Tag: Holy Spirit
Yes in Christ Jesus!
Scripture reading for July 29th: 2nd Corinthians 1, Psalm 150, Proverbs 26
Key Scriptures: 2nd Corinthians 1:18-22 “As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in Him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in Him. That is why it is through Him that we utter our Amen to God for His glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and given us His Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”
All God’s promises are available to those who are believers in Jesus Christ. God is not arbitrary and does not change His mind like men often do. What He has promised, He says Yes to provide. He alone provided us our salvation through His Son Jesus. He alone establishes us as members of His family through new birth. He anoints us with His Holy Spirit as a guarantee of our future inheritance! Hallelujah and Amen!
Faith Confession: Lord, all your promises are Yes and Amen in my life. Thank you for the Holy Spirit and Your grand Kingdom that is here now and coming soon!
Psalm 150:1-2 “Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens! Praise Him for His mighty deeds; praise Him according to His excellent greatness!”
Varieties of gifts and manifestations!
Scripture reading for July 22nd: 1st Corinthians 12, Psalm 145, Proverb 21
Key Scriptures: 1st Corinthians 12:3-7 “Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord’ and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
Paul explained the gifts of the Holy Spirit to the church at Corinth. The Holy Spirit enables believers to say “Jesus is Lord” from their heart. The Spirit will never curse Jesus. The Spirit gives varieties of gifts as Jesus our Lord and God the Father empowers and directs Him. All manifestations of the Spirit are given to bring good and blessing to Christ’s Body, the Church.
Faith Confession: Being filled with the Holy Spirit, I declare “Jesus Christ is Lord!” and accept the gifts and manifestations of the Spirit in my life and in the church. I invite His Word to be ready in my heart and on my lips.
Proverbs 21:17-19 “Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to My knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. That your trust may be in the Lord, I have made them known to you today, even to you.”
All for God’s glory!
Scripture reading for July 18th: 1st Corinthians 10, Psalm 143, Proverb 19
Key Scriptures: 1st Corinthians 10:31-33 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.”
Paul ministered in a culture where there were Jews and Gentiles and those in the new church that had come out of both backgrounds. There were idol temples that some in the church had belonged to and food sold in the marketplace that came from sacrifices to the idols. Although he had liberty in Christ and prayed over his food, asking God to sanctify it, he was still careful not to cause others to stumble. This again was love for God and others.
Faith Confession: Lord, give me discernment in this pagan culture to know how to reach those caught up in it without compromising my walk with You. I trust the Holy Spirit to guide me each day.
Proverbs 19:17 “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his deed.”
The Holy Spirit Reveals!
Scripture reading for July 8th: 1st Corinthians 2, Psalm 135, Proverbs 11
Key Scriptures: 1st Corinthians 2:9-12 “But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him”–these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit of God searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.”
Paul explained that as the spirit of a person knows the inner thoughts of that person, so God’s Holy Spirit knows all about God and His thoughts that are hidden from the natural man. But God gives His people the gift of the Holy Spirit that they might know and receive the hidden things freely given to those who repent and believe on His Son.
Faith Confession: Thank You Lord for the precious gift of the Holy Spirit living in me and revealing Whose I am and what You have freely given me by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Help me to freely share this amazing treasure!
Proverbs 11:24-25 “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withhold what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”
Receiving the Holy Spirit!
Scripture reading for May 30th: Acts 19, Psalm 108, Proverbs 15
Key Scriptures: Acts 19:1-6 “. . .Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. there he found some disciples. And he said to them,”Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the One who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.”
Paul found twelve disciples at Ephesus who had only been baptized by John the Baptist. They had not received or heard of the gift of the Holy Spirit. As Paul shared how John pointed all to Jesus, they believed and were baptized in Jesus’ Name. Paul laid his hands on them and prayed and the Holy Spirit filled them with the evidence that they spoke in tongues and prophesied. This was about 20 years after the first Pentecost.
Faith Confession: I believe in Jesus Christ and have been baptized in the Name of the Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit. I have also been baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. I believe this gift is for all who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord.
