It's A Spirit Thing

IT’S A SPIRIT THING

1 Corinthians 2:14“The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and spiritually discerned.”

Sometimes friends look at us as though we’ve lost our minds. The internal operations of our brain, heart, and soul are not visible on the outside. Sometimes we get an internal nudge to do something or to stop doing something, and we don’t understand why at the time, either.

We’ve all heard of stories about a person who had car trouble and couldn’t make it to the airport in time to catch a flight. The flight crashed, killing everyone on board. The person was angry at first, then grateful. “Dumb car”, kicking its tires. “Good car,” embracing the steering wheel.

But when we stop doing something we talked about doing with our friends, they cannot see the nudge that halts our actions. Sometimes we understand that it’s a warning from the Holy Spirit, because deep down we know it’s not a good thing to do. We didn’t weigh the pros and cons of how would we feel if we carry through with our original plans. We may have ignored questioning thoughts until it came right down to doing it. Then the Holy Spirit flashed red and we put on our brakes.

To friends who aren’t Christ-centered, our hesitancy appears foolish. Or silly, or just plain wimpy.

But we know that the Holy Spirit is our helper. We trust God in His Spirit’s warnings. We may not understand, but when we obey His nudging, it always turns out to be the right thing to do.
When we insist on doing the thing we’ve been warned against, we do a Spirit Shush. Ever notice how when we ignore Him and do it anyway, red flags are waving the whole time? We performed a Spirit Shush. When we are busy talking and ignore the warning to not pass on gossip, we shush it and say it anyway. Word gets around to that person, and they get badly hurt. Your friendship with that person is destroyed. Repairing a friendship is harder than doing a Spirit Shush. The next time you get His warning, you won't Shush Him.

Other times the Spirit is warning us because the timing is wrong. If we just hang on, it’ll happen. Children and adults need to test their patience. Why does this have to happen now? When it happens in God’s perfect timing, it will be perfect.

Take Home Nugget

The key to not stepping outside God’s internal warning is to be sensitive to the Spirit’s nudging. The Spirit is trustworthy, and aligned with God’s Word. As we read the Bible each day, more of His Word seeps into our hearts. Then it’ll be hard to miss His Spirit’s promptings. It’s never a good idea to push the envelope on God’s grace. Disobeying the Spirit’s nudges will cost us a great deal more than we bargained for.

When your friends want to know “How come?” Shrug your shoulders and say, “It’s a Spirit thing.”

God’s grace extends far and wide.
But when we ignore His warning flags
Don’t imagine He’ll let us slide;
Our conscience constantly nags.

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for It’s a Spirit Thing
A personal, private lesson experience with our staff

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

Written for http://www.biblestudyforkids.com/

Holy Spirit 102

HOLY SPIRIT 102
John 16:7-14, 15:1-4

John 15:5: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me, and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me, you can do nothing.”

“A church in the land without the Spirit is rather a curse than a blessing.” C.H. Spurgeon

There are three important roles of the Holy Spirit. First, the Spirit wants to win souls to Christ. He wants people to recognize their sin and need for a Savior. He teaches us how far sin separates us from the Father. When we understand this, the Holy Spirit leads us to the knowledge that it’s Jesus’ death on the cross that brings us salvation.

He teaches us how to live in this world victoriously as followers of Jesus. Our relationship to others is impacted by His lead. He directs us to areas of service to the Lord. He shows us how to depend on His lead.

The Father wants us to know Jesus as our Savior. This salvation through Christ gives us opportunities to share our faith with others. This is done with our actions as well as by our words. Our character and conduct “speak” volumes.

As the Holy Spirit works in our lives, we have a fuller, well-rounded picture of who our Father is. We begin to see His hand every where in the world. We begin to understand how to produce fruit for God’s Kingdom. Who is so touched by knowing you that they, too, seek King Jesus?

We’re missionaries just living our lives. What would people say about your life? This thought alone, motivates us into right living. Our consciences and the Holy Spirit keep us on the right path.

Here’s His assurance that we won’t ever be alone: Jesus says, “Remain in Me and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit of itself; it must remain on the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.” (John 15:4).

