Tag Archives: Holy Spirit

Personal intimacy with Yeshua changes everything

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For me, the most important thing I’ve ever learned is that personal intimacy with Yeshua changes everything. Currently, most of the church ignores this simple fact. To my horror, even churches preaching the gospel about the blood and the cross, focusing on new converts and leading them to the Lord, often don’t mention this from the pulpit. All of their services are evangelistic. As far as I can tell, the pastors and teachers who know this don’t … Continue reading →

Finding sin freedom is rarely taught

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Finding sin freedom is rarely taught, and teaching about this is getting more scarce. Actually, the bondage of sin is rarely mentioned. So, no one knows that freedom from sin is even possible. Few know before they meet Jesus that this issue even exists. “Do you not know that we who were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised … Continue reading →

By retaining comprehensive Godly focus we’re fruitful

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Because His imminent return grows closer, retaining comprehensive Godly focus becomes even more important. In our Western civilization, the pressures to lose our sense of reality have become nearly overwhelming. You need to work on that. After 45+ years of walking with Jesus, I still need to work on it often. Reality?! What’s that? Here I may lose several of you. If you have not realized yet that scripture is literally true, you need to talk with … Continue reading →

Everyone has their own walk: you need to find yours

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I ran across this one today. It’s certainly further than I want to go. But it makes the point. Going off the grid What unique strategies do you use? Creatives commonly need to face up to the fact that the world does not understand us—and doesn’t really want to know. Finding a time, place, and method of being creative is very important to those of us called to share or help another craft a vision.

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How can I be useful to the Body of the Messiah in 2013?

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This is my dilemma. I write and my heart is focused on helping my brothers and sisters in the Lord, but what does Jesus want me to do? It’s been interesting as I have become much more involved socially online. Forums like christianwriters.com have been a joy—as is the interaction with several groups on Linked-In and FaceBook. My book sales continue to grow which is satisfying. I continue to work at my craft—both in the writing and … Continue reading →

Christian maturity does not happen by default

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Believers tend to assume that growing up is the norm Actually, if you look at the world or the kingdom, you inevitably come to the conclusion that most people never mature. In fact, it is rare for a person to even desire maturity. If you look at entertainment, you can almost use that dogmatic word never. All you find in the movies or on TV is people led around by their physical desires: lust, rage, greed, and … Continue reading →

The works of the flesh have overtaken our culture Galatians 5:19-21

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Verse 5:19–21 Now the deeds resulting from the flesh pursuing its desires are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery [drug use], enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, orgies [unrestrained parties], and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Let’s start with a few word definitions: Sexual immortality: In many of the translations … Continue reading →

Walk by the spirit, you’re freed from the power of the flesh Galatians 5: 15-18

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Looking for freedom? You need the Holy Spirit for that Verse 5:15 If you fight and squabble, be careful that you do not end up consuming one another. This love thing is key. If you let the flesh get involved and you start biting and devouring each other [the terms used in the NASB], you can end up destroying each other. Verse 5:16–17 My instruction is: walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires … Continue reading →

Be careful whom you listen to! Galatians 5:7-9

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Galatians 5:7–8 You were doing so well until someone talked you out of obeying the truth. This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you. We must always be careful who we listen to. Over the years my wife and I have spent countless hours correcting strange beliefs held by immature Christians. Note carefully, I do not see any hint here that Paul is calling these people heathens. What he is saying is that the result … Continue reading →

Are you free? Galatians 5:1

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Galatians 5:1 The Messiah has truly set us free. Stand fast and stay free, and do not get bound up in slavery again This is a glorious statement to us—Americans who have made freedom the center of our culture. But it is always a struggle because freedom assumes responsibility. Yes, we are free, but we are responsible for our actions. Are we really free before we realize that the basic freedom is to choose the one we … Continue reading →