'Holy Spirit' Tagged Posts (Page 7)
Daily Devotions
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.” vs. 4 Acts 2:1-4 According to the book of Acts, the resurrected Jesus promised that the disciples would be filled with the Holy Spirit so that they might be his witnesses to the ends of the earth. That promise was fulfilled in a spectacular way on the day of Pentecost with a sound like the rushing wind and…
Daily Devotions
Maundy Thursday For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” vs. 26 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 Holy Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, has enormous significance for the entire Christian community and is celebrated weekly in congregations all around the world. While practices differ and we have argued for centuries about the significance of the ritual, it is, for most believers, the central feature of worship. And as Paul indicates…
Daily Devotions
They answered him, ‘You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?’ And they drove him out.” vs. 34 John 9:28-41 The man who had been blind wanted to share the insights derived from his life-changing experience with the Pharisees, but they refused to listen. More than that, they drove him from their presence, likely with insults and blows. Not having been schooled in the Law of Moses, in their eyes, he lacked the proper credentials.…
Daily Devotions
Some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.’ But others said, ‘How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?’ And they were divided.” vs. 16 John 9:8-16 The blind man must have cleaned up pretty well. When he returned from washing in the pool of Siloam many of his neighbors didn’t recognize him. His newfound sight had made him a different person, and the whole neighborhood was…
Daily Devotions
Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’” vs. 3 John 3:1-3 Nicodemus had been impressed by the signs that Jesus had been doing, but he was also puzzled, and he wanted to have a chat. Concerned for his reputation, he came by night and served as a foil for Jesus’ comments about the nature of faith. Nicodemus had seen the signs, but he hadn’t seen the…
Daily Devotions
First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” vss. 20-21 2 Peter 1:19-21 When we engage with our scriptures, it’s not unusual to struggle as we try to figure out what the various passages mean. Since we often speak of the bible as God’s Word, some believe that it…
Daily Devotions
Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. But we speak God’s wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.” vss.6-7 1 Corinthians 2:6-12 Even though Paul did not use lofty terms and eloquent language in talking with the Corinthians, he was a learned man and nobody’s fool. But he wasn’t interested in the…
Daily Devotions
Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee… From that time Jesus began to proclaim, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’” vss. 12, 17 Matthew 4:12-17 After John had been arrested, Jesus returned to the area where he had grown up to begin his active ministry. At first his message of repentance seems to be an extension of what John had been saying, and that’s not surprising. In any age, those who…
Daily Devotions
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’” vs. 29 John 1:29-36 The gospel writer John indicates that John the Baptist also had a moment of insight and inspiration on the day that Jesus came for baptism. Though he didn’t know Jesus, the appearance of the dove convinced him that the Holy Spirit had designated Jesus as God’s Chosen One. So the very…
Daily Devotions
Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.’” vss. 34-35 Acts 10:34-43 The early followers of Jesus were almost exclusively Jewish and had continued to practice their faith according to the commandments laid out in the Law. Peter was one of their leaders and carried the message of the Risen Christ to the scattered villages of…
Daily Devotions
I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” vs. 11 Matthew 3:7-12 A fire burned within John the Baptist. He knew that God was close and that change was coming. But like all prophets he likely also knew that his time was limited. He had offended too many powerful people and…
Daily Devotions
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” vs. 13 Romans 15:7-13 One of the signs of God’s presence in our lives is the appearance of hope in the most unlikely times. Hope confounds us with its elusiveness. It comes and goes with maddening irregularity and resists our most determined manipulation. Paul tells us that hope has a connection with…