What Does the Holy Spirit Do?- 6/10/21

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

Jeremiah 29:11-14

Questions for Reflection:

Do you find yourself wrestling at times with God's promise to be found? Are there times where God seems to be missing?

What does having a posture of ASK-ing look like for you today? Is there a practical step you can take to adopt that posture?

Prayer of the Week:

Holy Spirit, thank you for coming. I love You, I worship You, and I trust You. Thank you for always breathing life into lifeless situations. I praise and thank You for enabling me to believe and live, in Jesus name!

I now receive all the new life that You have for me today and bought for me by Jesus Christ. You have clothed me with power from on high. You have sealed me in Christ, become my union with the Father and the Son, the Spirit of truth in me, the life of God in me, my counselor, comforter, healer, strength, and guide. (You may pray here about specific needs today for the Spirit’s counsel, comfort, strength, healing and guidance.)

I now recognize my utter need for You, Holy Spirit, in every aspect and dimension of my life. I deeply desire to be filled with You and to walk in step with You in all things. I seek to have You animate through every one of my thoughts, words and deeds today! Father, I ASK You to fill me afresh with your Holy Spirit. Come Holy Spirit, fill me afresh! (Slowly repeat this phrase a couple of times, pausing to simply receive Him)

Restore my union with the Father and the Son. Lead me into all truth, anoint me for all of my life and walk and calling, and lead me deeper into Jesus today. I receive You with thanks, and I give You total claim to my life. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen

What Does the Holy Spirit Do?- 6/9/21

1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

2 They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”

“John’s baptism,” they replied.

4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.

8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.

Acts 19:1-10

Questions for Reflection:

How does it feel to know that the Christian life is not only about forgiveness of my sins but also receiving the Holy Spirit which empowers living a new life?

In what way is it helpful for you to know that in the early church spiritual progress often took time and effort - often it wasn't instantaneous like many are prone to assume?

Prayer of the Week:

Holy Spirit, thank you for coming. I love You, I worship You, and I trust You. Thank you for always breathing life into lifeless situations. I praise and thank You for enabling me to believe and live, in Jesus name!

I now receive all the new life that You have for me today and bought for me by Jesus Christ. You have clothed me with power from on high. You have sealed me in Christ, become my union with the Father and the Son, the Spirit of truth in me, the life of God in me, my counselor, comforter, healer, strength, and guide. (You may pray here about specific needs today for the Spirit’s counsel, comfort, strength, healing and guidance.)

I now recognize my utter need for You, Holy Spirit, in every aspect and dimension of my life. I deeply desire to be filled with You and to walk in step with You in all things. I seek to have You animate through every one of my thoughts, words and deeds today! Father, I ASK You to fill me afresh with your Holy Spirit. Come Holy Spirit, fill me afresh! (Slowly repeat this phrase a couple of times, pausing to simply receive Him)

Restore my union with the Father and the Son. Lead me into all truth, anoint me for all of my life and walk and calling, and lead me deeper into Jesus today. I receive You with thanks, and I give You total claim to my life. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen

What Does the Holy Spirit Do?- 6/8/21

Ezekiel 47: 1, 5-9

1 The man brought me back to the entrance to the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar.

5 He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross. 6 He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?”

Then he led me back to the bank of the river. 7 When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. 8 He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh. 9 Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live.

John 7:37-39

37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Questions for Reflection:

Does connecting these two passages together give new meaning to when Jesus calls himself the "river of life?" How is your imagination sparked?

What "dead sea" exists in your life? Where do you need a "river of life?"

Is there someone you can bring life to?

Prayer of the Week:

Holy Spirit, thank you for coming. I love You, I worship You, and I trust You. Thank you for always breathing life into lifeless situations. I praise and thank You for enabling me to believe and live, in Jesus name!

I now receive all the new life that You have for me today and bought for me by Jesus Christ. You have clothed me with power from on high. You have sealed me in Christ, become my union with the Father and the Son, the Spirit of truth in me, the life of God in me, my counselor, comforter, healer, strength, and guide. (You may pray here about specific needs today for the Spirit’s counsel, comfort, strength, healing and guidance.)

I now recognize my utter need for You, Holy Spirit, in every aspect and dimension of my life. I deeply desire to be filled with You and to walk in step with You in all things. I seek to have You animate through every one of my thoughts, words and deeds today! Father, I ASK You to fill me afresh with your Holy Spirit. Come Holy Spirit, fill me afresh! (Slowly repeat this phrase a couple of times, pausing to simply receive Him)

Restore my union with the Father and the Son. Lead me into all truth, anoint me for all of my life and walk and calling, and lead me deeper into Jesus today. I receive You with thanks, and I give You total claim to my life. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen

What Does the Holy Spirit Do?- 6/7/21

9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Luke 11:9-13

Questions for Reflection:

Contemplate the idea that "pursuit of God" is integral to living in a right relationship with God. Where do your thoughts on this lead you?

Do you feel free to desire more of God? What barriers do you think commonly prevent most people from people fully pursuing God with their heart, soul, mind and strength?

There are many promises directly stated or inferred in this reading. Which one is particularly "good news" today as you read this?

Prayer of the Week:

Holy Spirit, thank you for coming. I love You, I worship You, and I trust You. Thank you for always breathing life into lifeless situations. I praise and thank You for enabling me to believe and live, in Jesus name!

I now receive all the new life that You have for me today and bought for me by Jesus Christ. You have clothed me with power from on high. You have sealed me in Christ, become my union with the Father and the Son, the Spirit of truth in me, the life of God in me, my counselor, comforter, healer, strength, and guide. (You may pray here about specific needs today for the Spirit’s counsel, comfort, strength, healing and guidance.)

