Read posts about the great apostle, theologian, missionary, and author.

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You’ve Been Sealed

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. Ephesians 1:13

You were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. It’s not “sealed” like the marine mammal you see in circuses honking bicycle horns. And it’s not “sealed” like being trapped inside the mummy’s tomb forever … but that one is getting closer. So what is Paul getting at when he says we have been sealed? I think there are at least four things included in it.

Authenticity – Back in the days when software came on disks or CDs it often came with a certificate with a seal of authenticity to let you know you had the genuine item, that it wasn’t a pirated copy. You could be confident that it as going to function as expected and that it had all the features you wanted.

The Holy Spirit ensures and attests that our salvation is the real deal and it rests in no one but the One True God accomplished by His Anointed. No fakes, no substitutes, no sub-contractors.

Security – If you have ever been drug-tested for work or had bloodwork, you may have noticed the technician or nurse putting a bunch of stickers on the sample containers or bags. Those are there to prove the samples have not been tampered with. They affirm the integrity of the sample so the results of the tests can be trusted.

The Holy Spirit seals us so that our salvation cannot be tampered with. Because of that we know the results, like joy and peace and growth and answered prayers and so on can be trusted. Not only that, we can be confident that the end result of our salvation, our ultimate glorification in Christ’s presence is a sure thing.

Ownership – Cattlemen used to brand their herds so that even in a big group, it was easy for anyone to see which cows belonged to whom. Even now we mark our lunches, and our coffee cups and kids’ jackets so that ownership is clear.

The Holy Spirit seals us so we never have to question who we belong to. Not only that, but it should be easy for anyone else to tell it as well.

Authority – Your high school or college diploma. Your driver’s license. Your building permit. All of them have some sort of seal affixed to them indicating that some governing entity with the requisite authority has conferred on you some right or privilege or standing.

The Holy Spirit gives us the standing as children of God, joint heirs with Christ and further grants us the status as ambassadors for His kingdom.

You probably already knew it, but just for the record that’s an unbreakable seal.

Do We Treat the Holy Spirit Worse than a Houseguest?

By Paula

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Romans 8:14

It doesn’t seem so long ago that we entered that tricky phase of parenting older (adult, even) children, which includes navigating relationships. One Christmas break a few years back, that meant my daughter spent a few days with her boyfriend’s family, and then he spent a few days with us before they both headed back to college for the term. Now, her boyfriend was kind-hearted and gracious, seamlessly fitting into our family, and we enjoyed having him here. On top of that, his family is a thousand or so miles away, and we were glad to offer him a break from the campus.

But what if we invited Curtis to our home but then totally ignored him?
What if we never included him in a conversation?
Or set a plate of food in front of him?
What if we headed out to the movies and left him at home?

He might have questions of his own.
Were they kidding when they invited me?
Was Lauren insincere when she expressed her feelings for me?
Am I in an episode of The Twilight Zone?

Of course, we would never do that, and I’m certain you would never ignore a guest in your home. We just wouldn’t.

On His last night with His disciples, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit. He said, “You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:17.) Throughout Romans 8, Paul emphasizes the Holy Spirit lives inside believers. He is far more than just a houseguest. He is the seal of our salvation. He is the one empowering, reminding, directing, interceding for, convicting, and teaching us. And more.

While we would never be rude and obnoxious to an invited visitor in our home, I wonder if we might, at times, behave that way to the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

Are there moments we refuse His instruction?
Do we ignore His warnings?
Could we crowd Him out?
Do we fail to even consider Him or acknowledge His presence?

I suspect the answer is yes.

If we offended or mistreated a houseguest, an apology would be in order, perhaps even followed by making it up to our guest somehow.

With the Holy Spirit, that means confession and repentance.

What we can learn from a demon-possessed girl in Philippi

By Paula

What we can learn about spreading the gospel from Paul's encounter with a demon-possessed girl in Philippi

In Acts 16, Paul arrives in the city of Philippi. Not long after his initial contact with Lydia, he and his companions were on their way to prayer when they were confronted by a slave girl who was demon-possessed. Unlike the demon possessions in the gospels where the victims were unfit for society or stricken with physical ailments, this girl had the ability to foretell the future … kind of. But she was able to bring in a handsome profit for her owners. In verse 17, she loudly proclaimed, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.”

She was one hundred percent correct.

Paul and his friends were absolutely servants of the Most High God. Most High God was a regularly used Old Testament name for God. And the whole reason that they were in Philippi was to preach the gospel, the way of salvation. She nailed them. So why was Paul so irritated with her?

It was the demon talking, not the girl.

But the demon was telling the truth. Isn’t that a good thing?

Actually, it presents several problems which may give us some insight as we carry out the gospel.

Since the demon was saying the same kinds of things Paul was saying, the hearers would have a hard time seeing the difference between the occultism the girl and her masters were promoting and the life-transforming gospel Paul preached. The logical conclusion then is if the words were the same, then it really didn’t matter which one you followed, right? It’s the “all religions are the same” argument that we still hear today. That argument is patently false. Christ alone saves us by His atoning death as a result of His great grace, mercy, and love.

Second, Paul refused to accept the “help” of demons when it came to spreading the message of Christ. Granted, Romans and Greeks put a lot of stock in divination and having their message “certified” might have opened doors for Paul and his team. However, he was determined to seize the opportunities God presented him and to walk through the doors the Holy Spirit opened. He had enough discernment and faith NOT to partner with those who would ultimately undermine the gospel, no matter what kind of promotional advantage they offered. Even when it resulted in a riot, arrest, and jail. We, too, have to be wise and discerning as we carry out the Commission Jesus gave us.

