Holy Spirit

Verse[Jesus said,] "You're the first to hear and see it. You're the witnesses. What comes next is very important: I am sending what my Father promised to you, so stay here in the city until he arrives, until you're equipped with power from on high."

— Luke 24:48-49 msg

Thought"You're the witnesses!" Jesus wanted his closest followers to know that they had experienced some things that were world-changing, and they were the first ones to witness these things. Their mission would be...

 

Verse"Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven all their sins and all the blasphemies they utter. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, but is guilty of an eternal sin.”
He said this because they were saying, “He has an evil spirit.”

— Mark 3:28-30 tniv

ThoughtThis verse strikes a chill in folks because they sometimes fear they may be guilty of this. However, in this context, blasphemy of the Holy Spirit meant attributing Jesus' ability to do...

 

Verse[Stephen said,] "You stubborn people! You are heathens at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That's what your ancestors did, and so do you! Name one prophet your ancestors didn't persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One — the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered. You deliberately disobeyed God's law, even though you received it from the hands of angels."

— Acts 7:51-53 nlt

ThoughtStephen stands before...

 

VerseDo not put out the Spirit's fire. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject whatever is harmful.

— 1 Thessalonians 5:19 tniv

ThoughtLike John warns Jesus' followers, Paul is reminding folks to test the teaching of those claiming to speak by the power of the Holy Spirit (cf. 1 John 4:1-3). At the same time, we are not to discount the message of those who speak God's truth, but to test the message and reject what is harmful. The Holy...

 

VerseWe have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.

— 2 Corinthians 2:12 tniv

ThoughtWe sometimes get frustrated when those outside of Christ do not seem to be able to understand the teaching of Scripture. However, we must not forget that there are two realities to the truth of Scripture that non-believers do not experience. First, the truth of Scriptures often becomes understandable only after we obey...

 

VerseMy message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power.

— 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 tniv

ThoughtWhen the good news of Jesus is preached, the Holy Spirit is at work making the message powerful. This may refer to miracles accompanying the preaching of the message of Jesus (Hebrews 2:1-4). However, in this context, Paul is primarily focusing upon a greater...

 

VerseBut you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God...

 

VerseTake the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

— Ephesians 6:17 tniv

ThoughtThe Scriptures are inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Tim. 3:16-17) and the Spirit helps us understand the will of God (1 Cor. 2:6-16). God's message of truth is much more than just the words of mere mortals; it is God's will given by God's Spirit (1 Thes. 4:8). This message has its origins in the Spirit of God, even though it is proclaimed by human messengers (2 Pet...

 

VersePray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

— Ephesians 6:18 nlt

Thought"Pray in the Spirit!" Paul is asking believers to pray consciously recognizing that the Spirit given them when they came to Christ (Eph. 1:13) gives them direct access to God to pray what is on their heart (Eph. 2:18; cf. Rom. 8:26-27) and to intercede for knowledge, power, and boldness for others (Eph. 1:17; 3:16...

 

VerseDo not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

— Ephesians 5:18-21 nlt

ThoughtWhen someone is drunk, we talk about them being "under the influence." When a person is a follower...