The Worst Case Scenario

Several years ago, I battled heavily with anxiety. Over the course of this struggle, my fear progressively, incrementally robbed me of life and joy. For some reason, I developed a fear of riding in cars. I can’t explain why that became the fixation of my fear. All I know is that I was afraid. Every time I heard of an accident, read about accident statistics, or saw wreckage on the side of the road, my fear would intensify. After a while, I began avoiding freeways. Then I began avoiding driving. Then I began avoiding even being a passenger in a car. Eventually, I was stuck, trapped in my own irrational snare of “What ifs.”

Thankfully, that mentality didn’t have a hold on my mind for too long. 

But my experience with anxiety and fear has given me insight on how fear works.

Fear begins with the question, “What if?” 

What if the worst should happen? What if I am harmed? What if this? What if that?

That question then becomes a fixation. That fixation eventually becomes a bondage. 

Slowly, incrementally, progressively, eventually fear robs you of life.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7, KJV)

God did not create you to live in fear. It’s an insult to your Creator to squander the potential of life because of fear.

When you fix your mind on a worry, that worry becomes the center of your life. It’s one thing to take caution as you live your life; it’s another thing entirely to allow a fear to become your life. It’s not just harmful to live in fear; it’s immoral.

Fear will always assume the worst case scenario. You won’t ever be able to enjoy anything that God has gifted to you, because you’ll always be fearfully looking for what’s lurking in the very next moment.

Fear makes you irrational. It’s wisdom to be aware of risks and to do your part to avoid them. It’s foolish to put your life on hold until all risks are gone. If you get into a car to drive, you’re risking your life and the lives of others. Is it wisdom to halt all traffic until the day all traffic accidents are prevented? When you take your loved ones to enjoy a meal, you’re risking your life and the lives of others. Should we close all restaurants until the day that the government can prevent all food poisoning accidents and choking hazards? The most dangerous thing you’ll ever do is live. Caution, yes. Paranoia, no. 

Fear makes you panic. Fear has the power to blow things so far out of proportion that it’s impossible to live. If you set your mind on something often enough and intentionally enough, its place in your thoughts grows. That’s how panic sets in. It’s amazing how panic works. There could be thousands of other risks and dangers present in the world. But panic will cause you to arbitrarily single out some specific risk or danger. With all the dangers that life presents, panic will scream, “Everyone put your life on hold until this one specific issue is dealt with.” 

And it’s nonsensical, irrational, tragic. All irrational fear, no matter what it’s about, will eventually lead to this conclusion: let’s all stay sheltered until nothing bad ever happens again.

Fear makes you selfish. Fearful people can easily become selfish people. In an attempt to protect themselves, they demand that others too become just as fearful and panicked. Fear encourages you to attempt control over those around you. I used to do that. Whenever I was in the car, I wouldn’t let my loved ones drive on the freeway. The risk I wasn’t willing to take became the risk I wouldn’t let others take. I would make them feel bad for causing me to be afraid. But, I discovered, that’s just manipulation.

Now, of course, I’m not denying that there were very real dangers in the world. And wisdom avoids unnecessary or excessive risk. And some people are more vulnerable to certain dangers than others. That’s all to be considered. But don’t allow fear to make you put your life on hold, and don’t allow fear to make you demand that others put their lives on hold. 

Stand up against fear. Resist the irrational at all costs. Don’t back down. Fight fear and claim the freedom that God has given to you - to live life. That’s the right thing to do, the selfless thing to do, the moral thing to do, the godly thing to do.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

Are the Spiritual Gifts No More? The BIBLICAL Answer

Have the spiritual gifts ceased to be? Are they no longer in operation in the church today? This is a fiercely debated issue, and I’m not going to be able to address every point of contention in just one article. My goal, rather, is to just get you thinking in the right direction, the Biblical direction. 

We must recognize, first and foremost, that our foundation is the Word of God - no debates there. So, does the Word of God teach that the gifts have ceased to be? Not by any stretch of the imagination. 

The belief that the spiritual gifts have ceased is called “cessationism.” Those who believe that the gifts have ceased are called “cessationists.” Of course, that’s an oversimplification of the terms, as there are varying beliefs even within cessationism. But, for the sake of conversation, we’ll stick with the simpler definitions I just gave you. 

So upon what exactly does the cessationist base their faulty interpretation of reality?

There are a few things. 

#1 Speculation

#2 Arguments from History

#3 Poor Biblical Interpretation

#1 Speculation

First, you’ll notice that cessationists use a lot of speculation - something they’d discourage in any other context. Here’s an example of speculation: Paul the apostle instructed Timothy to use wine as medicine. “Why”, the cessationist will ask, “didn’t Paul just heal him?”

Then they’ll conclude that because Paul didn’t heal Timothy or because Timothy didn’t just heal himself, that the spiritual gifts had already stopped operating. This is faulty logic for a couple reasons. 

Firstly, there are many examples in Scripture where godly men died, suffered, or remained sick. This by no means leads to the conclusion that therefore God just picked some subjective spot on the timeline of history to end His demonstrations of power. This just means that God’s sovereignty still applies even in the context of the miraculous. His sovereignty and His miracles have never been at odds with one another. So, there are instances, both in the OT and NT when God didn’t demonstrate his power as people thought He should. Simply put, God exercising His sovereignty to withhold a miracle never means that miracles are no more.

Secondly, the other problem with speculation is that it’s just that - speculation. There’s nothing in all of Scripture that even comes close to indicating that God’s power has stopped working. Now here’s where things get interesting. Once you show through Scripture that God’s power still works today, the cessationist will dodge the point. 

They might interject, “Oh, we believe that God still demonstrates His power. We believe He still does miracles. He just doesn’t do miracles through the spiritual gifts anymore.” And what a telling dodge that is on the part of the cessationist. They have to play semantics, word games to hold their position. 

But the position of those who believe the spiritual gifts are still in operation is quite simple: just as God moved sovereignly and miraculously through men and women in the past, so He still moves today. As believers who embrace the spiritual gifts, we don’t actually believe that we carry power of our own or that we wield a gift independently of God’s will - nor does the Scripture teach that. Again, God’s sovereignty applies even when spiritual gifts are involved.

