"Great Resolve"

 "And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly." (John 13:27 KJV)

  "Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!" (1 Corinthians 9:24 NLT)

 This was not a game! This is the moment where Jesus lets the devil know, "I am not afraid of you!" Yes, He is speaking to Judas, but Judas is just a puppet, that has been and is being used by the devil. Don't get me wrong! This is because Judas is allowing himself to be used, by his actions and his thoughts against the Lord. That is pretty much what happens when we start thinking wicked thoughts about others, we get a little assistance, making the thoughts more and more emboldened. 

 Having seen some of what the enemy can do with anger and resentment towards others, there is really nothing else that compares to the bitterness that forms within a heart filled with hate for someone else. There really is hardly anything you can do or say that will turn them back from feeling rage within their heart; almost as if the fire is unable to be extinguished; even though it might temporarily be doused, it easily starts back up again, right where it left off. 

 As far as yesterday's post, and the direction that it raced off to; my first thought was correct: I really had no idea what I was doing! That said, it appears to be the springboard towards this, somewhat revealing, message. Oddly enough, Judas was already possessed by the devil, in one way or another; but now the devil was stepping things up! 

 It is said, "If you give him a foothold, he will take control of your life." That is pretty much what we see happening here, as Judas received the morsel of bread, as if given by a friend; yet at the same time, he is plotting his betrayal, of the Friend! This is the result: Satan enters in! Hardly anything now will stop what he has planned to do, because he has thrown away every care for his Friend. 

 Not without mentioning, this is also a good moment for Jesus, as He is focused like a laser on the task at hand, as if to say, "Let's get this over with!" Basically, it works both ways! Sometimes it just takes a little nudge, a little bit of light or spiritual insight, and you have become emboldened; almost as if you are fearless to anything else, except, failing to do God's will. 

 I would like to think of the Holy Spirit as a water spout: The more you allow Him to work in your life, the more of the Holy Spirit gets poured out! This is something that we control by our actions! That might be something that some will refute, as if the Spirit does what the Spirit wants to do; but we are talking about you and me, as in, the vessel in which the Spirit dwells. 

 I do not believe that the Holy Spirit will make us do a lot of things, as He has been referred to as a Gentleman, that does not force us to do things: but the more control that you give Him, the more He will empower you to be filled and emboldened. Do you have a River of Life flowing out of you? Turn on that spout, and let the Water flow out...

"On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, "Anyone who is thirsty come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, "Rivers of living water will flow from his heart." (When he said "living water," he was speaking of the Spirit who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)" (John 7:37-40 NLT)