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Holy Spirit

The Spirit’s Judgment

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Walking in the Light Beyond Human Opinion

“But the one who is spiritual evaluates all things, yet he himself is evaluated by no one.” — 1 Corinthians 2:15, NASB

The man or woman filled with the Holy Spirit is governed not by the opinions of this world, but by the mind of Christ. “We have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God” (1 Corinthians 2:12, NASB). This Spirit-illumined life allows us to see, discern, and judge—not by fleshly instinct, but by eternal truth.

This means our worldview must be shaped not by culture or consensus, but by the Word of God applied through the Spirit of God. The Spirit’s judgment is not mere intellect—it is illumination. It is the light of the Lord causing our hearts to perceive what cannot be seen by human eyes. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105, NASB)

The Spiritual Man Is a Miracle

Scripture makes it clear: “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14, NASB) The one who walks in the Spirit is a mystery to the world. Their decisions seem odd, their standards strange. But they are living by a different wisdom—a wisdom from above. “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits…” (James 3:17, NASB)

This is not a self-made man, but a Spirit-born one. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6, NASB) He is a stranger to the world because he has been made new—“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NASB)

Beyond the Veil, at the Feet of Jesus

We cannot walk in the Spirit’s judgment unless we press beyond the veil into intimacy with God. The old man cannot enter there. “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…” (Psalm 24:3–4, NASB)

There, in the secret place, the Spirit teaches us. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things…” (John 14:26, NASB). We begin to see people, situations, even our own hearts with fresh clarity. The Spirit’s judgment gives us God’s perspective. “For the Lord does not see as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7, NASB)

The Warning and the Comfort

Some wrestle with deep fear—“Have I committed the unpardonable sin?” Yeshua warned the Pharisees in Mark 3:29 that “whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness.” But what marked them? Hardness. Pride. A refusal to acknowledge the work of God. Their eyes were blind, their hearts cold.

If you tremble, if you weep, if you worry—that very fear is proof that the Spirit is still working in you. “A broken and a contrite heart, God, You will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17, NASB) Conviction is a gift; apathy is the danger. As Hebrews reminds us, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts…” (Hebrews 3:15, NASB)

The Spirit doesn’t come to condemn the believer, but to correct, lead, and restore. “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him.” (John 3:17, NASB) If you are convicted of sin, rejoice: God is still drawing you. Run to Him.

The world may speak, but I will stand,
With eyes alight by Spirit’s hand.
Their wisdom fades, their words grow dim,
For I have learned to walk with Him.

Prayer

Holy God, thank You for the Spirit who searches all things—even the deep things of You. I repent of leaning on my own understanding. Teach me to live by the Spirit’s judgment, not by what is seen, but by what You have revealed. May my life reflect heaven’s values and not earth’s applause. Let the mind of Christ dwell richly in me. Strengthen me to walk as one set apart—full of mercy, truth, and light. In the name of Yeshua, amen.

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Holy Spirit

Hold Fast to the Lord

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Walking in Spirit-Revealed Obedience

“It is the LORD your God you must follow, and Him you must revere. Keep His commands and obey Him; serve Him and hold fast to Him.”
—Deuteronomy 13:4 (NASB)*

Beloved, we who have tasted the goodness of the Lord are not called to casual devotion, but to Spirit-revealed obedience. When El Shaddai breathes life into our dead spirits and awakens us by regeneration, He begins a holy preparation that lasts a lifetime. This journey is not fueled by fear but by reverent love—a response to the One who made us new.

Yeshua told Nicodemus that no one could enter the Kingdom unless they were born from above. And once born of the Spirit, we must no longer walk according to the flesh. The call is clear: Follow the LORD, revere Him, obey Him, serve Him, and hold fast to Him. Each phrase in Deuteronomy 13:4 is a step along the ancient path. But this path is hidden from the proud and self-sufficient. It is only visible to those whose eyes have been opened by the Spirit of God.

