Your Daily Devotional for October 14, 2007

 

October 14,  2007

 

 

The Holy Spirit

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

"That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."

 

Romans 8:4-6

 

 

My first real memories of driving a car are from my teenage years as a missionary's son in Seoul, South Korea. Learning to drive in Korea was a frightening experience. The Korean drivers were reckless and loved to use the horns on their cars. Probably the most frightening place to drive was in the areas called "traffic circles." This was an area where several major roads meet and drivers had to drive around a center point to get to the next street. The irony of traffic circles is that you are supposed to quickly get to your street and yield to incoming traffic at the same time.

 

Sometimes our lives are like being on a traffic circle. We continue to go faster and faster yet fail to yield to those around us. Many times we fail to step back from the hectic pace of life and yield to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit desires to fill us and use us but He can't if we do not yield to Him.

 

A yielded Christian is led by the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:14 says, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." If we desire to live a fruitful Christian life, we must be yielded to the Holy Spirit and filled by Him. The Holy Spirit desires to lead us off the traffic circle of spiritual death and onto the road of peace and life as we allow Him to lead us. Today we will see three ministries the Holy Spirit has in each of our lives.

 

First, the Holy Spirit regenerates us when we call on Him. John 3:5-6 says, "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." When we call upon the Lord to save us, the Holy Spirit regenerates us and we become one of God's children!

 

Second, the Holy Spirit intercedes to the Lord for us. Romans 8:26-27 says, "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." The Holy Spirit speaks to God on our behalf!

 

Last, the Spirit illuminates us. Many people claim that the Bible is hard to understand, and it is true that we cannot understand all of it on our own. But God has given us the Holy Spirit to illuminate and enlighten us as we read His Word. He reveals truth to us and applies the Scriptures to our lives.

 

The Holy Spirit desires to lead us and help us in our Christian life, yet we must be yielded to Him. The Holy Spirit came into each of our lives when we accepted Christ and He desires to help us live for God. He regenerated us, intercedes for us, and illuminates us. We must be yielded to Him and seek His help in our lives.

 

Are you yielded to the Holy Spirit? Do you seek His help in your life each day? Before you read God's Word today, ask the Spirit to help you apply the truths you learn to your life. Ask Him to help you understand and live out God's Word. Also ask Him to intercede for you before the Lord. The Holy Spirit desires to help us, but we must first be yielded to Him.

 

 

Daily Bible Reading

Isaiah 43-44 • 1 Thessalonians 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

---

================================================
THIS IS AN AUTOMATED MESSAGE PLEASE DO NOT REPLY
================================================
Manage your online subscriptions at
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-login.aspx

To Unsubscribe from this list please follow this link
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-unsubscribe.aspx?s=4159&l=1