“He must become greater; I must become less.” John 3:30
One of the ways we know we are growing in the Lord is if we possess a diminishing measure of self-centeredness. John the Baptist said, in regards to Jesus, “He must become greater, I must become less.” We must make it our aim to glorify God more and more as our lives progress in him. The Lord will help us to withdraw from the temptation to seek attention for ourselves. He will enable us to worship him in every circumstance.
He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. Over time, the Lord refines us like a stone lodged in the bed of a rushing stream. He smoothes the edges of our personality. As we empty ourselves, we make room for the Lord to fill us with his presence. It is Christ in us, who is our only hope of glory.
Dear Living God,
I surrender my life to you. I empty myself of worldly ambition and I lay my desires at your feet. Lord may you become greater in me and through me, and may I become less in my own estimation. I desire to please you in all I do and I long to live my life to magnify your name. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
© Copyright 2008 by Tom Toya. All rights reserved.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Strength in Our Weakness
“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10
Temptation beckons to the weak areas of our nature. If we are given to jealousy, Satan will fashion our circumstances to provide us with an opportunity where we could become jealous. If we struggle with lust, our enemy will furnish ways to tempt us. The good news is, if we offer our weaknesses to God, they become the doorway for the Lord to exhibit His strength. As we depend on him, we find the Lord’s overcoming power in our lives in the area where failure normally prevails.
We cannot muscle our way out of temptation. Our self-willed ways can only take us so far. When we humble ourselves and submit to the Holy Spirit’s ability, we triumph in the midst of temptation’s onslaught. James 4:7 says that if we submit to God and resist the devil, our enemy will run for the hills.
Dear Lord of Heaven and Earth,
I thank you for your strength in the midst of my weakness. May your character shine through my weak areas by the power of your Holy Spirit. When I am tempted, help me to trust in you to give me the overriding ability to say no to sin and yes to right living. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
© Copyright 2008 by Tom Toya. All rights reserved.
Temptation beckons to the weak areas of our nature. If we are given to jealousy, Satan will fashion our circumstances to provide us with an opportunity where we could become jealous. If we struggle with lust, our enemy will furnish ways to tempt us. The good news is, if we offer our weaknesses to God, they become the doorway for the Lord to exhibit His strength. As we depend on him, we find the Lord’s overcoming power in our lives in the area where failure normally prevails.
We cannot muscle our way out of temptation. Our self-willed ways can only take us so far. When we humble ourselves and submit to the Holy Spirit’s ability, we triumph in the midst of temptation’s onslaught. James 4:7 says that if we submit to God and resist the devil, our enemy will run for the hills.
Dear Lord of Heaven and Earth,
I thank you for your strength in the midst of my weakness. May your character shine through my weak areas by the power of your Holy Spirit. When I am tempted, help me to trust in you to give me the overriding ability to say no to sin and yes to right living. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
© Copyright 2008 by Tom Toya. All rights reserved.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Lord of Heaven
Lord of Heaven
Pull me into You
Help me to know you intimately
Authentic God
You are never plastic
You tell it like it is
Yet you are so loving
Like a mother with her newborn child
I am full of sin
I waver daily from the straight and narrow
Heal me Lord
Forge your path for me
Help me to walk faithful and true
I am lost without you
So prone to my own ways
Forgive me for my backsliding
Cleanse me from my waywardness
Let my ears hear Your still small voice
Let me listen to your heartbeat
Strong and steady
Let Your word instruct me in the way I should go
Help me to abide in You always my Majestic One
You are my Peace, and You will forever be my Song
I know You are the God who answers my prayer
I thank you for keeping your promise
I delight in You Oh Lord of Heaven
© Copyright 2009 by Tom Toya. All rights reserved.
