Holy Spirit: December 23, 2013

TODAY’S WORD FOR MONDAY DECEMBER 23, 2013.

HOLY SPIRIT

DEFINITION:

The third person of the trinity; also called the Holy Ghost.

SCRIPTURE:

Do you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  I Corinthians 6:19

And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever. The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE: 

One of the gifts that God gave us with the birth of His Son Jesus was given to believer’s years later after Jesus was resurrected back into Heaven to be with His father. The verse above from John gives us the words that Jesus gave to His disciples and believers just prior to His resurrection.

Most people have a pretty good understanding of who God, the Father and God the Son (Jesus) are. But there are three persons that make up the Godhead known as the Trinity. The third person is the Holy Spirit.

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, God sends the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. The Holy Spirit within the believer is what sets apart believer’s from the rest of the world.

When you accept Jesus as your Savior, your body becomes a temple where the Holy Spirit, received from God, will live. At this Christmas season we need to be reminded of this gift that God has given us. Possibly you may be asking about the power of the Holy Spirit and how He works in our lives. There are seven specific things He does for us.

1. THE HOLY SPIRIT CONVICTS: It is the convicting power of the Holy Spirit that brings us to repent of our sins. (John 16:8)
2. THE HOLY SPIRIT CONTROLS OUR MIND: The Holy Spirit keeps our mind set on pleasing God and keeping His commandments rather than pleasing our sinful desires. The mind that is controlled by the Holy Spirit leads to peace and life. (Romans 8:5)
3.THE HOLY SPIRIT GUIDES: The Holy Spirit works within us to enable us to determine truth from false doctrine. He guides us in an understanding of all truth. (John 16:13)
4.THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES US ASSURANCE:  He gives us the assurance that we have been redeemed and we are the children of God and have an inheritance of life eternal in heaven with our Lord and Savior. (Romans 8:16)
5.THE HOLY SPIRIT HELPS US IN OUR WEAKNESS: God knows our weaknesses and that is why He sent the Holy Spirit so that we do not have to rely on our own strength. (Romans 8:26)
6.THE HOLY SPIRIT PRAYS FOR US: Every believer has the comfort of knowing that someone (The Holy Spirit) who is wiser than they are is interceding before God for them. (Romans 8:26b)
7.THE HOLY SPIRIT SANCTIFIES US: He sanctifies us, blesses and purifies us, by working in us to make us desire to become more like Christ and to live pure and holy lives. (II Thessalonians 2:13)

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Psalm 100:1

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands.

PRAYER:

Thank You Almighty God that You have given me the Holy Spirit to convict me of my sins, to guide me into truth and to keep my mind focused on pleasing You. Help me to rely on Your Holy Spirit daily and hourly on every step I take.