Holy Spirit

Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced [when she became pregnant]. While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. God's angel spoke in the dream: "Joseph, son of David, don't hesitate to get married. Mary's pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God's Holy Spirit has made her pregnant."

—Matthew 1:19-20 MESSAGE

Key Thought​

Joseph was not only concerned about his righteousness when Mary became pregnant; he...

 

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.

—Matthew 1:18 NLT

Key Thought​

While we try to understand how the Spirit of God works in our lives, a deep sense of mystery, wonder, and awe remains. How could God love us so much as to be present in us through his Holy Spirit? This inexplicable miracle is a...

 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

—Romans 15:13 NIV

Key Thought​

We live in the overflow of God's grace. David said it well in Psalm 23, "my cup overflows." Because of the Spirit's presence, our hope overflows! In addition to goodness, peace, and joy (Romans 14:17 NLT), the presence of the Holy Spirit brings deep, abiding, and personal hope! But let's not get overly...

 

For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too.

—Romans 14:17-18 NLT

Key Thought​

Who can argue with goodness, peace, and joy? These three virtues are not obtained just by human effort. Yes, a passion to possess these godly qualities is necessary, but the source of these qualities is the Holy...

 

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

—Romans 9:1 NIV

Key Thought​

We often use hyperbole to make an emphatic point about something that is important to us. Hyperbole is an overstatement meant to get other people's attention. The words of hyperbole can even be jarring to help others understand the emotions behind the words spoken. Paul is about to make an incredibly shocking statement about being willing to be cut...

 

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

Key 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...

 

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

Key Thought​

Nearly all of us have been at this desperate place. Our souls are brittle and dry. All our prayers seem to bounce off the ceiling. They fall lifelessly to the ground and come to rest at our feet as bitter reminders of our failure and spiritual impotence.

Like every other great...

 

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

Key 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...

 

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

Key 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...

 

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

—Romans 8:16 NIV

Key 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 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 Father, hear the heart of your child!" The Spirit then makes clear the emotions and...