Lesson 14 – When the Spirit Advises

Genesis 41:37-38

So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. And Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?"

Consider what Pharaoh and his entourage saw in the life of Joseph. It wasn't the grief of a man who was sold into slavery by his very brothers. It wasn't the broken spirit of one wrongly imprisoned for attempting to rape his Egyptian master's wife. It wasn't a man pleading his innocence or thumping his chest as he claimed to be a seer of the Lord Most High.

So, what did Pharaoh see? I think he witnesses the humility of one who had not only been touched by the Spirit, but the life of one who followed the Spirit's advice. Joseph's advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh. No doubt, that advice came as Pharaoh noted from the Spirit of God!

O that every believer would hear the advice of the Spirit living within us. O that every believer would not only hear, but would be yielded to the Spirit's direction. O that every believer would not only be yielded, but would remain faithful to God even when that direction leads us to trial.

Joseph could have easily given up all hope while in prison. He could have accused God of abandoning him. I've seen it many times. When life grows difficult, those who aren't listening for the Spirit's advice turn and run from God's direction. These are the believers who drop out of the church, seemingly no longer a part of the body of Christ.

I wonder how our lives would be different if we asked the Spirit to clearly show us Godly advice. I'm not talking about just going to God for those big decisions, but allowing the Spirit to speak while we wait in humility for his voice throughout the day. Not that our daily living patterns would change every day, but we'd be just like Joseph, ready to heed whenever the Spirit gives direction.

Like so many others, I'm not very good at taking advice. After all, I can think for myself and like to think I do a pretty good job at it most of the time. Probably so for you as well, but wouldn't it be all the more for God's glory if we learned to yield to the Spirit's advice so that others see God in us?

LORD JESUS

I invite you touch my life so that I hear your advice. I know my own desires too often get in the way. I get too busy to listen. I'm too troubled to pray. I'm too engaged with others to spend time with you. O that my heart would be changed so that I follow your every direction. Amen.

Lesson 13 – When the Spirit Doesn’t Forgive

Matthew 12:31-32

But "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

The unpardonable sin is a dreadful thought, though it's not suicide as often heralded by those with just enough Bible teaching to be dangerous. Instead, the unpardonable sin is to reject that touch which brings about our salvation, the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus taught we can even reject him, but still find forgiveness. How can this be so? You see, although Christ is God in flesh, the Incarnate Lord living among us, our salvation is based upon the touch of the Spirit. Denying Christ can be forgiven as long as the Spirit continues to call upon your life, offering God's forgiveness.

One of the questions often asked is this, "Does there come a time when the Spirit will no longer call upon your life?" Does God give up on us and quit calling us to confess our sins and turn to faith in Jesus? I can't say for sure, but if there is, that is the point of the unpardonable sin. When a life can no longer respond to the Spirit's knock because the Spirit is withdrawn by God, there is no longer any hope for forgiveness. Sins will not be pardoned.

Notice the reference to the "age to come". While our Lord is a God of second chances, we can say for sure that when the age to come is upon us, our time for forgiveness is up. The game is over. All ties are broken. Without entering into eternity with the Spirit's touch, you forfeit every opportunity for forgiveness.

So the lesson is clear. Now is the time for our salvation. Now is the time to plead for forgiveness and experience the Spirit's touch. Don't wait until it is too late to know the Lord. He may give you a lifetime to come to faith, but that opportunity is only for this life. In the thereafter, there is no longer any opportunity for faith.

LORD JESUS

I thank you that you've given my life a chance to your forgiveness and that you continue to call men and women to faith in your love for us. Amen.

Also Luke 12:10

Lesson 12 – When the Spirit Casts Out

Matthew 12:28-30

But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.

If your life is part of the public spectrum you know what it is like to live with constant criticism. Maybe you're not assailed as much as a politician, but opposition to your every decision weights you down.

Jesus too faced unfounded criticism. Unable to counter Godly teaching, the Pharisees diverted attention from Christ by accusing him of receiving miraculous powers from Satan. Jesus responds with brilliant argument, one so clear there is no doubt the power displayed in his life was not only not of Satan, but used solely in opposition to evil. There was no room to falsely accuse our Lord of working against the Father.

