The "in between" Part

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I am not ...let me repeat ... I am NOT an artist.  I am, however, a visual learner and therefore, I draw visuals that help my brain get stuff.  The above picture is not artwork lest you mistaken my "visuals" for ... Art.

Digging around in Ephesians.  The main gist here:  because of Jesus and His work on the cross, through the Holy Spirit, I can come to the Father (Ephesians 3:11).

I am not ...let me repeat ... I am NOT a theologian.  I am, however, an advid learner of the Bible.  I'm a literalist and therefore take what God says to be true.  When He says it's through the Holy Spirit I can come to Him - because of what Jesus has so mercifully sacrificed on the cross - I believe it.

For most of my adult life, I was never taught the power of the Holy Spirit.  You accept Jesus.  You live to please God.  The in between part - the Holy Spirit - was missing.  Friends, if we forget the in between part we are missing indeed!  It's like eating an Oreo cookie with no stuffing!  Yuck!

Ephesians 3:14 - 21 gives some more yummy goodness to this in between part.  Paul prays to God, asking that his friends would be empowered THROUGH the power of the Holy Spirit.  And - he doesn't say it here because he already said it in Eph. 3:11 and my artwork can prove it - all because of what Jesus did on the cross!  It's not playing favorites here! It's seeing the trinity of God at work!  They each play a role.  And the Holy Spirits' role is to empower.  Empower us to do great things!  These great things are later explained by Paul.  When we allow the Holy Spirit to empower:

  • Christ will make his home in our hearts
  • Roots will grow down deep into God's love and keep you strong
  • You have the power to understand how wide, long, high and deep God's love is for us
  • You will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God
Sadly, most Christians don't live empowered lives.  They live hard-working, showing up to punch a time-clock, be seen, fulfill obligations, run yourself ragged, pray and beg it works, defeated lives.  I know.  I was there.  I knew Jesus but somehow did not totally "get" the in between - the secret weapon - the Shazam factor - the stuffing to the Oreo cookie - THE HOLY SPIRIT!

When Christ is at home in my heart, peace lives there and takes up residence.  Things may not be all roses and lovely, but oh my word, they don't rattle any foundation.  When roots grow deep into God's love, fear is cast to the side.  Strength trumps shaky nerves and faith wins over reality.  When the Holy Spirit controls my mind, I KNOW how wide, long, high, and deep God's love for me is.  I don't base His love for me on temporary circumstances but on a cross stained with the blood of His Son.  And, somewhere in the middle of all this, I am being made complete.  Not by my works, good deeds, money or regular church attendance ... But by the Holy Spirit.  My life is full not by my accomplishments but by the relationship I have with my Creator.  I experience power not by my winning personality but by the Holy Spirit who chases after me with full throttle, unrestrained POWER!

It's all comes down to the in between part,
Christina



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