Category: Today’s Word

Called to Save

1 Thessalonians 5:12-15. Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

Every circumstance in life is a blessing from God for those who belong to Christ Jesus. Because of this, we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). God has called us to live for the gospel—the power of God that saves—and through it, He reveals His righteousness that comes by faith (Romans 1:17).

As we enjoy the gospel in our daily lives, God will begin to heal and restore those around us—our families, our church, and even the field of our everyday living. When we see our families through the lens of the gospel, we begin to understand that each difficulty and relationship is an opportunity to manifest Christ’s love and His power to heal. The restoration of our homes begins when we take small, deliberate steps to bless, forgive, and yield to one another in love.

We are also called to save and restore the church. Sadly, many have grown weary or even wounded by the church. Yet God’s heart is to renew His church so that His glory may shine once again. When Christ is exalted as the center of the church, the gates of hell will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18).

Stand firm in faith and not in unbelief. Become a source of joy and strength to your pastor and your congregation. Let your life become a model of the gospel, prayer, and evangelism for the next generation.

God has given you a heavenly mandate in His plan. Wherever you are—at home, in your workplace, in your community—you are the light of the kingdom of God. Every encounter and every relationship is a divine appointment prepared by Him.

So, bring hope in Christ to those around you. Encourage the weary, strengthen the weak, and pray for everyone entrusted to your care. As you do, you will see your field come alive with the power of the gospel. You will realize that the very place you stand is your mission field, and through you, God will save your family, your church, and your world.

Prayer. Lord, I thank You for the privilege of worship and prayer. Thank You for revealing Your righteousness through the gospel of Christ. Help me choose faith over unbelief in every situation today. Let me become Your instrument to restore my family, strengthen my church, and bring Your salvation to the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

According to Your Word

Psalm 119:107. I have suffered much; preserve my life, Lord, according to your word.

David cried out to God for revival, not according to his emotions but according to the Word. He understood that prayer without the Word is like a ship without a rudder—adrift, uncertain, and easily carried away by the waves of circumstance. The Word reveals the heart of God and provides direction for prayer, anchoring our petitions in the promises of God.

When we pray according to His Word, the throne of the Triune God moves. Jesus said, “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7). Prayer aligned with the Word unleashes the power of the throne, not because of our eloquence, but because it reflects God’s will.

God is not impressed by programs, strategies, or outward strength. He is looking for hearts that submit to His Word and listen to His Spirit. He searches for those who know the mystery of prayer—those who long to walk with Him, not just work for Him. Without His direction revealed in the Word, our efforts will be useless. That is why prayer and the Word must become the two pillars of our lives.

Jesus modeled this perfectly. His life was a rhythm of prayer and obedience. “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed” (Mark 1:35). Even amid His busy ministry, He often withdrew to lonely places to pray (Luke 5:16), and there were nights when He prayed until dawn (Luke 6:12).

To pray is not merely to speak—it is to be with God, enjoying and and communicating with Him. You don’t have to ask for anything. Your Father already knows what you need before you ask (Matthew 6:8). Prayer is the joy of being in His presence, the time of listening to His voice through the Word.

Prayer is surrendering your will to His, the moment you choose His kingdom and righteousness above your own desires (Matthew 6:33). As you make prayer your life, like breathing, you will begin to sense the living presence of the Holy Spirit guiding, renewing, and strengthening you in ways you could never have imagined. And others will see His presence reflected through your life.

So today, withdraw to your solitary place. Turn off the noise. Be still before God. Let His Word speak and His Spirit breathe new life into your soul.

Prayer. Father, draw me close to You today. Teach me to enjoy Your presence more than anything else. Let my heart be anchored in Your Word, and let prayer become my delight and strength. Renew me, Lord, according to Your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Only by the Spirit of God

Zechariah 4:6. So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

God’s people are not called to fight earthly battles but spiritual ones. We are soldiers in the Lord’s army, engaged in a battle that began long before our time—a battle against our true enemy, the devil, as Scripture reminds us, “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:3–4).