So often, those on fire for our Lord are accused by those who have no real desire to understand the deepness of their faith. You see it all the time. Churches drawing large crowds are spoken of as having softened the requirements of the gospel. Believers rejoicing in their faith are said to be living in a dream land, one that will return to reality when they begin to face the troubles of life. Those who claim miracles or having seen angels must be stretching the truth as liars, just seeing things, or seeking fame and attention. Religion has always shied away from those things we cannot explain, and criticism has been our weapon of choice to combat those we oppose.

Still, when people don't see the power of Christ in us, there is nothing to draw them to faith. Maybe it is time for believers to ask the Spirit to reach out and touch us in such a way that we'll be wrongly accused of having some supernatural power living within us.

As it is, most of us don't seem to have any sort of Spiritual touch upon our lives. As often illustrated, a court would have a hard time of convicting us of being a believer. Without the touch of the Spirit casting out evil from our lives, we're simply not an outstanding witness of our Lord.

LORD JESUS

I invite you touch my life so that others will see you in me. Control me with your Spirit and may it overflow so that others will be drawn to you. Amen.

Lesson 11 – When the Spirit Comes for Justice

Matthew 12:18

Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put my Spirit upon Him, and He will declare justice to the Gentiles.

I suspect this is just the first of the many times we'll see the Spirit coming upon humanity, though in this case, the Spirit is said to come upon Christ. Can you imagine, God placing his Spirit upon God living in flesh? I've often wondered why this needed to happen to Christ. Surely the Spirit was already upon the Incarnated God.

No, there was no need for the Spirit to come upon Christ as he does for us to bring our salvation. This coming of the Spirit is that of the coming of God's enabling power upon the humanity side of our Lord, much like the Spirit comes upon the life of a believer to enable them to serve the Lord in difficult times.

Here, we're told that Christ receives the Spirit of the Father to bring a message of justice to the Gentiles. Not to Israel, but for the rest of us. We're not of the family God chose to reveal himself, but we're now included in those who receive the Savior.

So what is this message of justice we needed to hear? Later, Paul would write of the mystery of Christ. The mystery that the Lord of the Jews is also bringing salvation to the Gentiles. This is God's justice, and it was made possible by the coming of the Spirit upon Christ. And with the power of the Spirit at work in us, salvation is for everyone who believes. None need be be excluded. God's love is not an Eastern thing or a Western thing. Even today, it is not a message of love for America, but a longing for every human being. That's God's sense of justice!

I wonder what the world would be like today if the Spirit would reach out and touch us in the same way. A touch for justice. If the Spirit would come on us in this way, we'd fully know God's love for us and be made to love those different than we are in race, social backgrounds, sense of morality and interests. You know those people. They embrace fashion trends which make us uncomfortable. Some struggle with their English as they learn a new way of life. Sometimes, they are homeless, or hungry, or in prisons. But with a heavy dose of the Holy Spirit and God's sense of justice, we'd be empowered to hug even those the world deems as unlovable.

It all starts with a touch of the Spirit coming down upon us for justice. I wonder, could it be that many in our nation suffer greatly simply because the church has failed to know the Spirit who comes for justice? If that's the case, surely our Lord is not well pleased!

LORD JESUS

I invite you fill my heart with your Spirit so that I may understand your sense of justice. Not a justice that seeks my own benefit, but the justice you seek to bring to everyone. Amen.

Lesson 10 – When the Spirit Speaks in You

Matthew 10:16-20

Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

For many, just the thought of public speaking causes knees to shake, palms to sweat, and faces to turn red. Few naturally enjoy standing before a crowd and speaking, especially when you know you are being judged on what you are saying. To make matters worse, imagine speaking before an enemy who held power over your life!

But that's just what our Lord warns about. As believers, some of us will be challenged emotionally and others persecuted physically for our faith. But Christ's warning was not to be one which caused us cower away in fear, but to encourage us to stand in the knowledge that the Spirit would be there to speak on God's behalf. It's simply our job to be obedient the Father's words and speak the message he directs.

When I preach, I wonder if I'll be sufficient to speak the message the Lord indicates in the text. Sometimes I want to believe the passage doesn't say what it clearly indicates. Maybe I can claim it doesn't apply to today's church. I'm tempted to simply skip those verses and move on to one of the more familiar passages. In those times, I do well to remember it is the Spirit who speaks through me. This is his sermon and not my own. I'm just the instrument of his voice, having no right at all to question God's message.

