Walking with God Day by Day: 365 Daily Devotional Selections

by Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Robert Backhouse (Editor)

Overview

Be devoted to God with your heart and your mind.

Do you look to devotional books for guidance as you seek to focus your heart on the Lord each day? If you do, you know that too often devotional material fails to engage the mind in addition to the heart. Touching stories replace the very source of lasting encouragement and strength we need each day-the truth of the Word of God. But this is never true of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones's writing.

Walking with God Day by Day offers brief daily devotionals that engage the mind and the heart. You will not just find spiritual nourishment in its pages; you will learn about God and the great themes of the Bible. Robert Backhouse has compiled excerpts from choice passages in the writings of Dr. Lloyd-Jones according to monthly themes. By reading this devotional, you will grow in your understanding of God and learn to apply the truth of His Word day by day.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781433516641
Publisher:	Crossway
Publication date:	05/31/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	400
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899–1981), minister of Westminster Chapel in London for thirty years, was one of the foremost preachers of his day. His many books have brought profound spiritual encouragement to millions around the world.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899–1981), minister of Westminster Chapel in London for thirty years, was one of the foremost preachers of his day. His many books have brought profound spiritual encouragement to millions around the world.

Robert Backhouse is an ordained Anglican minister and has traveled the world to promote the advancement of Christian literature. He has edited, compiled, and written books on the Bible and Christian classics for children, students, and ministers.

Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

January 1

Names of The Holy Spirit

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me. ISAIAH 61:1

The best way to approach the doctrine of the Holy Spirit is to notice the names or the descriptive titles given to this blessed Person.

First of all, there are the many names that relate Him to the Father. Let me enumerate some of them: "the Spirit of God" (Genesis 1:2); "the Spirit of the Lord" (Luke 4:18); "the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:11). Another is "the Spirit of the Lord GOD," which is in Isaiah 61:1. Our Lord speaks, in Matthew 10:20, of "the Spirit of your Father," while Paul refers to "the Spirit of the living God" (2 Corinthians 3:3). "My Spirit," says God in Genesis 6:3, and the psalmist asks, "Whither shall I go from thy spirit?" (Psalm 139:7). He is referred to as His Spirit — God's Spirit — in Numbers 11:29; and Paul, in Romans 8:11, uses the phrase "the Spirit of him [God the Father] that raised up Jesus from the dead." All these are descriptive titles referring to the Holy Spirit in terms of His relationship to the Father.

In the second group are the titles that relate the Holy Spirit to the Son. First, "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" (Romans 8:9), which is a most important phrase. The word "Spirit" here refers to the Holy Spirit. In Philippians 1:19, Paul speaks about "the Spirit of Jesus Christ," and in Galatians 4:6 he says, "God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son." Finally He is referred to as "the Spirit of the Lord" (Acts 5:9).

The third group comprises the direct or personal titles, and first and foremost here, of course, is the name Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost. Some people are confused by those two terms, but they mean exactly the same thing. The English language is a hybrid that has borrowed from other languages, and "Ghost" is an old Anglo-Saxon word, while "Spirit" is derived from the Latin spiritus.

A Thought to Ponder

Notice the names or the descriptive titles given to the Holy Spirit.

January 2

Why is the Holy Spirit Called Holy?

But ye have an unction from the Holy One. 1 JOHN 2:20

Why is the Holy Spirit called holy? Surely, the explanation is that it is His special work to produce holiness and order in all that He does in the application of Christ's work of salvation. His objective is to produce holiness, and He does that in nature and creation, as well as in human beings. But His ultimate work is to make us a holy people, holy as the children of God. It is also probable that He is described as the Holy Spirit in order to differentiate Him from the other spirits — the evil spirits. That is why we are told to test the spirits and to prove them and to know whether they are of God or not (1 John 4:1).

Then the next great question is the personality or the personhood of the Spirit. The personhood of the Holy Spirit is not only forgotten by those whom we describe as liberals or modernists in their theology, but we ourselves are often guilty of precisely the same thing. I have heard most orthodox people referring to the Holy Spirit and His work as "it" and "its" influence and so on, as if the Holy Spirit were nothing but an influence or a power. And hymns, too, frequently make the same mistake. There is a confusion about the Holy Spirit, and I am sure there is a sense in which many of us find it a little more difficult to conceive of the third person in the blessed Holy Trinity than to conceive of the Father or the Son.

Why is there this tendency to think of Him as a force or an influence or an emanation? There are a number of answers to that question, but they are not good reasons. His work seems to be impersonal because it is a kind of mystical and secret work. He produces graces and fruits; He gives us gifts, and He gives us various powers. And because of that, we tend to think of Him as if He were some influence. I am sure that this is a great part of the explanation.

A Thought to Ponder

His special work is to produce holiness.

January 3

The Personality of the Holy Spirit

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost ... 2 CORINTHIANS 13:14

The Holy Spirit is identified with the Father and the Son in such a way as to indicate personality.

There are two great arguments here. The first is the baptismal formula: "baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19). Here He is associated with the Father and the Son in a way that of necessity points to His personality.

