Tag Archives: Christian Living

Holiness and Revival

Testimonies that Glorify God

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Let God Be Glorified

Come and hear, all who fear God, and I will tell what He has done for my soul (Psalm 66:16, NASB).

This is the voice of one who has tasted the mercy of El Elyon and cannot remain silent. He does not draw attention to himself, but to the power of God. Every true testimony flows from this fountain—it glorifies God alone, not the one who speaks.

The Apostle John, who leaned against Yeshua’s chest and saw the glory of the Word made flesh, heard these words from Heaven: They overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony (Revelation 12:11, NASB). Notice where the victory rests. Not in strategy, eloquence, or charisma—but in the Lamb and what He has done. The testimony is not a platform for self—it is a declaration of God’s faithfulness and mercy.

Even our Savior warned, Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them (Matthew 6:1, NASB). The danger is not just in falsehood, but in misdirected truth—when we say the right things for the wrong reasons, and shift the spotlight onto ourselves.

Let Boasting Die at the Cross

The Apostle Paul could have boasted. His résumé was unmatched—zealous, learned, bold. Yet he said, Far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 6:14, NASB). The cross is where all pride dies. It is where we remember that we were nothing, and He gave us everything. Any story that begins with “I did” must be reexamined. Let every true testimony begin with “God moved.”

Paul reminded the Corinthians, So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth (1 Corinthians 3:7, NASB). We are nothing more than vessels—fragile, breakable, and utterly dependent on El Shaddai to fill us. Testimonies should cause awe, not applause. They should humble, not elevate. If we speak of answered prayers or miracles, let us speak as those trembling in the presence of a holy God.

Break you jar before the Lord
Before the healing comes, the jar must break. This is where revival begins—on our faces, with nothing held back.

Where Is the Power We Preach?

We have the Word. We memorize the verses. We know what to say. But where is the power? Where is the Presence? We talk about revival, but do we carry it? Yeshua said:

I assure you and most solemnly declare to you that anyone who believes in Me [as Savior] will also perform the same actions as I do. Moreover, they will accomplish even greater feats in scope and reach, for I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in My name [as My representative], this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified and celebrated in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name [as My representative], I will do it (John 14:12–14, AMP).

We love to quote verse 15—If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments—but are we living verses 12 through 14? We say we follow Him, but where is the fruit? Where is the unmistakable evidence of His power and Presence moving through us?

If we are honest, we must ask: Have we crafted denominations, doctrinal statements, and creeds to soothe our lack of faith? Are we building altars of reason because we have forgotten the fire of God? When Peter was in the Upper Room before Pentecost, he probably cried out, “Lord, we have nothing left but You.” Have we reached that place? Have we truly died to self?

Truly Dying to Self: A Forgotten Cry

What does it mean to truly die to self? We speak of it often, but do we live it? Picking up our crosses daily sounds poetic until obedience costs us something. Listening to His voice is inspiring until He asks us to release our comfort, our pride, or our reputation. Is there anyone alive today who can say, “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20, NASB)?

If our hearts were truly right with God, these things would happen. Miracles would follow our prayers. Deliverance would spring from our declarations. Revival would not be a hope—it would be a holy eruption. The reason it doesn’t happen is not that God has changed. He is being true to His Word. He tests hearts. He purifies motives. He waits for a people who will make Him the center of their testimony, not themselves.

We need to keep pressing into Him, asking Him to search us and refine us. We must return to the altar, not to tell God what we’ve done, but to ask Him to reveal our motives so that we may be pure vessels. Our testimonies should reflect the cry of John the Baptist: He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30, NASB).

She broke her jar—and with it, her pride, her plans, her past. Only in surrender can the fragrance rise. This is where healing begins.

Let Testimonies Burn with His Glory

Even our best obedience is not a trophy—it is a response. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them (Ephesians 2:10, NASB). We are not the authors of greatness. We are the canvas upon which the Master Artist paints His glory.

Let every testimony burn with the truth: It was God. All of it. The mercy. The healing. The change. If He used us, it was not because we were worthy—it was because He is good.

Do not share to impress. Share to exalt. Let your testimony be a trembling offering that points upward, not inward. Speak not of how much faith you had, but how faithful El Olam was to you. Let the story glorify the Name above all names—Yeshua, the Lamb who was slain.

Let Us Pray

O El Shaddai, Mighty and All-Sufficient One,

We come before You with broken hearts, confessing how often we have spoken to be seen, shared to be praised, and testified to exalt ourselves. Forgive us, Lord. Purify our hearts, cleanse our lips, and strip away every hidden motive that does not glorify You.

Teach us what it means to truly die daily—to applause, to recognition, to the craving for man’s approval. Let our testimonies rise like holy incense—fragrant only because You have been faithful. Let them carry the weight of Your glory, not the weight of our names.

We lay our words at Your feet. Sanctify them. Let every syllable exalt the Name above all names—Yeshua, our Redeemer. Let our stories become songs of Your mercy, drawing hearts not to us, but to Your throne.

