The Holy Spirit was present and involved when God created the earth (Gen 1:1-2). The prophet Zechariah told God’s people who were re-building the temple that they would not achieve it in their own strength “but by My Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts” (Zech 4:6b; NKJV). In the New Testament we read, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or imagine” (Eph 3:20; NLT). In Acts 1:8 Jesus told the disciples that they would receive the power of the Holy Spirit; this infilling with the Spirit is described in Acts 2:4 and is available to us today (Acts 13:52). The Holy Spirit empowers us to walk in, “all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him” (2 Peter 1:3; NKJV). That same Holy Spirit will reveal God’s word to us and guide and direct us (John 14:26; Rom 8:14).

So often we can devise our own plans and try to carry them out in our own strength only to wind up frustrated when things don’t succeed. While Jesus was on trial before the chief priests, elders and council, the apostle Peter sat in the high priest’s courtyard and denied he knew Jesus 3 times (Matt 26:69-75). However, after he was filled with the Holy Spirit, he preached a powerful sermon about Jesus and salvation (Acts 2: 14-40). Wow, what an amazing transition. Do you get the picture? Let’s humble ourselves and allow the Holy Spirit to change, guide, empower and use us, the results will be supernatural!

There are 2 kinds of patience mentioned in the Bible; one of them is in relation to people and one in relation to situations. Colossians 3:12 tells us to “clothe ourselves” by wearing various attributes, one of which is “patience (which is tireless and longsuffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper) (Col 3:12b; AMPC). This is obviously referring to people and the Greek word used here is makrothumia and it means being patient with those people who try us and offend us, being longsuffering and slow to get angry. This word is used for patience in the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22. (See also Heb 6:12, 1 Cor 13:4, Eph 4:2, Col 1:11, 2 Tim 3:10, 4:2 and 1 Thess 5:14.) Lord, help us to exercise this kind of patience with our families and friends.

The Greek word used for patience in dealing with adverse situations is hupomone which means not caving in when in trying circumstances. An example is found in James 1:2-3, “My brethren count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience” (NKJV).

It is interesting that patience goes hand in hand with faith; when we don’t get the answer to our prayers immediately, we need to wait patiently, in faith until the answer comes. It is patience that holds our faith steady. “So that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Heb 6:12; ESV).

It is clear from the Bible that God’s word is truth (John 17:17b) and life (John 6:63b). In John 8:13b-32 (NKJV) we are told that “If you abide in My word you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:13b-32; NKJV). “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36; NKJV). What are we freed from? Jesus freed us from satan’s plans for us by defeating him and stripping him of all power and authority (Col 2:15). Satan’s plan has always been to cut off God’s blessings from our lives, to destroy and to kill (John 10:10a) but Jesus came to give us a fulfilled and abundantly blessed life both now and forever (John 10:10b).

If God’s word makes us free we need to make it the very foundation of our lives, just like the wise man who built his house on a solid foundation of rock (Matt 7:24). His house withstood all the storms that came against it (v 25). We need to get onto God’s word, make it a priority and get addicted to it because it has the power to change us (Heb 4:12). We cannot grow and be all God wants us to be if we stay focused on the world around us, we need to renew our minds with God’s word (Rom 12:2; Eph 5:26). God’s word is infallible, the answer to all the issues and challenges of life (Titus 1:2) and will never change. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Mark 13:31; NKLJV). We need to line up our lives with the word alone, then we can live a power-packed radical Christian life for Him!

Jesus prayed for the early disciples that they would be one (Acts 17:11b). As the early church walked in unity great grace was on the believers ((Acts 4:32), the apostles preached with power (Acts 4:33) and thousands of new Christians were added to the church (Acts 2:41). The apostle Paul exhorted the early church to walk in unity with no divisions among them (1 Cor 1:10). Jesus was clear on the results of division: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand” (Matt 12:25; NKJV). God clearly hates discord and we are strongly warned not to spread discord (Prov 6:19). On the other hand, we are called to maintain the “unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph 4:3; NKJV). James, the Lord’s brother, wrote, “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19; NKJV). Good advice!

We are to be careful not to give offence to anyone (Matt 17:27) and also to be careful not to take offence. “Sensible people control their temper, they earn respect by overlooking wrongs” (Prov 19:11; NLT). In all of this remember that we are to forgive as God forgives us. How many times should we forgive someone? Jesus told the apostle Peter to forgive 490 times (Matt 18:22); I think He meant forgiveness should have no limit. How do we avoid strife and offence? The Bible directs us to walk in Christ-like love (Eph 5:2) and focus on His word (Ps 119:165; Isa 26:3). Don’t condemn yourself, we all need to grow in the things of God!