Holy Spirit

Then the Spirit of the LORD came on me [Ezekiel], and he told me to say: "This is what the LORD says: That is what you are saying, you leaders in Israel, but I know what is going through your mind."

—Ezekiel 11:5 NIV

Key Thought


The Spirit of the Lord brings us the message of God. The Spirit inspired God's messengers to convince us and convict us with God's truth. In this instance, God's Spirit speaks through Ezekiel and reminds God's people that he knows what they are...

 

[In his revelation to John, Jesus said,] "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars: 'I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive — but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God.'"

—Revelation 3:1-2 NLT

Key Thought...

 

But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us.

—Galatians 5:5 NLT

Key Thought


Righteousness is a key element of God's character. Since we can't achieve or acquire righteousness on our own (Romans 3:19-25), Jesus came to earth, died, and was raised from the dead to make righteousness and justification possible for us (Romans 3:22; Romans 4:25). A crucial part of our power to live righteously before God, however...

 

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

—2 Timothy 1:6-7 NIV

Key Thought


We are timid because we are fearful. We fear failure. We fear danger. We fear risk. We fear mistakes. But as Jesus' parable of the talents reminds us (Matthew 25:14-30), playing it safe out of fear in matters of faith is highly...

 

A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.

—Romans 8:2 MESSAGE

Key Thought


Life as a follower of Jesus — as a person "in Christ" — is enabled by the new power that is in operation within us. That power is the Holy Spirit, the strong wind of heaven that clears the air and frees us from bondage to sin and death...

 

[Jesus said,] "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth."

—John 4:23-24 NIV

Key Thought


Growing up, I loved to play hide-n-seek. Sometimes I liked to be the one who hid and then was found. Other times, I loved the seeking and discovery of those who were hiding. I...

 

[Jesus said,] "The Spirit can make life. Sheer muscle and willpower don't make anything happen. Every word I've spoken to you is a Spirit-word, and so it is life-making."

—John 6:63 MESSAGE

Key Thought


We can't make life happen. We can live with purpose, but life happens by grace. Our willpower can't bring genuine life into being, and we can't work hard enough to make life happen. We can assemble the pieces of a great life, but Someone greater has to step in and...

 

We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: ... in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; ...

—2 Corinthians 6:3-6 NIV

Key Thought


"May I see your ID please?" We are asked this question in various ways throughout our lives. Underneath this request is a deeper question: "Can you prove who you are?" While we can list...

 

[In his revelation to John, Jesus said,] "Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it."

—Revelation 2:17 NIV

Key Thought


The Spirit speaks to Jesus' churches and to Jesus' kingdom people. The Spirit reminds us that no matter how difficult our challenges may be...

 

[In his revelation to John, Jesus said,] "Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God."

—Revelation 2:7 NIV

Key Thought


Jesus uses the Holy Spirit to speak to his people, his churches, in the second and third chapters of the book of Revelation. But don't you believe that if we seek God and are striving to worship God empowered...