The Devotional to End All DevotionalsSample

The “indwelling” (coming to live within) of the Holy Spirit happens only once in a person’s life, at the moment of salvation. The Holy Spirit does not come and go. However, the Holy Spirit’s presence in your heart does not prevent you from sinning. 

Although the Holy Spirit will guide, teach, and warn you against sin, you still have the free will to make your own choices after you accept Christ. But you should know that when you make poor choices, it grieves (bothers) the Holy Spirit that is in you and interrupts your communication with God. 

God commands all believers to be filled with (controlled by) the Holy Spirit. Because being filled with the Spirit is a direct result of your choice whether or not to submit to Gods will for you as a believer, that “filling” can come and go. For instance, in the book of Acts, we read about the disciples’ being filled with (or controlled by) the Holy Spirit long after they initially received the permanent gift of the Holy Spirit. You must continually dedicate your life to following God if you want to stay filled with (controlled by) the Holy Spirit, display fruit (or evidence) of the Holy Spirit, and experience God’s power in your life. 

Use the CUT method to study today’s passages. 

Context:  “What’s going on here and how does it fit with what I already know to be true?”

-read content before and after passage

-determine author, audience, purpose

-determine time, place, setting

Understanding: “What does it mean?”

-underline, highlight, and circle

-paraphrase

-use resources to define unclear terms and ideas

Truth application: “Where do I go from here?”

-record encouragement you took away

-record ways you were challenged 

-make a plan for change

-record questions raised

Thank God for filling you with the Holy Spirit in direct proportion to your obedience to Him.