Who is the Holy Spirit? In earlier devotionals, I wrote that “the” Holy Spirit is unique, fully God, the Third Person of the Trinity. I also emphasized that the Holy Spirit is all “holy” – separate, pure, sacred, and reverenced above everyone and everything. He is also named as “Spirit”, indicating three aspects of his…
The Holy Spirit 03 – He is Holy
A child could ask, “Why is the Holy Spirit called ‘holy’?” We might struggle to answer: “Is ‘holy’ descriptive? Or is ‘holy’ his nature? Or both?” Other spirits – human and demonic – are given descriptive categories in the Scriptures: • Human – A human spirit. A haughty spirit. A crushed spirit. A steadfast spirit….
The Holy Spirit 02 – Beginning at the Beginning
Jesus has many descriptive names and titles – Alpha & Omega, Bread of Life, Chief Cornerstone, Good Shepherd, Head of the Church, Emmanuel, Lamb of God, Redeemer, and so on. The Holy Spirit also has many descriptive names and titles – Spirit of Adoption, Spirit of Judgment, Spirit of Glory, Spirit of Grace, Spirit of…
The Holy Spirit 01 – An Introduction
I once led a retreat on discovering, developing, and utilizing the power of God in our daily lives. In one session, we divided into small groups to discuss five finish-the-sentence statements: 1. The one fear I have about the Holy Spirit is…. 2. The picture I have in my mind of a Spirit-filled person is…….
What is Success #2 – Church
I proposed a definition for personal success. What about church success?
What is Success #1 – Personal
3½ minute Video version: https://fb.watch/gHmQNH5AF8/ I recall as a young leader setting high expectations on myself for success. I wanted to succeed, but the results I sought to achieve were often unrealistic and even fanciful. I wanted to be successful, but I was driven by the outward accomplishments of others and restricted by my own internal…
What We Believe #12 – Second Coming
3 minute Video version: https://fb.watch/gy7r_V0cIo/ A friend once thoughtfully asked me, “Are you and I preoccupied with Christ’s second coming?” Even an elemental “statement of faith” includes it: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again. Our own Statement reads: “The Second Coming of Jesus Christ, our Lord and King (Revelation 19:16), is imminent…
What We Believe #11 – Eternity
3 minute Video version: https://fb.watch/gqQL6S26bt/ Decisions we make in this life affect our eternal existence. Moses earnestly appealed to people, “I have set before you life and death. Now choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19). Jesus repeatedly called people, “Follow me.” He told us, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes…
What We Believe #10 – The Church
3 Minute Video version: https://fb.watch/goRDP-EILa/ Some years back I went with others on a missions tour to Ecuador. We wanted to see what God was doing in his Church. We visited urban churches in the capital city of Quito, and we visited rural churches in the Amazon jungle. We toured some expansive church complexes, and…
What We Believe #9 – Healing
4-Minute Video Version: https://fb.watch/ghI7J9XXdF/ Not many Statements of Faith include a statement about healing. Ours does. Jesus is our Healer. “Provision is made in the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ for the healing of the whole person (Isaiah 53:4-5, Matthew 8:16-17). Prayer for the sick and anointing with oil are taught in the…
Queens Christian Alliance Church 