While I'm thankful we do not to live in a day or age or place where the church is physically confronted, my prayer is we'll prove faithful to listen to the Father's Spirit within us every time we speak, no matter what the circumstance. If we'll trust the Spirit's presence, we'll surely be more bold in declaring our faith among the nations.

LORD JESUS

May my heart always be in tune with the message you give to me from the Father and desire to speak through me by your Spirit. Amen.

See also Mark 13:11 and Luke 12:12

Lesson 9 – When the Spirit Confuses

Genesis 11:7-8

"Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech." So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city.

Look again at the third word of this text. The capital letter in "Us" gives the Spirit away. Father, Son and Spirit. All are reaching out to touch humanity when those gathered at Babel decided to "make a name for themselves" (Gen 11:4.)

And how did the Spirit choose to touch mankind? Certainly not in a way in which is almost never associated with the Spirit. Clearly not according to most believers' expectations for an interaction with the Spirit. When man began to glorify himself above God by trying to reach to the heavens, God chose to act, and the Spirit was there.

And what did the Lord do here? He confused mankind's understanding of speech and language so that the people of Babel scattered and congregated with those who now spoke their new languages. In some ways, we've remained confused ever since. I certainly can't understand the speech of those from other nations!

So, is the Spirit apt to reach out and touch the lives of believers today to confuse things for us? Would the God who often reveals his character as loving, merciful and patient take action against the Church to bring our lives into disarray? Here's my take. Since the Lord is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, I see no reason for the Spirit to be out of the business of confusing the Church.

Anytime we make out ourselves to be of equal or greater glory than God, we're setting up things for the Spirit to step in and take charge. Our confusion may not be with language, but it will be one crisis or another intended to bring about an adjustment in our lives. Too often though, we fight the correction instead of making the godly change.

Unfortunately, that just causes the Spirit to act even more directly against the church. Be warned. It is a fearful thing to fall under the discipline of the Spirit who confuses. God is a jealous god and will not stand silent when we steal his glory.

LORD JESUS

I'm afraid I spend too much time trying to make a name for myself. In your mercies, I ask for your gentleness in correction and the wisdom to know when the Spirit is leading me to change. Amen.

Lesson 8 – When the Spirit Leads to Temptation

Matthew 4:1

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil."

I've never liked this passage at all. I really don't want to know that the Spirit might reach out and touch me in a way which might ultimately expose my weaknesses. And I doubt Jesus looked forward to the Spirit's touch this day either. After all, who wants to undergo temptation? Who wants to suffer? Who would want to be found unworthy?

Still, I suspect we're led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted more often than we care to know. You see, God gets the most glory when we make a free choice to stand up to temptation. He's like a parent beaming when their child is caught doing the right thing when no one is watching. The stakes here are great. Not only is God watching our response to temptation, but so is the Adversary. Will God get the glory in your life?

God could have chosen to showcase his power in us by controlling every aspect of our lives, making every thought, word, motion be lived in obedience. But he chose another, the one we call free will. In God's grace, each of us is free to respond as we will in the face of every temptation. In obedience to God in temptation, our Lord is glorified.

So will we respond as Christ, rebuking Satan's arguments to walk away from our faith? Will we embrace the Devil's offer for an easy way out when our physical needs get the best of us? Will we test God by putting ourselves in peril through stupidity or laziness? Will we smell the aroma of power and give up our faith to be in charge, living for our glory alone? Or will we be as Christ, giving God all the glory?

Here's the key to resisting temptation. Understand that not only does the Spirit lead us to be tested, he is there to strengthen our hearts in the midst of every trial. All we have to do is look to the Spirit for God's righteous way that is promised to us as we yield to the Spirit.

Maybe you can't quote the Bible from memory. Maybe you're used to failing more than obeying. Maybe God's glory has been far from you. Still, the Spirit's touch is available for your life, and if you'll surrender to him, your life will glorify God even when the Spirit leads you to be tempted.

LORD JESUS

I know I give into sin way too often in my life. My desire is to glorify you, so I ask for not only the leading of the Spirit, even if that includes the desert, but also the strengthening of your Spirit in my life. Amen.