Burn away pride, expose every imitation, and silence the flesh. Let the fire of Your Spirit purify our witness until only Your power remains. And when we speak, let the world see not us, but You living through us.

We join with the saints, with the seraphim, and with all creation in one cry:

You alone are worthy.

Amen.

Made meek by the spirit
A weathered wooden cross stands silhouetted against a glowing sunset, marking the place where pride ends and surrender begins.

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See Also

Holy Spirit, Prayers, Unity

Pentecost: A Call to Absolute Reliance on God

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When the day of Pentecost had fully come, the disciples were not busy making plans or debating strategies. They were hidden away, hearts low to the ground, souls turned upward. “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place” (Acts 2:1, NASB). They were not idle. They engaged in tear-soaked prayer—quiet, desperate, persistent prayer in the Upper Room (Acts 1:14, NASB). Pentecost teaches us that absolute reliance on God begins not with action but with prayer.

Prayer was not an afterthought; it was the furnace where their dependence was forged. In the Upper Room, they wept, waited, and wore the floor thin with their knees. They had no other plan. They had no fallback. The strength to fulfill the Great Commission could not be conjured by willpower—it had to be born in prayer. If we are to learn anything from Pentecost today, it is this: we must return to the Upper Room posture. Absolute reliance on God means sinking to our knees and refusing to rise until He answers.

In our generation, prayer is often the last resort. We strategize first, act second, and pray third. Pentecost rebukes this order. The fire of God falls on soaked altars, on lives marinated in the secret place. Prayer must again become our lifeblood, not a hurried sentence but the slow, aching cry of a heart desperate for Him. The world tells us to be busy; Pentecost calls us to be still before El Shaddai, the All-Sufficient One, and wait for His power.

Pentecost also reminds us that prayer is corporate as well as personal. “These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer…” (Acts 1:14, NASB). They were of one accord—not arguing about doctrinal differences, not boasting, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos.” Their hearts were knit together in humility and dependence. Division would have quenched the Spirit before He even came. In that upper room, the Spirit of God found a vessel unified and emptied.

And what was the cry of their hearts? These disciples, hunted and threatened, did not ask for protection. They did not pray, “Lord, send angels to defend us,” or “Deliver us from our enemies.” They prayed for boldness—the holy courage to preach the gospel without fear (Acts 4:29, NASB). Absolute reliance on God means trusting not in physical safety but in the triumph of His Word. They understood what it meant to be crucified with Christ. Their lives were already laid down; they sought only the strength to proclaim the Name of Yeshua boldly, even unto death.

The Church today must recover this fearless heart. If we long for revival, we must pray not for ease but for fire—not for comfort but for courage. Absolute reliance on God means trusting Him to sustain, strengthen, and embolden us when the world rages against us. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and sound judgment (2 Timothy 1:7, NASB).

Beloved, the lesson of Pentecost is clear: if we are to walk in the power of the Spirit, we must first kneel in utter dependence. Absolute reliance on God is not passive—it is an active, unyielding trust formed in the furnace of prayer. Like the disciples, we must forsake all other hopes, all other strengths, and look only to Him who promised, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” (Acts 1:8, NASB).

Our world is desperate for revival, but revival will not come through clever sermons or polished programs. Revival will be born when men and women of God are found once again in Upper Rooms, floors damp with tears, hearts lifted like incense. Pentecost calls us to be that generation.

Self-Reflection: Walking in Absolute Reliance on God

For the Believer:

  • Am I seeking the fire of God through tear-soaked prayer or am I relying on my own strength?
  • When fear rises, do I pray for protection, or do I ask God for boldness to proclaim His Name?
  • Have I set aside personal ambitions to become fully dependent on El Shaddai, the All-Sufficient One?
  • Is my heart unified with my brothers and sisters, or is division hindering the move of the Spirit in my life?

For the Local Congregation:

  • Are we a church of prayer or a church of programs?
  • Have we created an Upper Room culture where dependence on the Spirit is our first response?
  • Do we spend more time strategizing or more time seeking the face of God together?
  • Is boldness to preach the Gospel part of our prayers, or have we settled for safety and comfort?

For the Denomination:

  • Are we leaning on heritage and tradition, or are we actively dependent on the living Spirit of God?
  • Are we unified in mission and spirit, or divided by secondary matters that grieve the Holy Spirit?
  • Have we lost our boldness, forgetting the fearless prayers of the early Church?
  • How will our generation be remembered — as those who sought revival through prayer and unity, or as those who trusted in human plans?

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Prayer

O Sovereign Lord, we come to You stripped of all pretense and power. Teach us again to wait before You in prayer, to soak the ground with tears, to hunger for nothing but Your presence. Forgive us for trusting in our strength and teach us absolute reliance on You. Birth in us the Upper Room cry, the unrelenting groan for Your Spirit. And when You come, Lord, grant us boldness—not comfort, not safety—but boldness to declare Your Word without fear. May our lives be the altar, and may Your fire fall again. In the mighty name of Yeshua, we pray. Amen.

