When Someone Walks Away From God

“For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened – those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come – and who then turn away fromContinue reading “When Someone Walks Away From God”

What Difference Does the Holy Spirit Make?

“But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send Him to you. And when He comes, He will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.” (John 16:7-8Continue reading “What Difference Does the Holy Spirit Make?”

Compelling or Misleading

“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy to bear, andContinue reading “Compelling or Misleading”

Can We Come to God Anytime?

“Remember what it says: ‘Today when you hear His voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled.’” (Hebrews 3:15 NLT) If anyone could have seen with crystal clarity the power of God, it should have been the freshly delivered Hebrew slaves from Egypt. For their entire lives all they’d ever known wasContinue reading “Can We Come to God Anytime?”

To Be Right With God

“When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power. ‘Let me have this power, too,’ he exclaimed, ‘so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit!’” (Acts 8:18-19 NLT) What Simon the sorcerer thoughtContinue reading “To Be Right With God”

What Is Backsliding? (Part 2)

“Laughter can conceal a heavy heart, but when the laughter ends, the grief remains.” (Proverbs 14:13 NLT) Yesterday’s post ended with this sentence: “These are seasons of decision. Will I trust the Lord to draw me out of this mire of indifference and distance from Himself, or will He allow me to continue to driftContinue reading “What Is Backsliding? (Part 2)”

Have You Been Filled with the Spirit?

“While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ he asked them.” (Acts 19:2 NLT) Too often in our indoctrination into the Christian Faith we assume that everything we’re taught is BiblicalContinue reading “Have You Been Filled with the Spirit?”

Proof of Life

“So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know Him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”Continue reading “Proof of Life”

Is It Worth It?

“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?” (Luke 9:25 NLT) Every human being will one day stand before a holy God to give an account of the way we have lived our life. We will then realize that if our choice wasn’t to submit toContinue reading “Is It Worth It?”

Are You Feeling Overwhelmed?

“I cry out to the Lord; I plead for the Lord’s mercy. I pour out my complaints before Him and tell Him all my troubles. When I am overwhelmed, You alone know the way I should turn. Wherever I go, my enemies have set traps for me.” (Psalm 142:1-3 NLT) It’s not hard for meContinue reading “Are You Feeling Overwhelmed?”