Empowered by the Holy Spirit: True Repentance and Gifts

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing True Repentance

True repentance is a transformative journey that involves a heartfelt turning away from sin and a commitment to walk in righteousness. It is a deliberate response to God's call to live a life that is pleasing to Him, marked by actions that align with His will. This journey is not about fleeting emotions of guilt or regret but about a sustained change in one's life direction, priorities, and behaviors. It requires honesty with oneself about past wrongdoings and an earnest effort to make amends and avoid repeating those mistakes. True repentance brings about a profound inner change that is visible in the way one lives and interacts with others, reflecting the grace and forgiveness received from God.

[01:05:36]

2 Corinthians 7:10 (ESV)
"For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death."

Reflection: How does your understanding of repentance compare to the idea of godly grief leading to salvation? Can you identify a specific instance where you need to turn away from sin and towards God's righteousness?

Day 2: The Holy Spirit as Our Guide

The Holy Spirit plays an integral role in the believer's life, much like Jesus did with His disciples. As our teacher and guide, the Holy Spirit imparts wisdom, reveals truth, and directs our paths. He corrects us with love and equips us to overcome challenges and temptations. This divine guidance is essential for personal growth and for fulfilling the unique purpose God has for each of us. By yielding to the Holy Spirit, we allow Him to produce fruit in our lives that glorifies God and serves others. The Holy Spirit's involvement is a daily journey of learning, obedience, and transformation.

[29:54]

John 14:26 (ESV)
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."

Reflection: In what ways have you experienced the Holy Spirit's guidance recently, and how can you be more attentive to His voice in your daily decisions?

Day 3: Gifts of the Spirit Today

The gifts of the Holy Spirit, including speaking in tongues, are not antiquated practices but are actively bestowed upon believers today. These gifts are given for the edification of the church, the empowerment of the individual believer, and as a testament to the living presence of God in the world. They are tools that help us to live out our faith with authenticity and power. It is important to remain open to the Holy Spirit's work and to earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, recognizing that they are distributed according to His sovereign will for the common good.

[01:02:08]

1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (ESV)
"To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills."

Reflection: What spiritual gift do you believe the Holy Spirit has given you, and how can you use it to serve others in your community?

Day 4: The Personal Nature of Speaking in Tongues

Speaking in tongues is a personal aspect of the Holy Spirit's work within us, serving as a means of edification and communication with God. It is not a requirement for salvation nor a badge of spiritual maturity but is one of the many ways the Holy Spirit can manifest in a believer's life. The focus should be on cultivating a deep relationship with the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to move freely and use us according to His purpose. The diversity of the Spirit's gifts, including tongues, reminds us of the unique and personal ways God interacts with each of His children.

[01:39:42]

1 Corinthians 14:4-5 (ESV)
"The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up."

Reflection: How do you view the gift of speaking in tongues, and how can you encourage a balanced and biblical understanding of this gift within your community?

Day 5: The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a profound experience that can occur at the moment of salvation or as a distinct event. It is characterized by a deeper immersion into the Spirit's presence and power, equipping believers for service and effective witness. This baptism brings about a greater fullness of the Spirit in our lives, enabling us to operate in the gifts and calling God has placed upon us. It is an ongoing process of being filled with the Spirit, which empowers us to live out our faith dynamically and courageously.

[01:20:26]

Acts 19:5-6 (ESV)
"On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying."

Reflection: Have you experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit in your life, and in what ways can you seek a deeper filling of the Spirit to empower your service to God and others?

Sermon Summary

In my sermon, I began by addressing the concept of true repentance versus mere remorse, emphasizing that repentance is a command from God that leads to salvation. I then delved into the parable of the wise and foolish builders, clarifying that the rock represents obedience to Jesus' teachings, not just Jesus Himself. I cautioned against oversimplifying parables by assigning specific meanings to their elements across different contexts.

I recounted a personal story from my time at Cincinnati Bible College, where I promised never to deny my experiences with the Lord, including my prayer language. This led to a discussion about the power of prayer and miracles, as I shared an instance where a child was healed after prayer, despite a pastor's disbelief in miracles.

I addressed the distinction between civil and dietary laws, explaining that we are no longer bound by dietary restrictions, as demonstrated in Acts 10. I also touched on the innate knowledge of right and wrong that God has instilled in us, which is evident across cultures and is a part of our conscience.

I then tackled the topic of the Holy Spirit, emphasizing that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is not limited to the first-century church but is available to all believers throughout all ages. I shared anecdotes to illustrate that the Holy Spirit empowers us to live the life God has called us to and that the gifts of the Spirit are still in operation today.

I discussed the importance of recognizing the Holy Spirit as our helper and teacher, just as Jesus was to His disciples. I explained that the Holy Spirit is involved in our sanctification, helping us to overcome sin and distractions in our lives.

