How faithful and wise are we at practicing God's Word? I will be sharing my spiritual thoughts about what and how God is teaching me as He continues my journey of love. I pray all who read my posts as well as my new published book, "The Armor of Love" will find hope, purpose in life, and see the depths of love our Father in heaven has bestowed on all of us through the salvation of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. http://aboone.authorweblog.com http://aboone.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/05/54615/the-work-of-the-holy-spirit our Counselor. He is the only one who can guide us into the ultimate truth. He speaks only what he hears, and He brings glory to Jesus, Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He tells us what is yet to come and convicts the world of guilt in regard to sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8-15).

When we rely on our Counselor, He will testify, teach, and remind us of the words of Jesus and sanctify us when we belief in the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:13). Wow! His power helps us “put off” our former way of life, which is “corrupted by its deceitful desires” and “put on” the new self, “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:17-24).

The Holy Spirit will keep us filled (Ephesians 5:18) all the time with truth, peace, and joy if we intentionally draw upon His power to strengthen and sustain us. We don’t need to seek the world’s source of comfort: drugs, alcohol, sex, material possessions, careers, etc. "The sword of the Spirit, the word of God" protects us through prayer and the armor of God (Ephesians 6:17)

As believers, the body of Christ, the church, we need spiritual gifts. By God’s grace, the Holy Spirit gives them to us, so we can build each other up “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-13).

These are the gifts, all given to edify the body of Christ: first of all, apostles, prophets, teachers; then miracles, also evangelists, pastors, serving, encouraging, contributing, leadership, showing mercy, gifts of healing, gifts of administration, and speaking in different kinds of tongues.

Oh how thankful we can be that Jesus cared so much for us that He never left us alone when He ascended back to heaven! Do you rely on Him for your truth and your spiritual gifts? Elaine

Email: elaine@armoroflove.com

]]> Thu, 17 May 2012 04:05:04 PST http://aboone.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/05/54615/the-work-of-the-holy-spirit http://aboone.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/05/54377/the-presence-of-the-holy-spirit of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, He is the undergirding presence and power in Jesus, in all believers of Jesus, and in the church.

Because Jesus could only be one place at a time while on earth, after He returned to heaven, God sent the Holy Spirit to become our Comforter and Counselor. He is with us all the time and will remind us of everything Jesus said while here on earth (John 14:26; 16:7).

“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17)

According to Jesus, the Holy Spirit would testify to us about Him; become our seal of God’s merciful saving rebirth and renewal in His blood (Titus 3:5-7), and be the power and strength of our Godly wisdom and enlightenment (Ephesians 1:11-14; 17-19).

The Holy Spirit is “poured out upon us” when we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. He must continue that work in us through His sanctification, meaning, we live under His power and strength until we become mature “attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-16).

Not only is the Holy Spirit “poured out upon us,” He is given to us “without limit” (or measure) (John 3:34). And, we ourselves are God’s temple and God’s Spirit lives in us!” (1 Corinthians 3:16)

Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, … streams of living water will flow from within him” (John 7:37-39).

It is breathtaking! The power IN ALL BELIEVERS is like the power and strength God “exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him … in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 1:19-20).

Elaine
Email: elaine@armoroflove.com

]]> Thu, 10 May 2012 03:45:12 PST http://aboone.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/05/54377/the-presence-of-the-holy-spirit http://aboone.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/05/54188/the-person-of-the-holy-spirit Do you fully know or understand the third Person of the Trinity--God the Holy Spirit? We will look at His Person and work from the Holy Scriptures to find how important it is to submit to His influence in our lives.

In his book, The Promise, Tony Evans points out, that we think we know all about Him, but generally know very little, and only rely on the Holy Spirit if we think we can’t do everything in our own strength.

In Old Testament history, we hear the voice of God, Himself, in creation and how He chose the Jewish race to carry out His purposes and plans (Deuteronomy 7:6): Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Israel), the twelve patriarchs, sons of Jacob, the twelve tribes of Israel and Judah, the tribe of King David (1 Samuel 16:13, 23:2), from whom Jesus Christ, the Messiah, would be born (Micah 5:2),

The Holy Sprit was present during all of Old Testament history as well, but, we only hear about Him when special power and skills were needed. For instance: the journey of Israel from slavery in Egypt (Nehemiah 9:20, 30); Bezalel, whose special skills helped beautify the Tabernacle (Exodus 31:3), Moses leadership (Numbers 11:24, 25), Gideon (Judges 6:34), Samson (Judges 14:19; 16:28), the prophet Elisha (2 kings 2:9), etc.

