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If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (Luke 11:13) This week, as part of The Holy Spirit: Presence, Power and Purpose, we're looking at, listening to, Luke 11:5-13 (and it wouldn't hurt to start with verse 1). Jesus's teaching here on the Holy Spi...
Keep Reading"...the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." 1 John 4:4b We've been sitting down to watch the Olympics with the kids the last couple of weeks, and the physical feats from athletes all over the world are impressive to say the least. The kids have been quick to pick up on the differences in scoring for some events: while all of the events have bee...
Keep ReadingThis is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist (1 John 4:2-3a). After a prolonged tiring wrestle to understand the verb "acknowledge" in our 1 John passage, I took a break and watched t...
Keep Reading"Every spirit that does not acknowledge that Jesus Christhas come in the flesh is not from God." (1 John 4:2-3) As my great-aunt drove me around the island of Oahu, she pointed out the Latter Day Saints' temple. When I commented, "it's sad Mormons are on the wrong path," my great-aunt said, in all sincerity, "at least they believe in something." That was 1979, well before...
Keep Reading"We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood." 1 John 4: 6 Last year I was traveling with a work colleague. We were sitting together in an airport lounge while waiting for our separate flights home. We shared a table, and had our laptops ou...
Keep ReadingDon't believe every spirit test the spirits every spirit that acknowledges Jesus every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God this is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood (1 John 4:1-6). Happy Monday, and off we go into this next week of our series The Holy Spirit: Presence, Power and Purpose. We want to better understand wh...
Keep ReadingThe Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you (John 14:26 MSG). I'll never forget the day my mom dropped me off for my first year of college, and I know she hasn't forgotten it either! That day marked the beginning of a new chapter in each of our lives, and it wa...
Keep ReadingBefore long, the world will not see Me anymore, but you will see Me (John 14:19). John spends three jam-packed chapters (14-16) reporting what Jesus said to His disciples during the last evening they would spend together. The disciples' minds had to have been on overload, alternately distressed at Jesus saying He is leaving them, confused about what that means, and encour...
Keep ReadingThese are two of the wonderful songs we will sing Sunday, February 20, 2022: I Thank God & Way Maker. Join us in worship to the One God in three persons, blessed trinity!...
Keep ReadingAnd I (Jesus) will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you foreverthe Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you (John 14:16-17). Awhile back I told you that my relationship with Godfrom my perspective anywaybegan one night when I said, "O...
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