Pneuma预览

For Your Good

Jesus told His followers, “It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7). Imagine hearing Him say this. Would you have believed that Jesus’ leaving was “for your good”? I wouldn’t have. When I read that verse, I had to stop and repent.

Early on in my spiritual discipleship, we did not talk about the Holy Spirit. Maybe that’s the way you were raised, too. The Holy Ghost seemed kind of weird, and the people who talked about Him seemed weird too. Some traditions of theology seem to think that we need the Holy Spirit only in limited doses. It’s tragic that the enemy, who only wants to steal, kill, and destroy, has manipulated us by giving part of the Godhead a bad reputation. He has caused many to be scared of the very Agent who God sent to help, counsel, correct, convict, encourage, and empower us to reflect Jesus.

We need pneuma, ruach, the Holy Spirit. With Him we live and breathe. In Him we find encouragement, counsel, power, and hope. Jesus died and was raised back to life. The very same Spirit who raised Him back to life is the Spirit Jesus sent to live inside of us.

In The Message, Ephesians 4:30 says this, “Don’t grieve God. Don’t break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don’t take such a gift for granted.” Begin by doing these three things:

1. Let go of fears and misperceptions. There’s nothing to be afraid of. Pray to know the truth about the Holy Spirit. Ask for wisdom; God will give it to you (James 1:5).

2. Go all in. Pray: “God, here I am. Reveal to me what You want me to know. Take me wherever You want me to go. Do with me whatever you will.” Go all in. Jeremiah 29:13 says that you will find God when you get serious about finding Him.

3. Develop an intimate friendship with Holy Spirit. That is my prayer for you, based on 2 Corinthians 13:14.

God, help me to release my fears, trust in You, and allow the Holy Spirit to lead me.

For more information regarding this devotional, please follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL54M0FjU4-39k5JvmwmmJ5mMWPg3D-drq