#Day2 Living Under the Government of the Holy Spirit STEPHANT: STRENGTH TO THE END Acts 7:55 "But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God." Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, faced persecution and death. He proclaimed the gospel of Jesus in the city of Jerusalem with such historical clarity and power that all who heard him were deeply moved. The power of the Holy Spirit is also manifested in faithfulness in the midst of trials. Stephen did not look at his executioners; he looked at the glory of God. The Holy Spirit dwelling fully within you will give you the strength to get through the most difficult times. He is the Paraclete, the other Comforter. Even when everything has disappointed you, when everyone has betrayed you to the point that life itself seems to have lost all meaning, seeing Christ through the Holy Spirit will bring you triumph. May the Lord grant us to keep our eyes fixed on Him in times of trial and daunting challenges, filled with the Spirit and the presence of God. #FilledWithTheSpirit🙏🏼 #SpiritAndLife🔥

❤️THE DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT The doctrine of the Holy Spirit is usually studied under three headings: His personality, deity, and work. Teaching on the personality of the Holy Spirit is significant because the cults and the liberals, contrary to the Bible, contend that the Holy Spirit is not a personality, but He is merely to be equated with a power. To support their view they quote Acts 1:8, where Jesus said He would send the Holy Spirit to empower man's witness. Others say the Holy Spirit is only an influence that God exercises in people's minds. They quote John 14:26 where Jesus said He would send the Holy Spirit to teach the disciples. THE PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT The Scriptures show that the Holy Spirit is a personality—not a mere power, or influence, or an impersonal attribute of God. This is obvious because personal pronouns, which indicate personality, are used in reference to Him. Although the Greek term "pneuma," meaning "spirit," is a neuter noun, whenever the Scriptures speak of the Holy Spirit, masculine pronouns (He, Him, Himself) are used. The Greek language is quite complex, and if the Holy Spirit were simply a neuter power or influence, the writers would have used neuter pronouns; but instead, whenever the Holy Spirit is spoken of, masculine pronouns are used of Him, indicating that He is a personality. The term "paraclete," which is used in John 14:26 of the Holy Spirit, is the same one used in 1 John 2:1 of Christ, the man. The Holy Spirit has attributes of personality such as wisdom and knowledge (1 Corinthians 2:10-12; 12:8). In Romans 8:26-27 Paul spoke of the "mind of the Spirit." 1 Corinthians 12:11 shows that He wills to do things. He teaches (John 14:26); He can be grieved, indicating that He has emotion (Ephesians 4:30); He reproves the world of sin (John 16:8); and He appoints, commissions, and commands (Acts 13:2; 20:28). Paul was forbidden by the Holy Spirit in Acts 16:6-7 from going into certain areas to preach, but was sent instead to other places. The Holy Spirit was active in creation (Genesis 1:2; Job 33:4). A mere influence or power could not speak, but He spoke in John 16:13 and Acts 13:2. In Revelation 3:22 Jesus said, "Let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." The Scriptures lend no support to the error that the Holy Spirit is just a power or influence. If they did, it would result in tautology, that is, needless repetition in many passages. For example, Acts 10:38 reads, "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power." Substitute the word "power" for the Holy Spirit, then it would read, "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with power and with power." The matter is settled in Zechariah 4:6 where spirit and power are contrasted. "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." THE DEITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT The deity of the Holy Spirit is a truth which is denied by the cults and the liberals, but is seen throughout the Word of God. First, in the triune passages the Holy Spirit's deity is shown in that He is equated with God. The Great Commission given to the church by Jesus in Matthew 28:19 says, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Also see 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2. Secondly, the Holy Spirit is called God in certain passages. For instance, in Acts 5:3-4 Ananias and Sapphira sold their property and brought a certain part of the money to the church. They said they were giving all they had received, but they were only giving part. Peter said to Ananias, "Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God." In verse 3 Peter said they lied to the Holy Spirit, but in verse 4 he said they lied to God; so obviously, the Holy Spirit is God. Other passages in the New Testament where the Holy Spirit is equated with God are: 1 Corinthians 3:16; 12:4-6; Ephesians 2:22. Thirdly, the Holy Spirit is revealed to be God by the fact that He possesses divine attributes. He is said to be omnipresent in Psalm 139:7. "Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?" The