Lesson 7 – When the Spirit Descends

Matthew 3:16

When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

O that each of us could hear these words from the Father. "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." To be found fully and completely in God's will. To be growing in faith. To be about the Lord's work. To be acknowledged by God. To know the Spirit's power in my life.

All the gospels record this event in Christ's life, so that it in itself speaks of the event's importance. John the Baptizer tries to persuade Jesus he doesn't need to be baptized, and then gives in to "fulfill all righteousness" (Mat 3:15). Not only did John probably not understand this, I suspect that neither can we fully know why the most righteous man who ever walked this earth needed to be baptized for righteousness' sake.

Notice the Spirit of God touching the Savior in the form of a dove. God surely didn't want the crowd to miss this, and neither should you. Here's the point. When God decides to touch your life in a special way, it is with the Spirit coming on you in power. Sure, you won't see a dove when the Spirit comes down, but just as surely as the Lord was touched of the Spirit and empowered for ministry in his life, you will be too when you surrender to the Lord's work in your life.

John baptized for the remission of sins, dunking sinners who had repented and turned from their sins. They were baptized in water in a familiar Jewish way to tell the world of their new commitment. In the same way, the Spirit baptizes our hearts when we turn from our sins and when he decides to reach out and touch our lives in power to fulfill the Lord's ministries today.

O that the Spirit would be poured out on the hearts and lives of all people today. Not only would the Lord be glorified, but the change of lives that comes with an outpouring of the Spirit, there is no doubt our entire world would be changed.

LORD JESUS

May you be pleased with my life. I've turned from my sins and I've followed your example in water baptism. Now may your Spirit continually touch me so I know your power and sustainment in serving you all the days of my life. Amen

See also Luke 3:22

Lesson 6 – When the Spirit Baptizes

Matthew 3:11

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

The most important touch of the Spirit in your life is surely Spirit baptism. While we rejoice when a sinner realizes the position of their life before God and calls out in repentance, it is not this change of heart that brings about our salvation. That is reserved for the Spirit's touch - when the Spirit baptizes the believer. This touch generates new life. With Spirit baptism, we are born again (John 3:5).

John the Baptizer reminds us the Spirit will touch every one of us. You will either be baptized of the Spirit to new life, or of fire in judgment. Christ will baptize with both. At the time of judgment, Jesus will separate all humanity into wheat and chaff. Those already baptized of the Spirit are considered the wheat. This is the Church of those who belong to the Lord. They are the ones of the Kingdom of God. Everyone else is chaff, ready for the winnowing.

Of course, chaff has no value. It cannot be eaten, cannot be made bread, and cannot give life. Its only value is as fuel for the fire. So which baptism have you? Is it the touch of the Spirit's anointing life, or are you awaiting a judgmental baptism by unquenchable fire?

Sure, some will rightly point out that Spirit baptism is also related to fire. This is the power of the Spirit living in you as revealed at Pentecost, but don't miss the point John makes for us in this text. He's not talking about the Spirit's fire living in believers. He's referring to judgmental fire. The righteous Lord condemns all who refuse to bow down their hearts in true repentance and worship.

Spirit baptism is God's anointing power in your life. To be changed. To be renewed. To be forgiven. To be declared righteous.

LORD JESUS

May our hearts be touched by the anointing presence of your Spirit. Cover us in your grace. Cleanse us from our sins. Create in us a new heart. Amen

Lesson 5 - When the Spirit Strives

Genesis 6:3

And the Lord said, 'My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.

God said enough. The Spirit would no longer strive with man. Enough had become ENOUGH. Of unrepentant sin. Of rampant sexuality. Of hearts which got up every morning and went to sleep every night planning and scheming and thinking only of iniquity. God said enough!

While a parent or teacher sometimes reaches a breaking point with the kids and acts out in sinful anger, surely that wasn't the case with God. He acted, instead, out of a righteous anger. God's patience and long-suffering had come to an end. Enough was enough. The Spirit would strive with mankind no longer.

You remember the story of the Great Flood. With enough, God withdrew his Spirit in righteous anger and destroyed the earth in a flood. But don't miss the rest of the story. It wasn't just an account of judgment. Noah found grace with God. Rest assured, grace had not been lost and wasn't in need of being searched for and found as some missing object. In fact, grace had never gone away at all. The Spirit's presence, even in striving with men was an act of God's grace.

