NO CONDEMNATION IN JESUS

“THEREFORE, THERE IS NOW NO CONDEMNATION
FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS”
Romans 8:1

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, there is no condemnation for those who are in You

MIND CONTROLLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

“THOSE WHO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE SINFUL NATURE HAVE THEIR MINDS SET ON WHAT THAT NATURE DESIRES; BUT THOSE WHO LIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPIRIT HAVE THEIR MINDS SET ON WHAT THE SPIRIT DESIRES. THE MIND OF SINFUL MAN IS DEATH, BUT THE MIND CONTROLLED BY THE SPIRIT IS LIFE AND PEACE
Romans 8:5-6

Prayer: Jesus, help me not to live according to my sinful nature nor have my mind set on what that nature desires; but rather to live according to the Holy Spirit and to have my mind set on what the Holy Spirit desires at all times and always

WALKING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS

“BUT IF CHRIST IS IN YOU, YOUR BODY IS DEAD BECAUSE OF SIN, YET YOUR SPIRIT IS ALIVE BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS”
Romans 8:10

LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

“THOSE WHO ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD ARE THE SONS OF GOD”
Romans 8:14

Prayer: Lord God, live in me and cause me to walk in righteousness and holiness so I will be led by the Holy Spirit and be Your son/daughter in Jesus’ Name. Amen

There might be times when a believer doesn’t want to speak. The Holy Spirit can make the believer speak the message God wants delivered. I felt like that during the testimony meeting in my home church as a young teenager (See Day 28). I’m sure Ezekiel wasn’t enthusiastic to speak some of the messages of judgment to God’s people in Babylon!

Ezekiel 3:27 (NIV)
But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says.’ Whoever will listen let him listen, and whoever will refuse let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, thank You that will open my mouth and make me speak even if I’m reluctant to do so. Please, remove my hesitation and reluctance from me to speak as You have intended and planned. Holy Spirit, feel free to speak through me any time, any place and to share with whomever You desire whatever You desire to speak and let it always be to God’s glory and honor and praise. Teach me how to do this in total obedience to God’s Word and Your instructions and confirmations in Jesus Almighty Name.

Lord, may Your Spirit, which filled Ezekiel also fill me that I may anointedly, boldly, faithfully, fruitfully, obediently and patiently love and serve You wholeheartedly for the rest of my life to Your glory, honor, praise and delight in Jesus’ Name. Amen

There are times God wants His followers to be silent and not say anything. That can be a challenge because often we like to talk. But The Holy Spirit kept Ezekiel silent on at least on occasion!

Ezekiel 3:26 (NIV)
I (The Holy Spirit) will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, though they are a rebellious house.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, keep my mouth shut when I’m not supposed to speak and help me to become a much better listener to You and to others in Jesus’ Name. Amen

The Holy Spirit Speaks to Believers about What to Speak

The Holy Spirit can give specific instructions on what to speak (or not to speak). Ezekiel experienced this kind of communication from the Holy Spirit during the vision of the 25 wicked rulers in chapter 11.

Ezekiel 11:5 (NIV)

Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon me, and he told me to say: “This is what the LORD says: That is what you are saying, O house of Israel, but I know what is going through your mind.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, please speak to me and give me specific instructions about what to say any time You would like in Jesus’ Name. Amen

The Holy Spirit May Raise You Up (Unto Your Feet)

I remember a testimony meeting in my home church during a revival meeting. At the time, I was a young teenager. The Holy Spirit called me to stand up and share a Scripture verse and a few thoughts. The church was filled to overflowing and I was sitting in the second row. I had never spoken in a public meeting before. I said no! The Holy Spirit made His appeal a second time. I said no! This time I grabbed the wooden pew and hung on for dear life! The third time, the Holy Spirit lifted me up and turned me around to face all the people in the church! I did no choice but to share my testimony with fear and trepidation!

It was true for Ezekiel as well. The Holy Spirit lifted him to his feet!

Ezekiel 3:24 (NIV)

Then the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet. He spoke to me and said: “Go, shut yourself inside your house.”

