Col 2:1 – I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally.
Col 4:13 – I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis. Continue reading
And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:29-31
Everyone wants to be filled with the Holy Spirit. I know I really enjoy it.
But what is the reason that you want to be filled with God’s Spirit?
Many just enjoy how it makes them feel. I know I really enjoy it!
But the early church did not ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit. They asked for boldness in preaching the word!
They also asked for healing power and miracles.
Still, it all started with asking for boldness to speak God’s word.
God responded with the filling of the Holy Spirit.
It reminds me of King Solomon.
That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” 1 Kings 3:5
Solomon could have asked for anything!
His response – Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. 1 Kings 3:9
It pleased God so much that He gave Solomon wisdom. He also gave him great fame and wealth.
There are a few things you must remember.
First, seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matt 6:33
And humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. James 4:10
I am praying for brokenness and humility before God. I just want to serve Him. I want to be able to preach and teach God’s word with simplicity for everyone to understand. I want to lead more to Christ. It’s not about me. It’s about Christ.
As John the baptizer said, “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” John 3:30
You have heard someone say, “I’m on the mountain top”, usually referring to a great experience. I know I have heard many Christians say it when it comes to the joy and peace of a filling of the Holy Spirit.
I know I have used it myself in referring to God dealing with me. Continue reading
The strange thing about humbling yourself before God with prayer and fasting – it will make you do strange things.
I found myself waking up praying at 3am. I did not wake up to pray. I was awakened by praying in my sleep or something like that. Continue reading
Col 3:15 – And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.
In the middle of a dead zone I get a text from Linda that said, “I’m so sorry! What a disappointment!”
That text would stop me from going any farther.
I stopped at the Broaddus Cemetery road on the edge of town and called.
Judg 6:36-40
Then Gideon said to God, “If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, prove it to me in this way. I will put a wool fleece on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised.” And that is just what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out a whole bowlful of water. Continue reading
It was a desperate time for the city. An enemy army had surrounded it on all sides and no one in the city could leave.
At first, things were okay. They had plenty of food stored up and the water supply was abundant.
That all began to change as the weeks went by. Continue reading
Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, “Who do men say that I am?” Mark 8:27
That’s a good question. Answers can be very different and, yet, all correct.
Someone may answer, “He is Lord” and that is right. Continue reading
The following excerpt is from the booklet A Christian Love Story by Zola Levitt.
Now when Jesus actually went to the cross, we might think His Father had special mercy on Him. It normally took three days for a person to die by crucifixion. Continue reading
Do you have the courage to stand for Christ – to stand for virtue and morality?
Christians are redeemed by Christ but not immune from temptation. But with the help of the Holy Spirit it is easier to fight off temptations.
So do you have the courage to face temptation and say, “No!”? Continue reading
Morning Thought with Pastor Tim 