Tag: Holy Spirit
Rejoicing in the Spirit!
Scripture reading for April 6th: 1st Kings 20-22; 2nd Kings 1-2
Key Scriptures: 2nd Kings 2:9-11 “When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me have a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours–otherwise not.” As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.”
Elijah’s work on earth was nearly over and his time of departure was at hand. His successor was asked what one thing he could do for him. A double portion of the Spirit was Elisha’s desire! Seeing the ascension of Elijah was the condition for this special gift! Beholding a chariot of fire and whirlwind, Elisha got his heart’s desire!
Rejoicing in the Spirit: Jesus Christ promised His followers the Father’s gift and they watched Him ascend to heaven! “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After He said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.” (Acts 1:8-9)
Rejoicing in Living Water!
Scripture reading for March 3rd: Joshua 14-17
Key Scriptures: Joshua 15:18-19 “One day when she (Acsah, Caleb’s daughter) came to Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What can I do for you?” She replied, “Do me a special favor. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me also springs of water.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.”
Caleb had given his daughter to Othniel, Caleb’s nephew, because he had possessed the land occupied by one of the giants in Judah’s inheritance. His daughter desired to have the springs of water in that dry land and asked for them as part of her inheritance. Caleb gave her the springs!
Rejoice in springs of living water: Jesus promised that if anyone came to Him, and drank, out of their inmost being would flow rivers of living water! “On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within them. By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive.” (John 7:37-39)
God’s fire kept burning!
Scripture reading for January 24th: Exodus 24-27
Key Scriptures: Exodus 27:20-21 “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning. In the Tent of Meeting, outside the curtain that is in front of the Testimony, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come.”
Our God is light and has no darkness or shadow of turning! He commanded His people to set up lamps outside of the curtain shielding the Ark of the Testimony in the Tabernacle. These lamps were to be furnished with pure, clear oil from pressed olives. The lamps were to be kept burning all night and never let to go out!
Cause for rejoicing: We, in the New Covenant, are now bearers of Christ’s light and God has supplied the source: The Holy Spirit, whose anti-type is the clear oil! “You are the light of the world. . . .” “In the same way let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14, 16)
The Glorious Riches of Christ!
Scripture reading for August 26th: Ephesians 3
Key scriptures for over-comers: Ephesians 3:17-19 “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
Paul’s privilege was God’s call to preach the ‘glorious riches of Christ’ to the Gentiles. (Ephesians 3:8-10) This resulted in many Gentiles being saved but also in many persecutions for Paul and the Church from Jews who failed to embrace Jesus as Messiah. The mystery of Jew and Gentile together as one body, the Church, often caused conflict because of spiritual strongholds. Paul prayed for the members of Christ’s family to be strengthened with power by the Holy Spirit. He prayed for them to be rooted and established in love and for a deep experience of Christ’s love. This love would enable them to over-come persecution and powerfully present Christ as Lord!
Observations for over-comers: Over-comers know Christ’s great love through the infilling of the Holy Spirit and recognition of Christ dwelling in them. They pray for deeper revelation of Christ’s love in order to reach others in the terrible times of the last days. “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; love and faithfulness go before You. Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim You, who walk in the light of Your presence, O Lord.” (Psalm 89:14-15)
Watch out for the serpent’s cunning!
Scripture reading for August 11th: 2nd Corinthians 11
Key scriptures for over-comers: 2nd Corinthians 11:2-4, 13-14 “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to Him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. . . . .For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”
The apostle Paul was concerned for the church at Corinth. Some fast-talking ‘super-apostles’ had come into the church and were preaching a ‘different gospel’ about a ‘different Jesus’ and ‘different spirit’ than the authentic Gospel of Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior. They were out to deceive the believers and lead them astray and some of the church members were falling for it. Paul was jealous for their souls and sought to expose Satan’s masquerade in these false ‘apostles’! According to Jesus Christ, these ‘false’ apostles will mark the last days! (Matthew 24:4)
Observations for over-comers: Believers must know the true Gospel of salvation by grace through faith and have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and be filled with the Holy Spirit to avoid deception. “Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding.” (Proverbs 23:23)
Worship is the fitting response to God’s mercy!
Scripture reading for June 28th: Romans 11
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Romans 11:32-36 “”For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that He may have mercy on them all.” “Oh the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments and His paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord: Or who has been His counselor?” “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?” For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen!”
