DAILY VIDEO DEVOTIONAL
“For I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.” (Philippians 1:19)
The two young men from Syria were amazingly interested in knowing more about Jesus. They didn’t know much about Christianity except for what they’d been taught by people in their faith. They asked me, “Why do Christians believe in three gods?”
I said, “Why do you think we believe in three gods?”
“You believe that Jesus is God. And you believe that the Father is God. And you believe that the Holy Spirit is God. Therefore, you must believe in three gods.”
I probed them. “Are there three parts of you? Is there a spiritual part of you that’s completely different from the physical part of your life? And is the physical part of your life different from your personality?”
“Yes, of course.”
I said, “Then there must be three of you.”
“Oh, no,” they said. “You’ve misunderstood. These are three different parts of our lives, but there’s just one of us.” Suddenly they understood what I was telling them about the nature of God. “Now we understand,” they said. “There are three distinct aspects of God, but only one God.”
“That’s right,” I said. There’s one, true and living God. But there are three unique aspects of this one God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
The Bible is very clear about the character and nature of God. There’s only one God, but three distinct representations of this one God. In fact, the Bible attributes names to God that are interchangeable. In his writings to the church in Philippi, the apostle Paul refers to the “Spirit of Jesus Christ.” In his letter to the believers in Rome, he also refers to the “Spirit of Christ” (Romans 8:9). Both references use the same Greek word used for the Holy Spirit. It’s the word pneuma, which means “wind.” The Holy Spirit is like the wind. He is invisible, immaterial, and very powerful. Yet the Holy Spirit is the very Spirit of Jesus Christ.
We often say things like, “Jesus came into my heart.” That’s true, but it wasn’t the physical, historical Jesus that came into my heart. It was the Spirit of Jesus that came to dwell in me at the moment of my salvation. Or I can correctly say that the Holy Spirit came to dwell in my heart on that wonderful day. I can say that Jesus came into my heart and be correct. And I can also say that the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of Jesus Christ came into my heart. All are correct because they’re one in the same. They’re all names attributed to the one, true, and living God.
When we fully comprehend the truth wrapped in the name of “the Spirit of Jesus Christ,” our Christian lives begin to take on a new dimension. The very Spirit of Jesus dwells in us. Our victory isn’t in ourselves, our willpower, or in our abilities. Our victory is in the God who has come to dwell in us. Nothing is impossible with Him.
If you belong to Him, the Spirit of Jesus lives in you. He is your source of victory. Think about that: the very Spirit of Jesus has come to dwell in your heart. Fall on your face and worship Him. Trust in Him. He will never disappoint you.
Philippians : Chapter 1
19) for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.[d] 20) I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21) For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22) If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23) I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24) but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25) Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26) so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me. Life Worthy of the Gospel
Book of the Month
Sammy Tippit told his fiancée, “I can’t promise we’ll be rich, but life won’t be boring.”
Sammy had no idea what an understatement that would become. Beginning in the bars of Baton Rouge and the nightclubs of Chicago, Tippit has shared the news of life-changing faith in Christ all over the world – including in the middle of a revolution in Romania, the aftermath of genocide in Rwanda, and war in Burundi and the Congo.
Sammy’s lifelong adventure has come at a great price. He’s been cursed, threatened, arrested, deported, and blacklisted. He’s also been personally broken, ravaged with illness, and devastated by grief.
Yet he continues to preach to in stadiums, in open fields, and via satellite technology to hundreds of thousands around the globe. For all other books…
About Sammy Tippit Ministries
STM has been providing inspiration and help around the world for nearly 50 years. Sammy Tippit, founder and president, is a world renowned counselor, teacher and evangelist with experience serving and helping people in over 80 countries. Sammy provides materials that help people tackle a broad array of social, societal, psychological and spiritual issues. He is particularly passionate about making materials accessible to other countries around the world. Sammy is married to Debara “Tex” Tippit, and they have two children and five grandchildren.
Sammy Tippit Ministries is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization.
Contact: info@sammytippit.org
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