Holy Spirit

Mary responded, "Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!"

—Luke 1:46-47 NLT

Key Thought​

Praise emanates from our spirits — that innermost part of us. Honest, heartfelt adoration and respect for God come from deep within our spirits. And as followers of Jesus, the Holy Spirit joins with our spirits and leads us to worship in ways not possible without the Holy Spirit (John 4:23-24; Ephesians 5:15-21). Just as Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit (Luke...

 

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate [and reflect] the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

—2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NIV

Key Thought​

I love the phrase "transformed ... with ever-increasing glory." This progressive transformation is the crescendo of the Holy Spirit's grace until we finish...

 

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

—Ephesians 3:20-21 NLT

Key Thought​

We confess that God is all powerful. Paul's prayerful burst of praise in our passage today reminds us of an additional and breathtaking truth: Through the power of the Holy Spirit at work within us, God can do...

 

I pray that out of [the Father's] glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ...

—Ephesians 3:16 NIV

Key Thought​

Years ago, a good friend made a graphic similar to the "intel inside"® branding on computers. It read, "Spirit Inside!" Yes, the power within us that moves us in the direction of Jesus is the Holy Spirit. So one of the greatest things we can do to empower those we love to live for Jesus is to pray Paul's prayer for...

 

[Jesus] is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.

—Colossians 1:28-29 NIV

Key Thought​

Paul's ministry was powered by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit was the energy that so forcefully worked in Paul. And this Spirit-energy propelled Paul to work for people to achieve the goal that the Holy Spirit has for...

 

Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God's Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God 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 1:20-22 MESSAGE

Key Thought​

"Yes"! Jesus is God's way of saying "Yes" to every promise made to...

 

Then I [John] heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'" "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them."

—Revelation 14:13 NKJV

Key Thought​

Jesus talked about the Holy Spirit as the Comforter and promised the Spirit's abiding and comforting presence within us (John 14-16 ASV). Jesus' word for the Holy Spirit also could be translated as Advocate, Helper, and Counselor. The...

 

Again [Jesus] said, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you." Then he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit."

—John 20:21-22 NLT

Key Thought​

We are here on purpose. What we have been given and the time in which we live are not accidents, luck, or the achievements of our own hands. God has formed us, Jesus has called us, and the Holy Spirit indwells us for such a time as this. Just as surely as God sent Jesus by the miraculous...

 

[Jesus said,] "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere — in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

—Acts 1:8 NLT

Key Thought​

Power. Spirit. Witnesses. Everywhere. Four simple words that stand for one simple truth that has changed the world for Jesus countless times throughout history. With our ability to travel and with almost instantaneous worldwide...

 

Then I [John] saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth.

—Revelation 5:6 NLT

Key Thought​

I have lived my life away from the overt persecution of the church. Sure, we face a more covert pressure and ridicule, but I've never faced death or...