THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - This presence, this gift, is the promised Holy Spirit - Forgiveness of our sins is a great blessing of grace won by the sacrifice of Jesus. This blessing is for all who confess Jesus as Lord and Christ, trust his sacrifice to cleanse them from their sins, and are baptized into his name. But there is another gift that is just as precious: God's holy presence placed within each of these cleansed, redeemed, and newly adopted children of God. This presence, this gift, is the promised Holy Spirit. “And Peter said to [the crowd on Pentecost], ‘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. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.’" A promised gift of the new movement of God prophesied in Scripture is the Holy Spirit. We often focus on the forgiveness of our sins, and clearly, this forgiveness is a great blessing of grace won by the sacrifice of Jesus. This blessing is for all who confess Jesus as Lord and Christ, trust his sacrifice to cleanse them from their sins, and are baptized into his name. But there is another gift that is just as precious: God's holy presence placed within each of these cleansed, redeemed, and newly adopted children of God. This presence, this gift, is the promised Holy Spirit. We must never, ever, underestimate this gift that Jesus has poured out on us and placed within us. Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit to cleanse me, indwell me, empower me, transform me, and ultimately bring me to you. Thank you!

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'The Gift'

This presence, this gift, is the promised Holy Spirit

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Forgiveness of our sins is a great blessing of grace won by the sacrifice of Jesus. This blessing is for all who confess Jesus as Lord and Christ, trust his sacrifice to cleanse them from their sins, and are baptized into his name. But there is another gift that is just as precious: God's holy presence placed within each of these cleansed, redeemed, and newly adopted children of God. This presence, this gift, is the promised Holy Spirit.

Phil Ware

God's Holy Fire 

 

“And Peter said to [the crowd on Pentecost], ‘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. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.’" — Acts 2:38-39 ESV

 

A promised gift of the new movement of God prophesied in Scripture is the Holy Spirit.

We often focus on the forgiveness of our sins, and clearly, this forgiveness is a great blessing of grace won by the sacrifice of Jesus.

This blessing is for all who confess Jesus as Lord and Christ, trust his sacrifice to cleanse them from their sins, and are baptized into his name.

But there is another gift that is just as precious: God's holy presence placed within each of these cleansed, redeemed, and newly adopted children of God.

This presence, this gift, is the promised Holy Spirit.

We must never, ever, underestimate this gift that Jesus has poured out on us and placed within us (Titus 3:3-5).

Today's Prayer

O Father, I recognize the very many great gifts that you have poured into my life.

Today, however, I am overwhelmed by your grace and mercy.

You sent and sacrificed Jesus for my sin. You raised Jesus up and conquered the power of death.

And now, Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit to cleanse me, indwell me, empower me, transform me, and ultimately bring me to you.

Thank you!

In Jesus' name.

Amen.

God's Holy Fire is a daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware.

Heartlight Provides Positive Resources for Daily Christian Living.

https://www.heartlight.org/ghf/en/0513/

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Spirit Song

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https://puricarechronicles.blogspot.com/2018/06/spirit-song-maranatha-oh-let-son-of-god.html

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The Holy Spirit

A Demonstration of Power

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Receiving the Holy Spirit Is Just the Beginning

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You Can Soar With Holy Spirit's Prophetic Anointing

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Receiving Your Spiritual Language Through Holy Spirit Baptism

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A TINY GIFT . . . WONDERFULLY WRAPPED, SILENTLY DELIVERED - Gifts are so inseparably linked with Christmas that we can hardly think of one without the other. With all the giving and receiving that happens at Christmastime, it seems right that we pause to think about God’s gift to us . . . His Son. Jesus was the one-of-a-kind, original must-have gift that God intended for every person on earth. No descriptive synonym fits the bill for the person of Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes and given to us at Christmastime. “This gift too wonderful for words!” Jesus was so much more than a tiny baby lying in a manger! As we gaze closer and think deeper, we see Jesus wrapped in more than swaddling clothes . . . much more - Since the first Christmas celebration, one word has crossed everyone’s lips more than any other this time of year. It isn’t the word carol or tree or food. It’s gift. We all have lists of gifts we hope to buy — and some of us have lists of gifts we hope to receive. With all the giving and receiving that happens at Christmastime, it seems right that we pause to think about God’s gift to us . . . His Son. Jesus was the one-of-a-kind, original must-have gift that God intended for every person on earth. Reflecting on God’s generosity in giving His Son, the apostle Paul penned my favorite Christmas verse. “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” Paul’s pen paused when he came to this simple four letter word, “gift,” and after giving it careful thought, he wrote, it’s “indescribable.”