Sadly, the cessationist rejects God’s sovereignty because they box him in to their worldview. They rely on their own personal experiences - or lack thereof - rather than the Word. That’s ironic being as how the spirit-filled believer is the one often accused of relying upon or focusing too heavily upon “experience.”

#2 Arguments from History

But if it’s not speculation the cessationist is using, it’s going to be an argument from history. For example, the cessationist may say that the early church fathers didn’t pray in tongues or that there were some early believers who believed the gifts had ceased. 

In the first place, there are thousands of actions all of us perform every week for which there will never be a historical record. How can we know what the early church didn’t practice? We’d need a complete record of every early church member’s life to know that. The cessationist is in a tough position, in that he has to prove that the early church - all members and leaders -stopped practicing the spiritual gifts.

Still, the cessationist might be able to point to some early church father who believed the gifts ceased. But all that does is demonstrate that there were even cessationists back then. There were debates and differences of opinions even then. We honor the early church, but we shouldn’t idolize it. The Bible, not historical Christian figures, is the final authority. The question is not, “What did the early Church believe?” The question remains, “What does the Bible teach?”

So then after you rightfully dismiss the cessationist’s philosophical or historical arguments, the question arises: does the cessationist have any good Biblical reason for his position?

#3 Poor Biblical Interpretation

The best a cessationist can offer is a poor interpretation of this verse:

8Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 9Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! 10But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless. (1 Corinthians 13:8-10, NLT)

So the gifts will cease to be in operation at the time of perfection. So when does that take place? The Bible clearly tells us in the next two verses:

11When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 12Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. (1 Corinthians 13:11-12, NLT)

Now, I don’t know about you, but I don’t know anyone on earth (besides the Holy Spirit) who knows everything “completely.” The Scripture, in this context, is most certainly talking about eternity. Until then, the gifts are still available to the Church. 

Now, I can already see the comments. Of course, there are angles that I couldn’t address in this short article, but I assure you that whatever the angle, whatever the argument, cessationsm has been Biblically, thoroughly debunked. And I want you to pay close attention to the comments that cessationists might leave on this post. Notice that all of the dissenting comments will fall under the categories of personal attack, speculation, historical arguments, or forced interpretation of Scripture. Many will reference their bad experiences with the spiritual gifts. Many will misunderstand several of the points made in this article.

Some will say I misrepresented cessationism. I didn’t. Some will say I twist the Scriptures. I don’t. Some will say that there’s plenty in Scripture to show cessationism to be true. There isn’t. No amount of scriptural gymnastics can produce such a counter-biblical view. So the next time someone tries to tell you the gifts have ceased, ask them for the specific chapter and verse. Don’t be intimidated by those who love to debate. Stand on the Word. There’s no debating with the Word of God.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

The 3 Expressions of the Gift of Tongues

There are three expressions to the gift of speaking in tongues. Here’s how I’ve termed them:

1: The Personal Tongue

2: The Proof Tongue

3: The Prophetic Tongue

Though you won’t see those exact terms in the Bible, when you study the Scripture, you’ll clearly see that there are, in fact, three expressions to the gift of speaking in tongues.

The Personal Tongue 

Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious. But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church (1 Corinthians 14:1-4).

The personal tongue does not benefit others, but that doesn’t mean it holds no value. The Bible says, “A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally.” The personal tongue is for self-edification, and it’s a heavenly language. Those who use it aren’t speaking an earthly dialect; they are speaking mysteries—only God can understand them.

This personal expression of the gift of tongues strengthens you personally.

The Proof Tongue 

The second expression of the gift of tongues is the proof tongue. Now this is the expression of tongues that is heard as an earthly language. We see this demonstrated in Acts 2: 

And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers (Acts 2:4-6). 

Many heard their own languages being spoken by the believers. It was a true miracle. The Holy Spirit supernaturally empowered the believers to be heard speaking in earthly languages they did not know. The gift was a sign to the unbelievers; thus, I call it the proof tongue. 

The Prophetic Tongue 

The prophetic tongue is the expression of the gift that is used in the context of a church assembly. This gift, when used, commands the attention of the assembly of believers. Because this expression of the gift can disrupt the flow of a church service if misused, Paul put some regulations on it: 

Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you. No more than two or three should speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say. But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately (1 Corinthians 14:26-28). 

The prophetic tongue is meant to be spoken aloud in a gathering of believers. The tongue is then to be supernaturally interpreted so that the believers present can be helped by the prophetic message. 

Now, allow me to embolden the lines of distinction between the three expressions of this gift:

The personal tongue benefits the individual (1 Corinthians 14:4).

The prophetic tongue benefits the Church (1 Corinthians 12:7; 14:26).

The proof tongue benefits the unbeliever (1 Corinthians 14:22).

The personal tongue requires no interpreter or interpretation to be beneficial to the individual (1 Corinthians 14:4).

The prophetic tongue requires an interpreter to benefit the Church (1 Corinthians 14:26).

The proof tongue requires no interpreter for the interpretation to be understood by the unbeliever (Acts 2:8).

The personal tongue is understood by no one but God (1 Corinthians 14:2).

The prophetic tongue is understood by the Church with the aid of an interpreter (1 Corinthians 14:27).

The proof tongue is supernaturally understood by the unbeliever (Acts 2:8).

One gift, three expressions. Each expression serves a different purpose.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

The Holy Spirit Prays for You

Think about the fact that the Holy Spirit prays for you. The one Who knows you like no one else knows you, prays for you like no one else prays for you. We often seek impartation through God’s servants. But think about the exciting reality that the Holy Spirit prays for you Himself.

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. (Romans 8:26-27. NLT)

In those moments when we lack the words to pray, we can rely upon the divine momentum given to us by the Holy Spirit, for the Bible says that He prays for us with groanings - deep longing. Even when we lack that fire of prayer, He doesn’t. He never lacks passion. He prays for you with more fervor than would a father have while praying for his son, than would a grandparent have while praying for their grandchild, than would a mother have while praying for her children. He prays for you with groanings - passionately, fervently, with longing, from deep within.

