Holy Spirit

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 qualities and...

 

[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, we will be...

 

For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.

—Romans 8:22-23 NLT

Key Thought
As beautiful and diverse...

 

But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

—Romans 8:10-11 NIV

Key Thought
Our physical bodies are mortal, finite, and temporary. We don't like to think about this fact or admit it to ourselves, but after...

 

[In his revelation to John, Jesus said,]  "Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death."

—Revelation 2:11 NIV

Key Thought
I remember the old Wolf Brand Chili® commercials where we would see a steaming bowl of chili and a voice off camera would say, "Neighbor, how long has it been since you had a big, thick, steaming bowl of Wolf Brand Chili®? Well, that's too long!"™ Let's apply that...

 

So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.

—1 Corinthians 12:3 NLT

Key Thought
As we think of God as Father, Son, and Spirit, our minds quickly become overwhelmed. God is greater than our greatest thought and is more complex than our most insightful moment can help us comprehend. But there is a truth that I believe we can all understand. The Spirit will never lead us to say anything...

 

Every part of Scripture is God-breathed [Spirit-inspired]  and useful one way or another — showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.

—2 Timothy 3:16-17 MESSAGE

Key Thought
As you open your Bible, imagine the Holy Spirit standing in front of soft clay or un-chiseled marble. As you read the Scriptures, the Spirit takes those Scriptures and molds...

 

[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 by the...

 

[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 especially...

 

[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."

—John 4:23 NIV

Key Thought
Genuine worship involves the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised this kind of worship to the woman at the well in John 4. He poured out his Spirit at Pentecost, and the church was born. The early disciples were filled with the Spirit as they prayed and sang. We are encouraged...