Empowered by the Spirit: Living in Communion

Devotional

Day 1: The Holy Spirit as Breath—God’s Life-Giving Presence

From the very beginning, God’s Spirit—His ruach, His breath—was present, hovering over the chaos and darkness, bringing order, life, and creation into being. This same breath that animated the first humans is the same Spirit that fills believers today, empowering us to create, to bring life, and to bring order out of chaos in our own lives and in the world around us. The Spirit is not just a distant force but the very essence of God, animating and sustaining us, inviting us to participate in His ongoing work of creation and renewal. [52:48]

Genesis 2:7 (ESV)
"Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature."

Reflection: Where in your life do you sense chaos or emptiness, and how might you invite the Holy Spirit to breathe new life and order into that area today?

Day 2: The Power of Prophetic Words—Speaking Life and Order

God’s Spirit empowers ordinary people to speak words that create, heal, and bring order, just as Jesus did with His authoritative words. In the New Testament, the gift of prophecy is not reserved for a select few but is available to all believers, enabling us to encourage, strengthen, and comfort one another. When we speak Spirit-led words, we participate in God’s creative work, building up the church and breaking down barriers, just as the early church did when the Spirit was poured out at Pentecost. [01:03:28]

Acts 2:1-4 (ESV)
"When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance."

Reflection: Is there someone in your life who needs encouragement or comfort today? Ask God to give you a word or action that will speak life into them.

Day 3: Testing Prophecy—Holding Fast to What Is Good

While prophecy is a beautiful and biblical gift, it is also fraught with danger because God speaks through imperfect people. Scripture urges us not to stifle the Spirit or scoff at prophecy, but to test everything—holding on to what is good and letting go of what is not. The Holy Spirit will never contradict the teachings of Jesus or the written Word; true prophecy will always strengthen, encourage, or comfort. We are called to discern carefully, comparing every word to the character and message of Christ. [01:11:39]

1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 (ESV)
"Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good."

Reflection: Think of a time when you received advice or a “word” from someone. How can you test whether it aligns with God’s Word and the character of Jesus before accepting it?

Day 4: The Spirit in Community—We Need Each Other

God’s Spirit does not just fill individuals but builds us together into His temple, the church. We no longer need a prophet like Elijah to hear from God; we have His Word, the example of Jesus, and His Spirit within us. Yet, we still need each other—to hear God’s voice through the encouragement, comfort, and reminders spoken by fellow believers. The gifts of the Spirit, including prophecy, are given so that we can help one another grow, persevere, and experience God’s love more deeply. [01:21:36]

1 Corinthians 12:7 (ESV)
"To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."

Reflection: Who in your church community can you encourage or support this week, trusting that God may use your words or actions to build them up?

Day 5: Experiencing the Depth of Christ’s Love

At the heart of all spiritual gifts and experiences is the love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge and fills us with the fullness of God. As we open ourselves to the Spirit’s work—both in us and through us—we are invited to experience just how wide, long, high, and deep God’s love truly is. This love is the foundation for all prophecy, encouragement, and community, making us complete and empowering us to live lives of abundance and purpose. [01:32:59]

Ephesians 3:18-19 (ESV)
"May have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

Reflection: Take a moment to sit quietly and ask God to help you experience His love in a new way today. How might this deeper awareness of His love change the way you relate to others?

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered to celebrate communion, not as a pause in our worship, but as a continuation—a living reminder of who God is and what He has done for us. Our focus was not on our circumstances or achievements, but on the reality that Jesus, who is God, came to be with us, to empower us, and to fill us with His Spirit. This Spirit, the very breath of God—the ruach—animates and empowers us, not just to be forgiven, but to live lives that are flourishing, joyful, and purposeful. Communion is a celebration of this profound truth: Jesus is not just with us, but in us, and His Spirit is the life-giving force that enables us to live as He did.

We explored the biblical theme of the Holy Spirit as breath, tracing it from creation, through the roots of God’s people, to Jesus, the early church, and now to us. In creation, God’s breath brought order and life out of chaos. In the story of Israel, God continued to create and recreate, breathing life into dry bones and exiles. In Jesus, the breath of God spoke with authority, bringing healing, forgiveness, and new life. At Pentecost, the Spirit was poured out on all believers, marking the birth of a new kind of community—one where God’s breath fills ordinary people, empowering them to speak life and bring order out of chaos.

