Isa 61:1-4
Theme - Our service is useless, hopeless, and fruitless without the Spirit of God’s facilitation.
Why are some people so unfulfilled with their work, study, or relationships? Unless you are willing to admit your helplessness you will miss out on the Spirit’s blessings. Stop being satisfied with your present level of knowledge of truth. Much of your present information may be distorted by opinions. Without the energizing of the Spirit, no one can gain internal or external satisfaction. Throughout history the success of any great person of God is directly proportional to the degree of his response to the Spirit’s leading. Success is only achieved as the Spirit of God gives His blessings. The greatest plans of men are but mere speculation unless they are endorsed by the Spirit of God. He alone causes the growth of the kingdom of God in quantitative or qualitative measures. As the will of God cannot be known without the Spirit, neither can service be completed without His management.
Only through His revelation can we know His will.
Only through His Spirit can we have the power to complete His purposes. Stop trying to serve God in your strength or insights. It is harder to conceal ignorance than to get truth. Save yourself a lot of wasted efforts. Ask the Spirit to guide, bless, and make your fruitful in all good works. "You are our father, Lord. We are like clay, and you are like the potter. You created us." (Isa. 64:8)
Question - What are the reasons that people try to serve God without the Spirit’s empowering.
Prayer - Lord, help us to live by the Spirit so we will not carry out the desires of our flesh.
Jan 19th John 16:5-11
Theme - Jesus is the only dispenser of the Holy Spirit.
Why do people try to get the benefits of the Spirit without going through Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior? Being ignorant of the Spirit is not as shameful as being unwilling to learn of Him. Could it be that many are seeking the benefits of the Spirit without having to accept Christ’s prescription for gaining the fullness of the Spirit? Jesus was the only one who originally gave the Spirit and His power. Many people are afraid of the conditions that Christ sets for having a relationship with Him. Jesus requires repentance, faith, and acceptance of Him as Savior. One cannot enjoy the fruits of the Spirit unless one is willing to identify with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. Receive Him as a substitutionary payment for your sins. Do not think that you can take the Spirit without Jesus or visa versa. Let us fully embrace the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. We need all three equal dimension of the Trinity working through our lives. Do not think that your elders, Pastor, or church can give you a greater measure of the Spirit. We never get more of the Spirit. He only gets more control of us. Submit to the Lordship of Christ. It is permissible to be ignorant as long as we are not going to make a career of it. Ignorance of the Spirit is not the real problem. It is not being willing to admit our need for His teaching, that causes all the difficulties.
Question - Why do some people emphasize the Spirit more than Jesus or visa versa?
Prayer - Lord, help us to go through Jesus to seek the Spirit’s power and blessings.
Jan 20th John 14:15-21
Theme - The Spirit is our chief intercessor, interpreter, defence counsel, and comforter.
Why do some people fail to draw upon the Spirit’s many consoling roles? Many of the most firmly based beliefs are held in ignorance of the Spirit’s roles. If you think education of the Spirit is costly, try ignorance - it costs a lot more. The Spirit continually comes alongside those believers who ask Him for help. He is only as far away as our prayers. While many attempt to battle on their own, the believer is blessed with an intercessory advocate. As Moses passed the Spirit of victory to Joshua; as Elijah passed the Spirit of blessings to Elisha; so Jesus passed the Spirit of truth and power to those who believe in Him. The Spirit is always eager to interpose on our behalf, in times of need. He continually mediates to, through, and for believers with our best interests at heart. His pleading never goes unheard when we call to Him for deliverance. Why not use your right as a believer to gain every blessing of the Spirit. He wants to bestow on you and your people good and perfect gifts. He never gives grudgingly or out of necessity. Do not forget that ignorance of the truth is what keeps our prisons growing. "For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." (Isa. 41:13)
Question - What are the hindrances to allowing the Spirit intercede on our behalf?
Prayer - Lord, help us to allow you to intercede in ways that able to fulfill the Father’s will best through us.
Jan 21st Rom. 8:12-17
Theme - The Spirit enables us to address God intimately as our Father.
