The Greek word for “power” is “dunamis,” the same word we use for “dynamite.” The New Testament uses this Greek word about 120 times. The message is clear, our life with Jesus should reflect capability beyond our normal strength and wisdom. New Testament “dunamis” also implies “ability of God” and can also mean “latent” or […]
God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (Romans 5:5b, ESV). I was raised in a denomination that, while believing in the Holy Spirit as a part of the Trinity, had no practical use for the Spirit in the daily lives of believers. I often heard
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Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18, NIV). Dealing with difficult times, we can either walk in the flesh or be filled with the Spirit. We might say after a tense moment, “I need a drink,” but have we said during trials, “I need to
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All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them (Acts 2:4, NIV). I grew up in a church and then attended a Bible college and seminary that taught speaking in tongues as a first-century experience. As I matured in my thinking about speaking in
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But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16, ESV). Every skill requires training. Caitlin Clark didn’t step onto a basketball court and start shooting 3-point shots. Patrick Mahomes practiced—a lot—before throwing touchdown passes. My friend Ray Willis, who is defending his doctoral thesis this Spring, spent
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God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets (1 Corinthians 2:10, NLT). The opposite of deep would be shallow. In Corinthians, the Apostle Paul explains that the Spirit reveals to us the deep secrets of God – not the shallow or the superficial. What
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Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching (2 Timothy 4:2, NLT). Something unique and supernatural occurs when I preach a sermon. When we listen to a speech, it’s words to brain. When I preach, something else happens. Instead
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If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” (Luke 11:13, NASB1995) In Luke 11:1, the disciples ask Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Jesus then instructs them in prayer. Jesus first gives a shortened version
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It is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent (Philippians 1:9-10, ESV). The evil spirits of this age specialize in confusion and distraction. Guaranteed, if you have something important to do today, even knowing that you have a task assigned by
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For all who are being led by the Spirit of God are children of God (Romans 8:14). The Spirit softly nudges you daily. Are you aware of this leading? I grew up in a church with an inadequate theology of the Spirit. Yes, we believed in the Spirit of God, but He existed in the