The Spirit Speaks

If you're doubting your identity in Christ, the Holy Spirit has something to say.

“And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, ‘Abba, Father.’”  - Galatians 4:6 (NLT)

As a believer, you may experience some days when you feel a million miles away from God, even some days when you feel like an outright fake because of your shortcomings.

Your past speaks. Your mistakes speak. Your enemy speaks. Your circumstances speak. Through the noise, if you just stop and listen, you’ll hear the Holy Spirit speak too, prompting you to call God “Father.” 

Your identity in Christ isn’t a feeling; it’s a spiritual reality. You may at times, feel like you’ve lost your fire for God, but God hasn’t lost His fire for you. The Holy Spirit causes truth to be as a fire set deep in your bones, a truth that cannot be suppressed or ignored. 

When Satan accuses, the Spirit affirms. When your mistakes condemn, the Spirit convicts. When your feelings say “rejected,” the Spirit says “accepted.” When you forget who you are, the Holy Spirit reminds you of who God is to you - Father God.

For more on this topic, you can watch my teaching, “7 Major Things That Happen When the Holy Spirit Enters You,” on YouTube by clicking here.

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Don’t Break the Holy Spirit’s Heart

Please, don’t break the Holy Spirit’s heart. The Holy Spirit has feelings and can be deeply grieved by our actions. Yes, it’s true. Paul the Apostle wrote:

“And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.” - Ephesians 4:30 (NLT)

But think about this, too: if the Holy Spirit loves you enough to be grieved by your disobedience, then He loves you enough to be pleased by your obedience. So keep the Holy Spirit in mind. Let your love for His glorious presence be your motivation. Weigh every action, thought, and attitude with Him in mind. 

Those who live by the Spirit are often misunderstood and cast out. We’re disruptors. We’re different. So don’t worry about what people think of you. Instead, be concerned with what the Holy Spirit thinks. 

Those who live by the Spirit say no to sinful cravings. So don’t give in to what temptation demands of you. Instead, we are satisfied in the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Those who live by the Spirit are given strength in trying times. So, don’t allow circumstances to control your attitudes and thoughts. Instead, be stabilized by the Spirit within you.

Live in a way that makes the Holy Spirit feel at home within you. Don’t grieve Him

For more on this topic, you can watch my teaching, “5 Behaviors That Push The Holy Spirit Away (Without You Realizing It),” on YouTube by clicking here.

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You’re Being Exposed

The Holy Spirit is exposing you, and that’s a good thing. Jesus talked about how the Holy Spirit would convict us.

“And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.” - John 16:8 (NLT)

To convict means to expose, rebuke, confront, and bring to light. What does the Holy Spirit bring to light? Sin, God’s righteousness, and the coming judgment.

Sin

The world’s sin is that it doesn’t believe on the Lord Jesus, so the Holy Spirit is calling the world to faith. And the Holy Spirit also lovingly confronts sin in the life of the believer. When you do something you know you shouldn’t do or refuse to do something you know you should, the Holy Spirit calls you on it. In fact, when the believer sins, they can feel the grieving of the precious Holy Spirit; they can feel His heart breaking.

“And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.” - Ephesians 4:30 (NLT)

Righteousness

But the Holy Spirit doesn’t just speak against the things we shouldn’t do; He also calls our attention to what we should become. He points to a standard to which we should aspire. The Holy Spirit doesn’t just convict of sin—He also convicts of righteousness. He reminds us of how righteousness is available wholly because of the cross.

“But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.” - Romans 4:5 (NLT)

The Holy Spirit not only reminds you that you should be righteous. He also gives us hope, reminding us of how we’re righteous through Christ.

Judgment

The Holy Spirit also reminds us of the victory we have in Christ. When speaking about how the Holy Spirit convicts of the coming judgment, Jesus made this clarifying statement:

"Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.” - John 16:11 (NLT)

Meaning the Holy Spirit reminds us that Satan has been defeated and that those who remain in Satan’s kingdom will be judged along with him.

“In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.” - Colossians 2:15 (NLT)

So, yes, the Holy Spirit is exposing you. Yes, He’s calling out your wrongdoing, but He’s also reminding you of the righteous standard to which you can aspire by faith and the victory you share in Christ over the powers of darkness.

For more on this topic, you can watch my teaching, “If You're Experiencing This, Holy Spirit is Exposing You,” on YouTube by clicking here.

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Don’t Be Ashamed of the Holy Spirit

The Ark of God’s presence entered the city, and King David danced in celebration. But his wife wasn’t too happy about how foolish she thought he looked.