Why is knowing how to properly greet people such an essential part of any relationship? Greetings provide initial impressions that serve as the key to the door of anyone’s heart. Those who are deemed ignorant of proper greetings, are seldom considered worthy of any deeper levels of communication. The Spirit leads us in our greetings of the Father. The Holy Spirit allows us to call God "Abba - Father". Through the Spirit, we can address God personally and appropriately. The Spirit bears witness that we indeed are a part of His family. As fellow heirs with Christ, we are entitled to all the riches of every other member of His family. Privilege, status, and belonging are ours through the Spirit. We never have to feel hesitant to claim our rights as sons and daughters of God. As insiders we can meet with the Father at any time about our most pressing problems. Never again do we have to fear men. Our Father is higher than any other. Each child has equal access to the Father through the Spirit. Do not hide behind any mask when approaching your Highest Authority. Nothing is so long lasting as a first impression. "He will keep you in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." (Isa. 26:3)
Question - What are the ways that the Spirit enables us to speak to God about our most intimate need.
Prayer - Lord, help us approach you with greater confidence of any child speaking to his father.
Jan 22nd Acts 4:29-31
Theme - The Spirit gives us the desire and facility to serve God above all others.
Why are so many excited about the Spirit’s power, but uninterested with the Spirit of servanthood? A lot of trouble arises from people who do not think about servanthood, and from thinkers who do not serve. Many are emphasizing the Spirit that gives one the power to heal or be delivered from trouble. The Spirit can choose to bestow any kind of blessing on His children. However, He primarily lives to incline our hearts toward serving the King of Kings. He renews our minds. He helps us to will and do of His good pleasure. Even when circumstances are dark, the Spirit helps us serve joyfully. When situations seem threatening, it is the Spirit that pushes us on, protecting us until His will is completed. Notice, how the apostles faced hostility, asking God to allow them to speak boldly. In addition, they asked God to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the holy SERVANT Jesus. Do not resist the Spirit’s urging to serve. Let us remember our greatest calling, identity, and purpose is found in service. Your greatest rewards are found through Spirit led service. Most of our troubles arise from loafing when we should be serving, and talking when we should be listening. He came to us as a servant. Do not think that we are better than our Master - King.
Question - What are the problems that people face when they are primarily looking for success instead of service?
Prayer - Lord, help us to be content with serving you regardless of the results.
Jan 23rd I Cor. 4:8-13
Theme - The Spirit gives us the supernatural capacity to serve while being mistreated, misunderstood, and maligned.
Have you ever wondered how the Godly can serve during times of mistreatment? There is more power in the open hand than in the clenched fist. Consider how Paul was slandered, made poor, and stripped of all his privileges for the sake of Christ. The Spirit provided substitutionary satisfactions for Paul in the midst of great human suffering. This is the amazing ministry of the Spirit experienced by those who trust Him. Paul said, "We are weak, but your strong. You are honored, we are dishonored. To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rages, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.” (I Cor. 4:9-13) While the Greeks thought Paul was weak, the Spirit gave him great delight in his service. Contrast those who are self-satisfied with earthly pleasures, positions, and powers, with spiritual people. The serving believer gains a satisfaction that surpasses any human delight. Failure to appreciate eternal values leads to many misdirected efforts. The Spirit can replace our self-satisfactions with Christ-satisfactions. All power can be used for God’s purposes through us when we are humble enough to submit. The best vehicles of divine power are the ones driven by the Spirit. Leave the driving to the Spirit regardless of the roughness of the roads.
Question - What are the problems that people face who are only seeking to be self-satisfied?
Prayer - Lord, help us to realizes the depth of our riches, privileges, and honors found through the Spirit.
Jan 24th Acts 1:6-8
Theme - It is through the power of the Spirit that we can carry our tasks to completion.
Why are so many good tasks left largely unfinished? Many people feel inferior for their tasks. No one can make you feel inferior without your permission. In the process of construction, many people think they meet difficulties, set-backs, and expenses, too great to overcome. However, in the power of the Spirit, Jesus was able to complete everything that God gave Him to do. (John 17:4) The Spirit propels us through the murky waters toward our destinations. This Spirit enables us to be His witnesses to a hope for the hopeless. Paul said, "Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way; in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness... through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report. (2 Cor. 6:4-10) Give the Spirit your entire devotion as He will carry you to the end of your journey safely, successfully, and triumphantly. Stop depending on your imagination for your perspectives. When temptations of fear knock refuse to let your imagination answer the door. Do not be afraid of your enemies or lose courage. The Spirit goes with you to fight your battles for you.
Question - Why are so many defeated in their struggles?
Prayer - Lord, help us to complete everything in your will by your power.
