When did Jesus the Messiah first bid his disciples to receive the Holy Spirit?
All the disciples of Jesus were baptized and immersed in the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. This is not Pentecost. This …
Tag Archives: Jesus
Is our treasure in heaven?
Jesus lays out the principles of the reign [Kingdom of God]. This excerpt is from what is known as the …
“Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” ~Jesus
Jesus is wrapping things up. They have had the last supper and Jesus has laid out the new contract (aka …
Is the purpose of the Holy Spirit to supply spiritual gifts?
It is always good to focus on the why of things. So, why does God pour out on us the …
Does God know how difficult this is?
Hope is a big deal. Faith is essential. These are important foundations in the Kingdom of God. With King David, …
Are we ready to forfeit our soul?
Jesus is ushering in the Kingdom (reign) of God. In the Kingdom, things are different. The Kingdom is all about …
“Love does not envy or boast.” ~Apostle Paul
How many times do we envy what someone else has? How come they have such a loving family? How come …
What do we do when Jesus says he has something hard but important to say?
When Jesus says he has something hard but important to say I am guessing it is time to pay attention. …
What happens when we live God’s way?
There is my way and there is God’s way. What happens when we live God’s way? Imagine an orchard and …
“Whether we are at home on earth or away from home and with Him, it is our constant ambition to be pleasing to Him.” ~Apostle Paul
My hope is in Jesus. That is the main thing about the main thing. Is your hope in Jesus? If not, …
How do we overcome evil with good?
God is not the author of moral evil; rather, it is His holiness that defines it. Created in God’s image, …
“Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore, “Great is Yahweh, who delights in the welfare of his servant!” ~King David
I have something to shout about. I have family and friends that want the best for me. They really do. …
Is a role of the Holy Spirit to convict the world of sin?
Jesus is clear. He is going to send the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will bring gifts. The Holy Spirit …
“Inside you are full of greed and wickedness.” ~Jesus
This all came about because Jesus did not wash his hands before he ate. Seriously. This was a huge …
“And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.” ~Luke
This is stunning. Please let it sink in. Am I ready for the Holy Spirit to explode in my life? …
How should we ask God?
Jesus wants us to ask the Father. We should not be shy. In fact, boldness helps. If what we ask …
“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” ~King David
Oh, how we love to plan. We worship our to do lists. Some of us even put things on them …
Is wealth deceitful?
Why this is important: The worry of the world can completely drown out the word of my heavenly Father. Jesus speaks …
Was John the Baptizer filled with the Holy Spirit while still in the womb of his mother?
God fills John with the Holy Spirit while he is still in his mother’s womb and onward throughout his whole …
“Fortunate [Blessed] are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.” ~Jesus
I know God likes to hear me laugh. Jesus wants me to be joyful and glad. When I am in …
Does God really want to give us the Holy Spirit?
There are times I have underestimated how important the Holy Spirit can be in our lives. God knows we need …
“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.” ~Jesus
I love to believe something that is not true in the world of following Jesus. Of course, it is sad. …
Are we learning how to serve the Jesus way?
Where does discontent and depression come from? Is it possible we understand that God wants us to do something and yet have …
Are we immune from suffering?
I am not immune from suffering. Jesus, the very Son of God, suffered. God is clear that as a child …
What is the revealing role of the Holy Spirit?
What is one of the many roles of the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit performs a didactic and illuminating function. …
“See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” ~Jesus
He had been crippled for 38 years. Now that is a long time. Jesus, the Messiah, healed him. Not a …
“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus the Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Apostle Peter
Why this is important: it is a historic day in the history of the church of Jesus, our Messiah. He …
“Because of your hardness of heart, he wrote you this commandment.” ~Jesus
Jesus’ habit was to teach about the way God intended things to be. He had a vast number of people …
What kind of work does Jesus have in mind for us?
Jesus sends us out into the world to do God’s work. He knows it isn’t easy. In fact, it is hazardous. …
Does the gift of the Holy Spirit give assurance of acceptance by God?
This is stunning. God has a plan. That plan for us includes the power of the Holy Spirit in our …
How can we know the deep things of God?
A lot of people are just flitting around the surface. I can be one of them. The Holy Spirit of …
“The one who showed compassion to him.” ~A lawyer
There are experts galore. No lack of those who “officially” know all the rules and regulations. When Jesus asked the …
Does sanctification come by the Holy Spirit?
To be sanctified means that God has been at work in our lives. Under the Old Testament Law, the blood …
Should we be surprised by the amazing courage God gives us?
We serve an amazing God. God is all powerful and gives us the power of the Holy Spirit. God gives …
“Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage …” ~Mark
God challenges us to get radical for his blessed son Jesus, the Messiah. This is not a life for the …
How do we combat the culture of materialism we live in?
