God's Holy Fire: 'They Do Not Have the Spirit!'

Sunday, March 29, 2026

[The apostles] told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God's Spirit in them.
— Jude 1:18-19 NLT

Key Thought

Having the Holy Spirit dwelling within us is the litmus test of whether we belong to Christ or not (Romans 8:9; Act 19:1-7). Without the Spirit of God within us - enabling us to overcome our sinful nature (Romans 8:12-13), transforming us to be like Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18), and producing the fruit of the Spirit in us (Galatians 5:22-23) - we live by our "natural instincts." This way of life is also called living by the flesh or living by our sinful nature (Romans 8:5-8) and is full of corruption, division, and hostility toward God, toward goodness, and toward God's people. Avoiding these things is why conversion to Christ and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit are so important. Living by our "natural instincts" means living in rebellion to God (Ephesians 2:1-3). No one can live for Christ without the Spirit of God. The Spirit empowers us with supernatural instincts from God to live for Christ!

Today's Prayer

Glorious and gracious God, thank you for sending your Son to die for my sins and then sending your Spirit to live within me to help me live to honor you. In Jesus' name, I offer you my thanks, my praise, and my heart. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

1 Related Resource by Heartlight

Last Days
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Friend, In a few days, I will be leading you through My Revelation to John; it contains My message to the churches of Asia Minor — and to...."

Illustration

Illustration of Jude 18-19 NLT — They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God's Spirit in them.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Sunday, March 29, 2026

Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'The One Whom We Obey' (Acts 5:26-29)
"The captain went with his Temple guards and arrested the apostles, but without violence, for they were afraid the people would stone them. Then they...."
Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'My Enemies Will Retreat' (Ps. 56:9-10)
"My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help. This I know: God is on my side! I praise God for what he has promised; yes, I praise the Lord for..."
Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'God Rescues His Friends from Enemy Traps'
"The Lord is a friend to those who fear him. He teaches them his covenant. My eyes are always on the Lord, for he rescues me from the traps of my..."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Joy at Finding What Is Lost'
"Dear Friend, In the verses today and the next two days, you will find three of My stories — often called parables — about lost things and..."

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