Holy Spirit 6

The aim of this devotional study is to appreciate the work of the Holy Spirit on earth.

Scripture

John 16:7-14

7  Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

8  And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9  concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10  concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11  concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

12  “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13  When the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

14  He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Observations and reflection

Note: This is part of the last conversation that Jesus had with his disciples on the evening of his arrest, and referred to the sending of the Spirit as teacher and helper in order to comfort his disciples.

1. What names are attributed to the Holy Spirit in this teaching of Jesus?
2. Jesus said it is better for his disciples that he leaves so that the Spirit would come to them. What is the advantage that the Spirit has over Jesus (for his disciples)? (v7)
3. What activities/ helps are attributed to the Spirit in v8-11?
   1. Who gets “convicted of sin” – and how? (v8-9)
   2. Who gets convicted “righteousness” – and how? (v8, 10) [think and look carefully oat these verses…]
   3. Who gets convicted of pending judgment? (v8,11)
4. What activities/ helps are attributed to the Spirit in v12-14?
5. How does the Spirit relate to us? What can we expect as normative? (

Application and Prayer

Consider “The Spirit will convict [the believer] of righteousness”

• What “righteousness” did Jesus refer to?
• Have you experienced the Holy Spirit convicting you of righteousness before? How and where?
• Thank God for the Spirit’s leading into Truth and leading into understanding of our righteousness in Christ.  Read through the list of your identity in Christ, and see what the Holy Spirit leads you to focus on, and mediate on that.

[With whom can your share this truth to encourage them today?]

BS1 Setting the captives free 4

The aim of this devotional study the practice of deliverance in the life o fPaul

Scripture

Acts 16:16-18

16  One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a young servant woman who had an evil spirit that enabled her to predict the future. She earned a lot of money for her owners by telling fortunes. 17  She followed Paul and us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God! They announce to you how you can be saved!” 18  She did this for many days, until Paul became so upset that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I order you to come out of her!” The spirit went out of her that very moment.

Acts 19:11-17

11  And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12  so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.

13  Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I command you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” 14  Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15  But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” 16  And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

17  And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored.

Observations

1. In Acts 16:16-18, how did Paul cast out the evil spirit from the woman? What happened (in your own words)?
2. In Acts 19:11-17, how did Paul cast out the evil spirits from people? What happened (in your own words)?
3. In Acts 19:11-17, how did the “itinerant Jewish exorcists” cast out evil spirits from people? What happened (in your own words)?

Reflection and Application

1. Why could Paul do extraordinary deliverance, but the Jewish exorcists could not, even though they also invoked the names of Jesus?
2. How did the demons “know” or recognize the authority of Paul?
3. Would you be recognized as one living in Christ?

Prayer

Spend some time praying affirming your identity in Christ – this list of Scriptures can help. Let the focus be worship of God’s generosity:

https://shofardurbanville.wordpress.com/2015/04/16/my-identity-in-christ/

My Identity in Christ

The Aim of this study is to discover the truth of your identity in Jesus Christ

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”  Proverbs 23:7

Paul discovered the truth that “if any one is in Christ, that one is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”  (2 Corinthians 5:17) and relate to himself in this new way.

Dr. Neil Anderson wrote in Victory Over the Darkness  “The more you reaffirm who you are in Christ, the more your behavior will begin to reflect your true identity!” 

Scripture confessions

• I am a child of God. John 1:12
• I am a friend of God. John 15:15
• I am part of the body of Christ. 1Corinthians 12:27
• I was chosen by God to be loved. 1Thesalonians 1:4
• I am qualified in front of God. Colossians 1:12
• I am complete in Christ. Colossians 2:10
• Christ has accepted me. Romans 15:7
• God saved me because He delighted in me. Psalms 18:19

Significant

• God’s spirit is inside of me. 1Corinthians 3:16
• I am seated with Christ in Heaven. Ephesians 2:6
• I am God’s workmanship. Ephesians 2:10
• Christ paid a hefty price for me. Revelations 5:9
• I can do all things through Christ. Philippians 4:13
• God has plans in store for me. Jeremiah 29:11
• God has wonderfully made me. Psalms 139:14
• I am precious to God. Isaiah 43:4
• I am an ambassador for Christ. 2Corinthans 5:20
• I bear the image of God. Genesis 1:27
• I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child. Ephesians 1:5
• I may approach God with freedom and confidence. Ephesians 3:12
• I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ. Hebrews 4:14-16
• I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life. John 15:5
• I am a citizen of heaven. Philippians 3:20

Secure

• Christ is my salvation, no one else. Acts 4:12
• I am sealed with God through the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13
• I may approach God with freedom and confidence. Ephesians 3:12
• I am confident that God will complete the good work in me. Philippians 1:6
• I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me. 1 John 5:18
• I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:17
• I have been bought with a price and I belong to God. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
• Jesus has redeemed me. Galatians 3:13
• I have been established, anointed and sealed by God. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
• I am free from condemnation. Romans 8:1-2
• I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances. Romans 8:28
• I am a conqueror in Christ. Romans 8:37
• Nothing can separate me from the love of God. Romans 8:38-39
• I am hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3-4
• My salvation is secure in the blood of Jesus. 1 Peter 1:18
• Jesus will never leave me. Hebrews 13:5
• I am saved by grace. Ephesians 2:8
• Christ has paid for my sins. Romans 3:23-24

Holy

• I am clothed in righteousness and garments of salvation. Isaiah 61:10
• Christ has made me holy. Hebrews 10:10
• All my sins have been forgiven. Colossians 2:13
• God will take away my shame. Isaiah 61:7
• My sins God will remember no more. Hebrews 10:17
• I am righteous and holy. Ephesians 4:24
• I am filled with Christ’s divine nature. 2 Peter 1:4
• I am part of a royal priesthood. 1 Peter 2:9
• I am a temple designed for God. 1 Corinthians 3:16
• I am a completely new creation in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17
• Christ has turned me into a saint. Ephesians 1:18
• I am dead to sin, but alive to God. Romans 6:11
• I am a slave to righteousness. Romans 6:18
• I am the light of the world. Matthew 5:14
• I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
• I am complete in Christ. Colossians 2:10
• I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins. Colossians 1:13
• I have been justified, declared innocent of all sins. Romans 5:1