Holy Spirit

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

—1 Corinthians 12:4-6 NLT

Key Thought
I love the variety that the Father has placed in his creation. I love the variety of people that have answered the call of Jesus. I am amazed at the different abilities the Spirit has given God's children...

 

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

—Romans 12:6-8 NIV

Key Thought
"Just do it!"® Long before Nike adopted this expression as its slogan, Paul commanded it...

 

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

—1 Peter 4:10-11 NLT

Key Thought
Why does God get the glory when...

 

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

—1 Peter 4:10-11 NLT

Key Thought
Why does God get the glory when...

 

The Spirit lifted me [Ezekiel]  up and brought me to the exiles in Babylonia in the vision given by the Spirit of God.

—Ezekiel 11:24 TNIV

Key Thought
Through the work of the Holy Spirit, God will get his messengers to the places they need to be — both physically and spiritually. He will give them the words to say. He will empower them and make them bold. So what is our part in this mysterious work of God's grace?

1. We need to trust that God will provide the leaders we need and...

 

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, ...

—Ephesians 5:18 NIV

Key Thought
Being drunk is sometimes called being "under the influence." While we certainly are not to be under the influence of wine or other intoxicating or addictive substances, we all live under the influence of something or someone. Shortcuts to trying to live a full life nearly always involve living under the influence of some addictive substance or behavior. God's...

 

Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.

—1 Thessalonians 5:19 NLT

Key Thought
Have you ever been in the mood to kick up your heels, have some good ol' clean fun, and whoop and holler a little bit, but have found yourself in a formal situation where such behavior would not be tolerated? We feel stifled in such moments. Have you ever wondered how many times you've forced the Holy Spirit into a similar situation — stifling his efforts to encourage, empower, inspire, comfort, thrill, convict...

 

Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted.

—Ephesians 4:30 MESSAGE

Key Thought
"[D]o not grieve the Holy Spirit of God"! That's the way some translations read. The wording above, from The Message, stopped me dead in my tracks. The more I thought about this paraphrase of the passage, however, the more I was convicted. The emotion of...

 

Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God's mercy to us.

—Hebrews 10:29 NLT

Key Thought
Sin can become so engrained that it can lead us to spurn grace, treat as unimportant the sacrifice of Jesus, and insult the Holy Spirit who brings us God's mercy while empowering us to...

 

Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

—1 Thessalonians 4:8 NIV

Key Thought
Scripture is not a collection of nice sayings left for us to ponder and do with them as we wish. It claims to be the message from God shared through human beings and inspired by the Holy Spirit. It is not meant for our entertainment or even solely for our instruction. Instead, it is meant to enter our hearts, change our...