Holy Spirit

Verse
I speak the truth in Christ — I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit...

— Romans 9:1 NIV

Thought
We often use hyperbole to make an emphatic point about something that is important to us. Hyperbole is an overstatement meant to shock others as we try to get their attention to say something important to us. Paul is about to make an incredibly shocking statement about being willing to be cut off from Christ if it would mean that his own people, the Jews...

 

Verse
And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will.

— Romans 8:27 NLT

Thought
After the incredible promise of the previous verse and the Spirit's intercession for us (Romans 8:26 ESV), Paul adds promise upon promise. He tells us that the Spirit of the one true and living God pleads for us "with groanings too deep for words." He then adds that the Spirit pleads for us in harmony with the...

 

Verse
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

— Romans 8:26 ESV

Thought
Nearly all of us have been there — that moment when our souls are brittle and dry, when it seems as if all our prayers bounce off the ceiling and come to rest at our feet as bitter reminders of our failure and spiritual impotence. But prayer, like every other great blessing from God...

 

Verse
For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

— Romans 8:22-23 ESV

Thought
At first glance, the phrase "adoption as sons" may sound sexist. Exactly the opposite is true. In many places in Paul's day, daughters didn't have the same rights of inheritance as...

 

Verse
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.

— Romans 8:16 NIV

Thought
We can believe that we are God's children. We can think it. We can desire it with all of our hearts. We can pray for it. But, the real validation happens when the Holy Spirit — one of the great gifts we receive when each of is saved — joins with the spirit inside of each of us, to speak to God, the Father of all grace. The Spirit's words are simple, "O Abba Father, hear the heart...

 

Verse
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

— Romans 8:14 NIV

Thought
Parents lead their children till they are ready for life on their own. As we cry out to God as our "Abba, Father" (Romans 8:15), God leads us. We are his young children. He leads and guides us through the influence and work of the Holy Spirit, which is why Jesus told his closest followers that he would not leave them as orphans when he went back to the Father. Instead, he would send...

 

Verse
So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father."

— Romans 8:15 NLT

Thought
Abba! The first syllables some babies utter. The name for father in the language Jesus grew up speaking. Abba is a term of endearment, dependency, intimacy, tenderness, and respect. Because of the Holy Spirit's presence within us, we call out to God and address him in this...

 

Verse
Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.

— Romans 8:12-13 NLT

Thought
We have the power to overcome temptation and sin. Those of us with a past entrapment to sinful addictions, with current struggles, with sinfully rebellious co-workers and friends surrounding us...

 

Verse
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

— Romans 8:11 ESV

Thought
The Holy Spirit brings life to our mortal bodies in two ways. First, the life of Jesus comes alive in us despite the fact that we live in mortal bodies of decay. We display the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) as we are conformed to Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18)...

 

Verse
And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God.

— Romans 8:10 NLT

Thought
Everything that lives is actually in the process of dying — everything, that is, except for those animated and empowered by the Spirit of the living Christ. The power that raised Jesus from the dead is actually at work in us. Not only does the Spirit empower us to find life now, but his presence ensures...