“To this John replied, ‘A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.’”
—John 3:27 (NASB)*

This is the humility that opens the door to divine encounter. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Messiah, knew his place. He did not grasp at position or power. He received what was given. So must we. The mysteries of God are not unlocked by cleverness or seminary degrees but by Spirit-revealed insight. Many stand before a wall of theology—doctrine stacked high like bricks—yet never find the gate. Without the Spirit, knowledge becomes cold and heavy. With the Spirit, truth becomes living fire.

Return to the Lord in brokenness
Return to the Lord in brokenness

God’s Kingdom is not a showcase of mediocrity, nor a democracy of lukewarm hearts. It is a throne room filled with glory, where only the holy dare tread. And we are made holy—not by our effort—but by the blood of the Lamb and the fire of His Spirit. This is why we must hold fast. Not to our plans. Not to tradition. Not to mere form. But to God Himself. His commands are not burdensome when His Spirit writes them on our hearts. His service becomes our joy when love compels us.

Why, then, would we resist such a path? Why would we lower the high call of God to fit our comfort? God’s intentions for us are always rooted in His eternal love and creative power. He sees potential in us that sin buried. But the Spirit awakens it. We were not made for the shallow waters of religion. We were made to walk in the deep, where God speaks, moves, and dwells with His people.

“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,
And which have not entered the human heart,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”
—1 Corinthians 2:9 (NASB)

This is our inheritance: Spirit-revealed truth, Spirit-empowered obedience, Spirit-filled life. Let us not settle for surface knowledge. Let us seek the fire that reveals the face of Yeshua. Let us cling to the LORD—not casually, but with the grip of holy desperation. Hold fast. Follow. Revere. Obey. Serve.

The Spirit is still speaking. Will you listen?

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
— Revelation 2:7, 2:11, 2:17, 2:29, 3:6, 3:13, and 3:22 (NASB)

Prayer

Loving Lord, thank You for making me new by the power of Your Spirit. Awaken every buried promise and every slumbering gift within me. I want to walk in Spirit-revealed obedience. I long to know You not only in mind but in truth. Keep me close, Lord. Let me not wander or grow numb. Instead, draw me deeper, that I may hold fast to You in every season. In the name of Yeshua, I pray. Amen.

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Devotion to God

Only By the Spirit Can We Truly Say, “Jesus Is Lord”

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Beloved, as you rise to meet this day, pause and consider this one staggering truth: “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:3, NASB). These are not idle words. This is the line in the sand between dead religion and living faith. You can recite creeds and attend services, but unless the Spirit of God has breathed life into your soul, the name of Yeshua will never ring out as Lord from the depths of your heart.

Jesus Is Lord—this is not mere doctrine. It is the thunderous confession of a heart conquered by grace. It cannot be manufactured by intellect or emotion. It is born of spiritual rebirth. The flesh recoils at His Lordship. The natural man demands autonomy, but the Spirit reveals a better way: surrender that leads to life.

And yet, many churches today strain under the weight of programs and productions that attempt to create love for Christ without confronting the heart’s need for regeneration. They preach morality without the cross, motivation without repentance, and Jesus as model instead of Jesus as Master. But Jesus is Lord, and that means He is King, Sovereign, and worthy of your total allegiance. No gimmick can produce true devotion. Only the Spirit can draw the soul to kneel in awe and cry out, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28, NASB).

This confession—Jesus is Lord—is the Spirit’s work in you. If you can say it with reverence and love, then rejoice! The Spirit has opened your eyes. He has shown you the crucified, risen Savior, and planted within you a hunger for His presence. But if your heart feels cold, pray this morning: Holy Spirit, reveal Jesus to me. Strip away the veil. Let me see the One who died and rose for me, and in seeing Him, may I love Him with all my soul.

Right now, at this moment, heaven is listening.
Right now, at this moment, heaven is listening.