Greed is very insidious. It creeps into my life, and I don’t recognize it at all some days. I have …
What happens if we rebel, reject, grieve or blaspheme the Holy Spirit?
Scriptures show that the Holy Spirit will bestow or withdraw blessing according to whether he is pleased by the situation …
“Indeed, nothing is too small in us or in any other creature, not to be ordered by the all-knowing and all-powerful providence of God.” ~Ulrich Zwingli
How many hairs do you have on your head? Do you know? We cannot but admit that not even the …
Is the Holy Spirit promised by Jesus the Messiah to all who believe?
Jesus promises the stunning power of the Holy Spirit to all who believe in Him. They will be immersed [baptized] …
“There is no way to kill a man’s righteousness but by his own consent.” ~John Bunyan
God is passionately in love with us. God’s love is not just an average run of the mill kind of love. …
Are we jumping on others failures when we do the same things?
How do I want to be treated? With respect. With understanding. I like to be given the benefit of the …
Let us be a blessing. Say a good word to someone now. Make someone’s day.
We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of …
Are we willing to cry aloud to God?
Why this is important: My enemy (Satan) enjoys mocking me. He gets so much pleasure from it. It is fun and …
“That which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.” ~Apostle Paul
There are many mysteries with God. But His reality is plain enough. All anyone must do is open their eyes. …
Will we rebel or obey?
Why this is important: Jesus is perfectly aligned with His Father, God. That is the source of His power. Jesus challenges …
Does the Holy Spirit give boldness in preaching and witnessing?
Good news: God wants us to be bold in spreading the good news of Jesus. What is His plan? To …
Are we on board with the new plan of Jesus?
I need to get on board with what God wants. It is never about me. It is always about God. …
What is the job God has for us to do?
The job at hand: My role is one of a slave. I am a devoted slave of Jesus, the Messiah. Really? …
Will we choose the God of love or the God of judgement?
God loves us. That is so very powerful. This passage is the most popular in the Bible. And with good …
Is the gift of the Spirit for all believers?
I believe, based on the word of God, that the gift of the Holy Spirit is for all believers. Having …
“I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightning.” ~Jesus
Jesus, the Messiah and our Master, challenges us to understand what is remarkable about this powerful life in the Spirit …
Are we ready for the harvest?
Jesus knows things we do not. He challenges us to wake up. He looks out and does not just see …
Who is the Holy Spirit?
It is a pretty basic question. Who is the Holy Spirit? What would our answer be? I know there are …
Are we properly remembering Jesus?
It is Friday, immediately preceding Resurrection Sunday. It is celebrated traditionally as the day on which Jesus was crucified. The …
Are we behaving in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity?
Why this is important: Paul depended on Jesus and the Holy Spirit to speak about the Good News. He depended …
“Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God!” ~King David
King David had real enemies and he was a warrior for GOD. He knew GOD was the only one who …
“The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying.” ~Samuel Chadwick
R.A. Torrey lamented the average believer’s indifference to prayer by writing: How little time the average Christian spends in prayer! …
“You cannot serve God and money.” ~Jesus
Who will I serve? It is a stunning question. Jesus now explains that behind the choice between two treasures (where I …
“God chose you as the first fruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.” ~Apostle Paul
The role of the Holy Spirit: Sanctification is an important part of our lives as followers of Jesus. The Holy …
“So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” ~Jesus
Powerful message from Francis Chan. Jesus, the Messiah, and our Master, requires one thing. We must be obedient God. That is …
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.” ~Apostle Paul
We all know GOD exists. Sure, there are some atheists, but they are really kidding themselves. So, let us not …
“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” ~Jesus
Love is not something God does. Love is something God is. Greater love has no one than this, that one …
“The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.” ~Apostle James
What kind of legacy do I want to leave my children? What is the most important thing I can do? …
“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised the Messiah Jesus from the dead will also give life …” ~Apostle Paul
Imagine this: The Holy Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead, dwells in us. That is stunning. Consider the power …
“These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” ~Jesus
Does Jesus get angry and upset? Jesus the Messiah shows controlled emotion arising from his unswerving opposition to evil and …
“Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you.” ~Apostle Peter
Why this is important: The surprises along the way are God’s surprises. He is never caught off guard or unprepared. …
“Have I been with you for so long a time, and yet you have not come to know Me?” ~Jesus
Jesus has a question for Philip. Jesus called Philip to be a disciple as he (Jesus) was leaving Bethany after being baptized …
Have we become virtual pneumaphobiacs [fear of the Holy Spirit]?