Holy Spirit is also omniscient, all-wise (1 Corinthians 2:10). His omnipotence is shown in that He created the heavens and earth (Genesis 1:2), and He is the agent of the new birth (John 3:7-8) THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT When speaking of the work of the Holy Spirit, one should avoid the error of dividing God's activity into dispensations to such an extreme that it borders on Sabellian-ism or the "oneness" error. This heresy, which confronted the early church and is still present today, teaches that God existed in three successive modes. Those who believe this say that in the Old Testament was the ministry of the Father; in the New Testament was the ministry of the Son; and in the present church age is the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Stated another way, this would mean that God is not one divine Spirit who eternally exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; but He has existed in three successive modes: first, the Father; then, the Son; and now, the Holy Spirit. On the contrary, in every work and activity of God, the eternal, triune God is personally and actively present. While it is true that each personality or personification of the triune God occupies certain offices or has specific functions within the unity in the Godhead, the Godhead cannot be divided. One never works without the entire Godhead acting. In John 14:16 Christ promised to send the Holy Spirit; in verse 18 He said, "I will come"; then in verse 23 He said, "We [the Father and I] will come unto him, and make our abode with him." In this passage it is clearly shown that Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit, which He did on the day of Pentecost; but it would be He, Himself, who would be coming back, and not only He, but the Father also. Jesus was saying that when the Spirit is present, then the Father and Son are present. This may be difficult to comprehend; nevertheless, it is true. God is what He reveals Himself to be in His Word; He is one divine Spirit who eternally personified Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit's work in relation to the Old Testament is threefold. The Holy Spirit was the agent in creation (Genesis 1:2; Psalm 104:24,30; Job 33:4). In Colossians 1:16 Paul revealed that Jesus Christ was the creator of all things, which is confirmed in John 1:1-3. How did He do it? He created by the Spirit of God; therefore, there is no contradiction. The Holy Spirit, as the agent in creation, actually did the forming. Secondly, the Holy Spirit empowered men by anointing them for special functions or work, as seen all through the Book of Judges. The Holy Spirit fell upon Samson, for example, and he was supernaturally empowered to do mighty works on behalf of God. It is interesting to note that there is a distinction between the work of the Holy Spirit with respect to believers in the old dispensation and in the New Testament. There are numerous cases in the Old Testament where He would anoint individuals for a certain task; He would be with them, and then He would leave after the work or function was finished. In the New Testament, however, when a believer received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit would indwell him permanently. Jesus said in John 14:17 that the Holy Spirit "dwelleth with you, and shall be in you," referring, of course, to the initial outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, and also to those in later times who would receive this experience. In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit inspired men with wisdom, knowledge, and skills. This empowering enabled the men to implement the plans that God gave Moses for the tabernacle and the later temple and its furnishings. God gave skills by His Spirit to those He had chosen to perform these works (Exodus 31:3). He also inspired the prophets to speak (Zechariah 7:12). In Nehemiah 9:30, for example, God spoke to the Israelites through the prophets by His Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit who inspired the Old Testament Scriptures. David was inspired to write the Psalms, for he said, "The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue" (2 Samuel 23:1-2). The apostle said in 2 Peter 1:21 that "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." According to 2 Timothy 3:16-17 all Scripture is inspired by God—both Old and New Testaments. The Holy Spirit's work in relation to the New Testament dispensation is fourfold. First, with respect to Scripture, it was He who inspired the writer. In John 16:13 Jesus was even more specific. He said, "When He, the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come." This is a direct statement of the fact that the Scriptures are inspired. In other words, "I will show you things to come by my Spirit. I will teach you all things by my Spirit." Secondly, the work of the Holy Spirit was inseparably related to Jesus from His birth. According to Luke 1:35, Jesus' birth was to be a virgin birth by the Holy Spirit. Luke 3:22 says that after Jesus was baptized, "the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him." When Jesus began His ministry as teacher, He