How leaders can grow in the skill to facilitate Spirit-directed ministry

Leaders carry the responsibility to promote, discern and facilitate the ministry of the Holy Spirit among His people. This calls for leaders with purity in heart, boldness and trained discernment. So how can we grow in this skill?

Scripture

1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

19  Do not quench the Spirit. 20  Do not despise prophecies, 21  but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22  Abstain from every form of evil.

Observation and reflection questions

1. In a general sense, what does it mean to “not quench the Spirit”? What within an individual or assembly could “quench the Spirit”? (verse 19)

·         What does this suggest of the task of leadership in promoting and facilitating the ministry of the Holy Spirit?

2. What does it mean to “test everything”?

3. How do you think verse 19 and 20 relate to each other?

·         What does this suggest of the task of leadership in promoting and facilitating the ministry of the Holy Spirit within an assembly?

4. Consider the context of the instruction to “not despise prophesy”; how do you think verses 20- 22 relate to verse 19?

·         What does this suggest of the task of leadership when individuals starts ministering in the group?

·         What does this suggest of the responsibility of leadership in facilitating the work of the Holy Spirit within an assembly?

Personal Reflection and Application

The responsibility of leadership is to promote, discern and facilitate the ministry of the Holy Spirit among His people – because there are false prophesies stemming from wrong motives or deceptive spirits – yet leaders should never allow tradition, competition, fear or control to quench the Holy Spirit within an assembly.  This calls for leaders with purity in heart, boldness and trained discernment.

1. Do you frequently bring words of prophesy to your congregation or small fellowship group?  Why, or why not?

2. Do you recall a time when the Holy Spirit prompted you to share or speak or do something, yet you resisted and quenched Him?  Pray about that now and ask the Lord to forgive you for quenching his Spirit.

2. When last were you corrected when bringing a word of prophesy (either directly or indirectly)?

• How did (or would) you feel when being corrected?
• How should you feel when being corrected?
• Pray for a love for discipline leading to life and growth, and a resistance towards offence.

3. Think of your own fellowship group.

• How do you promote prophesy and other Spirit-directed ministry?  How could you promote it?
• How often do you make time to wait on the Lord for prophesy and Spirit-directed ministry?
• How do you test prophesy?  How should you test prophesy?
• How do you obey these prophetic utterances?  How should you?

Pray about your answers here – ask the Lord to help you fan the flame of the Spirit in your fellowship group, and to not quench Him.

 

Leaders must grow in apostolic grace

God’s not dead. As Christian leaders we must demonstrate the power of God so that the faith of those we lead’s faith is secure in God, not just our words. 

In this short video Andre Kruger shares on how Christian leaders need to flow in Apostolic Grace from God. To learn more of Andre’s teaching and obtain a copy of his book Increasing Heaven’s Flow in 40 days go to www.heavensflow.org

https://youtu.be/-Y0vHIDIRdU

Scripture

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

1  And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2  For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3  I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4  And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5  that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Observation and reflection questions

1. Reading Paul’s letters – even this one to the Corinthians – he seems to be an excellent teacher and philosopher. In light of his ability with words, how do you understand verse one?
2. In your own words, answer the following questions to better understand the line of thought
3. What was Paul’s intent in preaching? (verse 2)
4. Why does he mention both “Jesus Christ” and “Him crucified”? [hint: person and work] Why is this necessary when preaching the gospel?
5. What was Paul’s demeanor while preaching? (verse 3)
6. Why would Paul deliberately aim to come across “weak” when preaching the gospel?
7. What was Paul’s preaching like? (verse 4)
8. Why did he opt for “demonstration of Spirit and power” rather than “persuasive words” when he clearly has the ability to win an argument?

Personal Reflective questions

Leaders must usher people into the Kingdom of God.  His Kingdom is not is not found in religious observance, laws and rituals; it is in powerful demonstration of the reign of God (Romans 14:17; 1 Corinthians 4:20).

