Devotionals: The Gift of the Holy Spirit Archives

Jesus’ First Work

By Andrew YoungJuly 21, 2017Devotionals: The Gift of the Holy Spirit

“The first work that Jesus does after his exaltation… is to send out the Holy Spirit.” Herman Bavinck Bible Reading: Luke 24:36-49 Frequently in my travels abroad and within New Zealand, I meet with Christians who confess that they don’t talk and think as much as they should about the Holy Spirit. That is not true of all, but it is typically the case with those who belong to the Reformed and evangelical tradition. They readily admit, furthermore, that this deficiency is in part the result of a reaction to excesses that they see in regard to the Holy Spirit […]

The Spirit’s Dwelling Place

By Andrew YoungJuly 22, 2017Devotionals: The Gift of the Holy Spirit

“…the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost chose the church as his dwelling place and temple…” Herman Bavinck Bible Reading: Acts 2:1-13 The gift of the Holy Spirit to the church took place, as we well know, on the Day of Pentecost. This was a unique event in the history of the church; it marked the birth of a new era in the life of God’s people. In reflecting on this event, Herman Bavinck likens it to what happened when God took upon himself human nature in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. He writes, Just as Christ […]

Jesus and the Spirit

By Andrew YoungJuly 23, 2017Devotionals: The Gift of the Holy Spirit

“Christ has obtained the full and free command over the Holy spirit, and over all the gifts and powers of that Spirit.” Herman Bavinck Bible Reading: John 16:12-15 When Jesus spoke to his disciples of the coming of the Holy Spirit, he spoke of him as coming both from the Father and from himself. Initially, he said to them that he, upon his return to heaven, would “ask the Father” and that he (the Father) would give them “another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16). But later, in the same conversation, he could […]

The Holy Spirit and the Body of Christ

By Andrew YoungJuly 24, 2017Devotionals: The Gift of the Holy Spirit

“[The Holy Spirit is committed] to forming the body of Christ until it achieves its full maturity…” Herman Bavinck Bible Reading: Ephesians 4:11-16 In coming to the church in “the name of Christ” (John 14:26), the Holy Spirit not only acted as the presence of Christ with his people, but he formed them into the body of Christ. He established a vital link or connection between Christ and his disciples that had not existed previously between God and his people. In former times, God had dwelt among his people as a shining presence in the cloud that led Israel in […]

A Unique Event

By Andrew YoungJuly 25, 2017Devotionals: The Gift of the Holy Spirit

“The speaking in strange tongues on the day of Pentecost was, therefore, a unique event.” Herman Bavinck Bible Reading: Acts 2:4-11 In his record of the events of the Day of Pentecost, Luke mentions that the pouring out of the Spirit was accompanied by striking phenomena which drew the attention of a great crowd of Jews in Jerusalem for the feast. There was a sound “like a mighty rushing wind,” the appearance of “divided tongues as of fire” resting on each of the disciples, and lastly, their sudden speaking in “other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4). […]

The Holy Spirit and His Gifts

By Andrew YoungJuly 26, 2017Devotionals: The Gift of the Holy Spirit

“The gifts of the Spirit… are given to everyone… according to the sovereign will of the Spirit” Herman Bavinck Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:1-13; 13:1-13 While speaking in other tongues discussed in the last devotional had an important place among the miracles at Pentecost, it was not the only way that the Holy Spirit demonstrated his presence in the church in that early period of its history. There were many other unusual powers that manifested themselves in the lives of members of the church as well. The Apostle Paul was himself “abundantly endowed with these special gifts of the Spirit,” […]

Seeking Spiritual Gifts

By Andrew YoungJuly 27, 2017Devotionals: The Gift of the Holy Spirit

“…there will be nothing hysterical or forced about it… we can count on God himself to lead us into whatever we are to do.” Dallas Willard Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 14:1-5 In our last devotional, we noted that the Apostle Paul encouraged Christians in Corinth to pursue or seek gifts that were of greater benefit to the church as a whole (1 Corinthians 14:1). “Seeking” such gifts is something that has resulted in anxiety, confusion and discouragement for many Christians. It is worth pausing to dwell on this a little more. I can recall feeling this anxiety as a young […]

The Holy Spirit’s “Steady Work”

By Andrew YoungJuly 28, 2017Devotionals: The Gift of the Holy Spirit

“There are [always] persons and parties who attach more importance to unusual manifestations… than to the operation of the Spirit in regeneration, conversion, and the renewing of life.” Herman Bavinck Bible Reading: Ephesians 3:14-21 The issue of whether or not the “extraordinary” or “unusual” gifts of the Holy Spirit are still actively present in the church today is a controversial one. It is one that Bavinck doesn’t treat in any depth, except to note that these gifts, so evident in the days of the apostles, were “necessary in that first period to provide an entrance for the Christian confession into […]

The Holy Spirit and the Church

By Andrew YoungJuly 29, 2017Devotionals: The Gift of the Holy Spirit

“…the disciples, by the gift of the Spirit, were united in the most intimate way into one, independent, holy church.” Herman Bavinck Bible Reading: Acts 2:42-47 The outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples on the Day of Pentecost did more than establish a unique fellowship between the risen Lord and his followers. It also created a special bond between them as individuals. It constituted them a church – one “independent, holy church” as Bavinck puts it. That new society, as it first appeared after Pentecost, expressed itself as a community of people who worshipped, prayed, shared, and witnessed […]

The Holy Spirit, the Church, and Christ

By James ChuangJuly 30, 2017Devotionals: The Gift of the Holy Spirit

“The unity of the church roots in the fellowship with Christ, and comes up out of it.” Herman Bavinck Bible Reading: Ephesians 1:3-14 The bond of unity that the Holy Spirit creates among Christians is essentially a bond that has its source in Christ. We have seen repeatedly how the Spirit comes to us as the Spirit of Christ. He constantly points away from himself to the Lord Jesus and is the means whereby we share in the life of Christ. And he does this not just to and for us individually, but as a body – as the church […]