If you could see into the realm of the Spirit, if you could watch the Holy Spirit pray for you, you would see Him with tears streaming down His face. You would hear Him praying with such force that His booming voice, the very same which spoke the world into existence, would shake the room. I dare even say that you would see Him pounding His fist on the floor as He prayed.

He knows you like no one else knows you - every flaw, every insecurity, every need, every thought. And He prays for you like no one else can pray for you.

And He doesn’t just pray with groanings. He prays according to the will of God. He bends you toward the will of the Father. He inclines your heart unto the commands of God. Every prayer He prays over you makes you more like Christ and corrects your course.

The Holy Spirit, the ultimate prayer warrior, the mightiest of all intercessors, prays for you.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

Holy Spirit: Again and Again

When you were born again, you received the Holy Spirit. And He isn’t going to abandon you. Jesus said so Himself.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. (John 14:16, NLT)

The Holy Spirit does not abandon the true believer. But even after you receive the Holy Spirit, you can receive fresh infillings of His power, again and again. The baptism with the Holy Spirit is both a well and a river - a constant state of being and a continual flow.

Now, many are under the impression that the Holy Spirit didn’t show up until Acts chapter two. In fact, the Holy Spirit was at work since the beginning.

And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. (Genesis 1:2b, NLT)

Now I want to show you a Biblical example of a group of people receiving the power of the Holy Spirit, again and again, in new, fresh ways. 

Take a look at the 72 disciples of Jesus. They were given power to cast out demons and preach the gospel.

The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!” (Luke 10:1 & 17, NLT)

What power was it that enabled these 72 disciples to cast out demons? It was the power of the Holy Spirit. Even Jesus expelled demons by means of the power of the Holy Spirit.

But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. (Matthew 12:28, NLT)

If Jesus needed the power of the Holy Spirit to cast out demons, then the 72 definitely needed the same. Yet these same people - the 72 - were some of those among the crowd that received the Holy Spirit by the breath of Christ.

Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:22, NLT)

So the 72 received the power of the Holy Spirit when they were released to preach and drive out demons. Then some of them were present when Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit upon them. Yet again, this same group had another experience. For in Acts chapter 2, the Holy Spirit graced the Church in a new way.

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1-4, NLT)

It didn’t end there. For this same group, Peter and John among them, was filled with the Holy Spirit again. Take a look at Acts 4.

23On their release, Peter and John returned to their own people and reported everything that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24When the believers heard this, they lifted up their voices to God with one accord. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them.  (Acts 4:23-24)

Now, listen to what they prayed!

29And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness, 30as You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:29-30, NLT)

They prayed for boldness. Didn’t they already receive that when they were filled? They prayed for miracles. Hadn’t they already been seeing miracles? You see, they were praying for a fresh touch of power. But then take a look at this. Those believers, some of the 72 among them, those who had already been filled for ministry, those who had already been breathed upon by Jesus, those who had already received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost - experienced yet another infilling and preached with even greater boldness. 

After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. (Acts 4:31, NLT)

They didn’t necessarily receive more of the Holy Spirit; rather, they surrendered more of themselves and experienced greater measures, newer touches of the Holy Spirit’s power. May you receive His touch, everyday, again and again.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

The Holy Spirit is Jealous Over You

When Aria was a newborn, I would hold her and make up songs for her. As I would sing, she would stare at me, and I would stare at her. 

Once, while I was holding and singing to her, a certain worship song popped into my head. It was random. The song wasn’t even one that you would consider popular. Of course, I didn’t sing it to Aria. I wasn’t about to sing, “I love you, Lord” to my daughter. That would have been odd. Instead, I ignored the thought and continued to sing to Aria some random melody that I made up for her. Moments later, the worship song again popped into my mind. And again, I pushed the thought aside. It seemed so out of place for the moment. Though I continued to ignore it, the subtle urge to sing that worship song just wouldn’t go away. 

The main lyric of that worship song is, “I love you, Lord.” 

The next evening, I attended a church service. I wasn’t preaching; I was just there to assist a spiritual father. It was a beautiful service, and I was enjoying every minute of it. Then, during the worship, suddenly, the worship team began to play that song—“I love you, Lord.” 

Again, it’s not the most popular song these days. In fact, other than in my own services, I can’t think of another setting where I’ve actually heard anyone sing that song. It was quite a coincidence, so I thought. But, sure enough, right then and there, the worship team started to play it. 

As everyone joined in singing that song, I thought to myself, “What are the odds? I was just thinking about this song yesterday while holding my Aria.” 

That’s when the Holy Spirit revealed something astounding to me. 

You see, as I was singing to my Aria, I was totally consumed by her. The Holy Spirit was watching me, and His holy jealousy was stirred. You see, He was the one trying to get me to sing that song to Him when I was holding my Aria, and He was the one leading the worship team to play it in that service.

Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? (James 4:5, NKJV) 

Ungodly jealousy is born of fear; godly jealousy is born of love. The Lord saw how captivated I was by my baby girl. It was as if He was saying, “Don’t forget about me.” No, the Lord wasn’t angry. No, the Lord wasn’t being petty. The Lord’s jealousy is loving and righteous. 

As the worship team continued to play, the people all harmonized, “I love you, Lord.” And there, in that beautiful moment of worship, I responded to the Lord’s pulling. I sang to Him, and even up until now, I sing that song to Him as often as I can. He loves it when I sing it to Him. And, to be clear, the Lord loves when I spend time with my family, but He doesn’t want to be forgotten.

In everyday life, when He sees us constantly choosing distractions over our time with Him, His holy jealousy is stirred. Remember, we are His. His jealousy over us is rooted in His love for us, and that love calls us away from the things of this world; that love takes us to higher places.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

Low Signal

If prayer is to be powerful, it must be an act of the spirit, not of the flesh.

But you, beloved, keep building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. (Jude 1:20, WEB)

You cannot accomplish spiritual growth through carnal actions. Neither can the flesh sustain what the spirit begins. 

Some pray from their emotions. Some pray from their own carnal cravings and desires. Some pray from need. But the most effective prayers are prayed when you pray from your spirit. 