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A Tiny Gift . . . Wonderfully Wrapped, Silently Delivered

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Gifts are so inseparably linked with Christmas that we can hardly think of one without the other. With all the giving and receiving that happens at Christmastime, it seems right that we pause to think about God’s gift to us . . . His Son. Jesus was the one-of-a-kind, original must-have gift that God intended for every person on earth. No descriptive synonym fits the bill for the person of Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes and given to us at Christmastime. “This gift too wonderful for words!” Jesus was so much more than a tiny baby lying in a manger! As we gaze closer and think deeper, we see Jesus wrapped in more than swaddling clothes . . . much more!

by Pastor Chuck Swindoll

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”
(2 Corinthians 9:15, NASB)

Since the first Christmas celebration, one word has crossed everyone’s lips more than any other this time of year.

It isn’t the word carol or tree or food.

It’s gift.

Gifts are so inseparably linked with Christmas that we can hardly think of one without the other.

If you listen to conversations in stores this month, I’m sure you’ll hear gift mentioned several times.

We all have lists of gifts we hope to buy — and some of us have lists of gifts we hope to receive.

I remember one of my children every year would present me with a carefully printed Christmas list.

It even included optional gifts

I could choose to give if I wanted to and always those essential gifts that were not optional — the must-have gifts!

With all the giving and receiving that happens at Christmastime, it seems right that we pause to think about God’s gift to us . . . His Son.

Jesus was the one-of-a-kind, original must-have gift that God intended for every person on earth.

Reflecting on God’s generosity in giving His Son, the apostle Paul penned my favorite Christmas verse.

I always love seeing it on Christmas cards:

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”
(2 Corinthians 9:15, NASB)

It doesn’t fit in what we usually call the “Christmas Narrative,” but it’s my favorite because it communicates a true sense of awe found in the Baby in the manger.

Paul was a brilliant man with a broad vocabulary.

He was competent in his use of the Greek language, an excellent teacher and communicator both on his feet as well as on parchment.

He was the most prolific writer of the New Testament and, apart from Jesus Christ, perhaps the greatest theological mind that has existed.

Yet, Paul’s pen paused when he came to this simple four‑letter word, “gift,” and after giving it careful thought, he wrote, it’s “indescribable.”

As he dipped into the treasure of his knowledge, he could not find any word existing in his day that could describe God’s gift.

No descriptive synonym fits the bill for the person of Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes and given to us at Christmastime.

Paul was suddenly and completely at a loss. What word should he use?

The King James Bible says, “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”

Kenneth Wuest, in his expanded translation, writes: “Thanks be to God for His ineffable gift.” 

The English Standard Version reads, “His inexpressible gift!” 

The New Living Translation, “This gift too wonderful for words!”

The Amplified Classic Edition, “His Gift, [precious] beyond telling!”

Why is God’s gift indescribable, unspeakable, ineffable, inexpressible, too wonderful for words, and precious beyond telling?

One simple reason: Jesus was so much more than a tiny baby lying in a manger!

As we gaze closer and think deeper, we see Jesus wrapped in more than swaddling clothes . . . much more!

First, Jesus was wrapped in prophecy.

Read Isaiah’s astounding prophecy of Jesus as mighty God and eternal King centuries before Jesus was born.

“For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His government and its peace
will never end.” (Isaiah 9:6–7)

Second, Jesus was wrapped in history.

Sovereign over time, God wove the events of history so that they dovetailed perfectly, at just the right time, with prophecy.

“But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.“ (Galatians 4:4–5)

Third, and most significantly in this context, Jesus was wrapped in mystery.

True “awe” resides in the mystery of Jesus’ nature.

Even in this tiny baby, we find undiminished deity clothed in perfect humanity.

Linking the two natures together in one personality, housed in one unique body, the God‑man Jesus was born.

No less deity, no less humanity, in one person, in one body, forever.

That’s awe-inspiring mystery!