1. Jesus said “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8)
2. In which way does your life testify of the transforming power of God’s Spirit?
3. When last has God done a miracle through you?
4. Do you actively desire to know and experience God’s power? Why? How does your motive compare to Paul’s motive above?
5. When and where can you position yourself to experience and demonstrate the power of God “so that the faith of man may rest in God’s power” and not only your words? Schedule it.
6. Talk to a mature Christian friend about the power of God. Make a pact to agree to seek “to know Him, and the power of his resurrection” (Philippians 3:10).

Prayer

 

The Love of God 8 – imparted

The aim of this devotional study is to reflect on the love of God that has been imparted into our hearts.

Scripture

Romans 5:1-8

1  Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2  Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3  Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4  and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5  and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

6  For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7  For one will scarcely die for a righteous person–though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die– 8  but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Observations and reflection

Context: Paul wrote this glorious letter to the congregations in Roman suffering under mounting persecution of Emperor Nero.

1. What do you understand by “rejoice in the hope of the glory of God”? (verse 2) [hint: what do Christians believe about life after death?]
2. Why does Paul “rejoice in… suffering?” (verse 3) Write it in your own words.
3. Compare verse 5 above with Ephesians 1:13-14.

Ephesians 1:13-14

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

1. What does Paul teach about the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 1:1-14?
2. Comparing Romans 5:5 with Ephesians 1:14 – what do you learn about hope and the Spirit of God in our hearts?

4. In conclusion, how does “hope” and “the Holy Spirit” and “God’s love in our hearts” relate to each other? (Romans 5:5)? Answer in your own words.

Personal reflection and prayer

Paul encouraged the persecuted Romans church that although they suffer temporarily, they should take heart at the glory that awaits them after death, and that they don’t have to doubt that since God’s love for them is evidenced by the his Holy Spirit who now and forever lives in them.

1. When have you felt “far from God”? Why?
   1. Considering the Texts we studied today, what would you say to a Christian who says he feels “far from God”?
   2. Do you feel ‘far from God” today? Pray through Romans 5:5-8 and ask God to reveal his personal, secure love through his Spirit living in you.
2. Hardship or habitual sins tend to make people doubt the love God has for them. Why?
   1. Considering the Texts we studied today, what would you say to a Christian who says he doubts whether God still loves him/her?
   2. Are you struggling under hardship or habitual failure? Then pray through Romans 5:1-8 today and ask God to reveal again his love to you through his Spirit living in you.
   3. Pray for some persecuted church in a country that God has laid on your heart that they may be secure in God’s love amidst hardship.

 

Holy Spirit 11 – The Promised Spirit

The aim of this devotional study is to consider the significance of the Indwelling Spirit ina believer.

Scripture

Galatians 3:1-14

1  O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.  2  Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3  Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4  Did you suffer so many things in vain–if indeed it was in vain? 5  Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith– 6  just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? 7  Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8  And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9  So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

10  For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11  Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12  But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 13  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us–for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”– 14  so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

Observation and reflection

Context: Paul’s letter to the Galatians was written to correct false teachings (by a sect known as the Judaizers) that believers ought to uphold the Old Testament sacramental or ceremonial law (including male circumcision and observing Sabbath) to be righteous before God.

1. What is Paul’s main argument that the believers in Galatia did not have to observe any sacramental or ceremonial Law to be right in God’s eyes?
2. How and when did the Galatian church members “receive the Spirit”? (verse 2-3)
3. What was a sign that these believers received the Holy Spirit? (verse 5)
4. Abraham is known as the “father of faith”. Why would Paul use him as example in his argument against the need for observing the Jewish sacramental or ceremonial laws?
5. Paul refers to “the Promised Holy Spirit” For the Old Testament Jew, what would the promised indwelling Spirit be a sign of? (You might want to refer to Jeremiah 31:33-34)

Personal reflection and Application

Paul argued that believers received the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus’ substitutionary suffering and death on the cross as a sign of the New Covenant, and therefore believers need not need to fulfill any Old Testament ceremonial or sacramental law to please God.

1. When did you come to faith in Christ? Or when were you born again?
2. How do you know you are born again?
3. How do you experience the work of the Holy Spirit in your life?
4. What is the proof in your life that you have received the Holy Spirit of God?

Prayer

Thank God for the gift of freedom and acceptance in the Holy Spirit.  Then pray as your heart leads you in response to the Scripture today.

