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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" xmlns:creativeCommons="http://backend.userland.com/creativeCommonsRssModule"><channel><title>God's Holy Fire from Heartlight</title><description>God's Holy Fire is a daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.</description><link>http://www.heartlight.org/ghf/</link><lastBuildDate>Mon, 06 May 2024 02:00:00 -0500</lastBuildDate><language>en</language> <copyright>Ⓒ 1996-2024 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware.</copyright><atom:link href="https://www.heartlight.org/rss/devos/ghf/en/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /><item> <title>Pentecost and the Promised Spirit</title><link>https://www.heartlight.org/ghf/en/0506/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=devos&utm_content=ghf&utm_term=en</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.heartlight.org/ghf/en/0506/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=devos&utm_content=ghf&utm_term=en</guid><pubDate>Mon, 06 May 2024 02:00:00 -0500</pubDate><comments>https://www.heartlight.org/ghf/en/0506/#comments</comments><source url="http://www.heartlight.org/ghf/">God's Holy Fire from Heartlight</source> <description><p><i>[The LORD said:]</i> "I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days."</p><p>&mdash;<a href="https://bible.faithlife.com/bible/niv/Joel2.28-29" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Joel 2:28-29 NIV</a></p><h4>Key Thought</h4><p>Throughout the Old Testament, God's Spirit would come upon special leaders or agents of God's will to do his work. Most of the time, the Spirit's presence would be temporary to help with a pressing issue, need, problem, or battle. In a few cases, like David, God's Spirit never departed from God's servant. But the presence of the Spirit living permanently in all of God's people was a promise associated with the coming of the Messiah and the formation of God's new people. This promise from Joel 2 was <span class="alt">the first of several</span> key scriptures Peter quoted in his sermon during Pentecost. That day brought the dawn of the church and the coming of the Holy Spirit, as promised by Joel's prophecy. The Spirit first came to those who proclaimed the story of Jesus on Pentecost, but then to all who hear the message, believe, and respond by being baptized, on that day and all the days of conversion to follow (Acts 2:38-39). We live in the age of the Spirit!</p><h4>Today's Prayer</h4><p>Thank you! Thank you, O God, for allowing me to live in the time of your church. Forgive me when I discount your power released in and through <span class="alt">your church</span> by the Holy Spirit. Forgive me for not responding to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to be conformed to the character and compassion of Jesus. Forgive me for the times I've grieved the Spirit by saying unkind things about others<span class="alt">, especially those</span> in whom the Spirit lives. I ask, dear Father, in the name of Jesus, that your Holy Spirit <span class="alt">will have</span> the controlling influence on my heart and in shaping my life. Amen.</p><hr>Ⓒ 1996-2024 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of <a href="http://www.zondervan.com">Zondervan</a>. All rights reserved worldwide.<br>Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.</description> <enclosure url="https://img.heartlight.org/overlazy/creations/286.jpg" length="190137" type="image/jpeg" /></item><item> <title>Creator and Sustainer</title><link>https://www.heartlight.org/ghf/en/0505/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=devos&utm_content=ghf&utm_term=en</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.heartlight.org/ghf/en/0505/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=devos&utm_content=ghf&utm_term=en</guid><pubDate>Sun, 05 May 2024 02:00:00 -0500</pubDate><comments>https://www.heartlight.org/ghf/en/0505/#comments</comments><source url="http://www.heartlight.org/ghf/">God's Holy Fire from Heartlight</source> <description><p>When you send your Spirit, <span class="alt"><i>[all creatures]</i></span> are created, and you renew the face of the ground.</p><p>&mdash;<a href="https://bible.faithlife.com/bible/niv/Psalm104.30" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Psalm 104:30 NIV</a></p><h4>Key Thought</h4><p>Psalm 104 praises God as creator and sustainer of the earth. One of the dimensions of his providential care has to do with the work of the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit that was hovering above the primordial formless creation (Genesis 1:1-2) waiting for the Father's word to complete the work of creation is even now the Father's partner in bringing blessing to our world. When we pray to God &#8212; the Creator and Sustainer of all we <span class="alt">know &#8212; and</span> when we talk about Jesus holding the universe together, we need to remember that the Holy Spirit is also active in this work: <i>"When you send your Spirit,</i><span class="alt">[all creatures]</span><i>are created, and you renew the face of the ground."