said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach" (Luke 4:18). In Matthew 12:28 Jesus said He cast out devils by the Spirit of God. Further, He warned that if someone spoke against His works, he would be blaspheming the Holy Spirit, because Jesus did the works by the Spirit of God. The Bible also speaks of the Spirit's work with respect to the resurrection of Christ; it was the Spirit of God who raised Him from the dead (Romans 8:11). Thirdly, the Spirit of God has a ministry in relation to the church. He is seen to be the creator of the church, which had its beginning when the believers were baptized by the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12:13 that all believers are baptized by one Spirit into one body, speaking there of the Spirit's work of regeneration, not of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 2:22 says that Christians "are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." The Holy Spirit directs the church's ministry, as seen, for example, in Acts 13,16,20, as well as throughout the New Testament. It is evident in those passages that He is the sovereign agent in evangelism, for He told Paul to go one place and not to go to another. The Holy Spirit was not only empowering the church's witness, but He was also directing where they were to witness, just as He will today if Christians will look to Him for guidance. Fourthly, the Holy Spirit's ministry in relation to the individual Christian is quite extensive. He convicts of sin, according to John 16:8; then, upon belief of the gospel, He gives regeneration—the new birth. He then enables the new convert to make a saving confession of Christ. "No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:3). As stated earlier in this text, that does not mean man cannot say those words, but he cannot make a saving confession from the heart except by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is also the one who sanctifies; that is, He sets believers apart unto service in God's kingdom (2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2). Further, He educates and illumines the minds of His children (John 14:26; Mark 13:11; 1 Corinthians 12:8). The Holy Spirit also empowers the Christian with respect to his ministry, witness, and walk with Christ. In 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 Paul shows that the Holy Spirit empowers the believer's ministry through the gifts of the Spirit. In Acts 1:8 Jesus said the Holy Spirit would empower the church's witness. In Galatians 5:16,22-23 the fruit of the Spirit is manifest through the saints. Paul taught that disciples of Jesus are to walk in the Spirit, and he listed the fruits of the Spirit which should be evident in their lives. The Holy Spirit intercedes for Christ's followers, according to Romans 8:26. Finally, He preserves the elect, according to Ephesians 4:30; and will resurrect them as He did Christ (Romans 8:11). CLARIFICATION OF THE TERMS REGARDING THE HOLY SPIRIT In the study of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, there are a number of terms and concepts which are sometimes confused or misunderstood. These include the gift of the Spirit contrasted with the gifts of the Spirit, as well as the earnest, sealing, anointing, baptism, infilling, fulness, and indwelling of the Spirit. Some of these terms are used synonymously—being baptized in the Spirit (Acts 1) is being filled with the Spirit (Acts 2:4). The first term to be discussed is the gift of the Holy Spirit which is the "baptism of the Holy Spirit." In Acts 2:12 the Jews were amazed when they heard the disciples speaking in tongues or other languages, and they inquired of Peter, "What meaneth this?" Peter replied that what they were observing was that which had been spoken by the prophet in Joel 2:28, and that they could also "receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Many people confuse regeneration with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They think a person automatically receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit when he is saved; however, they are not the same. In Acts 1:4,5,8 Jesus' promise was not "Wait to be born again," but was in essence, "Wait to be empowered; wait for the Holy Spirit." In regeneration the Holy Spirit imparts life or the new birth, as seen in John 1:12, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power [the authority or right] to become the sons of God." The Greek term, translated "power," is "exousia." The term used in Acts, however, is "dunamis," from which the word "dynamite" is derived. In Scripture it is the enabling to do mighty works. Jesus said, "Ye shall receive power [dunamis]" in Acts 1:8. In the one case the promise is for the authority and right to become a son of God; in the other case, it is for empowering. Just as the gift of the Holy Spirit is not to be confused with regeneration, neither is the gift of the Spirit to be confused with the gifts of the Spirit. The gifts (plural) are supernatural manifestations of the Spirit through the body of Christ, and are described in 1 Corinthians 12; 14; and Romans 12. The gift of the Spirit, as it is called in Acts 