As advanced as our phones have become, those who use the call feature will still, from time to time, experience the problem of a weak or low signal. Whenever I’m on a phone call that begins to lose signal strength, the person on the other line will, more often than not, start to yell louder so that I can hear them. But because of the poor phone connection, their unclear communication just goes from being gibberish to being loud gibberish. In moments like those, I explain to the caller, “You don’t have to yell. The volume is fine. The problem is the connection.”

The problem is not the volume. It’s the connection.

As a person will try to make up with volume what lacks in connection during a spotty phone call, so some believers try to make up in emotion and hype what is lacking in connection during prayer. The connection is there, but they allow matters of the flesh to disrupt what would otherwise be a moment of powerful prayer.

Willpower fails. Emotion fails. Carnal effort fails. Intellect fails. It’s not by power nor might, but by the Spirit. Too many believers exhaust themselves in prayer, straining to obtain what can only be found in connection with the Spirit.

The key then is to lower the emotional, carnal volume and just listen to the spirit. Let the Spirit guide you as you surrender to Him. Be at peace. Don’t become agitated or emotionally riled. Relax. Surrender. Trust.

Trust not in your ability to connect with the Holy Spirit but in His ability to connect with you.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

No Longer Desperate

Sometimes God has to break you before He can bless you. Never underestimate God’s ability to make use of a desperate situation. The Scripture is filled with examples of people who sought God in the midst of trying times. Sometimes, life will present challenges to you that are beyond your ability to handle. The death of a loved one, a dreaded diagnosis, the addiction of a friend, an unexpected financial calamity - no one is exempt from trials. 

And God uses hardships to draw people closer to Him. In fact, desperation is a part of my testimony. God used desperation to free me from religion and bring me to life in the Spirit. 

No doubt, in desperate times, one should call upon God. Biblically speaking, desperation definitely has its place. So not all desperation is a bad thing.

But, to be honest with you, I believe that desperation is overrated, and its place is all too often misunderstood. While we should call upon God when we face hardships and while God will use tough consequences to bring forth repentance, desperation should neither be the persistent posture nor the lifestyle of the Spirit-filled believer.

We mustn’t believe the idea that we have to plead and press in order to invoke a response from God. In the first place, none of us are so persuasive as to be able to convince God to do anything. Here’s the reality: Our persistence doesn’t move God; He’s unmovable. Rather, our persistence positions us to receive. 

And it’s not as though God is looking down from Heaven withholding His presence and power from us, waiting for us to become “desperate enough” in order for Him to move. “Oh if only you had shouted louder. If only you had jumped up and down during the song service. If only you had cried for five minutes longer, I would have heard you, I would’ve responded.” 

Sadly, some Christian leaders push the idea of a “desperate lifestyle” either by sincere mistake or out of a need to hype an atmosphere. Perhaps some even want to create a desperation culture so that it appears that the people are responding more strongly to their preaching or worship-leading. Whatever the reason, it must be noted that the believer doesn’t have to beg for an audience with God.

I imagine the conversation between the believer and God sometimes goes something like this:

Father, do you hear me?

Yes, I hear you.

Father, please, listen to me!

I’m listening.

God, please, don’t ignore me!

I’m not ignoring you.

You don’t need to beg for God’s presence when He lives in you. You don’t need to plead to be heard when He’s already listening. You don’t need to cry out for something that’s already been given to you. Believer, you’re already one with God:

But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him. (1 Corinthians 6:17, NLT)

Imagine how much time you could save in prayer if, instead of begging God to hear you, you simply believed that He already does. 

Could it be that the reason we’re so often desperate for God is because we’ve not been connecting with God daily as we should? If I eat regularly, I still become hungry. If I skip too many meals, I become starving. Spiritually hungry? Yes. Spiritually starving? No. Desire God? Yes. Desperate for God? No. 

Our pleading is too loud. Servants beg. Strangers beg. Sons come boldly with faith. Desperation is a great initiator but a terrible sustainer. Desperation initiates, but only faith sustains. Desperation is what brings me to the Lord, but once I have Him, why would I ever be desperate again? You don’t enter the glory through noisy desperation; you enter through faith-filled confidence. Confident faith, not desperation, is the way to know the presence of the Holy Spirit.

There’s no need to punish yourself or exhaust yourself. Just come boldly through faith.

And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. (1 John 5:14, NLT)

I don’t pray to connect with God; I pray from connection with God. I don’t worship to connect with God; I worship from connection with God.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

When is the Holy Spirit Received?

When is the Holy Spirit received? And if the Holy Spirit lives in all believers, why does the Bible teach that we also need to receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit? Do we need to receive the Holy Spirit more than once?

Well, it’s true that believers receive the Holy Spirit once they are born again. All believers belong to God, and all who belong to God have the Holy Spirit. 

But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) (Romans 8:9, NLT)

Because salvation is a work of the Holy Spirit, it should be clear to us that the Holy Spirit is present in our lives at the very moment of salvation. 

Why then are we told in Scripture about the baptism with the Holy Spirit? Why would the believer need to be baptized with the Holy Spirit if the believer already has the Holy Spirit? To answer this question, we must understand that man’s being has three aspects:

Body, soul, and Spirit.

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. (1 Thessalonians 5:23, NLT)

Your body is your earth suit, the means by which you interact with this world. Your soul is the realm of decision - mind, will, emotions, personality. Mind - what you think. Will - what you desire. Emotions - what you feel. Personality - how you behave. Your spirit is the part of your being that is already in perfect union with God. Your Spirit desires as God desires, because your spirit is joined with the Holy Spirit.

But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him. (1 Corinthians 6:17, NLT)

All spiritual growth, then, is not a matter of obtaining more from God but of manifesting what is in your spirit to your soul and body. In your spirit, you are complete. In your spirit, you know God. In your spirit, you are one with the Lord. The Holy Spirit lives as one with your spirit. The spirit is perfect. The soul and body are being perfected. 

Now, to be baptized with the Holy Spirit is to be immersed in and overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit. Think of a ship. A ship stays afloat because though it is in water, the water is not in it. It’s not until the water floods the inside of the boat that it sinks and becomes baptized.