We see the Holy Spirit's presence, immediately, at the creation of the world (“the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters”) AND the creation of man: “Let us make man in our own image, in our likeness …” (Genesis 1:2, 26).

He was present at the time of the flood, when God was “grieved” at the wickedness of the people He had created and said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever,” then proclaimed His destruction of the whole population, except for Noah and his sons, eight people who “found favor” with God.

We will find, as Evans says, that “His role is the indispensable factor in determining whether you win or lose spiritually, whether you are a failure or a success as a Christian.”

Elaine
Email: elaine@armoroflove.com

]]> Thu, 3 May 2012 03:42:38 PST http://aboone.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/05/54188/the-person-of-the-holy-spirit http://aboone.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/04/53971/the-cost-for-daily-bread- Give us each day our daily bread” (Luke 11:3). He also said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35).

This part of the Lord’s Prayer is usually understood as our petition to God for our daily physical nourishment. We have God's promise to provide our daily food when we pray. He also tells us we need not worry or be anxious about these daily needs (Matthew 6:25-32). 

However, we have a greater need, said Jesus, in verse 33. We must FIRST seek Christ and his kingdom and righteousness, then our daily physical needs will be given to us as well. Every day we need “bread” for our body AND for our soul—food from the revealed Word of God—the Bible.

We go to great lengths to provide, our physical daily bread. However, what we think we need, may be completely different than what God knows we need. I believe, the more time we spend seeking Him FIRST, the more contentment we will have with His knowledge of our needs and we will also increase our trust and faith in Him (John 6:27).

At the close of the John 6 discourse, “On hearing Jesus’ teachings about seeking Him as “the bread of life,” many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it? … From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him” (6:60, 66).

Is this a “hard teaching” for you to accept? Is this why so many of us Christians neglect the study of the Bible or just seek God occasionally? Yet, Jesus assures us that “if we seek Him” daily, he will provide both our spiritual food as well as our physical food.

Obeying Jesus does work! It is not a hard teaching! Elaine
Email: elaine@armoroflove.com

]]> Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:12:52 PST http://aboone.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/04/53971/the-cost-for-daily-bread- http://aboone.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/04/53747/daily-godly-assurance Joy: the deep abiding assurance that God is with us each day no matter the circumstances; through any trial or blessing we may encounter. “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love,” then, my joy in you will be complete (John 14:10,11).

Peace: Jesus will keep us free from anxieties, worries, fear, anger, grumbling, bitterness, envy, self-seeking, sexual immorality, or any other sin and temptation. Jesus said, “In me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Forgiveness/love: Jesus’ prayer for all those who will believe in Him through God’s Holy Word, “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. … May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:20, 21, 23).

Patience: Jesus is “the vine and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” All who remain in the Vine “will bear much fruit; apart from me [Him] you can do nothing” (John 15:1-5).

Kindness/goodness: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. … You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. … This is my command: Love each other” (John 15:12, 16-17).

Hope: Therefore, … we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. … And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Romans 5:1, 5).

“Daily” follow Jesus within, The Armor of Love, Elaine
Email: elaine@armoroflove.com
]]> Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:50:30 PST http://aboone.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/04/53747/daily-godly-assurance http://aboone.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/04/53502/life-after-easter-sunday How long will the true meaning of  Easter stay with us?

That depends on whether our mundane duties include an ongoing daily time of joy and thanksgiving with Christ. For Jesus humbled himself, left His glory in heaven, not considering his equality with God something to be grasped, and willingly became obedient to death on a cross, suffering for our sins (Philippians 2:1-11).

James said, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says, Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. … But doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.” (1:22-25)

Some questions: how deep was our celebration of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection this Easter weekend? Was it sincere, or just mixed in with another holiday until next year? Did we “merely listen” because the whole world was celebrating, or was this a serious, genuine celebration to remember the cross?

May we pay careful attention to the words of Jesus as we travel through this year to the next Easter!

Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory …” (Luke 9:23-26).

When you look in the mirror today, don't forget whose you are! Elaine
Email: elaine@armoroflove.com
]]> Thu, 12 Apr 2012 03:39:10 PST http://aboone.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/04/53502/life-after-easter-sunday http://aboone.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/04/53194/thankfulness-and-joy-at-easter KNOW what Jesus gave you—gifts we did not deserve or merit; His grace (love), mercy, forgiveness, and imputed righteousness; gifts that require joy and thankfulness, EVERY DAY, not just one time a year.