But there is more. If we truly confess Jesus as Lord, we must dethrone another master—ourselves. Romans 6:19 calls us to offer ourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. The self-life—the proud, stubborn “I”—must be crucified. It cannot co-reign with Christ. God will not share His glory with the ego of man.

The Holy Spirit deals violently with the flesh, but always for the sake of love. He says, “This selfish I cannot live.” The ego is anti-Christ at the root. It loves attention. It craves control. It demands credit. But the Spirit leads us into a deeper surrender, where we echo John the Baptist’s cry, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30, NASB).

This morning, offer no defense for your pride. Do not make peace with your self-centered ambitions. Invite the Spirit to burn away everything in you that resists the Lordship of Christ. Say aloud, “Jesus is Lord”—and mean it with your life.

Let it shape how you speak to your family.
Let it guide how you work and serve today.
Let it determine what you love and what you leave behind.

Create in Me a Pure Heart
A quiet moment of prayer at sunset, offering thanks to God in all circumstances—finding peace and strength in every season.

Jesus is Lord—not just of your Sunday mornings, but of your thoughts, your body, your finances, your affections, your future. You cannot make Him Lord by your own strength. But the Spirit within you can. And He will, if you yield.

Your Spirit whispered truth to me,
And scales fell from my eyes.
You lit the fire that made me free,
And taught my soul to rise.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, awaken in me again the awe and wonder of who Yeshua is. Let me not speak His name lightly, nor serve Him halfway. Destroy in me the selfish ego that exalts itself, and plant instead a deep-rooted humility that treasures Christ above all. Today, may my every word and action confess: Jesus is Lord. Amen.

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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

fasting, Holy Spirit, Prayers, Visions

The Day the Fire Fell

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A First-Hand Pentecost Vision

I saw it in a vision.

The Lord opened my eyes, and I stood among them, unseen yet present. I could feel the weight of the room—the thick air, the groaning of souls. It was as if I had been carried back through time, placed within the trembling walls of the upper room, where one hundred and twenty waited. Their faces were worn, desperate. Their knees pressed into the cold stone, and the air crackled with a hunger words could not express.

The walls, ancient and heavy with the dust of centuries, seemed to lean in with the prayers. I watched as lips moved without sound, tears ran unashamed, and hands gripped the hem of heaven itself. The Lord had told them: “Stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49, NASB). And so they waited—not with passivity, but with a fervent, breaking cry.

The sun climbed higher, pouring light through small windows, illuminating swirling motes of dust. The scent of sweat and worn garments filled the air. Yet no one moved for food, no one reached for water. Their thirst was for God alone. I watched a woman collapse against the floor, her face pressed into the stone, whispering one word over and over: “Abba.”

It was not a gathering of the strong. It was an altar of the broken.

Love is breaking through when the Father's in the room
Believers gathered in deep intercessory prayer, lifting silent groanings before God, surrounded by symbols of His covenant promises.

Time passed. Hours. The desperation deepened until it was almost a sound itself—a low hum of hunger in the spirit. Peter knelt with his face buried in his hands, his shoulders shaking. I could hear his low plea, “Lord, we have nothing left but You.”

That’s when it came.

A sound—first distant, like a storm gathering beyond the hills—then rushing inward, swift and mighty. It was not the wind of earth but the breath of heaven (Acts 2:2). The stones underfoot trembled. Garments fluttered as if caught in a gale, though the air was still.

The roar filled every corner.

God in the Fire
God in the Fire

And then, fire.

It appeared, bright as the sun, fierce and holy. Tongues of flame, living and alive, danced above each head (Acts 2:3). Yet it did not burn. It filled. I saw it—how it sank into them, how their faces lifted, eyes wide, mouths opening with sounds no man had taught them.

The Spirit Himself had come.

