Tag Archive - Holy Spirit

Do you need a word from God today?

August 21, 2012 in Devotionals, Faith, Holy Spirit with Comments Off

Do you think when the bible uses the phrase “the word” that this only means scripture? I used to think that until I could really hear God’s voice. His word is living and active and he wants to speak directly to us – today.

I ran across this verse recently.
Colossians 3:16

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16 NKJV)

This reminds me of our worship choir. We don’t just sing. We read the word together, pray together, build each other up and then worship together. The presence of God shows up in our midst and He speaks to us and through us. In choir miracles happen. People are healed. Lives are changed. Strongholds are Broken.

“The word” used here in Greek is logos. This word by definition means a word spoken by a living voice. This same version of the word is also used in John to describe Jesus.

So lets elaborate… Let the word – the scriptures, a prophetic word, the very voice of God and presence of Jesus himself dwell in you abundantly….

The word “let” here is what we call an active imperative, where we need to be continually allowing his word to dwell in us. He continually speaks to us. And that by hearing His word we grow in our faith. I don’t believe this can be done on our own.

I believe this can only be done through supernatural means of the Holy Spirit.

I ran across another verse Paul writes in the book of Ephesians.

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, (Ephesians 5:18, 19 NKJV)

Paul gives the same instructions for those filled with the Holy Spirit and those where Christ’s word dwells.

Could there be a parallel here? The effects of one filled with Holy Spirit and one where Christs word dwells richly are the same.

Which tells me there is a supernatural element to knowing Jesus. We can study the bible our whole life and NEVER have a revelation from God. Never really experience a close, personal relationship with Him. If we are trying to get to God only through our reason and intellect we will fall short and never have the supernatural experience of the empowering Spirit in our lives.

Many of us have read the bible but do not understand it. (that was me for a long time). Because we are trying to understand it from our minds not our spirit. Did you not know that the Holy Spirit dwells in you upon salvation? And His power is available to you if only you would ask and receive?

But I think for many believers the Spirit stays dormant and we work out our salvation with great striving
instead of through the supernatural power that resonates within us.

Paul tells us as an ongoing basis we should be filled with the Spirit. Walk in the Spirit. Yield to the spirit.

Being filled with Spirit is not some scary thing, it is this beautiful place where Christ tears open the veil between our physical world and the spiritual realm to which we belong.

And we see ourselves as a part of a His kingdom, where He brings the supernatural into our earthly experience.

We are not of this world, we are apart of the Kingdom of God. A kingdom where there is no pain, or sickness, or sorrow. Where His glory dwells. Where there is power and wonder and pure joy. God wants to bring that kingdom to earth NOW through us.

By being filled with the spirit and hearing His voice, we are able to speak life to others.

How do I be filled with the Holy Spirit? Ask. Ask Jesus. He promised you a helper. A comforter. A friend. It’s His gift to give. And He will give freely to those who ask. But don’t take my word for it. Jesus talks about this in John chapters 14-16.

Are you at a place right now where you could use a word from God? A word spoken just for you. He has one.

Jesus, fill me with your Spirit. May your presence flow through me. Speak a word to me today.

Are we living or surviving?

August 5, 2012 in Devotionals, Freedom, Holy Spirit with Comments Off

I’ve been thinking a lot about living. I mean really living in joy and freedom. What most people do day to day is not really living.

We cope
We survive
We satisfy our cravings
We covet what others have
We live under a cloud of shame
We live in doubt
We live with regret
We harbor anger, bitterness, resentment
We live in blame, judgement and condemnation

That’s not living. Thats not what Jesus meant when he said through Him you would have life and live life to the full.

And even as a Christ follower I have found myself in some of those circumstances. Not really living. But merely surviving.

I read a quote recently that it’s easier to believe that God exists than to believe that He loves me.

If we really believed that He loves us with such furious passion and longing desire wouldn’t we be different?

I know this to be true. There was this moment where a shift happened in my Christian life. It was like Paul coming face to face with Jesus on the road to Damascus and he would never ever ever be the same.

The scales of religious pretense and legalism fell away in exchange for a real relationship with God.

Did you know that Jesus didn’t come to condemn you? Yet we live like it, either by how we treat others or how we have been treated in the walls of a church. Read Romans 8 and John 3:17. Read it again and let it really soak in.