God’s wisdom and knowledge are beyond all human understanding. All men are of Adam, and through disobedience are under darkness and death. God’s love bound them over so that He might make His mercy available to all men, Jew or Gentile! This plan of redemption came through God’s own initiative and the Son’s willing obedience to the Father’s plan. The promised Holy Spirit would bring God’s wisdom and knowledge to each person who would believe! From Him and through Him are all things! He deserves all glory, now and forever!
Observations for over-comers: God, alone, planned and worked out our salvation and deliverance from the penalty of death from disobedience! He alone is worthy of praise! Give Him all glory! “Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is He, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty–He is the King of glory!” (Psalm 24:9-10)
Receiving the Holy Spirit!
Scripture reading for May 31st: Acts 19
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Acts 19:1-2,5-7 “While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” . . .”On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.”
Nearly twenty years after Pentecost, Paul encountered some disciples of John who had believed in Jesus. They had only received John’s baptism of repentance so Paul baptized them in the name of Jesus Christ and then placed his hands on them. As he did this, the Holy Spirit fell on them and they began to speak in tongues and prophesy in the same manner as the original day of Pentecost. Later in this chapter, Paul preached boldly and a revival of repentance broke out where many came and confessed their evil deeds and burned their occult and sorcery paraphernalia. Power was needed to confront the darkness in that city!
Observations for over-comers: Over-comers are filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered to confront the forces of evil. They seek to help other believers walk in God’s power and anointing as well. “You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; fine oils have been poured upon me. My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries; my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes.” (Psalm 92:10-11)
Agreement with the Holy Spirit!
Scripture reading for May 25th: Acts 15
Key scriptures for over-comers: Acts 15:28-29 “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.”
There was a dispute in the early church about whether or not circumcision was necessary for salvation. Some Jewish believers wanted to make this a requirement. Paul and Barnabas were in sharp disagreement with doing this! So they and others from the church decided to go to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem and settle this matter. They discussed this matter and heard all sides. Peter stood and stated what was clearly believed: “We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” (Acts 15:11) The council agreed with this ruling and added just a few recommendations to believers for their spiritual welfare. Peter noted that “it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and us. . .”. The Holy Spirit led them to a peaceful settlement of this dispute!
Observations for over-comers: Disputes between believers are part of life in this fallen world. Those in Christ’s Church seek to discuss and hear from God’s heart how to move forward in peace and unity! “Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the Lord, I teach you today, even you.” (Proverbs 22:17-19)
God is impartial!
Scripture reading for May 18th: Acts 10
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Acts 10:44-48 “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, “Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.”
The early church came mainly from converts among the Jews. Peter was a devout Jew, as were most of the other apostles. When God called him to go to the home of Cornelius and preach to the Gentiles gathered there, it was a shock to his cultural upbringing. But he took other Jewish believers with him as he obeyed the vision given him by the Lord. As he preached the Gospel to them, the Holy Spirit fell upon these Gentiles and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in tongues and praising God. Peter then understood that God had given them the same gift and they should also be baptized and brought into fellowship of the Church! Peter had actually prophesied this on the day of Pentecost when he said this gift of the Holy Spirit was for those who were “far off”! (Acts 2:39)
Observations for over-comers: God’s ways are often much higher than ours. We must stay teachable and obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit and not be over-come by our own cultural prejudices. “For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.” (Deuteronomy 10:17)
Keys to church growth!
Scripture reading for May 17th: Acts 9
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Acts 9:31 “Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened: and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.”
After a time of severe persecution, God sent a time of peace to the early church. During this time of peace, the church was strengthened. One of the great persecutors, Saul, had been converted and became a strong preacher of the Gospel and apostle to the Gentiles. The Holy Spirit brought gifts to the church in the form of pastors, teachers, evangelists, and prophets as well as empowering the individual members of the church to be witnesses to the lost. This resulted in great numerical growth and a growing “fear of the Lord.” The Holy Spirit enabled believers to hold God in deep respect and honor. This brought separation from the world, sin, and the flesh and practical holiness that drew the lost.
Observations for over-comers: Church growth isn’t something that comes from what man dreams up and promotes. God’s Spirit empowers and encourages the Church and brings times of peace where He adds numbers to His Church! The “fear of the Lord” is a key ingredient for this growth initiated by the Holy Spirit. “The Lord confides in those who fear Him; He makes His covenant known to them.” (Psalms 25:14)