Saturday, January 31, 2015

Galatians 5:22-26

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its

passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the

Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Reflection

It may be hard at times to see the new life we have in Christ, but our scripture today reminds us of the marks of that new life. The marks of that new life are the fruit of the Spirit. Too many times we make the mistake to think that there are fruits of the Spirit, but the word here is singular fruit of the Spirit. This mistake can lead us to think we can pick and choose but the fruit of the Spirit grows together. When we see fruit in our lives, we can see the marks of the new birth in Jesus Christ. Where do you see fruit in your life? Where do you see fruit in the church? 

Friday, January 30, 2015

2 Peter 1:3-4

³ His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. ⁴ Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may

participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Reflection

There is an interesting phrase in our scripture today. What does the phrase, “participate in the divine nature,” mean to you? How is this lived out in your life?

Thursday, January 29, 2015

2 Corinthians 3:4-6

⁴ Such confidence we have through Christ before God. ⁵ Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. ⁶ He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Reflection

Today, we have a reminder there is good news that we do not need anything for salvation. God has given us everything through the grace of Jesus Christ bestowed on us by the Holy Spirit. This is a new covenant that God has made with us. What does the word covenant mean to you? What does that mean for your walk with God in covenant?

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

John 6:63

 ⁶³ The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.

Reflection

Our scripture today reminds us again that we cannot

separate the Holy Spirit from the Trinity. Jesus tells us that His words are from the Holy Spirit, and it is those words which give us life. Why do you think it is so important that we think about the Holy Spirit as a part of the Trinity?

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

1 Peter 1:23-25

²³ For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. ²⁴ For,

“All people are like grass,
    and all their glory is like the flowers of the   field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,
²⁵     but the word of the Lord endures forever.”

And this is the word that was preached to you

Reflection

Our scripture today reminds us that we are reborn through the word of God. Last week we noted how important the work of the Holy Spirit is in the word of God. (Both inspiring its authoring and helping us discover it’s meaning in our life.) How do you think the word of God can change us?

Monday, January 26, 2015

Titus 3:5

³ At one time we too were foolish, disobedient,

deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. ⁴ But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he poured out on us 

generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Reflection

This week we are talking about how the Holy Spirit is integral to our salvation. In the message this week, Pastor Mark pointed out how the Spirit brought us to the

recognition of our sinfulness but what happens from there? This week we will look at how the Holy Spirit continues to work in our life to move us away for our former life and makes us new. This is the essential doctrine of regeneration. What was once dead is now alive in Jesus Christ. Our scripture today lays out that the Holy Spirit is integral in this change in our lives. Our scripture talks about a “rebirth in the Spirit.” What does this mean to you?

Weekly Theme January 25 through 31

Integral to Salvation

 “But the counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

 -John 14:26

             

The Holy Spirit is integral to salvation.  A few months ago when we were talking about the Holy Spirit in another sermon we said that one of the functions of the Spirit was to lead us into truth.  The truth the Holy Spirit reveals to us will always lead us to Jesus.  However, in order to reveal our need for Jesus the Holy Spirit must convince us that we are lost without Jesus and the salvation that he offers us.  The only way that will become clear to us is through the Holy Spirit opening our eyes to our sinful reality and that we need Jesus and the redemption he offers through his death and resurrection.

The Holy Spirit clears up our spiritual vision as well.  The Holy Spirit is the necessary ingredient that helps us understand our need for salvation and leads us to realize that Jesus is the source of the salvation that we need.  The Spirit opens our eyes to our sinful condition and shows us that Jesus has provided a way out of that sin.