Psalm 108:5 “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let Your glory be over all the earth!”
Wind and Fire!
Scripture reading for May 24th: Acts 15, Psalm 104, Proverbs 11
Key Scriptures: Acts 15:7-11 “And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the Gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as He did to us, and He made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.””
Jewish believers in Jesus wanted to demand that all Gentiles be circumcised in addition to faith in Jesus. Peter refuted them with the fact that God shows no favoritism in giving the Holy Spirit to Jew and Gentile who believed by His sovereign grace. Salvation is by grace through faith for all who believe with no strings attached.
Faith Confession: Lord, Thank You for Your saving Gospel and the gift of faith and the Holy Spirit. Empower me with the ‘wind’ and ‘fire’ of Your Holy Spirit to reach out to the lost today.
Psalm 104:4 “. . He makes His messengers winds, and His ministers a flaming fire.”
God shows no partiality!
Scripture reading for May 17th: Acts 10, Psalm 99, Proverbs 6
Key Scriptures: Acts 10:34-38 “So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him. As for the word that He sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all), you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”
Peter had been sent by the Holy Spirit to share the Gospel at the home of the Gentile centurion Cornelius. As he opened his mouth to share, he noted that God shows no partiality between Jew or Gentile, but accepts all who come to Him in repentance and faith. He simply shared Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection and that forgiveness of sins was available in His Name. The Holy Spirit filled this group of Gentiles and they began to speak in tongues!
Faith Confession: God is impartial and shows mercy to all who sincerely come to Him. Help me to clearly share the Gospel with those who are open. Send me to those needing understanding of Jesus Christ.
Proverbs 6:20-22 “My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching. Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck. When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you are awake, they will talk with you.”
Repentance, baptism and the Holy Spirit
Scripture reading for May 7th: Acts 2, Psalm 91, Proverbs 29
Key Scriptures: Acts 2:36-39 “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself.”
As Peter preached the Gospel message of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection to the crowd gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost, the Holy Spirit brought conviction on many in the congregation. They asked Peter what they could do, having taken part in this event. Peter told them plainly to repent–change their mind and their ways and identify with the crucified and risen Savior through water baptism (immersion). After that, they must receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, available to all who would believe and receive.
Faith Confession: I believe that the Holy Spirit convicts those who hear the Gospel and brings them to repentance. Those who hear must respond by repentance and faith, receiving the Holy Spirit and testifying by water baptism if possible.
Proverbs 29:25 “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.”
The promise of power!
Scripture reading for May 6th: Acts 1, Psalm 90, Proverbs 28
Key Scriptures: Acts 1:6-9 “So when they had come together, they asked Him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times and seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And as He had said these things, as they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight.”
Jesus’ disciples asked Him, right before He ascended to heaven, if He was going to restore the kingdom to Israel. They were expecting Jesus to soon establish His kingdom. Jesus told them not to be concerned. The Father had fixed them time and that was His to know. Their main need would to received the infilling of the Holy Spirit and be empowered to share the gospel with the world.
Faith Confession: Lord Jesus, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit and power to be a witness to the world. Teach me to treat each day as an opportunity to work for You and Your kingdom.
Psalm 90:11, 17 “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” . . .”Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!”
Lamb of God, Son of God!
Scripture reading for April 5th: John 1, Psalm 69, Proverbs 7
Key Scriptures: John 1:29, 32-34 “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world! . . . .And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove and it remained on Him. I myself did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on Whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.””
When Jesus appeared where His cousin John the Baptist was baptizing, John made a faith declaration concerning Jesus. John plainly stated that Jesus was the “Lamb of God” who takes away the sins of the world. He also stated that He would be the One who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and Jesus was the “Son of God.” John stated that the Father who had sent him had revealed this to him.
Faith confession: Jesus is the Lamb of God, Son of God, who gave His body and life blood to obtain my forgiveness and allow me to receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit. I hold fast to these truths forever!
Proverbs 7:1-3 “My son, keep My words and treasure up My commandments with you; keep My commandments and live; keep My teaching as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.”