This is what it means to abide in the Lord. Abide means to be a part of. The Holy Spirit is inside us. And we are part of God’s family. So He abides in us as we abide in Him. This gives us great confidence and hope. It gives us reasons to persevere. Living this way, we’ll end up victorious as overcomers. That means we’ll win the race by living our lives without succumbing to sin.

Take Home Nugget

God usually works in subtle ways. We rarely see God’s obvious presence. We cannot even see our own growth in maturity and wisdom. We get discouraged because we don’t see the fruit we bear for the Kingdom of Heaven.

Just because we can’t see it, God knows. God harvests. Nothing we do is wasted, Think of your life as God’s investment in eternity. The gift of the Holy Spirit is God’s deposit of things to come. (2 Corinthians 5:5).

How fun it is to live
Life as part of a vine.
Nourishment flows from the Head
Making everything divine.

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for Holy Spirit 102
A personal, private lesson experience with our staff

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

Written for http://www.biblestudyforkids.com/

TIME 4 THANKSGIVING
Psalm 92

When should we give thanks? Why should we give thanks? Do we give thanks even when we don’t feel thankful, our hearts void of gratitude?

The answer is an emphatic "Yes!" ESPECIALLY when we don’t feel like it!

Everybody has times of feeling low. Everybody has troubles in their lives. Everybody gets angry when things are not going well. Frustrations, anxieties, despair are all part of the human condition. Giving thanks to God is the cure for these unhappy situations.

Counting your blessings and giving God thanks for things He has done in your life does many good things. First, God is pleased when you acknowledge His goodness. He is glorified when we honor Him with thanks. He desires to shower blessings on His children who adore Him. "Be thankful for the least gift, so you will be ready to receive greater." Thomas a Kempis. (Paraphrased here.)

This act of thanksgiving refreshes our relationship with our Father and refocuses our minds onto blessings rather than problems. The Bible is full is reasons to thank God. It’s the right thing to do, so we’re obedient when giving Him thanks and praise.

It is an act of worship. Check out the first two verses of Psalms 98, 100, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107.

By doing this, we’re acknowledging His deliverance, provision, protection and guidance. We are forgiven from all our sins. We accept God’s gifts. We live safely in His care. He guides our ways to our best good.

After all, God created us, redeemed us, and continues to provide for our every need. It only makes perfect sense to thank and praise our sovereign, omniscient, omnipotent Father!

Take Home Nugget

Psalm 92 provides us a theme that’s easy to remember and follow. Verses 1-2 says, "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto His name. O Most High! Thank Him for His loving kindness in the morning, His faithfulness every night." (Paraphrased here.)

This is what I do. It sets the stage for my daytime with cheer and my nighttime with sweet slumber. Maybe it will work for you, too.

By starting with thanks and praise each day,
My heart is full of gladness.
Trials arise, only to be held at bay;
God separates me from sadness.

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for Time 4 Thanksgiving
A personal, private lesson experience with our staff

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

Written for http://www.biblestudyforkids.com/

Family Thanks

FAMILY THANKS
1 Peter 1:22, 2:9, 17b, Romans 12:10a, Ephesians 2:19

1Peter 2:17: “Show proper respect to everyone: Love the neighborhood of believers, fear God, honor the King.”

As we sit around the table on Thanksgiving day, we look around and see who God has placed around us as family. We give Him thanks for the delicious food, for our peace, for our security, and for many blessings too numerous to name. We thank God for our family.

All believers are a family forged in the fires of God’s love. All believers belong in God’s household with every other Christian. We are to be devoted to each other like a loving family.

Church is not a building where we go to attend worship services. Church is a body of believers. We belong to our church, not to the building, but to the people who are our fellow parishioners. We’re more than an institution, more than an organization, even more than a body of like-minded individuals. We are family.

As we learn to love one another as brothers and sisters in Christ, we begin to trust one another, accept one another, and serve one another. We learn the power of unconditional love, among children as well as adults.

Our body of Christians are meant to be a Holy Spirit-led workshop for learning to love one another deeply and earnestly. (1Thessalonians 4:9). We love because God first loved us.

Family is synonymous with a deep, unwavering commitment to support one another. It takes courage to love others this earnestly. But that’s Jesus’ command: Love one another, as I have loved you. If He brings us to a challenge, He’ll bring us through it to completion. This displays another ‘Thanks’ opportunity.