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Integrity

Heart of Integrity

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“So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them with his skillful hands.”
(Psalm 78:72, NASB)

Beloved, the Lord is calling you to a higher way. As the morning light rises, He summons you to walk with a heart of integrity. The world shouts for performance, but the Father looks beyond the noise. He seeks those who will follow Him with a heart refined by truth and hands prepared by His Spirit.

Today, He speaks to you: Come higher. Come deeper. Come closer. Let the life of David be your example. David, though a king, was first a shepherd—unseen by man but seen by God. Scripture tells us, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7, NASB). David’s rise was not by charisma or cleverness but by the quiet beauty of a heart aligned with God.

This is your calling: a heart of integrity and hands of skill, surrendered for the glory of God.

Called to Integrity

Integrity is not perfection; it is wholeness. It is the heart that fears the Lord more than the opinions of man. The prophet declared: “The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the treacherous will destroy them” (Proverbs 11:3, NASB). You are called to be upright, unwavering, pure in devotion.

In Christ, you have been given a new heart. God promised, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you” (Ezekiel 36:26, NASB). Through the blood of Yeshua, you are made clean. This is not of your own doing—it is the gift of grace. Yet now, you must walk it out. You must daily choose to walk before God with integrity, offering Him a life that is blameless and true.

Guided by Skillful Hands

Believer, do not despise the work of preparation. Skill does not arrive by accident—it is honed in the secret place. The Word says, “Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was in charge of the singing; he gave instruction in singing because he was skillful” (1 Chronicles 15:22, NASB). God honors skill that is dedicated to Him. He blesses the labor that is soaked in prayer and sharpened by diligence.

The heart of integrity leads you to cultivate excellence not for your own fame but for His glory. The Apostle Paul commands, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people” (Colossians 3:23, NASB). The hands must be skillful, but they must be clean. The heart must be pure, and the purpose must be Him.

A New Testament Call

Yeshua, the Good Shepherd, is your perfect example. He said, “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep” (John 10:11, NASB). His leadership was not self-serving. His hands healed. His heart was undivided. He shepherded with integrity and guided with power.

He calls you now to the same path: “Follow Me.” Not in pretense. Not for applause. But with a heart of fire and hands ready for the work of the Kingdom.

“Who may ascend onto the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? One who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to deceit…” (Psalm 24:3–4, NASB).

Will you answer His call today? Will you rise with a heart of integrity and hands skillful in His service?

Integrity and skill mark the true follower of Christ.

Prayer of Commitment

O Lord, search me and know my heart. Create in me a heart of integrity, and lead me in the everlasting way. Teach my hands to serve, my lips to praise, and my life to glorify You alone. Make me a shepherd in Your likeness—pure in heart, skillful in Your work. I lay down my pride and my plans and take up Your call. In the name of Yeshua, my Good Shepherd, Amen.

Now rise, beloved, and walk today in a heart of integrity

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Humility

Humbling Yourself in the Sight of the Lord

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Beloved, humbling yourself in the sight of the Lord is not just a call; it is the way to life and favor. “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you” (James 4:10, NASB). This divine instruction separates the proud from the blessed, the self-sufficient from the God-dependent. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5, NASB).

What Does It Mean to Humble Yourself?

Humbling yourself in the sight of the Lord begins by laying aside the measurements of this world. The world praises self-confidence, self-promotion, and personal achievement. Yet, the Spirit of God whispers differently: “For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think, but to think so as to have sound judgment” (Romans 12:3, NASB).

Everything you have is a gift from God—your breath, your strength, your wisdom. To walk in humility is to acknowledge daily that God is your Source and that you are but a vessel. A.W. Tozer once said, “A humble man is not a self-hating man. He simply does not think of himself at all.” True humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less, focusing instead on the greatness of God.

The Potter and the Clay: A Living Illustration

The Bible paints a powerful picture in Jeremiah: “Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something on the wheel. But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make” (Jeremiah 18:3-4, NASB).

We are the clay; God is the Potter. The clay has no voice to argue, no will to resist. It is shaped by the strong and tender hands of the Master. Likewise, humbling yourself in the sight of the Lord means surrendering to His shaping, even when it presses us, even when it breaks us and remakes us.

Isaiah echoes this truth: “But now, Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter, And all of us are the work of Your hand” (Isaiah 64:8, NASB). To humble yourself is to trust that God’s design is always better than your desire.

The Example of Yeshua, Our Messiah

There is no crown without a cross. No exaltation without humiliation. Yeshua, our Messiah, modeled this for us: “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8, NASB). God highly exalted Him because He first stooped low in obedience.

Shall the servant be greater than his Master? If Yeshua humbled Himself, shall we not also walk the same path? When you humble yourself before the Lord, you follow in the footsteps of the One who is exalted above all.

The Dangers of False Humility

Beware, beloved, of the subtle pride that dresses itself in religious words or public displays of humility. True humility is hidden, seen not by men but by God. It does not parade itself; it trembles before His Word. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, God, You will not despise” (Psalm 51:17, NASB).

Humbling yourself in the sight of the Lord means renouncing self-glory and vain ambition. It means seeking the applause of heaven rather than the approval of men.

