Tag: Luke 11:13
Day 5–God’s Personal Pager
Scripture reading for January 23: John 14:15-17 “If you love Me you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, Whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”
Again in today’s passage of Scripture, Jesus makes a promise to those who are in a loving relationship with Him through obedience of His Word. He promised to ask the Father to send the Spirit of Truth to live in them to help them. This ‘Gift’ from the Father would be a permanent Presence in each believer. The Holy Spirit is a Spirit of truth because God is a God of Truth. (John 14:6) The Spirit takes the Word of God and guides the believer in all truth. (John 16:13) The Helper with bear witness of Jesus through each believer. (John 15:26)
Jesus taught that those in the world could not see or know the Spirit of truth. But the Spirit of truth also would bring conviction of sin, righteous and coming judgment to those in the world. God the Father sends the Holy Spirit of truth to accomplish His will and purposes through empowering those following Jesus Christ to be fruitful in their service of God and others.
First responders carry either a pager or phone application like “I Am Responding” to receive calls to respond and the nature of the incident. Communication is vitally important to bring the right help and equipment on the scene in the shortest time. Good communication prepares the responders with information that helps them to properly and efficiently help and cooperate with other responders on the scene. If they are followers of Jesus, they also have God’s Holy Spirit of truth to direct them and empower them. God tells believers to ask Him for this ‘Helper’ and He will send Him. (Luke 11:13) “. . how much more with the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for providing each believer with Your personal Helper, the Holy Spirit. Thank You for drawing me into relationship with You and helping me to ask You for this special ‘Gift’. Enable me to listen to Your guidance and wisdom to help others most effectively. Amen.
Money and power
Scripture reading for May 15: Acts 8
“Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for He had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you though you could obtain the gift of God with money!”” Acts 8:14-20
The church was growing rapidly and was now growing in Samaria. Jesus had visited their region and the woman at the well had shared Jesus with her fellow Samaritans. Now Philip, the deacon turned evangelist, had preached there and many had been baptized in the Name of Jesus. The apostles in Jerusalem, Peter and John, had come to see this church and build it up. They saw that these believers had not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, although they had been baptized in water. They laid their hands on them and prayed over them to receive the Gift of the Father, the Holy Spirit. Although it doesn’t specifically say, these so filled must have spoken in tongues and were filled with joy and boldness.
Simon, a former sorcerer, who had believed and was baptized watched the apostles. He went to Peter and John with money to purchase the ability to lay hands on people to receive the Holy Spirit. Peter and John rebuked him sharply. God’s Gift is never for sale! His heart was not right and he must quickly repent or perish! The Holy Spirit is received by faith through God’s grace to those who ask. (Luke 11:13)
From this passage, is it possible to have repented, believed, and been baptized in Jesus’ Name and still not be filled with the Holy Spirit? Was it necessary for the apostles to lay hands on them for their reception of the Holy Spirit? How do you know when you have received the Holy Spirit?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your Gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank You for the infilling of the Holy Spirit for empowering us to be a witness and pray effectively. Give me deeper insight into how to pray for those needing this Gift and how to help all believers to be filled. Amen.
The Power of our choices!
Scripture reading for April 9: 2nd Kings 1-3
“What can I do for you before I am taken from you?” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” (2nd Kings 2:9)
This is essentially the same question God asked Solomon when He appeared to him a few years earlier. (1st Kings 3:5) Solomon asked for wisdom to rule God’s people. God gives us choices. One of the tensions in Scripture is between our free will and God’s sovereign will. God is sovereign but He has chosen to work with man who is made in His image. Part of that image is the ability to make choices.
Elijah had been instructed by God to tap Elisha to take his place some ten years earlier. Elisha was the son of a farmer. He was plowing with 12 yokes of oxen–a big rig of that day! (1st Kings 19:19) At God’s instruction, Elijah threw his mantle over him. Scripture records that he left his oxen and ran after Elijah. Then he sacrificed his oxen, burning his plowing equipment to offer the sacrifice. Choices have consequences and rewards and often lead to more choices.
As the time for Elijah’s departure drew near, Elisha had to continually choose to stay near his mentor. Elijah kept asking him to stay away, but he kept insisting on staying. If we are going to get all that the Lord has for us, it means we must persevere! Elisha asked Elijah for the double portion of his mentor’s spirit. Elijah could not give that himself. It must come from the Lord. Elijah gave him a word of knowledge–that if he could see him when he departed he would have what he asked for. (2nd Kings 2:10-12) As they walked on together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and Elijah was taken to heaven in a whirlwind right before Elisha’s eyes and the mantle fell to earth! It was an exciting exit for the prophet Elijah and an exciting transition for the prophet Elisha as he picked up the anointed mantle and began to do greater things than his mentor!
Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the final word from God. He has told HIs disciples to ask Him for whatever we need and He will do it. (John 14:14) He has given us the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and bring forth the gifts of the Spirit as they are needed to glorify the Lord. He has told us, that we will do even greater works because He has gone to the Father. (John 14:11-14) Ask the Lord today for what you need! How much more will God the Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask! (Luke 11:13)
What can I do for you?
Scripture reading for April 10th: 2nd Kings 1-3
As the prophet Elijah was about to depart from this earth, he asked Elisha: “What can I do for you before I am taken from you?” (2nd Kings 2:9) The understudy wisely answered that he desired a double portion of the Spirit. This is essentially the same question God asked Solomon a few years earlier. (1st Kings 3:5) God gives us choices. One of the tensions in Scripture is between our free will and God’s sovereign will. God is sovereign but he has chosen to work with man who is made in His image. Part of that image is the ability to make choices.
Elijah had been instructed by God to tap Elisha to take his place some ten years earlier. Elisha was the son of a farmer. He was plowing with 12 yokes of oxen–a big rig of that day! (1st Kings 19:19) He was called when Elijah threw his cloak over him. Scripture records that he left his oxen and ran after Elijah. Then he sacrificed his oxen, burning his plowing equipment to cook the meat and set out to follow Elijah.
As the time for Elijah’s departure drew near, Elisha had to choose to stay near his mentor. If we are going to get all that the Lord has for us, it means we must persevere! Elijah gave him a word of knowledge–that if he could see him when he departed, he would have what he asked for. (2nd Kings 2:10-12) As they walked on together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses appeared and Elijah was taken to heaven in a whirlwind right before Elisha’s eyes! Elisha picked up the fallen cloak and began to do greater things than his mentor!
Jesus Christ has told us to ask Him for whatever we need and He will do it. (John 14:14) He has given us the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and bring forth the gifts of the Spirit as they are needed to glorify the Lord. He has told us that we will do even greater works because He has gone to the Father. (John 14:11-14) Ask the Lord today for what you need! How much more will God the Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask! (Luke 11:13)