“16 But as the Ark of the Lord entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she was filled with contempt for him. 20 When David returned home to bless his own family, Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him. She said in disgust, “How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!”” - 2 Samuel 6:16 & 20 (NLT)

David didn’t apologize, back down, or attempt to adjust his attitude of praise. Instead, he doubled down: 

“21 David retorted to Michal, “I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord. 22 Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes! But those servant girls you mentioned will indeed think I am distinguished!”” - 2 Samuel 6:21-22 (NLT)

Historical context considered, we can still find a takeaway principle: don’t apologize for that which is holy, even if others think it looks foolish.

Far too many believers shy away from demonstrations of the Holy Spirit’s power because others criticize them for being too showy. While I understand that sometimes people add unnecessary hype to moves of the Spirit, we must recognize that God’s power is a spectacle - it’s supernatural and spectacular. 

When someone gets healed, that’s a reason to celebrate. When a miracle happens, are we to keep it a secret? When we feel God’s presence and power, are we to just remain stoic just because some have a personal preference for what makes them more acceptable to the world’s intellect? When someone is delivered, should we just do a nice little golf clap so that we can be perceived as sophisticated? Often, what people claim is Biblical balance is actually just their personal preference. Claiming to want improvements to the move of the Spirit, many just want to create a movement in their own image.

Listen, I get it. Sometimes, what people call the spirit is actually just the flesh. But we have to be aware of how subtle this is. Pastors and leaders, especially, I encourage you to don’t fall into this trap of stifling the move of the Spirit in the name of balance. You can be biblically grounded and filled with power. Balanced does not mean dull, lifeless, and powerless.

The move of the Holy Spirit, the demonstration of His power, is loud, vibrant, wonderful, and perfectly offensive to the natural mind. So don’t tone it down; raise the volume. Now is the time to lean into the move of the Spirit, not to apologize for it or explain it away. Go all in. Double down. Be like David, who said, "Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this.” Be bold. We are not ashamed of the power of the Holy Spirit. We say, “Welcome, Holy Spirit!”

For more on this topic, you can watch my teaching, “If you’ve never heard the Holy Spirit clearly, watch this (2025),” on YouTube by clicking here.

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Planted in Truth, Positioned for Increase

All around the world, believers are feeling uncertain about their financial future—worried about jobs, the economy, and how they’ll provide for their families. But let me remind you of something powerful: your source is not the system. Your source is God.

There is a way to walk in biblical financial fruitfulness that’s not bound by market swings or economic downturns. It’s time we stop letting fear dictate our mindset and start building our lives on unshakable truth.

Before diving in, let’s be clear: yes, the message of biblical prosperity has been abused. We’ve all seen the gimmicks, the greed-driven appeals, and the guilt tactics used to pressure people into giving. But just because something has been misused doesn’t mean we throw it out. We go back to the Word. Always.

Now let’s talk about the real principles of financial increase according to Scripture.

1. Generosity – The First Key

2 Corinthians 9:6–7 tells us, “A farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.”

God’s economy operates on the principle of sowing and reaping. But generosity isn’t about manipulating God or triggering some magical transaction. It’s about who you become.

When you give generously—with a cheerful heart—you begin to flow with God’s nature. 2 Corinthians 9:8 continues, “And God will generously provide all you need... and plenty left over to share with others.”

That’s biblical prosperity: having your needs met and enough left over to bless others. Not luxury for self-glory, but provision for Kingdom impact.

2 Corinthians 9:10–11 drives it home: God gives seed to the sower and produces a harvest—not just of provision, but of generosity in you.

2. Stewardship – The Second Key

Many people want increase, but few want responsibility. We forget that God promotes faithful stewards.

In Matthew 25:14–30, Jesus shares the Parable of the Talents. The master rewards those who wisely manage what they’re given—and rebukes the one who buried his out of fear.

Matthew 25:29 says, “To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance.” That’s stewardship.

You can’t ask God for more if you’re mismanaging what you already have. Whether it’s your income, your space, or your time—treat it like it belongs to Him. Because it does.

3. Faithfulness – The Third Key

Generosity and stewardship are not one-time acts. They are lifestyles that require faithfulness over time. You can't expect to sow a seed on Monday and harvest it on Tuesday. Biblical increase works by process, not by pressure.

Galatians 6:9 reminds us, “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

That’s the key—if we do not give up. Faithfulness is what activates the promise. The seed is good. The soil is good. But you’ve got to give it time.

When you live generously, steward well, and remain faithful in applying those principles consistently—God brings the increase.

Final Thought

Proverbs 10:22 declares, “The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.” We’re not chasing money. We’re walking in principles that position us to be fruitful, faithful, and free.

Want to see increase? Live generously. Steward well. Stay faithful. And remember—your source is God.

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All around the world, lives are being changed. People are experiencing salvation, healing, and deliverance through the power of the gospel, and it's happening because of God’s faithfulness and the continued generosity of believers like you.

