Holy Spirit

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation — but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

—Romans 8:12-13 NIV

Key Thought


In Romans 7:5, Paul made it clear that when he said "flesh," he was talking about "sinful passions." Then, in today's verses, three things capture my attention:

• First, notice the...

 

But for you who welcome [the Spirit of Christ], in whom [God] dwells — even though you still experience all the limitations of sin — you yourself experience life on God's terms. It stands to reason, doesn't it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he'll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself? When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from...

 

But if God himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking more of yourself than of him. Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed this invisible but clearly present God, the Spirit of Christ, won't know what we're talking about.

—Romans 8:9 MESSAGE

Key Thought


God's children have the Spirit of Christ living in them. But rather than having the Spirit just as a visiting guest, those who follow Jesus want to welcome the Holy Spirit to his home in...

 

Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good — crucified. Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives.

—Galatians 5:24-25 MESSAGE

Key Thought


God's written word is...

 

Whenever, though, [the Israelites] turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are — face to face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We're free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah...

 

Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant — not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

—2 Corinthians 3:4-6 NIV

Key Thought


God's words in Scripture remind us of both his holiness and his holy standards for us. "The letter" — that is, legalism — kills...

 

[God said,] "I'll give you [my people in Babylonian captivity] a new heart. I'll put a new Spirit in you. I'll cut out your stone heart and replace it with a red-blooded, firm-muscled heart. Then you'll obey my statutes and be careful to obey my commands. You'll be my people! I'll be your God!"

—Ezekiel 11:19-20 MESSAGE

Key Thought


God had to deal with a rebellious and stubborn people in Ezekiel's day. Of course, those people were not much different than...

 

Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon me [Ezekiel], and he told me to say, "This is what the LORD says to the people of Israel: I know what you are saying, for I know every thought that comes into your minds."

—Ezekiel 11:5 NLT

Key Thought


We can scheme, plan, and plot quietly. We can tell our inner thoughts to no one else. The Spirit of God, however, knows our inner thoughts, schemes, plans, and plots. The Spirit not only inspired God's message in Scripture, but he...

 

Then the Spirit lifted me [Ezekiel] and brought me to the east gateway of the LORD's Temple, where I saw twenty-five prominent men of the city. Among them were Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, who were leaders among the people.

—Ezekiel 11:1 NLT

Key Thought


Ezekiel's ministry will be hard, but he is to do the job he has been called to do. He will not be alone in this very difficult task. The Spirit of God will not only speak to him and through him but...

 

The Spirit said to [Ezekiel], "Son of man, these are the men who are planning evil and giving wicked counsel in this city. They say to the people, 'Is it not a good time to build houses? This city is like an iron pot. We are safe inside it like meat in a pot.' Therefore, son of man, prophesy against them loudly and clearly."

—Ezekiel 11:2-4 NLT

Key Thought


We are a family in Christ. Our lives are to be beacons of truth in a culture that listens to lies and is being...