The devil is not a myth or symbol. He is a fallen angel with great power, one who deceived the first humans in Eden and has been leading the world toward destruction ever since (Genesis 3:1–5, Revelation 12:9). From the beginning, he has waged war not through visible weapons but through deception, fear, pride, and doubt. He will not surrender before human effort or willpower. He bows only before the power of God.

Scripture describes him as “a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). His targets are often anxious or spiritually complacent believers. He attacks those who have forgotten that Christ has already won the victory. That is why Scripture commands: “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

The enemy’s strategy has not changed. He still disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). He still manipulates people to draw them away from God. He still blinds the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4). His hierarchy of darkness operates with frightening precision, launching spiritual attacks on every front (Ephesians 6:11–16).

That is why human strength is useless in this war. Our intelligence, wealth, or power cannot overcome the devil’s schemes. The battle is won only “by My Spirit,” says the Lord Almighty (Zechariah 4:6).

The Holy Spirit is our power, and the Word of God is our sword (Ephesians 6:17). The Word pierces through the enemy’s lies—it is “alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12). When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He did not argue with the devil or rely on reason. He spoke the Word: “It is written.” Each time, the devil retreated in defeat (Matthew 4:1–11).

That same authority belongs to every believer who stands in Christ. When you declare the truth of the gospel, darkness flees. The cross has already broken Satan’s power. The victory of Jesus is now your victory:

“God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him.” (Acts 10:38)

This is the essence of evangelism—to set captives free from the power of Satan, the curse of sin, and the shadow of hell. And the method remains unchanged: “The Word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power” (Acts 19:20).

When you live by the Spirit and speak the Word, the power of the Throne will flow through you. You will become a vessel through which God reveals His might and mercy to the world. Do not be afraid—the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead dwells in you.

So stand firm. Know who you are in Christ. Do not define yourself by fear, failure, or circumstance, but by the Word of God. The battle is not yours—it belongs to the Lord. Live not by might, nor by power, but by His Spirit.

Prayer. Father, thank You for giving me the victory through Jesus Christ. Fill me with Your Spirit so that I may stand firm in Your Word and overcome the schemes of the enemy. Use my life to bring freedom, healing, and salvation to those still trapped in darkness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

How Should We Pray?

Hebrews 4:16. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

There is no greater privilege in the Christian life than to come before the throne of grace. Because of Jesus Christ our Lord, the veil has been torn, and the way into God’s presence is open. When you kneel in prayer, you are standing before God the Almighty, face to face with your Father who listens to every single word you say. Before a word is on your tongue, He knows it completely, and He knows all your needs. Your prayer is powerful and effective and rises like incense before God’s throne.

Jesus Himself modeled this life of prayer. While it was still dark, before the demands of the day began, He withdrew to a quiet place and spoke with His Father (Luke 2:15). David, too, began each morning with expectant prayer, laying his requests before the Lord and waiting for His answer (Psalm 5:3). Prayer was not a duty for them—it was delight. It was their “downtime” with God, a spiritual rhythm of rest, renewal, and guidance.

Daniel prayed three times a day, even under the threat of death. Peter and John were on their way to pray when a great work of God of salvation unfolded at the temple gate. Philip met the Ethiopian official while he was praying. Ananias was in prayer when the Lord entrusted him with Saul, who would become Paul. Every encounter, every turning point, began with prayer.

When you pray, seek not your will, but God’s. True prayer is not trying to persuade God but aligning yourself with His perfect plan. John writes, “If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14-15).

The Apostle Paul understood this deeply. Throughout his missionary journeys, he never relied on instinct or impulse but sought the guidance of the Spirit. Even when the Spirit blocked his path, he waited until the next direction was revealed. Paul pressed on not for his own ambitions but to take hold of the very purpose for which Christ had taken hold of him.

So, connect every situation in your life to the Word of God. Let His Word shape your prayers. When you pray with selfish motives, heaven remains silent—not because God is unwilling, but because His love refuses to feed what will harm you. But when you pray in faith, grounded in the gospel, your prayers move heaven.