One of our ministry partners recently shared her testimony about the Holy Spirit’s power moving through our media ministry. Take a moment to read Denise’s story below.

Denise Werner spent over a decade battling addiction. After multiple trips to rehab and a year at bible college, she was nearly out of hope, but said, “My final healing moment came when a friend randomly sent me a link to one of David’s teachings.” Denise later read Holy Spirit: The Bondage Breaker and is now confident she has experienced permanent deliverance from addiction!

By starting a monthly partnership, increasing your current monthly gift, or making a special offering of any amount, you’re sowing into something eternal. You’re helping us continue to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.

This isn’t just giving. It’s Kingdom investment.

Already a Partner? Thank you for being a monthly supporter of this ministry! You can increase your current monthly gift via your Partner Portal by clicking here.

Types of Demonic Harassment

Though you cannot see it with your natural eyes, in the spiritual realm, a conflict between light and darkness is taking place—angels against demons, Heaven against Hell, truth against deception. Your mind is the battlefield.

“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” - 1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)

While demons cannot dwell in believers, they can harass them. This isn’t a reason to be scared but rather prepared.

Here are 3 ways demonic beings attack the minds of Christians:

#1 - Fear

Demons aim to drag your thoughts to dwell on the worst-case scenario in every scenario. They torment your mind by suggesting what can go wrong. They even use irrational fears to keep you from enjoying the life God intended for you.

#2 - Accusation

Satan is the accuser, Christ is the advocate. Demons harass your mind by bombarding you with thoughts that bring forth guilt and shame from past mistakes. Sometimes, demons will even influence others to hold your past over you.

#3 - Temptation

If sin were a product, demons would be salesmen. While demons don’t do the sinning for you, they do try to persuade you to disobey God, as did the serpent in the garden. While tempting you, they minimize the sin, and once you give in, they magnify it. So then temptation and accusation can work together.

How can we be free? 

Fear, accusation, and temptation can make you feel like you’re going crazy, but the solution is a simple one. 

Spiritual warfare is simply the fight to believe God’s truth over the enemy’s lie. Deception leads to thoughts and feelings, which ultimately produce actions that become habits.

Instead of just dealing with the results of deception, we must be made aware of the roots of deception.

All forms of demonic harassment are rooted in deception. The enemy cannot defeat you unless He’s deceived you. Fear is based on the lie that God isn’t in control. Accusation is based on the lie that God isn’t forgiving. Temptation is based on the lie that God isn’t enough.

Once you know the truth, you’ll be free. The light of truth is what does away with the darkness of demonic harassment. 

For more on this topic, you can watch my teaching, “If You're Seeing These Signs, You Need Deep Deliverance,” on YouTube by clicking here.

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Hiding From God?

With a simple command, God formed the earth. He created man and placed Him in the garden. Tempted by the serpent, Adam and Eve rebelled against God, eating from the forbidden fruit. Immediately, Adam and Eve felt the shame of their sin. When the presence of God approached, Adam and Eve hid themselves - they were afraid, they were ashamed.

This is the human reaction to God when we sin - we hide from God.

But as born-again believers, when we mess up, we aren’t to run away from God; we’re to run to Him. 

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” - Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)

Every believer should be confident when they approach God, because our access depends upon Christ’s perfection, not our performance.

So, if you’ve messed up, don’t hide from God. Don’t try to cover your sin. Turn to Him now. Be confident in the work of the cross. There, at the throne, you will find grace. God’s not going to shame you; He’s going to save you. He won’t reject you; He’ll restore you.

For more on this topic, you can watch my teaching, “5 Reasons Why God's Chosen Secretly Struggle with Lust,” on YouTube by clicking here.

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Recognizing Your Spiritual Gift

The Holy Spirit has given each believer a spiritual gift.

“A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.” - 1 Corinthians 12:7 (NLT)

Each one of us has been given a spiritual gift. That’s the Biblical truth. So no matter what the enemy tells you, no matter what people tell you, no matter what your insecurity tells you - just know that God has given you a spiritual gift.

I know sometimes you might doubt that. And one of the reasons a believer will doubt that they have a spiritual gift is because they haven’t yet discovered which gift the Holy Spirit has deposited in them. So, let’s settle the matter now. The Bible makes it clear that God has given you a spiritual gift. Period. No matter what you feel, no matter what you see or don’t see, you have a spiritual gift.

Planted in that truth, you can begin to grow in your understanding of what God has deposited in you. So how do you know which spiritual gift God has given to you?

