Sunday Morning Podcast January 28, 2018. Bro. Dave Goble.
TEXT: ACTS 1:4-8
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Our hearts are meant to be the temple of God. Do we have it filled too much with our self instead? Before His ascension, Jesus exhorted His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father. He instructed them that they would receive the baptismal of the Holy Ghost. Jesus told them that this would enable them to be witnesses for Him unto all. They had already been justified by being forgiven for their sins through Salvation. But now they needed something more to empower them over the flesh so they could be overcomers of it. Now they needed the sanctification of the Holy Ghost. Only then would they be effective to win souls for Christ.
Galatians 2:11-21 is an example of how even though we have the Holy Ghost, we can still humanly be unwise. It happens when we don’t fully and always seek God’s will over our own wisdom and ways. This happened here, when Peter’s wisdom was based on the law alone to judge problems about fellowshipping with the Gentiles. He had attempted to govern by the law, but without the Spirit that makes and keeps one free through faith in Jesus. Essentially sowing discord. Even though sowing discord technically would be a sin, God only counts that against one if that is their motivation, for God looks on the heart. Here Peter, (because of his fleshly wisdom), thought he was applying the law rightly. He needed correction to see the error of his wisdom, which the apostle Paul was able to provide.
Allowing our flesh to dictate, makes us too large in our temple (or heart), for God’s ways and will to have room. For then the law of our flesh will dictate, rather than the leading of the Holy Ghost. Do we leave the law behind, because it has not grace of itself? No, because without the law we are not aware of God’s will for our lives. Walking after the flesh, and not after the law of God, allows sin to overtake and remain in us. When we walk (or live) after the Spirit, we are kept free from sin which brings bondage, (Romans 7:7,12, 33-36, 8:1-4). Being submitted to God’s law (or being sanctified), is key to being humble, which without, we cannot please Him. Choosing your own ways and will, is evidence of a carnal, or self-oriented mind. Humility can help you instead to submit fully to God’s Spirit.
Has God filled your temple? Or are you too large (in self) to let Him? Are you humble enough to allow yourself to be corrected?