We are called to so much more than what we settle for.

The Holy Spirit pointed me to Isaiah 61 last week. This is a prophetic passage on the coming Messiah. When Jesus began his ministry, he went back to his hometown of Nazareth and he quoted this passage in the temple. And then boldly said this Scripture has been fulfilled.

Here is my paraphrase of that passage from Isaiah.

Jesus came to pour out His spirit on us so that we could live in the power. He came to provide for us. He came to heal our hearts and sickness. He came to bring liberty to those in bondage. He came to exchange beauty for our ashes, to give us a garment of praise instead of a spirit of heaviness. He came to restore us. He came to rebuild all that we have lost.

And he calls us to do the same. The same spirit that descended on Christ when He was water baptized is the same Spirit he offers us. We are never alone. And we don’t have to do anything in this life alone.

In the Kingdom of heaven there is a new order. If you belong to Christ, you are a new creation. We are given a new heart and the very spirit of God living inside of us! And when we walk in the life breathing, empowering work of the Holy Spirit that resides in us we are truly free. And His power will work in us to…

Heal the broken hearted
Heal the sick
Free those in bondage
Give generously
Love lavishly
Live unselfishly
Live in authority
Forgive freely
Praise persistently

Now that’s really living. What about you? How are you living?

Breathe life in me

June 10, 2012 in Worship songs with Comments Off

I had a divine encounter with the Holy Spirit one night. I’ve had many since I ask Jesus to baptize me in the Holy Spirit. I’ve been a part of miracles and healing. But this one night was different. I experienced power that night that was indescribable. And it started with this invitation. A new song on my heart. Beckoning the Spirit to pour out Himself over me. And He came. In power. Like I’ve never seen before.

Breathe Life in Me

I invite you in, my comfort my friend
Holy Spirit, breathe life in me.
I invite you in, my comfort my friend
Holy Spirit, breathe life in me.

Come, Spirit, Come
Give me eyes to see heaven’s mysteries
I want to hear you speak through me
Come, Spirit, Come
Breathe Life in me.

Like a mighty rushing wind, An all consuming fire.
Holy Spirit, pour down your power
Like a mighty rushing wind, An all consuming fire.
Holy Spirit, pour down your power

Come, Spirit, Come
Give me eyes to see heaven’s mysteries
I want to hear you speak through me
Come, Spirit, Come
Breathe Life in me.

What is your story? What has the Holy Spirit done in your life?

What you should have talked about on Sunday

May 30, 2012 in Devotionals, Faith, Holy Spirit with Comments Off

What did you talk about this Sunday at church? We talked about Pentecost. We didn’t talk about that much when I was a kid.

It would be 20 years before I would understand the significance of this event. It could quite be the most significant event in the history of the church.

It changed everything.

Let’s talk a little history.

After God delivered the Israelites from the Egyptians, they celebrated the festival of Passover. This symbolized God delivering them out of slavery into freedom. Over the next 50 days, the Israelites would experience miracles – water springing from a rock, manna falling from heaven, the presence of God guiding them by day and night. And then they stopped at Mount Sinai, and on the 50th day after Passover, God descended with smoke and fire over the mountain. This was the celebration of Pentecost, where God gave them the law or Torah in order to teach them how to live.

So what does this have to do with me? Today.

Jesus was crucified during Passover. He became the Passover lamb and with His blood, He delivered us out of bondage and purchased our freedom. And then He did what no one in all the world could. He conquered death and the grave and rose from the dead in victory. It is in the resurrection that we celebrate a risen savior. He is alive. And before he ascends he tells his disciples I will not leave you as orphans. Jesus promises them a helper. An advocate. (See John 12-14)

The gift of His Spirit.

He tells them to wait in Jerusalem. And they wait. And on the 50th day, at the celebration of Pentecost, He comes down from heaven with wind and fire and pours out His Spirit over His people, so that we might know how to live. To empower us to do what we could never do alone. He shares with us the power of His resurrection. We are dead, buried and made alive in Christ.

Acts 2:17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;

That day a flame came on the church that can’t be extinguished. That day he set us, believers apart. You were chosen. Adopted. We are sons and daughters of the Most High King and he holds NOTHING back from you, not even himself.

