more ancient part of Jerusalem was built. This is the sacred hill, a fortified location, beautiful in its loftiness, the city of our God.  Since this is where the Temple was it is considered the dwelling place of God – heaven.

We pretty much choose where we want to be. What kind of a walk we want to have, just saved or an adventure dwelling in Jerusalem or Zion.  We accomplish both by the Holy Spirit.  Walking out a Spirit-filled life is moment to moment in dependency on Him, sensitive to His voice and in obedience to Him.

Jesus said, “He will teach you all things,” He teaches us to live Heaven on earth.

Those who walk in the Spirit are united with Him and the bearers of the fruit the Spirit produces. Nothing is impossible because nothing is impossible for God’s Spirit who dwells in you.

Jesus was born a man, fully human.  Once He was filled with the Holy Spirit He began a supernatural lifestyle, healing the sick, raising the dead, multiplying food, knowing what others were thinking, getting Words of Knowledge, Wisdom and Prophecy. He lived a life we are to re-present.

Think about the degree to which you re-present Jesus filled with Holy Spirit.

Come to realize how little you can do on own and seek Holy Spirit for the more.

May 10 – Iyar 9 – Omer 24    God’s Gifts to you.

Week 4 Day 4

God’s plan is to shape us into the image of Christ. It is a life-long process as we learn to give Him control of our life. (Romans 8:29) The Holy Spirit will gradually conform us into the image of Christ as we submit ourselves to Him.

To accomplish this God gives us more Gifts – the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

And because we were made in His image we have the capacity to reflect His manifold gifts and glory.

We find these in 1 Corinthians 12.

The more we use the Gifts of the Spirit the more confident we will become in exercising them and we will see more results.

1. Words of Knowledge – having knowledge about something that you have no ability or means of knowing based on your human intelligence.

    

2. Words of Wisdom – This gift describes someone who can understand and speak forth biblical truth in such a way as to skillfully apply it to life situations with all discernment.

    

3. Prophecy – This gift is a direct Word from the Lord that is to be given to someone else to edify and build them up.

    

4. Faith –The gift of faith is knowing full well that you cannot accomplish something on your own, but that Lord has empowered you to move into new levels to do miracles and wonders in His name.

    

5. Healings – These gifts equip you in various ways to access healing for yourself or be an anointed vessel that will heal others.

    

6. Working of miracles – The work is unexplainable by nature. It edifies and delivers others giving glory to God.

    

7. Discerning of Spirit – This Gift from the Holy Spirit is a way of having insight in determining the true nature of a situation, person, or thing.  Discernment is not judging, it is a tool that you must follow the Lord’s leading to be useful.

    

8. Divers Tongues – tongues can be an unknown natural language – a language used for prayer only God knows. and an unknown spoken tongue in the church when it is interpreted.  While many receive their gift when they are Born Again it is not a proof of being Born Again.

    

9. Interpretation of Tongues – interpret the tongue that was spoken. This can either be for yourself (1 Corinthians 14:13-14) or for the Church (see 1 Corinthians 14:27-28).

Paul actually says we are to desire and strive for the gifts.

Is there a gift you desire?

Your heavenly Father is waiting for you to ask, so He can bless you with His gifts.

Declare: I will not be passive or indifferent about the gifts.

I will demonstrate my faith by taking steps to what God has put on my heart.

I know when God sees my faith He will show up and do amazing things.

May 11 – Iyar 10 – Omer 25    Fruit

Week 4 Day 5

The process of God molding us into the image of Christ is just that, a process.  We can recognize our progress by the Fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The fruits are in direct contrast with the sinful acts of the flesh.

Galatians 5:22-23, lists them out.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Other fruits are greater intimacy with God, the fear of God, freedom from bondages (fear, anger, bitterness, pain, lust, hang-ups, etc.); physical healings and emotional healing, empowering for ministry and refreshment are just a few.  Our breakthroughs are also fruits. All these fruits we can bless others with according to Genesis 12.

We are molded into the image of Christ by fruit.  This is also, how we determine another’s character, sheep or wolf in sheep’s clothing – by fruit.

Our goal is to create a fruit driven life, to be more like Jesus

So how do we produce more fruit?

