Daily Discipline #20
By Colleen Donahue
"Now, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Romans 8:9
In the last Daily Discipline study (#19) we began to study the Holy Spirit. He is God -- part of the Trinity with God the Father and Jesus -- poured out among men and women after the death of Jesus. One of the reasons Jesus came to earth was to bring back the Holy Spirit -- lost to man because of sin. God originally made us to have the Spirit of God filling our human spirit so that we could live our lives in partnership with God. If Christ's coming to earth was important for bringing the Holy Spirit to us, Jesus also made it clear that the Holy Spirit was one very important reason for leaving the earth.
Jesus as a human man could only physically dwell alongside other men. One at a time. But the Holy Spirit was given so that God could dwell within each of us -- at the same time -- all of the time. The Holy Spirit is available to guide me here in America at the same time He is available to guide you in Britain or Mexico or Taiwan. Why? Because as part of the Godhead (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), He is eternal (Hebrews 9:14), all-knowing (I Corinthians 2:10), omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-13), and all-powerful (Luke 1:35 & Romans 15:19). He has not and will not miss a detail or lose track of a single moment of our life. Scripture gives us a clear indication of the personality of the Holy Spirit -- especially as He relates to you and me. This is where I'd like to continue.
HOLY SPIRIT - Part 2
IN WHAT WAYS DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT ACT AS GOD IN OUR LIVES?
Day 1- He is the author of the New Birth, an experience necessary for us to enter Heaven.
John 3:5-7
Day 2 -He inspires the Scripture that we read by first inspiring those who wrote it.
2 Peter 1:20-21
Day 3 -He is the source of wisdom.
Isaiah 11:2 / 1 Corinthians 12:8
Day 4 -He is the source of miraculous power as we see in Paul's ministry.
Romans 15:17-19
Day 5 -He may appoint and send us as His "minister".
Acts 13:2-4 / Acts 20:28
Day 6 -He directs us as to where and with whom we should share the gospel message.
Acts 16:6-10
Day 7 -He dwells within His children.
John 14:17/ I Corinthians 3:16/ I Corinthians 6:19
Day 8 -In these few verses, John gives us three important roles that the Holy Spirit plays in our lives.
John 16:8-11
A. The main sin the Holy Spirit will convict a man of is their unbelief. Jesus came to earth to show us what God is like. He sacrificed His "all" so that we could receive all of God within our human spirit. To refuse what cost God the life of His Son is the height of pride.
B. When Jesus came, he showed the world what true righteousness looked like. Today we can't see Jesus but the Holy Spirit shows us the truth about Jesus so that we can believe and "become the righteousness of God in Christ".
C. Jesus' death and resurrection was a judgment on Satan who had usurped man's authority over the earth. The Holy Spirit will convince us that because of the death and resurrection of Christ we now have authority again over the earth and can reign with Christ in eternity.
Day 9 -He imparts to us the love of God.
Romans 5:3-5
Day 10- He gives us hope.
Romans 15:13 / Galatians 5:5
Day 11 -He comforts and encourages us.
Acts 9:31
Day 12 -He helps us in our weaknesses.
Romans 8:26
Day 13 -He is able to make us holy in God's sight.
Romans 15:15-16 / I Corinthians 6:11
Day 14 -He is able to search out "deep things" and reveal them to us.
Romans 11:33-34 / 1 Corinthians 2:10-11
One of the most important roles that the Holy Spirit has for us is to be our teacher. God has given Him to dwell within us so that He can teach and guide us at any given moment and in circumstances that may surprise us and demand our ready response. Now, I personally like to study and be prepared for the things I know will come my way, but how can we prepare for the sarcastic comment or the car that pulls out in front of us? How do we prepare for the question that catches us off guard or for a future we don't even know yet? Wouldn't it be wonderful if at just the right moment we would know what to say or how to react? Well, you can get excited because.....
Day 15 -The Holy Spirit is promised to us as our teacher and guide.
Proverbs 1:23
As our teacher the Holy Spirit.......
Day 16 -.....reveals the things of God.
I Corinthians 2:10, 13
Day 17-.....reveals the things of Christ.
John 16:14-15
Day 18.-....reveals the future.
Luke 2:26 / John 16:13 / Acts 21:11
Day 19-.....reminds us of Christ's words.
John 14:26
Day 20- ....directs us in the ways of godly living.
Ezekiel 36:27
Day 21- .....teaches us how to answer our persecutors.
Mark 13:11 / Luke 12:12
Day 22-.....guides us into all truth until the end of our life.
Psalm 48:14 / John 16:13
Day 23-.....teaches us about all things that we'll need to face during our life.
I John 2:27
Day 24-.....guides us by His voice within us.
Isaiah 30:21
Day 25-.....guides us in the midst of uncertainty.
Isaiah 42:16
Before ending our short study on the Holy Spirit, it's important to see that the Holy Spirit does not act upon us as if we were some puppets. Ours is a relationship with the Person of God and it needs to be one of obedience to His every prompting.
Day 26- Can we sin against the Holy Spirit?
Matthew 12:31 / Mark 3:29 / Acts 5:3 / Ephesians 4:30
NOTE: The work of the Holy Spirit is to convince us that we are sinners and bring us to Jesus Christ. Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is a rejection of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. For where do we go when we reject Jesus?
Day 27 -What are the consequences of grieving the Holy Spirit?
Isaiah 63:10
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