#1 Desire

“Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives…” - 1 Corinthians 14:1 (NLT)

There is nothing wrong with desiring a spiritual gift. Paul the apostle encouraged believers to desire the spiritual gifts. Your desire for a particular gift could be a sign that God has given you that gift. If you desire a spiritual gift, who was it do you think that put that desire there? The enemy? Why would he give you a desire to become helpful to the Church? Was it your flesh? Since when does your flesh want anything to do with God? Sure, the flesh might give you impure motives for operating the gifts. But the desire itself, the pure longing to help a believer in a certain area, couldn’t possibly be from your flesh.

#2 Recognition

“A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.” - Proverbs 18:16 (KJV)

If you truly have a spiritual gift, you don’t have to go around announcing it. It just shows. It makes room for you. It creates ministry opportunities naturally. A sign that you have a spiritual gift is that others notice the gift on your life. 

This, of course, does not mean that others need to acknowledge a gift on you in order for you to have it. It just means that what other believers see on you can help you to discover your spiritual gift.

#3 Function

“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.” - 1 Corinthians 12:4 (NLT)

This might be the most obvious, but it’s also the clearest sign that you have a gift. You know you have a gift if you sense or see that gift in operation.

Again, this might seem obvious. But you’d be amazed at how many people take for granted the gifts operating in their lives. Where they might just think that they’re really good at reading people, there could be a gift of prophecy. Where they might imagine that they just have favor, there could be a gift of miracles. Where they see only a positive attitude, there could be a gift of faith. 

Pay close attention to how God might be working in your life already, and you may see a spiritual gift - a gift that’s been hidden all along.

For more on this topic, you can watch my teaching, “Spiritual Gifts Made Simple: What Every Believer Must Know,” on YouTube by clicking here.

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Prayer is by the Spirit

If prayer isn’t by the Spirit, then it isn’t truly prayer. The Holy Spirit wants to help you to pray. He is the One Who enables you to seek the face of God, the One Who graces you with the desire to know Jesus in greater depths.

Everything that is spiritual is by the Spirit. Prayer is no exception.

All prayer is initiated by the Holy Spirit. This, of course, does not mean that you cannot, of your own free will, approach the throne of God. This simply means that if there is a desire within you to seek the Lord, then it was the Holy Spirit Who helped to cultivate that desire within you.

One must be quickened before he can call upon the Lord.

“So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name.” – Psalm 80:18 (KJV)

Prayer is a spiritual act, initiated and sustained by the work of the Holy Spirit. And only those who are living in the Spirit can truly be guided by the Holy Spirit in spiritual matters.

“But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.” – 1 Corinthians 2:14 (NLT)

The Holy Spirit helps you to pray by giving you the desire to pray, giving you the understanding to pray, and empowering you when you pray. The initiation, action, and results of prayer are all by the Holy Spirit.

It is by prayer that we involve God and exchange our weaknesses for His strength. It is in prayer that we yield to the will of God. It is in prayer that we become surrendered to the Holy Spirit.

Let the Holy Spirit give you the desire to pray. Follow His leading and let Him make you a person of prayer—one who lives in moment-by-moment divine fellowship.

Prayer is by the Spirit.

For more on this topic, you can watch my teaching, “Jesus Reveals What Most Get Wrong About Talking to God,” on YouTube by clicking here.

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Sooner Than You Think

You’ve been waiting, praying, and maybe even worrying a little bit - but what if the miracle isn’t as far off as it seems? For several years my wife Jessica and I were believing for God to give us a child. Our only option at the time was a medical procedure we could not afford - so all we could do was believe God for a miracle. Some days we were filled with hope and we imagined our lives as parents. Other days, we were afraid to hope because we didn’t want to be disappointed. Finally we decided this: We’ve cried our tears, from here on out, only faith. 

6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. - James 1:6-7 (NLT)

I would rather go my whole life believing for the miracle than to give up even one day too soon. I wonder how many gave up in the night on the miracle that waited for them in the morning. On a seemingly ordinary day like any other, we found out that Jessica was pregnant. Nine months later Aria was born. 

7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. - Matthew 7:7-8 (NLT)

Only God knows what tomorrow holds for you. I dare you to believe God for the miracle. By the way, our precious Aria believed for a miracle too. Now she has her baby sister, Lilian.

For more on this topic, you can watch my teaching, “The Life-Changing Power of Praying Without Ceasing,” on YouTube by clicking here.

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Breaking Free From Bitterness

Bitterness is called a root because it grows and produces all kinds of unhealthy fruit.

Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. - Hebrews 12:15 (NLT)

Bitterness is the root. Its fruit can be anger, cynicism, loss of joy, frustration, and a lack of patience. Do you carry an atmosphere of tension around you? Are you defensive, irritated, and moody? Do people feel as though they have to speak and act with extreme care around you?