I now recognize my utter need for You, Holy Spirit, in every aspect and dimension of my life. I deeply desire to be filled with You and to walk in step with You in all things. I seek to have You animate through every one of my thoughts, words and deeds today! Father, I ASK You to fill me afresh with your Holy Spirit. Come Holy Spirit, fill me afresh! (Slowly repeat this phrase a couple of times, pausing to simply receive Him)

Restore my union with the Father and the Son. Lead me into all truth, anoint me for all of my life and walk and calling, and lead me deeper into Jesus today. I receive You with thanks, and I give You total claim to my life. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen

What Does the Holy Spirit Do? - 6/5/21

1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.

2 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.

3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear,

4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.

Isaiah 11:1-5

Questions for Reflection:

How does it bring comfort to your day that Jesus relied on the Spirit?

Of all the words listed: wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, fear of the Lord, righteousness, justice, and faithfulness—which one do you need today?

Prayer of the Week:

Holy Spirit, thank you for coming. I love you, I worship you, I trust you. Thank you for always breathing life into lifeless situations. I praise and thank You for enabling me to believe and live in Jesus name!

I now receive all the new life that you have for me today, bought for me by Jesus Christ. You have clothed me with power from on high. You have sealed me in Christ, become my union with the Father and the Son, the Spirit of truth in me, the life of God in me, my counselor, comforter, healer, strength, and guide. (You may pray here about specific needs today for the Spirit’s counsel, comfort, strength, healing and guidance.)

I honor you as Lord, and I fully give to you every aspect and dimension of my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will—to be filled with you, to walk in step with you in all things. Fill me afresh, Holy Spirit. (Slowly repeat this phrase a couple of times, pausing to simply receive Him)

Restore my union with the Father and the Son. Lead me into all truth, anoint me for all of my life and walk and calling, and lead me deeper into Jesus today. I receive you with thanks, and I give you total claim to my life. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Amen

What Does the Holy Spirit Do?- 6/3/21

31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

Questions for Reflection:

How have you experienced the "unity of the Spirit" in your own life?

How might you be a partner with the spirit in bringing life and order and beauty to chaos and darkness found in human relationships?

Prayer of the Week:

Holy Spirit, thank you for coming. I love you, I worship you, I trust you. Thank you for always breathing life into lifeless situations. I praise and thank You for enabling me to believe and live in Jesus name!

I now receive all the new life that you have for me today, bought for me by Jesus Christ. You have clothed me with power from on high. You have sealed me in Christ, become my union with the Father and the Son, the Spirit of truth in me, the life of God in me, my counselor, comforter, healer, strength, and guide. (You may pray here about specific needs today for the Spirit’s counsel, comfort, strength, healing and guidance.)

I honor you as Lord, and I fully give to you every aspect and dimension of my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will—to be filled with you, to walk in step with you in all things. Fill me afresh, Holy Spirit. (Slowly repeat this phrase a couple of times, pausing to simply receive Him)

Restore my union with the Father and the Son. Lead me into all truth, anoint me for all of my life and walk and calling, and lead me deeper into Jesus today. I receive you with thanks, and I give you total claim to my life. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Amen

Living the New Life in Hope - 6/3/21

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

John 14:15-20

Questions for Reflection:

Have you ever felt the presence of God in a tangible way? What happened?

What are practical ways that you connect with Jesus? Is it through music, scripture, friends, prayer? A different way?

Prayer of the Week:

Holy Spirit, thank you for coming. I love you, I worship you, I trust you. Thank you for always breathing life into lifeless situations. I praise and thank You for enabling me to believe and live in Jesus name!

I now receive all the new life that you have for me today, bought for me by Jesus Christ. You have clothed me with power from on high. You have sealed me in Christ, become my union with the Father and the Son, the Spirit of truth in me, the life of God in me, my counselor, comforter, healer, strength, and guide. (You may pray here about specific needs today for the Spirit’s counsel, comfort, strength, healing and guidance.)

I honor you as Lord, and I fully give to you every aspect and dimension of my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will—to be filled with you, to walk in step with you in all things. Fill me afresh, Holy Spirit. (Slowly repeat this phrase a couple of times, pausing to simply receive Him)

Restore my union with the Father and the Son. Lead me into all truth, anoint me for all of my life and walk and calling, and lead me deeper into Jesus today. I receive you with thanks, and I give you total claim to my life. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Amen

Living the New Life in Hope - 6/2/21

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Romans 8:14-17

Questions for Reflection:

How do you react to hearing that the Holy Spirit partners with our own spirit in helping bring to life our identity as children of God?

How does having access to a Holy Spirit who is constantly active in creating new life out of darkness and chaos free you from the grip of fear?

Is there a place of fear in your life currently that you could invite the Holy Spirit into?

Prayer of the Week:

Holy Spirit, thank you for coming. I love you, I worship you, I trust you. Thank you for always breathing life into lifeless situations. I praise and thank You for enabling me to believe and live in Jesus name!

I now receive all the new life that you have for me today, bought for me by Jesus Christ. You have clothed me with power from on high. You have sealed me in Christ, become my union with the Father and the Son, the Spirit of truth in me, the life of God in me, my counselor, comforter, healer, strength, and guide. (You may pray here about specific needs today for the Spirit’s counsel, comfort, strength, healing and guidance.)

I honor you as Lord, and I fully give to you every aspect and dimension of my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will—to be filled with you, to walk in step with you in all things. Fill me afresh, Holy Spirit. (Slowly repeat this phrase a couple of times, pausing to simply receive Him)

Restore my union with the Father and the Son. Lead me into all truth, anoint me for all of my life and walk and calling, and lead me deeper into Jesus today. I receive you with thanks, and I give you total claim to my life. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Amen