2:38, is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Acts 10:45 and 11:15-17 speak of the gift of the Holy Spirit being poured out upon the Gentiles. Another term used regarding the Holy Spirit is the earnest of the Spirit, which occurs in 2 Corinthians 1:22. Paul said, God "hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts." This signifies that God has given a down payment, an earnest or a part, as a pledge or guarantee that the remainder will be given. There are two aspects of the earnest of the Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is God's pledge of full redemption; and it is also the prospect of the fulness of the Spirit, which will be mentioned later. A third expression is the sealing of the Holy Spirit which occurs in 2 Corinthians 1:22, as well as in Ephesians 1:13-14 and 4:30. The earnest of the Spirit is God's pledge of full redemption, and the sealing is God's assurance of this. It is like an envelope—God put the promise inside and then sealed it. Another term is the anointing of the Spirit, which is also called the unction of the Spirit in the King James Version. 1 John 2:20 says, "But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things," and verse 27 continues, "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you." Paul also spoke of the anointing in 2 Corinthians 1:21. What is the meaning of anointing! In the Old Testament the prophets, priests, and kings were anointed with oil to signify that they were being set apart for service unto God, a ritual which depicted the Holy Spirit being put upon them. In the New Testament the anointing is said to be within the believer (John 14:17). What is the purpose of the anointing! It brings illumination to the essential truths of Scripture (1 Corinthians 2:14; 1 John 2:20,27; John 16:13). The anointing enables Christians to witness effectively (Acts 1:8 with 2:37-47). The anointing is the enablement to minister the gifts (1 Corinthians 12; 14; Romans 12). The anointing is an empowering to preach and teach the Word, as in Luke 4:18 where Jesus was anointed to preach. The anointing gives believers the power needed to walk and live a consecrated life. Those who are baptized in the Spirit will experience the anointing in these various ways. The Bible shows that being baptized in the Spirit is to be filled with the Spirit. These two terms are used interchangeably in the Book of Acts. However, the fulness of the Spirit is manifested in the Christian's life to the extent he yields himself to the Spirit after he is baptized in the Spirit. The baptism is an instantaneous experience received with the asking (Luke 11:13), but the fulness is a growth (Ephesians 4:11-16). The fulness is not a once-for-all experience, but is a gradual maturing unto the likeness of Jesus Christ. The command in Ephesians 5:18, "Be filled with the Spirit," was given to saints who had already received the infilling of the Spirit; but Paul knew that they needed to go on to the fulness. Since Acts 1:5 and 2:4 equate the baptism of the Spirit with being filled with the Spirit, obviously a deeper meaning is implied by Paul's exhortation to be filled with the Spirit in Ephesians 5:18. Shared. ❤️ God willing, more will be posted soon. All glory to Jesus alone.

THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS BEEN TRYING TO HELP YOU — BUT YOU KEEP DOING THIS ONE THING He is called the Helper. Not a helper. Not one of many helpers. The Helper. The Paraclete — the One called alongside to assist, to advocate, to strengthen, to guide, to comfort, to empower. Jesus in John 14 said "I will not leave you as orphans." And the reason the disciples would not be orphans despite His physical departure was specifically because the Holy Spirit — the Helper — would come and take up permanent residence in everyone who believed. The help that Jesus provided during His three and a half years of earthly ministry would now be available continuously, internally, personally, to every single believer. That is an extraordinary gift. And most believers are not living anywhere near the full reality of it. The reason is not that the Holy Spirit is withholding. He is not reluctant. He is not distant. He does not give help to some believers and withhold it from others based on a favouritism system that no one understands. The reason most believers are not experiencing the full reality of the Helper's ministry is one that is both simple and uncomfortable: they are not in fellowship with Him. Fellowship is not just occasional prayer. It is not just asking for help when you are desperate and then going about your day. Fellowship is the sustained, conscious, attentive awareness of a Person who is present with you at all times — and the daily practice of engaging that Person as the living, active, intelligent God that He is. Psalm 18:29 captures what life looks like when the Holy Spirit's help is fully operational: "By You I can run through a troop. By my God I can leap over a wall." A troop. A wall. Those are not minor inconveniences. A troop is a fully armed military force — more than enough to destroy any individual who approaches it alone. A wall is a structural barrier — immovable by human hands. And yet the psalmist says — by God, I ran through the troop. By God, I leaped over the wall. Not around it. Not under it. Over it. That is the kind of supernatural capacity that becomes available when the Helper is fully engaged in your life. But the Holy Spirit, as a Person, responds to how you relate to Him. He does not force His help on anyone. He is a gentleman. Where He is welcomed, He moves freely. Where He is grieved — by unconfessed sin, by persistent disobedience, by the practical ignoring of His promptings — His activity becomes restricted. Not because He has left. But because the environment has become hostile to what He wants to do. Ephesians 4:30 says "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit." That instruction implies that how you live, how you speak, what you tolerate in your life, directly affects the atmosphere in which the Helper operates. Start today by having a conversation with the Holy Spirit — not a formal prayer, a conversation. Acknowledge His presence. Thank Him for being the Helper who never leaves. Ask Him to show you if there is anything in your life that is restricting His movement. And then listen. Not for a dramatic voice from heaven — sometimes He speaks through a quiet impression, a scripture that suddenly becomes alive, a sense of peace that settles over a decision. The more you practice this, the more sensitive you become. And the more sensitive you become, the more fully you will experience the help of the One who Jesus said would be with you forever. 💬 Drop a 🕊 if you want to go deeper in fellowship with the Holy Spirit this year. Let's make this the year we stop doing life in our own strength.

Blessed be God. Blessed be His holy name. Blessed be Jesus Christ true God and true Man. Blessed be the name of Jesus. Blessed be His most sacred heart. Blessed be His most precious blood. Blessed be Jesus Christ in the most holy sacrament of the altar. Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. Blessed be God in His Angels and in his saints.

Good morning, brethren. 1. Do you pray in the morning? 2. Do you have a broken home? 3. How do you choose the right friends? 4. Do you know the believers predestinated blessings? To know more, read the message below: 1. Morning Prayer The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, [and] my high tower. ⏤ Psalm 18:2 We must begin to believe that God, in the mystery of prayer, has entrusted us with a force that can move the heavenly world and bring its power down to earth. ⏤ Andrew Murray O God, You are our Rock, our Fortress, our Deliverer, the horn of our salvation, and our Redeemer. You are a proven Savior, and we know we can trust You. We have placed our confidence in You in the past, and You have never once failed us. We give You heartfelt thanks this morning for all the blessings of the night. We thank You most of all for revealing Yourself to us in Jesus Christ our Savior, in whom we see the exact image of Your being. We thank You that in Him we have learned of Your fatherhood, grace, and mercy. May the Holy Spirit teach us more and more of the blessedness and preciousness of this divine revelation, opening our eyes to see it and our hearts to receive it. We ask You, O God, to draw us near to You this morning and to hold us close to You all day long. We want to run the race set before us without faltering. Help us to lay aside every weight that would hinder us, and every sin that so easily entangles us, and fix our eyes on Jesus as our goal. We want to live as Christians should live. Let us not be drawn away by the world’s allure. Help us to conduct our daily business righteously. Teach us to do even the most mundane tasks for Jesus’ sake, with Jesus in mind. Help us to be honest and truthful in all aspects of our lives: In our business, In our social interactions, In our conversations, In every part of our lives. May the fruits of the Spirit abound in our lives. May we also abound in good works. Send us all the help we need for the day’s demands. Bless our loved ones, whatever their circumstances, and everyone for whom we should pray. We ask all this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/54/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion. 2. Skip to content Rev. Billy Graham Devotional Posted onNovember 28, 2025 by Christian Channel The Broken Home Check out other Christian Apps. Rev. Billy Graham Books “There is sin in their homes, and they are polluted to the depths of their souls. But I will call upon the Lord to save me—and he will.” —Psalm 55:15,16 (TLB) The broken home has become the number one social problem of America, and could ultimately lead to the destruction of our civilization. Since the basic unit of any society is the home, when the home begins to break, the society is on the way to disintegration. It is a threat to the American way of life. It does not make screaming headlines; but, like termites, it is eating away at the heart and core of the American structure. It is high time that our so-called experts on marriage, the family, and the home turn to the Bible. We have read newspaper columns and listened to counselors on the radio; psychiatrists have had a land-office business. In it all, the One who performed the first marriage in the Garden of Eden and instituted the union between man and wife has been left out. Prayer for the day I pray, Lord, for the homes in this beloved country. Without Your love and wisdom guiding us, our society will crumble. Check out other Christian Apps. :Rev. Billy Graham Books Post navigation Previous Post Previous His Presence 3. 