HOLY
Guidelines for the most personal life-changing impact as possible
Ask yourself the Questions.
Remember, real learning and growth is a “Journey of your Heart” (Prov.4:20-23 below). It’s in His presence, alone with Him, that we “put off the old man”, renew our minds and “put on the new self” (Eph 4:20-24 below)
Knowing the TRUTH brings freedom! (John 8:31,32 below) It’s not about memorizing information in your head, Believing it in your heart will change your life!
Truth may challenge your traditional understanding. Be willing to check and study it out in His Word. (Ask yourself whether it brings, or violates, Peace in your heart.)
If anything violates what you know in Scripture to be true, do not just accept it. Write down your revelations or questions or concerns and please be sure to bring it to the church.
Others will learn from you as you will from others!
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Matt 11:28-30 ESV
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
John 8:31-32 ESV
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Prov 4:20-23 NIV
My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. 21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; 22 for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body. 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
Eph 4:20-24 ESV
But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
- Use this as a devotional opportunity - for you. This is not homework for a class. There is no rush, demand or expectation. Please feel liberty always to grow at your own pace.
- Find a regular, quiet time and place where you won’t be disturbed. (If you can, first thing in your day is better before the pressures and demands on your mind begin distracting you.)
- Have your Bible, and a notebook ready to write down questions, thoughts, or even something you suddenly think of that don’t want to forget to do later.
- Ask yourself if you’re really willing to “learn of Him” - then open your heart to His Word and direction.
- Connect with your Father, remember you’re His child, you’re loved, and already qualified in Jesus!
- Ask Father to teach & lead you.
- Take the time to read any and all the Scripture references in your own Bible and version. (I love the free YouVersion Bible App and the “Compare” button which allows you to read that verse in different versions).
- Take time to meditate / ponder on any part. Give yourself the liberty to follow any threads.
- Read the Prayer & Confession to see if you agree with it before you declare it with your own mouth.
Ask yourself the Questions.
Remember, real learning and growth is a “Journey of your Heart” (Prov.4:20-23 below). It’s in His presence, alone with Him, that we “put off the old man”, renew our minds and “put on the new self” (Eph 4:20-24 below)
Knowing the TRUTH brings freedom! (John 8:31,32 below) It’s not about memorizing information in your head, Believing it in your heart will change your life!
Truth may challenge your traditional understanding. Be willing to check and study it out in His Word. (Ask yourself whether it brings, or violates, Peace in your heart.)
If anything violates what you know in Scripture to be true, do not just accept it. Write down your revelations or questions or concerns and please be sure to bring it to the church.
Others will learn from you as you will from others!
-------------------------------------------
Matt 11:28-30 ESV
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
John 8:31-32 ESV
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Prov 4:20-23 NIV
My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. 21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; 22 for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body. 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
Eph 4:20-24 ESV
But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
#11 YOU HEART IS NOT A HOTEL
…For he dwelleth with you and shall be in you…. — John 14:17
Today I want to return to that night in the Upper Room when Jesus taught His disciples about the ministry of the Holy Spirit. As the disciples sat and listened attentively, Jesus explained that the Holy Spirit had been with them all along, but soon would be in them. As they had ministered at Jesus’ side, the disciples had experienced an atmosphere of the anointing and had temporary moments when the Spirit of God would come upon them. However, they had never experienced the Holy Spirit
living inside them.
Up to that moment in history, the Holy Spirit had only taken up permanent residence inside one Person — Jesus. Even the prophets, priests, and kings in the Old Testament never knew this glorious privilege. Under the Old Covenant, the Holy Spirit might temporarily come upon people to specially empower them for ministry and service, but this anointing was temporary.
So when Jesus told His disciples in John 14:17 that the Holy Spirit “shall be in you,” it was a mighty
statement! The phrase “shall be in you” is translated from the Greek words en humin, which can
only be translated in you. At first glance, this may seem simple, but remember that the Holy Spirit
had never before lived inside a human being. This was Jesus declaring that for the first time in
human history, the Spirit of God was going to literally come inside believers and abide there! His
presence would no longer be temporary or fleeting, as people in the Old Testament had
experienced. The Holy Spirit was going to take up residency and dwell inside them permanently —
to never move, never waver, and never pack His bags and leave for another location.
Prior to this statement in John 14:17, Jesus had described the Holy Spirit’s role as a “Comforter”
(v.16). As we saw in previous devotionals (#2 - 6), this word is the Greek term parakletos, meaning
one called alongside them. Now He takes it a step further and affirms that the Holy Spirit would
actually live “in” them.
This is a central truth of the New Testament: If you have repented of sin and surrendered to the
Lordship of Christ, then you have been born again and the Holy Spirit has come to live inside you.
This is why the apostle Paul wrote, “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy
Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19).
