Good morning Lord Jesus, wash me with your Spirit this morning and refreshen and renew my soul!
The Holy Spirit is a gift given to us by God to help conform us into the image of God in Jesus Christ. One of main way’s the Holy Spirit does this is by putting us into places where we are confronted by the truth of our lives. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life…” (John 14:1). If becoming a disciple of Jesus means that my life needs to closely imitate his life, then the truth in my life: spiritually, physically, relationally, needs to closely imitate Jesus Christ. The role of the Holy Spirit is that of comforter, but before the Holy Spirit can be our Holy comforter, he first needs to be our Holy confronter.
The Holy Spirit uses every opportunity to confront us and conform our lives into the truth of Christ. He uses Scripture to speak through us and relate the truths of God written in the pages to areas of our lives and reveal were truth is present and where it is lacking. He also uses our prayer time when we open ourselves up to him and honestly let him speak into the secret places in our lives, that are not really a secret to him. “Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 23:23-24)
Another major way The Holy Spirit speaks truth into our lives and holds us accountable to truth is through others in the body, in the relationship of deep, holy accountability. It may seem like an oxymoron, but we places our lives more completely into the hands of God, by placing our lives into the hands of others. There is a familiar verse to most Christians where Jesus tells us, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18:20). When you read the passage, look at the context this verse is contained in, you will see that Jesus is refereeing here to deep, holy, accountability.
I shared earlier the remark by Jay Leno, “I will do anything to get a great and perfect body except eat healthy and exercise.” We laugh when we read this because we know that getting a great and healthy body is simple, it requires eating right and exercising. It is simple, but it is not easy. To become a disciple of Jesus is simple as well. It requires consistent reading of Scriptures, prayer, serving our neighbors, and holy accountability. Simple, but not easy. I am absolutely convinced in my time in ministry that the one thing that ensures all four are present in one’s life is Holy Accountability. The only thing that will prevent me from being the man in James 1:22-24, who looks in the mirror in the morning and says, “What a good Christian am I.” then lives his life in the flesh and a worldly manner, is accountability.
It is in the weekly gathering with one or two other people that true accountability takes place. Where someone asks you, “How is it with you soul?” “Have you read your Bible this week?” “Have you prayed?” “How have you seen God at work by serving those around you?” Close accountability allows others, who pray for you daily to see, hear, and confirm how they see the Holy Spirit working in your life and speak into it.
Close relationships with your spouse is something to strive for and nourish, but your one or two accountability partners need to be of same gender so you can honestly bring forth all your struggles, and they can relate to it.
Who are the one or two persons in your life that you are in deep accountability with? Who pray for you daily? Who you can call at anytime of the day or not with a struggle or a praise? Who know you well enough to speak truth into your life?
Read James 1:22-25,
Watch the following short 5 minute video by Francis Chan on being open and accountable to others. If you could not immediately name the one or two persons in your accountability group, (not Bible Study, small group, or church class, but one or two people you meet with weekly strictly for accountability) then pray to the Holy Spirit to lead you to the one or two persons you are to call and ask to be in accountability with you. I challenge you to do this by the end of the week. If you do not know how to get started, I have created a couple page guide with information and an outline for accountability groups we use at One Direction Community I would be glad to send you. in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God Bless you my friends!
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