No wonder hosts of angels declared in unison, “Glory to God in highest heaven!”  (Luke 2:14) 

What words fail to describe only worship can express.

This is why the Christmas story must be repeated in God’s words time after time after time, year after year!

That’s the only way people will hear the truth . . . and believe it.

So, as you celebrate Christmas this season, sing the carols, enjoy the food, and exchange the gifts.

But don’t let the season pass without remembering the prophecy, the history, and the mystery that surrounds the original, must-have, indescribable Gift: that tiny baby wonderfully wrapped, silently delivered . . . eternally adored.

Pastor Chuck Swindoll has devoted his life to the accurate, practical teaching and application of God’s Word. Since 1998, he has served as the senior pastor-teacher of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas, but Chuck’s listening audience extends beyond a local church body. As a leading program in Christian broadcasting since 1979, Insight for Living airs around the world. Chuck’s leadership as president and now chancellor of Dallas Theological Seminary has helped prepare and equip a new generation for ministry.

https://insight.org/resources/article-library/individual/a-tiny-gift-.-.-.-wonderfully-wrapped-silently-delivered

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A King Is Born

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A CHRISTMAS PRAYER - “Precious Father, before we open our gifts tonight, first we thank You for the greatest gift, Jesus, Your Son, our Savior. In the light of this tree, we are reminded of the tree, the cross, where Your gift of eternal life was presented to us. So, from the foot of this tree, we bow at the foot of the one from which the Light of the world sheds Your glory to all of us. Please be praised, O Lord, as our giving in love here remembers Your Gift of Love there. Amen.”

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A Christmas Prayer

Jack Hayford

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – (Romans 6:23)

Understandable excitement filled the house this Christmas Eve.

All the children and the grandchildren were there, gathered from points far and near.

A festive yet holy atmosphere filled the room, as lights were dimmed and only multi-colored Christmas tree lights now twinkled. Presents would soon be unwrapped, but first, at the gentle beckoning of Grandpa’s hand, the room quieted to the very youngest grandchild.  

Smiling, Grandpa began, as all harmonized with him in song: “… so loved He the world that He gave us His Son.”

Then all worshipfully bowed as Grandpa prayed: 

“Precious Father, before we open our gifts tonight, first we thank You for the greatest gift, Jesus, Your Son, our Savior. In the light of this tree, we are reminded of the tree, the cross, where Your gift of eternal life was presented to us. So, from the foot of this tree, we bow at the foot of the one from which the Light of the world sheds Your glory to all of us. Please be praised, O Lord, as our giving in love here remembers Your Gift of Love there. Amen.” 

Jack Hayford knows the awesome power of God firsthand. When he was a baby, he was gripped by a life-threatening illness. But as a result of the earnest prayers of friends and family, he was miraculously healed. The doctors had no other explanation except that the grace of God snatched him back from the brink of death. Several years later, Jack was struck down again by sickness. This time it was polio. The church elders anointed him and prayed for his recovery. God heard their petitions and granted a second miracle. These two extraordinary events ignited in Jack's heart a passion for God and convinced him that the Holy Spirit is alive and active in the contemporary church. "Contrary to our preconceptions, God is not economical with healings and miracles. Such wondrous works are frequently attending the proclamation of truth in Jesus' name," asserts Pastor Jack.

Jack Hayford serves as Chancellor of The Kings University (formerly The King's College and Seminary) in Los Angeles and Dallas, which he founded in 1997. From 2004 to 2009, he also served as President of The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. He is probably best known, however, as "Pastor Jack," founding pastor of The Church On The Way in Van Nuys, California, where he served as senior pastor for more than three decades. A prolific and best-selling writer, Pastor Hayford is the author (or co-author) of more than fifty books and has composed 500 hymns and choruses, including the internationally known and widely recorded "Majesty."

He is an acknowledged "bridge-builder," helping to forge healthy bonds among all segments of the Body of Christ. He is recognized for his balance in preaching the Word, avoiding extremes while not diluting or compromising the demands of truth. Pastor Jack's heart to bring unity across all denominational and racial boundaries has given him an open door to minister in all kinds of settings

Dr. Hayford and his wife, Anna, have four children, eleven grandchildren, and a growing number of great-grandchildren.

https://www.jackhayford.org/teaching/devotional/a-christmas-prayer/