😀🌺🌹🎁🎀💝 MORNING TEA. THE WORD FOR TODAY FRIDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2025. "CHOOSE THE RIGHT FRIENDS (1)" ‘Friends sharpen the minds of each other.’ Proverbs 27:17 CEV AUTHOR CHARLIE ‘Tremendous’ Jones said, ‘You’re the same today as you’ll be in five years…except for the people with whom you associate and the books you read.’ When it comes to choosing friends, Dr. Charles Townsend says look for: 1) People who influence you to be the person God intended. ‘As iron sharpens iron, friends sharpen the minds of each other’ (Proverbs 27:17 CEV). Relationships are the tools God uses to do this. When you’re with somebody, ask yourself, ‘Do I like who I am when I’m around this person? Am I more open, loving and honest? Or do I not like what I see in myself?’ Choose people who make you a better person. 2) People who provide grace for the energy drain. When you’re empty you need to be refuelled physically, spiritually and relationally. So surround yourself with friends who will listen, encourage and be there for you. 3) People who let you be real. ‘A friend loveth at all times’ (Proverbs 17:17 KJV). The best relationships are those where you know you’re loved, you’re free to be yourself, you don’t have to put on an act and you can be honest about the difficult aspects of life. There’s comfort and normality in friendships where you can be authentic. 4) People who help you grow in faith. You need friends who encourage you to pray, read the Bible and help you to see the ‘big picture’ concerning what’s important in your life. Ephesians 4:16 talks about operating as a body: ‘All the parts of the body are joined and held together. Each part does its own work to help the whole body grow and be strong with love’ (NCV). Don’t try to do it alone. Reach out to friends who’ll reach back. Bible In A Year: Josh 8:30 – 10:43, John 14:26 – 15:4, Ps 146. Courtesy Grace So Amazing Foundation💝🎀 *To partner with us, kindly refer to page 9 of the hard copy edition or simply send us a WhatsApp message/call on +2348128000068.*🎀💝🌹🌷. 4. *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY* *ⓂANNA* FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28TH, 2025 *BELIEVERS' PREDESTINATED BLESSINGS* *TEXT:* EPHESIANS 1:11-15  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. 15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, *Timeless Truth:*_"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him"_ (1 Corinthians 2:9). *INTRODUCTION* The doctrine of predestination, mentioned in the Bible in several places, has broadly divided Christian Theology into two groups. In Christian theology, it is the doctrine that God has ordained all that will happen, especially with regard to the salvation of some and not others. In other words, to the proponents, God has predetermined those who will be saved and those who are destined for everlasting destruction. It has been particularly associated with the teachings of St. Augustine of Hippo and of Calvin. This view, though not scriptural, calls into question the impartiality, the love, the mercy and the justice of God. The text shows clearly that predestination, as taught in the Bible, is not particular on specific individuals and neither does it make unnecessary the human parts of willingness, obedience and faith, but rather, it has to do with predestination of God's project, purpose and plan for all those who willingly exercise obedience of faith. *1. Predestinated Inheritance* a. *"In whom"* is used in some verses of Ephesians signifying the conditions for accessing our blessings in Christ. For example *"In whom we have redemption through his blood"* shows that outside Christ there is no redemption. It also shows that outside the blood of Jesus nothing will qualify for forgiveness and redemption. Religion and all human efforts are impotent and filthy without faith in the blood of Jesus. Also we have, *"In whom you have obtained an inheritance"* shows that there is an inheritance for the believers in Christ, but this inheritance is only accessible in Christ and never outside Christ. The faith and trust in Christ alone can make our inheritance in Christ realistic. While some general blessings of God can reach people without faith in Christ, the real inheritance for God's children is not obtainable outside faith in Christ. This precious inheritance in Christ has been planned and prepared by God at the foundation of the world. It has also been predestinated that all true believers in Christ will partake of that inheritance. *"Being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will"*. This inheritance is God's purpose for the saints in Christ and nothing or nobody can destroy or deny God's children because God would do all the needful in ensuring no true child of God is denied. b. What is the essence and the fruit of this