God’s Promise to the Humble

“For this is what the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, says: ‘I dwell in a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite’” (Isaiah 57:15, NASB).

Beloved, God delights to dwell with the lowly. He lifts up those who bow down. He revives the hearts of the contrite. When you humble yourself, He promises to exalt you in due time (1 Peter 5:6, NASB).

Humbling yourself in the sight of the Lord is not a step backward but a leap forward into grace, favor, and divine intimacy.

Humbled low beneath His hand,
I find the grace to stand.
No boasting voice, no proud disguise—
Just mercy’s light in humble eyes.

Self-Application Questions

  1. In what areas of my life am I still clinging to pride instead of surrendering to God’s hand?
  2. How can I intentionally remind myself each day that all I have is a gift from God?
  3. Am I seeking the approval of men or the approval of God in my daily choices?
  4. What would it look like practically for me to live as clay in the Potter’s hands today?
  5. How can I follow the example of Yeshua more closely in humility and obedience?

Closing Prayer

O High and Holy God, we bow low before You. Strip away pride from our hearts. Teach us to be clay in Your hands, surrendered and willing. Break us where we are hardened. Remake us into vessels for Your glory. May we humble ourselves daily in Your sight, trusting Your promise to lift us in due time. Help us to fix our eyes not on ourselves, but on Yeshua, our Perfect Example. In His mighty name we pray. Amen.

🎵 “Clay in Your Hands” 🎵


(Verse 1)
I lay down my crowns at Your feet,
No boasting voice, no proud disguise.
You are the Potter, I am the clay,
Mold me, O Lord, with mercy’s light.
Humbled low beneath Your hand,
I find the grace to stand.

(Chorus)
I humble myself in the sight of the Lord,
Trusting Your promise, trusting Your Word.
You’re dwelling with the lowly, lifting up the weak,
I humble myself, O Lord, I seek —
To be clay in Your hands,
Just clay in Your hands.

(Verse 2)
Yeshua stooped low, bore the cross,
Obedient even unto death.
No greater love, no greater loss,
You raised Him high with Heaven’s breath.
Humbled low beneath Your hand,
I find the grace to stand.

(Chorus)
I humble myself in the sight of the Lord,
Trusting Your promise, trusting Your Word.
You’re dwelling with the lowly, lifting up the weak,
I humble myself, O Lord, I seek —
To be clay in Your hands,
Just clay in Your hands.

(Bridge)
Break me where I’m hardened,
Remake me in Your plan.
Not my glory, not my name —
But Yours alone will stand.

(Tag/Outro)
Clay in Your hands,
Just clay in Your hands.

See Also

Faith

Who Do You Say I Am?

Beloved, hear the voice that speaks beyond time — the voice of Jesus the Messiah, calling to you even now: “But who do you yourselves say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15, NASB). This is not a question for your neighbor. It is not a question for your parents, your church, or your nation. It is a question for you — the single, eternal question upon which all of life, death, and destiny hang.

You must answer.

The world rushes to label you — pastor, prophet, teacher, saint — but no title given by men can save you. Only one Name matters when you stand before God.

Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. (Matthew 16:16, NASB)
He is the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14, NASB).
He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29, NASB).
He is the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25, NASB).
He is not a mere teacher, not a moral example, not a distant deity — He is the living, reigning, unstoppable King.

I urge you, look beyond the noise of this world. Men heap up honors for themselves; they strive to be remembered. But what is the applause of men compared to the favor of God? Only those who know Him, who confess Him, will stand in the final day:

“Everyone who confesses Me before people, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32, NASB)

The ancient path still remains—quiet, holy, and waiting for those who will return to walk with God.

The One who now asks you, “Who do you say I am?”, is the same One who stood silent before His accusers, who carried the cross to Calvary, who bore your sins in His own body on the tree (1 Peter 2:24, NASB). He died, was buried, and on the third day rose again, just as He said (1 Corinthians 15:3–4, NASB). Death could not hold Him. The tomb could not keep Him. He is alive forevermore.

His kingdom is not built on titles, but on faith — the faith that confesses Jesus as Lord and believes that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9, NASB). True faith is not an outward cloak of godliness; it is the inward power of God that transforms the heart and life. It is not for show; it is for salvation. And faith in Him is unstoppable, because it is anchored in the One who cannot be moved.

Beloved, do not be deceived. You may be called pastor or prophet or saint — but if you do not know Jesus as the Christ, all those titles are empty wind. The Son of God did not die to make you famous; He died to make you free.

Today, He stands at the door and knocks (Revelation 3:20, NASB). Today, He asks you: “Who do you say I am?”

Not tomorrow. Not after you clean yourself up. Not after you achieve something.
Now.
Answer Him now.
Let your heart cry out with the faith that saves: “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

For there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12, NASB).

He is the Light of the world (John 8:12, NASB).
He is the Bread of Life (John 6:35, NASB).
He is the Door, the Good Shepherd, the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 10:9, 10:11, 14:6, NASB).
He is unstoppable, and His love is everlasting.

Who you say He is will shape your life and your eternity.

