John 14:17 AMP “ The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you constantly and will be in you.”
In the Church today, there seems to be some confusion surrounding the role of the third person of the Trinity. Holy Spirit is not the Holy Beater, nor is He the Holy Chastiser – He is the Spirit of Jesus, Who raised Christ Jesus from the dead and Whom was released at Pentecost 50 days following the resurrection. In Acts, The Apostle Peter explains the how behind The Who:
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Acts 2:38 – 39 AMP “And Peter answered them, Repent (change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it) and be baptized, every one of you, in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise (of the Holy Spirit) is to and for you and your children, and to and for all that are far away, (even) to and for as many as the Lord our God invites and bids to come to Himself.”
The word ‘repent’ in Greek is described as Metanoia: to change course or direction. It does not suggest condemnation nor guilt which many modern churches teach. Jesus paid for guilt on the cross – Isaiah 53:5 ” ….. for He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities”. The Spirit of Jesus is a GIFT that is freely imparted through the acceptance of Christ. The Holy Spirit points us to answers held within Jesus. Jesus did not come to earth to condemn or judge, but only to save the lost. The reason people go to hell is not because of personal sin – Jesus has forgiven each of us. (1 John 2:1-2) People are condemned to hell because they do not accept Jesus as their payment for a sin debt they can never pay nor do they accept Him as their Lord and Savior.
John 15:26 AMP “But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, Whom I send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who comes (proceeds) from the Father, He (Himself) will testify regarding Me.”
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There is a True North, or a “true Truth” that has been established on the earth by God the Father. This “True North” is available to all that hear the voice of the Shepherd and that will read God’s Word. The absolute truth of God’s laws and principles slice through clutter and confusion, clarifying difficult topics with application to all things past, present and future. God, in His mercy, also dispatches The Gift of His Spirit with periodic customized messages direct to our own spirit that bring clarity and truth to challenging circumstances, shining a light on the way forward. There is a reason that Jesus said that we should be glad that He was going away because something better was coming. The Cavalry has now truly come but you must get to know Him, spend time with Him and cultivate His presence.
So what is Truth ? Recently I had a discussion with someone that presented a narrative on circumstances of which I had observed at close range. What was true in his mind was 180 degrees from how I viewed the exact set of circumstances. He had crafted his own truth-narrative to cover for failures that he would not own. (We are all capable of espousing creative narratives to protect our egos and reputations.) To him, the facts he stated were unequivocally true – to me they were a ridiculous lie. It was pointless to challenge his story as it would only end in an argument and nothing I said would change his mind. I decided to pray that the Spirit of Truth would take care of the matter.
Another word for Truth is also “reality” – the Holy Spirit can be considered the Spirit of Reality, God’s kingdom reality – which is the only truth that matters. There is also a term called ‘universal truth’ which means what it says that a particular truth would be universally accepted by most people or a category of people (We’ll use Christians). For example: It is universally understood and accepted by all Christians that Jesus was conceived in the womb of Mary by the Holy Spirit, therefore bypassing the Adamic line of sin. Although we cannot ask Mary how this happened and discern for ourselves through first person testimony, we believe the Word of God and accept the account as being true. In the above illustration regarding the opposing narratives, there is no universal truth to which to refer and it comes down to character and perception. Fortunately, with the Spirit of Truth, we can always depend on the excellence of God’s character and His nature and trust that He is only delivering to us His “true Truth”.
John 16:13 AMP But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole truth, the full Truth). For he will not speak His own message (on His own authority); but He will tell whatever He hears (from the Father; He will give the message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears (from the Father) and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come (this will happen in the future). He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take care of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (disclose, transmit) it to you.
Pray for a strengthening of your personal relationship with the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to make Himself known and shown to you. Honor the Spirit and acknowledge Him when He confirms or discloses (transmits Spirit to spirit) information from God to you. He is doing it for your betterment and to glorify the work of Jesus. He truly is a Gift from the Father and paid for with the Blood of the Son.
Hebrews 1:2-4 AMP ” But in the last days He has spoken to us in [ the person of a ] Son, Whom He appointed Heir and lawful Owner of all things, also by and through Whom He created worlds and the reaches of space and the ages of time [ He made, produced, built, operated, and arranged them in order]. He is the sole expression of the Glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine ], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty Word of power. When He had by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the divine Majesty on high. Taking a place and rank by which He Himself became as much superior to angels as the glorious Name (title) which He has inherited is different from and more excellent than theirs. “
Day 1 Among many things that Jesus is, “He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature” that propels the very universe by His Word! How is nature of the human kind defined ? This nature refers to personality, temperament, and character. Jesus is the exact replica, even the imprint of God. As we read scripture and see how Jesus heals, forgives, loves and speaks – we too can believe that this is exactly how God the Father would treat us and others. As a child, I mistakenly believed that God was always on a “sin hunt” waiting to find fault in all on which I placed my hands. This opened the door to constant stress and fear and was a completely false assertion. God is on a “righteousness hunt” and seeks opportunities to bless your life.