inheritance? *"That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ"*. The inheritance is given so that each saint will live to the glory of Christ. The glories of Christ will make the believer conformable to Christ. All the heavenly inheritance coupled with earthly blessings that will bring glory to Christ are all embedded in this inheritance that God planned and promised for God's people. This inheritance has to do with all that Jesus made accessible to man through His vicarious death. They are both temporal and eternal. *Question* Are you aware of your inheritance in Christ as a true child of God? *2. The Paraclete Involvement* a. Paraclete, in Christian theology, refers to the Holy Spirit as an advocate or Counsellor. It is interpreted as the Comforter in (John 14:16, 26). The Holy Spirit is also God and the third Person in the Trinity. Only God can fulfil the ministry of the Holy Spirit as Jesus described His ministry. If He is to teach all things, He must know all things. If He is with believers anywhere any believer is, then He must be omnipresent. If He is the power house of God that came at Pentecost, then nothing should be impossible for Him. What does the text say about the Holy Spirit? First about Christ: *"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation*. It is putting trust in Christ that will make divine inheritance including salvation handy. Predestination of heavenly inheritance is for those who out of their volition hear the Word of God, believe in it and repent from their sins and experience salvation from all sins. Predestination is not for the passive, negligent, unbelieving and unholy. The predestined inheritance is for those who are acting on the Word of God after salvation. b. What is the involvement of the Holy Spirit in our redemptive inheritance? *"In whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise"*. The seal of God on our heads, though invisible to the natural eye, is clearly visible to God and the spirit beings of angels and demons. That seal marks us special before God. It is for our security and special identification so that the wicked will not be able to touch us. *"Touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm"*. The angels of God and the demons, on seeing us, know that we are special and untouchable children of God. When destruction comes to the wicked, it is that seal or mark that shows us as special people that should not be partake of the evils. *"There shall no evil befall you, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling"* (Psalm 91:10). This is one of the predestinated inheritance of the righteous. Just like people see demons in the possessed people through divine discernment, in a similar way, through discernment, people and powers see the mark of the Holy Spirit in the believer. *Question* Do you have the assurance of the Holy Spirit in you? *3. Possessing the Inheritance* a. Apostle Paul gave more information about the gift of the Holy Spirit to every believer. The gift of the Holy Spirit in the believer is the earnest or guarantee that other inheritance will be received by the believer. *"Who is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory"*. As long as the Holy Spirit bears witness in your heart that you are a child of God, He is giving you a guarantee that the other inheritances are awaiting you after the Rapture or the resurrection of the saints. b. The issue boils down to whether the Holy Spirit accepts you as a true child of God or not. The guarantee that He accepts you is manifested in two fold. One is inner witness that you are a child of God. *"As many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God"* (John 1:12). That power is the power of the Holy Spirit imparted into the heart. *"Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his"* (Romans 8:9). How do you know you have the Holy Spirit? *"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God"*. The second way you know you have the Holy Spirit is through His outwork in your life. He will work out true righteousness, godliness and Christlikeness in your heart and life that people will see Christ in you. The supernatural manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 would be very real in your experience. When these two manifestations of the Holy Spirit are real in your life, you can assure your hearts of going to heaven or being raptured anytime Rapture of the saints happens. For believers, the assurance of making heaven is now and not until after death. *Question* Do you have assurance that your name is in the Book of Life? If NO, why not? *Prayer Points* 1.Lord, I want my name to be written in the Book of Life. I surrender my heart to Jesus as my Lord and Saviour 🙏. 2.Expose and remove from me anything hindering the assurance of heaven by the Holy Spirit 🙏. 3.Open my eyes to my unclaimed inheritance and help me to take action of faith and inherit all 🙏. 4.Help all Your children to get the real experience that will qualify us for our inheritance on earth or heaven 🙏. *HYMN:* My Portion for Ever *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* DANIEL 1-2. Buy the truth and sell it not. Your eternity and holiness is not for sale.

