January 2, 2022
What Jesus is doing here is awakening His followers to the new reality of God’s plan for His people in the Church age. The reason God’s Kingdom will not be established at this time, is that in just a few days, the Holy Spirit is going to come upon them all, and the Church will come into existence. Now, through theChurch, God’s kingdom will take up residence in the hearts of ordinary men and women, and together they will have one purpose: to be His witnesses in the world!
June 1, 2021
If the Spirit has set you free from the burden of the law, if the Spirit is changing you so you now want what God wants, and if the Spirit is empowering you to kill off the old life and embrace this new life in Christ – that means, the Spirit in You is leading you. And the very fact that you are living surrendered to His leading is a clear statement that you are a new person in Christ. More specifically, you are a child of God. And the good news is that God has done all of this for you.
April 4, 2021
The one who had died was dead no longer. It was true. Jesus had risen from the dead. He was standing right here in front of them. And what was their response? When they realized Jesus was alive, they rejoiced, just as Jesus said they would.
January 31, 2020
You see at the heart of every Christ follower is this driving passion to know Jesus, to learn His teachings, and embrace His gospel. These first believers didn’t just add Jesus to their already busy lives, Jesus became the center of their lives. They went to the Temple courts to hear messages about Jesus. They met together in their homes to memorize the stories of Jesus. Everything in the early church was founded on their passion for Jesus… They couldn’t get enough of Jesus!
December 11, 2019
Counterfeit passions can quench God’s Spirit in us. They don’t give our hearts the satisfaction it desires. So what must we do? We must allow our hearts to be rekindled by God’s indwelling Holy Spirit. That’s what Paul means when he writes, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor.” And so we ask, how do we do that? The answer is simple: We need to turn up the heat of God’s Holy Spirit in our lives.
April 9, 2019
Jesus knew we would need help to live the Christian life. That’s why He gave us “another advocate” in the Holy Spirit. And now with His Spirit in you, you have someone to stand up for you. “The Holy Spirit is your encouraging advocate.” With His Spirit in you, you have someone to be with you. “The Holy Spirit is your intimate companion.” With His Spirit in you, you have someone to make Jesus known to you. “The Holy Spirit is your indwelling teacher.”
November 8, 2018
But the biggest transformation Jesus makes is in our relationship with God: God is no longer some abstract, unapproachable judge. He becomes our Father, our “abba” who delights in us, sings over us, and gives us access to His presence. So with transformed affection for God we find ourselves wanting to pray, delighting in praise and growing in thanks for all He has given us in Jesus. And as a result of this new affection, we find ourselves wanting to please Him in every way.
October 16, 2018
What manner was this power? How was it manifested in those first followers? It was the power of the Holy Spirit who moved them to thirst after the Word. It was the power of the Holy Spirit who moved them to seek God constantly in prayer. It was the power of the Holy Spirit who moved them to sell whatever they had so they could share with others in need. It was the power of the Holy Spirit who moved them to open up their homes and include friends and neighbors in their lives. It was the power of Christ’s love that compelled them to love one another deeply. And it was the power who moved in their hearts to tell the good news about Jesus, to talk about the cross.
April 3, 2018
That’s why the resurrection changes everything. For when you receive Jesus you receive His Spirit. And when you receive His Spirit, you receive the power to live this new life of grace, truth, hope and love. And this is what our world needs today.
March 7, 2017
This is the reality God wants you to know. It’s why He gave you His Holy Spirit to live in you. For once your identity is secure as His child, you will be led by the Spirit, and the things that you once thought were important to you, they will slowly loose their power over you. And you will no longer want anything to do with them, because you will find your life and peace with a Father who loves you completely.