When you were saved, you received the Spirit. When you become baptized with the Holy Spirit, you release the Holy Spirit. He flows from within your spirit and floods the soul and body. He rises from the inner man (the spirit) and floods the outer man (soul and body).

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:38, NASB)

The baptism with the Holy Spirit is not a matter of you getting more of the Holy Spirit; it’s a matter of the Holy Spirit getting more of you. The baptism with the Holy Spirit isn’t rain from Heaven; it’s a flood from within. The spiritual waters in which you are baptized don’t come from the outside in, but from the inside out.

The waters of the Holy Spirit overflow from your innermost being (your spirit) and flood the soul and body. The Spirit within you transforms, emboldens, and empowers the outer man (soul and body). The greater the surrender, the greater the flow. He’s received at salvation, released from within at baptism.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

Oneness with the Holy Spirit

Jesus said, “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father.” I want to live in such a way that I can say, “If you’ve seen me you’ve seen the Son.” Just as you cannot outpace your reflection in the mirror, so you should desire to reflect the nature of God. 

I want to live in the rhythm of the Spirit. I desire to be One with Him.

Enoch lived in such a way. He walked with God so closely and for so long that he simply ceased to exist.

And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: and all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: and Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him (Genesis 5:22-24, KJV)

Think about that. Enoch walked with God and he was not, for God took Him. When I read that, I said to the Lord, “Father, I want to be a ‘was not’ too.” The believer should desire to cease to be. I want to be a tear in the fabric of this reality through which Heaven can invade earth. I want to become a portal through which the glory can touch the natural, transforming all around me, conforming my surroundings to the will of the Spirit. Lord, make us empty spaces through which you can exist in this world. It should be your desire that your presence and His presence would become indistinguishably one, that you would carry His presence wherever you step.

Believer, let your hands be His hands. Let Him heal and touch through them. Let your eyes be His eyes. See things, people, and situations the way He sees them. Let your mouth be His mouth. Speak His Word. Let your ears be His ears. Listen for His voice. Let your feet be His feet. Step wherever He leads. Let your being be His being. Let your heart beat as one with His. Crucify your will, and, in its place, allow God’s will to be resurrected.

Disappear in God. Decrease so He can increase. 

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

The Holy Spirit is God

People often ask me questions like, “Can I pray to the Holy Spirit? Can I worship the Holy Spirit? 

And, while I understand the Biblical truths concerning prayer and worship, while I understand that we are taught to pray to the Father in the name of Jesus, I want to address this idea that the Holy Spirit is somehow less divine than the Father and the Son.

No believer doubts the deity of the Father. No true believer doubts the deity of the Son - otherwise, they would not be a genuine believer. If there is any doubt raised concerning divinity, that doubt seems to most often be aimed at the Holy Spirit. 

So I want to show you, as simply and concisely as possible, that the Bible most certainly reveals the Holy Spirit as God.

Firstly, the Holy Spirit is omnipresent. 

I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! (Psalm 139:7, NLT)

Secondly, we see that the Holy Spirit is omnipotent. In Luke’s gospel, the power of the Holy Spirit is the very same as the power of the most high.

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35, NLT)

Thirdly, we see that the Holy Spirit is omniscient. He searches the mind of God and knows the mind of God. Therefore, He knows everything God knows. Thus, He is all knowing.

10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. (1 Corinthians 2:10-12, NLT)

Finally, the Holy Spirit is eternal.

Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. (Hebrews 9:14, NLT)

Who else but God is omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient, and eternal? Clearly, the Holy Spirit is God.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

Demonic Division

If God’s pattern of Church growth is multiplication through discipleship, then the enemy’s strategy would be just the opposite - division through discord. 

Though the enemy has always sought to divide God’s people, I’ve discerned a more intense effort in this season. You’ve probably seen it too:

“If you don’t agree with me, unfriend me.”

“Now I see your true colors.”

“You’re toxic.” 

"You’re a part of the problem.” 

“You’re ignorant.”

Those are the kinds of phrases being thrown around between believers. People are becoming offended and hurt because they somehow weren’t aware that other opinions existed besides their own.

The temptation and the tendency of man is to demonize those who express contrasting beliefs. Now, of course, if someone denies the fundamentals of the faith - truths like the resurrection of Jesus, the need for repentance from sin, the deity of Christ, or the authority of the Bible - then there is a time for separation. When something directly contradicts the Word, there’s no room for compromise. 

But, for the most part, if we agree on Christ then we agree. 

We may not all agree on how to get there, but we all want to get to a better, more godly Kingdom reality. We may not even all agree on what the actual problems are. One believer’s proposed solution might be another believer’s idea of a problem. 

But we must choose to not demonize fellow believers or even assume the worst about their motives. This is the role of grace for one another. 

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. (Colossians 3:12-15, NLT)

Unity is the mark of the true Church.

Now, I can already hear potential objections to what I’m teaching here. People may say things like, “If they truly loved me, they would see things from my perspective.”

And therein lies the problem. There would never be division if we only disagreed on the things that didn’t matter all that much to us. The contention arises when there is something that contradicts our deeply held beliefs. It is because our deepest beliefs stir up the most intense emotions in us that division works in the first place.

And it’s easy to try to spiritualize our disagreements. We blame their “bad spirits” or claim that God has somehow exposed them for who they “really are.” But maybe - just maybe - you’ve disconnected because of pride. 

The Church, the body of Christ, is united by something much deeper, something much stronger than any one perspective, belief, or mindset. As important as any one issue is to you, it cannot be more important than our call to unity. It’s what distinguishes us from the world.

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. (John 13:34-35, NLT)

The world looks on in bewilderment. They can see that though we each have deeply held beliefs, we have something deeper still that unites us. When they see that the truth of God’s Word is more important to us than any other source of thought, they will know we belong to God. 

So long as we stand on the side of holiness and truth according to God’s Word, we stand together.

Jesus is God. Jesus died for our sins. Jesus rose again from the dead in bodily form. Jesus sits at the right hand of God. The call to repentance, the need for salvation, the authority of God’s Word - those truths unite us. We may disagree on the peripheral, but let’s unite for the sake of the primary. 