So why did Noah find God's grace? I think it was because his life was surrendered unto the Lord. He was given in to the Holy Spirit of God. But for the rest of the people, the Spirit would not continue to strive. Grace was withdrawn.

Be warned, the Spirit will not always strive with sinful man. If we continue to resist the direction God is leading or pushing us, God may just give up on us. Enough is enough. Sometimes, there are no second chances.

The good news is that the Lord is still in the business of giving away grace. God would much rather touch you with the Spirit's grace than to strive with you. He wants to give you his love, but like those first generations, we face a choice. We can come to God in obedience and find grace, or we can strive with the Spirit and face God's righteous wrath.

Let Noah's flood tell the story. There can be no doubt God will not continue to strive forever with our sins.

LORD JESUS

Though we rightfully live in fear of striving with your Spirit, we all the more lift up our hearts in thanksgiving for your grace. May you turn us from striving and teach our hearts to be surrendered unto you. Amen.

Lesson 4 - When the Spirit Conceives

Matthew 1:18

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.

Found with child. Surely those are profound, even staggering, words of our Lord's birth. I can almost hear the unbelief seeping out of Joseph's heart when he first learned of Mary's pregnancy. And what about Mary? Surely she knew no one would believe the Spirit had touched her in a pregnancy. What about her family? Would they cast her out and leave her to make do with all the world had to offer in the shame of her day?

Even with the comfort of angels, surely this touching could not be true. After all, a man and woman just don't conceive without a physical union.

But that was the key. There was no physical act of marriage between Joseph and Mary. Nor was there premarital sex at all. This was a Spiritual union, with God becoming a part of humanity, entering into Mary's womb. Physically, but in no way sexually, the Spirit touches humanity in a way never experienced before, and never to be done again.

With the Spirit's touch, God enters into the very personal and intimate world of humanity, making possible a new touch of the Spirit to every person who turns to the Lord who went to the cross. Not that we all receive new life from the Spirit, but the possibility has been made into a reality. God has become a part of our history.

This work of the Spirit in history began Christ's journey to the cross. It began with the physical touch of the Spirit. One conception led to another and makes possible the conception of our new birth in Christ.

Matthew records Jesus would be called Immanuel. Not just any old name, and not just to help tie the story to the Old Testament prophecy of the Messiah. More importantly is what the touch of the Spirit means, not just for Mary, but for all of us.

Just so we don't miss the point, Matthew tells us. The Spirit's touch brought God into touch with humanity. With the Spirit, Jesus becomes "God with us."

Lord Jesus

I thank you for that miraculous conception. Without sinful humanity's seed, you entered into the realm of my world, beginning your journey to the cross for my sin. Whenever I see a new born baby, may I remember the Spirit stepped into history, becoming our "God with us." Amen.

Lesson 3 - When the Spirit Breathes

Genesis 2:7

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

A play on words - breath and Spirit. Both mean the same, with one referring to oxygen and the other to the presence of God. Both are needed for life. Without oxygen, there is no physical being, and without the Spirit, there can be no everlasting life.

When God the Spirit breathes, there is life.

The same miraculous power of the Spirit which breathed life into Adam breathes life into all who are born to this day. We've inherited Adam's DNA, and with it, we only know physical life because of the Spirit's breath.

Sure, you're not born of the dust of the earth, but just as surely as Adam found physical life through the breath of the Spirit, so does every new born baby.

Surely you know by now that life becomes precious from even before that first breath. Just ask any pregnant woman and they will tell you of the life within them. From your conception, the Spirit knew you and prepared you for that first breath.

No man or woman is hidden from the presence of God. The Spirit was there at the first breath, and he greatly desires to be there for a new breath, that which brings everlasting life.

Believers get a brand new start at eternal life, one not corrupted in sin. John's gospel records that Jesus tells Nicodemus, "Unless one is born of the again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3). Actually, it was more than just a telling of facts. It's more like warning with a sense of urgency. You who have life by the Spirit's first breath, now is the time accept the life-giving presence of the Spirit's second breath.

We all need a new breath of the Spirit. Not for oxygen anymore, but for God's everlasting presence. This is the second birth. The touch of the Spirit is the breath of God and the life he brings. Not just once, but a second breath for all who will believe.

