Holy Spirit Archives – Page 2 of 6

December 27, 2022December 27, 2022

In the Spirit…

Rev 4-8 John writes twice that he was “in the Spirit.” What does that mean to us today? Yesterday, we recalled the words of Jesus to Peter, “Follow Me!” When we are following, we are doing as Christ. He was fully controlled and permeated by the power of the Holy Spirit. The question lay before me: am I ‘in’ the Spirit? How do I know? I can know if I am demonstrating the Fruit of the Spirit, which Paul outlines for us in Gal 5: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” [Gal 5:22-23]

Today the challenge is to test the spirits to see if they are of God. 1Jo 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God,

November 8, 2022November 8, 2022

After the Tomb

Acts 1-2 Peter references the empty tomb as proof of the deity of Christ. Peter proclaimed: “our forefather David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. “[Acts 2:29] Mohammed is in his tomb as are Buddha and others, but where is Christ? He is in the heavens sitting at the right hand of God. If ever there was proof of Christ as the Son of God, it is that. “This Jesus God raised up, and we are all witnesses of it.” [Acts 2:32] Christ lived, was crucified, buried in a rich man’s tomb, which could not hold him, and He was raised on the 3rd day just as He said. And any who call upon His name will be saved. [Acts 2:21]

Then, just as Jesus promised, the Holy Spirit arrived and anointed the disciples with extraordinary power both in word and deed. When God sends the Holy Spirit to anoint us, we are also given His power in word and deed, but it is up to us to proclaim that power to a lost and dying world. Hearing the gospel and seeing the anointed power of the Holy Spirit, people are without excuse. [Rom 1:20]

Where has the Holy Spirit anointed you? Are you allowing Him to do His work in and through you?

October 26, 2022October 26, 2022

The Work of the Holy Spirit

Luke 1-3 The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead, fully God and fully Spirit. He is not stationary but can move and work in individuals’ hearts. He comes silently and reveals His gifts or messages from God to each person according to their need and will. His power will be evident in the response of the people.

From chapter 1 to chapter 3, He is busy interacting with each person:
Vs. 15 John will be filled with the Holy Spirit; .even before his birth, and it was manifested in Chapter 3 when he spoke with power
Vs. 35 The Holy Spirit announced that He would fill Mary and as prophesied, it happened. Mary responded with humility; I am a servant of the Lord.
Vs. 41 when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the Holy Spirit filled her and the baby John leaped in her womb.
Vs. 64 Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied and blessed God.
2:25-27 Simeon, the Holy Spirit was upon him, and He revealed that he would see the Lord’s Christ. He blessed God.

3:22 the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus like a dove at his baptism, opening the way for God to speak regarding the Son of God
God, the Holy Spirit, loves, acts, and reveals the truth of God’s Word and His will. As He descends and moves, we see how we are to respond. Some, like Zechariah, responded with unbelief, and others, like Elizabeth, Mary, and Simeon, responded in humility and praise.

How do I/we respond when the Holy Spirit descends upon my/our heart?

June 3, 2022June 3, 2022

The Voice of God

Ps 29 The Voice of God

If you are an avid music lover, you are aware of a program called “The Voice.” It is a popular music program to keep your mind occupied with the world’s noise about us. The psalmist did not listen to the world’s sounds but to God’s voice, the eternal voice from heaven. His voice shouts over creation, and we stand in awe. We hear it in the waterfalls of nature, the birds that begin our day, and the sounds of cracking limbs in the wind. Our world is full of His voice if we stand quietly to listen.

The Holy Spirit is His voice to our souls, speaking words of His love and tenderness as He calls us to His side that we might praise Him.

Where do you hear the voice of the Lord in your world today? Take a moment and stand to listen.

December 2, 2021December 2, 2021

The Holy Spirit and Christmas

1Cor 12 It is December, and that means Christmas is coming! God gave us the best Christmas gift ever when He sent His Son Jesus. But, God also plans ahead and He had your name on a special gift; the Spirit to reside with you FOREVER AND EVER!

Jesus said: “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;” [Jn 14:16] He is our permanent teacher, not just on Christmas morning but FOREVER! and EVER! In addition, Jesus prayed that; ” But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and will cause you to remember everything I said to you.” [Jn 14:26] And then in 1Cor 12, we read that the Spirit gives; better than Santa! He also distributes; not to just good boys and girls but to every saved believer as He wills. He works all these things for His glory and that we might edify others and especially the church. There may be a diversity of gifts, but the same Spirit who does all of this and more, and we are to receive each one gratefully.

Since eternity the Spirit has been actively distributing gifts, and you are blessed to have received His gift, whether it be knowledge or wisdom or the gift of x, y, z as he gave to Daniel.

Do you know your gift? Do others recognize that you have been anointed with the Holy Spirit? Are you grateful for the gifts He has given to you?

September 7, 2021September 7, 2021

From Death to Life!

Ezekiel 37 Once Dead; now Alive!

In rereading this chapter, I am reminded of Ephesians 2:1, 5 ” And although you were dead in your offenses and sins..(God) made us alive together with Christ—by grace you are saved! Paul reminds the Ephesians that they “were dead” but no longer are because of the power of the energizing Holy Spirit that raises the dead to life. Ezekiel had a vivid illustration of how that works.