Our journey will teach us the honesty, vulnerability, effort and forgiveness it takes to keep these family bonds vibrant and healthy.

Take Home Nugget

Godly character is caught rather than taught. In a Christian community, we’ll get a front-row seat in witnessing these traits in others. Look where you see maturity modeled, so that you can learn, or catch these same traits. This helps us measure our values and align them with the standards already set.

The Bible tells us in Isaiah 38:19 that one generation shows faithfulness to the next.

We thank you, God, for many things
Every day in so many ways,
Not the least is what love brings
To family all through our days.

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for Family Thanks

A personal, private lesson experience with our staff

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

Written for http://www.biblestudyforkids.com/

HOLY SPIRIT 101
John 14:26

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.”

"The Holy Spirit’s power can’t be harnessed ...(or) used to accomplish anything other than the Father’s will. He is not a candy dispenser. He is not a vending machine. He is not a genie waiting for someone to rub His lamp the right way. He is Holy God." Charles F. Stanley

The Holy Spirit lives in every person who believes in Jesus Christ. He’s a gift from our Heavenly Father. He is the bridge uniting our limited understanding with divine omniscience. God at our fingertips, living within. He works in league with our consciences. One warns, the other guides.

Many times kids read passages in the Bible that sound confusing. What does that mean? we wonder. When we think about that passage of Scripture, we’re meditating on God’s Word. It circles around and around in our heads until—Flash. A light bulb goes on and the passage now makes perfect sense.

The Spirit of God Himself is our instructor! No person can understand the mind of God. It’s too vast. The Holy Spirit leads us into the knowledge we need to mature. This is how we can successfully navigate life as a Christian, emerging victorious in our fallen world.

This teacher is a guide and a comforter. God sent us the Holy Spirit to help us understand and to transform our lives. He is shaping us, molding us into Christlike believers. He reminds us when we need forgiveness, prompting repentance. And to forgive others when they hurt us. He shows us how to deal with every problem.

When we sin and do not bother to repent, we grieve the Holy Spirit. Deliberate sin is like slapping God in the face. If we persist, Holy God cannot and will not tolerate sin. Father God will not hear our prayers. Things begin to crumble around us. We feel rebellious and alone. During times like these, it’s time to fall on our knees and repent to the Father. And mean it.

Just like how our conscience holds us accountable when we do something we know is wrong, the Holy Spirit holds us accountable to repent. In this way we can successfully live in this fallen world and remain Christians. We have victory in our lives, walk with our heads held high, delighting in our Father’s blessings.

Take Home Nugget

Holy Father, thank you for not making me walk this life on my own. Thank you for your gift of the Holy Spirit to dwell inside me. He will never leave me or forsake me. Thank you for this teacher, counselor, and guide to steer me through life’s toughest questions.

I’m weaker than I know, but stronger with the holy Spirit within me. I can do all things with Christ. I celebrate victory in You, God. In praise and gratitude, AMEN

A little white lie won’t hurt anyone.
Nobody even knows the facts.
But it’s hard to keep the truth from spilling out
When all is said and done.

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for Holy Spirit 101
A personal, private lesson experience with our staff

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

Written for http://www.biblestudyforkids.com/

What is Holy Spirit?

WHAT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?
Luke 24:43-49, John 16:7-15

John 16:8: “When He comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: …”

The question should be, WHO is the Holy Spirit? Why should we care?

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity of God. He is equal in standing to God the Father and God the Son. His relationship is equal to them. He is the fulfillment of a promise made by God the Father to everyone who has chosen to follow Jesus. He indwells each person who has invited Jesus into their hearts. He lives within us as a new creation; we are a child of God, claimed and sealed by the Holy Spirit’s presence. He guarantees us that we belong to our Heavenly Father.

Kids and adults need the Holy Spirit’s divine presence. Jesus told His disciples in Luke 24, in the Bible, to wait for this promise from the Father before going out into the world. When the Holy Spirit came upon them, they were overjoyed! They knew instantly when He took up residence in their hearts. (Acts 2:2-5).

