Receive the Holy Spirit
Month 7: He Is Risen! — Why We Believe · Walking in the Spirit
Today's Scripture
Read together: John 20:19–22
19 It was the first day of the week, and that very evening, while the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you!” He said to them. 20 After He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you.” 22 When He had said this, He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
Memory Verse
“Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself. Touch Me and see—for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.””— Luke 24:39 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Isaiah 31–34
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Around Day 199 of 365 — Isaiah promises a King who will reign in righteousness.)The Heart of It
On the evening of resurrection day, the disciples were huddled behind locked doors, afraid. Then the risen Jesus stood among them. His first word wasn't a scolding. It was, "Peace be with you." He showed them His hands and His side, and their fear melted into joy. Then He gave them their mission and their power in one breath. "As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you." And He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit" (). The risen Christ was making something brand new. He was making a people sent out on a mission. And He never expected them to do it on their own strength.
This is the heartbeat of the Spirit-filled life. Jesus does not save us and then leave us to muddle through. He fills us with His own Spirit, the very same Spirit who raised Him from the dead. Long ago, God breathed life into the first man in the garden. Now the risen Jesus breathes new life into His people. This moment pointed ahead to Pentecost, when that same Spirit would clothe the believers with power to be witnesses (). The pattern is clear. The resurrection sends us out, and the Spirit fills us up so we can go. We were never meant to follow Jesus by willpower alone. We were meant to be filled and carried by His Spirit. And that gift is for your family today.
Around the Table
Jesus said, "Peace!" and breathed on His friends to give them God's Helper, the Holy Spirit.
Let's do it: Take a big, calm breath together and say, "Holy Spirit, fill me with peace today."
Jesus gave His friends a job. They were to go and tell people about Him. And He gave them the Holy Spirit to help them do it.
Let's talk: Why would the disciples need God's power, and not just their own bravery?
The resurrection sends us out, and the Spirit fills us up. Jesus still wants to fill His people with the Holy Spirit, for power and for witness ().
Let's go deeper: Have you ever asked Jesus to fill you with His Holy Spirit? You can ask Him anytime, because He loves to give His Spirit.
💬 Conversation Starter
When you have a big job to do, do you try to do it all by yourself, or do you ask for help? Jesus gives us His Spirit, so we never have to serve Him alone.
🛡️ Defending the Faith
How do we know the resurrection truly changed these men? These same disciples were hiding behind locked doors out of fear. Yet within weeks they were boldly preaching the risen Christ in public, even when it meant being arrested. What explains a turnaround like that? Only one thing. They met the living Jesus, and they received His Spirit ().
For Dad · Go Deeper
Classic Pentecostal teaching sees the Spirit empowering the disciples as the pattern for every believer, your children included. It is for mission, not for show. The goal is never spiritual fireworks. As the Spirit-filled tradition rightly insists, character matters more than gifting, and any hype or prosperity spin is off the table. A truly Spirit-filled home is marked by Christlikeness, peace, and bold witness, not noise. Here is the searching part for a dad. You cannot lead your family into a life in the Spirit that you are not living yourself. Before you teach them to ask for the Spirit's filling, ask the Father to fill you afresh. Ask Him to send you out in His power, not just your own resolve.
Draws on: Robert Menzies, Pentecost: This Story Is Our Story; and Sam Storms, Understanding Spiritual Gifts.
Let's Pray Together
"Lord Jesus, thank You for Your peace. Thank You for breathing Your Spirit into Your people. Fill our family with Your Holy Spirit. Make us more like You. And send us out to tell others the good news. In Jesus' name, amen."
The risen Jesus sends me out. And He fills me with His Spirit, so I never go alone.