Holy Spirit

VerseThis salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ's suffering and his great glory afterward.

— 1 Peter 1:10-11 nlt

ThoughtOne of the most important claims Scripture makes about itself, and its origins, is that it is God-breathed and Spirit-inspired (2 Tim...

 

VerseGod the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace.

— 1 Peter 1:2 nlt

ThoughtThe story of the prophet Isaiah's calling by God is glorious and moving (Isaiah 6:1-8). He recognizes his sinfulness and unworthiness to be used by God and is cleansed by seraphs who came from the very presence of God himself. This cleansing...

 

VerseMake every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called....

— Ephesians 4:3-4 tniv

ThoughtI love the word Paul uses for "make every effort" — try to say it "spoudazow": it even sounds passionate! Why is this effort so necessary? Well, there are many reasons, but the one that the Holy Spirit points us to in this passage is this: we all share in the same Holy Spirit, who...

 

VerseDon't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

— 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 nlt

ThoughtAs beautiful as the promise of yesterday was (Eph. 2:22), this is a chilling and ominous warning. If God builds us together into his dwelling place in the Spirit and makes us the holy temple of God, then we must value our congregations and...

 

VerseAnd in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

— Ephesians 2:22 tniv

Thought"Where can I go to find God?" This has been the question mortals have asked ever since they were driven from the garden and their daily walks with God in "the cool of the day" (Gen. 3:8-24). Nations have had wars over this question. Families have been split over this question. People have spent countless amounts of money to go on pilgrimages to answer...

 

VerseHe [Jesus] brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

— Ephesians 2:17-18 nlt

ThoughtEqual access means assured grace! Because of Jesus' sacrifice and because of the work of the Holy Spirit, we are all welcomed at the throne of grace regardless of gender, social status, or race. This brings a kind of peace...

 

VerseI keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

— Ephesians 1:17 tniv

ThoughtPaul is praying this prayer for new followers of Jesus and I love the language: "I keep asking..." This is his ongoing and constant prayer for them. And this prayer isn't asking for stuff, forgiveness, or even strength. Paul keeps asking that the Father send the Spirit in such a way that they can...

 

VerseIt's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free — signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit.

— Ephesians 1:13 msg

ThoughtWhen I read this verse, I can't help but remember the old line in the song that goes, "Signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours!" These should be our words, recognizing the work of the Holy Spirit does that for us with Jesus — the Spirit signs, seals, and delivers to God's...

 

VerseWhile we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it's not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.

— 2 Corinthians 5:4-5 msg

ThoughtTwo forces are at work within us as children of God. They work in opposite directions at the same time. Our bodies are...

 

VerseGod affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge — a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete.

— 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 msg

ThoughtThe genuine test of a follower of Jesus is the presence of the Holy Spirit living in them. The Spirit transforms the follower to become like Christ (2 Cor. 3:18). The Spirit helps produce the fruit of Jesus' character and compassion in our lives (Gal...