Lord Jesus

I thank you for two breaths of the Spirit. I know my physical life is a miracle of you. Every new life born today I claim as a miracle from above. And in your grace, you've touched my life again. This time, it was a second breath of the Spirit, one bringing everlasting life with you. Amen.

Lesson 2 - When the Spirit Reflects God’s Image

Genesis 1:26

Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.'

"Us" communicates one of theology's most profound lessons. Simply, our God is One. From the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, that God was an "Us". Of course, we can't fully understand this now, and maybe never will. The God of our faith, revealed as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is but one and equal God.

Of course, the doctrine of the Trinity is the church's attempt to help make sense of this plurality of oneness. Still, while most Christians don't hesitate to lift up praises to the Father or to the Son in worship, we struggle with the Holy Spirit. But God knew this struggle was coming, so he gives us an image to see the God who is One.

"Our image" tells us any time God reveals himself to us, be it as Father, Son or Spirit, we are experiencing God's presence. Thus, the Spirit is equally the Father we pray to and the Jesus we worship. All are the one God who was there in the beginning, creating the heavens and the earth.

"Our image" suggests we needn't have competing images of our God. While we read of God as the Father of Lights, the Son of the Cross, and the Church's Indwelling Spirit, we need to know all are equally God's image to us. They are but one picture of God, regardless of how we choose to categorize this image

Still, it seems it is only when we include the Spirit in our image of God that we can fully experience our faith today. After all, when was the last time God spoke to you through a burning bush, or in a still small voice, or even face to face?

When God wants to show us his image today, he is most likely to reach out through the Spirit. It might be in a dream, or in communion with my spirit, an enlightenment of the written Word, or the voice of a preacher. But when God speaks today, he is probably doing it through the Spirit.

But don't feel cheated. When you experience the Spirit, you still know all of God. You get the complete image.

Since it is the Spirit which reflects God's image today, for others to see Jesus in you, they have to see the Spirit in you. When the Spirit controls your life, your efforts to live for God's glory reflect the image of the Spirit in you.

As the Spirit indwells your life, you can't help but reflect the image of God. The Spirit is God's image.

Lord Jesus

May my life seek to reflect the image of the Spirit living within me. May I do nothing to suppress, hide or stifle your personality as the Spirit controls my life. Amen.

See Genesis 3:22 for a similar lesson.

Lesson 1 – When the Spirit Hovers

Genesis 1:2

The earth was without form, and void; and the darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

With these words, God gives us a first glimpse into the creation story. With these words, I'm overwhelmed to know that God has never left us alone. The Spirit has always been there, hovering over the new heavens and earth. There was God as Spirit, hovering over every created being, over all humanity.

The Spirit has always been God's instrument of reaching out to touch humanity. But the Spirit is not just a tool used in the hands of God. The Spirit is God. Just as Christ was at creation in the beginning, so was the Spirit.

So with hovering begins the story of God's touch. It is God at his best, actively involved in our history. In fact, there is no history apart from the Spirit hovering to shape and form and create all that we know as real, to include those things we've yet to discover.

When Spirit hovers, we see God at work, caring for his creation. Let there be no question in your mind, God cares about you and comes as the Spirit to hover over your life.

Hovering is the picture of a young mother intently watching her newborn sleep, ready to step in at the first notice of a breathing problem. It is Jesus Christ, standing guard over the Church as a shepherd would watch his sheep. God hovers at the door of your life, always politely knocking, ready to enter if you'd just open your heart to him.

The next time I wonder where God is hiding during my struggles in life, I'll remember he's always been there as the hovering Spirit. Ready at a moment's notice to reach out hold my hand….Ready to assume all of my burdens….Ready to ascend the throne of my life as Lord.

Hovering tells us that God is ever present. Not just when we sense him in our prayers or praises, but there as the Spirit, just as he was in the beginning. The omnipresent God has one nature--that of the hovering Spirit.

I've learned that with unfair tragedy, and alongside every child who longs for a loving parent, and even in the loneliness of what was promised to be a victimless divorce, God is with us in every way. The Spirit keeps us in touch with the Lord. The Spirit is God hovering over you.

The story of the Spirit is both simple and profound. From the beginning of creation, God reached out and touched us. He is the Spirit Who Hovers.

LORD JESUS

May I constantly remember you are hovering over my life. May I learn to see you in new ways so that I fully come to know how real your presence promises to be. Amen.