</i></p><h4>Today's Prayer</h4><p>O Father, thank you for your ongoing involvement in the universe that you created. I know that our world is broken as a result of the fall and our human rebellion to your will, but I take comfort in knowing that you hear our prayers and that your Holy Spirit still is at work in our world renewing your creation. Thank you. In Jesus' name. Amen.</p><hr>Ⓒ 1996-2024 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of <a href="http://www.zondervan.com">Zondervan</a>. All rights reserved worldwide.<br>Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.</description> <enclosure url="https://img.heartlight.org/overlazy/creations/4860.jpg" length="94597" type="image/jpeg" /></item><item> <title>The Spirit Poured Down</title><link>https://www.heartlight.org/ghf/en/0504/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=devos&utm_content=ghf&utm_term=en</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.heartlight.org/ghf/en/0504/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=devos&utm_content=ghf&utm_term=en</guid><pubDate>Sat, 04 May 2024 02:00:00 -0500</pubDate><comments>https://www.heartlight.org/ghf/en/0504/#comments</comments><source url="http://www.heartlight.org/ghf/">God's Holy Fire from Heartlight</source> <description><p>Yes, weep and grieve until the Spirit is poured down on us from above and the badlands desert grows crops and the fertile fields become forests.</p><p>&mdash;<a href="https://bible.faithlife.com/bible/niv/Isaiah32.15" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Isaiah 32:15</a> MESSAGE</p><h4>Key Thought</h4><p>Throughout the Old Testament prophets, there are statements made about the coming of a new day for God's people. It will be a day of healing, victory, and joy. It will be a time when bad things are made right, and even the land will be healed of harshness, desolation, and unproductivity. And the key sign to all of this? The work of the Holy Spirit. With the coming of Jesus, all four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) emphasize the work of the Spirit in Jesus' life and promise that Jesus will baptize his followers in the Holy Spirit. The book of Acts connects to this promise so that with Acts 2 and Pentecost and with each conversion story, we are shown the Holy Spirit is involved. When the Spirit of God comes, God's new work has begun, and his new people are born into his promise and into his kingdom, where there is joy, renewal, and new life.</p><h4>Today's Prayer</h4><p>Father, I thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit's presence &#8212; in your church, in my world, and especially within me. I look to your Spirit's presence to renew my heart, to bring joy in everyday moments, to bring comfort in times of sorrow, and to bring new life where there was none. Thank you for this incredible gift of power and your presence within me. Through the mighty name of Jesus, I praise and thank you for this gift! Amen.</p><hr>Ⓒ 1996-2024 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of <a href="http://www.zondervan.com">Zondervan</a>. All rights reserved worldwide.<br>Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.</description> <enclosure url="https://img.heartlight.org/overlazy/creations/6619.jpg" length="189626" type="image/jpeg" /></item><item> <title>My Redeemer, My Spirit</title><link>https://www.heartlight.org/ghf/en/0503/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=devos&utm_content=ghf&utm_term=en</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.heartlight.org/ghf/en/0503/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=devos&utm_content=ghf&utm_term=en</guid><pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2024 02:00:00 -0500</pubDate><comments>https://www.heartlight.org/ghf/en/0503/#comments</comments><source url="http://www.heartlight.org/ghf/">God's Holy Fire from Heartlight</source> <description><p>"As for me, this is my covenant with <span class="alt"><i>[those who repent of their sins]</i></span>," says the LORD. "My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants — from this time on and forever," says the LORD.</p><p>&mdash;<a href="https://bible.faithlife.com/bible/niv/Isaiah59.21" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Isaiah 59:21 NIV</a></p><h4>Key Thought</h4><p>Isaiah 59:1-16 is one of the most crushingly sad sections in the entire Bible. God is frustrated and heartbroken because his people are in such blatant rebellion and have no one to lead them back to him. They have been crushed by their enemies, and they are without hope &#8212; spiritually and physically. So, God decides to act! He moves with fury and might against his people's enemies (Isaiah 59:17-19). Then he promises to send his Redeemer. From that moment on, God's Spirit and God's words will rest with his people forever. <span class="alt">As was often the case, such prophecies had double fulfillments: One was in Old Testament times and another, in New Testament times. We have just seen the New Testament fulfillment in the gospel of Matthew:</span> Jesus is this Redeemer, and the work of the Spirit brings the dawning of God's kingdom. While we live in difficult times for the followers of Jesus, we also live under the promise that God's Spirit will not depart from us and that the Spirit's presence assures us that God's words will not be taken from us!