Does your church teach and preach on the power of the Holy Spirit? I have been to some churches where …
“I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.” ~Apostle Paul
There is boundless joy when our brothers and sisters walk in the truth of the Master Jesus. I want to …
“As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” ~Jesus
Family is extremely important in the Bible, both in a physical sense and in a spiritual sense. The foundation of …
“She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” ~An Angel
Jesus the anointed King and Messiah’s ministry of forgiveness was foretold. God has a plan. God executes it in His …
“Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” ~Apostle James
Clearly, I am to be pure. It is a matter of the heart. Purity means to be “clean, blameless, unstained …
“You of little faith, why did you doubt?” ~Jesus
Why worry? God has a plan. God is working his plan. We can trust in Him. He is in an …
“To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit.” ~Apostle Peter
Jesus shows me how to love and be kind. Jesus commands me to love. God wants me to be kind, …
“I am the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end.” ~Jesus
Jesus, the Messiah, and my Master, walks over to me. He reaches out His hand. Slowly He wipes away my …
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in the Messiah Jesus.” ~Apostle Paul
True love is forgiving: God loves me so He forgives me for missing His goal (aka sin) for my life. …
“So thick-headed! So slow-hearted!” ~Jesus
Jesus is resurrected to an incorruptible body after having been crucified. It is three days after His death. He is …
“Rejoice, favored one; the Master is with you!” ~Angel Gabriel
Mary did not know it yet, but she needed encouragement. God has a wonderful way of building us up before …
“Therefore, let the one who thinks he stands watch out that he does not fall.” ~Apostle Paul
Faithfulness is the proper response to God by his covenant people; seen in a steadfast commitment which reflects God’s own …
“Since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us …” ~Author of Hebrews
God has been talking to me a long time. I can go back. Dr. Pirtle spoke the word of God …
“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.” ~Apostle Paul
Jesus is my Master. Jesus is the Word of God. Jesus has always been with God. Jesus is the Son …
“Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.” ~Jesus
We have a great promise from Jesus the Messiah. It is joy and happiness. Jesus wants us to have joy. …
“Whoever does the will of God abides forever.” ~Apostle John
It is hard to remember some days that this life is noticeably short. Then other days it comes home to …
“Give me such love for God and men, as will blot out all hatred and bitterness.” ~Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Our heavenly Father is magnificent. There are no boundaries to His greatness. I stand in awe of His great power. …
“There is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me.” ~Jesus
We love to form groups. Even early on, the disciples had figured out who was in and who was out. …
“When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives.” ~Apostle Paul
Jesus is first in my life. Jesus is preeminent. Jesus comes before anything else. Let it be so! The word preeminence is …
“This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” ~God
I believe that Jesus, God’s anointed King (aka Messiah) is God’s Holy Son. Jesus is God’s Son in that He …
“This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.” ~Jesus
Do you like hints? They can be a little frustrating, but they can also be fun. They can also be …
What are we to think of spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit in the church today?
The Apostle Paul lays out a great summary in his letter to the Corinthians. The purpose of these gifts of …
“For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things.” ~Apostle Paul
I am a case study in what God can do. I had turned my back on Jesus. I had rebellious …
“Because you’re tepid and neither hot nor cold, I’m about to vomit you out of my mouth.” ~Jesus
This is not pretty. Jesus is serious. Jesus is speaking to the church. In this case it was Laodicea. Is …
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” ~Apostle Paul
It is easy to forget about joy. It is essential in the Kingdom of God. The Beatitudes (aka The Jesus …
“Be rejoicing in the Lord always. Again I’ll say, be rejoicing.” ~Apostle Paul
Our God is in an amazing mood. We must celebrate that all day long, every single day. Jesus, the Messiah, …
Is there good news for the wicked God-haters and God-deniers?
There are ungodly and unrighteous people. They are evil. They have rejected God and His Son Jesus, the anointed King …
“You are in the Messiah Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” ~Apostle Paul
Why this is important: I avoid some things because they sound very geeky and smack of theology. Jesus talks about …
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of the Messiah.” ~Apostle Paul
Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 And He said …
“The man who cannot control himself becomes absurd when he wants to rule over others.” ~Isaac Arama
I don’t like to get in trouble. I do get in trouble even though I don’t like it. Usually, it …
“I am the truth” ~Jesus
Consider this: Truth is not what makes people feel good. Jesus knows this. Jesus knows truth because He knows the Father …
“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.” ~Apostle Paul
We have lost this incredibly important concept of Jesus as Master and we as His slaves. We have a man-centered …
“I find nothing wrong here. He seems harmless enough to me.” ~Pilate
Why this is important: Jesus is being tried. He has been arrested. When it was morning, the religious elites and …
Jesus Quotes and God Thoughts 