Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Come Holy Spirit Set us Free
Joel 2:28-32
                         
Mathew Lukose,

Ephiphany MTC,  New York
28.“And afterward, 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.

Recently I read the following story that appeared in Christianity Today Oct 2015 illustrated from The Bonds of Freedom by Roger Olson:  “A train is free only so long as it stays on its tracks; a train that jumps the tracks is "free" of the rails but no longer free in the most important sense of the word. It's a freed wreck that can't go anywhere. "Free," but no longer truly free.  Humans were created in the image of God. True freedom, then, is not found in moving away from that image but only in living it out. The closer we conform to the true image of God, Jesus Christ, the freer we become. The farther we drift from it, the more our freedom shrinks.  Christ has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit, which has been poured out on us.  Christ has freed us from the bondage of sin and the Holy Spirit empowers us to live in freedom in Christ.”

Before our Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, He specifically instructed His disciples to remain in Jerusalem until they receive the Holy Spirit who would empower them to be His witness to the ends of the earth (Act 1:8).  What happened in Jerusalem was the fulfillment of Joel’s prophesies. In John 14: 25 we read Jesus said “but the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
The Holy Spirit engages with us. He teaches us, prays for us, guides us, grieves when we sin, and gives us spiritual gifts. The Holy Spirit indwells in us once we receive forgiveness of our sins through Jesus Christ. If the Spirit of God lives in us, then, we are controlled by the Spirit. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
 
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (vs. 32) and in verse 28 we read “and afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people”. This is the awesome promise of the Lord. The prophet Joel promised that the Holy Spirit will be poured out on all who believes in  Jesus Christ. We were created to know God; to have fellowship with God. Sin broke that relationship; but because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, a way was made for all God’s people; for all of God’s people to see vision, to dream dreams, and to hear from God as fulfilled in Acts 2:32. The Holy Spirit sets us free from sin and bondage.

PRAYER

Father, thank You for giving us Your Spirit to guide us and set us free. Lord, set us free from sins and cleanse us by the blood of Your son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Lord, pour out Your spirit on us Your children. Amen  
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
“The Holy Spirit is the living presence of God in the Church.” Pope Francis – May 12, 2014. 

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