Bitterness, division, and resentment can block that flow. Forgiveness restores it. When you choose to forgive, Scripture promises that “the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Romans 16:20).

Jesus also gave His church divine authority through prayer: “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” When believers gather and pray together, heaven’s power is released. When the church prays, miracles happen. Chains fall and doors open as the early church prayed (Acts 12:5-19).

Most of all, pray in the name of Jesus. His name is the key that unlocks every door of heaven. It is the name above every name, before which every knee must bow—in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. At His name, the forces of darkness tremble. The curses of sin lose their grip. The way from earth to the throne of grace swings wide open. There is no other name by which we are saved, protected, and empowered.

So hold firmly to His name. Speak it. Declare it. Proclaim it to the nations. The world is healed when the name of Jesus is lifted high. Do not neglect this privilege of prayer. Each time you bow your head, heaven listens. Each time you call His name, the power of the throne moves on your behalf.

Come boldly before your Father’s throne. Mercy is waiting. Grace is waiting. Strength for your need is waiting.

Prayer. Father, thank You for opening the way to Your throne through Jesus Christ. Teach me to seek Your will and to treasure every moment in Your presence. Fill me with Your Spirit, align my heart with Your Word, and let my prayers bring glory to Your name and life to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Your Greatest Enemy: Unbelief

Matthew 17:14-20. When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”

17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

The greatest obstacle to the guidance of the Holy Spirit is unbelief. This is the very sin that prevents the people of God from experiencing His power and presence. Scripture declares, “Everything that does not come from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23).

When we refuse to believe in the presence of God and His Word, it becomes impossible to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. In today’s passage, Jesus rebuked His disciples not for their lack of compassion or effort but for their lack of faith. Their failure to cast out the demon was not due to inexperience but to unbelief.

Jesus’ words were strong: “You unbelieving and perverse generation.” The problem was not the demon’s power but the disciples’ hearts. They had forgotten who was with them. They had seen Jesus calm storms, heal the sick, and raise the dead, yet they failed to believe in the power of His name in that moment.

When unbelief takes hold, spiritual sight fades. The world begins to seem larger than God. Doubt whispers louder than the Word. And like Peter on the stormy sea, we begin to sink when we take our eyes off Christ (Matthew 14:29–30).

Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Without faith, it is impossible to overcome the world (1 John 5:4–5). Without faith, it is impossible to see the work of God (Mark 9:14–29).

Even those who have seen great answers to prayer can still fall into unbelief. Peter himself confessed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16), yet shortly afterward he rebuked Jesus, saying, “Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you!” (Matthew 16:22). How quickly faith can turn into fear when we rely on human understanding and “do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns” (Matthew 16:23).

That is why we must continue to hear and confirm the Word of faith. But “faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:17). True faith is not emotional confidence but spiritual conviction grounded in the Word.

When you believe that Jesus is your True King, you will know that no one can touch you, not even the “evil one” (1 John 5:18). Your King reigns over all powers and authorities, holding you securely in His hand. No one can snatch you from the Father’s grip (John 10:28–29). The devil’s accusations lose their power because your King has already declared you righteous and victorious (Revelation 12:10-12).

When you believe that Jesus is your True Priest, you will know that His blood has already cleansed you from all sin. You are no longer condemned but seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6). Your past failures no longer define you. Your guilt and shame have been nailed to the cross. “It is finished” (John 19:30).

So, do not depend on your feelings. Cling to the cross. Fix your eyes on Jesus, your True Priest, and you will not grow weary or lose heart (Hebrews 12:3). When guilt rises, remember that He lives in you, interceding for you day and night (Romans 8:34).

When you believe that Jesus is your True Prophet, you will know that peace with God has been restored (Romans 5:1). You will no longer fear judgment, for you have already crossed from death to life (John 5:24). The True Prophet has opened a new and living way to the Father (Hebrews 10:20). Stop striving through religion and start resting in His finished work.

Jesus is not looking for gigantic faith. A mustard seed is small, but when planted, it grows and bears fruit. Even the smallest faith in the Triune God moves mountains. The power is not in the size of our faith but in the object of our faith—Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God.