</p><h4>Today's Prayer</h4><p>Father, thank you for your Word, and your words. Thank you that your Word is the great Redeemer who has delivered us from Satan and sent your Spirit to us. We praise you and thank you for this grace, and we pledge ourselves to your work in our world, transformed by your Spirit and informed by your Word. In Jesus' name, we thank you! Amen.</p><hr>Ⓒ 1996-2024 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of <a href="http://www.zondervan.com">Zondervan</a>. All rights reserved worldwide.<br>Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.</description> <enclosure url="https://img.heartlight.org/overlazy/creations/4931.jpg" length="97862" type="image/jpeg" /></item><item> <title>The Commission, the Promise</title><link>https://www.heartlight.org/ghf/en/0502/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=devos&utm_content=ghf&utm_term=en</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.heartlight.org/ghf/en/0502/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=devos&utm_content=ghf&utm_term=en</guid><pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 02:00:00 -0500</pubDate><comments>https://www.heartlight.org/ghf/en/0502/#comments</comments><source url="http://www.heartlight.org/ghf/">God's Holy Fire from Heartlight</source> <description><p>Then Jesus came to <span class="alt"><i>[the eleven disciples]</i></span> and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."</p><p>&mdash;<a href="https://bible.faithlife.com/bible/niv/Matthew28.18-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Matthew 28:18-20 NIV</a></p><h4>Key Thought</h4><p><span class="alt"><i>"All authority"</i></span>! No one can <span class="alt">legitimately contradict, challenge</span>, or cast doubt on the LORD's claim. Jesus has <span class="alt"><i>"all authority"</i></span>! He speaks with the authority that only God can &#8212; ALL authority! What he gives in today's Scripture are our marching orders as his followers. They also contain his promise to be with us as we follow those marching orders. We <span class="alt">call this passage</span> the Great Commission. As we contemplate the work and role of the Holy Spirit, we also hear a clear reminder in the Great Commission that baptism is important to God. It is important because of what God &#8212; as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit &#8212; does in our baptism. Matthew begins and ends his account of the earthly ministry of Jesus with an emphasis on baptism and the involvement of Father, Son, and Spirit <span class="alt">(Matthew 3:13-17; Matthew 28:18-20)</span>. The emphasis on <span class="alt">our spiritual lives being rooted in God &#8212; as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit &#8212; </span> is also picked up and emphasized by Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:14-19, from which today's prayer is adapted.</p><h4>Today's Prayer</h4><p>I kneel before <span class="alt">you, Father,</span> from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of <span class="alt">your glorious riches you</span> may strengthen us with power through <span class="alt">your Spirit</span> in our inner being, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. And I pray that we, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all <span class="alt">your holy people</span>, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge &#8212; that we may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. In the name of Jesus. Amen.</p><hr>Ⓒ 1996-2024 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of <a href="http://www.zondervan.com">Zondervan</a>. All rights reserved worldwide.<br>Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.</description> <enclosure url="https://img.heartlight.org/overlazy/creations/4424.jpg" length="174344" type="image/jpeg" /></item><item> <title>Inspiration Behind Scripture</title><link>https://www.heartlight.org/ghf/en/0501/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=devos&utm_content=ghf&utm_term=en</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.heartlight.org/ghf/en/0501/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=devos&utm_content=ghf&utm_term=en</guid><pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 02:00:00 -0500</pubDate><comments>https://www.heartlight.org/ghf/en/0501/#comments</comments><source url="http://www.heartlight.org/ghf/">God's Holy Fire from Heartlight</source> <description><p><span class="alt">Then, surrounded by the Pharisees, Jesus asked them a question: "What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?" They replied, "He is the son of David."