If you go back to the story of the Israelites for a minute, look how the people respond to God.

Exodus 20
18 Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. 19 Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”
So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was.

You have a choice. To stand far off or draw near to the very presence of God. To allow the very Spirit of the Living God to not just dwell in you but fill you to overflowing. To give you limitless power to be His witness throughout the earth.

Jesus says its a gift. His gift to you. All you need to do is open it.

And it changes everything.

Have you ever experienced things you can’t explain? Do you see miracles today? Do you feel God’s presence all around you?

What is the holy spirit speaking to you?

David knew the King of Kings

April 4, 2012 in Devotionals, Holy Spirit, Prophecy with Comments Off

I decided to read the Words of Jesus reading plan before Easter and found something in scripture I had never really seen before. Something that was significant.

David wasn’t just a King…

Matthew 22:42-45 (These is Jesus speaking)
42 What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He? They said to Him, The Son of David.43 He said to them, How then does David in the Spirit call Him Lord, saying:44  The Lord said to my Lord,Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool ?45 If David then calls Him Lord, how is He his Son? (Also referenced in Mark12:35-37 and Luke 20:41-44)

Did you catch that? King David called Jesus Lord. Wait a minute. How can that be?  David ruled between 1010-970 B.C. A thousand years before Jesus walked the earth.

So I found the scripture reference in Psalm. It’s Psalm 110. Here is the NKJV 1.The Lord said to my Lord,Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.
The AMP version says
THE LORD (God) says to my Lord (the Messiah), Sit at My right hand, until I make Your adversaries Your footstool.

And the chapter continues on…

2  The Lord will send forth from Zion the scepter of Your strength; rule, then, in the midst of Your foes. 3  Your people will offer themselves willingly in the day of Your power, in the beauty of holiness and in holy array out of the womb of the morning; to You [will spring forth] Your young men, who are as the dew.4  The Lord has sworn and will not revoke or change it: You are a priest forever, after the manner and order of Melchizedek. 5  The Lord at Your right hand will shatter kings in the day of His indignation.6  He will execute judgment [in overwhelming punishment] upon the nations; He will fill the valleys with the dead bodies, He will crush the [chief] heads over lands many and far extended. 7  He will drink of the brook by the way; therefore will He lift up His head [triumphantly]. (AMP)

David was a prophet…

Let’s take a look at verse 4.
4 The Lord has sworn and will not revoke or change it: You (talking about Jesus here) are a priest forever, after the manner and order of Melchizedek
You remember Melchizedek? He was the priest that blessed Abram (read Gen 14:8-9). The name Melchizedek means righteousness and he was the King of Salem, which means peace.

Melchizedek was a priest of the most high God, He was the King of peace, he had no father or mother, no beginning of days, no end of life. He is a priest forever, and Abram gives him a 10th of everything he has. (To find out more read Hebrews 7:1-3)

There is some evidence that Melchizedek was either a visit by the Holy Spirit to Abram, or was actually Jesus. (I will leave you there for your own interpretation, as I’m not trying to call any debate).

So David in this psalm says that God doesn’t change and that who David calls My Lord (or Jesus) would be the reigning King FOREVER!

David was filled with the Holy Spirit….

By Jesus own words in 3 different gospels says David was filled with the Holy Spirit! When I was first a Christian, I struggled with the full meaning of the Holy Spirit living inside of us. Does the Holy Spirit still do all those cool things in us that happened to the apostles – like healing the sick, casting out demons, speaking in tongues, dreaming visions and prophesying? Many denominations say NO to this. Like somehow over time, God’s power has been diminished. The Holy Spirit is alive and doing amazing things in the hearts of those that let Him. And its awesome here that David, makes a statement that he could have never understood without the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit.

David knew who Jesus was…

David calls Jesus – Lord. In verse one, the first LORD refers to God the Father, but the second Lord, refers to Christ or The Messiah.  Remember this is the old testament. David rule was around 970-1000 B.C. There’s still 1,000 years before Christ comes on the scene in flesh and blood. And yet through the power of the holy spirit, God shares with David this truth that Jesus is the Son of God.
David goes on to say that my Lord is seated at the right hand of God, will judge the nations, defeat the enemy, and will reign forever. Jesus Wins and David tells us about this thousands of years before the Messiah came.

And that’s just plain awesome.