Jesus said “When the Friend I plan to send you from the Father comes — the Spirit of Truth issuing from the Father — he will confirm everything about me.”  (John 15:26)

I have always been amazed at how Jesus uses the last few hours of his life to prepare his followers for their ordeal as he faces the cross, their wonder in his resurrection, and their amazement at his ascension. There is so much happening all at once that is so unexpected. They are eyewitnesses of it all, but how will they remember it? How can they be confident in what they do remember?

Jesus makes it clear that there is one ultimate answer to their questions: The Friend he sends from the Father, the Spirit of Truth! The Spirit will guide and confirm their message as well as empower them to share it boldly. And as we personally pass through the events of the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus in our own baptism, we are given this same Spirit of Truth to help guide us into this same truth they proclaim.

The Holy Spirit is our connection to the Source of the story, the truth of the story, and the power of the story of Jesus. No wonder Jesus had taught that we had to be “born of water and of the Spirit” (John 3:3-37)

Prayer: O Father, thank you that the gospel is so simple and clear – that Jesus died for me and was buried just as the Scriptures had said, and that he was raised from the dead. Thank you that I have been able to share in this incredible set of events through my own trust in Jesus as Lord and my baptism as I called on his name. Thank you that the power of his resurrection now is alive in me through the Holy Spirit. Thank you, O God, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. - (Colossians 3:16)

Many translations use the term “spiritual songs” and so we miss the connection. From the point of view of the early believers, for anything to truly be “spiritual” they have involved the Holy Spirit.

Worship, and in particular singing, offers the Holy Spirit a great place to be active in our lives and the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ (Eph. 5:17-21). Whether in worship moments that are large or small, formal or informal, in the “big box” (church building) or in private places, let’s ask for the Holy Spirit to be active, powerfully moving and inspiring us as we worship!

Take a look at the spiritual songs we have here – Christian Devotional English Songs

Prayer : God Almighty, thank you for giving us music! Singing moves my heart and inspires me to action. I ask that in every venue that I find myself worshiping in song that your Holy Spirit will be active in my heart to inspire me to holy living, ministry, and compassion. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation — a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth - (2 Thessalonians 2:13)

Salvation is connected to two central realities — first, we trust the truth about Jesus, and second, the Spirit of God comes into our lives, making us holy and making his home inside us. Paul uses it as confirmation to the Thessalonians to help remind them of their salvation.

Jesus talks about these two central realities with Nicodemus as he explains the new birth (John 3:1-21). Those who responded to the first message after Jesus’ resurrection experienced these two realities (Acts 2:33-41). When these two realities are part of a person’s life, there is reason to rejoice and give thanks!

Prayer : O Father, my heart is pulled two different directions as I think about these two realities. First, I rejoice and give thanks for those I know who have confessed Christ, been baptized, and have received the Holy Spirit. Second, my heart aches for several that I love deeply that need to experience these realities. O dear Father, please use me to encourage the first group and to lead the others to know Jesus more completely. It is in the name of Jesus, my Savior and Lord, that I pray. Amen.