Are You Growing in the Spirit?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. — Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

Sometimes we misunderstand “fruit of the Spirit” because we say “fruits of the Spirit.” This difference seems like such a small thing, but, unfortunately, this small thing can lead us to a dangerously false conclusion. The fruit of the Spirit involves all nine of these qualities. We can’t excuse a lack of growth in one area or another as simply not having all the fruits of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is working to create the character of Jesus in us (2 Corinthians 3:18; see also Galatians 4:19). He wants to see us growing in each area; we should not excuse ourselves from any one of these qualities of Jesus. I don’t know about you, but there are several areas in which I need to grow — but I believe the Spirit is making progress in them. Let’s keep encouraging each other to let the Spirit lead us to become more and more like Jesus in every way!

O precious Father, God Most High, thank you for your patience, grace, and forgiveness. I want the Holy Spirit to lead me and empower me to grow in every way, but especially so that I can be more and more like Jesus in love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Thank you for hearing my prayer offered in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Changing into something beautiful…

But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away [a veil like the metaphorical veil that kept the Jews from understanding the old covenant]. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord — who is the Spirit — makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
— 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 NLT

A caterpillar changes into a butterfly — the process of metamorphosis. This type of transformation is the word image painted for us in this message from Scripture: “…as we are changed into his [Jesus’] glorious image.” While we are ordinary humans, with ordinary human powers and ordinary human lives, we can become extraordinary because of the work of the Spirit. While we are limited to our natural abilities — however well we may have developed them, we are given the freedom to overcome our natural limitations and failures by the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit to transform us to be more and more like Jesus. And how does this transformation happen? It happens supernaturally, by the power of the Holy Spirit as we both contemplate and reflect the glory of Jesus.

Father, thank you for giving me the supernatural ability to become more and more like Jesus. O Holy Spirit, please take control and conform me to the character and compassion of Jesus as I commit to knowing him and displaying his life to those around me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

What We Are!

Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
— 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NIV

There is such a powerful difference between “what we were” and “what we are.” (See also Colossians 1:21-23.) And that difference is not one we could achieve on our own. That difference is made possible by the work of the Holy Spirit who has made us clean (“washed”), given us pure hearts and made us holy (“sanctified”), and declared us innocent (“justified”). Paul appears to be reminding the Corinthians of their conversion where they called on the name of the Lord Jesus to save them, were baptized in his name, and received the gift of the Holy Spirit. Today, I want to encourage you to look back to the time you came to Christ and celebrate what you are now by the power of God’s Spirit and leave behind what you were before you came to know Christ. Remember what you are and don’t get dragged down by what you were!

Holy and Almighty God, thank you for your wonderful grace. I praise you for what you are transforming me to be. I thank you that I am not what I once was. I thank you that even when I stumble, Jesus’ blood continues to cleanse me and your Spirit is working to conform me to your holy character and your gracious compassion. Continue your work of transformation in me, I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Immeasurably More

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
— Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV

Are you a dreamer? Even if you are not a dreamer, imagine the most highly impossible thing you could do to honor God. Then realize that God can do far more through you than that — more than you can even begin to imagine! And the power to do it? The power at work within you? Ah yes, you guessed it: It is the power of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:16)! The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work within each true follower of Jesus (Ephesians 1:17-20).

Father in heaven, you are holy and mighty and incomprehensible. I can’t begin to fathom your greatness, yet I can come to you as my Father because of your loving grace for me. Please empower me and use me to bring you glory and bring your grace to others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Missing Ingredient

On one occasion, while [Jesus] was eating with [the disciples], he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
— Acts 1:4-5 NIV

Jesus’ closest followers had seen him betrayed, crucified, and raised from the dead. They had been with the Lord after his resurrection — they had touched his scars, shared meals with him, and heard his voice. They had an incredible story to tell, and the world desperately needed to hear their message. However, they lacked one crucial ingredient to begin their mission: They did not have the Holy Spirit. Jesus told them to wait! In spite of the urgency of the disciples’ mission, everything was on hold until Jesus poured out the promised Holy Spirit. No matter how well we think we may be ready to do great things for God, we must also remember that we are not ready to begin without the power of the Holy Spirit!

Almighty God, thank you for being willing to share yourself and your power with me through the Holy Spirit. Forgive me when I try to operate by my own timing, my own sense of sufficiency, and my own wisdom and plans. I recognize my deep need for the Holy Spirit to move in me, to empower me, and to equip me for your work in the world. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Seeking the Face of God…

“If my people, who are called by my name,
will humble themselves and pray
and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven,
and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Chronicles 7:14

Our land is hurting and in deep need of God’s divine healing. This admonition from God addresses the critical fact that the sin and wickedness in our life as a nation has direct — and disastrous — effects on our health as a nation and as a global community. If we are going to call on God to heal our land, to heal our nation, and to heal our human community, it is vital that we are also forthright in changing our wicked ways. If Christians are going to take 2 Chronicles 7:14 seriously — we must address our sins.