So, stop listening to the voice of doubt and dwelling on it. Stop measuring your faith by feelings or circumstances. Simply trust the Word and declare that Christ is enough, and He will do what only He can do. The more you trust in Him and His Word, the more you will be able to entrust everything to Him.

Yet, when you find yourself struggling with unbelief, like the father of the boy possessed by an impure spirit, cry out to your Father, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).

Prayer. Lord Jesus, thank You for walking with me through Your Spirit. I confess my unbelief and ask You to strengthen my faith. Help me to trust in Your power, not in my own ability. Let my faith, though small, rest fully in You—the True King, the True Priest, and the True Prophet. May Your Spirit guide me to live each day by faith, not by sight. In Your precious name, Amen.

Inquiring of the Holy Spirit

Acts 16:13. On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.

The ministry of Apostle Paul was marked by one consistent pattern—inquiring of the Holy Spirit. Before he and his team ever set out on their first missionary journey, the church at Antioch sought the will of God together in worship, fasting, and prayer:

“Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off” (Acts 13:1–3).

The early church did not move without the Spirit’s command. Every decision, every direction, every mission began with inquiring of the Spirit of God.

Paul continued this same dependence throughout his ministry. He constantly sought what the Spirit desired—not his own plans or ambitions:

“Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to” (Acts 16:6–7).

At Troas, when the door was closed, Paul prayed so earnestly that he saw a vision revealing where the Spirit wanted him to go—to Macedonia (Acts 16:10). This single moment of prayer and obedience changed the course of world history.

When they arrived in Philippi, the leading city of Macedonia, their first act was not to preach or plan but to find a place of prayer—to inquire once again of the Holy Spirit (Acts 16:13). Even when confronted by the slave girl possessed by an evil spirit, Paul waited patiently for the Spirit’s timing (Acts 16:16–18). He understood that the captain of his team was not him, but the Holy Spirit. Every step was guided from the throne of the Triune God.

King David lived the same way. Though David was a king, he knew that the true King was God, not himself. Before taking any action, he inquired of the Lord:

“When David was told, ‘Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are looting the threshing floors,’ he inquired of the Lord, saying, ‘Shall I go and attack these Philistines?’ The Lord answered him, ‘Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.’ But David’s men said to him, ‘Here in Judah we are afraid.’ … Once again, David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him” (1 Samuel 23:1–4).

David acknowledges that the battle belonged to the Lord. The same truth applies to us because:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

God’s wisdom is higher, His timing perfect, and His plan eternal. Therefore, before thinking, planning, or acting, inquire of Him. Inquiring of the Holy Spirit is not a sign of weakness—it is the key to a victorious life in Christ:

“The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

The Spirit of God transcends time and space. His power is infinite, and His wisdom beyond measure. One moment of His direction outweighs a lifetime of human effort.

So learn to wait before you move. Be still until He speaks. Seek His will in prayer and through His Word. When you inquire of the Spirit, He will lead you to the exact place, time, and people prepared by God for world evangelization.

Prayer. Father, teach me to stand still before You and to seek Your voice above all else. Help me to wait for the guidance of Your Spirit, not rushing ahead with my own thoughts or plans. Open my eyes to see Your desire and purpose for today, and help me follow where You lead. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Liberated!

Revelation 1:4-6.

John,

To the seven churches in the province of Asia:

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

Many people struggle with sin without clearly understanding what sin is. The essence of sin is separation from God—original sin. It is the fallen state of humanity, completely cut off from the glory of God: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Sin entered the world through one man, Adam. Deceived by Satan, he broke the covenant with God (Genesis 2:16–17). As a result, death entered through sin, and death spread to all people (Romans 5:12). From that moment, every person has been born spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1), enslaved under the curse of sin and the power of “the ruler of the kingdom of the air,” the devil (Ephesians 2:2–3), with their body and nature corrupted by sin (Colossians 3:5).