We then considered the gift of prophecy, a prominent New Testament gift of the Spirit. Prophecy is not merely predicting the future, but speaking God’s message to others—words that create, encourage, and bring life. While prophecy is real, biblical, and beautiful, it is also fraught with danger because God speaks through imperfect people. Scripture urges us not to stifle or scoff at prophecy, but to test everything, holding on to what is good. True prophecy will always align with the written Word, the life and teachings of Jesus, and the character of the Holy Spirit. It will strengthen, encourage, and comfort.

We no longer need a prophet like Elijah to hear from God, because we have His Word, the example of Jesus, and His Spirit within us. Yet, we deeply need each other. The gifts of the Spirit, including prophecy, are given so we can help one another—reminding, encouraging, and building each other up in love. As we learn to discern and speak life-giving words, we participate in God’s ongoing work of creation and redemption, empowered by His breath within us.

Key Takeaways

1. The Holy Spirit as Breath: From Genesis to today, the Spirit of God is described as breath—ruach—the animating, creative force that brings life and order out of chaos. This same breath that hovered over the waters at creation now fills us, empowering us to live and create as God intended. Recognizing the Spirit as breath invites us to see our lives as continually sustained and animated by God Himself. [23:29]
2. Prophecy: A Gift Both Beautiful and Dangerous: Prophecy is not just about foretelling the future, but about speaking God’s life-giving words to others. While it is a real and biblical gift, it is also dangerous because it comes through fallible people. We must approach prophecy with humility, recognizing both its power to build up and its potential to harm if misused or misunderstood. [67:43]
3. Testing Prophetic Words: Scripture commands us not to stifle or scoff at prophecy, but to test everything. True prophetic words will always align with the written Word of God, the life and teachings of Jesus, and the character of the Holy Spirit. If a word does not strengthen, encourage, or comfort, or if it contradicts the heart of Jesus, it should be set aside. Discernment is essential in a Spirit-filled community. [76:05]
4. The Shift from Old Testament to New Testament Prophecy: In the Old Testament, God’s Spirit rested on select individuals for specific purposes, but now, through Jesus and Pentecost, the Spirit dwells in all believers. We no longer need a single prophet to mediate God’s voice; instead, we are called to listen to God through His Word, His Spirit within us, and through one another. This communal indwelling means we are all participants in God’s ongoing work. [80:42]
5. The Purpose of Spiritual Gifts: The gifts of the Spirit, including prophecy, are given not for personal glory or control, but to help each other. We need one another to hear God’s voice, to be reminded of His love, and to be encouraged in our faith. When we speak life to each other, empowered by the Spirit, we become the living temple of God, building each other up and reflecting His love to the world. [81:36]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[21:06] - Communion: Celebrating Christ’s Sacrifice
[23:29] - The Holy Spirit as Breath: Ruach
[24:46] - Christ in Us: The Deeper Meaning of Communion
[25:51] - Remembering Jesus’ Body
[27:15] - The Sacrifice and Spirit of Jesus
[29:56] - The Blood of Jesus and the New Covenant
[44:52] - Experiencing the Holy Spirit: Person, Presence, Power
[47:13] - Understanding Prophecy: Definition and Tradition
[50:55] - The Spirit’s Breath from Creation to Today
[52:48] - God’s Breath in Humanity and the Roots of Israel
[54:16] - God’s Ongoing Creation and Restoration
[57:00] - Jesus: The Breath and Authority of God
[59:31] - The Early Church: Spirit-Filled Community
[63:28] - The Spirit’s Gifts for All Believers
[65:03] - Speaking Life: The Power of Prophetic Words
[67:43] - The Dangers and Warnings of Prophecy
[71:39] - Testing Prophecy: Discernment and Scripture
[76:05] - The Marks of True Prophecy
[79:21] - Old vs. New Testament Prophecy
[80:42] - The Spirit in Us: No Longer Needing a Mediator
[81:36] - The Purpose of Spiritual Gifts: Helping Each Other
[82:58] - A Testimony of Encouragement
[88:03] - Praying for Discernment and Life-Giving Words
[90:36] - Celebrating Generosity and Community
[92:59] - Sending Blessing and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Genesis 2:7 — "Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature."

2. Ezekiel 37:1-10
(The vision of the valley of dry bones, where God breathes life into the dead bones.)

3. Acts 2:1-4
(The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, with the sound of a mighty wind and the filling of the believers.)

4. 1 Corinthians 14:3
"But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort."

5. 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21
"Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good."

Observation Questions

In Genesis 2:7, what is the unique way God gives life to humans compared to the rest of creation?
According to Acts 2, what physical signs accompanied the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost?
In 1 Corinthians 14:3, what are the three main purposes of prophecy in the New Testament church?
What does Paul instruct believers to do with prophecies in 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21?

