Live In The Spirit And WIth The Spirit

The number 9 is so often associated with the person and work of the Holy Spirit – it is the square of the – the number of Divine perfection – the number of the Trinity. In the next few days I will post some lists that speak of the magnificent third person of the Trinity – our indwelling Holy Spirit.

The Lord calls us to be spiritually minded people – living in Him and He in us. The concept of being “in the spirit” is important for us to consider. Walking in Him and with Him comes from daily choices to surrender all to Him.

Nine Ways to Live In the Spirit and With the Spirit

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His (Rom. 8:9; Eph. 2:22; Gal. 3:3).

The Holy Spirit flows through our human spirit and encourages us to be:

1. Prisoners (bound) in the spirit, Acts 20:22

2. Praying in the spirit, 1 Cor. 14:2; Eph. 6:18; 1 Cor. 14:15

3. Walking in the spirit, Gal. 5:16, 22; 1 Pet. 4:6

4. Living in the spirit, Gal. 5:22

5. Worshiping in the spirit, Phil. 3:3

6. Loving in the spirit, Col. 1:8

7. Singing with the spirit, 1 Cor. 14:15

8. Blessing with the spirit, 1 Cor. 14:16

9. Filled with the Spirit, Eph. 5:18 (Also Ex. 28:3; 31:3; 35:31)

Meditate on each one of these throughout this week. Call upon the Holy Spirit to draw you into deeper relationship and intimate communion with Him.

More on the Holy Spirit HERE

10 Reasons Why People Don’t Sing In Worship

Here are 10 reasons why people in your congregation may not be singing with the gusto and commitment you would like to see:

• They don’t know the song

• They don’t like the song

• The can’t sing the song – it is too difficult in melody, rhythm etc.

• Your music is too loud – you are drowning them out

• Your music is too soft – they can’t hear how the song goes, or are afraid of hearing their own voice too loudly – they feel exposed

• The song is too high/low

• They can’ see the words (poorly written or too small on the screen)

• There is a lack of musicianship and cohesiveness in the band

• Technical problems – sound system or video crashes

• The worship leader changes a favorite song and makes it unrecognizable

• They feel like they are being manipulated. It is quite easy to manipulate people. Worship leaders need to watch this issue. Congregations can tell if you are following God or “using” and manipulating them.

More From Psalm 149

I have been enjoying Psalm 149 over the past couple of days. Yesterday, I listed the 7 weapons of war that will make way for the glory of the Lord to prevail in the nations. Today, we find:

There are 7 times where the Lord is mentioned in this Psalm by name:

V1 – Lord

V1 – Lord

V2 – Maker

V2 – King

V4 – Lord

V6 – God

V9 – Lord

There are 7 different people or groups of people other than the Lord are mentioned

V1 – Saints (also v9)

V4 – His people

V4 – the humble

V7 – the nations

V7 – the peoples

V8 – their kings

V8 – their nobles

There are 7 outcomes from this praise. These are 7 things that will happen as we obey the Lord and enter into this work of high praise:

V4 – the Lord will beautify the humble with salvation

V5 – the Lord will impart a singing joy to His people

V6 – the Lord will place the sword of His Word into the mouths of His people

V7 – God’s people will minister His vengeance and punishments in the nations

V8 – God’s people will to bind up the powers and rulers of darkness in the nations

V9 – God’s people will administer His judgment on the wicked in the form of a written decree

V9 – the Lord will clothe His people with honor

As you can see, there are a series of things that we have to enter into by faith. For example these 7 things:

• we need to allow our hearts to rejoice - no matter what we are walking through in our lives

• we need to sing - even if we are not great singers. We are called upon to sing aloud on our beds

• we need to dance - even if we are not skilled dancers

• we need to enter this warfare with humility. It is the humble people who have the authority of God

• we need to fill our mouths with the high praises of God. This is different from praise - it is the praise that is filled with the presence and power of God

• we need to put the Word of God in our hands and before our eyes in a way that teaches us how to use this great tool of spiritual warfare

• we need to stand with the Lord as His ministers over the nations. He has given us authority to pull down satan's plans and rule. Jesus has won this victory on the cross, but we have to partner with the Lord as ministers of God's justice and glory in all the earth. We have to become active in prayer, worship and intercession on behalf of all nations.

Seven more secrets of praise from Psalm 149: HERE