Holy Spirit

For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.

—John 3:34-35 NIV

Key Thought
John's gospel declares it again and again. Jesus is God among us. He speaks the words of God. His actions are the actions of God. He follows the will of God. On Jesus and in Jesus, the Spirit of God operates with absolute power and authority, yet in complete harmony with the will of God — the...

 

[Jesus continued,]  "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

"How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.

—John 3:8 NIV

Key Thought
As a young boy, I remember taking apart an old clock radio to figure out how it worked. I learned a great deal — including the importance of unplugging something electrical before taking it apart! But, I can't figure out the way the...

 

[Jesus said,]  "So don't be surprised when I say, 'You must be born again.'"

—John 3:7 NLT

Key Thought
We sometimes fail to realize that Nicodemus is the ultimate good guy — he is the best of the best. He is a religious leader and teacher. He has come to Jesus out of darkness to find light. He has noticed what Jesus has said and done and believes the only way Jesus could do those things is that he has come from God. But knowing and saying the right things about Jesus are not...

 

[Jesus continued,]  "Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life."

—John 3:6 NLT

Key Thought
Ten times in five verses in the Bible's first chapter we are told that each living thing produced according to its kind (Genesis 1:11-12; Genesis 1:21; Genesis 1:24-25). In today's verse, John reminds us that this principle is still true: human beings can produce only human life; they can't give birth to true spiritual life. The power to give...

 

"What do you mean?" exclaimed Nicodemus. "How can an old man go back into his mother's womb and be born again?" Jesus replied, "I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit."

—John 3:4-5 NLT

Key Thought
We can begin life all over again. This new beginning is called the new birth. We can "be born of God" (John 1:12-13). While a physical re-birth is not possible, each true follower of Jesus is "born of water and the Spirit." Confessing...

 

[John the Baptizer continued,]  "I didn't know he [Jesus]  was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, 'The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God."

—John 1:33-34 NLT

Key Thought
John doesn't claim that he has any special knowledge of Jesus' identity because of insider information as a cousin of Jesus. No, John's...

 

[John the Baptizer said,]  "I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel." Then John testified, "I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him."

—John 1:31-32 NLT

Key Thought
Even though John the Baptizer and Jesus were relatives, John didn't immediately recognize Jesus as the Messiah. God had to make that clear for John by having the Holy Spirit reveal this truth about Jesus...

 

They [Gentile Christians]  were pleased to do it [send financial support to Jewish Christians], and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.

—Romans 15:27 NIV

Key Thought
Through the ages, the Spirit guided the people of God and brought God's message and his blessings. Their difficult path through history and the treacherous times of human failings...

 

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

—Romans 12:11 NIV

Key Thought
The phrase "keep your spiritual fervor" is the meaning of an idiom in Greek that literally says "to boil in the spirit." We are to be on fire with the Holy Spirit! That fire is the key to "never be lacking in zeal" and "serving the Lord." Inspired, empowered, and filled with the Holy Spirit, we can be passionate for Jesus.

Today's Prayer
O God, I want to honor you in all I do. I...

 

For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord.

—Romans 1:11 NLT

Key Thought
Paul wants to bless the believers in Rome with a spiritual gift that finds its effectiveness and grace in the Holy Spirit's power and presence. When Paul is able to gather with them in the name of Jesus, he is confident that he can bring them encouragement and blessing that can help them "grow strong in the Lord." Encouragement and mutual edification...