Holy Spirit

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

—Isaiah 11:1-2 ESV

Key Thought


Jesus is the promised Messiah, a descendant from "the stump of Jesse," a descendant of King David. And the Spirit of God was at work in Jesus without limitation...

 

All [the prophets] were told was that they were serving you, you who by orders from heaven have now heard for yourselves — through the Holy Spirit — the Message of those prophecies fulfilled. Do you realize how fortunate you are? Angels would have given anything to be in on this!

—1 Peter 1:12 MESSAGE

Key Thought


Angels stood on tiptoe longing to look over the horizon of heaven, trying to understand the promises the Holy Spirit inspired in the words of the...

 

This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ's suffering and his great glory afterward.

—1 Peter 1:10-11 NLT

Key Thought


One of the most important claims Scripture makes about itself, and its origins, is that it is God-breathed and Spirit-inspired...

 

God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace.

—1 Peter 1:2 NLT

Key Thought


The story of the prophet Isaiah's calling by God is glorious and moving (Isaiah 6:1-8). He recognizes his sinfulness and unworthiness to be used by God and is cleansed by seraphim who came from the very presence of God himself...

 

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called ...

—Ephesians 4:3-4 NIV

Key Thought


I love the Greek word Paul uses for "make every effort" — try to say it, "spoudazow"; it even sounds passionate! Why is "every effort" so necessary? Well, there are many reasons, but the one that the Holy Spirit wants us to recognize from this passage is...

 

Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

—1 Corinthians 3:16-17 NLT

Key Thought


As beautiful as the promise of yesterday was (Ephesians 2:22), the underlined part of today's scripture is a chilling and ominous warning. Since God builds us together into his dwelling place in the Spirit and makes us his...

 

And in [Jesus] you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

—Ephesians 2:22 NIV

Key Thought


"Where can I go to find God?" Mortals have asked this question ever since they were driven from the garden and from their daily walks with God in "the cool of the day" (Genesis 3:8-24). Nations have had wars over this question. Families have been split over this question. People have spent countless amounts of money to go on...

 

[Jesus] brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

—Ephesians 2:17-18 NLT

Key Thought


Assured grace means equal access! Because of Jesus' sacrifice and because of the work of the Holy Spirit, we are all welcomed at the throne of grace regardless of gender, social standing, financial status...

 

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

—Ephesians 1:17 NIV

Key Thought


Paul is praying this prayer for new followers of Jesus, and I love the language, "I keep asking ..." This intercession is his ongoing and constant prayer for them. And this prayer isn't asking for stuff, strength, or even forgiveness. Paul keeps asking that the Father send the...

 

It's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free — signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.

—Ephesians 1:13-14 MESSAGE

Key Thought


When I read this passage, I can't help but remember the line in the old song that goes, "Signed...