National sins as well as personal and individual sins are expressed as wickedness in our homes and offices, school yards and town squares. They permeate the culture to infect many aspects of business, government, and even the church. They are fueled by social media, fear-based politics, and biased media attention.

Like a cancerous infection, this evil wickedness is spreading throughout our culture and the Church. It is time that the people of faith intentionally humble ourselves and pray and seek God’s face and turn from our wicked ways. Our faith in Jesus Christ calls for no less, and empowers us for so much more.

Father God, we come to you because the people of this nation and everything in it belong to you. We are not here by accident. You are the one who set us in this nation at this particular time for the glory of your name. But Father, people in this country are turning against each other. We no longer live like brothers and sisters. Brother has turned against brother and child against parent. But your word says that if we humble ourselves and turn from our wicked ways you will heal our land. Lord, heal our hearts, heal our land. Remove bitterness and resentment from our hearts and help us to live as brothers and sisters. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Avoid Corruption

God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. — 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 NLT

Scripture calls us to two powerful principles through this passage. First, the message given to us by the apostles is not man’s opinion, but God’s truth — we must not ignore it! Second, God gives the Holy Spirit to Christians, not just a one-time or temporary gift of the Spirit but an ongoing and indwelling gift of the Spirit. Jesus promised something very similar during his ministry (John 7:37-39, as seen in tomorrow’s scripture). In other words, we cannot use up our supply of the Holy Spirit; the more we rely on and need the Holy Spirit, the more God gives us the Spirit. It’s impossible to do better than a never-ending supply of what we need to live for God!

O Father, Sovereign Lord, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit who lives in me. Thank you even more for the continual outpouring of the Holy Spirit into my life as I need and rely on the Spirit to sustain, empower, and transform me to be more and more like Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.

Empowered to live holy lives…

God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
— 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 NLT

Scripture calls us to two powerful principles through this passage. First, the message given to us by the apostles is not man’s opinion, but God’s truth — we must not ignore it! Second, God gives the Holy Spirit to Christians, not just a one-time or temporary gift of the Spirit but an ongoing and indwelling gift of the Spirit. Jesus promised something very similar during his ministry (John 7:37-39, as seen in tomorrow’s scripture). In other words, we cannot use up our supply of the Holy Spirit; the more we rely on and need the Holy Spirit, the more God gives us the Spirit. It’s impossible to do better than a never-ending supply of what we need to live for God!

O Father, Sovereign Lord, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit who lives in me. Thank you even more for the continual outpouring of the Holy Spirit into my life as I need and rely on the Spirit to sustain, empower, and transform me to be more and more like Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.

From Nothing… EVERYTHING!

The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.
— Genesis 1:2 NLT

In the very first chapter of the Bible, we are taken to the formless emptiness before time began. We find the Spirit of God hovering over this formless and empty darkness, characterized as “the surface of the waters,” waiting for God to speak his creative word. God’s formative word set the power of the Spirit into creative work, ordering and making our universe and our world within it. However, isn’t it so sadly ironic that in the emptiness of our lives we so seldom cry out to God and ask for his Holy Spirit to come into our lives and bring the LORD’s creative order? Let’s ask for God’s Spirit, hovering above our messes, to enter into our lives and lead us to where we need to be and to bring the Father the glory he deserves!

O Sovereign God, I confess that I cannot order and control my life. I surrender to your grace and ask for your Holy Spirit to enter my world and bring your gracious and creative order and form your holy character and compassion in me. In the name of your Son and my Savior, I pray. Amen.

When we are at a loss for words…

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
— Romans 8:26-27 NIV

How do we ask for the Holy Spirit? How do we pray when we don’t know what to say? In these verses, Paul tells the followers of Jesus in Rome that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, even to the point of articulating to God what we can’t put into words! Not only that, but when we point our hearts and requests and thanksgivings to God, the Holy Spirit cleans up our prayers and conforms them to the will of God! Even in asking for the Holy Spirit to be at work in our lives, he goes to work for us in and through our prayers!

Precious God, Almighty Father, words cannot express the depth of my appreciation for your gift of the Holy Spirit. Even when I don’t know how to pray or what to say, I know the Spirit is there with me, sharing my heart with you in ways that are pleasing to you! Thank you for this grace and the gift that makes it possible. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.