In the week ahead, we will be considering the person of the Holy Spirit.  I am identifying Him as the “Other” God because the Spirit’s ministry and focus is on “others” not on Himself.  Specifically, the Spirit’s ministry and focus is upon Jesus, the Other One the Spirit was sent to glorify.
 
Once again in our emphasis upon Loving God, we find ourselves in Trinity territory.  The Spirit is no less fully God because His focus is upon Jesus.  The Scripture tells us that the Spirit is given by both the Father and Jesus.  Let’s not insist on parsing the persons of the Trinity.  Let’s continue to learn from the Tri-unity of God how we are to Love God, Love People and Live God’s Message.
 
January 28, 2012 – (John 14)15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” 
 
In concert with what we have been experiencing in the month of Loving God comes the familiar refrain of Jesus, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”  This foundational truth is at the heart of walking with Jesus.  Yet, I have learned that living out this truth is beyond my ability, in and of myself.  In humility, I have concluded, I am powerless to keep His commandments.  Keeping God’s commandments in your own power can become an exhausting pursuit of the impossible.  Too often, our pursuit of God becomes a grace-less legalism, when we pursue in our own power.
 
Today’s Prayer – “Father, I agree with You that in and of myself, I don’t have the power to keep your commandments.  Please loosen my prideful grip upon my self-efforts to keep your commandments.”
 
January 29, 2012 - 16 “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. “
 
The person of the Spirit makes our love for Jesus, shown by keeping His commandments, possible.  The Spirit is God’s gift of Himself to you! Here He is described as, “another Helper.”  The language of the New Testament used different words to describe “another”.  One word spoke of “another” of a different kind. One word spoke of “another” as a similar kind.  Jesus is employing this latter use in describing the Spirit.  He is similar to Jesus in that the Father gives the Spirit, as was Jesus, for the benefit of His children – including you. 
 
Take a moment and read back through today’s verse. Make the verse personal by substituting your name for each use of “you”.  For example, “and he will give Ken another Helper, to be with Ken forever”  Let these truths sink deep into your heart and mind.  It is the Father’s good pleasure to give His Spirit to you, because of Jesus!
 
Today’s Prayer – “Father, thank you for the gift of your Spirit. Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of your sinless life and your sacrifice upon the cross so that the Spirit can live in me.”

January 30, 2012 - 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
 
Some of the most sobering words spoken to me were voiced by a friend/mentor at my Mom’s memorial service – “How does it feel to be an orphan?” he asked.  An orphan… no living parent.
 
Jesus can see in the faces of His closest followers their emerging realization that He is talking about going back to the Father.  From what they knew of Jesus at that moment in time, all they heard was, “I am leaving.” Their faces began to look like those of orphans – deserted, destitute, defeated.  
 
Jesus, in the person of the Spirit, will come to them.  No orphans in God’s family.  No coffin lid will stay closed upon God.
 
 Today’s Prayer – “Everlasting Father, Ever-present Father, Ever-giving Father, I praise You! Let me revel in being your child today, I am not an orphan, I am chosen by You.”
 
January 31, 2012 – (john 16) 13 “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”
 
 The Spirit, the “Other” God, will provide to the believer the truth of Jesus.  The Spirit is our Teacher, Mentor, and Tutor.  His focus is Jesus.  His authority is derived from Jesus.  The Spirit is about Jesus.
 
What aspect of your life in Jesus will the Holy Spirit guide you today?  What will the Spirit tell you about the character that Jesus is shaping in you?
 
Today’s Prayer – Just sit silently before Jesus until you sense His Spirit working in you.
 
Formation Exercise - Loving God check up… We began the month of January with a focus on Loving God – Father, Jesus, Spirit.  How have you become a deeper follower/lover of Jesus in these previous 30 days? If you want, send along your thoughts – your growth in Jesus is a great encouragement to us as we write these daily prayers.  Send your thoughts to ken@orchardnh.org  and/or kcartier@orchardnh.org
 
 
 
February 1, 2012 - 14 “He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”
 
Verses 14 and 15 of John 14 are rich with the mutuality of God.  The Trinity models the mutual giving and receiving that is the heart of right relationship.  The Other orientation of the Spirit welcomes the opportunity and privilege of glorifying Jesus.  The Father has given everything to the Son.
 
Out of the mutual relationship of Father, Son, and Spirit comes the promise of a declaration made known to the followers of Jesus.  What do you think is the substance of this declaration?
 
My answer today will be to “ruminate” on the Other nature of God.  In world that is “all about me” and my wants/needs, how will the Other nature of God find its way into my thoughts, actions, and words today?
 
Today’s prayer – “Father, Jesus, Spirit, teach me today about being focused on others.”
 
February 2, 2012 – Matthew 22:39 – “Love your neighbor as yourself.” The month of February will be about Loving People.  We will wrestle with good questions about Loving the People of our fellowship, our family in Christ.  We will explore how best to Love the People who are in our immediate family. We will ask and answer the question of, “Who is my neighbor?”  And, following the command of Jesus, we will wrestle with loving our enemies.
 
Today’s Prayer – “Father, because I am learning to love You, I want to love as You love.  I know that You love people.  Open my heart today to your promptings as I love the people You have placed in my life today.”
 
Loving God, Loving People, Living God’s Message with you,
Pastor Ken