Tag: God’s faithfulness

  • God’s Promises – The Holy Spirit

    the BIg Book of God's Promises

    We have all made promises, some we have kept and others we have broken, for reasons, good, bad, and unknown. The Lord made many promises throughout the Scriptures, and God’s promises are never broken.

    We all know people whose promises are not dependable. Their word is less than trustworthy, and you can almost count on them not keeping it. The Scriptures are full of verses affirming the trustworthiness of God’s Promises. Here are a few: Hebrews 10:23, 2 Corinthians 1:20, Titus 1:2, Joshua 21:45.

    Numerous places in the Old Testament God promised to pour out his Holy Spirit:

    And it will be afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; Your old men will dream dreams; Your young men will see visions. Even on the male slaves and female slaves I will in those days pour out My Spirit. Joel 2:28-29

    Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to do Ezekiel 36:26–27

    That particular promise was made in many places and affirmed by Jesus. We see it fulfilled in Acts.

    And when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues like fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. Acts 2:1-4

    That fulfillment of God’s Promise is critical for believers today. Every one of us has the Holy Spirit.

    He intercedes for us. He empowers us. He illuminates Scripture for us.

    The Holy Spirit seals us in our salvation with a seal that no one and nothing can break. Once He seals us, we belong forever to the Lord. He gifts and equips us for life and ministry.

    God promised to pour out His Helper, the Spirit, and He has done just that for our benefit and His glory. 

    My friends that is worth celebrating.

    Praise God for His faithfulness.

    Be blessed
    Kevin

    A campfire devotional. Infrared light and faith

    Read the Word – A devotional on it’s importance

  • What’s Your Story? Share your testimony!

    Blackboard with text "What is your story?"

    What’s your story?  We all have one. In Christian circles we call it your testimony.

    The Bible is a book made up of stories. They are all true, but stories of God and how he worked in His people. They tell of His steadfast love, incredible patience, and endless mercies. They tell what He requires of us and the consequences for our wrongdoing. His stories tell of His redemptive plan for us.

    We are called to share our stories. It’s urged from many places in the Bible.

    “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.” Psalm 96:3

    “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9  

    “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction.”  2 Timothy 4:2

    “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?” Romans 10:14

    The problem is that we often think about our testimonies as being who we were before Jesus and the moment that changed. That’s part of the story, but it’s ongoing. Our story grows non stop because God is relentless in His love and mercy and his patience knows no bounds.

    It’s time to dig out your five, ten, twenty, or more-year-old testimony and blow the dust off it. What did you see God doing of late?

    That answered prayer. That unexpected kindness. The job offer or check that materialized out of the blue at just the right time. The marriage that was healed. Your peace over a decision. A friend’s life changed.

    That’s all part of your story, your testimony. Those are things worth sharing.

    When we do, it brings glory to God and encourages others. Only you can tell your story. Don’t keep it hidden.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    Unexpected – some thoughts on worry

    Right beliefs or right living? Either or both?