Listen to the words of Dr. R.C. Sproul,

“The most violent expression of God’s wrath and justice is seen in the cross. If ever a person had room to complain of injustice it was Jesus. He was the only innocent man ever to be punished by God. … The cross was at once the most horrible and the most beautiful example of God’s wrath. It was the most just and the most gracious act in history. Once Christ had …volunteered to be the Lamb of God, laden with our sin, then He became the most grotesque and vile thing on this planet. With the concentrated load of sin He carried, He became utterly repugnant to the Father. God poured out His wrath on this obscene thing. God made Christ accursed for the sin He bore. Herein was God’s holy justice perfectly manifest. Yet it was done for us. … This “for us” aspect of the cross is what displays the majesty of its grace. … It is too astonishing to fathom.” (The Holiness of God, p. 158, boldness mine)

Therefore, “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:1-3).

“Thank you God the Father for your gift of Jesus!” Elaine,

Email: elaine@armoroflove.com

]]> Thu, 5 Apr 2012 04:16:45 PST http://aboone.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/04/53194/thankfulness-and-joy-at-easter http://aboone.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/03/52984/the-reason-for-easter The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work” (1 John 3:8). The devil’s work started in the Garden of Eden when he lied and tempted Adam and Eve. He contradicted God when He told them, “You will not surely die” when you eat from the tree of good and evil. God, then, condemned Satan with a curse (Genesis 3:15). Jesus Christ fulfilled that curse on the cross (John 16:11, 33).

Just like the blood of goats was shed over and over again, by the high priest, for the sins of the people in the Old Testament, Jesus needed to shed his blood, once for all, to bear the wrath of God against sin (Romans 5:9), and reconcile all believers back to God, the Father. “Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens” (Hebrews 7:23-28).

Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep … The reason my father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father" (John 10:7-18).

Jesus shared in the humanity of all believers, “so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— … and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people” (Hebrews 2:14-17).

“For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.” (Romans 5:12-19)

Thank you dear Father for the gift of your Son, Elaine
Email: elaine@armoroflove.com
]]> Thu, 29 Mar 2012 03:33:50 PST http://aboone.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/03/52984/the-reason-for-easter http://aboone.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/03/52711/the-meaning-of-easter only celebrate with Easter egg hunts, baskets, and real or candy bunnies, some only celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and some celebrate both.

The tie between the two events is: “the first Sunday after the date of the first full moon that occurs on or after March 21” (Webster).

Easter eggs, baskets, and bunnies:

Easter falls in the spring, the yearly time of renewal, when the earth renews itself after a long, cold winter. The word Easter comes to us from the Norsemen's Eostur, Eastar, Ostara, and Ostar, and the pagan goddess Eostre, all of which involve the season of the growing sun and new birth. The Easter Bunny arose originally as a symbol of fertility. … The ancient Egyptians, Persians, Phoenicians, and Hindus all believed the world began with an enormous egg, thus the egg as a symbol of new life has been around for eons. (From the Internet)

The Passover was held at the same time each year to celebrate the Israelites “rescue” from slavery (Exodus 12), which is a type of Christ, the Passover lamb, who would “save” His people from their sins (John 13:1; chapters 18-20; Revelation 5:6-14).

The Resurrection—Easter: “Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture, was buried, was raised on the third day … and appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. … After that to 500 of the brothers at the same time.” (1 Corinthians 15:1-8) He is the promised Messiah (John 4:21-26).

When we receive Christ as Savior, we experience a “new life” “a new birth” “a renewal” from our sins. Do we honor Christ when we celebrate a pagan event at any time?

I believe the Apostle Paul would say, “No,” “Do NOT conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:1-2).

Sincerely in Christ, Elaine
Email: elaine@armoroflove.com
]]> Thu, 22 Mar 2012 04:14:08 PST http://aboone.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/03/52711/the-meaning-of-easter http://aboone.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/03/52445/the-holiness-of-god Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” (Isaiah 6:1-7)

“The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.

One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.

Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek. Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior.

Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.

I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” (Psalm 27)

I am so grateful I serve a Mighty God!
Elaine
Email: elaine@armoroflove.com
]]> Thu, 15 Mar 2012 03:21:29 PST http://aboone.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/03/52445/the-holiness-of-god