No amount of religion, morality, or good works can undo or heal this fallen condition. The human problem is spiritual, and therefore, only God Himself can solve it. That is why mere repentance for one’s wrongdoings is not enough. The only way to break the curse of sin is through the blood of a sinless person:

“But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin” (1 John 3:5).

Jesus was not a descendant of Adam like the rest of us. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-25), free from original sin. By His death on the cross, He set us free from our sins by His blood (Revelation 1:5). Our sins were so serious that only God’s own death could save us.

He did not have to come—but He did, out of infinite love. He did not have to die—but He chose to, because there was no other way to give us life. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus crushed the power of death, hell, and Satan once for all:

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (Hebrews 2:14–15).

He was like God in every way, but he did not think that his being equal with God was something to use for his own benefit. Instead, he gave up everything, even his place with God. He accepted the role of a servant, appearing in human form. He humbled himself by being fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death—death on a cross (Philippians 2:6–8).

He did this simply because He loved us beyond measure. We did not deserve His mercy, yet He poured out His grace in full. On the cross, Jesus completely resolved every problem of the past, present, and future. This was to fulfill the Scriptures—the Word of God—concerning the coming Messiah, the Anointed One.

The moment humanity fell into sin, God had already planned redemption through His Son:

“And I will put enmity between you [the serpent] and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he [the Christ] will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (Genesis 3:15).

This covenant promise fulfilled in Jesus was God’s plan to destroy the works of the devil and to restore His people:

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3).

The reason Jesus came into the world was only one:

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

All religions attempt repentance, but that alone cannot save. A sinner trying to live a upright life without Christ is like a pirate doing good deeds aboard a pirate ship—his every act still contributes to the same evil cause. No matter how much he repents, nothing changes until he leaves the ship. The only way to change one’s destiny is to board the “Salvation Ship” through faith in the blood of Christ.

The baptism of repentance cannot cleanse sin. Only the blood of Jesus purifies us completely:

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven” (Hebrews 1:3).

The blood of Jesus, your True Priest, is living and powerful. On the cross, He removed all disasters brought by original sin, ancestral sin, and personal sin. When Jesus cried, “It is finished” (John 19:30), it truly was finished—once and for all. So, consider it finished.

Stop trying to undo what has already been accomplished. You cannot fix sin by effort; you can only believe and receive what Christ has done. Make the event of Calvary your own. See yourself at the cross of your True Priest who loved you and died for you (Galatians 2:20).

When you believe and confess that Jesus is the Christ, you are instantly liberated from the power of sin, as Jesus declared,

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

Be assured—you possess eternal life. You have already passed from death to life and will not come under judgment (John 5:24). Jesus brought irreversible change to your life. You cannot go back to the fallen state of sin, the background of hell, and the family of Satan.

When you believe that your True Priest lives in you, you no longer have to be trapped in guilt or shame. His finished work destroyed the power of sin forever. Declare your freedom in Christ in every situation. Do not rely on your emotions; cling to the cross of Jesus Christ (Romans 7:14–25; Romans 8:1). Fix your eyes on Jesus, your True Priest, and you will not grow weary or lose heart (Hebrews 12:3).

Rejoice and proclaim the good news—that Jesus is the Christ, your True Priest—the One who has made you a kingdom and a priest to serve our God and Father (Revelation 1:6).

Prayer. Lord Jesus, I believe that You are the Christ, my True Priest, who entered the Most Holy Place once for all by Your own blood, having obtained eternal redemption for me. I declare that there is now no condemnation for me because I am in You. I declare that I have been set free from the law of sin and death. I declare that I am a child of God, and sin will not have dominion over me. I declare that as far as the east is from the west, so far have You removed my sins from me, and You remember them no more. I declare that You, Lord Jesus, my True Priest. live in me now and forever. In Your mighty name, Amen.

Your Life in the Spirit, by the Spirit, and for the Spirit

Galatians 5:16-18.  So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of life (John 3:5; Romans 8:2). He is the very breath of God that gives birth to new life. When you believed that Jesus is the Christ, you were born of God (1 John 5:1). You have been transferred from death to life and from darkness to light.

