A popular show aired on MTV a few years ago called "Boiling Points", where everyday people were unknowingly tested while being recorded on hidden camera. The point was to see how much each person could endure without "losing it" and reaching their boiling point. Those who did endure were rewarded at the end with a cash prize. The show was very popular and even addicting. Watching people's reactions under pressure is a trip! Those high-pressure situations allow us to see what is REALLY inside of people - even ourselves. Some would start out patient and grow impatient gradually. Others would respond with threats and profanity. Some even reached the point of a near violent response. So here is my question to you today: What is YOUR boiling point?
What’s a boiling point? Glad you asked. When you put a pot of water on the stove, there is pressure all around its atmosphere. We call that pressure gravity. There is also pressure inside of the water in the pot. When the water inside matches the pressure of gravity outside, the water begins to boil and reach its highest temperature—its boiling point. Let's parallel this with spiritual things. In our everyday scope of life, there are pressures, seen and unseen all around us that attempt to weigh us down in our endeavors to be like Christ. Some pressures are overt. Other pressures are not so obvious and gradually erode our spiritual fortitude. But by the power of the Holy Spirit, God has equipped those who have received the infilling of the Holy Spirit so that instead of reaching an external boiling point, we can build up our spirits to respond from our spiritual boiling point.
Jesus tells us in John 14:26, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." He also says in John 16:13, "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come."
The Holy Spirit's ministry is AWESOME! He helps us to be mindful of spiritual things so that our spirit will be built up to resist the external pressures of the flesh. "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." (Romans 8:6)
The Holy Spirit will ALWAYS lead us back to the Word of God and will ALWAYS agree with the Word of God. He glorifies and points to Jesus. Jesus even said that the Holy Spirit tells us and shows us things that are to come. But there is an interesting characteristic about the Holy Spirit--He is not a shouter. He leads us gently and urges us from within and if we are not spending quiet time learning His direction, we will miss out. Moreover, if we are not spending time praying in the Spirit as recorded in Acts 2:4 with the evidence of speaking in other tongues, we are not building up ourselves on our most holy faith (Jude 20), or overflowing with rivers of living water [intended for others in need of God's compassion] (John 7:38-39).
Have you ever tried to get someone's attention while they were intensely focused on something else? I experienced this just the other day with my toddler. I'm telling you, I couldn't have gotten her attention if I were wearing a clown suit! She was ENGAGED to the fullest. I didn't raise my voice, I just continued to quietly call her name, to which I received no response. Many times the Holy Spirit is just the same. He won't compete with the television, music, endless chatter, iPhone (ouch) or other external things for our attention. He will continue to speak quietly until we quiet ourselves to present an atmosphere that is comfortable for Him.
Our spirit man must be built up so that when external pressure comes (and it IS coming), we are able to overcome it. Next time you feel the pressure, don't go OFF, go IN! Get into your secret place and put in the time with the Holy Spirit; He will make sure that you stay boiling over in the spirit!
Scripture of the Day: "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." - John 14:26
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