I like to say it this way — your heart was never meant to be a hotel. God never intended for the Holy
Spirit to be your Guest. The Holy Spirit has come to stay as a permanent Resident inside your heart,
and He will be with you for the rest of your life. This is yet another reason why you should develop
your partnership with Him. He has moved in, taken up residence, and is committed to staying with
you until that glorious day when you are ultimately relocated to Heaven itself!
My Prayer For Today
Father, I thank You that the Holy Spirit is not a temporary Guest, but a permanent Resident inside
my heart. Help me to remember this and to live my life in a way that honors His indwelling presence.
Help me to live with the constant awareness that He is with me always. I am so thankful that He
does not come and go and that He is not a fleeting relationship in my life. Help me to cultivate my
fellowship with Him until I come to know Him deeply in my life on a practical level.
I pray this in Jesus’ name!
My Confession For Today
I acknowledge and declare that God’s Spirit dwells permanently inside my heart. He will never waver
or pack His bags to move to another location. My heart is not meant to be a hotel, but rather a
permanent residence for the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not a temporary Guest — He has come to
indwell my heart for the rest of my life! He has moved in, taken up residence, and is committed to
staying with me until I am ultimately relocated to Heaven itself!
I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!
Questions For You To Consider
1. Have you ever thought about how glorious it is that your heart is not a temporary location for
the Holy Spirit, but rather His permanent dwelling place?
2. How should the awareness that your heart is the Holy Spirit’s permanent dwelling place affect
the way you live your life?
3. What kind of condition is your heart in for Him? What renovations do you need to make in
your heart to make it more accommodating to Him, considering the Holy Spirit already lives
inside you?
Today I want to return to that night in the Upper Room when Jesus taught His disciples about the ministry of the Holy Spirit. As the disciples sat and listened attentively, Jesus explained that the Holy Spirit had been with them all along, but soon would be in them. As they had ministered at Jesus’ side, the disciples had experienced an atmosphere of the anointing and had temporary moments when the Spirit of God would come upon them. However, they had never experienced the Holy Spirit
living inside them.
Up to that moment in history, the Holy Spirit had only taken up permanent residence inside one Person — Jesus. Even the prophets, priests, and kings in the Old Testament never knew this glorious privilege. Under the Old Covenant, the Holy Spirit might temporarily come upon people to specially empower them for ministry and service, but this anointing was temporary.
So when Jesus told His disciples in John 14:17 that the Holy Spirit “shall be in you,” it was a mighty
statement! The phrase “shall be in you” is translated from the Greek words en humin, which can
only be translated in you. At first glance, this may seem simple, but remember that the Holy Spirit
had never before lived inside a human being. This was Jesus declaring that for the first time in
human history, the Spirit of God was going to literally come inside believers and abide there! His
presence would no longer be temporary or fleeting, as people in the Old Testament had
experienced. The Holy Spirit was going to take up residency and dwell inside them permanently —
to never move, never waver, and never pack His bags and leave for another location.
Prior to this statement in John 14:17, Jesus had described the Holy Spirit’s role as a “Comforter”
(v.16). As we saw in previous devotionals (#2 - 6), this word is the Greek term parakletos, meaning
one called alongside them. Now He takes it a step further and affirms that the Holy Spirit would
actually live “in” them.
This is a central truth of the New Testament: If you have repented of sin and surrendered to the
Lordship of Christ, then you have been born again and the Holy Spirit has come to live inside you.
This is why the apostle Paul wrote, “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy
Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19).
I like to say it this way — your heart was never meant to be a hotel. God never intended for the Holy
Spirit to be your Guest. The Holy Spirit has come to stay as a permanent Resident inside your heart,
and He will be with you for the rest of your life. This is yet another reason why you should develop
your partnership with Him. He has moved in, taken up residence, and is committed to staying with
you until that glorious day when you are ultimately relocated to Heaven itself!
My Prayer For Today
Father, I thank You that the Holy Spirit is not a temporary Guest, but a permanent Resident inside
my heart. Help me to remember this and to live my life in a way that honors His indwelling presence.
Help me to live with the constant awareness that He is with me always. I am so thankful that He
does not come and go and that He is not a fleeting relationship in my life. Help me to cultivate my
fellowship with Him until I come to know Him deeply in my life on a practical level.
I pray this in Jesus’ name!
My Confession For Today
I acknowledge and declare that God’s Spirit dwells permanently inside my heart. He will never waver
or pack His bags to move to another location. My heart is not meant to be a hotel, but rather a
permanent residence for the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not a temporary Guest — He has come to
indwell my heart for the rest of my life! He has moved in, taken up residence, and is committed to
staying with me until I am ultimately relocated to Heaven itself!
I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!
Questions For You To Consider
1. Have you ever thought about how glorious it is that your heart is not a temporary location for
the Holy Spirit, but rather His permanent dwelling place?
2. How should the awareness that your heart is the Holy Spirit’s permanent dwelling place affect
the way you live your life?
3. What kind of condition is your heart in for Him? What renovations do you need to make in
your heart to make it more accommodating to Him, considering the Holy Spirit already lives
inside you?