Ascend: An 11-Day Devotional With Red Rocks WorshipSample

WHAT A GIFT

The church has often misunderstood the Spirit of God as a product of God, when in reality this Spirit is a person—just as much “God” as the Father and the Son. This Holy Spirit was not just for the church we read about in Acts chapter 2; His activity is wholly pervasive in our world today. Holy Spirit has not dried up and stopped pouring out His presence on the people of God; He is not just for the charismatic or radical Christian – He is a gift for everyone, everywhere, at all times. Jesus told His disciples that as good as it was having him there, that he had someone even better on the way. (John 16:7)

“What A Gift” was written to acknowledge who Holy Spirit was and always will be. Genesis tells us that he was from the beginning of time (Gen. 1:2); He has been a part of the narrative well before He arrived on the day of Pentecost. He is our ever-present helper, comforter, counselor, encourager, and so much more. The lyric in the song “Your time had finally come” hits hard because He was always Plan A - His entrance was perfectly timed. Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, but certainly not third in priority. He was sent out of necessity - not as an afterthought. Titus 3 illuminates this further, telling us that He was a part of our very salvation. What Holy Spirit is capable of is beyond our comprehension; He is currently at work in every follower of Jesus and has chosen our hearts as His home.

Holy Spirit does have a central role: to make us more like Jesus. We bear witness to His work and acknowledge Him as Lord when we keep in step with his movements. We are His temple, and our obedience to him displays abundant fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5). Matthew 3:8 says, “Produce fruit by keeping in repentance.” As we turn from sin, surrendered to the process of repentance, we experience the fruit of the Spirit and the TRUE freedom that is readily accessible.

1. Where have you seen the Holy Spirit in your story? As you listen to this song ask Him to remind you of specific encounters that you have had with Him throughout your faith journey, or even before. He was a part of your story well before you said yes to Jesus, He was the one beckoning you home all along. So take a moment to reflect on where He was and currently is in your story.
2. What fruits are you lacking in your walk with Jesus? Patience? Self-control? Joy? It could be anyone of the nine listed in Galatians 5. It’s not too late to produce that fruit. Acknowledge where He is not Lord, repent, and watch for the fruit!

VIDEO BLURB: The church has often misunderstood the Spirit of God as a product of God, when in reality this Spirit is a person—just as much “God” as the Father and the Son. This Holy Spirit was not just for the church we read about in Acts chapter 2; His activity is wholly pervasive in our world today. Holy Spirit has not dried up and stopped pouring out His presence on the people of God; He is not just for the charismatic or radical Christian – He is a gift for everyone, everywhere, at all times.