The truly Spirit-filled can rise above the political chaos, rise above the emotionally-charged bickering, rise above the pettiness of worldly concerns. Don’t pollute your anointing or dilute God’s power on your life by preaching your opinions instead of God’s Word. 

There’s a world that’s dying and going to hell - and Jesus is still the answer. The gospel is still the mission. Let’s stop the bickering and come together for the sake of souls. 

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

Special Update: New Ministry Training E-Course

I’m happy to announce that we have added another e-course to the Holy Spirit School.

Ministry Growth: Biblical Keys to Stewarding and Growing Ministry

In this e-course, I will give you both the practical and the spiritual tools you need to become fruitful in the ministry God has entrusted to you. 

Now, to be clear, this is not an ordination program, so both aspiring and seasoned ministers alike will benefit from the Biblical content. 

This is a 10 part course with bonus Q&A content. 

We will cover:

• The Call of God

• What is Ministry?

• 8 Keys to Effective Ministry 

• Bonus Q&A

Students will receive a free digital study guide, online testing, and a certificate of completion when they complete the course. Additionally, I’ve compiled a list of technological tools that you can use to better steward your ministry. And, just like all of our content and e-courses, thanks to our monthly ministry partners, this ministry e-course is absolutely free. 

To get started, just create or open your free student account by going to https://www.holyspiritschool.com/courses/ministrygrowth.

- David Diga Hernandez

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

How to Grow Spiritually: 3 Keys

How do you hear the voice of the Holy Spirit? How do you strengthen your spiritual gifts? How do you start or grow in ministry? What does one have to do in order to have a more effective prayer life, become a bolder witness, or overcome sin?

The answer to all of these questions really comes down to one thing: spiritual growth. When you grow spiritually, everything about you changes and improves. “A rising tide lifts all boats”, as they say. Now, it’s important that you remember that your growth is a work of the Holy Spirit. But His work requires your participation.

So what are the things one must do in order to grow spiritually? Well, though there are many things which can contribute to your spiritual growth, for the sake of simplicity, I will briefly focus on just three. 

Here are three keys to spiritual growth:

#1 - The Word

But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. (Psalm 1:2-3, NLT)

Now, this may seem obvious, but it’s vital that you commit to knowing the Word of God. When you know the Word of God, you have a solid foundation upon which you can build your spiritual life. Now when I tell you that you need the Word, I don’t just mean that you need the verse of the day or a blog that you read online (Not even this blog is a substitute for receiving God’s Word.) I mean that you need to devote yourself to consuming chapters of the Bible at a time - from Genesis to Revelation. Know and live all of it.

Knowing the Word of God brings depth to your spiritual life, protects you from deception, gives power over temptation, clarifies the voice of the Holy Spirit, and strengthens your ability to stand strong in difficult seasons. 

#2 - Prayer

Never stop praying. (1 Thessalonians 5:17, NLT)

Again, this may seem like an obvious key to spiritual growth, but you would be amazed at how many believers neglect these simple acts. Looking for quick growth and shortcuts, many leave these spiritual practices undone. 

Prayer transforms your very being. It bends you toward the will of God and subjects the desires of the sin nature.

#3 - Fellowship

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. (Hebrews 10:25, NLT)

When you recognize that there is no power in a building but that there is power in our gathering, all excuses to not gather with fellow believers begin to crumble. Think about the fact that many have risked their lives just to gather with the saints. That should tell you how important it is. It’s a Biblical command. 

When you connect with other believers, you are given accountability, encouragement, friendship, and so much more. Like embers all coming together, our gathering likewise stirs a fire. 

Again, there are many other keys to spiritual growth, but by putting these basic keys into practice, you’ll begin to see growth in your spiritual life. 

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

Master the Media: 3 Keys

Could there be demons talking to you through your screen?

Day after day, people sit glued to streams, hashtags, and trending news. Demonic media networks and companies spread their poisonous deceit and viral fear through screens and speakers. By captivating the eyes and the ears of a generation, they captivate the soul of a generation. 

Day and night, they manufacture their lies. Even if something isn’t so, even if reality contradicts their narratives, they can convince the undiscerning through emotional repetition. Before long, their lies that contradict God’s Word and reality are believed by the masses, and the masses act as extensions of the media - spreading fear and demanding conformity; or else you’ll be shamed, attacked, cancelled.

And the children of darkness are in sync with one another. 

Movies, music, tv shows, online videos, podcasts, radio broadcasts, articles, and various forms of entertainment - it all aligns. Like a choir of demons singing one grand number, all branches stay on message. Sadly, some believers sing the harmony - they sing the messages of the secular on their social media platforms, in daily conversations, and even from the pulpits.

They push immorality and call it progress. They stir up division, spread fear, mock God’s Word, and push for the advancement of anti-God, anti-Biblical agendas. 

No doubt, the world is effectively using media.

And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. (Luke 16:8, KJV)

Media is a powerful tool, and it can be leveraged by any cause. Media is not evil in and of itself. So media can be used for the advancement of the gospel. Thankfully, we live in an age where media can be used by just about anyone.

So I want to give you 3 simple keys to mastering the media for the sake of the gospel and the Kingdom of God. You can use your platform - large or small - to help spread Biblical truth. 

#1 Focus

By honing in on one simple message, you can become more effective in spreading the truth. Complex, nuanced ideas are difficult to spread, because people don’t really pay their attention to you for extended periods of time. Stick to a simple message, and if what you’re preaching requires more detailed explanation, break up that explanation over several posts, videos, and so forth. Give them one step at a time. 

Find a message that God has graced you to spread, and then focus. 

#2 Repetition 

As we’ve learned recently, even if something isn’t true or based in reality, if it is repeated often enough, people begin to believe it. So how much more power will the truth have if it is repeated? Preach the truth, and preach the truth consistently.

Don’t let up. Speak up, spare not, sound the alarm. Repeat, repeat, repeat - in many forms, in many ways - repeat. When the truth is repeated, it always eventually breaks through. 