We have all heard the phrase “the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree” in reference to parents and their children. In this case God and Jesus are both the tree – the tree of life!
Prayer Point: Lord Jesus – you returned to earth to bring Glory to the Name of God your Father. Thank you for becoming a living example of Love, Truth and Grace that have left a legacy for all that trust in and rely on You. Help me to become a living letter of your love for all that I encounter today. As I focus on You I ask that my nature be changed into your loving and merciful image.
Day 2 When Jesus went to the Cross – He became The Exchange for our sin debt owed to a holy God. All Sin from the beginning of time until the end of time was imputed unto Jesus as our eternal, once and for all sacrifice for mankind. There is no one else that could have become this sacrifice. Jesus, who was sinless, contained the blood of a holy, perfect Deity. The Holy Spirit formed Jesus supernaturally in the womb of his mother Mary, then a virgin thus circumventing the bloodline of Adam creating paternity with God alone. Jesus the sacrificial lamb was born for one purpose: to die – for us. Understand that you too have a purpose-filled birth. You too were born to die, allowing the opportunity to briefly use your gifts to the full for His Kingdom, then live eternally with Him. Think vapor or mist. If God had not desired you to be with Him eternally, He would never have given you life. The Holy Spirit of Jesus knitted you to exact specifications with gifts and skills desired in the time and season in which you live. You were born on purpose – for purpose. So … Be purpose – full.
Prayer Point: Father, you formed me from the beginning of my life with a plan and purpose to succeed that is tied to Your Kingdom. Please direct my steps to align me with people and places that put me in your order. Reveal my purposes. Teach me by your Spirit how to merge secular and sacred into the vocation for which I have been called. Your Son established my example remaining on purpose while doing both Your business and maintaining His as a carpenter. Help me to live in order and on purpose while being an example of Christ’s excellence in all that I do.
Revelation 1:5-6 AMP “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.“
Day 3 When Jesus dismissed His own Spirit from the Cross on Golgotha (John 19:30) His resurrection 3 days later served as a ratification of a new covenant made with God on our behalf. This agreement set into motion a way of life established on grace rather than based on law – be or do good and in return get good. The Jewish people lived under a suffocating 613 Hebrew laws that overshadowed every aspect of life. One definition of grace is undeserved favor. If you have made Jesus the Lord over your life, you are co-heirs with Christ and live under grace. You have been given everything from God that has been given to Jesus. Gamechanger. Grace is not earned through works or performance, it is simply offered as a gift from a Father full of love for His children. It is our nature to feel the need to work to earn. We strive and toil and stress however this direction is not God’s best. This also does not mean we are idle – we have responsibilities and careers over which we are given stewardship for His glory – but work from rest.
Jesus has bridged the deep divide of sin then re-connected us back to every blessing that God promised to Father Abraham. Abraham was the line of the Seed (Christ) in which all things are blessed. You too are blessed if in the line of Abraham; you are blessed to be a blessing.
Prayer Point:Great God and Father of All good things, thank you for the grace that you have given me by covenant through your precious Son, my Lord Jesus. Thank you for giving me favor that I do not merit. Because of your goodness, your grace in my life makes me love you even more. As a co-heir with your Son, I have all that He has and am seated and protected in Heavenly realms with You. Today I pray for the manifestation of every blessing given to Abraham. Today I ask for blessing on my family, my finances, my health, and my relationships.
Day 4 There are two attributes of Christ’s sacrifice that people focus on as the highest result of His death and resurrection: cleansing from sin, and eternal life in Heaven with God the Father. These most certainly are the ‘Big Two’. Many mysteries surround the fullness of the sacrifice of Jesus. There are less recognized and life altering benefits that He accomplished, one that is mentioned alongside the cleansing of sin which is the riddance of guilt. Guilt is condemnation. At the cross Jesus not only took your sin debt in exchange for His life, He also took the condemnation (guilt) that accompanies the sin. You no longer are required to feel guilt – Jesus has paid the price to erase it. So why do I still feel guilty you may ask? You may need to repent which requires no condemnation on your part. Repent means Metanoia (Greek) to turn and walk in another direction, simply turn and go another way. No guilt or shame involved. Just tell God you were wrong, then turn, and walk away. Jesus has paid for your sin, shame, your guilt. You are free. Condemnation brings death but the Spirit brings life!