Pull me into You
Help me to know you intimately
Authentic God
You are never plastic
You tell it like it is
Yet you are so loving
Like a mother with her newborn child
I am full of sin
I waver daily from the straight and narrow
Heal me Lord
Forge your path for me
Help me to walk faithful and true
I am lost without you
So prone to my own ways
Forgive me for my backsliding
Cleanse me from my waywardness
Let my ears hear Your still small voice
Let me listen to your heartbeat
Strong and steady
Let Your word instruct me in the way I should go
Help me to abide in You always my Majestic One
You are my Peace, and You will forever be my Song
I know You are the God who answers my prayer
I thank you for keeping your promise
I delight in You Oh Lord of Heaven
© Copyright 2009 by Tom Toya. All rights reserved.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
The Second Blessing II
While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? They answered, “No we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” Acts 19:1-2
When we ask Jesus to baptize us with the Holy Spirit, the initial manifestation that many experience is the ability to speak in other tongues. This is nothing to be afraid of. The experience is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12, 14 and Acts 2, as well as in other places in Scripture. When we surrender completely to the Lord and ask for the outpouring of his Spirit in our lives, he fills us afresh with his wonderful presence. The Lord will often give us words to say that we do not understand. At this time, we can utter these words in faith, believing that they come from God.
No matter what gifts we receive from God, our focus is to be on the Gift-giver and not the gifts. The gifts are distributed to help us and to enable us to help others, but our attention must always be on God.
Many people in various Christian denominations have experienced this second blessing. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is not a requirement to go to heaven; it is an equipping for our life here on earth. God loved us enough not only save us, but also to offer us this infilling of the Spirit.
If you would like to receive this second blessing, pray a prayer like the one included below. Spend some time worshiping God, and receive this second blessing for your life.
Dear Jesus,
I want this second blessing experience in my life. I ask you to baptize me in the Holy Spirit. I ask you to fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I can be a more effective witness for You and so that I can help others. I desire to know you in a deeper way. Lord come and fill me. I receive this gift not on the basis of how I feel, but on the basis of your promise to me. I believe that you have now filled me with the Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus. I love you. Amen.
© Copyright 2008 by Tom Toya. All rights reserved.
When we ask Jesus to baptize us with the Holy Spirit, the initial manifestation that many experience is the ability to speak in other tongues. This is nothing to be afraid of. The experience is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12, 14 and Acts 2, as well as in other places in Scripture. When we surrender completely to the Lord and ask for the outpouring of his Spirit in our lives, he fills us afresh with his wonderful presence. The Lord will often give us words to say that we do not understand. At this time, we can utter these words in faith, believing that they come from God.
No matter what gifts we receive from God, our focus is to be on the Gift-giver and not the gifts. The gifts are distributed to help us and to enable us to help others, but our attention must always be on God.
Many people in various Christian denominations have experienced this second blessing. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is not a requirement to go to heaven; it is an equipping for our life here on earth. God loved us enough not only save us, but also to offer us this infilling of the Spirit.
If you would like to receive this second blessing, pray a prayer like the one included below. Spend some time worshiping God, and receive this second blessing for your life.
Dear Jesus,
I want this second blessing experience in my life. I ask you to baptize me in the Holy Spirit. I ask you to fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I can be a more effective witness for You and so that I can help others. I desire to know you in a deeper way. Lord come and fill me. I receive this gift not on the basis of how I feel, but on the basis of your promise to me. I believe that you have now filled me with the Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus. I love you. Amen.
© Copyright 2008 by Tom Toya. All rights reserved.
Friday, July 24, 2009
The Second Blessing
“Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.....Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 8:5-6, 14-17)
If salvation or being spiritually reborn is the first blessing, the baptism of the Holy Spirit (different from water baptism) is the second. This is the outpouring of God’s Spirit upon the believer. Any individual that has asked Christ to be their Lord and Savior becomes a candidate for this outpouring.
Jesus told his disciples that, when he left them, the Lord would send to them the Holy Spirit, who would be with them forever. The Holy Spirit is a Person - the third Person of the Trinity. Any individual who has invited the Lord to be their Savior has the Holy Spirit living inside him or her. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is simply the release of the Holy Spirit’s power upon the believer for the purpose of empowering him or her to more effectively minister to others.
This infilling of the Spirit is freely given to the believer; it can not be earned, but must be asked for. In 1 Corinthians 12 and 14, Paul the apostle expounds on the wonderful gifts of the Spirit that work in the life of the believer who has received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He mentions nine distinct gifts that are imparted to believer as the Holy Spirit wills. These gifts are: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, the gift of faith, the gifts of healing, the gifts of miracles, prophecy, discernment, speaking in various tongues, and the interpretation of tongues.
