Jesus had mentioned the Holy Spirit several times before His crucifixion. Now He gave His disciples specific instructions about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1: 4 Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. …
Being empowered by the Holy Spirit is a gift from God that affects us and those around us. Jesus is the model of the importance of being filled with the Spirit. He demonstrates this as He goes to Galilee after overcoming the devil’s temptations. Luke 4:14 Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s …
Each person is valuable to the Lord, and when the Gospel is presented, even a few are worth the effort. I met an older lady who had been in an orphanage as a child, and when she was ten years old, God intervened in her life. As a child, she felt unloved until she met …
Turning to God is the Lord’s desire for every person. Some people turn to the Lord with the slightest whisper by the Holy Spirit, and others in desperation. Our sinful nature is not to turn to God but to pursue a selfish course in life. Like sheep, we need a Shepherd to care for, guide, …
Throughout history, people have asked, “Who is God?” Have you ever daydreamed about seeing God or perhaps touching Him? One of the ways people have gotten to know the Lord is through reading or listening to the Bible. As a young adult, I remember listening to the New Testament in audio form, and it greatly …
Not long ago, we had a guest speaker skilled in sharing the Gospel winsomely. Jesus conveyed love through His smile, tone of voice, and words. We can have the right words to speak to someone, but without kindness, we can quickly turn people away from the Lord. Jesus approached the crowds with compassion. Matthew 14:14 Jesus …
Only Jesus can fill our spiritual void. Many people try to fill themselves with the things of this world and find they are empty and without purpose. Do you feel a sense of emptiness, or are you looking for something to fill a hole in your life? God’s word tells us that He created us …
God sends people to share His message because He loves them and does not want anyone to perish. Imagine that someone shares the good news of Jesus with you, and you become a believer. You feel the presence of the Lord, and a peace that you have never experienced settles over you. Whom would you …
We can build our own prisons because sin can hold us captive. Many people, perhaps some you know some, are stuck in the past. They are stuck in the past because they can’t let go of something. A divorce, betrayal, worry, addiction, regret, unforgiveness toward someone, or another situation holds them captive. If you find …
The world chases after many things, but true riches are found in Jesus. When I graduated from college, I went through a time of self-discovery, pursuing the things of this world. A few years later, I realized that my faith in Jesus is where real wealth is. Are you chasing the world? Is the Lord …