Don't chase me away from you or take your Holy Spirit away from me.

Then the Lord's people turned against him and made his Holy Spirit sad. So he became their enemy and attacked them.

But his people remembered what had happened during the time of Moses. Didn't the Lord bring them and their leaders safely through the sea? Didn't he give them his Holy Spirit?

The Birth of Jesus

(Luke 2.1-7)

This is how Jesus Christ was born. A young woman named Mary was engaged to Joseph from King David's family. But before they were married, she learned that she was going to have a baby by God's Holy Spirit.

While Joseph was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord appeared to him in a dream. The angel said, “Joseph, the baby that Mary will have is from the Holy Spirit. Go ahead and marry her.

I baptize you with water so you will give up your sins. But someone more powerful is going to come, and I am not good enough even to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Jesus and the Devil

(Mark 1.12,13; Luke 4.1-13)

The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert, so that the devil could test him.

I tell you any sinful thing you do or say can be forgiven. Even if you speak against the Son of Man, you can be forgiven. But if you speak against the Holy Spirit, you can never be forgiven, either in this life or in the life to come.

Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!”

As soon as Jesus came out of the water, he saw the sky open and the Holy Spirit coming down to him like a dove.

But if you speak against the Holy Spirit, you can never be forgiven. That sin will be held against you forever.

The Holy Spirit led David to say, ‘The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right side until I make your enemies into a footstool for you.’

When you are arrested, don't worry about what you will say. You will be given the right words when the time comes. But you will not really be the ones speaking. Your words will come from the Holy Spirit.

Your son will be a great servant of the Lord. He must never drink wine or beer, and the power of the Holy Spirit will be with him from the time he is born.

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God's power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God.

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, her baby moved within her. The Holy Spirit came upon Elizabeth.

Zechariah Praises the Lord

The Holy Spirit came upon Zechariah, and he began to speak:

John said, “I am just baptizing with water. But someone more powerful is going to come, and I am not good enough even to untie his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

and the Holy Spirit came down upon him in the form of a dove. A voice from heaven said, “You are my own dear Son, and I am pleased with you.”

Jesus and the Devil

(Matthew 4.1-11; Mark 1.12,13)

When Jesus returned from the Jordan River, the power of the Holy Spirit was with him, and the Spirit led him into the desert.

Jesus Thanks His Father

(Matthew 11.25-27; 13.16,17)

At that same time, Jesus felt the joy that comes from the Holy Spirit, and he said: My Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I am grateful that you hid all this from wise and educated people and showed it to ordinary people. Yes, Father, this is what pleased you.

As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give the Holy Spirit to anyone who asks.

If you speak against the Son of Man, you can be forgiven, but if you speak against the Holy Spirit, you cannot be forgiven.

At that time the Holy Spirit will tell you what to say.