Imagine standing in Death Valley and seeing the dead and sun-scorched dead bones. Each of us would reply to the Lord, “you know Lord,” regarding his question; can these be resurrected? When the Holy Spirit does His work, it is just like on that day when the tombs were opened, and the dead rose to walk about Jerusalem, testifying to the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. (Matt 27:52)

Like them, we all were dead, sun-scorched, and left to the vultures and animals that God created to cleanse the dead from the land. But, Hallelujah; God does a mighty work that we might stand amazed in His presence. John Newton penned a hymn titled Amazing Grace which captures this chapter:

I once was lost, but now I am found; I once was dead but now am alive.

If this is your truth: Go forth and proclaim this truth!

June 12, 2021June 12, 2021

The Temple

2Chron 4, 1Kings 7 If only we had had a cell phone camera as we read these chapters written by Chronicler and Kings about the very detailed steps to complete the Temple. And what a wonder covered in precious stones and gold! The chronicler has given us a ringside seat to view the expanse of this magnificent building through his word pictures as he spells out the purpose, which is to worship God and He alone. But that isn’t how the story will go, because while Solomon was busy building this, he also completed a home for his wife, the Pharaoh’s daughter. Mark that verse in your Bible, for this was the beginning of the turning away of Solomon’s heart from the Lord to the false gods. We’ll come back to that in later chapters.

The physical Tabernacle and the Temple were to draw men to God, yet that must be the Holy Spirit’s work. It isn’t a beautiful wood structure, stone, and gold, but we, God’s people become His Temple by the Holy Spirit’s work. “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? [1Cor 3:16]

When the Holy Spirit indwells you, you are now God’s Temple. Has He done that good work in you?

August 3, 2020

The Still Small Voice of Comfort

Isaiah 25/26 Today some people are asking for prayer. Sometimes it is just a simple request. Each one who is reaching out is a heart that is hurting. We wonder what to say to encourage; we want to comfort, but our words seem trite. But, if we listen carefully, we may hear the still small voice as Elijah heard. It is the Holy Spirit graciously reminding us our Father “wilt keep [us] in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on [Him].” [Is 26:3] What a profound and comforting truth for in a time of uncertainty. There may be threats of the COVID in the news, but God is sovereign and in control. What a comfort to know God is a “protector for the needy in their distress.” Isaiah reminds us that we are to exalt the one who has worked wonders with perfect faithfulness. He alone is our shelter from the storms of life.

Frances Havergal captured this in “Like a River Glorious” last stanza:

Every joy or trial falleth from above; traced upon our dial by the Sun of love; we may trust Him fully, all for us to do; they who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true. Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest, finding as He promised perfect peace and rest.

When at a loss for words, try a hymn or a passage of scripture. Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit.

These are the gracious words to comfort those who are hurting.

July 11, 2020

How to Become Wise

Today we begin our walk through the book of Proverbs. Beloved, know this truth that will guide you step by step through life: “It All Begins with Fearing the Lord“

Every person has a life journey that ultimately leads to everlasting comfort and peace or eternal destruction. Proverbs is in the Holy Scriptures to help us understand the meaning of life through practical examples and also riddles.

Solomon will instruct us how to discern the fool and the wise man. Thus, Proverbs is a book to garner the unbeliever’s attention to see how he is wallowing in his foolishness and how to turn from his wicked ways to become wise. “Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.”

The book of Proverbs will help us learn three things: wisdom, moral instruction (correction or discipline), and how to discern wise counsel. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding and acknowledge him in all your ways…”

As we walk through Proverbs, allow the Holy Spirit to train you practically to discern good and evil.

Thus today we choose [Prov 1:7] as our verse for today:

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of discernment or knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

What verse jumped out at you as you read, and what verse are you meditating on for today?

March 24, 2020

“Grace Abundantly Flowing”

2Samuel 9 Ever watched Mission Impossible? Those are fake, but this story is real! A bit of history here: for centuries, when a new king arose, he executed the remaining family members of the former king. David could have followed the pattern of others, but he is not like others. David had made a pretty significant promise to his best friend Jonathan, now dead, to care for any of his remaining family members. Imagine yourself as the one remaining son of Jonathan. What will the new king do?

Enter in the spy named Ziba, who happens to know that disabled Jonathan’s son, whose name you can hardly pronounce, Mephibosheth, was in hiding. This is where grace enters the equation. In fear and trembling, Mephibosheth is called to the palace expecting the worst but hearing the best news ever. He will be given the land of his father and will be seated (said four times) at the king’s table for the rest of his life.

Mephibosheth is like us as unbelievers hiding from the king. We know as the family of the former king; our head is on the chopping block. However, Jesus is the true king, and like David, he extends his grace. King Jesus sends, Ziba, a.k.a the Holy Spirit, to find us and bring us home to his palace. We fear the worst, but hear you will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. Do we deserve it? No, but God’s grace is poured out on us called salvation, and now we can be in His presence forever.

Are you a Mephibosheth? King Jesus is sending the Holy Spirit to rescue you if you accept his invite.