Luke 12:12

Luke 12:12 “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”

Luke 11:13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

John 1:33 I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’

Acts 1:5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

From all of today's verses, we see that Christians cannot over emphasize the part the Holy Spirit plays in our salvation and in our spiritual walk. The Bible says the Holy Spirit seals our souls for heaven, talks to us, leads us, protects us, cares for us, ministers through us, bears fruit in us such as joy, and imbues us with power to perform God's work. We cannot know Jesus and receive his likeness without the indwelling Holy Spirit. Some people want to have Jesus the philosopher, the sage, the worker of good deeds, but they do not want anything to do with the life-changing Spirit. We cannot negate God's messenger and expect all God has for us including life eternal. If we are alive In Christ, we are redeemed because of the work of the cross made alive in us through the Holy Spirit. We should not be afraid of the infilling of the Holy Spirit, for He alone makes us fully alive to God.

Everyone partaking of this breakfast should search the Bible and see how many times The Spirit or The Holy Spirit is mentioned. After studying, you will realize the importance of the Holy Spirit to the Christian faith. Even in the Old Testament, before the Spirit came upon all believers, we read about the Holy Spirit everywhere. God's ongoing work on Earth has come primarily through the Third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. We are transformed into spiritual beings through the work and power of the Spirit. Jesus told his followers not to worry when brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities . . . for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say. Jesus is confirming the Holy Spirit as a real entity who will speak through God's people. They will speak the Spirit's words and not their own words.

As Christians we must seek God's words and not ours. This is what the Holy Spirit tells me all of the time. This knowledge comforts me and also makes me realize I must be cognizant of what I say. I should desire his words and his leading for my daily walk. If we believe in Christ with our whole hearts and dedicate our lives to him, our words and also our lives should reflect Jesus. As men and women of this world, we sometimes fail to speak his words or to act as He would. But as members of the Body of Jesus and joint heirs with Christ, we are instruments of God through the Holy Spirit. The Bible, our powerful sword, did not come from the will or the inspiration of man, but by the Holy Spirit, working in people to fulfill God's message of salvation and grace. Today we read the INSPIRED WORD, not just the good words of people.

As we serve Jesus, we should pray, "Lord, let this act, this word, be inspired by you. Forgive me if I somehow implant my own finite perspective on your holy action or word. Let your purity and truth pour from my being." Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to teach us all things, so we might reveal Christ to needy people. The Spirit longs to pour out God's love upon mankind through Jesus Christ and his sacrifice at the cross. The Bible tells us not to grieve the Holy Spirit or to restrict his will. We do not want to thwart his work by not depending on him, by not trusting him to guide our footsteps, by not speaking his words through our voices, by not allowing him to motivate our actions. If we bind the Spirit by not giving him his rightful place in our lives, we face sorrow and a lack of purpose and fulfillment as we walk in our own strength and knowledge. The Holy Spirit provides the spark that sets us on fire for God. Therefore, follow Jesus with your whole heart, obey God's voice, and be filled with the Spirit. Jesus said, But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8) Your life and the lives of others will never be the same.