Prayer Point:Father I know I am forgiven through the eternal blood of your Son’s sacrifice. I do understand that __________________________________ was a wrong action and I acknowledge that its not your best for me. Thank you for your immutable, unchanging love allowing me to speak to you knowing you will never leave nor forsake me, no matter what. Shame and guilt, by the power and authority that I have in the name of Jesus and by the blood of Jesus I command you to go in Jesus name. Holy Spirit I ask you to sprinkle the blood of Jesus on my mind, purifying it from every unrighteous thought including condemnation, shame and self-hatred. Shame, condemnation – You have no legal right nor no place in me. 1Peter 3:18-22 AMP “For Christ (the Messiah Himself) died for sins once for all, the Righteous for the unrighteous (the just for the unjust, the innocent for the guilty), that He might bring us to God. In His human body He was put to death, but He was made alive in the spirit, In which He went and preached to the spirits in prison, The souls of those who long before in the days of Noah had been disobedient, when God’s patience waited during the building of the ark in which a few (people) actually eight in number were saved through water. And baptisms, which is now a figure for deliverance, does now also save you (from inward questionings and fears), not by the removing of outward body filth (bathing), but by providing you with the answer of a good and clear conscience (inward cleanness and peace) before God [ because you are demonstrating what you believe to be yours ] through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And now He has entered into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with (all) angels and authorities and powers made subservient to Him”.
Day 5 Jesus was with God from the beginning of time and the formation of the world where He lived in heavenly realms with God. John 1:1-3 “In the beginning before all time there was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God and the Word was God Himself. Jesus was present originally with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being“.
His entrance onto the earth occurred as the child of Mary and Joseph. Jesus came to earth on specific assignment, to ratify the agreement He made with God to create a New Covenant with mankind. Jesus came on a rescue mission to save the people from eternal death at the hands of “the law”, a system where there could be no winners with a holy God. Jesus’ return to earth was perfectly planned from the beginning. He was born to die – for you.
Prayer Point: Father I thank you for loving me enough to send your Son to die so that I can live eternally in heaven with both of you. Jesus, You have brought infinite glory to God our Father through your great sacrifice. You are the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end and source of all things. Although the world was made through you, the world did not recognize you but now I do. Thank you for saving me. Thank you for loving me. I am forever in Your grip.
Revelation 22:16 AMP “I, Jesus, have sent My messenger (angel) to you to witness and to give assurance of these things for the churches (assemblies). I am the Root (the Source) and the Offspring of David, the radiant and brilliant Morning Star”.
Day 6 If you embrace the son of God as Savior, you have been given ministering spirits also called ANGELS sent out to serve and protect like a heavenly military for those marked to inherit salvation. Even the devil acknowledged the service of angels. When he tempted Jesus in the desert he said, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘For He will give His angels charge over you, and they will bear you up lest you dash your foot against a stone’ “. (ref: Psalm 91:12) We must assume that they were dispatched as the Word was spoken out – Psalm 103:20 “Bless the Lord, you His angels, you mighty ones who do His commandments, hearkening to the voice of His word.“ Although God is Commander of the Army of Angelic Hosts, all angels are under the feet of Jesus and they are to worship His Son (Heb 1:6). Angels are not to be worshiped by man (Rev 22: 8-9) but are used for them as servants of God to assist His people in times of need. Commander of the Lord’s Army | Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals at Ligonier.org
Prayer Point:Father, and Commander of the Angel Armies, I thank you for the service of your mighty army on behalf of your people. Your angels insure the activation of your Word. As I speak your Word aloud in faith it shall meet your power and I will see miracles, signs and manifestations of your mighty promises in my life. To you be all honor and glory forever and ever. Ephesians 2: 6-10 AMP “And He raised us up together with Him [when we believed], and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, [because we are] in Christ Jesus, 7 [and He did this] so that in the ages to come He might [clearly] show the immeasurable and unsurpassed riches of His grace in [His] kindness toward us in Christ Jesus [by providing for our redemption]. 8 For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; 9 not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation]. 10 For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us]”.
Day 7 We know that Jesus is now seated at the right hand of God, overseeing the Government of His Kingdom. As Believers in Christ, we are to aim for and seek the rich, eternal treasures that are above, where Christ is seated with God. We are not to become overly occupied with worldly behavior. We are to focus on what is above – Jesus. (Colossians 3:1-4) In Christ, your old life has passed and with Christ Jesus you have risen to a new life. In fact, you have undergone a “spiritual circumcision”. Because you are “In Christ”, your sin nature has been stripped away, you are now embedded and hidden In Him. Through the renewing of the mind; reading the Word and spending time with Him, you can become remolded and reshaped in the image of the One Who created you. (Colossians 3:10).
Prayer Point:Father God as a representative in this city, community and field of industry, I ask you to grow Christ’s likeness in me. Make Him greater through me and help me to become lesser. As a citizen of your kingdom I desire to make an eternal impact in areas that are on your heart. As I spend more time in Your Presence reveal to me more about specific concerns that are on Your heart in my community.
Tracy Gatewood 