</span> Jesus responded, "Then why does David, speaking under the inspiration of the Spirit, call the Messiah 'my Lord'? For David said, 'The LORD said to my Lord, sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies beneath your feet.'"</p><p>&mdash;<a href="https://bible.faithlife.com/bible/nlt/Matthew22.41-44" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Matthew 22:41-44 NLT</a></p><h4>Key Thought</h4><p>We cannot forget the claims of the <span class="alt">Scriptures</span> that their messages are from God. <span class="alt">Paul reminded Timothy that all Scripture is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Other places reference God's inspiration behind</span> the words of the prophets <span class="alt">(2 Peter 1:19-21) </span>and the writers of the Bible (1 Thessalonians 4:8). As 2 Peter 1:21 and 1 Corinthians 2:12-13 point out, that inspiration came from the Holy Spirit. In today's passage, Jesus <span class="alt">quoted</span> from David and <span class="alt">weighed</span> in on the inspiration issue. He said that David spoke by "inspiration of the Spirit"! I don't know about you, but this assertion from Jesus is a challenging reminder that I need to invest more time <span class="alt">in listening</span> to the voice of the Holy Spirit in the words and truths he inspired <span class="alt">in the Holy Scriptures</span>! We are promised that as we open the <span class="alt">Scriptures</span>, the Spirit will be at work to help us understand God's truth (1 Corinthians 2:6-16).</p><h4>Today's Prayer</h4><p>Father, I thank you for giving us the gift of your words, inspired by the Holy Spirit and given through your human messengers, so that we can know your will and live to bring you glory. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.</p><hr>Ⓒ 1996-2024 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of <a href="http://www.zondervan.com">Zondervan</a>. All rights reserved worldwide.<br>Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.</description> <enclosure url="https://img.heartlight.org/overlazy/creations/5038.jpg" length="141670" type="image/jpeg" /></item><item> <title>Blasphemy!</title><link>https://www.heartlight.org/ghf/en/0430/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=devos&utm_content=ghf&utm_term=en</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.heartlight.org/ghf/en/0430/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=devos&utm_content=ghf&utm_term=en</guid><pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 02:00:00 -0500</pubDate><comments>https://www.heartlight.org/ghf/en/0430/#comments</comments><source url="http://www.heartlight.org/ghf/">God's Holy Fire from Heartlight</source> <description><p><i>[Jesus:]</i> "So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven &#8212; except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come."</p><p>&mdash;<a href="https://bible.faithlife.com/bible/nlt/Matthew12.31-32" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Matthew 12:31-32 NLT</a></p><h4>Key Thought</h4><p>While <span class="alt">rejecting Jesus</span> is sad, he states that it is forgivable. However, attributing his power to Satan rather than the Holy Spirit is denying the power of the Holy Spirit and is unforgivable blasphemy! If Satan could have stopped Jesus, he would have &#8212; he actually tried to stop and corrupt Jesus <span class="alt">through temptations</span> and at the cross, but failed! Jesus is stronger than Satan. Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is empowered by the Holy Spirit. Jesus is delivering people from the power of sin, death, and hell. No other power, but the very power of God in the Holy Spirit, could do such wonderful things (Matthew 12:25-29). To attribute such power to Satan is to blaspheme the Spirit of God who is bringing the deliverance of God to the broken and the lost. As Nicodemus said in his encounter with Jesus, <span class="alt"><i>"We know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him"</i></span> (John 3:2).</p><h4>Today's Prayer</h4><p>O Father, I recognize that Jesus' awesome teaching and amazing miracles happened because of his allegiance to you as he was empowered by the Holy Spirit. I am thankful that this same power is at work in my life. I am comforted to know that Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit to live within me and to be at work in my life. In Jesus' name, I thank you and praise you. Amen.</p><hr>Ⓒ 1996-2024 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of <a href="http://www.zondervan.com">Zondervan</a>. All rights reserved worldwide.<br>Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.</description> <enclosure url="https://img.heartlight.org/overlazy/creations/4849.jpg" length="156257" type="image/jpeg" /></item> </channel></rss>If you would like to create a banner that links to this page (i.e. this validation result), do the following:
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