Interpretation Questions

The sermon described the Holy Spirit as "breath" or "ruach." What does it mean for our daily lives to see the Spirit as the breath that animates and empowers us, not just as a distant force?
Why is prophecy described as both beautiful and dangerous? What are some reasons the sermon gave for needing discernment when someone claims to speak a word from God?
How does the shift from Old Testament prophecy (where God spoke through select individuals) to New Testament prophecy (where the Spirit is given to all believers) change the way we hear from God and relate to each other?
According to the sermon, what are the marks of a true prophetic word, and how can we practically "test" a word to see if it is from God?

Application Questions

The sermon said that the Holy Spirit is not just with us, but in us, animating our lives. This week, what is one area of your life that feels chaotic or lifeless, and how can you invite the Spirit to bring order and life there?
Have you ever received a word of encouragement or comfort from another believer that felt like it was from God? How did it impact you? If not, is there someone in your life who might need a life-giving word from you this week?
The sermon warned about the dangers of prophecy being misused or misunderstood. What practical steps can you take to ensure that any word you share or receive is tested against Scripture, the life of Jesus, and the character of the Holy Spirit?
The purpose of spiritual gifts, including prophecy, is to help each other and build up the church. Who in your small group or community could use encouragement right now, and what is one specific way you can offer it this week?
The sermon said we no longer need a prophet like Elijah to hear from God, but we do need each other. How can you be more open to hearing God’s voice through other believers, and how can you be a vessel for God’s encouragement to others?
When was the last time you felt prompted to say something encouraging or challenging to someone, but held back? What kept you from speaking, and what might help you step out in faith next time?
The sermon described testing prophecy by asking if it strengthens, encourages, or comforts. Think of a recent conversation where you gave advice or feedback—did it meet these criteria? If not, how could you approach similar situations differently in the future?

Sermon Clips

It's not just that your sins are... It wasn't just like you got a ticket into heaven now. That's cool. That's amazing. But something even better than that is that he filled you with his spirit. It's his breath in our lungs. It's his animating, life-giving force in us that empowers us to live like Jesus. [00:23:08] (27 seconds)

This represents God's incredible love for you that he actually changed the rules. He changed everything to make a way that we could be made right with God, not by our own behaviors or what we believe or what we know or what we do, but simply by what Jesus did for us on the cross. And our sins, the Bible says, are covered by the blood of Jesus so that God doesn't see him anymore. [00:29:14] (22 seconds)

So when he breathed his ruach, when he breathed his spirit, the essence of who he is into humanity, he gave us the capacity to create and to give life. And in fact, the first commandment that he gave humans was to be fruitful and multiply, to create life and to rule over creation. He's telling humans to do what he did to create life and to bring order to the chaos. [00:53:14] (29 seconds)

In Genesis, the world was born when the breath or spirit of the creative God filled the empty lungs of people and they came alive to go on creating, giving life and bringing order out of chaos. And in Acts, the world was reborn. When the breath or the spirit of this creative God, again, refilled the empty lungs of people and they came alive to go on giving life and creating order out of chaos. [01:02:54] (34 seconds)

The prophetic words that spirit-filled people breathe. The words that we speak have the power to create, to give life, to bring order out of chaos. Why? Not because of us. Because it's his spirit speaking through us. [01:05:34] (22 seconds)

So Jesus is saying that the Holy Spirit's teaching method is to reemphasize, right? To remind us of what Jesus has already said. So he's not teaching new material. So if the Holy Spirit is speaking through someone, it will be a reinforcement. It will be a reminder of what Jesus already taught and what Jesus already modeled. [01:13:50] (20 seconds)

We have the written word of God. We have Jesus, the model, the living word of God. And we have his spirit inside of us. So if I want...if I want to hear from God, I can go straight to his word. You know, I can, I can, I can go straight to the teaching and life of Jesus. I can even ask him to speak directly to me from his spirit to mine. I don't need Elijah. I don't need Ezekiel. I don't, I don't need Isaiah. And you don't either. But listen, we do need each other. [01:20:51] (33 seconds)

This is not a model of 300 temples full of the Holy Spirit. This is a model of like 300 bricks that build up the temple that's full of the Holy Spirit. I don't need Isaiah, but I need you. You don't need Elijah, but you need the people around you to hear God's voice coming from their mouth, to strengthen you, to encourage you, to comfort you with the life and teaching of Jesus and to remind you and reinforce for you just how much he loves us to get it from your head into your heart. [01:21:31] (42 seconds)

``May God give you the power to understand as all God's people should, how wide and how long and how high and how deep his love is. And may you experience the love of Christ, though it's too great to understand. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power. [01:32:43] (20 seconds)

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