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[Luke wrote,] In my [gospel] I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit. —Acts 1:1-2 NLT Key Thought God's leaders in the Old Testament spoke through...

[Jesus said,] "You're the first to hear and see [the fulfillment of the prophecies about the Messiah]. You're the witnesses. What comes next is very important: I am sending what my Father promised to you, so stay here in the city until [the Holy Spirit] arrives, until you're equipped with power...

For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. —Psalm 84:11 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... God doesn't hold back on his goodness! In fact, the Father loves to give his children gifts. These gifts are...

[Jesus said,] "Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin." He said this because [the teachers of the law] were saying, "He has an impure spirit."...

There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand. —Proverbs 19:21 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... "What are your plans for today?" If you are like me, you prayerfully try to plan your day. You make appointments with people in the future so you...

[Stephen said to the Sanhedrin,] "You stubborn people! You are heathens at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That's what your ancestors did, and so do you! Name one prophet your ancestors didn't persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of...

They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded. —Psalm 22:5 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... This Psalm of despair, referred to by Jesus from the Cross, is also a Psalm of hope and faith. The history of God's faithfulness with his people Israel is an...

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. —1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 NIV Key Thought We can quench — or turn off — the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in our churches. We can do this by...

The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. —Psalm 1:4 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... No matter the temporary apparent benefits of wicked schemes and evil power, all these efforts end at the grave and are swept away leaving the wicked with nothing to show...

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. —Psalm 1:3 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... Some kinds of earthly delight can feed our hearts for a short time, but...

What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. —1 Corinthians 2:12 NIV Key Thought We sometimes get frustrated when people outside of Christ do not seem to be able to understand the teaching of...

My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power. —1 Corinthians 2:4-5 NIV Key Thought When the good news of Jesus is preached, the Holy Spirit is at work...

But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. —Psalm 1:2 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... Delight! In things of God do you find delight? What holy things of the Father in heaven hold your thoughts throughout the day? Why not join me in trying to...

Don't focus on the building waves or let the pitching boat convince you otherwise. Peace. In the face of uncertain odds. Our world is broken. We see it. We taste it. We stand and watch as it implodes, crumbling to dry powder at our feet. This is not the safe, trustworthy...

But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus...

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. —Psalm 1:1 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... So often sin and ungodly lifestyles are portrayed as glamorous. The way of blessing, however, is the...

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. —Ephesians 6:17 NIV Key Thought The Scriptures are inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16-17), and the Spirit helps us understand the will of God (1 Corinthians 2:6-16). God's message of truth is much...

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. —Psalm 29:2 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... Giving glory, ascribing glory, is not an easy thing for us to do. Let's admit it. We are so self-focused. We're much more used to asking from God rather...

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. —Ephesians 6:18 NLT Key Thought "Pray in the Spirit ...!" Paul is asking believers to pray consciously recognizing that the Spirit given them when they came to...

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. —2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... While other preachers in Paul's day...