–Today’s synopsis is written by Benjamin Greuter–

Scriptural Focal Point: John 7:37-39.
Today in our pursuit of “a state of life in the highest level of blessedness,” Brother Leo offers us the first two of four steps, or conditions, which according to Christ Himself need to be met such that the waters of life/the Holy Spirit may flow into, through, and out of our “bellies.”

Jesus lays out 4 conditions which, IF met, lead to a life filled and overflowing with the Holy Spirit’s influence, affection, and energy. The daily goal of a Christian’s life ought to be just this; the infilling and out-flowing of the Holy Spirit in every aspect of our lives. Jesus expresses four conditions;
1)we must thirst for Him, realizing our need;
2)we must come to Jesus Himself, allotting time for spiritual meditation and focus on Him, His works, and His identity;
3)we must drink in, or internalize communion with Him;
4)we must believe about, in, and on Him, not only accepting His factual reality, but trusting, placing our confidence in, and expecting Divine action of Him.

Brother Leo helps us through fully understanding and realizing the first two conditions. Personal realization of our need for Him, His grace, and His DAILY input and guidance is often hard-fought, as the world spews and engenders self-reliance and self-sufficiency as virtues through self-justification. In John 4:7, Jesus offers one Truth not easy for many to take in; “If you only knew [who I am,]” you would ask Him for everything in your life, rather than Him asking you for some time, some effort, and/or some attention. If we only knew “the gift of God,” we’d spend all our time begging on our knees for it. This ignorance and arrogance that we unknowingly hold in ideals of self-reliance makes us blind to our own need for His wisdom, power, or grace in all things. Scripture can help you to open your eyes. Brother Leo suggests spending time in Psalm 139 and praying on some of those verses, asking Jesus to open our eyes to see our need, and for Him to create in us a desire for Him alone.

Brother Leo goes on to offer us understanding of the second condition, that is, coming to Jesus with that need, and allowing it to be filled through meditation on Who Jesus is, as well as what Jesus has done in our lives. 1Corinthians 10:21-22 expresses the reality that we cannot partake of two cups at once, one being the cup of demons and the other the cup of Christ, and that when we aren’t partaking of Christ’s offered cup, we partake of that of demons, provoking the Lord to jealousy as if we were greater than Him. Here, Brother Leo sends us to Psalm 63:6 and 7 to give us the image of meditation, and how its on Who He is and what He’s done for you. For many of us, the greatest challenge here is self-induced; we are of the mindset or mentality that we must find time to give to meditation or such prayer, or ask ourselves when is it possible, while the Biblical, God-given reality is that we should ask what is it that we are making time for? 1Timonthy 4:8, 12-15 expresses this quite clearly when we are given the contrast between one example of what people ‘make time for,’ namely exercise, and what is infinitely more profitable, namely, spending time in godliness.

So in Conclusion this week, Brother Leo, committing to continue offering us deeper insight into the second two conditions next week, challenges us first this week to spend time on at least 4 days this week, 30 to 40 minutes per day, following just these two steps. To spend half and hour in His presence, seeking his intimacy, asking for the thirst and awareness of our own need for Him, and at least ten minutes in biblical meditation on(the putting together in one’s mind of, the pondering upon, or the sighing or speaking softly of) who He is and what He’s done for each of us.

This will certainly take us closer and closer to His will for us, that “highest state of blessedness,” which He calls each of us to from the moment we bury our old selves with Him in baptism and rise again as new men and women in His Identity and purpose.

God bless.

Today Bro. Leo was led by the Holy Spirit to review last weeks message and emphasize the importance of understanding the terms “grieving the Holy Spirit” and “quenching the Holy Spirit”.  This message will help prepare you to better understand next weeks message, so please carefully listen to this message.

In today’s message Bro. Leo continues our study of God’s Holy Spirit by looking at how most Christians are not operating under the power, strength, guidance and knowledge of His Holy Spirit because we neglect our relationship with God.

The Bible teaches that there are three results caused by neglecting our relationship with God:
1) We grieve His Holy Spirit, Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.  The word “grieve” is translated from the Greek word “lupeō” and it means to cause sorrow, to distress, to offend.  Remember God is a jealous God,
Exo 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.  Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.
The reason we neglect our relationship with God is because we place some other area of our life (other god’s) above our relationship with Him.
2) We quench God’s Holy Spirit by routinely neglecting our relationship with Him, 1Th 5:19 Quench not the Spirit.
The word “quench” is translated from the Greek word “sbennumi”  and means to extinguish a fire-no light, no warmth, no movement.
We literally become numb to the influence of His Holy Spirit.
3) If we neglect our relationship with God long enough, we will begin to doubt our faith and salvation, 2Pe 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge
2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

In order to prevent this from happening we need to give our relationship with God our highest priority and be constantly evaluating our relationship with Him, 2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Scriptures used in today’s message:

Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Joh 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

Joh 20:20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
Joh 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

1Co 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

Jas 4:5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
Jas 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

Exo 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Exo 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

1Th 5:19 Quench not the Spirit.

2Pe 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge
2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

In today’s message Bro. Leo continues our study of God’s Holy Spirit by looking at how most Christians are not operating under the power, strength, guidance and knowledge of His Holy Spirit because we neglect our relationship with God.

The Bible teaches that there are three results caused by neglecting our relationship with God:
1) We grieve His Holy Spirit, Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.  The word “grieve” is translated from the Greek word “lupeō” and it means to cause sorrow, to distress, to offend.  Remember God is a jealous God,
Exo 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.  Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.
The reason we neglect our relationship with God is because we place some other area of our life (other god’s) above our relationship with Him.
2) We quench God’s Holy Spirit by routinely neglecting our relationship with Him, 1Th 5:19 Quench not the Spirit.
The word “quench” is translated from the Greek word “sbennumi”  and means to extinguish a fire-no light, no warmth, no movement.
We literally become numb to the influence of His Holy Spirit.
3) If we neglect our relationship with God long enough, we will begin to doubt our faith and salvation, 2Pe 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge
2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

In order to prevent this from happening we need to give our relationship with God our highest priority and be constantly evaluating our relationship with Him, 2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Scriptures used in today’s message:

Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Joh 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
Joh 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Psa 46:1 To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

1Co 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

Jas 4:5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
Jas 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Rom 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Rom 7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
Rom 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Exo 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

1Th 5:19 Quench not the Spirit.

2Pe 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge
2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

In today’s message Bro. Leo continues our study of God’s Holy Spirit by looking at the ministry of the Holy Spirit to each and every  individual, the responsibility and accountability of each and every individual.

Bro. Leo covers these four points today:
1) How to receive direct divine revelation from God.
2) The direct revelation from God to an individual will be personal, specific and detailed.
3) An individuals ability and capability to receive direct revelation from God.
4) The individuals responsibility and accountability for seeking divine revelation from God.

Scriptures used in today’s message:

Gal 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Gal 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ
Gal 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
Gal 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Gal 1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
Gal 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

Luk 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Luk 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Luk 2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

2Co 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2Co 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord
2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Rom 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Rom 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Rom 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Joh 1:8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
Joh 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Jer 29:12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Psa 139:17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
Psa 139:18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
Psa 139:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
Psa 139:2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
Psa 139:3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
Psa 139:4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
Psa 139:5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
Psa 139:6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
Psa 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
Psa 139:24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
1Co 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1Co 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
1Co 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Mat 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
Mat 16:14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
Mat 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.