Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Powerful Mysterious Invisible

POWERFUL MYSTERIOUS INVISIBLE

Acts 2:1-11

Verses 1-2: “When the day of Pentecost came, they [twelve disciples] were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole hose where they were sitting.”

“No fair!” Violet yelled at Greg who was flipping his Frisbee—that was full of water—at his 3rd-grade classmates. Shakira’s birthday swim party was summer-ending fun before school began.

“Yeah, but splashing people is fun” Greg countered, splashing Timmy.

Playing in water is lots of fun. But when water, like rain is coupled with wind, it can be life-threatening. Thunderstorms or tornadoes are rarely fun. Wind is invisible. Wind can be felt, smelled, and heard, but it’s only seen when things move.


No Excuses and Spiritual Footprint devotions showed power in what’s invisible. God is invisible, and He can do anything. Carbon dioxide is an invisible gas that causes global climate change. Believers in Christ leave invisible spiritual footprints that often change lives. It’s no surprise that spiritual footprints can only be made in the Holy Spirit’s power.

If the Holy Spirit were not important, Jesus wouldn’t have told His disciples to wait for His arrival before leaving Jerusalem (Acts 1:4). Jesus shows the triune God as three persons, equally God in John 14:16-17. The Holy Spirit mysteriously indwells every believer in Christ. No one can predict where, when, or how He strikes. He mysteriously transforms believers into the likeness of Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18). He’s invisible, because He’s, uh, spirit!


Holy Spirit is all-powerful (Acts 1:8). Jesus calls Him the “Counselor” in John 14:26, “Spirit of truth” in John 16:13, and Romans 8:9 says the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. Ephesians 4:30 says that we can grieve the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit indwells a person when Jesus is accepted as Lord and Savior. Our heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask (Luke 11:13).


He mysteriously forms all believers into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). 2 Thessalonians 2:13 says the Holy Spirit sanctifies (SANK-ti-fies means to make holy) followers of Jesus. 1 John 3:24 says, “Those who obey His [Jesus] commands live in Him, and He in them. And this is how we know that He lives in us: We know it by the Spirit He gave us.”

The Holy Spirit is the deposit (de-POS-it means down payment) of our inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14). The lesson link, below, teaches the fruit of the Holy Spirit.



Take Home Nugget

Benjy, Jennifer, Jack, and Shakira snuck up on Greg. Without warning, they upturned a bucket of water on Greg’s head. “Hahahaha!” they laughed at Greg’s yelp. “Gotcha!”

With sincere hearts we ponder God’s design:

Outside created universe, inside divine.

J.D. Griffith




A personal, private lesson experience with our staff




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