As we venture into May, we are focusing on the Holy Spirit as we move toward Pentecost, the day when God’s Spirit was poured out on thousands: Men and women, young and old, starting with the original disciples. Still today, God uses current disciples (us!) to bring others to know the truth as the Spirit testifies with and through us about the person and work of Jesus

We will reference the Apostle’s Creed as a springboard for IMMersion for a couple of weeks. But today we draw from another long-standing collection of Bible teachings about God, the Nicene Creed. There it says of the Spirit: We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. The work of the Spirit emanates from, proceeds from the Father and Son, who sent him. With that we are off to worship God. Here’s our invocation:

We step into this week singing alleluia to You, Father, who sends the Spirit to lead us into all truth;

We sing alleluia to You, Jesus, who sends the Spirit to remind us of all that you taught;

We sing alleluia to You, Spirit, proceeding from the Father and Son, and bringing us to the Father through the Son.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Luke 11:9-13

So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 

For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 

Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

What jumps out at you from this Bible reading? Ask God why…

Apostle's Creed, Part 1

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

Rather than just think about God’s creation, go outside for a few minutes and experience it – use your senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste) to take in both large and small around you. Then steal some time now or later today to read Psalm 8. Thank God for something specific in creation that you enjoy particularly. Have a great day in His creation!

He is Lord

by Marvin Frey

He is Lord, He is Lord
He is risen from the dead
And He is Lord
Every knee shall bow
Every tongue confess
That Jesus Christ is Lord.

Apostle's Creed, Part 2

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

These are familiar church-words, but with tremendous depth of meaning. There is only one ‘Christ,’ one ‘only Son’ and one ‘Lord’ – the last of which means Jesus is one with God and part of the Triune Godhead. Believing that Jesus is God differs with all other faiths in the world – yet is precisely what God’s Word itself teaches.

Lord Jesus – my Lord – I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and that through you I have life (John 20:31). May the whole world come to know that you are God-in-the-flesh, and Lord of all.

Remember: Take five to ten minutes a day to stop and listen, to connect with God in music. Let the Holy Spirit use it to feed your soul.

2 Timothy 1:6-7

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

Father God, thank you for the gift of Your Holy Spirit in my life. You promised to give your Spirit to whomever asked (Luke 11:13). I’m asking to receive an outpouring of Your Spirit anew, and that I receive that God-given power, love and self-discipline that comes with Him. Just as Paul wanted to see Timothy fan into flame that gift of Yours, I want to see that happen in my life too – and in the lives of my friends… (list them now). Let it be for Jesus’ sake and to your glory,

Amen

Apostle's Creed, Part 3

Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

God’s humiliation in the person of Jesus: Man often aspires to be like God (a form of self-exaltation), but how humbling it is to know that God aspired to become a man – out of love and self-sacrifice. What a nine-month incubation period for God the Son in preparation for living among his created people!

Lord Jesus, You are worthy of greatest praise because of your deep love and willingness to sacrifice – I praise you greatly!

Yielding to the Holy Spirit

Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would remind his disciples of what he taught; That Spirit helps us too. Know that there will be times when God challenges you through His Word. Gladly embrace this truth, keeping in mind another verse from Hebrews 12:11:

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Let God train you through his Word, Spirit, and Body.

2 Timothy 1:8

Do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me, his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.

Apostle's Creed, Part 4

Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

God’s humiliation (continued): God dying for us. Even more amazing than God becoming a man is the ensuing (and rather gruesome) death that God experiences as a man. He could have avoided it, but didn’t. Rather he embraced suffering and death for us. This makes Jesus the embodiment of love – to the death, and beyond...! He is the God of Love in a body, given into death for us. How does one say thanks for dying in your place? Go ahead and do so – however you find appropriate.

Seeing suffering does not move me to act if I think of the person as "him." (Remember the priest and the Levite in parable of the Good Samaritan). But when I think of that person as a part of "us," part of "me," then I am moved to bless. Jesus may have been speaking quite literally when he said, "Love your neighbor as yourself." What if our souls went out in humble love to all the people God brings into our world? Undeserving, but loved. The soul blesses by loving. Our soul needs blessing.

-- Soul Keeping, John Ortberg, pages 159, 160

2 Timothy 1:6-14

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 

So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 

He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. 

This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 

And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 

That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. 

What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

Father God, thank you for “destroying death” and “bringing immortality to light” through Jesus and his gospel message. Help me to develop a sound pattern of teaching and lifestyle that is in accord with your Word – and to surround myself with others who do the same. Help me to guard this good deposit with the Holy Spirit’s guidance – and with a little help from my friends in Him. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Apostle's Creed, Part 5

Jesus descended into hell. On the third day he rose again…

God’s (re-)exaltation: There’ll be hell to pay. God-the-Son experienced hell for our sins during his crucifixion (“why have you forsaken me?” – Mark 15:34). This phrase, “descended into hell,” is not referencing that, but rather something else. It is a post-resurrection declaration from Jesus that occurs after he is “made alive by the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:18-19); then he appeared to the women at the grave.

2 Timothy 1:14

Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

Apostle's Creed, Part 6

…He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

God’s (re-)exaltation (continued): Jesus was always an exalted part of Godhead, but after his human life, death, and resurrection, Jesus keeps the body he assumed, glorifies it, and goes to heaven with it. We’ll even be able to see his scars while receiving the good news as believers that we are righteous through the blood of Jesus himself – and welcomed into God’s heavenly presence (see John 20:26-28).

Jesus, I welcome your authority in my life. Bring it on!