Category Archives: Holy Spirit

If Anyone Is Thirsty

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Holy Spirit - John 7:37-39 - If Anyone Is Thirsty? - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Holy Spirit – John 7:37-39 – If Anyone Is Thirsty? – Growing As Disciples

On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. John 7:37-39 (NIV)

Thirsty 

I did not make myself this way. Or maybe, I should say, I did not do this to myself. You did not make yourself what way? You did not do what to yourself? You know, I did not make myself thirsty for you. Why do you say that? I want to note that it is you who has made me thirsty for you. And before I say more, I will note that I am not just a little bit thirsty for you. I am passionately thirsty for you. Why is it important for you to note that I made you thirsty for me? Well, let me also say that I am so very thankful that you made me thirsty for you. I am filled with hope and peace and joy because I am thirsty for you. I have come to know and love and follow and serve you because I have been thirsty for you. But, in answer to your question, the thirst I have within me tells me that you love and care for me. You wanted me to live in an intimate relationship with you. You were unwilling to let me go. You pursued me. You sought me out. You got my attention. You turned my heart and mind and life toward you. You called to me so that I could hear your voice. Yes, I did. There is one final point that I want to make. What’s that? The fact that I am thirsty for you strengthens my belief in you. How so? Well, I have thirst in me that I couldn’t have originated. I have this thirst in me that I initially did think I wanted or needed. Both the origination and the satisfaction of my thirst comes from you. Yes, it does.

What will you do with your thirst for me? I will seek you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I will look for ways to please you. I will take steps to live in a more intimate relationship with you. I will go where you guide me. I will do what you ask of me. I will make it my priority to meet with you. I will listen to your voice. I will follow your instructions. I will do these things not because I should or most. I will do these things because I love you with all my heart and mind and strength. There is also one thing I know for certain. What’s that? You will continue to satisfy my thirst for you as I live my life with and for you. Yes, I will.  

Lord, I am thirsty. I do hear your call. I do believe in you. I will follow you. You are my Savior and Lord. I will seek you with all my heart, mind, soul and strength. I will come and drink your living water. I will allow the Holy Spirit to satisfy all my thirst for you. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Holy Spirit – John 7-37-39 – If Anyone Is Thirsty – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Come To Me And Drink

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Holy Spirit - John 7:37-39 - Come To Me And Drink - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Holy Spirit – John 7:37-39 – Come To Me And Drink – Growing As Disciples

On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. John 7:37-39 (NIV)

Insatiable Thirst

That is exactly what I was. What’s that? I was thirsty. How so? I was empty inside. There was a void inside of me. I lacked hope and meaning. I had no purpose and direction. I had these vague feelings that there must be more to life. I wanted more. I did not know what that more was. I just knew that somewhere, somehow there was more to life than I was experiencing. I tried to fill that void by seeking comfort and pleasure. I tried to satisfy my thirst by trying to acquire all that the world had to offer. Like what? I tried to acquire wealth and power and possessions. I tried to accomplish achievements and receive recognition. I lived for the applause of the world. Nothing was enough. Nothing was satisfying. No matter what I did I remained empty inside and thirsty for what I did not know. What happened? The course that I was on hurt rather than helped me. How so? The empty and worldly life I was living left me bruised and battered. Living for comfort and pleasure leads to a dark and broken and painful, sin filled life. The wages of the life I was living began to pay it its death to me. Finally, I reached rock bottom. There was nowhere to turn. There was nothing I could do except cry out to you. You remember? Yes, of course I do. I shouted and begged and screamed for you to show yourself to me, if you were real. Yes, you did.

What did I do with your shouts and screams and begging? You accepted them as a prayer. Yes, I did. Did I show myself to you? Did I pull you up from your rock bottom? Yes, you did. You did that and much more. What did I do? You forgave my sins. You cleansed my unrighteousness. You adopted me into your family. You made me to be your child. You gave me a new life and made me alive in you. You put your Holy Spirit in me. You have made it so I can live and walk in an intimate relationship with you. You have given my life hope and meaning and purpose and direction. Yes, I have done all these things for you.

There is something else that you have done for me. There is something else I am especially thankful for. What’s that? You have given me this insatiable thirst for you. I thirst for you and you satisfy me. I thirst for you again and again and you satisfy me again and again. Keep this hunger for you in me. Keep on satisfying my thirst for you. Yes, I will.