The second argument is based on the apostolic benediction in 2 Corinthians 13:14: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost ..." Obviously the Holy Spirit is a person in line with the person of the Father and of the Son.

A most interesting way we can prove the personality of the Spirit is by showing that He is identified with us, with Christians, in a way that indicates that He is a person. In Acts 15:28 we read, "For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things." This was a decision arrived at by members of the early church, and as they were persons, so He must be a person. You cannot say, "It seemed good to a power and to us," because the power would be working in us. But here is someone outside us — "It seemed good to him and to us."

Personal qualities are ascribed to the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures. He is said, for example, to have knowledge. Paul argues, "For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God" (1 Corinthians 2:11).

A Thought to Ponder

The Spirit is identified with us, with Christians, in a way that indicates that He is a person.

January 4

The Holy Spirit Has a Mind

And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit. ROMANS 8:27

The Holy Spirit clearly has a mind. In Romans 8:27 we read, "the mind of the Spirit" — this is in connection with prayer. He is also the one who loves, because we read that "the fruit of the Spirit is love" (Galatians 5:22); and it is His function to shed abroad the love of God in our hearts (Romans 5:5). And, likewise, we know He is capable of grief, because in Ephesians 4:30 we are warned not to "grieve" the Holy Spirit.

The ultimate doctrine about the Spirit, from the practical, experiential standpoint, is that my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, so that whatever I do, wherever I go, the Holy Spirit is with me. I know nothing that so promotes sanctification and holiness as the realization of that. If only we realized, always, that in anything we do with our bodies, the Holy Spirit is involved! Remember also that Paul teaches that in the context of a warning against fornication. He writes, "Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you ...?" (1 Corinthians 6:19). That is why fornication should be unthinkable in a Christian. God is in us, in the Holy Spirit: not an influence, not a power, but a person whom we can grieve.

I am going through these details not out of an academic interest, nor because I happen to have a theological type of mind. No, I am concerned about these things, as I am a man trying myself to live the Christian life, and as I am called of God to be a pastor of souls, and I feel the responsibility for the souls and conduct and behavior of others. Wherever you are, wherever you go, if you are a Christian the Holy Spirit is in you; and if you really want to enjoy the blessings of salvation, you do so by knowing that your body is His temple.

A Thought to Ponder

If you are a Christian, the Holy Spirit is in you.

January 5

The Spirit Prohibited Them

He shall testify of me. JOHN 15:26

Actions are ascribed to the Spirit that can only be performed by a person. For instance, in 1 Corinthians 2:10 we are told that "the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." He searches — that is the action of a person. We are also told clearly that He speaks. In Revelation 2:7 we read, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." Then He also makes intercession for us. "We know not what we should pray for as we ought," says Paul in Romans 8:26, "but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."

He also bears testimony. Our Lord said, "He shall testify of me" (John 15:26). He bears testimony to the Lord. Only a person can do that. Then we are told, again by our Lord, "He will guide you into all truth" (John 16:13). Indeed, even in the Old Testament we are told that He teaches and instructs in the truth: "Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them" (Nehemiah 9:20).

Another personal action of His is found in Acts 16:6-7 where we are told, "Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the regions of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, after they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not." Again, this is surely a very significant and relevant statement. All Paul's companions wanted to go and preach in Asia, but the Spirit prohibited them. Then they wanted to go into Bithynia, and again He would not allow them. That is a definite action by the Holy Sprit Himself, and it is proof positive that He is a person.

A Thought to Ponder

Actions are ascribed to the Spirit that can only be performed by a person.

January 6

The Comforter

It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you. JOHN 16:7

The very office to which the Holy Spirit was appointed is personal. He is described as the Comforter ("another Comforter," says our Lord in John 14:16), and a comforter is one who stands by our side and helps us. The same word is sometimes translated advocate. So our Lord was saying in effect, "As I have been with you during these three years, as I have taught you and guided you, and as I have sent you out on your missions, I will not leave you comfortless. I am going to send you another Comforter. You must not be troubled; you are not going to be left as orphans." The Holy Spirit is one who takes the place of our Lord. He is within us to lead us and guide us, and that is why our Lord was even able to say, "It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you" (John 16:7). Obviously this is a personal office.

Another big proof of the personality of the Holy Spirit is that, according to the teaching of the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit is susceptible to personal treatment. In other words, we are told that we can do certain things to the Spirit and that He reacts as only a person can react.

First, we are told that the Holy Spirit can be lied to. In the terrible case of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5, notice what Peter said: "Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?" (verse 3). Ananias and Sapphira had declared that they had given everything, but Peter charged them with having lied to the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is not an influence therefore, not some vague power, but clearly a person. Second, we are told that we can blaspheme against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31-32). Third, we see that He can be insulted (Hebrews 10:29). Finally, He can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30).

A Thought to Ponder

The Holy Spirit is susceptible to personal treatment.

