Here’s a little tidbit about me: I love receiving gifts! It doesn’t matter what the gift is, just being given something makes my day. I tell people that while my wife has the gift of giving, I have the gift of receiving. Maybe some of you are like me. If so, you’re in luck, because…
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Lessons and studies from the Bible
The Holy Spirit: Our Constant Intercessor and Comfort in Prayer
Prayer is such an incredible gift from God. We’re invited to come before the Creator of the universe at any time, and when we do, we receive his undivided attention. Even if millions of people pray to him at the same time, his focus is on each of us simultaneously. What a blessing. Prayer is…
Read MoreBatteries Included: Embracing the Empowering Presence of the Holy Spirit
When I was a child, one of the worst things that could happen at Christmas, even worse than getting clothes, was unwrapping an awesome toy, only to discover on the box those dreaded words, “Batteries Not Included.” On any other day of the year, there would have been batteries in some drawer somewhere, but not…
Read MoreWalking in the Spirit: Following God’s Leading
If you’re a Christian, the Holy Spirit took up residence in you when you believed. He lives in you now with all his power. He doesn’t come and go based on what you do or how you live. The Holy Spirit lives within you and does so permanently. One of his purposes, one of the…
Read MoreThe Holy Spirit’s Power in Inspiring and Illuminating the Bible
There are two kinds of people in the world: there are those who, when they buy something new and see the words, “Read instructions carefully,” toss the instructions aside and press on. Others read every word of the instructions, sometimes more than once, before starting the project. There’s one set of instructions all of us…
Read MoreFilled with the Spirit: Letting God’s Presence Transform Your Life
One of our most phenomenal truths is that the Holy Spirit lives within every follower of Christ. He’s not out there somewhere, he’s not stuck in heaven. He’s in you. God hasn’t commanded us to get the Spirit because you already have him. The question is, though, does your life look any different because of…
Read MoreLiving Under the Influence: The Command to be Filled
If you’re a follower of Christ, you have the Holy Spirit living inside you. He’s taken up permanent residence within you. That’s a truth that most Christians may know, but many don’t truly appreciate. It would help us to ponder that truth occasionally and thank God for it. The question that comes next, though, is…
Read MoreFrom Residence to Rivers: Embracing the Holy Spirit Within
When I was five, my dad told me we were moving. He was building a nice, new house on the other side of Huntsville, Alabama, where we’d have lots more room and a bigger yard. My bedroom would be decorated with everything “space” (Dad worked for NASA, and this was the late 1960s, so of…
Read MoreHow to Embrace Conviction and Experience True Transformation
As we discussed in the previous post, one of the works of the Holy Spirit is “sanctification,” our ongoing, life-long growth in knowing God better and better and acting more and more like him. In an earlier post, we talked about the Holy Spirit’s work of conviction in the lives of unbelievers. He convinces the…
Read MoreStriving for Holiness: The Role of the Holy Spirit in Your Spiritual Growth
If you’ve been a Christian long, you may have heard a preacher or teacher discuss the “three tenses of salvation.” The past tense is our justification, when, at the moment we accepted Christ, we were saved from the penalty of sin and made right with God (Romans 3:23-24). The future tense is glorification, when we…
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