The Spirit of God now dwells within you as the living evidence of that new birth. Through Him, your old nature has been crucified with Christ, and you now live by faith in the Son of God who loved you and gave Himself for you (Galatians 2:20).

You now possess life, and this life cannot be taken away. You are no longer under the power of sin, death, or Satan. Jesus finished the work of the three offices of the Christ on the cross and rose again from the dead, crushing the head of the ancient serpent, the devil (Genesis 3:15). His victory is now your victory. His resurrection power rests on you through the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11).

Through Christ, God made you a person of the Spirit, His temple (1 Corinthians 3:16). Your life in Christ is eternal because the Holy Spirit is with you forever. His presence in you is a permanent seal of your salvation. The Spirit continually testifies with your spirit that you are a child of God (Romans 8:16). This is your identity, your authority, and your inheritance.

Do not let the enemy’s lies or your circumstances deceive you into doubting this truth. You are precious and honored in God’s sight (Isaiah 43:4). Nothing—neither sin, nor failure, nor fear—can separate you from your Father’s love (Romans 8:38-39). His Spirit is your assurance that you belong to Him forever.

Do not depend on feelings that change like the wind; stand firm on the unchanging promises of God:

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:11–13).

Let nothing shake your assurance in Christ. As you abide in Him and His Word abides in you, you will experience answered prayer:

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7).

So, live by the power of the Holy Spirit. Let His presence define your identity, thoughts, words, and actions. You don’t have to be anxious about tomorrow, for the Spirit will guide you until the end (John 14:26-27, 16:13). When you walk by the Spirit, you will rise above the ways of the world and the power of the ruler of the kingdom of the air (Ephesians 2:2).

That power comes from above when you experience the reality of Christ—the True King who destroyed the devil’s work, the True Priest who broke the curse of sin and death, and the True Prophet who came as the light to open the way back to God. Fix your eyes on Christ and meditate on His finished work, and the Holy Spirit will fill you with new grace and strength. He will open your eyes to see God’s absolute plans beyond temporary struggles and lead you to eternal victory.

God has called you to be a “spiritual summit” in this generation. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). The Holy Spirit will empower you to live as a witness of Christ. As Jesus promised,

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses… to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

Live for the Spirit. Do not grieve Him by doing what He forbids, nor quench Him by ignoring what He commands (Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19). Instead, listen closely to Him in everything through the Word. When you live for the Spirit, your life will overflow with His fruit—love, joy, peace toward God; patience, kindness, goodness toward others; faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control toward yourself (Galatians 5:22–23).

When others see your life filled with these fruits, they will see Christ in you. Your words and actions will radiate His light, and many will glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). You are a person of the Spirit—chosen, sealed, and empowered by God. Therefore, live in the Spirit, by the Spirit, and for the Spirit every moment of your life.

Prayer. Father, thank You for blessing me so that I may live a life of the Spirit—by the Spirit and for the Spirit. Fill me with Your power and use my life to make Your glory known among all nations. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

How Can We Continue to Be Filled with the Holy Spirit?

Ephesians 5:15-18. Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

When we believe that Jesus is the Christ, He begins to live in us through the Holy Spirit. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit happens once, but the filling of the Spirit must continue daily. The command “be filled with the Spirit” implies an ongoing process: “keep on being filled with the Spirit.” Why? Because “the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16).

In this warped and crooked generation, only those filled with the Spirit can walk with the power of the throne and spiritual discernment to save the world. Before ascending into heaven, Jesus promised this gift of the fullness of the Holy Spirit: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

Paul contrasts being “drunk with wine” with being “filled with the Spirit.” Just as alcohol controls the mind and dulls discernment, the Spirit fills the believer’s heart with the blessing of the throne and the things pertaining the kingdom of God to live out God’s will here on earth—saving lives with the message of the cross. When filled with the Spirit, there is no limit to what God can do through you. He fills you with “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” hidden in Christ (Colossians 2:3).

This is why Paul urged the Ephesian believers to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions” (Ephesians 6:18). Spirit-filled prayer is the communion of the heart with God. It keeps you aligned with His purpose and strengthens your faith so you may be victorious in your mission field.