🕊️ The Paraclete Truly, the Lord Jesus called the Holy Spirit "the Paraclete," meaning the Defender of humanity which was redeemed by the blood of the only Son, and He, the Holy Spirit, does not offer her the defence of lawyers in court and before judgment, but the defence of a Teacher and Guide; because the goodness and comfort of the Trinity is one goodness and one comfort for one Lord. Thus, the Comforter, who knows the depths of the soul, explains to her - like a tender teacher - the promises of God, reveals to her the mysteries of the heavenly life so that she may long for them and know them, and presents to her a pledge of this life so that she may live according to hope and freely leave the pleasures, lusts, and vanity of sin. Thus, the Holy Spirit preserves the soul in Christ, and establishes her according to the Lord's commandments so that she does not disdain the death of sin. #HolySpirit #Paraclete #Comforter #Teacher #Guidance #ChristianLife

Daily devotion for October 26th The Value of Prophecy Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. 1 Corinthians 14:1-3 That ties this back to the love chapter. Love is to be the basic, biblical reason for exercising a spiritual gift. Love is the hunger to reach out for someone else's benefit. That is to be the controlling theme throughout this whole chapter in the discussion of tongues and prophesying. Love is building up someone else. To that end, desire spiritual gifts, so that they may be a means of helping others and fulfilling love. Clearly the one spiritual gift that is most effective in that direction is prophesying. The gift of prophesying is not predicting the future. That may be an element occasionally in it, but it is the explanation of the present in the light of the revelation of God. The closest term we would call it by today is biblical preaching that unfolds the mind of God and applies it to the daily struggles of life. That is prophesying. That is the gift for a congregation to desire above all others. Beginning with Verse 2 and on through Verse 5, Paul compares the gifts of prophesy and tongues. Anyone who speaks in tongues is not understood in a congregation because he speaks mysteries in the Spirit. The reason for that was he was speaking in a language that they did not understand. At Corinth people would stand up and speak in these languages, perhaps recognizable as being languages used somewhere nearby (as on the Day of Pentecost), but the people there did not understand the language, and so they could not know what the speaker was saying. In contrast, Paul now describes the gift of prophesying, which Paul says has a threefold effect. First, it builds people up. The word is oikodomen in the Greek, oiko means house, and domen means to build. To build a house on a solid foundation is the idea; and the work of prophesying gives people a foundation. One of the major problems among Christians today is the struggle they have with the sense of their true identity. Many people are emotionally torn apart because they do not understand that they are new creatures in Christ; they are no longer what they once were. Because they still get feelings of being what they once were, they believe those feelings, and they react accordingly. There is an up-and-down experience that they can never get away from. Prophesying corrects that. It teaches us who we are in Christ. The second thing prophesying does is strengthen people. This is the word from which we get the word paraclete, one of the titles of the Holy Spirit. He is the strengthener of God's people. It means to support and encourage; it is one called alongside, that is the literal meaning of the term, to support you and steady you and strengthen you. The third ministry of prophesying is that of comforting. Still a third Greek word is used here, paramuthian, which means to empathize, to put yourself in the place of others, to understand the pressures they are under. It means to be able to feel with them and be able to encourage them with the fact that you know how they feel. That is what the word of prophesying is inclined to do. We have all had the experience of listening to a text of Scripture expounded, and it seemed to speak right to our basic problem. That is what prophesying does. You can see how useful and how important it is to have this exercised in a church. Thank you, Father, for the ministry of the Word of God in life. I pray for those who expound it that they might be your mouthpiece to a needy people.

The Spirit Is a Person Max Lucado Jesus doesn’t want us to think of the Holy Spirit as an it or a thing. The Spirit is a person. According to one study only four people in ten believe that the Spirit is a divine person. The rest of those surveyed either don’t have an opinion or choose to believe the Spirit is more like a power surge than a divine being who empowers and teaches us. Can you join me in a pledge? “I hereby resolve never to call the Holy Spirit an it.” The Spirit is a person. And Jesus calls him the Paraclete. Now translators land on different, yet similar, translations for this Greek word: Comforter, Counselor, Advocate, Intercessor. But the central message is the same—we are not alone.