Covenant 3 – The Old and The New

The aim of this devotional study is to reflect on Paul’s comparison between the Old and the New Covenant.

Observations

2 Corinthians 3:6-18

6  [God] has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

7  Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8  will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9  For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.

10  Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it.  11  For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.  12  Since we have such a hope, we are very bold,  13  not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end.

14  But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.  15  Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts.  16  But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.  17  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

18  And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Observations and reflections

Context:  Paul contrasts the New Covenant in Christ to the Old Covenant through Moses.  It is helpful to consider announcements of the two covenants as in these two cases

Exodus 31:18  And he gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.

Jeremiah 31:33  But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel… I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. I will be their God, they my people.

1. Read through 1 Corinthians 3 and make a comparative table

Old Covenant	New Covenant
Letter	?
Kills	?
Ministry of death	?
On stone	?
Temporal glory	?
Ministry of condemnation	?
No glory	?
Shame of fading glory	?

2. What does Paul mean with the phrases “ministry of condemnation” and “ministry of righteousness”?
3. Jeremiah’s prophesy promised “the law within them… [written] on their hearts”? [Jeremiah 31:33] How?
4. What was the basis of the Old Testament? (What was the conditions of the Old Covenant or Pledge?) How was it managed?
5. What is the basis of the New Testament (or the New Covenant) according to this Scripture? How is it managed?
6. What does Paul say about the glory between the Old and New covenants? What does that mean?
7. What is the sign of the New Covenant at work? (v17)

Personal reflection

In which ways can you identify the following in your relationship with God:

A. “condemnation”: a feeling of being in trouble when you are found to behave wrong.

vs “righteousness”: a sense of being tested and approved of, being found acceptable

B. “law on stones”: measuring yourself based on what you are taught in Mosaic Law

vs “law on heart”: testing your motives based on the conviction of the Spirit

C. “ministry of death”: fear of failing God’s standards and threat of hell

vs “ministry of life”: anticipation for Jesus’ return to receive the fullness of our salvation – life with God forever

D. “veiled by Moses”: all you know about God is what he expects through the knowledge of the Law

vs “freedom in the Spirit”: a relational knowledge of God’s heart and will through the Holy Spirit.

Application and prayer

Considering your answers above, pray to God for a revelation of the New Covenant in Christ, assuring God’s satisfaction and our forgiveness and righteousness based on His shed blood.

This worship song will greatly enhance your time of prayer and reflection. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvLxZEU02uI]

Eternal Church 2

The aim of this devotional study is to grow in the knowledge and appreciation of the church.

Scripture

1 Corinthians 12:12-27

12  For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.  13  For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body–Jews or Greeks, slaves or free–and all were made to drink of one Spirit.  14  For the body does not consist of one member but of many.

15  If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.  16  And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.  17  If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?

18  But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.  19  If all were a single member, where would the body be?  20  As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.  21  The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”

22  On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23  and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24  which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25  that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.  26  If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

27  Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

Observations

1. In this chapter Paul seems to have reached the most fitting metaphor for his understanding of church. What is that metaphor?
   1. How does the individual relate to the church in this metaphor?
   2. In this metaphor of church, what role does God play?
   3. What is the most useful understanding about church we gain from this metaphor? (hint: v20-21, v25) Can you give one word for this revelation? [hint: the relationship between individual persons within the local church]
2. In writing this metaphor, does Paul have the Eternal Church or a local church in mind? Why do you say that?

Reflection and Application

1. When you think of your local congregation and the members of your church – how do you view your relationship? And how do you view your relationship with your local church itself?
2. In relating to the members in your church, so you relate to them as “being baptized into one body through the Holy Spirit”? (verse 13) Do you consider yourself as such? How?
   1. If you were to view yourself and the other members in your church as being baptized in one body through the Spirit – how would that affect your relationship with the church and its members?
3. What role do you think God has arranged for you in your local church? “Where” in the body has he set you?
   1. Forget for a while the Sunday service and even Bible study meetings – what role can you play in the lives of the members in your church – how can you build up the church?