We can never earn these special endowments of the Spirit. When we ask Jesus to baptize us in the Holy Spirit, he does this not on the basis of our performance, but on the basis of our faith in him. In Luke 11:9-13, Jesus tells us that God will give us the Holy Spirit if we ask him to.
With this precious outpouring of the Spirit comes a deeper intimacy with the Lord. With this second blessing comes greater power to be his witnesses and to heal the sick (see Acts 1:8). With this infilling, comes an increased sensitivity to the Spirit as well as a heightened ability to hear God’s voice and to see into the Spirit (visions and dreams – see Acts 2:17-18).
Dear Lord,
Let me hunger for more of your Spirit. Fill me to overflowing with your holy presence, so I can be a more effective laborer in your kingdom. In Christ's name I pray, Amen.
© Copyright 2008 by Tom Toya. All rights reserved.
If salvation or being spiritually reborn is the first blessing, the baptism of the Holy Spirit (different from water baptism) is the second. This is the outpouring of God’s Spirit upon the believer. Any individual that has asked Christ to be their Lord and Savior becomes a candidate for this outpouring.
Jesus told his disciples that, when he left them, the Lord would send to them the Holy Spirit, who would be with them forever. The Holy Spirit is a Person - the third Person of the Trinity. Any individual who has invited the Lord to be their Savior has the Holy Spirit living inside him or her. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is simply the release of the Holy Spirit’s power upon the believer for the purpose of empowering him or her to more effectively minister to others.
This infilling of the Spirit is freely given to the believer; it can not be earned, but must be asked for. In 1 Corinthians 12 and 14, Paul the apostle expounds on the wonderful gifts of the Spirit that work in the life of the believer who has received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He mentions nine distinct gifts that are imparted to believer as the Holy Spirit wills. These gifts are: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, the gift of faith, the gifts of healing, the gifts of miracles, prophecy, discernment, speaking in various tongues, and the interpretation of tongues.
We can never earn these special endowments of the Spirit. When we ask Jesus to baptize us in the Holy Spirit, he does this not on the basis of our performance, but on the basis of our faith in him. In Luke 11:9-13, Jesus tells us that God will give us the Holy Spirit if we ask him to.
With this precious outpouring of the Spirit comes a deeper intimacy with the Lord. With this second blessing comes greater power to be his witnesses and to heal the sick (see Acts 1:8). With this infilling, comes an increased sensitivity to the Spirit as well as a heightened ability to hear God’s voice and to see into the Spirit (visions and dreams – see Acts 2:17-18).
Dear Lord,
Let me hunger for more of your Spirit. Fill me to overflowing with your holy presence, so I can be a more effective laborer in your kingdom. In Christ's name I pray, Amen.
© Copyright 2008 by Tom Toya. All rights reserved.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
A Higher Law
Wilber and Orville Wright thrilled the world as their airplane took flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina on December 17, 1903. This was the first time a heavier-than-air aircraft flew in a sustainable and controlled manner. The 600 pound airplane seemed to defy the laws of gravity.
The secret of airplane flight is revealed in the design of the wing. Its curved top and straight bottom allows for airflow that creates an upward pull or lift on the aircraft. The distance for air to travel is greater on the curved portion or top of the wing than on the bottom. This greater distance for air to flow causes weaker air pressure than the underside of the wing. When the plane is in motion, the greater air pressure on the bottom of the plane causes the plane to lift off the ground. In this way, the plane is able to override the law of gravity, which would dictate that the plane could not travel above ground.
In the Christian walk, we struggle to be free from the control of the flesh. It’s only when we apply a higher law that we are able to overcome sinful actions. Romans 8:1-2 says, “There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Here we see that the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus frees us from the law of sin and death. Galatians 5:16 reads, “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”
We live by the Spirit when we surrender to the Holy Spirit’s desires, and when we yield to His control. We also live by the Spirit when we saturate our lives with the written word of God and give ourselves over to obeying Scripture. The word and the Spirit are always in agreement and it is through yielding to the Holy Spirit and God’s word that we take flight above the natural tendency to sin that we all struggle with.