Jan 25th Rom. 15:114-16
Theme - The Spirit fills us with goodness, knowledge, and competence to instruct others.
What makes some people capable of leading believers? Through the grace given by the Holy Spirit, ordinary people become extraordinarily equipped. However, people seldom improve when they have no model to copy but themselves. Stop looking at yourself, your circumstances, or your cultural heroes, for your examples. No man, however how well educated, can conjure up the goodness, insights, and capabilities given to one filled with the Spirit of God. Supernatural power is given to those who are fully conscious of the Spirit’s enabling. While the Spirit sanctifies you, He also furnishes you with an array of skills, attitudes, and wisdom. He allows us to work His supernatural wonders. Are you doubting your ability to work the works of God? Simply believe that the Spirit will gradually transform you into a supernatural man or woman of God. Goodness lives and derives its life solely from the Spirit of God. Spiritual knowledge is the habitual sense of what is right. It gives one the supernatural courage to do right. The Spirit provides one with the competence to behave rightly. Do not only rely on your human connections for resources. The filling of the Spirit equips you with virtue that fulfills the highest criteria of success. Remember, we are the clay and He is the potter.
Question - What are the reasons certain believers lack goodness, knowledge, and competence to serve?
Prayer - Lord, help us to serve with full assurance of your equipping.
Jan 26th John 15:26,27
Theme - The Spirit assures forgiveness to the repentant and doom to the proud.
How does the Spirit reassure the forgiven and warn the unrighteous? No one can put the Spirit’s living water into a vessel full of its’ own resources. The Spirit cannot give His grace to those who are not emptied of their own pride. Throughout the world there is impending gloom and doom. Just read the trouble in the newspapers. Much of this is the work of the Spirit that seeks to convict men of unrighteousness and the judgment. Eternal regrets await the unrepentant. It is the same Spirit that enables believers to lift their heads while surrounded by gloomy circumstances. The disciples saw the triumph of Christ over death, deceit, and betrayal. The Spirit testifies to each believers victory over the world. He releases us from the bondage of guilt, shame, and fear of punishment. He shows us many examples of freed slaves from sin who are enjoying the liberties found in Christ. Stop complaining about what you do not have. Focus on what you have through the Spirit. Allow the Spirit to bring conviction to the guilty. The Spirit gives hope to the hopeless. As the darkness of the world’s night grows dimmer, the light of the Spirit’s triumphs grows brighter.
Question - What are the reasons the Spirit can be assuring and at the same convicting?
Prayer - Lord, help us to never over emphasize one aspect of the Spirit’s ministry at the expense of another.
Jan 27th Acts 2:38-41
Theme - The Spirit initiates, creates, and give birth to new things.
Why are so many people hesitant to start something new? Without hope, few people are motivated to progress. Jesus is the author and perfecter of hope and faith. The Spirit gave birth to the first century church where thousands experienced a new life in Christ. Wherever the Spirit of God is active, you will always find creation of fellowships, converts, and fruits. As the Spirit baptizes us into Christ, we gain a whole new set of values, gifts, and Christlike qualities. He gives every believer hundreds of benefits that will endure for all eternity. He initiates growth, improvement, and progress continually. If you have stopped growing, you have quenched the Spirit. If you hesitate to begin something new, ask the Spirit of innovation. He has ways of forming relationships that seek to renew, remake, and renovate broken things. Without hope there is no hope of progress. Without the Spirit there is no hope of life. He revives as He renews individuals. The Spirit’s hope cheers the fainting heart. No one can have a love for the future without the Spirit’s hope. Remember you are the temple of the Spirit. He is seeking to make all things new. It is all right to be cautious. Yet, remember that even a turtle makes no progress unless he sticks his head out. Question - What are the ways that we can be more creative in the Spirit?
Prayer - Lord, help us to increase our ministries of making all things new according to your plan.
Jan 28th Acts 2:42-47
Theme - The Spirit never allows Himself to be dictated by anyone or any situation.