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, You may raise me to my feet to fulfill God’s plans, assist me in understanding God’s purposes and to bring glory and honor to You. Even if I don’t understand what is going on, but it serves God’s plans, go ahead and raise me to my feet in Jesus’ Name. Amen

In the Bible there are a number of examples of believers who were physically moved in the Spirit from one place to another. For example, the Evangelist Philip was moved from the road which went from Jerusalem to Gaza to a town called Azotus after witnessing to the Ethiopian Treasurer (Leading him to faith in Christ and baptizing him). Enoch was another of God’s followers to be translated from earth to heaven (While still alive).

Scriptures:

Ezekiel 3:12 (NIV)
Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a loud rumbling sound–May the glory of the LORD be praised in his dwelling place!

Ezekiel 3:14 (NIV)
The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD upon me.

Ezekiel 8:3 (NIV)
He stretched out what looked like a hand and took me by the hair of my head. The Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and in visions of God he took me to Jerusalem, to the entrance to the north gate of the inner court, where the idol that provokes to jealousy stood. (This time in a vision)

Ezekiel 11:1 (NIV)
Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the gate of the house of the LORD that faces east…

Ezekiel 11:24 (NIV)
The Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the exiles in Babylonia in the vision given by the Spirit of God. Then the vision I had seen went up from me… (This time in a vision)

Hebrews 11:5 (KJV)
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

Prayer:

Lord, I am open to be translated in the Spirit like Ezekiel if that is Your will, if it will serve Your purposes and if it will bring glory and honor to You. Under no circumstance, Lord, let such an experience make me proud or arrogant and alienate me from You, Your will and Your plan in Jesus’ Name. Amen

INTRODUCTION:

Ezekiel was both a priest and a prophet during some of most difficult times of Judah’s history. God chose him to be His mouth-piece during their seventy-year period of Babylonian captivity (Carried away from Jerusalem with the other captivities from Jerusalem and Judah). He incorporated prophecies, parables, signs, symbols and visions to describe and dramatize God’s message to His people (Like the description of the dry bones and the clay tablet illustration).

The Old Testament prophet Ezekiel was filled with the Holy Spirit. In the beginning of his ministry he said, “Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me” (Ezekiel 2:2 NKJV).

We know Ezekiel did many unorthodox – “prophetic acts” – to demonstrate God’s truths to His wayward people.

The Holy Spirit caused Ezekiel to do some unusual things which we normally wouldn’t attribute the Spirit of God. Would you be willing to do some of the “crazy,” but anointed things the Holy Spirit asked Ezekiel to do?

In this final part of the Holy Spirit blog, we will be focusing on five of the unusual experiences the Holy Spirit led Ezekiel to do and ask God, by His Spirit, to allow us to be open to whatever the Holy Spirit wants to do even if it seems “crazy.

The Holy Spirit Abides Forever

In our world, so many things are temporary and transient. It is good to know and to count on the fact that The Holy Spirit is not a “fly-by-tighter.” He will be present now and forever. Praise The Lord!

Scripture:

John 14:16-17 (NIV)
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

Prayer:

Come, Holy Spirit, increase greatly Your anointing, power, influence, presence, communications, revelations and whatever You want to do – abide and abound with me, within me and around me forever – never leave me in Jesus’ Mighty Name.

May Your anointing, presence and power always strengthen me to fulfill all of God’s redemptive plans and purposes, to be a blessing wherever I go, to be exceedingly fruitful, to be a Revelation Overcomer and to prepare the Bride/Church for the return of the Groom/Jesus in Jesus’ Anointed and Almighty Name. Amen.

BE GLORIFIED, FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT!

Written by: Pastor Bjorn Pedersen

Do Not Take The Holy Spirit Away From Me!

When King David got into serious trouble with the Lord, his prayer was that God would not remove The Holy Spirit from him. He knew The Spirit’s presence guaranteed a quality relationship with Almighty God

Scripture:

Psalm 51:10-12 (NIV)
¹⁰  Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹  Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
¹²  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Prayer:

Loving and Caring Heavenly Father, I pray, in fact, I plead with You, like King David –
“DO NOT CAST ME FROM YOUR PRESENCE OR TAKE YOUR HOLY SPIRIT FROM ME” in Jesus’ Name.
Father God, let me live and dwell in Your presence and re-fill me to overflowing with Your Holy Spirit every moment of every day in Jesus’ Almighty Name. Amen