Last week, we touched on the fact that the Holy Spirit enjoys efficacy and is essential to our existence as followers of faith in Jesus Christ. Remember that the word efficacy advances the concept of the capacity for producing a desired result or effect; the ability to accomplish or do something.
Some time ago I was laboring in love to lay down a foundation of understanding with respect to the Holy Spirit. The individual I was ministering to had experienced a life devoured by drugs and depression. God, by His gregarious and generous grace, moved the person I was ministering to open their heart for the gospel.
There are a considerable degree of misconceptions as well as some flat-out falsehoods about the identity, ministry and work of the Holy Spirit. Some see the Holy Spirit as a mystical and impersonal force. This position about the Holy Spirit reminds me of a character in one of the Star Wars movies; Rogue One -A Star Wars Story. In Rogue One there was a monk named Chirrut Îmwe (played by Donnie Yen) who had aligned himself with the rebel forces. Whenever he would find himself in dire straits or difficult and dangerous situations, he chanted his so-called mantra in order to secure his focus and position himself in a place of calm: “I am one with the Force and the Force is with me.”
Read MoreOne of the many changes in my life and in the lives of others that have surrendered to our Lord and Savior is that there must have been a divine divorce with our old man. Remember the old man is identified as the nature of humanity that hates heaven’s power (the Holy Spirit) and is hostel to the will and Word of God. The old man is always willing to make a home for the influence of hell. According to Ephesians 4:22, we are charged by Christ to put our old man away from us. Our decision must be deliberate and denotes a change of influence as well as priority. So by His power, God has delivered us from the old man’s lies, lasciviousness and lust.
Read MoreCan you recall the real changes that emerged in your life when you elevated Jesus Christ as Lord, embraced His truth as your absolute authority, eliminated your ego and self-sufficiency, and experienced His love and power in your life? If you have made this transition as required to become His follower, there were indeed some immediate as well as subsequent changes in your life.
Read MoreHave you ever read a passage of scripture that carried you away in a river of reality? Or have you ever had your soul soaked with truth? If you know the word of God and are presently experiencing the Person, Power and Presence of the scriptures (Jesus), you will be continually deposited at the shore of truth and personal application. Humility is always the cure for a hard head and a hard heart.
Read MoreOn July 19,1988, Jessie Jackson gave a soul-stirring speech to the Democratic National Congress that reached the hearts of every spectrum of humanity regardless of education, socioeconomic position or privilege. He closed his address with what I believe to be an anthem that will anchor the soul to be resolute in any unfavorable, oppressive and challenging situation: “Keep hope alive. Keep hope alive! Keep hope alive! On tomorrow night and beyond, keep hope alive!”
Read MoreWhen I was a four year old little boy, my late Grandmother Daisy Bell (who we affectionately addressed as “Mama”) raised earthworms in what seemed to be some special, semi-damp and dark soil. We referred to it as her “Bait Bed”. It was there that we would gather what I believed to be the largest, most energetic and enriched earthworms in the world. I would eagerly fill my can and “Mama” would take me on a fishing trip...
Read MoreOn Sunday, February 4th 2018, the National Football League will declare a new champion in Super Bowl 52! Now you need to know that this writer is hoping that the Philadelphia Eagles will compete and capture their prey, the Patriots, rather than playing like Philadelphia Pigeons! The Eagles must purpose to pound the Patriots offensively and defensively for four quarters or the Patriots will pound them into pigeons! That’s the formula to dethrone the defending champions. So Philadelphia must fly like an Eagle! That is my pregame analysis but now I will turn our attention to the spiritual gridiron given by our God. We have an adversary, an opponent, who enjoys an impressive record of ruining, wrecking and wasting lives. He doesn’t show up just to compete in your spiritual life but to conquer you.
Read MoreHello beautiful body of Christ and blog readers! I pray you are still on target with your God-centered goals for this New Year. On an occasion, I am led to write a word of exhortation to those of us who are married. Therefore, this week’s blog is directed to married couples. However, I believe that this information is not limited to just married couples because there are some sound samples of spiritual truth for our singles as well.
Read MoreCan you believe that we are already twenty-one days into this new year? Many of us have purposed to pursue goals this year with ambitious hearts. Maybe you have elected the following goals for 2018:
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