Why are Godly - Spirit led believers unshaken by the threats of men? A committed Christian is a mind through which Christ thinks, a heart through which Christ loves, a voice through which Christ speaks, a hand through which Christ helps. The spiritual man knows that his kingdom is not of this earth, but in heaven. Jesus said, "Do not fear the one who can throw you into prison. Instead, fear the one who can throw you into hell." In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence and His people will find refuge from any intimidator. When the first century Christians were filled with the Spirit, they were not bullied by their persecutors. Instead, people were filled with a sense of awe at what the Spirit of God was doing in their midst. Many sold their possessions to support those who were in need. Quickly, their fellowships grew as the multitudes saw in them a Spirit that could not be subdued. Refuse to be dictated to by a bully. The true test of spiritual courage is to ignore insults. Do not throw away your confidence for with it comes great rewards. Freedom is the sure possession of only those who have the courage to defend it. "The Lord will lead you and be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you, so do not lose courage or be afraid." (Deut. 31:8)
Question - What are the reasons so many cow-tow to all the demands of their authorities?
Prayer - Lord, help us to stand up to the threats of our intimidator in the full assurance of your protection.
Jan 29th John 3:5-8
Theme - The Spirit’s sovereignty defies human explanations.
Have you ever wondered why some people refuse to agree until everything is logically explained to them? The Spiritually mature are like ripening maize, the riper he becomes the more his head bows in humility. Pride makes cowards of people. Some people, like Thomas, have a hard time trusting the Spirit of God. The Spirit’s unpredictable, mysterious, and unannounced movements cannot always be described through human logic. Live more by faith than by fear. The Spirit comes to whom He chooses, when He chooses, and in how He chooses. He led through the committee at the council of Jerusalem as He led through the tongues speaking men at Pentecost. At times He reveals God’s plans through a prophet, or through a trance, or through a vision. At times He displays His power in mighty signs and wonders, but in other times through adversity. Most of the time, the Spirit leads through the scriptures. However, He leads each person uniquely through tailored made applications. Some Christians have will power, but most have won’t power. Live, so instead of being a part of the world’s problems you become a part of the solutions. The best contextualizer of scripture is the Spirit. Do not try to classify the Spirit’s working.
Question - What are the erroneous ways that men try to control the Spirit?
Prayer - Lord, help us to trust you even when your leading does not always seem logical.
Jan 30th Acts 2:1-5
Theme - The Spirit may speak through tongues of fire or in quietness like a dove.
Why do many people have a limited understanding of the Spirit’s ministry? The problem in the church today is that too many are fixing blame, too few are fixing the trouble. Perhaps this has something to do with narrow perceptions of the Spirit’s identities. Let us seek to know the Spirit’s complete identities, roles, and offices. In Luke 3:22 the Spirit descends upon Jesus in the bodily form of a gentle, innocent, and speechless dove of peace. However, in Acts 2:1-5, we see the fiery power of the Spirit whirling upon the disciples, as in a violent wind. The wind is audible and the fire is visible evidence of the Spirit’s desire to take notice of His awesome power. The gifts of tongues were given as a facilitative means of communicating the truth of God in many languages. No wonder the church instantly grew to over 3,000 members - they had seen the power of God in action. The Spirit knows the best ways to communicate within each culture. I sometimes think that if Moses were to come down from the mountain to one of our churches instead of bringing the tablets of the law, he would bring a message of love and power. Keep both the peaceful and powerful aspects of the Spirit in your perspectives. Otherwise, you may grow nearsighted and stumble.
Question - What are the problems of only seeing certain aspects of the Spirit’s identity.
Prayer - Lord, help us to see your total person through the fullness of the Spirit.
Jan 31st Mark 1:25-28
Theme - The Spirit’s authority is displayed through the transforming testimonies of His children.
Have you ever noticed the truth of the statement, "Like Father, like son, and like Mother, like daughter?" Our world is beginning to look like we have too many part-time parents. Parents provide by their context and heredity for their children. When you get to know the Spirit, you are getting to know Jesus and the Father. Similarly, when you listen to the testimonies of God’s children, you can discover greater truths about the ministry of the Spirit. When the Spirit transforms men and women, others are given a first hand glimpse of the power of God. Fruits of the Spirit tell many about the nature of God. He is 100% love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. Where the Spirit of God is in control there is no need of the law. The Spirit’s authority is not only in the truth taught from the scriptures, but it is in the power of changed lives. Let us be sure that others understand the power of the Spirit in our lives not only through our correct doctrine, but also in our renewed actions of love. Some parents are more happy if their children look like them than act like them. Stop putting more emphasis on outward appearances than inward character. The Spirit starts to make us beautiful from within our characters. Children listen more to what we are than what we say.
Question - What are the ways that the Spirit convinces people through truth and power?
Prayer - Lord, help our testimonies give evidence of your truth and power.