Sometimes, the reason people project tension, moodiness, and anger is to protect themselves from being hurt or offended again. After all, if you can keep people at a distance, they can’t hurt you. Like the body naturally recoils or maneuvers to avoid contact with an injured part, so the soul develops a method of defense.

Why We’re Bitter

Perhaps you were legitimately hurt. It may very well be that you were truly wronged. Maybe something was done to you, maybe someone spoke something to you - it can also be that someone wasn’t there for you in the way they should have been. Your pain and anger may very well be justifiable. 

On the other hand, there are those who allow themselves to be offended by trivial things. I by no means am trying to belittle anyone’s pain. But you have to consider this angle too: perhaps you were just being too sensitive and emotional about something. Sometimes it’s not the experience but rather the way you perceive an experience that leads to bitterness and offense.

Only fools get angry quickly and hold a grudge. - Ecclesiastes 7:9 (CEV)

So there are some who have been truly wronged, and then there are some who only perceive themselves to have been wronged. But regardless of why you carry hurt, anger, and offense, it’s so important that you realize that there is freedom available to you. The answer is simple, but it is not easy.

The Answer

But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too. - Mark 11:25 (NLT)

Forgiveness is the key to freedom. Now, again, it’s not my goal to be insensitive, but it would be terribly unloving of me to withhold the truth from you. If you want to be free, you need to forgive. There’s really no way around it. To forgive is to let go.

You may still feel the emotion of the offense. You may still feel the anger of the offense. Thankfully, forgiveness is not an emotion, it’s a decision. 

Twisted Teachings 

Just let it go. People don’t like that phrase: “Just let it go.” That phrase seems so insensitive, so harsh, so simplistic. But that’s the key. “Just let it go” isn’t what people want to hear. I know what people want to hear. They want to hear what modern preaching tells them. Modern preaching says, “You can’t just tell people to let it go. You don’t know their story. You haven’t been in their shoes.” Now, they never really come out right and say it, but some preachers are essentially telling you that you have a right to un-forgiveness. The problem is that’s just not the truth. As people who have been crucified with Christ, we have no rights to un-forgiveness. By telling you such lies, cowardly preachers are actually contributing to your staying in bondage.

As people filled with the Holy Spirit, should we not have the grace to forgive? Should we not be the most humble, forgiving people on earth? Again, it’s simple. But it’s definitely not easy. But I’m telling you this because I want to see you go free.

No Need to Wait

You might be waiting for that perfect apology. You might be waiting for them to acknowledge their wrong, to humble themselves and present themselves broken before you. But that perfect scenario might never come. So we must be like Christ. While being crucified, before He ever received an apology, He cried out, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

We must forgive faster than they can apologize. In fact, forgiveness doesn’t begin after we’ve been hurt; forgiveness is the state of your heart before the offense ever takes place.

Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. - Colossians 3:13 (NLT)

Make allowance. Carry the grace before the offense takes place. We must live prepared to forgive. Anticipating offenses, we must be ready to let go.

Search Your Heart

So search your heart. Is there any un-forgiveness in you?

Bitterness seeks revenge.

Forgiveness seeks reconciliation. 

Bitterness lives in the past.

Forgiveness frees you to dream about the future.

Bitterness says, “Because they owe me.”

Forgiveness says, Because I owe God.”

Bitterness pushes guilt.

Forgiveness lifts burdens. 

Bitterness seeks to prove a point. 

Forgiveness let’s it go.

Bitterness accuses.

Forgiveness covers.

Perhaps now there is a phone call you need to make - a text you need to send. Maybe there was an argument, an offense. Maybe you need to go back to that church. Be reconciled to your brothers and sisters. It’s time to let it go.

No, I don’t mean that you should allow people to repeatedly take advantage of you, but what’s done is done. It’s time to move forward into freedom.

For the sake of your spiritual well being, for the sake of your soul, for the sake of your joy and peace, it’s time to let it go. It’s simple, but it’s not easy. The Holy Spirit will help you to do it.

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When People Overlook You

The prophet was sent by God to anoint the next King. The prophet Samuel was told by God to go to the home of a man named Jesse. Jesse had several sons, one of whom would become king. But Jesse didn’t present all of his sons, only the ones he deemed as possibly capable of being God’s choice for king.

10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” - 1 Samuel 16:10-11 (NIV)

The son that was left out was David, the very one God chose to become king. Man overlooked him. In fact, one could speculate that his own father intentionally tried to push him out of an opportunity. Still, the Lord had called him. The prophet spoke adamantly, “we will not sit down until he arrives.”

Once God has chosen you, it’s not possible for others to prevent your promotion. Once God has selected you for a purpose, even the most jealous, competitive, or ambitious people can’t stop the mantle from falling onto your shoulders.