Prayer

Pray to God about your relationship with your local congregation, as well as its members; ask him to reveal his heart regarding “Christ’ body” and fill your heart with respect and love for each of its members.  Secondly, pray that God will reveal and move you towards fulfilling your function in your local church.

Eternal Church 1

The aim of this devotional study is to grow in the knowledge and appreciation of the church.

Scripture

1 Corinthians 3:6-17

6  I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.  7  So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.  8  He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.

9  For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.

10  According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.  11  For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12  Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw–  13  each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.  14  If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.  15  If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

16  Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?  17  If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Observations

1. Paul seems to seek a fitting metaphor to explain to the Corinthian church what the church is and what their respective roles are.
   1. What metaphors do Paul use in this section – what does Paul liken the Corinthian church to? [hint: verses 9 and 12]
   2. In these images of church, what roles do ministers like himself play?
   3. In these metaphors of church, what roles do God play?
2. In these metaphors for church – does Paul refer to The Eternal Church or a local church? Why do you say that?
3. Take two or three minutes and study verses 16 and 17; explain in your own words Paul’s thoughts and progression between these terms: God’s temple – God’s Spirit – vengeance for destruction – holiness – you/the church.
   1. What word or phrase can you think of that concisely summarize that argument?

Reflection and Application

1. Why did people in Paul’s day go to a temple?  And what did visitors learn from the design and worship in that temple?  What does that imply about church as “God’s holy temple?“
2. When you think of your church – what are the first thoughts that come to mind? Explain why these come to mind.
3. Do you see any correlation between “church as God’s holy temple” and your Sunday services or midweek small group/ Bible study group? Why / why not?
   1. What makes your gatherings “God’s holy temple” or not? (verse 16-17)
   2. Can you change the nature of your church (meetings) or will it always be “God’s holy temple”?
4. If church (and its meetings) are “God’s holy temple” – how should you change your perception of going to church meetings? Why is that important?
5. How can you change your experience of church meetings to resemble the fact that it is indeed “God’s holy temple”?

Prayer

Thank God for the men and women who labored to lay the foundation and build your church, and remember in prayer those who “built you” in into this church.  Then pray that the reality and life of the Holy Spirit of God will saturate your life, and the activities and relationships in your local church.  Wait on God – does the Holy Spirit put someone in your church on your heart?  Follow His leading.

Holy Spirit 10

The aim of this devotional study if to review our relation to the Holy Spirit and the church with regards to spiritual gifts and ministry.

Scripture

1 Corinthians 12:1-31

1  Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.  2  You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led.  3  Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

4  Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5  and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6  and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.

7  To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.  8  For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,  9  to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10  to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11  All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

12  For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13  For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body–Jews or Greeks, slaves or free–and all were made to drink of one Spirit. …

29  Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30  Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31  But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

Observation

1. What does Paul try to convey to the Corinthians in this portion? (v1)
2. What main things do we learn from the Holy Spirit in the life of the congregation? (Hint: Verse 3 / Verses 4-11 / Verses 12-13)
3. Why does Paul say the gifts of the Spirit is distributed in the congregation? (v7)
4. List the gifts Paul mentions. (v7-11)
5. Related to spiritual gifts among the congregation, what is Paul’s point regarding “one body, many parts”? (v4, 11-13, 29-30)
6. What is the one key Paul gives for the manifestation of these gifts in an individual’s life? (hint: v 31)

Reflection

1. In reading this portion of the letter to the Corinthians, would you say that the operations of spiritual gifts was normal to the Corinthian church assembly? Why/ why not?
2. Look at the list of spiritual gifts Paul mentions
   1. Which of these have you practiced? How and where?
   2. Which of these have you experienced as someone ministered to you? How and where?
   3. Which of these have you witnessed in person as someone ministered to another in your presence?
3. When did you experience the operation of the Spirit most in your life? Why do you think that the Holy Spirit operated through your life the most during that time?
4. Which gifts do you desire most to minister to others? Why?

Prayer and Application

Express your earnest desire to God to bless others with ministry through the gifts of His Holy Spirit, and tell him what you felt like as you partnered with Him in serving His people.