If you confess Him before men, He will confess you before the Father. If you deny Him, He will deny you (Matthew 10:32–33, NASB).

There is no middle ground.

Come, beloved. Lay aside every weight, every title, every fear. Bow low before the King of kings and confess what the Spirit reveals:
“You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

This confession is life.
This confession is faith.
This confession is unstoppable.

Who do you say I am? He asks still.

Prayer

O Holy Father, we bow before You in the Name of Your Son, Jesus the Messiah. We declare: You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Strengthen our faith. Strip away every false title and every worldly ambition. Let us live to know You and to make You known. Fill us with the Light of Your Spirit. Anchor us in Your unshakable truth. Make our lives a confession, not just in word, but in power. May we follow You with unwavering hearts until we see Your face. In the mighty Name of Yeshua, Amen.

O Christ, You are the Song my soul must sing,
The endless Light, the Everlasting King.
No title men bestow can bind my soul,
For knowing You, my life becomes whole.
Unstoppable Savior, my Faith and my Friend—
My heart’s confession, my beginning and end.

See Also

Holy Spirit

Where Is the Fire? 

A Call to Live by the Spirit

Oh, for that flame of living fire! The ancient hymn sighs with longing, its words almost lost to a generation numb to holy passion. Where is that Spirit, Lord, which once set the hearts of saints ablaze, which filled prophets with boldness and caused apostles to endure shipwreck, hunger, and sword with unwavering joy?

We must ask ourselves, Where is the fire? And we must answer honestly. The fire of the Spirit has not vanished; it has simply been replaced — replaced by comfort, self-interest, and a cross-less Christianity. The Apostle Paul gave the key when he declared: “But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14, NASB)

If we desire to live by the Spirit as those saints did, we must return to the cross. There is no shortcut. There is no modern substitute.

Living by the Spirit Begins at the Cross

To live by the Spirit is to first die at the cross. Jesus said plainly, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23, NASB) To live under the Spirit’s rule moment by moment, we must let the cross do its work, severing our attachment to the world and emptying us of self.

Many today want the fire without the altar. But Scripture is clear: “Present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”(Romans 12:1, NASB) Without sacrifice, there is no fire.

Living by the Spirit today looks like surrender — absolute, unrelenting, joyful surrender. It is not a Sunday activity but a daily death. It is the laying down of plans, the renouncing of pride, the crucifying of comfort.

What Living by the Spirit Looks Like Today

To live by the Spirit in today’s world is to walk in conscious, continual submission to God’s voice. It is a life that bears the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23, NASB)

It looks like believers who are bold in their witness, unashamed of the gospel, as Paul was when he wrote, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” (Romans 1:16, NASB)

It looks like saints who are not driven by fear or anxiety, but who trust wholly in God’s providence: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6, NASB)

It looks like households where prayer is not an afterthought, but the breath of the home. It looks like workplaces where integrity shines, conversations where grace abounds, and lives so surrendered that the fragrance of Christ follows everywhere they go.

A community gathered in Spirit-led worship, encircling the fire—symbol of God’s presence—each heart lifted in surrender and awe before the Lord.

Why Has the Fire Diminished?

Why must we ask, “Where is that Spirit, Lord?” It is because we have settled for a form of godliness without its power (2 Timothy 3:5). We have exchanged the Spirit’s fire for the world’s approval. We have chosen safety over surrender.

The saints of old walked in the power of the Spirit because they first walked the narrow way of the cross. They were crucified to the world, dead to its charms, and alive only to God.

If we would regain the fire, we must return to that narrow path. Jesus warned, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.” (Matthew 7:13, NASB)

A Call to Rekindle the Flame

Where is the fire? It waits for those willing to lay all on the altar. It waits for those who will take up the cross daily, die to self, and live by the Spirit.

Today, the call is urgent. Lay down your life anew. Present yourself as a living sacrifice. Crucify the flesh with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24). Boast only in the cross of Christ, and watch as the fire returns — not as a flickering candle, but as a consuming blaze.

We need not sigh with nostalgia for a bygone era. The Spirit has not changed. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8, NASB) His fire still falls — but only where there is fuel. Only where there is surrender.

Let us forsake the comforts of this world and seek the face of El Shaddai. Let us live by the Spirit, moment by moment, breath by breath, until our lives burn as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God.

Then, and only then, will the world look at the Church and see not a hollow religion, but a living fire.

Closing Prayer

Lord Yeshua, we kneel at the foot of Your cross. Crucify our pride, our comfort, our idols. Set our hearts ablaze with the fire of Your Spirit. Let us live by the Spirit, walking in the steps You have marked out for us. May our lives be living flames, drawing all men to You. Amen.

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See Also

Joy

Genuine Joy in the Spirit: A Church That Shines

You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
—1 Thessalonians 1:6 (NASB)

The mark of a Spirit-filled church is not a passing happiness or a smile worn like a mask. It is genuine joy in the Spirit, a joy that abides and cannot be stolen by trial or sorrow. Paul did not praise the Thessalonians because they smiled through their pain; he honored them because their hearts, full of the Holy Spirit, radiated a joy untouched by the world’s suffering. This joy was real, deep, and everlasting—flowing not from circumstances, but from the fountain of life Himself.