So when others overlook you or attempt to block your way, relax. Trust God. Be at peace. God knows where to find you.

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Spiritual Wickedness in High Places

There exists a world beyond what natural eyes can see, and therein rages a war for the soul of this generation. Light against darkness, Heaven against Hell. Be vigilant.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” -Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)

Let’s break this verse down.

“We Wrestle Not Against Flesh and Blood”

This phrase emphasizes the fact that behind every seemingly human agenda is a spiritual force. This doesn’t mean that people aren’t responsible for their own rebellious ways, nor does it mean that the enemy can’t use human individuals as enemies of the gospel. This just means that we should remain aware of the fact that, ultimately, the Devil is working from the shadows to bring about destruction.

“Principalities”

A principality is a high-ranking demon. But more than just the demonic entity, the term “principality” is also a loose reference to a region under heavy demonic influence.

“Powers”

Likewise a reference to demonic entities, the term “powers” also carries somewhat of a dual meaning. “Powers” doesn’t just refer to demons themselves but also the systems of which they are a part. Just as the term “The Government” can simultaneously refer to a group of individuals and the overall system, so the term “powers” can mean both the demonic entities and the structures of Hell.

“Rulers of Darkness in This World”

This is a reference to demonic beings and the individuals they influence.

“Spiritual Wickedness in High Places”

This is a reference to high-ranking demons and the high-ranking individuals they influence. This can also be a reference to fallen angels, which are different than demonic beings.

For more on this topic, you can watch my teaching “Spiritual Wickedness in High Places” on YouTube by clicking here.

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Believe Big!

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” – Ephesians 3:20-21 (NKJV)

Lately, my heart has been stirred by the Holy Spirit again. In every season, the Lord will challenge me to stretch my faith. I think about all of the souls I’ve seen come to Jesus, all of the bodies I’ve seen made whole by God’s healing power. While thankful, I am emboldened to ask the Father to do even more.

Dear reader, God wants to widen your reach, stretch your faith, and expand your vision. Believe it! Too often do we sacrifice the miraculous on the altar of practicality. We talk about a big God, yet pray little prayers. But I want to challenge you to believe big.

No more little prayers. We want to be used for the glory of God!

I want to see more souls come into salvation. I want to see more people healed. I want to see more mighty men and women of God raised. I want to see the world changed.

Is this too much to ask?

By no means! We serve a big God.

If this season has discouraged you, drained you, then now is the time to let your faith come alive again. If the enemy has come against you, push back even harder in faith. Lay hold of God’s every promise. Take every Word He has spoken to you and commit your heart to accept it as your only reality.

Nothing is outside of God’s reach. No heart is so hard that it cannot be turned toward Jesus. No sickness is too potent that it cannot be healed. No life is so normal that it cannot be used to touch the world for God’s glory.

Now is the time to believe big. Do you believe it? Do something that won’t work without a miracle!

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How to Win in Spiritual Warfare

The enemy has been defeated. Christ reigns victoriously. So why then are we commanded in Scripture to be equipped for spiritual battles?

“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.“ - Ephesians 6:10-13 (NLT)

The truth of the matter is that the Devil is real, and so are demons. They are not biblical metaphors for evil. They are living, sentient beings that exist in an other-worldly dimension. They have been around for eons, understand human nature, and are highly trained spiritual assassins. 

Now, by no means should the believer live in a paranoid state or constantly worry about being overcome by demonic powers. But the Scripture clearly teaches that we are to be engaged in spiritual warfare.

But since Christ has already won the victory, how does spiritual warfare look for the believer? Mind you, demonic beings affect believers differently than they do unbelievers. 

So here is the simplest definition of spiritual warfare that I can give to you as it applies to the believer: the fight to believe God’s truths over the enemies’ lies. 

Think about what armor we are given - the shield of faith, the sword of the spirit, the belt of truth. By faith, we guard ourselves against lies. The sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, destroys deception. The belt of truth keeps us prepared to resist deception. 

At least for the believer, spiritual warfare is primarily about avoiding deception. By getting you to believe lies, the enemy can affect your thinking. By affecting your thinking, the enemy can affect your emotions. By affecting your emotions, the enemy can affect your actions.

In no way can the enemy own the believer, but the believer can embrace lies that limit faith. There’s much to know about spiritual warfare, but this is the primary way to win: know the Word of God (the sword of the Spirit) and believe that Word by faith (shield of faith).

For the believer, knowing and believing the truth is the way to win. For when you know the truth, you are free.

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The Next-Level Christian

Salvation is free, but the anointing will cost you everything. When you get saved, you lose your unsaved friends. When you become anointed, you lose your lukewarm friends. There is a price to pay for the anointing. All of us have the anointing within us, but not all of us walk in the anointing.

