God's Holy Fire: 'Litmus Test'

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Remember how you were when you didn't know God, led from one phony god to another, never knowing what you were doing, just doing it because everybody else did it? It's different in this life. God wants us to use our intelligence, to seek to understand as well as we can. For instance, by using your heads, you know perfectly well that the Spirit of God would never prompt anyone to say "Jesus be damned!" Nor would anyone be inclined to say "Jesus is Master!" without the insight of the Holy Spirit.
— 1 Corinthians 12:2-3 MSG

Key Thought

In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit spoke through human writers to give us some absolute truths. When the Holy Spirit lives inside people, they are not going to curse Jesus. Instead, the Holy Spirit impels them to confess Jesus as Lord and Master - not only as the Lord and Master of all creation but also as the Lord and Master to whom they yield their hearts! Because of Jesus' resurrection from the dead, the Holy Spirit declared the Lord Jesus Christ as the powerful Son of God (Romans 1:4).

Today's Prayer

Almighty God, I confess that I believe that Jesus Christ is your Son, my Lord and Savior. I yield my heart to Jesus and pray that my life reflects his character and compassion. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart always be guided by your Holy Spirit and lead me to confess the glory and grace that I have found in my Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, in whose name I pray. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

5 Related Resources by Heartlight

1 Corinthians 12:3
Devo: Today's Verse
"Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit."
Jesus Is Lord
Devo: God's Holy Fire
"So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit."
Bearing Witness
Illustration of 1 Corinthians 12:3
Inspirational illustration of 1 Corinthians 12:3 -- Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
ONLY Christians Can Say, “Jesus Is Lord”
Devo: Spiritual Warfare
"No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit. But every person who doesn't declare that Jesus Christ has come as a human has a spirit..."
See All 5 Related Resources about 1 Corinthians 12:2-3

Illustration

Illustration of 1 Corinthians 12:2-3 MSG — "Jesus be damned!" —— "Jesus is Master!"

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'We Adore You' (1 Ch. 29:11)
"Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this..."
Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'Not Fear, But Power, Love, and Self-discipline'
"This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and..."
What Jesus Did!
A daily guide from the gospels that challenges readers to live for Jesus.
'Never Heard Anyone Speak Like This' (Jn. 7:45-46)
"When the Temple guards returned without having arrested Jesus, the leading priests and Pharisees demanded, "Why didn't you bring him in?" "We have..."
Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'God-incidences' (Acts 10:17-20)
"Peter was very perplexed [when told in his vision to eat unclean things]. What could the vision mean? Just then the men sent by Cornelius found..."

About This Devotional

God's Holy Fire is a daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

More God's Holy Fire

Translations