You have seen it, haven’t you? The false smile of the world—quick, practiced, hollow. Walk up to many today and, as soon as they sense you wish to speak, a plastic smile is fastened upon their face. It is the mask of courtesy, not the evidence of genuine joy in the Spirit. But the joy given by the Holy Spirit is different; it is not an act, but a living reality. It sings in the prison cell, it rejoices in affliction, it bears witness when all else fails. It is the echo of heaven in the heart of a man made alive by Yeshua.

Beloved, we must ask ourselves: Is the joy within us the joy of God or the mere courtesy of the flesh? Let us not deceive ourselves. A church that bears genuine joy in the Spirit will shine without striving. It will influence not only its own members but every church and soul around it. The Thessalonians, with this holy joy, became examples to all believers in Macedonia and Achaia, and their faith sounded forth in every place. So it should be with us.

How, then, do we apply this? We must welcome the Word of God, not with the fleeting smile of Sunday religion, but with hearts open wide in obedience. We must seek to be filled, not merely stirred. We must ask the Spirit of God to make His home in us, burning away the pretense, leaving only what is true. Joy that is born of the Spirit abides; it does not shift with the tides of fortune. It is planted deep, rooted in the unchanging character of El Shaddai.

I challenge you, reader: cast off the mask. Let the world see a people not merely polite, but gloriously alive in Yeshua. Let your business dealings, your family life, your worship, all be soaked in the reality of genuine joy in the Spirit. Then, and only then, will we be the city set on a hill that cannot be hidden, and the lost will come, drawn by the fragrance of Christ Himself.

I love being with the family of God. Whether we gather in a building, a home, or under the open sky, I can hardly keep from smiling when I’m with the saints. There is a deep and unshakable joy that rises up in me whenever I am right where God wants me to be—surrounded by His people. This joy is not the fleeting happiness of circumstance—it is genuine joy in the Spirit, a river flowing from walking in His will. The trials of the world and the sour attitudes of others cannot touch it. It is not a mask, nor a performance; it is real, it is deep, and it abides. Even in seasons of hardship, that joy anchors my soul, and no storm can wash it away.

Spirit-filled church—this is not a fantasy or a relic of ancient days. It is our calling today. Do not settle for the appearance of joy; pursue the Person of Joy, the Holy Spirit, and the Joy of Heaven Himself, Jesus Christ. Press in until your life becomes a living testimony, speaking without words, shining with the joy that only comes from abiding in Him.

Joy that no sorrow can replace,
A river flowing from His grace;
O Spirit, flood this heart of mine,
Until my life in You will shine.

Closing Prayer

Father, deliver us from empty smiles and passing cheer. Fill us with genuine joy in the Spirit—the joy that comes only from abiding in You. Let Your Spirit dwell in us so richly that every mask falls away, and what remains is pure and radiant. May we be a church that lives, sings, and breathes Your glory, that the world might see and believe. In the name of Yeshua we pray. Amen.

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See Also

Faith

God’s Faithfulness and Promises

In the beginning, God spoke, and all creation obeyed. From the first breath of life to the stars flung across the heavens, the Word of God stood sure. God’s faithfulness and promises are not mere whispers in the wind; they are the bedrock upon which all life stands.

Throughout the ages, God has never broken a promise. When He covenanted with Noah, He sealed it with a bow in the clouds (Genesis 9:13, NASB). When He spoke to Abraham, He swore by Himself, for there was no one greater (Hebrews 6:13, NASB). In every generation, God’s covenant love has remained steadfast.

“Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His faithfulness to a thousand generations for those who love Him and keep His commandments.” (Deuteronomy 7:9, NASB)

The faithfulness of God is not abstract. It is not distant. It breathes into the heart of every believer. When we are faithless, He remains faithful (2 Timothy 2:13, NASB). His promises do not depend on man’s strength, but on His eternal nature.

The greatest expression of God’s faithfulness and promises is found in Yeshua, our Messiah. In Him, every promise finds its “Yes” and its “Amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20, NASB). The covenant of old, sealed by the blood of bulls and goats, gave way to a better covenant, established on better promises (Hebrews 8:6, NASB).

Beloved, consider the promises of God:

  • He promised never to leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5, NASB).
  • He promised to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11, NASB).
  • He promised eternal life to all who believe (John 3:16, NASB).
  • He promised to finish the good work He began in you (Philippians 1:6, NASB).
Prayer of agreement

God’s faithfulness and promises are not fragile threads but cords of love that cannot be broken.

In our lives, we see His faithfulness in every sunrise, in every answered prayer, and even in every waiting season. His Word stands eternal. When the world shakes, God remains unshakable.

Abraham waited years to see the son God promised. Israel wandered the desert but eventually entered the Promised Land. David, anointed king in his youth, waited decades to sit on the throne. In all of this, God’s faithfulness and promises proved true.