This divine presence helps us to achieve our divine calling. He equips and empowers us. This gift from our Heavenly Father has a purpose. Jesus called Him a Helper, who teaches us and brings to mind what we have learned (John 14:26). He is our constant companion, who will never leave us (John 14:16). He seeks to shape us into Christ’s likeness in our attitudes, thoughts, priorities, acts and deeds.

All believers have this supernatural power to accomplish the work God has for each of us to do. As we live and serve God in our normal everyday lives, we testify to others the truth of who Jesus is.

Some people choose to live the Christian life in their own strength. Bad move. Why not embrace power, strength and wisdom of a helper who is as close as your own beating heart?

Don’t let pride rob you of this supernatural ability to live victoriously in this fallen world.

Take Home Nugget

It’s human nature to want to be in control of things. It’s good to have confidence on our abilities, but know this: confidence also comes from God. Life can quickly spin out of our own control. God is a prayer away, and is waiting for us to ask for His help. How silly would it be to refuse a boat being offered when rising water threaten to drown?

I choose to operate my life
in God’s strength and power.
The result is more than
my strength alone could tower.

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for What is Holy Spirit?
A personal, private lesson experience with our staff

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

Written for http://www.biblestudyforkids.com/

Conscience Care

CONSCIENCE CARE 102
1 Corinthians 8:9-13

V. 10: “So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.”

My friend yells at me when I drink liquid from a bowl—like when bringing the bowl to my mouth to drink the milk left over from cereal. I don’t get what upsets him about this. I’ve done this all my life. Using a spoon to ladle the milk up to your mouth is sloppy—why not slurp it directly from the bowl? Besides, it’s way faster! Case closed.

But God doesn’t see it like that. When I slurp liquid directly from a bowl, I make someone else uneasy. Why should I care if I offend someone? Does God care?

Paul gives us a hint. "Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak." He was referring to eating food that was sacrificed to idols. Some Christians thought that the meat was tainted. Those days, only priests would eat the meat sacrificed to God. Regular folks had no business eating consecrated meat.

The world is full of pagans who believe in and worship many gods. Then, Christians were often offered food that had been sacrificed to a pagan deity. Some people felt guilty, some gladly accepted the food, others refused altogether.

Those who ate the food were criticized by the ones who refused. Paul makes it clear: IF the one who ate the sacrificed food caused another to eat the same food, against his conscience, the first person caused another to sin. This is why God protests: Christ died for us all.

The person who objected was weak because his conscience told him to refuse, and yet by accepting the food, he did wrong in his own eyes. To entice someone to do what they feel is wrong is a sin for us.

We ARE our brother’s keepers. It’s Jesus command that we love one another.

Previously we learned that consciences can be programmed. Every person’s conscience is programmed differently. Some folks are offended by loud music, others blast their IPODS. Some think that is rude, others think it’s generous sharing. It depends on taste, and conscience programming.

Clearly, our consciences require daily cleansing and tweaking to remain steeped in God’s truth. The blood of Christ is the only thing that purifies it, keeping it clean and in good working order.

Take Home Nugget

Try singing this in the shower getting ready for a new day. "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take the Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me." Psalm 51:10-12

In light of this, I do not slurp liquid from my bowl in that person’s presence...

"Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience" George Washington

"To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men." Abraham Lincoln

J. D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for Conscience Care 102
A personal, private lesson experience with our staff

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

Written for http://www.biblestudyforkids.com/

Conscience Care 101

CONSCIENCE CARE 101

1Timothy 1:5, 1:12, 1 Corinthians 8:9-12

1Timothy 1:13: “Even though I [Paul] was a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.”

"The torture of a bad conscience is the hell of a living soul." John Calvin

There are many adjectives that describe one’s conscience. 1 Timothy describes it as "good." Paul tells the Corinthians that some are "weak." Other adjectives that describe a conscience in the Bible are: Approving, Accusatory, Blameless, Clear, Clean, Loving, Fruitful, Strong, Defiled.

Parents teach children proper actions. Kids learn quickly how to play with each other. The "first responder" to any action or decision we make is our divine gift of conscience. Red flags, bells ringing, feelings of dread are clues that our consciences are not pleased. He begs us to change course. Even the smallest kids get conscience-stricken. We learn right from wrong fast.