#3 Boldness

Today’s social media mobs will cry aloud anytime you declare the truth. If you want to see demons manifest, just post something that’s Biblically undeniable yet unpopular in today’s culture. They’ll use guilt to try to make you feel bad for speaking truth. They’ll use intimidation to try to make you feel afraid to speak the truth. They’ll use confusion to make you second guess the truth. This is why boldness is needed now more than ever.

Know the truth, and then declare the truth - boldly. No half measures, no hesitation, no damage control, no apologies. 

Speak it. If God is for you, who can be against you? Now, more than ever, we need to spread Biblical truths and ideas. Now, more than ever, we need to establish Kingdom dominion. Now, more than ever, we need to preach the gospel. Let’s never lose our focus. You are a messenger of Heaven. Your message is the gospel. It’s time to speak up.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

The Expert Spirit

The Holy Spirit empowers us for the practical.

The Holy Spirit doesn’t just empower us for ministry; He empowers us in all that we do. He wants to empower husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, business people, employees, and students.

The Holy Spirit is the Expert Spirit, and His touch improves every action of the believer.

When Moses went to meet with God at Mount Sinai, he wasn’t just given commands for moral and civil duties; he also received a revelation of how the tabernacle was to be built. God gave him specific instructions on the crafting of the Ark of the Covenant, the gold lamp-stands, the incense altar, and the other furnishings of the tabernacle. Moses was even given instructions on how to craft the garments of the priests.

But to actually craft these things, God appointed certain men. They were men who were filled with the Holy Spirit.

Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “See, I have chosen Bezalel 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— 4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 5 to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. (Exodus 31:1–5).

Even in the practical act of crafting, the Holy Spirit was involved.

The Holy Spirit is, literally, down to earth. He does not distance Himself from our practical living. He is an able Helper, not just in the matters of the supernatural, but also in the matters of the natural. He is God’s empowering presence here upon the earth. He involves Himself in our day-to-day tasks and responsibilities; He desires to help you in all that you do.

We accept the fact that there is nothing too difficult for Him to perform but often lack the boldness to believe that there is nothing too small for Him to ignore.

To the business person, the Spirit is a business partner. To the parent, He is a wise guide. To the spouse, He is a counselor. To the student, He is a teacher. To all and in all, He is a helper and an expert.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

Establishing the Kingdom of God

A kingdom is a king’s dominion - the place where a king’s will is carried out. Wherever God’s will is being accomplished, God’s Kingdom exists.

Now, there are two perspectives on the Kingdom of God that seem to contradict one another.

On one hand, we have those who recognize that the Kingdom of God is not of this world. This is true. 

Jesus tells us so:

Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36, NLT)

On the other hand, we have those who recognize that we are to bring the Kingdom of God to this earth. That is definitely true. For when teaching on prayer, Jesus said this:

So then, this is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:9-10, NLT)

The Bible clearly teaches that the Kingdom of God is both other-worldly and something that should be established on earth. Do we have a contradiction here? By no means. Both realities of the Kingdom can be true at the same time. The Kingdom of God is both then and there, and here and now. In fact, the Kingdom is also within you.

Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:20-21, NLT)

Because the Kingdom of God is then and there, we don’t need to worry - we know our futures are secure. Because the Kingdom of God is here and now, we don’t need to wait - we know our authority works here too.

The Kingdom of God isn’t supposed to stay anywhere; it’s supposed to go everywhere. 

It’s tempting to sit idly by, to become discouraged and say, “There’s nothing we can do; we know the world will inevitably get darker.” But it’s precisely because the Kingdom of God is not of this world that we ought to work to establish it in this world. That’s what God desires - otherwise, why would Jesus pray for it to be so?

So how do we establish God’s Kingdom? It’s through the preaching of the gospel.

When a soul is saved, the heart and mind are transformed. When the heart and mind are transformed, character is transformed. When character is transformed, behavior is transformed. Change the individual, and you change the family. Change the family, and you change society. Change society, and you change the world. 

But the eternal soul is the priority. Focus on the main thing, and everything else follows. Salvation must come first. Our message is Jesus.

Then, as a person begins to truly understand and know the Word, they adapt to Kingdom Culture. Kingdom Culture brings forth things like a sense of personal responsibility, a strong work ethic, honor for authority, order in the family unit, harmonious marriage, compassion for the weak, the sick, and the suffering, and love for one another. Kingdom Culture also rids us of worldly mindsets like envy of and hatred toward the successful, all forms of racism (which is demonic), moral relativism, hedonism, elitism, and even the disregard for human life. Under Kingdom Culture, nations thrive and prosper.

But remember, it’s about souls; it’s about people. The Kingdom of God is established in people, and people shape the world around them.

So we must stay focused on the gospel. The preaching of the gospel keeps us focused on the eternal while also establishing God’s Kingdom in the earth. The preaching of the gospel cuts right to the root of human evil - which is sin. 

Establish the Kingdom by spreading the gospel. May God have dominion - in heaven, in earth, and in you.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

4 Benefits of Focusing on Jesus

When Peter stepped out of the boat and began to walk on water, he experienced a miracle. Certainly, what Peter experienced was literally phenomenal. But something happened. Peter took his eyes off of Jesus, and when he did, he began to sink.

But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. (Matthew 14:30, NLT)

Peter took his eyes off of the Lord, put them on the storm, and disrupted the miracle.

Believer, please hear me - and preachers especially. If in this hour we take the focus off of Jesus, we will sink. Our futures will sink. Our ministries will sink. We will sink.

Don’t allow the winds and waves of chaos to steal your focus. Jesus must remain your focus.

When Jesus remains your focus, several things happen.

#1 Perfect Peace

Firstly, when Jesus remains your focus, your heart is filled with perfect peace.

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (Isaiah 26:3, KJV)

#2 True Unity

Secondly, when Jesus remains your focus, you’ll experience true unity with fellow believers. Focused on the Lord, you won’t become distracted by the winds and waves of this carnal world. When we focus on Jesus, we focus on what unites us, rather than on what has the potential to divide us.

Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13, NLT)

#3 Spiritual Stability

Thirdly, when Jesus remains your focus, you will be firmly established. You won’t be moved by every opinion and trend. You’ll abide faithfully, steadfastly. Nothing will be able to shake you. Your faith will remain intact, even in difficult times.

Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. (Matthew 7:24, NLT)

#4 Effectiveness

Finally, when Jesus remains your focus, you remain effective. For the past several weeks, I have been emphasizing this truth: “Jesus is still the answer, and the gospel is still the mission.” I’m happy to see that message spreading. The reason I emphasize this is because, in trying times, in confusing times, we have the tendency to get off message. When Jesus remains your focus, He remains your message. And when Jesus remains your message, you remain effective.

For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:2, NLT)

So let the winds and the waves rage. Keep your eyes on Jesus. When the storm passes, you don’t want to look back in shame. You don’t want to look back and remember yourself falling apart, losing faith, being controlled by your emotions, or sinking. When you look back at the days of the storm, you’ll want to say, “I stood faithful. I kept my integrity. I kept my purity, my joy, my love, my peace. In the middle of the storm, I kept my eyes on Jesus.”

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

The Healing Touch of Jesus

The woman with the issue of blood. The blind beggar. The paralyzed man. These are just some of the many Biblical examples of people who experienced the healing touch of Jesus. 

And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole. (Mark 6:56, KJV)

I love the way the Scripture words that: “…as many as touched him were made whole.”

And the wonderful reality is that Jesus still heals. Nowhere in all of Scripture does it teach that Jesus has stopped working miracles.

Everything Jesus was anointed to do while here on the earth, the Holy Spirit continues to do for and through us.

I’ve seen it with my own eyes - miracles of healing. The blind see, the deaf hear, the mute speak, the paralyzed move, and the afflicted are set free from their pain. Years of suffering, seasons of pain, can all come to an end. 

I recall one instance in particular. A little girl attended one of my services with her mother. The girl had developed crooked legs. Her legs were turned inward. That little girl and her mother came to the service believing for a miracle. They came early but could only find seats in the back of the building. Nevertheless, they persisted in faith, knowing that God’s healing touch could reach them even where they were. 

During the worship, they began to believe for the miracle to take place, for the little girl’s legs to straighten. Though nothing happened immediately, the little girl insisted that Jesus would heal her. After the service had ended, they began to drive home. The miracle had yet to transpire. But sitting there in the car, that little girl held on to hope. Suddenly, the girl began to hear a popping sound. She remarked to her mother, “Mom, do you hear that? Something is popping like popcorn!” 

They didn’t know it until the next morning, but that girl’s legs had become perfectly straight. To their joy and amazement, the miracle had happened. 

A miracle can instantaneously turn any situation around. The lesson to be learned is one of simple faith. Don’t worry; only believe. And keep believing, because any moment can be your miracle moment.

There’s no trick to it. There’s no formula, no method, no special approach - it’s just the healing power of God meeting simple faith.

So reach out in faith and touch Him. All it takes is a single touch from the hand of Jesus to make you whole. That same mighty power which flowed through the very body of Jesus, that same healing virtue, still rushes like a river today. Jump into the river of healing.

Be encouraged. Yesterday, today, and forever, our Jesus, the Jesus of the Bible, is a healing Jesus.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

We Won't Be Silent

There’s little doubt that the world is becoming increasingly anti-Christ. As hatred toward God intensifies, so will hatred toward His Church. Mark my words: more pressure will come against the Church. 

This is why it’s so important for every believer, every pastor, every Christian, to be grounded in the Word of God and in the Holy Spirit. We can advance and impact the world, even in the face of opposition, but we must be willing to stay faithful to the preaching of the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. 

Let he who has eyes to see, see. Let he who has ears to hear, hear. There is a demonic agenda at work. The enemy’s goal is to confuse, intimidate, divide, isolate, and silence the Church. Many in this world do not want to hear the message of repentance, the truth about the blood of Jesus, or the reality of the cross. 

So there will be a pressure for us to conform, to be silent. They will threaten us with reputation-destroying labels. They will attempt to manipulate us with guilt. They will work tirelessly to silence us, to silence the preaching of the gospel. Like the religious leaders who were tormented by the preaching of Stephen the martyr, so today’s culture covers its ears and cries for us to be silent. The systems of the world are no doubt working against the Church.

This hour calls for bold, righteous, Spirit-filled believers.

Remember that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were pressured to bow to the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had created. Society bowed. Some of God’s people bowed. Everyone bowed. Everyone except the faithful three. 

The young men were threatened with death - they were to be thrown in a fiery furnace. When faced with this threat, the young men gave a courageous response: 

“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” (Daniel 3:17-18, NLT)

We too must have the courage to obey God; whatever happens to us as a result of our obedience is up to Him. We’ve laid down our lives anyway. 

Like in the days of Nebuchadnezzar, a statue has been created, and the system calls for all to bow: that statue is conformity to the ways and ideologies of the world. Conformity is exalted. Dissent is aggressively stifled. Society bows. Sadly, some pastors even bow. You must not bow.

When we stop preaching to truth, when we alter God’s Word to better suit the preferences of this generation, we’re bowing to conformity. When we stop declaring repentance from sin and salvation alone through Jesus, we’ve been bullied into conformity. 

Don’t conform to culture; confront it. Confront it by preaching Christ and Him crucified.

Preachers especially, we must stop weighing our words against what might offend the world. No, the goal isn’t to offend anyone, but if our preaching of Jesus becomes offensive, preach Him anyway. We need to be more concerned about souls than about our reputations, more attentive to the voice of the Holy Spirit than to our marketing strategies. We’re not celebrities; we’re servants of God. We’re preachers, not puppets. Too many are being consulted by culture instead of by the Word of God. God didn’t give you a platform to play it safe. He raised you to spread His Word - that souls might be saved. 

Cry aloud. Spare not. Sound the alarm. This is a spiritual war for the soul of a generation. 

You may be pressured into silence. Preach the gospel anyway.

You may be threatened by the social media mob. Preach the gospel anyway. 

Let them mock you, threaten you, accuse you, and cancel you. The world needs to hear the message of salvation. 

Stay on message. Focus on the mission. Jesus is still the answer. The gospel is still the mission. How we go down is history is of no importance compared to how we go down in eternity. 

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.