Let this truth sink deep into your soul: God does not lie. He does not waver. What He has spoken, He will accomplish. “God is not a man, that He would lie, nor a son of man, that He would change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19, NASB)

Child of God, you are living proof of His covenant-keeping love. You are a testimony that God’s faithfulness and promises endure. Every breath you take is grace. Every step you walk by faith is a declaration: “My God is faithful.”

Do not grow weary in the waiting. Trust Him. Hold fast to the promises. For it is written: “Let us hold firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23, NASB)

Teach us to pray like Moses
Learn to pray like Moses through Psalm 90—teach us to pray like Moses with awe, humility, and eternal perspective in every word.

God’s faithfulness and promises are the anchor for your soul. In joy and sorrow, in plenty and want, He remains the same. Press into Him. Seek His face. Remember that His covenant with you is sealed by the blood of Yeshua and cannot be undone.

Let us pray.

Father, we stand in awe of Your faithfulness. You have never failed. You keep all Your promises. Anchor our hearts in Your truth. Teach us to trust You even when we do not see. Help us to walk by faith, knowing that You are working all things for our good. Draw us closer to You. Let us live as testimonies of Your unchanging love. In the name of Yeshua, our covenant-keeping King, we pray. Amen.

See Also

Faithful Living

Walking Faithfully with God

A Call to You, Beloved

“Enoch walked [in habitual fellowship] with God; and he was not, for God took him [home with Him].” — Genesis 5:24 AMP

Beloved, hear the Word and do not harden your heart. In the beginning, before the flood, when darkness had spread like a veil over the earth, there was one who chose to walk another way. Enoch did not follow the crowd. He did not bow to the idols of ease or pride. He did not walk in his own strength. He chose, instead, the narrow road—a road lit only by faith. And because he walked faithfully with God, he pleased God. He vanished from this world because God took him. Enoch did not taste death.

You must understand this: you cannot walk with God and walk with the world. The path of the righteous has always been lonely, yet it is filled with the presence of the Lord. Enoch’s testimony still speaks—he lived close enough to Heaven that God brought him home. He lived as one who knew God, not as an idea, but as a Person. Not a doctrine, but a daily companion. His life exposes the shallow living of his generation—and ours.

Oh child of God, are you walking with Him, or are you drifting? Do not be deceived: this world will never honor the Spirit-led. It will mock your holiness and call it bondage. It will seduce your soul with busyness, pleasure, and endless distractions. But hear me—this world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God continues to live forever (1 John 2:17 NASB).

A quiet river winds through a lush, untouched garden where fruit trees flourish and golden light streams from Heaven—a glimpse of Eden, where God still walks with man.

The Secret Place of the Faithful Walk

You were not made to walk alone. You were not made to carry your burdens without help. The breath in your lungs, the beat of your heart, the thoughts in your mind—all are sustained by God. You depend on Him for everything. Every. Single. Thing. And yet how often do you live as though you are sufficient?

Enoch knew better. He knew what you must know now: our strength fails, but God never does. The devil whispers to your soul, “You’re doing fine. You can take care of yourself.” But you cannot. You were created to walk hand-in-hand with El Shaddai, the All-Sufficient One. You were never meant to lead your own life.

Draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you. The Spirit is calling you out of mediocrity and into intimacy. Not to religious routine, but to fellowship. To the secret place. To the stillness where God speaks and strengthens.

The Voice Still Calls: Walk With Me

The Lord is calling. He’s not calling the crowd—He’s calling you. He wants your attention. He wants your obedience. He wants your heart, wholly surrendered. Not once, but daily. Moment by moment. He wants your walk.

To walk faithfully with God is not merely to believe that He exists—it is to believe Him, trust Him, follow Him. “Can two walk together unless they are agreed?” (Amos 3:3). No, beloved. You cannot walk with God while holding hands with sin. You cannot walk in the Spirit while dragging the chains of compromise.

Lay them down. Lay down your pride. Lay down your fear. Lay down your timeline. Choose Him now. Say with your heart what Enoch said with his life: “I will walk with You, even if I must walk alone.”

When shadows press near and voices grow loud,
I follow You, Shepherd, apart from the crowd.
Your whispers are clearer than thunder or flame,
And I walk in Your shadow, upheld by Your name.

Prayer of the Heart

Holy Father, I need You more than breath, more than rest, more than anything this world offers. I have tried to walk in my own strength, and I have failed. But now I come. I return to the narrow road. Take my hand, Lord. Lead me like You led Enoch. Let me walk faithfully with You until the very end. May Your Spirit fill me, guide me, and keep me. Let me not stray. In the name of Yeshua, my Redeemer, amen.

See Also

For the Worshiper (Go Deeper)

Footsteps wind through a misty forest toward the light, symbolizing the soul’s desperate journey—walking faithfully with God, step by step, breath by breath.

The Song of Enoch
“And Enoch walked [in habitual fellowship] with God; and he was not, for God took him.” — Genesis 5:24 AMP

Verse 1
I was a man among many, born of dust,
Yet my soul found no peace in the ways of the earth.
Their laughter was hollow, their idols were rust,
So I turned my face to the One of true worth.
In the silence of dawn, I heard Him call—
Not in thunder, but in the hush of my fall.
“Walk with Me, son, and trust My way,”
And I bowed low—I could not delay.

