God Gives Us What the Government Can Never Give - Part Two
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” 1 Corinthians 12:13 (KJV, emphasis added)
As faithful followers of our Father God, we know that we have a gracious and giving God. He shares with us from the Scriptures that we are not deficient when it comes to what we need. And what God gives comes from the goodness of His heart.
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalms 23:1 (KJV)
“For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.” Psalms 107:9 (KJV)
“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” Matthew 7:11 (KJV)
In last week’s blog, I forwarded in faith the fact that God gives us what the government can never give. There are some things that God gives His children that the ruling authorities, specifically the Federal and State governments, will never provide because they do not have the power to produce what we profoundly need. These things include His favor and forgiveness, a perpetual peace, soundness of soul, fulfillment, and a fantastic future.
In our opening text we are told that God has given us His Spirit in order to know the things that He has favorably forwarded to us! This is because He is absolutely a good, good Father. Before I share some additional things that our Father has given us, it is important to note that one must possess the Holy Spirit (be born again) to benefit from His blessings.
So, what are those THINGS that He has freely given us?
Truth – “For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.” Psalm 26:3 (KJV)
“Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.” Psalms 119:142 (KJV)
Holy Spirit – “And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” 1 John 3:24 (KJV)
“Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.” 1 John 4:13 (KJV)
Intimacy – “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.” John 10:14 (KJV)
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27 (KJV)
Need – “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” Matthew 6:7-8 (KJV)
Grace – “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” Psalms 84:11 (KJV)
“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:24 (KJV)
Salvation – “The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.” 2 Samuel 22:3 (KJV)
“Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.” Psalms 25:5 (KJV)
Maybe you are familiar with the idiomatic phrase: “Some things never change”. This is certainly true with the things that God has given us. So think on these things and you will exercise a mind from heaven as opposed to the mind of the earth.
For the Glory of God,
PBKSR