'Holy Spirit' Tagged Posts (Page 8)
Daily Devotions
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.” vs. 4 Romans 15:4-6 Paul was waiting for Christmas, or to put it another way, he was waiting for the return of Christ, but he wasn’t letting any grass grow under his feet as he waited. He had been given a mission and, without training and without precedent, he daily engaged in proclaiming…
Daily Devotions
In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.” vss. 13-14 Ephesians 1:11-14 As we observe the lives of fellow saints and sinners in our congregations, we are often touched by the serenity and peace that accompanies some…
Daily Devotions
For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands…” vs. 6 2 Timothy 1:6-14 Confirmation hadn’t been invented yet in the life of the church when this letter was written, but its predecessor was certainly there. Paul says that when Timothy was a youth, he laid hands on him and gave him a precious gift of God. That sounds exactly like what happens when a pastor…
Daily Devotions
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” vs. 1 Hebrews 11:1-3 Whenever a loved one dies and we proclaim with conviction that they rest in peace or are safe in the arms of Jesus, we’re making an important statement of faith. We have no way of proving what we say and rationalists would likely scoff at our words, but we keep on making the claim because it’s the core of our faith.…
Daily Devotions
See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you.” vs. 19 Luke 10:16-20 Those who have discovered that they share their homes with scorpions are likely glad that they have been given authority from Jesus to tread upon them, preferably while wearing thick soled shoes. But it’s a bit of a mystery why such a verse should have made it into scripture. A few…
Daily Devotions
Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit.” vss. 7-8 Galatians 6:7-10 Paul’s words to the Galatians were not rocket science. They are exactly the sort of thing that parents have been saying to their children from the beginning. We reap whatever we sow! This…
Daily Devotions
Bless our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard, who has kept us among the living, and has not let our feet slip.” vss. 8-9 Psalm 66:1-9 From a practical or realistic standpoint, Israel’s survival as a people didn’t make much sense to the psalmist. They weren’t a powerful nation and had somehow managed to survive through the succeeding reigns of a series of superpowers. For him there was only one logical answer: their God had…
Daily Devotions
He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” vs. 14 John 16:14-15 Jesus had given the disciples a mission, to love as they had been loved, and he had given them the Holy Spirit as a guide. And because the world was so tumultuous and the challenges so great, in those early years they relied heavily on the daily guidance of that Spirit. Now that isn’t as easy as it sounds. There…
Daily Devotions
Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice? … ‘To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all that live.’” vss. 1, 4 Proverbs 8:1-4 Many thousands of years ago as humans began to live in community, they took note of those things that made for peace and harmony–the actions and behaviors necessary for people to achieve common goals and avoid discord. For generations these tidbits of wisdom were stored up by leaders and…
Daily Devotions
Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.” vs. 12 John 14:12-17 As John recounts Jesus’ words to his disciples during his last evening with them, he makes his wishes and intentions crystal clear. Jesus wants them to continue the works that he began, i.e., to announce good news to the poor, release…
Daily Devotions
When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God…” vss. 15b-16 Romans 8:14-17 Paul was totally dependent on the Holy Spirit for the direction of his mission and for the reformation of his life. On his own, he was driven by old traditions and convictions and totally incapable of doing the things that he desired to do. His desires dominated the direction of each day. But the Holy…
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 2:1-14 Luke tells us that before he left, Jesus had promised his disciples that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them and they would then be his witnesses throughout the earth. After his departure they went into the city of Jerusalem and waited, probably wondering what this experience might be…