Chorus
For I cannot breathe without Your breath,
I cannot stand but by Your strength.
Each step, each heartbeat, each fragile day—
I walk because You make a way.
Desperate I am, and desperate I stay,
Forever dependent—O God, be my stay.

Verse 2
The world mocked softly, with velvet chains,
Whispered, “Why strive for a God you can’t see?”
But I saw His glory beyond the plains,
And His voice thundered in secret to me.
The stars could not guide me, the moon did not know,
But the flame in my bones began to grow.
Not by sight, but by holy fire,
I walked with God, my one desire.

Chorus
For I cannot breathe without Your breath,
I cannot stand but by Your strength.
Each step, each heartbeat, each fragile day—
I walk because You make a way.
Desperate I am, and desperate I stay,
Forever dependent—O God, be my stay.

Bridge
I did not seek reward or crown,
I only sought to hear Your sound—
The footsteps of the Living One,
The whisper of El Elyon.
When all around me turned to dust,
Still, I held Your Word in trust.
“Abide in Me,” You gently said,
And You became my daily bread.

Verse 3
Now the path grew narrow, the crowd grew thin,
But I would not trade this walk for sin.
For I have seen the Holy Flame,
I have heard Yeshua call my name.
And when the earth could hold me no more,
You opened wide the unseen door.
You took me in—not by death or rod,
But by the hand of the Living God.

Final Chorus
I cannot breathe without Your breath,
I cannot rise but by Your strength.
Eternal steps on Heaven’s way—
I walk because You make a way.
Desperate I was, and desperate I’ll be,
Forever held in Your eternity.

Tag
So teach me, Lord, to walk like this,
In holy fear and Heaven’s kiss.
Let every breath, each footstep trod,
Cry out—I’m desperate for my God.

Personal Holiness

Be Holy, for He Is Holy

A Call to Purity from the Heart of God

Beloved, hear the call that has echoed through eternity: “Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16, AMP). This is not a suggestion or a poetic phrase for the spiritually elite. This is the voice of our holy God, spoken in love, spoken with fire, and written with His own hand across the pages of His Word.

I write to you, not with new revelation, but with the Word we heard from the beginning—that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5, AMP). If we claim to walk with Him and yet live in hidden sin, we deceive ourselves. This call to holiness is not external only; it is inward—down to the roots of desire, down to the meditations of the heart, down to the willingness of the soul. God does not call you to appear holy. He calls you to be holy.

The fire of God’s holiness cannot dwell in a heart that clings to what is unclean. And yet, how many of us come into His presence, lifting stained hands while asking for His nearness? How many songs have we sung that plead, “Draw me nearer,” while we have not repented in months—or years? We cry for revival, for intimacy, for revelation—but the Holy One will not fully manifest Himself to the impure.

Tozer was right: “A holy God cannot show Himself in full communion to an unholy Christian.” The Spirit is called Holy, not merely as a title but as a description of His very essence. If we are to be filled with the Spirit, then holiness must be our dwelling place—not just our aspiration. This is the call to holiness: a call to live set apart, sanctified, wholly surrendered, and burning with purity.

Let the Word pierce us:

“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will [ever] see the Lord”(Hebrews 12:14, AMP).

“Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord, “and do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you” (2 Corinthians 6:17, NASB).

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right and steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10, AMP).

This is not legalism. This is love. This is the purifying fire of a Father who longs to dwell with His children. Holiness is not the price of His affection—it is the pathway to His presence. You cannot live for the world Monday through Saturday and expect to encounter the glory of the King on Sunday. God is not mocked. The same God who struck down Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5) is the God who still searches hearts and minds (Revelation 2:23).

So what must we do?

We must repent—not with shallow words, but with torn hearts. We must flee what defiles the soul, and run to the One who washes whiter than snow. The blood of Yeshua is not just forgiveness—it is cleansing. It removes the stain and restores the soul. And if you will humble yourself, He will lift you into His presence.

Let me urge you, as one who has seen the fire in His eyes: Do not settle for a compromised life. Let the Holy Spirit sanctify every desire, every hidden thought, every motive. There is no joy like the joy of walking with a clean heart. There is no power like the power of a consecrated vessel.

God is holy. Yeshua is holy. The Spirit is holy. Shall we be content with casual faith, when we are called to commune with consuming fire?

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Burn every shadow, O Flame of Grace,
Strip every idol from its place.
Make me a vessel, pure and true—
A house of holiness for You.

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Prayer of Consecration

Holy Father, I return to You. Cleanse me of every stain. I bring You not just my actions but my affections. Sanctify my thoughts, my motives, and my desires. I long to see Your face, but I know that only the pure in heart shall see You. So purify me, O God. Let the fire of Your holiness consume all that is unworthy. Make me holy as You are holy. Dwell in me, and walk with me. I surrender all. In the name of Yeshua, Amen.

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See Also