Devotion

Hebrews 10:15-18: “The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:  ¹⁶ "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." ¹⁷ Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." ¹⁸ And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.”

            Not only did Jesus Christ come, but when He left He left a Helper and Counselor with us.  This is the Holy Spirit.  In this passage, the Holy Spirit “testifies to us” that all this (verses 1-14) has happened and it has happened for us.  The key word in all this is “testify.”  The Greek word is “marture,w” which means to bear witness, testify, be a witness; attest, affirm, confirm; speak well of, or approve.  The Holy Spirit confirms in our hearts that everything about Jesus Christ is Truth.  You could call this assurance of faith (John Wesley did).  The Spirit lets us know that we are in a new / restored covenant relationship with God and that our lives (governed by Him) are a fulfillment of the Scriptures.  God’s Will and desire are in us and we know them.  The Christian should be governed by it.  If all this is true… and it is… then the Christian person, filled with the Holy Spirit, is a forgiven creature.  The forgiveness takes place and then the person moves back into a right relationship with God. 

            What does this mean for me and for you?  This means that Christians must let the Holy Spirit do the governing of our lives.  God has control.  We do not.  I must strive to live a spirit-filled life if I ever have any hope of being right with God.  I will sin… but if I have cultivated a life of holiness then the getting up and the getting back will be easier. 

            Some disciplines of the Spirit-filled life:       

            (1)  Prayer   

            (2)  submissive to God’s Will           

            (3)  service to neighbor in love

            (4)  Time with God otfen   

            (5)  Faith   

            (6)  attitude of worship

            (7)  Eyes open to share  

            (8)  Kind spirit towards others    

            (9)  continually giving thanks

Troy

Christian Education Minister