Devotional Thoughts for the Week of May 5, 2024 - The Breath of God
This past month of studying what the Holy Spirit teaches about Himself through the Word has been very very rich for me. So far, I have found 18 pages of references. Thank You, Holy Spirit, that You will teach me all things (John 14:26). You have been actively engaged since before human history began. You are in fact a Helper, Comforter, Counselor, Advocate, Encourager (Jn 14, Acts 9:31) but You are so much more! Without You I could never live a life that honors God.Thank You!
The Hebrew word for Holy Spirit is Ruach, which can also mean “wind” or “breath.” Several Scriptures say the Holy Spirit gives life (Jn 6:63, Rom 8:2, 9-11, 13-16, 2 Cor 3:6). This is my conclusion: The Holy Spirit is to the spiritual life what breath is to the physical life. Without Him there is no spiritual life at all. The Holy Spirit played a crucial role in the creation of the world, in the writing of Scripture, and also in Jesus’ birth and resurrection. It was through the powerful work of the Holy Spirit that Christianity was founded, and He has sustained and grown it for more than 2,000 years. It is the Holy Spirit who enables people to understand the gospel. It is He who brings conviction of sin. It is also the Holy Spirit who gives spiritual wisdom, insight, and understanding. He transforms lives and empowers believers to put to death the old sin nature. Only through Him can we live in hope with an unshakable assurance that we are forgiven, accepted, and made whole. He empowers people to do miracles and speaks directly to His people. Only by His power and help can believers live godly lives or minister in any effective way. He gives us the mind and the joy of Christ. He enables us to love those who are unlovely. He guides us in the way we should go.
Oh Holy Spirit, as much as my physical body needs breath, my spirit needs You. Please forgive me. I have not revered You as deeply as You deserve. I find that even though I have loved You, I have scarcely begun to know You. What a joy is mine in discovering the limitless treasure I have been given. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for making Yourself known to me through the Word. I look forward to mining this treasure for the rest of my life. Please keep teaching me to know and love You more.
As Christians we have been offered a life that is vibrant, burning with spiritual passion, radiating the love of Christ. Why would we ever settle for a mundane, half-hearted, half-alive version of Christianity in place of the real thing? Some of us are spiritually choking. There is something blocking the full flow of the Breath of God into our souls. That blockage is a refusal to completely surrender ourselves to His Lordship - and it is killing us! If you are longing to live a vibrant, Spirit-filled life that pleases God and has an eternal impact, you must put to death all the other affections of your heart and seek the Lord like a choking person gasping for breath. There is no other hope for this generation. My earnest and continual prayer is that this church and the Church universal will be filled anew with the Holy Spirit who gives life and power and wisdom. Oh how desperately we need Him!
Lynn
This past month of studying what the Holy Spirit teaches about Himself through the Word has been very very rich for me. So far, I have found 18 pages of references. Thank You, Holy Spirit, that You will teach me all things (John 14:26). You have been actively engaged since before human history began. You are in fact a Helper, Comforter, Counselor, Advocate, Encourager (Jn 14, Acts 9:31) but You are so much more! Without You I could never live a life that honors God.Thank You!
The Hebrew word for Holy Spirit is Ruach, which can also mean “wind” or “breath.” Several Scriptures say the Holy Spirit gives life (Jn 6:63, Rom 8:2, 9-11, 13-16, 2 Cor 3:6). This is my conclusion: The Holy Spirit is to the spiritual life what breath is to the physical life. Without Him there is no spiritual life at all. The Holy Spirit played a crucial role in the creation of the world, in the writing of Scripture, and also in Jesus’ birth and resurrection. It was through the powerful work of the Holy Spirit that Christianity was founded, and He has sustained and grown it for more than 2,000 years. It is the Holy Spirit who enables people to understand the gospel. It is He who brings conviction of sin. It is also the Holy Spirit who gives spiritual wisdom, insight, and understanding. He transforms lives and empowers believers to put to death the old sin nature. Only through Him can we live in hope with an unshakable assurance that we are forgiven, accepted, and made whole. He empowers people to do miracles and speaks directly to His people. Only by His power and help can believers live godly lives or minister in any effective way. He gives us the mind and the joy of Christ. He enables us to love those who are unlovely. He guides us in the way we should go.
Oh Holy Spirit, as much as my physical body needs breath, my spirit needs You. Please forgive me. I have not revered You as deeply as You deserve. I find that even though I have loved You, I have scarcely begun to know You. What a joy is mine in discovering the limitless treasure I have been given. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for making Yourself known to me through the Word. I look forward to mining this treasure for the rest of my life. Please keep teaching me to know and love You more.
As Christians we have been offered a life that is vibrant, burning with spiritual passion, radiating the love of Christ. Why would we ever settle for a mundane, half-hearted, half-alive version of Christianity in place of the real thing? Some of us are spiritually choking. There is something blocking the full flow of the Breath of God into our souls. That blockage is a refusal to completely surrender ourselves to His Lordship - and it is killing us! If you are longing to live a vibrant, Spirit-filled life that pleases God and has an eternal impact, you must put to death all the other affections of your heart and seek the Lord like a choking person gasping for breath. There is no other hope for this generation. My earnest and continual prayer is that this church and the Church universal will be filled anew with the Holy Spirit who gives life and power and wisdom. Oh how desperately we need Him!
Lynn