Holy Spirit

The Scriptures tell us, "The first man, Adam, became a living person." But the last Adam — that is, Christ — is a life-giving Spirit.

—1 Corinthians 15:45 NLT

Key Thought


Death, the immutable reality of our physical mortality, is an enemy (1 Corinthians 15:26). Yes, there are times for those who follow Jesus that death is a blessing. The hard reality, however, is that death, and the decay of everything good and precious to us in this world, hold our world captive. They...

 

And we have received God's Spirit (not the world's spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths.

—1 Corinthians 2:12-13 NLT

Key Thought


The apostle Paul is making a direct claim to speak the truth of God based on the work of the Holy Spirit to inspire what he says...

 

Who else [besides God] has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale? Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord? Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him?

—Isaiah 40:12-13 NLT

Key Thought


In Genesis 1, we find that the "Spirit of God was hovering over" the primordial deep waiting for God's word to bring the work of...

 

No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God — his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. ... But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.

—1...

 

But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God's love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!

—Jude 20-21 MESSAGE

Key Thought


Prayer is a gift from God empowered by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us, and this intercession goes beyond our words (Romans 8:26-27)...

 

[The apostles] told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God's Spirit in them.

—Jude 18-19 NLT

Key Thought


Having the Holy Spirit dwelling within us is the litmus test of whether we belong to Christ or not (Romans 8:9; Act 19:1-7). Without the Spirit of God within us —...

 

If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

—1 Peter 4:14 NIV

Key Thought


What an incredible phrase: "the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you." Jesus reminded us that we are blessed when people insult and persecute us because we have a great reward in heaven (Matthew 5:11-12). In today's verse, Peter plugs into this theme. In doing so, he also reminds us of an immediate reality as we...

 

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

—1 Peter 3:18 NIV

Key Thought


I will confess that this is one of the most challenging and difficult passages in all the Bible for me when I look at the whole context. What I take out of this, however, is that while Jesus' body died, his spirit — or better yet, his spirit and the Holy Spirit within him — never died...

 

[God said:] "Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations."

—Isaiah 42:1 NIV

Key Thought


The last part of Isaiah contains passages that are often called the Servant Songs. Jesus claims several of these songs for his self-identity. The early church claimed several others, quoting them to define Jesus' ministry and understanding them as prophecies of his coming. Not only...

 

For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

—2 Peter 1:21 NIV

Key Thought


True prophecy — the word of God put into the hearts of his servants — didn't arise in the hearts of the prophets. God planted it there and their words brought the word of God to people because the prophets were being moved by the Holy Spirit to speak the words they shared. As we read the words of...