God's Holy Fire: 'Revealed by the Spirit'

Friday, July 25, 2025

By these [Old Covenant] regulations the Holy Spirit revealed that the entrance to the Most Holy Place was not freely open as long as the Tabernacle and the system it represented were still in use. This is an illustration pointing to the present time. For the gifts and sacrifices that the priests offer are not able to cleanse the consciences of the people who bring them.
— Hebrews 9:8-9 NLT

Key Thought

The Bible is not a disconnected set of stories. Underneath all these stories is God's story of redemptive love. Throughout the Old Testament parts of the story, the Holy Spirit hints, guides, foreshadows, and even proclaims the direction God's story of grace will ultimately head. Even in the multitude of details used to describe the regulations, ordinances, laws, and rules of the Old Covenant, the Holy Spirit is prefiguring and foreshadowing the glorious work of the Messiah. With Jesus' coming, the story finds its meaning, the shadows become substance, and faith reaches God's goal.

Today's Prayer

God, my glorious Father, thank you for your story of redeeming grace. Thank you for Jesus, in whom your story finds its meaning and hope. Thank you for the Holy Spirit, who wove this story together into your story of Jesus. Thank you! In Jesus' name. Amen.

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Illustration

Illustration of Hebrews 9:8-9 NLT — For the gifts and sacrifices that the priests offer are not able to cleanse the consciences of the people who bring them.

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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.

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