Text: John: 5:21-30

21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them;  even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.   22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:  23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father.   He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.   24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation;  but is passed from death unto life.   25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God:  and they that hear shall live.   26 For as the Father hath life in himself;  so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;  27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.   28 Marvel not at this:  for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth;  they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life;  and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.   30 I can of mine own self do nothing:  as I hear, I judge:  and my judgment is just;  because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.      

Thursday, 23^rd May 2024        

THE HOLY SPIRIT QUICKENS OUR MORTAL BODIES

Text: John: 5:21-30

Memory verse: Psalms 80: 18 So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name.

To ‘quicken' is 'to make alive; to recreate; to revive or resuscitate, as from death or an inanimate state.' So, quickening denotes giving life or energy to something or someone. When the KJV Bible used the phrase 'quickening spirit', it was describing the last Adam (Jesus Christ) as a life-giving Spirit.

The beckoning invitations of the world attempt to divert our attention from the straight and narrow path. The adversary labours to dull our sensitivity to the promptings of the Spirit, whether we are teenagers, young adults, or mature men and women. The role of the Spirit, the Holy Ghost, is essential in every season of our mortal lives.

From the beginning the Father has promised every spiritual son and daughter that through the Atonement and Resurrection of His Beloved Son, we all might return to God’s presence and inherit the blessings of eternal life in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom. We know that the journey to exaltation would be long, strenuous, and sometimes lonely, but we also knew that we would not travel alone. The Heavenly Father provides all who fulfil the prerequisites of faith, repentance, and baptism with a companion and guide of the Holy Ghost. The path to eternal life is not on a plateau. Rather, it is an incline, ever onward and upward. Ever-increasing spiritual understanding and energy are required to reach our destination. Because the evil opposition by Satan continues, the continuous enlightened guidance of the Holy Ghost is essential. We dare not hinder, disregard, or quench the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Yet when it comes to drawing upon the promptings and the blessings which flow from the Holy Ghost, we often “live far beneath our privileges.”

When we invite the Holy Ghost to fill our minds with light and knowledge, He “quickens” us enlightens and brightens the inner man or woman. As a result, we notice a measurable difference in our soul. We feel strengthened, filled with peace and joy. We possess spiritual energy and enthusiasm, both of which enhance our natural abilities. We can accomplish more than we otherwise could do on our own. We yearn to become a holier person.

CGDS HYMN 28: SS&S 190: 

COME, HOLY SPIRIT, COME

1. Come, Holy Spirit, come;

Let Thy bright beams arise,

Dispel the darkness from our minds,

And open all our eyes.

2. Revive our drooping faith,

Our doubts and fears remove,

And kindle in our breasts the flame

Of never-dying love.

3. Convince us of our sin,

Then lead to Jesus' blood,

And to our wondering view reveal

The secret love of God.

4. ‘Tis Thine to cleanse the heart,

To sanctify the soul,

To pour fresh life in every part,

And new-create the whole.

5. Dwell therefore in our hearts,

Our minds from bondage free ;

Then we shall know, and praise, and love

The Father, Son, and Thee !  

 Prayers: 

1.  Holy Spirit, make me to live a Spiritual life to positively impact the world for you in Jesus’ name Amen.

2.  LORD God Almighty, give life to my mortal body and immune me against sickness through Your Spirit that lives in me in Jesus’ name. Amen.    

3.  Pray for others in this regard.