Lord, I knew there was a void inside me. I tried to fill my emptiness in many unsatisfying ways. I didn’t know I was really thirsting for you. I wanted an intimate relationship with you. Thank you for drawing me to you and satisfying my never-ending thirst for you. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

The Holy Spirit – John 7-37-39 – Come To Me And Drink – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

A Deposit Guaranteeing

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Holy Spirit - Ephesians 1:13-14 - A Deposit Guaranteeing - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Holy Spirit – Ephesians 1:13-14 – A Deposit Guaranteeing – Growing As Disciples

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13-14 (NIV)

Included

I am included. I heard your word of truth. You called me to come to you. You helped me to respond to you. Yes, I did. What a miracle that was. Why is that? I was so stubborn. I was so self-sufficient and self-reliant. I lived as if I were an island. I did not want or need or accept anything from anyone. I was so full of myself. How did that work out for you? Not well, not at all. How so? I went left when I should have gone right. I went right when I should have gone left. I went ahead when I should have stopped. I stopped when I should have started. I walked a crooked path and bounced around from one meaningless thing to another. I sought comfort and peace and hope in all the wrong places. I lived a bruised and battered life. I used people. People used me. I tried to prove my worth. I tried to earn my acceptance. I was never good enough. I could never accomplish enough. I could not measure up to my or anyone else’s expectations. Finally, I reached rock bottom. I saw no way out. I was filled with discouragement and despair. Life was not working out for me. I saw that.

What did you do when you reached rock bottom? I looked up. I cried out to you. I asked you to show yourself to me. I asked you to forgive my sins. I asked you to come into my life. You came to believe in me? Yes, I did. But, I now know that you were pursuing me. You were watching over me. You were drawing me to you. Yes, I was. I deserve none of the credit for my coming to you. You rescued me from a life without you. You pulled me off the path that led away from you. You pulled me out of the pit of discouragement and despair. You set me on solid ground. You became my firm foundation. You reached out to me. You loved me before I first loved you. You forgave my sins and cleansed me of my unrighteousness. You adopted me into your family. You made me to be your child. You have redeemed my life and given me an inheritance in heaven with you. Yes, I have done all these things for you.

How do you know it’s all true? How do you know for sure that you are redeemed and have an inheritance in heaven with me? What make you so certain? I have your promise. I have your guarantee. How so? You placed your Holy Spirit in me. The Holy Spirit living me in is your promise and guarantee that I am redeemed and that I have an inheritance in heaven with you. That’s true. That’s right. Yes, He is. For that I give you my undying thanks and praise. I love you with all my heart and mind and strength. I am so glad that I am all yours. I am your possession. That is very good.

Father, I do believe. I am marked with a seal. I give you thanks for the Holy Spirit as an wonderful deposit, promise and guarantee of my coming day of redemption and inheritance in Christ. Thank you for marking me in Him and making me your possession. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Holy Spirit – Ephesians 1-13-14 – A Deposit Guaranteeing – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

God’s Spirit Lives In You

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Discipleship Study - Holy Spirit - 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 - God's Spirit Lives In You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Study – Holy Spirit – 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 – God’s Spirit Lives In You – Growing As Disciples

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (NIV)

Your Body 

I know that the your body is the church. I know that you live and dwell in your body, the church. I know that you want your body, the church, to be a bold and bright witness in the world. I also know that the unity that of your brothers and sisters in the church will be a witness in the world that testifies that you do exist. If your body lives in disunity and disharmony the world will not believe that you exist. You are on a roll. Everything that you have said is powerfully true.

What will you do based on what you know about my body? I will make every effort to live in unity and harmony with my brothers and sisters in your body. I will use every one of the gifts and talents and abilities you have given me to build up your body. I will look for every opportunity to lift up and encourage my fellow brothers and sisters in your body. I will think thoughts, speak words and do deeds that will strengthen and sustain your body. These will not be my efforts alone. I will not be operating under my own power and strength. I know that your Holy Spirit will be working in and through me to accomplish these purposes. There is no mystery as to what your will is in regard to your body. You want your body to be living and active and vibrant. You want your body to be a bright and shining witness in the world. You want your body to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Yes, I do.

What won’t you do based on what you know about my body? I will never allow myself to be a source of disunity and disharmony in your body. I will not think thoughts, speak words or do deeds that might bring harm to your body. I will make every effort to see that unity is preserved in your body. I will look for every opportunity to foster love and peace and unity in your body. I won’t shrink back from serving you in your body. I will find my place to serve you in your body. I will take on the role that you have given me in your body. I will allow you to use me to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans through your body. That will be very good. 

