Holy Spirit

VerseWho else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale? Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord? Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him?

— Isaiah 40:12-13 nlt

ThoughtIn Genesis 1, we find that the "Spirit of God was hovering over" the primordial deep waiting for God's word to begin the work of creation. So when Isaiah talks about God as...

 

VerseNo, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God — his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. ... But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.

—...

 

VerseBut you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God's love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!

— Jude 20-21 msg

ThoughtPrayer is a gift from God empowered by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us, and this intercession goes beyond our words (Rom. 8:26-27). Jesus, through the Holy...

 

VerseThese people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God's Spirit in them.

— Jude 19 nlt

ThoughtHaving the Holy Spirit dwelling within us is the litmus test of whether we belong to Christ or not (Rom. 8:9; Act 19:1-7). Without the Spirit of God within us — enabling us to overcome our sinful nature (Rom. 8:12-13), transforming us to be like Christ (2 Cor. 3:18), and producing the fruit of the Spirit (Gal...

 

VerseIf you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

— 1 Peter 4:14 tniv

ThoughtWhat an incredible phrase: "The Spirit of glory and of God rests on you." Jesus reminded us that we were blessed when people insult and persecute us because we have a great reward in heaven (Mat. 5:11-12). Peter plugs into this theme, but also reminds us of an immediate reality as we await our reward in heaven: no matter what others say...

 

VerseFor Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

— 1 Peter 3:18 tniv

ThoughtI will confess that this is one of the most challenging and difficult passages in all the Bible for me when I look at the whole context. What I take out of this, however, is that while Jesus' body died, his spirit — or better yet, the Holy Spirit within him and Jesus' spirit — never died. Jesus...

 

Verse"Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations."

— Isaiah 42:1 tniv

ThoughtThe last part of Isaiah contains what are often called the Servant Songs. Jesus claims several of these songs for his self-identity. The early church claimed several others, quoting them to define Jesus' ministry and understanding them as prophecies of his coming. Not only were these words of prophecy inspired by...

 

VerseFor prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

— 2 Peter 1:21 tniv

ThoughtTrue prophecy — the word of God put into the hearts of his servants — didn't arise in the heart of the prophet. God planted it there and their words brought the word of God to people because they were being moved by the Holy Spirit to speak the words they shared. As we read the words of these prophets and God's...

 

VerseThere shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

— Isaiah 11:1-2 esv

ThoughtJesus is the promised Messiah, a descendant from "the stump of Jesse," a descendant of King David. And the Spirit of God was at work in Jesus without limitation (John 3:34). All that...

 

VerseAll they were told was that they were serving you, you who by orders from heaven have now heard for yourselves — through the Holy Spirit — the Message of those prophecies fulfilled. Do you realize how fortunate you are? Angels would have given anything to be in on this!

— 1 Peter 1:12 nlt

ThoughtAngels stood on tiptoe trying to see over the horizon of heaven trying to understand the promises the Holy Spirit inspired in the words of the prophets. And now, those of us who follow...