Finally, no matter what the girl was saying, the reality was that she was in bondage, not to her owners, but to the demon that controlled her. Her “testimony” was empty and meaningless. Paul knew that until she was free of the demon and her heart changed, it didn’t matter that her words were true. We encounter people all the time who can use all the right “church-y” words but their hearts and lives show no evidence of transformation. We like Paul need to recognize what the root problem is. While we may not be able to command the chains to fall away, we can pray to the One who can.

So what can we learn from Paul’s encounter with a demon-possessed girl in Philippi?

The gospel stands alone among all other religious systems and messages.
In carrying out the gospel, make sure the only spirit helping is the Holy Spirit.
What’s in the heart matters, not the words.

Continuing

By Paula

But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them. 2 Timothy 3:14

I get a lot of spam email. Most of it can be divided into two categories– how to lose weight and how to get rich quick. The thing is, I know how to lose weight. Everyone does. Take in fewer calories than you burn. If you do that, you will lose weight, guaranteed. This plan is sometimes expanded to eat right and exercise, but it’s the same idea. Continue with the plan, be consistent, and in time, weight loss happens.

Oh wait – I left out the key spam word – easy. Every email promises an easy way to lose weight. Eat what you want. No exercise or effort is required and the pounds drop off.

Of course, there’s no such thing.

It’s the same way with getting rich. We all know how that happens. Spend less than you take in. Save, invest, and wait. It’s not hard or complicated. It just takes discipline and patience.

The emails, however, assure you that they know the secret to wealth. Buy their book, invest in their scheme, or take their course and the money will roll in.

If it were true, they wouldn’t have to resort to spam to find takers.

That’s the echo in Paul’s words to Timothy. “But you,” you be different. Don’t be like everyone else around you, ready to take the easy way and the quick fix. You be disciplined and patient. You stick to what you know. You continue in the things I taught you.

The advice is relevant for us today. Don’t fall for slick marketing, systems, and strategies. God grows us, and grows His kingdom slowly, patiently, with discipline. Want more intimacy with God? It takes time to develop. Want a more vibrant prayer life? It takes discipline. Want to do a better job sharing your faith? It takes practice. No shortcuts.

Do Three Things

By Paula

In one short verse, Paul encourages us to do three things.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12

Rejoice in hope.
We know what we’ve been given and forgiven.
We know what awaits us.
We know it’s a sure thing.
Don’t take it for granted or push it to a corner of your attention.

Be patient in tribulation.
The hard times will come. Or they are here.
Affliction, trouble, testing.
Endure, hang on, and watch for the reinforcements.
Watch for the redemption in the midst of the hard stuff.

Be constant in prayer.
Constant means steadfast. Devoted.
It is the very breath of our life.
Don’t get discouraged when the answer doesn’t come instantly.
Hang in there.

Do three things. Three little, not-so-little, things.

How much will change if we do them?

The Christian Life in Two Verses

By Paula

As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7

Sometimes we make things more complicated than they have to be. However, simple doesn’t always mean easy. Take the Christian life, for example. Paul spent a good portion of his ministry instructing and encouraging believers in the hows and whys of new life. In the letter to Colossians, he gave a two-verse summary that is worth a closer look.

Why does it matter?

Paul builds on what he has written previously with “as you therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord.” In this case, the ‘as’ is used like ‘since.’ So, since you have received Christ Jesus the Lord. Not His doctrine. Not a membership in His church. You have received Him, the anointed sovereign of the universe living in you. This was not a decision entered into lightly. (Hopefully.) The implications are staggering. But because of that decision, everything going forward must be different.

The Christian life is active.

Walk in Him. It is a way of life, a manner of living. Receiving Jesus is not an intellectual exercise or an emotional experience primarily, although emotions and intellect are involved. In fact, we’ll talk about intellect later in this post. But Christ saved us to do things, to do His kingdom work. We do that each day, patterning our lives after His. We maintain close communion with the Father. We tell people about the hope in the gospel. We serve others. We show compassion and mercy. We treat people with dignity.

It is as much unseen as seen.

We usually don’t see a tree’s roots. But there is often as much below ground anchoring and nourishing the tree, as there are leaves and branches above ground,. A good deal of our Christian life, especially the growing, happens behind the scenes. This means our growth is going to happen in private moments, in quiet times, when we are alone with God, studying, praying, listening, and learning. If we don’t invest effort here, we will not be sufficiently anchored or nourished.

It’s a process.

In the Greek, built up is a continuous action. The Christian life is an immediate reality as soon as we believe, but it is also a process. We are built up in Him day by day, step by step, experience by experience. Since it’s a process, it requires time and patience. But the end result is that we are established in the faith. Solid. Mature. Unshakable.

It involves intellect.

God didn’t save us to be robots, marked by mindless obedience. He reveals His precepts, His character, and His purposes. That revelation engages our minds. We think about what He’s told us. We consider the implications. We meditate on that truth.

The Christian life requires the right attitude.

Thanksgiving. Not pride. Not with an agenda to advance. Not with entitlement. With thanksgiving.

There you go. Two verses. No rules or rituals, but an authentic life that transforms us as it points others the Christ. You just have to live it out.