Now pray for a word of encouragement and/or direction for someone specifically – wait on God, write it down and send it to that person as soon as you feel you have the message right.

Then thank God for the privilege of hearing his voice and working with him

Remember to expect God to speak and minister to his people though the gifts of the Spirit every time you gather.

Holy Spirit 9

The aim of this devotional study is to reflect on the power and consequence of the indwelling Spirit of God.

Scripture

Romans 8:9-17

9  You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

10  But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  11  If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

12  So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.  13  For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

14  For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.  15  For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”  16  The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,  17  and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Observation

1. Slowly read this portion of Paul’s argument of “life in the Spirit” again and summarize what Paul teaches about our life because of indwelling Holy Spirit in the following sections
   1. Verse 9
   2. Verses 10-11
   3. Verses 12-13
   4. Verses 14-17
2. Consider the titles Paul attributes to the Holy Spirit in this section; what do we learn about the Holy Spirit in each of these titles?
   1. The Spirit of God (v9, 14)
   2. The Spirit of Christ (v9)
   3. The Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead (v11)
   4. The Spirit who dwells in you (v11)
   5. The Spirit of adoption (v14)

Reflection

This short passage contain rich truths with great promises of the believers blessed life through the indwelling Spirit.  How do each of these following truths impact your life today?

1. If you have the Spirit of Christ you belong to Him. (v9)
2. The resurrection Spirit dwells in you. (v11)
3. The Holy Spirit lives inside of you. (v13)
4. The Spirit of adoption testifies that you are a child of God. (v16)

Prayer

Thank God for the indwelling Spirit – and the blessing he is to me (elaborate from previous point).  Then take any one of the following truths from this text and prayerfully meditate in it (through repetition and prayerful contemplation) so that you receive revelation from the Holy Spirit about it.

1. I belong to Christ. (v9)
2. The Spirit of Him who raised Christ from the dead dwells in me. (v11)
3. I am a debtor to (live according to) the Spirit. (v13)
4. The Spirit bears witness that I am a child of God. (v16)

Holy Spirit 8

The aim of this devotional study is to reflect on God’s intent of infilling with the Holy Spirit.

Scripture

Exodus 31:1-11

1  The LORD said to Moses, 2  “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3  and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, 4  to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, 5  in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft.

6  And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you: 7  the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furnishings of the tent, 8  the table and its utensils, and the pure lampstand with all its utensils, and the altar of incense, 9  and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin and its stand, 10  and the finely worked garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests, 11  and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do.”

Observations

Note: the context of this instruction of the Lord happened when Moses was called to the top of the mountain, just after the Exodus, to receive the Law of God by which God covenanted with the nation of Israel.

1. When you think of someone being filled with the Holy Spirit, what comes to mind?
2. Why did God choose Bazalel and fill him with His Spirit?
3. When did God fill him with the Spirit? (What is the context of this person being filled – what do we know of him/ these people?)
4. Why was it necessary for God to fill Bazalel with his Spirit to do these tasks? (Think of what this man did until that point in time…).  And what was the (intended) result of the Spirit’s infilling with in his life?
5. If you were to give one descriptive word for the “supernatural ability” that came through the infilling of the Spirit of God to this man – what would that attribute be? [hint: v4]
6. After God filled Bazalel with his Spirit to be able to do the things, who did the work?

Reflection

1. Do you think it foreign/ strange that God would fill someone with his Holy Spirit to do woodwork and metalwork and mix oils etc? Why/ why not?
2. What other character(s) can you think of in the Bible who were filled with the Holy Spirit to do things outside of preaching and ministry?
3. We are used to think that God empowers people to work in “church life”. Why would God want to fill someone with his Spirit for something beyond preaching and ministry?
4. Do you think God would want to empower you through his Spirit to do “everyday” work for his glory? Why/ why not?

Application and prayer

Spend some time to pray to God to empower you for your everyday life that he may be glorified and that the world may be blessed by God through your exceptional service.  And pray to God for the gift of creativity – to access his thoughts through to solve problems in a way we could not think of through the enablement of his Spirit!  Lastly, ask God for help with specific things you ought to do – through his Holy Spirit!