First of all, Jesus told His followers, “I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last” John 15:16 NIV

He has already set us up to bear fruits, we just need to be willing and obedient.

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard.  He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.  You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.  Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.

I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.  If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples.  John 15:1-8

God is the vine dresser.

Jesus is the vine.

We are the branches.

To produce, the branch, you, must be attached to the vine.

Attached, live, continue in, remain, abide.

Abide – to have a relationship.

Another key to living a fruit driven life is to keep your attention on the fruit, not your circumstances around you. Remember the 12 spies? Ten of them got caught up in their surroundings and forgot about the size of the fruit waiting for them.

Talk to God about areas you would like to produce more fruit.

Ask God where He would like you to produce more fruit.

May 12 – Iyar 11 – Omer 26    Spirit Walk

Week 4 Day 6

We have 3 enemies – the world, flesh and devil.

• Jesus said we are to be in the world, but not a part of it.
  Ask Jesus if there is an area in your life where there is too much world.
  
  
• Scripture tells us to resist the devil.  He can’t make you do it, but he will try to deceive and entice you.
  Stay in the Word to avoid being deceived or enticed.

1Corinthians 10:13 He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

• To avoid living out of our flesh, we are to be filled with Spirit.

Galatians 5:16

⁶ I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

 Galatians 5:25   If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Each of these three pitfalls require active avoidance.

The life, which the Spirit quickens, needs co-operation, good stewardship, and an active effort on our part.

If we profess to be living by the Spirit, then at the same time we are not under the dominance of the flesh, nor controlled by its appetites and desires, and are standing by faith.

Here is a true -life story to inspire your Spirit Walk.

There was a family from Norway who were led to be missionaries in China and moved to China while their sons were very little. The two sons grew up on the mission field before returning to Norway many years later.  After their father and mother passed, the two sons decided to return to China and visit the churches their parents had started.  Without notifying any of the people at the church, of their upcoming visit, for fear of reprisal, the brothers set out on their journey. 

After they arrived in China they drove for many hours to the outer country, to where they remembered the churches.  Arriving in the city close to midnight, they were surprised to be met by a man in the street waving them down. When the brothers stopped to see what he wanted, the gentleman said, we were expecting you. I am here to show you where you can stay and be safe.  The brothers looked at each other and then asked the man how he knew they were coming.  The gentleman replied while at the prayer meeting at church, the Spirit told us to be watching for you just before midnight on this day.

We see this very thing in the story of Elisha and the King of Aram in 2 Kings 6.

I want a Spirit walk, don’t you?

May 13 – Iyar 12 – Omer 27     First Love

Week 4 Day 7

To sum up this week; the Holy Spirit is given to us to lead us into all truth, giving Gifts, and Fruits to be stewarded in us, that we may become more Christ-like.

As heaven, and earth are contrary one to the other, affection to the one will weaken affection to the other.

We need to decide the object of our affection and then make every minute choice to undergird our decision for our lifetime.

This is why Paul says in Colossians 3:2

“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” KJV

Because it isn’t your character development or your disciplines that will keep you seeking after the Lord and endeavoring to walk in His ways.  It will be your affection. Your love for the Lord is what will maintain a life-long relationship with the Lord.

The veil of deception that covers the earth is trying to seduce you into believing that the evil we are seeing in culture is acceptable, even normal.  The distractions are many and meant to entice us into lawlessness, and allow our love to grow cold.

Jesus warns the end time church – Nevertheless I have this against you, that “you have left your first love.”

Take time to remember when you first met Jesus. The way you felt, the awe, the excitement and anticipation.

There is nothing more beautiful than love that has aged over time, maturing, growing stronger, and deeper as the years pass by.

Stoke the embers of first love; let it grow a flame.

Read the words of the Psalmist, let them stir up your love for the Lord.

Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.   Psalm 73:25

As the deer pants for the water brooks, So, pants my soul for You, O God. Psalms 42:1

At night my soul longs for You, Indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently; Isaiah 26:9

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God? Psalms 42:2

O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You,

In a dry and weary land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1

Write a confession of your love for Jesus.