We live in a fallen world, and our consciences have been exposed to faulty programming. Every so often, they may need reprogramming. To fortify our inner compass, we depend on truth from God’s Word.

The Holy Spirit impacts conscience realignment, too.

Truth. Jesus is the Word made flesh, and He tells us that He’s the way, truth, and life. (John 1:1,14, 14:6). Maintaining a close relationship with our Savior keeps our consciences strong. Our conscience and the Holy Spirit combine to guide and protect us. The Spirit of Truth, or Holy Spirit, is who Jesus identified as the third person of the Holy Trinity. He entered our hearts when we accepted Jesus as our Savior. Jesus also called him "the Helper". The Spirit shows us the difference between righteousness and sin. He teaches us how to mature, and guides us into all truth. (John 14:17, 26; 16:8,13).

False teaching or sinful lives damage consciences. Some so severely that they do not work any more. These need to be reprogrammed to work properly for protection and guidance.

Paul was raised as a Pharisee. He knew Jewish law front and back. He hated Christians because his conscience was programmed for Jewish law, not the gospel. He was happy when Christians were persecuted and put to death. Jesus appeared to him, and Paul was transformed into a believer.(Acts 13:9-39).

Blindness reprogrammed Paul’s conscience into accepting Jesus’ gospel in place of Jewish law. Jesus will do that for people today. Reprogramming consciences is a delight. Angels celebrate the return of believers into the family of God.

Take Home Nugget

The Holy Spirit and your conscience is the awesome dynamic duo! Batman and Robin have nothing on the power living inside a child of God. We have confidence and boldness to face our fallen world without succumbing to it. But, the war is ongoing. Our fight is with unseen powers, and the devil constantly tries to trip us up. As one with the Lord, we stand victorious!

Wrong living tilts internal compass
So that it cannot find the path
To warn us of trespasses
That spurns our Savior’s wrath.

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for Conscience Care 101
A personal, private lesson experience with our staff

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

Written for http://www.biblestudyforkids.com/

Fear Not

FEAR NOT
Isaiah 41:8-14, Matthew 28:6-10, Luke 24:36, Ephesians 1:5, 3:6
Ephesians 4:5-6: “…one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and the Father of all and through all and in all.”

Jesus always rushes to our aid when we’re frightened. Remember when He appeared before His disciples in their meeting room (behind locked doors) after He had risen from the dead. Would they be arrested? Huddling together after Mary told them Jesus’ tomb was empty, they were almost out of their minds! (Luke 24:36).

Jesus became flesh so that He could identify with us. We can never say, "God doesn’t get what it’s like being human." He totally understands our weakness. He gets it when we’re defenseless against fear. He knows our pain when our hearts are broken. That’s why He’s so quick to ease our fears by saying, "Fear not."

Here’s proof that we have nothing to fear: Isaiah 41:8-14 tells us what our Father told him. "...I have chosen you and have not rejected you; so do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand...Do not be afraid, O worm of Jacob, O little Israel, for I myself, will help you..."

Whenever you see the word “Israel” in the Bible, claim its heritage—because we (Gentiles) are adopted children as sisters and brothers of the Lord’s chosen people—Israel. We share in the promises of their inheritance (Eph. 1:6, 3:6, 4:6).

As a loving Father, God promises to be with us through everything. He claims us as our Father, Jehovah God. He is our sovereign—totally in control of the universe—Abba, Father (Galatians 4:6). He’s Who I want in my corner!

God gives us strength when we’re weak, uplifting us when we’re depressed. He encourages and sustains us when times get tough. He holds our hand when we tremble. "Be still and know I am God." Waiting for God to lead us becomes a gift of seeing His dominion and power at work. Who can be afraid with Him by our side?

Identify with being a child in God’s family. Fear is from the devil, so don’t believe his lies. God wants us to live in His peace.

Take Home Nugget

Isaiah 64:4 says, “No man has heard, nor eye has seen what God has prepared for him who wait for Him.” What an exciting thought. Waiting for and walking with God is how we abide in Him. What unforeseen future can you imagine He has for you?

Of all the things we want

The future holds what we cannot see.

But when we believe and hold onto His promises,

Who knows what will be?

J. D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for Fear Not
A personal, private lesson experience with our staff
Written for http://www.biblestudyforkids.com/

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.