{{2016_06_13_t1.jpg}} {{2016_06_13_t2.jpg}} {{2016_06_13_t3.jpg}} [[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/de/doku.php/jn_de_2016_06_13|Deutsche Version]] [[Start|| Wiki Start]] [[topics_collection_viii|| Topics Collection viii ]] ======Be filled by the Spirit ...====== Monday, June 13, 2016. The New Testament is urging us to be spiritual. It all starts with getting to know Christ Jesus. It starts with getting to know God in his son. And it all ends with knowing Jesus. He is the beginning and the end. He was with God before creation. And he is the lion and the lamb, the ultimate judge of the universe. {{2016_06_13.jpg }} **Spiritual Life ...** God is one in father, son and holy spirit. We are asked to live in the spirit, to walk in the spirit, to think in the spirit. And that is not difficult, if you believe in Jesus. The spirit comes into my heart, when I open it for faith in Christ. It starts to live there, and to change me, by his presence, day by day. We are tempted to act in an nonspiritual way - also day by day. We are surrounded by purely worldly structures, purely worldly habits, purely worldly priorities. But we do not live from bread alone, we do not live from the riches and pleasures of this world, but from the word of God, which comes to us in Jesus. What does it mean to be spiritual? The New Testament speaks of truth and love and passion. It speaks of faith. It speaks of our inside, of our emotions, of all what we value. It speaks of the basis of our life, on what our life is built upon. What is it that is the center and goal, the driving force and the inner core of our existence? {{ 2016_06_13_2.jpg}} **Spiritual Gifts ...** In 1 Corintheans 14 Paul writes to all of us: 1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. (1 Cor 14, 1) Prophecy means to know God's will and to speak God's words. It means to follow him with all our heart. It means to get to know him well, and to communicate what he wants, what he aims to do, what he wants to reach. By the spirit, many things are possible. There are many spiritual gifts. By the spirit, also prophecy is possible - which is first the knowledge about him, his character, his desire, his truth and his agenda - within this world and beyond. The spirit brings truth and joy, it brings love and peace. But you have to open your heart. And you have to let go the things which separate you from the full unity with the lord. We value so many things, but the only thing needed is him, the eternal God, Christ Jesus. In him, we are saved, and we are forgiven, and we are restored, and we are given life, eternal life, full life, true life, his life! Be filled by the Spirit! (Roland Potthast) [[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/en/doku.php/topics_collection_viii|... more texts]]