NEWSLETTER
The Free Gift of Life
Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters;
And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat.
Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and
without price. Why do you spend money for
what is not bread, And your wages for what does not
satisfy? -Isaiah 55:1–2
The One Who Returned
THE ONE WHO RETURNED
…Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten cleansed?
Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?’
Then he said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.'— Luke 17:11–19”
SALVATION AND BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
When you are born again, you are born again by the Spirit and God’s Spirit seals us which means we belong to God (Eph. 1:13). The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a separate experience from salvation that every believer should seek and receive. John the Baptist said in Matthew 3:11, “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come One who is more powerful than I...He (referring to Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” On the Day of Pentecost, Peter said in Acts 2:38–39, “Repent and be baptized...in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off.”
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a gift from God that belongs to every believer.
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is an experience distinct from and subsequent to salvation.
Stay Close To Jesus, No Matter Where You Are
Walking With God
God is looking for not only a clinging bride but also a walking partner. From the very beginning, God had a relationship with Adam and Eve that found them "walking in the garden in the cool of the day" (Genesis 3:8). God created man for the enjoyment of a walking relationship that involved companionship, dialogue, intimacy, joint decision-making, mutual delight, and shared dominion. God longs to walk with you, which is why his arms of grace have been pulling you into a closer walk with him.
The secret place is not the destination; it is only the catalyst. It is designed of God to establish us in an intimate friendship with him that is walked out through the course of our everyday lives. The goal we're after is an everyday walk of unbroken communion with our Lord and friend.
When the zeal of God captures you, it will ignite you with a great passion to walk with God and to be his friend.
Authority Over the Enemy
In Luke 10:19 Jesus told us, “ Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
The authority that Jesus is talking about in Luke 10:19 is not brute force power. It’s delegated power, much like a policeman possesses. When a policeman steps out in front of traffic and holds up his hand to stop it, he’s not stopping cars and trucks with his own brute strength – he’s stopping them with the delegated authority that comes from wearing the uniform. He’s backed by the law.
That’s the authority you have in Christ. You’re not stopping the forces of darkness (sickness, fear, evil, lack) with your own strength – you’re stopping them with the delegated authority given to you by God in Christ. You’re backed by all the power of God.