“But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” - 1 John 2:27 (KJV)

The anointing is God’s power. We all carry God’s power, but not all of us live in such a way that His power can flow through us to help those around us. 

If you desire God’s power to move through you, then you must count the cost.

The anointing oil, which was symbolic of God’s empowering presence, was created from olive oil. The olives used for the oil had to be shaken from their trees and then crushed. So two things had to happen before the oil was produced: a shaking and a crushing.

If you want God to use you, you’ll have to be okay with Him shaking you from the familiar. God loves you too much to leave you in mediocrity. So He’ll shake the systems upon which you rely, He’ll shake the relationships that hold you back, He’ll shake the circumstances that limit your potential in Him. 

Don’t expect that your life will go just as you want it to go. Expect that your plans will be disrupted. Expect that you’ll find yourself in situations that require much faith. After all, if where you are doesn’t require faith, you’re not in the will of God.

And after you are shaken from the familiar, you will be crushed, put under pressure to be processed. Here’s the thing: pressure can only reveal what’s already within you; it can’t produce what’s lacking. Only the Spirit-filled produce power under pressure. 

So if you want God to use you, if you truly want to walk in the anointing, you must die to self. God must process you before He can use you. Now, sadly, because we live in the day of social media, anyone can create an online platform. And because anyone can create an online platform, anyone can skip the process.

But ministry is more than influence; it’s service. We’re ministers, not public figures; servants, not celebrities. We’re called to preach God’s Word, not our political preferences or personal opinions. Ministry is not a promotion; it’s a death to self. Put your desires on the cross and leave them there.

But the reward is beyond worth it. Our reward is that we will please the Lord. Our reward is knowing that Jesus will reap the reward of His suffering - lost souls.

So if you want the anointing, die to self. The Holy Spirit can’t fill you if you’re full of yourself. Your prayer should be, “Lord, spend my life for your glory.” Count the cost. Lay it down. Let God’s power flow through you.

And remember that the anointing doesn’t come through striving; it comes through surrender.

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How to Make Spirit-Led Decisions

Is it God or just your own thinking? How can you know if the decision you’re making is of God’s will? I’ve been there too. On one hand, you don’t want to be stuck or waste time. On the other hand, you don’t want to be presumptuous and move ahead with a decision that isn’t Spirit-led. So, what are you supposed to do if you don’t have an indication in either direction? 

Afraid to make a bad decision, many become spiritually stuck. So I want to give you a couple of truths that will help rewire the way you think so you can be decisive, while also being obedient to God.  While there are several keys to recognizing and responding to the voice of God, I want to focus on giving you two simple thoughts.

First, we, as believers, hear God primarily through His written Word. This isn’t to say that God doesn’t speak to us directly. Of course, He does. However, this does mean that if you’re not in the Word, you will more often find yourself stuck in indecision. To receive the Word is to develop wisdom, and wisdom is the foundation of decisiveness. Wisdom is divine reasoning. Wisdom is the problem-solving approach given to us by God. 

“The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.” - Psalm 19:7 (NLT)

Second, don’t trust in your ability to hear God. Now, at first, this directive might seem unusual, especially for Christians. I don’t mean that we shouldn’t desire to hear God or that we shouldn’t be glad when we do. I simply mean that when your trust is placed in your ability to hear God, you add unnecessary tension to your walk with the Lord. You see, Christians who trust in their own ability to hear God live with the perceived burden of having to make God speak, which nobody can do. 

When you trust in your own ability to hear God, you leave yourself vulnerable to the fear that you might not be doing enough to hear Him and, therefore, might be missing His instructions. You become stressed about making sure you’re using all of the correct tactics to hear Him. Of course, we, as believers, ought to live in the stillness of readiness to hear the Lord. We must learn to quiet mind and emotion, so that we might not mistake our own thoughts for God’s voice. And, yes, we should seek the Lord and seek to hear His voice. Yet, ultimately, your faith cannot be in self or in your own faith. We trust not in our ability to hear the Holy Spirit but in His ability to speak to us. If God could get through to Pharaoh and Saul, He can get through to you.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” - Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

We can find relief, and then joy and peace, as we live ready and eager to hear Him while trusting that He’ll speak when He’s ready. 

To become decisive, ground yourself in the Word and then learn to trust that He knows how to get through to you.

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The Dawn of Something New

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Holy Spirit was with them also. The Holy Spirit was not a bystander but an active force in creation.

“In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” - Genesis 1:1-2 (KJV)

The Spirit hovered. That Word “hovered” actually means that the Spirit brooded over creation. As a bird incubates its eggs, so the Holy Spirit, the gentle dove, brooded over and incubated creation. In partnership with the Father and Son, the Spirit moved upon the spoken Word, causing all things to come into existence.