I concluded by addressing the issue of speaking in tongues, clarifying that it is not a requirement for salvation or a sign of spiritual superiority. I shared stories that highlighted the personal and diverse nature of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives, including the miraculous speaking of languages and the edification that comes from praying in the Spirit.

Key Takeaways

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Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What did Jesus do to His disciples in John 20:22, and what was the significance of this action? ([02:06])
According to Acts 2:4, what happened to the apostles when they were filled with the Holy Spirit?
In 1 Corinthians 12:3, what does Paul say is necessary for someone to declare "Jesus is Lord"?

Interpretation Questions

How does the act of Jesus breathing on His disciples in John 20:22 relate to the creation account in Genesis where God breathes life into Adam? ([02:06])
What is the significance of the apostles speaking in tongues in Acts 2:4, and how does this event demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit?
How does 1 Corinthians 12:3 help us understand the role of the Holy Spirit in a believer's confession of faith?

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you experienced true repentance. How did it lead to a genuine change in your life? ([01:05:36])
How can you cultivate a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit in your daily life? What steps can you take to be more aware of His presence and guidance? ([29:54])
Have you ever witnessed or experienced a miracle that strengthened your faith? Share the story and discuss how it impacted your belief in the power of prayer. ([01:29:01])
The sermon mentioned that the gifts of the Holy Spirit, including speaking in tongues, are still active today. How open are you to experiencing these gifts in your own life? ([01:02:08])
Speaking in tongues is not a requirement for salvation. How can we ensure that we do not judge others' spiritual maturity based on this gift? ([01:39:42])
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is described as a distinct and powerful experience. Have you sought this deeper immersion into the Spirit's presence and power? If not, what might be holding you back? ([01:20:26])
How can you recognize and respond to the Holy Spirit's promptings in your life, especially when it comes to overcoming sin and distractions? ([29:54])

Sermon Clips

"I hate non-repentance salvation. I don't think it's. I don't think it's worth it. I don't think it's worthwhile. If people don't repent, how can they come to Jesus? How can you have salvation without repentance? You have to say, I was wrong. I was wrong. I'm heading in the wrong direction. My life is terrible. I've hurt myself. I've hurt people. I want to change. I'm sorry I did this. Saying I'm sorry is a form of repentance." [01:05:36]( | | )

"The outpouring of the Holy Spirit is not just for the first century church. It's for the 21st century church as well. Because God doesn't play favorites in that sense. He treats his children the way he treats his children. Now, I've helped to raise four children, and I can't treat them all the same... But you can have the same standard. And that's the way God works with us. He treats us differently because we're different. We're unique. We're specially created." [01:03:32]( | | )

"I believe there are two basic divisions Paul talked about when he was talking about prayer languages. One is he said if I pray in tongues and if I pray in the church in the tongues of men or pray in the house of angels. So I believe there's heavenly languages what angels speak apparently and then there's earthly language. I knew a guy who spoke perfect Arabic never learned it. That was his prayer language." [01:39:42]( | | )

"Speaking in tongues, while a valid and edifying practice, is not a prerequisite for salvation or a measure of spiritual maturity. It is one of many ways the Holy Spirit manifests Himself in believers' lives, and we should neither mandate it nor belittle its significance. Our focus should be on fostering a deep and personal relationship with the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to work in us as He wills." [01:34:51]( | | )

"Being baptized in the Holy Spirit is not a work. It's an act of faith. Chuck was thanking God before it even happened. He was thanking God before it even happened. And I think that alone speaks toward his faith toward God and his belief that God really was going to do something in his life." [01:31:58]( | | )

"Jesus said, you know, the wise man built his house upon the rock. The foolish man built his house upon the sand. The serpents came. The wise man's house stood. The foolish man's house. That's a technical term. Okay. Ruin. That is saving. Was the rock. Now, a lot of Christians say, well, the rock is Jesus. The rock is Jesus. Because they say, oh, this rock. I don't do much. I don't do much. Okay. That's true in that. But everything, every, every parable has different." [01:06:10]( | | )

"The gifts of the Holy Spirit, including speaking in tongues, are not relics of the past but are available and active today. They serve as tools for edification, empowerment, and witness, enabling us to live out our faith with authenticity and power. We must be open to the Holy Spirit's work in our lives, seeking His fullness daily." [01:02:08]( | | )

"The Holy Spirit's role in our lives is multifaceted, serving as our teacher, guide, and source of empowerment. Just as Jesus was intimately involved in His disciples' lives, the Holy Spirit is actively engaged in ours, teaching us truth, correcting us in love, and enabling us to fulfill our God-given purposes. Our relationship with the Holy Spirit is crucial for our spiritual growth and effectiveness in ministry." [29:54]( | | )

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