Lord, never do I want to do anything that would harm your body, the church, where your Holy Spirit lives and dwells. Use all the gifts and talents and abilities you have given me to build up your body so that it can flourish and grow as your witness in the world. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship study guide click here:

Holy Spirit – 1 Corinthians 3-16-17 – God’s Spirit Lives In You – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

Individual users may save the Discipleship study guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

My Witnesses

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Holy Spirit - Acts 1:8 - My Witnesses - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Holy Spirit – Acts 1:8 – My Witnesses – Growing As Disciples

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 (NIV)

Wait

Don’t think that you have power within yourself to be my witness in the world. Don’t think that all your gifts, talents and abilities will be able to accomplish my purposes and fulfill my plans. Be sure in your heart and mind that apart from me you can do nothing. Rely on me fully. Depend on me completely. Don’t rush off to go and do what you think I want you to do without my help and power. Don’t take one step without me. Do you understand what I am saying to you? Yes Lord, I understand what you are saying to me. I have no doubt about the truth of all that you are saying to me. Why is that? I have an abundance of failed experiences trying to know and do your will based on my power and strength. There is no doubt that you have given me gifts and talents and abilities to serve you. Of that, I am sure. I am just as sure that all my gifts and talents and abilities will accomplish nothing if I rely solely on them to try to accomplish your purpose and fulfill your plans. Why is that? You want me to rely on you. You want me to depend on you. You want me to live in an intimate relationship with you. You want to be able to hear and answer my prayers. The work that I do for you should point others to you. You are the one who should receive all the glory and honor and praise. You want me to be a light in the world for you. You want me to be a witness that draws others to you. The spotlight is not meant to shine on me. The power to bear fruit for your kingdom does not come from me. This is all true.

So what will you do to come to rely on me? I will pray. I will seek you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I will draw near to you as you draw near to me. I will wait for your instructions. I will follow your guidance. I will ask that the power of your Holy Spirit will fill me so that I can go and do your will. I will rely on your Holy Spirit to make me a bold and courageous witness for you in the world. I will let your Holy Spirit’s power work in and through me. I will not rely on myself. I will remain in you. I will wait. When you say go, I will go. That will be very good. The power of my Holy Spirit will work in and through you. 

Holy Spirit, there have been many times when I have rushed off to minister to others without waiting for your anointing. Help me to wait on you. Holy Spirit, fill me afresh so that I will able to be a powerful and fruitful witness for Jesus Christ in the world today. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Holy Spirit – Acts 1-8 – My Witnesses – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Compelled By The Spirit

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Holy Spirit - Acts 20:22-24 - Compelled By The Spirit - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Holy Spirit – Acts 20:22-24 – Compelled By The Spirit – Growing As Disciples

“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. Acts 20:22-24 (NIV)

Called And Compelled 

Are you listening? Can you hear me calling you? I have called you to come near to me. I have called you to listen to me. I want you to hear my guidance. I want you to follow my direction. I have a purpose and plan for your life. I have a race for your to run. I have a task for you to complete. I want you to live your life with and for me. I am listening. I have heard your call. Here I am right now. I have stopped running around. I have withdrawn from the noise and busyness of life. I am attentively listening to everything you want to say to me. I will listen to your guidance. I will follow your direction. I do want to live my life with and for you. I want to know and do your will. I want to fulfill your purposes and complete your plans. I will run the race that you have set before me. I will complete the tasks you have given to me. That is very good. 

There is something I want you to know. It may come as no surprise to you. What’s that? The road ahead will not be easy. You will face obstacles. You will need to overcome barriers. You’re right. That does not come as a big surprise to me. Why is that? The road to right here, where I am right now, has not been easy. In fact, I’m in the midst of difficulty right now. I’m weighed down. I’m burdened. I feel discouraged and depressed. Yes, I know. I will lift you up. I will encourage you. I will strengthen you. I will be your shelter in this storm. I will be your place of refuge in this trouble. Hold on to me. Yes Lord, I will. I will hold on to you. I know that to be true as well. How so? You have never let me go. You have never left me alone. You have always been with me to help me. So am I now. 

There is something else I want you to know. What’s that? I will compel you. I will put a fire in you. You will want to serve me with all your heart and mind and soul and strength. You will have passion burning within you to know me and do my will. You will be on fire to follow and serve me. You will shine brightly for me. I need that passion and fire in me right now. Yes, you do. 

There is one more thing I also want you to know. What’s that? You will have clarity. There will be no doubt in you about where you should go and what you should do. Why is that? I will clearly mark out the race I want you to run as you love, follow and serve me. Are you ready? Yes Lord, I am. That is very good.