Then, creation chose to enter into the darkness of sin. Man became wicked, so God decided to start over, to begin again. 

He commanded a global flood, which washed away everything. Everything except for Noah and his family, who survived on an ark. 

After the flood, looking for somewhere to begin again, Noah released a dove from the Ark. The dove was released once and returned to the Ark. There was no sign of dry land. The dove was released a second time. It returned again, but only with a branch. Dry land was appearing. The dove was released a third time. It didn’t return. The dove found where God would begin the world again. 

Interestingly, we do not see the dove land in the book of Genesis. Nor do we see it land in all of the Old Testament. It’s not until Matthew chapter three that we finally see a dove landing: 

“After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him.” - Matthew 3:16 (NLT)

The dove, the Holy Spirit, is a symbol of new beginnings. When the Holy Spirit hovered above the face of the deep, God created the world. When the Holy Spirit hovered above the Son of God, the Father truly began creation anew: a new creation, a new man, a heavenly reality. And to this day, wherever the Holy Spirit broods, something fresh appears. 

God is searching for a place to create, for an obedient vessel who will allow the Holy Spirit to rest upon them. God is announcing the dawning of a new creation…in you.

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Don’t Quit: Your Harvest Is Coming

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. – Galatians 6:9

An impossible situation is the perfect setting for a miracle. Difficult places are the very same where the hand of God will move. If where you were didn’t require faith, it wouldn’t require God. What a privilege that you and I have – that we can share in the adventure of faith, that we can walk the risk-filled path of miraculous potential.

The scripture is perfectly clear. If you don’t quit, you will reap a harvest. The seeds that you have sown will grow. Just don’t faint. Stand firm in faith. It is an irrefutable, immovable law of scripture: persistence in well-doing produces the harvest of blessing. The laws of God’s Word are more certain than the physical laws under which our world operates.

The major difference between those who reap and those who regret is persistence. Of course, we must persist in well doing – this includes our actions and attitudes while we patiently persist. Continuing without the right attitude or perspective does not persist in the Biblical sense – it is mere movement.

Ignore the voices of negativity. Some will say, “I’ve persisted for years, but it hasn’t worked for me!” Those who claim to have persisted without results are fooling themselves, for true persistence and actual faithfulness are judged upon God’s timetable, not ours.

We cannot forget that, at times, we need to reevaluate strategies and approaches. Growth always demands change. However, it is the very act of persisting, the resolute commitment to continue, that becomes the foundation upon which destiny is built.

Persistence always produces. Don’t grow weary. Become excited about the future. Don’t judge your future breakthrough based upon today’s needs. Instead, use all that you possess today to persist, with gratitude and hope, to the best of your ability. The law of persistence will prevail, and you will, when the timing is just right, reap the harvest.

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Unlock God’s Plan for Your Life

God wants to use your life for His glory. As a Spirit-filled believer, you carry the potential to become a vessel for God’s purposes. So what’s the key to being used by God?

To answer that, I want to take a look at the story of Jesus miraculously feeding a multitude.

Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!” (John 6:5-7)

So there was a need. By all natural standards, the situation seemed impossible to overcome. The crowd was too big, and the supply seemed inadequate. But then something became available.

Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?” “Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. (John 6:8-11)

A little boy offered to the Lord his food supply - five loaves of bread, two fish. Concerning the boy’s offering, Andrew asked a fair question: “But what good is that with this huge crowd?”

Jesus, seeming to ignore Andrew’s doubt-filled question, answered confidently, “Tell everyone to sit down..” Tell everyone to sit down? Jesus didn’t even address the doubt behind Andrew’s question. He simply responded with action, with demonstration.

Now the Bible tells us that that there were more than 5,000 people present - the men alone numbered 5,000. Let’s be conservative and assign only one child and one woman to each man. So at least 15,000 people were present and in need of food.

A big need; a seemingly small supply. But the need was met, and the crowd was fed. 

The boy offered what he had to Jesus - his five loaves of bread and two fish. Here’s what Luke’s gospel records Jesus doing with the bread:

Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. (Luke 9:16)

So what can we learn from this most remarkable story? 

The boy’s meal was not enough to meet the need. The boy’s meal needed to be surrendered to Jesus before it could be distributed. Jesus broke the bread before He multiplied it. In the boy’s hands, the food was not enough. 

In our hands, our lives are not enough to meet the needs of the world’s masses. But in the hands of Jesus, our nothing becomes everything. Brokenness precedes usefulness; surrender precedes the miraculous. 

There is no limit to what God can do with a life surrendered to the Holy Spirit. Put your life in the hands of God. Surrender. Let Him break you, mold you, create anew. Tell Him, “God, if you can use nothing, here I am.”

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