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Tuesday, September 2, 2008

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1 Corinthians 2:10-16
Psalm 145
Luke 4:31-37

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the school of the spirit

"The Spirit scrutinizes all matters, even the deep things of God." —1 Corinthians 2:10

Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to teach us (Jn 14:26). The Spirit teaches us:

  1. "what lies at the depths of God" (1 Cor 2:11),
  2. "to recognize the gifts He has given us" (1 Cor 2:12),
  3. words in which to speak of these gifts (1 Cor 2:13),
  4. how to appraise everything (1 Cor 2:15), and
  5. how to have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16).

Without the Holy Spirit, we can't know the Father, the Son, ourselves, or anyone else. We don't even know how to talk or think. Without the Spirit, we are so out of touch with reality that we consider the most profound truths absurd (1 Cor 2:14).

Most of you reading this have the Spirit within you, so you are temples of the Spirit. However, the Spirit can move much more powerfully and freely than you have allowed Him so far. "For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God bestowed when my hands were laid on you. The Spirit God has given us is no cowardly Spirit, but rather One That makes us strong, loving, and wise" (2 Tm 1:6-7).

Prayer:  Come, Holy Spirit. Renew my Confirmation.

Promise:  "He commands the unclean spirits with authority and power, and they leave." —Lk 4:36

Praise:  It wasn't until Rick fully accepted the grace of his Confirmation that the Holy Spirit brought his life into focus.

Reference:  (For a related teaching, order our leaflet Seek The Gifts of the Spirit or our tapes Series on Gifts of the Spirit on four audio tapes starting with AV 3A-1 or on video tapes V-3A and V-3B.)

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 25, 2008

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