To this end, like the Bereans, we must receive the Word with eagerness and examine it daily (Acts 17:11–12). The filling of the Spirit is maintained through the filling of the Word—receiving it not merely with our minds, but storing it in our hearts: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11).

To live a Spirit-filled life is also to live a life of obedience. Jesus said, “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me” (John 14:21). Love for Christ is expressed through obedience. When you obey, you allow for the Spirit to work freely in you. But when you resist, you grieve the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). Sin, pride, bitterness, impurity, and falsehood block the flow of His presence and power. Instead, present your body “as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1). Let God transform you inwardly so that your life reflects His good, pleasing, and perfect will.

A Spirit-filled life is not ordinary.  It is a life where Christ reigns at the center, where every thought and action flows from His Word, and where it is wholly surrendered to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Ask for the filling of the Holy Spirit by faith, and He will make your life a living platform that draws others to Christ.

Prayer. Father, thank You for the gift of Your Spirit who fills, guides, and empowers me. Help me walk carefully, live wisely, and yield fully to Your will. Fill me anew each day, that my life may glorify Christ and bring light to the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

What Happened to Those Filled with the Holy Spirit?

Acts 3:1-8. One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 

On the day of Pentecost, the disciples gathered in the upper room, holding onto Jesus’ promise and devoting themselves to prayer (Acts 1:14). Then, as Jesus had said, “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:4).

Luke’s focus was not merely on what happened but why—the Holy Spirit gave them the gift of tongues so that they could declare “the wonders of God,” to the many nations gathered in Jerusalem (Acts 2:5-11). Fifteen nations heard the gospel in their own languages, and the world saw the birth of the church empowered by the Spirit.

The message they proclaimed was not about the experience of tongues but about the gospel that Jesus is the Christ. Peter boldly declared, “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). The true work of the Holy Spirit is not to glorify human experience but to exalt Jesus as the Christ—the True King who destroys the works of the devil, the True Priest who breaks the power of sin and death, and the True Prophet who opens a new and living way to God.

When Peter and John went up to the temple at the hour of prayer (Acts 3:1–12), they carried that same Spirit-filled conviction. Standing before a lame beggar at the gate called Beautiful, Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” At that moment, the power of the Holy Spirit revived the man’s spirit, and his feet and ankles became strong. He stood, walked, and leapt for joy—praising God before all the people.

The miracle was undeniable, but the greater work was invisible: the exaltation of the name of Jesus. Peter testified, “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong” (Acts 3:16). The same Peter who once denied Jesus now stood before the crowd with boldness and conviction. The Holy Spirit had transformed his fear into faith, manifesting His power through him.

When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, your life changes in both visible and invisible ways. You begin to see what others overlook. You gain spiritual discernment and conviction. The same Spirit who filled Peter will enable you to stand as Christ’s witness to the ends of the earth, wherever you are and whatever your circumstances. The lame still walk, though not always physically; the broken are healed, and the lost find new life in Christ.

Paul described this power as “the treasure in jars of clay” (2 Corinthians 4:7–10). Though fragile and flawed, we carry within us the all-surpassing power of God. Through every problem, conflict, or crisis, the Holy Spirit sustains us—turning each into an answer, a moment of renewal, and an opportunity to experience His power. The fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23)—becomes visible in every area of life, drawing others to the light of the gospel.

Jesus promised this same power to all who believe: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses… to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit is not an option for us but the only source of our strength for world evangelization. Through Him, God continues to display His glory and accomplish His work of salvation in your life.

As you yield to the Spirit, God will reveal His mysteries to you and transform you into the image of Christ “with ever-increasing glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Like Daniel and his friends, you will receive wisdom and understanding from the throne that far surpass the world’s to save lives and proclaim the gospel to the 237 nations and 5,000 tribes.

Prayer. Father, I thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ, where all wisdom and power are hidden. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, that I may live as a true witness of Christ, bringing Your healing, truth, and glory to the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.