January 7

The Holy Spirit's Deity

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.... And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 1 CORINTHIANS 12:4, 6

We must demonstrate the Holy Spirit's deity. This is a vital part of the doctrine of the Trinity. It is only Christians who believe this doctrine; all other religions fail to do so, as do all errors and heresies. The Trinity is the key that unlocks all truth. So we must look at the evidence.

The Scripture itself specifically asserts the deity of the Spirit. I take you back to that terrible incident with Ananias and Sapphira. After asking, "Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?" Peter continued, "Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God" (Acts 5:3-4). "The terrible thing that you have done," said Peter in effect, "is that you have not only been lying to men; you thought that you were just lying to us, the apostles, and to the other Christians, but no, you have been lying to God." And just previously he had said that Ananias had lied to the Holy Spirit. So clearly that is a specific statement that the Holy Spirit is God.

But we also find that the Spirit's name is coupled with the name of God, and this not only establishes His personality but His Deity. This is seen in the baptismal formula, in the apostolic benediction, and also in 1 Corinthians 12, where Paul writes, "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ... And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all" (verses 4, 6). At one point we are told it is the Spirit who does this, and the next moment we are told that it is God — the same God who works all and in all, and He is the Spirit. Therefore the Spirit is God — His deity is proved.

A Thought to Ponder

Scripture specifically asserts the deity of the Spirit.

January 8

The Holy Spirit's Divine Deeds

The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. JOB 33:4

Certain things are done by the Spirit that we are told in the Scriptures can only be done by God. First of all, creation. In Genesis 1:2 we read, "The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." There it is at the very beginning. Job says it also: "The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life." This is the creative work of the Holy Spirit, again a proof of His deity. And we must remember also that His is the special operation that we describe as regeneration. John 3:7 establishes that once and forever: "Ye must be born again." "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit ..." (John 3:5). This is the action of the Spirit; He gives the rebirth. Original creation and the new creation are both the special work of the Spirit. "It is the spirit that quickeneth," says our Lord again (John 6:63).

The work of inspiration is also the work of the Spirit. "No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation," says Peter; "... holy men of God spake as they were moved" — carried along, driven; it does not matter which translation you use — "by the Holy Ghost" (2 Peter 1:20-21). All the Scriptures were written in that way: The Holy Spirit inspired and controlled the writers in an infallible manner. So we have our doctrine of the infallibility of the Scriptures, and it is proof positive to us that He is God. It is God alone who can give the truth and inspire men in their record of the truth.

The work of resurrection is also attributed to Him. Very often people are surprised by this. But it is to be found quite clearly in Romans 8:11: "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." So we arrive at this — that the Holy Spirit is a person and a divine person.

A Thought to Ponder

The Holy Spirit is a person and a divine person.

January 9

SubordinationHe shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. JOHN 16:14

The Scriptures teach that the Spirit is subordinate to the Father and to the Son. That is what is meant in John 16:13. Our Lord says, "He shall not speak of himself," which means that He does not speak from Himself — He is given what to speak. And indeed His work, we are told, is to glorify Christ (John 16:14). The Spirit does not glorify Himself; He glorifies the Son.

Is this not wonderful? Here is the subordination. Here is the division of the work. The Son says that He has come to glorify the Father, and the Spirit's work is to glorify the Son. Each one reflects the glory of the other. Thus we look into the mystery of this amazing doctrine of the blessed Trinity: "He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you" (John 16:14). This is, to me, one of the most amazing and remarkable things about the biblical doctrine of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit seems to hide Himself and to conceal Himself. He is always, as it were, putting the focus on the Son, and that is why I believe, and I believe profoundly, that the best test of all as to whether we have received the Spirit is to ask ourselves, what do we think of, and what do we know about, the Son? Is the Son real to us? That is the work of the Spirit. He is glorified indirectly; He is always pointing us to the Son.

Yes, we must realize that He dwells within us, but His work in dwelling within us is to glorify the Son, and to bring to us that blessed knowledge of the Son and of His wondrous love to us. It is He who strengthens us with might in the inner man (Ephesians 3:1619), that we may know this love of Christ.

A Thought to Ponder

The Spirit does not glorify Himself; He glorifies the Son.

(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "Walking with God Day by Day"
by .
Copyright © 2003 Good News Publishers.
Excerpted by permission of Good News Publishers.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Publisher's Foreword,
January New Life in the Spirit (from God the Holy Spirit),
February Our Great Salvation (from Saved in Eternity),
March Jesus' Prayer for Us (from Safe in the World and Sanctified Through the Truth),
April The Cross of Christ (from The Cross),
May The Gospel of Jesus Christ (from The Heart of the Gospel and Truth Unchanged, Truth Unchanging),
June When God Moves in Revival (from Revival),
JULY The Kingdom of God (from The Kingdom of God and Why Does God Allow War?),
August Knowing and Serving God (from God the Father, God the Son),
September Life in Christ (from God the Father, God the Son and Fellowship with God),
October Walking with God (from Walking with God and Children of God),
November Tests of Truth and Love (from The Love of God),
December The Victory of Faith (from Life in God and Out of the Depths),
Scripture Index,