Holy Spirit, I know I will face difficulty and obstacles as I go and do what the Lord has given me to do for Him. Help me to have the power and strength I will need to overcome both internal and external obstacles. Help me finish the race and complete the task. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Holy Spirit – Acts 20-22-24 – Compelled By The Spirit – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Fruit Of The Spirit

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Holy Spirit - Galatians 5:22-25 - Fruit Of The Spirit - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Holy Spirit – Galatians 5:22-25 – Fruit Of The Spirit – Growing As Disciples

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Galatians 5:22-26 (NIV)

In Step

That is what I want to do. This is the kind of life that I want to live.  What do you want to do? What kind of life do you want to live? I want to keep in step with you. How will you know if you are keeping in step with me? I will listen to your voice. I will meet with you in your word. I will hear all that you have to say to me. I will put into practice all that you are showing me. I will take hold of you word as it takes hold of me. I will go wherever you guide me. I will do whatever you ask of me. That’s good. What else? What changes will you notice in your heart and mind and life as you keep in step with me? I will notice that my hunger and thirst for God will grow as I keep in step with you. My passion to love and follow and serve Him will increase while my desire for the world will decrease as I keep in step with you. Passion to know God and be known by Him will burn within me. I will want what He wants. I will want to live the life that He has called me to live. He will change the thoughts of my mind, the words of my mouth, and the deeds of my life. I will think and speak and act differently as I keep in step with you. That’s true. What else? Your fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control will grow in me as I keep in step with you. That’s true. Will you be able to notice that my fruit is growing in you on a daily basis? No, probably not, that doesn’t seem likely. Why is that? Little by little and day by day you will be changing me as your fruit is growing in me. I may not notice. I may be the last to notice. But, the growth of your fruit in me is certain as I keep in step with you. Yes, it is. You will mold and shape my life. You will make me into the person I have been called to be. You will enable me to live the life that I have been called to live. Yes, I will as you keep in step with me. Of that, I am certain. That is very good. 

Holy Spirit, help me to keep in step with you. Give me a hunger for you and a distaste for the things of this world. I no longer want to keep in step with my old sinful nature and the passions and desires of this world. Instead, I want your fruit to grow fully in me. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Holy Spirit – Galatians 5-22-25 – Fruit Of The Spirit – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Our Competence Comes From The Lord

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Holy Spirit - 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 - Competent - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Holy Spirit – 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 – Competent – Growing As Disciples

Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant–not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 (NIV) 

Competent

I don’t feel competent. I don’t have confidence. That isn’t all bad. Why is that? Think of all the people that I have used to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. Do you have anyone in mind? I have a one person in mind. Who? I have Moses in mind. You mightily used Him. Yes, I did. He led an entire nation out of captivity. Yes, he did.

Moses is the perfect person for you to have in mind. Why is that? In what way was he lacking confidence? Why did he think that he was not competent? He lacked confidence as a speaker. He struggled with his words. He felt incompetent because he was not well spoken. What did he do when I called him? He argued with you. He tried to avoid doing what you were calling him to go and do. He said he was unable to go and do what you were asking of him. He begged for you to send someone else. Yes, he did. Did I listen to him? Did I let him reject my call? Did I give up on him? Did I go on to use someone else instead of him? No, you did not. You would not let him reject your call. No, I would not. 

Have you argued with me? Have you tried to avoid my call on your life? Have you told me that you were unable to go and do what I asked of you? Yes, I have done all these things. Have I ever given up on you? Have I ever left you alone and set you aside because you convinced me that you were incompetent? No, you have not. Will I listen to your argument? Will I let you out of your call? No you will not.

When Moses was being used by me, what can you be sure of? I can be sure that Moses was not relying on himself to go and do what you were asking of him. He would never do that. Why not? He lacked confidence and felt incompetent. So, isn’t that a good thing that Moses came to rely on me? He allowed me to work in and through his life. I made him competent. I gave him confidence. I was able to work in and through his life. Yes, you were.

Can I work in and through your life? Can I make you competent? Can I give you confidence? Yes, you can. Will you stop arguing with me? Will you come to rely on me? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.  

Lord, in my own strength and with my own abilities I am not qualified or competent to serve you. But, you have made me competent. Thank you for giving me spiritual gifts, talents and abilities with which I can faithfully serve you. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Holy Spirit – 2 Corinthians 3-4-6 – Our Competence Comes From The Lord – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com