Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – March 23, 2016
Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Revelation 5:6
The Holy Spirit assumes a variety of roles in support of those surrendered to their Savior Jesus and experience the fullness of God. They include: the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to know Christ better, the Spirit of truth to guide in all truth, the Spirit of holiness to live in the power of the resurrected life of Christ, the Spirit of self-control to resist temptations and to remain resilient through trials, the Spirit of love to receive strength and security from above—and to exercise patience and offer peace below. A diversity of applications, but only one Spirit distributes them.
The Lamb of God—Jesus—was the final sacrifice for sin; that sacrifice unleashed the power of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The cross was a catalyst for the Spirit’s manifest power throughout the ages. The seven horns represent perfect power and the seven eyes express the explosion of the Spirit throughout the world as prophesied by Zechariah. What the apostle John envisions is a global outpouring of the Holy Spirit to draw the lost into the light of salvation, to heal the broken hearted, and for the Church to worship in the Spirit’s power. The Holy Spirit is unleashed to empower!
“I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days” (Joel 2:28-29).
Does your heart communicate fluently with the Holy Spirit or does He sound foreign to your ears? God’s teacher—His Spirit— interprets His language of love in intimacy. It’s in the power of the Spirit you are able to experience focused worship and adore your Lord. Yes, His sweet Spirit lifts your faith to the only One who can lift your spirits—your loving heavenly Father. Not only does the Holy Spirit facilitate faithful worship, He also leads you in God’s will. There is a partnership with the heart that fuels a life into radical love and obedience. The Spirit discerns.
It’s the Holy Spirit who delivers the Gospel message with compelling conviction and draws humans toward heaven. The Spirit is the spark that lights the fuse of the good news, so like a stick of dynamite it blows up a life to experience all good things with God. Evangelism energized by the Spirit will not be stopped by persecution, pride or indifference. The Holy Spirit heals broken hearts, births joy out of sadness and offers hope in awful conditions. Evil spirits try to hold hostage the Spirit, but He cannot be bound. The Spirit is unleashed to set captives free!
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, fill me with Your Spirit, so I might be a vessel of Your love.Application
Consider a 24 hour silent retreat to recalibrate your heart with the Holy Spirit.Related Reading
Isaiah 61:1-3; Romans 8:2; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 12:13; 2 Corinthians 3:17Post/Tweet today
The Holy Spirit lifts your faith to the only One who can lift your spirits—your loving heavenly Father. #wisdomhunters #holyspiritWorship Resource
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