In Galatians 5:22, we find the passage about the fruit of the Spirit. It states, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.” The following verse declares that against such things there is no law. The fruit of the spirit consists of the attributes that the Lord wants to impart to us. They are ours when we yield to Him and choose to follow the Lord in His power. And when we follow the Lord in this way, we find that His Spirit triumphs over our fleshly natures. We have the victory over sin and Satan, for greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world.
We can live above our sinful natures. The Holy Spirit is the wind that gives us the lift to soar above our sinful ways. When we fall we can get back up and soar again. In our own strength, we are weak and incapable, but in His power we can overcome. Gravity no longer has to dominate our life, for we have found a higher law.
The secret of airplane flight is revealed in the design of the wing. Its curved top and straight bottom allows for airflow that creates an upward pull or lift on the aircraft. The distance for air to travel is greater on the curved portion or top of the wing than on the bottom. This greater distance for air to flow causes weaker air pressure than the underside of the wing. When the plane is in motion, the greater air pressure on the bottom of the plane causes the plane to lift off the ground. In this way, the plane is able to override the law of gravity, which would dictate that the plane could not travel above ground.
In the Christian walk, we struggle to be free from the control of the flesh. It’s only when we apply a higher law that we are able to overcome sinful actions. Romans 8:1-2 says, “There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Here we see that the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus frees us from the law of sin and death. Galatians 5:16 reads, “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”
We live by the Spirit when we surrender to the Holy Spirit’s desires, and when we yield to His control. We also live by the Spirit when we saturate our lives with the written word of God and give ourselves over to obeying Scripture. The word and the Spirit are always in agreement and it is through yielding to the Holy Spirit and God’s word that we take flight above the natural tendency to sin that we all struggle with.
In Galatians 5:22, we find the passage about the fruit of the Spirit. It states, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.” The following verse declares that against such things there is no law. The fruit of the spirit consists of the attributes that the Lord wants to impart to us. They are ours when we yield to Him and choose to follow the Lord in His power. And when we follow the Lord in this way, we find that His Spirit triumphs over our fleshly natures. We have the victory over sin and Satan, for greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world.
We can live above our sinful natures. The Holy Spirit is the wind that gives us the lift to soar above our sinful ways. When we fall we can get back up and soar again. In our own strength, we are weak and incapable, but in His power we can overcome. Gravity no longer has to dominate our life, for we have found a higher law.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Never Compromise
Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.” Psalm 51:6
Never compromise your God-given convictions. This may mean that you look foolish to others who see nothing wrong with the action in question, which may involve an unscrupulous business practice or the temptation to cheat on your taxes. Whatever the situation obey the inner prompting from the Holy Spirit to do what is right in the given situation.
This will save you great heartache, and it will keep you from developing a dull conscience. If we ignore the inward voice that is harmonious with Scripture, we run the risk of growing callous. The longer we run in that direction the less likely we will be able to hear the Holy Spirit’s voice.
As we spend time in God's word, our conscience better reflects the will of the Lord, and our ability to discern the voice of God matures. Let us cultivate a God-centered conscience by obeying God's written and spoken word in every choice we make.
Dear Savior,
I love you. Help me to obey my conscience as it agrees with your written word. Teach me by your grace to say no to all ungodliness and evil behavior. Give me wisdom and courage to obey the Holy Spirit. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Never compromise your God-given convictions. This may mean that you look foolish to others who see nothing wrong with the action in question, which may involve an unscrupulous business practice or the temptation to cheat on your taxes. Whatever the situation obey the inner prompting from the Holy Spirit to do what is right in the given situation.
This will save you great heartache, and it will keep you from developing a dull conscience. If we ignore the inward voice that is harmonious with Scripture, we run the risk of growing callous. The longer we run in that direction the less likely we will be able to hear the Holy Spirit’s voice.
As we spend time in God's word, our conscience better reflects the will of the Lord, and our ability to discern the voice of God matures. Let us cultivate a God-centered conscience by obeying God's written and spoken word in every choice we make.
Dear Savior,
I love you. Help me to obey my conscience as it agrees with your written word. Teach me by your grace to say no to all ungodliness and evil behavior. Give me wisdom and courage to obey the Holy Spirit. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
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