They spoke in languages of men and angels. Words of praise, of glory, of the mighty deeds of God poured from their lips. Some wept, undone. Others lifted their hands, faces shining. Some laughed with a joy deeper than any suffering they had known (Nehemiah 8:10). The fire had not only touched them—it claimed them.

I watched as the Spirit pressed them outward, stumbling into the streets. The city gathered quickly, drawn by the uproar. Men from every nation under heaven stared in wonder as these simple, broken vessels proclaimed the glory of God in languages not their own. Parthians, Medes, Egyptians, Romans—all heard the wonders of God in their own tongue.

And then Peter—bold, blazing—stepped forward. I heard his voice, strong and certain, rise above the clamor:

“Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38, NASB).

The fire leapt from heart to heart.

Three thousand souls were swept into the kingdom that day.

And still, as I stood there, unseen but seeing, I knew: this was not the end. The fire was not meant for one day, one room. It was a beginning. A first spark of a blaze that would run to the ends of the earth.

I could feel it even as the vision faded—the fire has never gone out. It burns still. And for those who dare to wait, who dare to hunger, the Spirit will fall again.

Prayer:

O Lord God, El Shaddai, let us be among those who hunger for You with all our hearts. Pour out Your Spirit anew, ignite the fire within us. May we lay down every burden, every pride, every sin, until only You remain. Come, Holy Spirit, breathe on us. Let the sound of heaven once again fill our hearts and homes. In the mighty name of Yeshua, we pray. Amen.

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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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Revival

Revival: What We Can Learn from Previous Moves

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When God moves, He does not simply fill a room—He shakes the very foundations of hearts and nations. Revival is never about bigger crowds, more services, or even temporary excitement. It is about the manifest presence of God descending upon His people with power, holiness, and undeniable glory. As we reflect on previous moves of God, they instruct us not only in recognizing true revival but in preparing ourselves for it.

During the First Great Awakening, it was not eloquent sermons but the heavy conviction of sin that swept across entire towns. The Azusa Street Revival was not built on slick programs but on humble prayer, with miracles, healings, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit marking the days. In the Welsh Revival, society itself bowed—crime plummeted, taverns closed, and homes became houses of prayer. Revival, historically, has never been about filling seats; it has been about emptying hearts before God.

Today, some churches rejoice in growth—three services, full pews, and five or six salvations a month. And indeed, heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:10, NASB). Yet, revival is not simply more activity or bigger buildings. True revival is when the very atmosphere becomes saturated with God’s holiness. It is not measured by numbers but by transformation—radical, visible, undeniable change.

And there is a deeper problem in the body today: walls. Many churches have built up barriers against fellow believers over “doctrinal errors,” disagreements, and prideful divisions. Instead of the body being one, it has been fractured into camps. But in a true revival, God would tear down those walls.

“For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall.” (Ephesians 2:14, NASB)

Revival will demolish the pride that fuels division. It will make theological arguments melt before the overwhelming presence of God. It will cause us to weep not only for the lost but for the way we have treated one another. Doctrinal purity matters, but love for the brethren is the mark of true discipleship (John 13:35, NASB). In revival, the walls man built will crumble under the hand of the Almighty, and the Church will be called back to unity in Christ—not uniformity of opinion, but unity of Spirit.

What would revival look like today?

It would break out of our carefully crafted schedules. It would overtake ordinary days with extraordinary encounters. Miracles would once again be signs that point to the living God, not spectacles for entertainment. Broken bodies, broken hearts, and broken homes would be healed.

It would not be confined to one church. True revival would leap from city to city, home to home, heart to heart—uncontainable and unstoppable.

It would not simply save souls but disciple nations. It would not just gather crowds but gather worshipers who worship in spirit and truth.

And it would be fueled by repentance—deep, raw, tear-streaked repentance. Not only for our sins but for our divisions. For our pride. For the walls we built where God called us to be one.

Revival today would be holy chaos: sinners saved, saints sanctified, the proud humbled, and the walls between believers torn down by the hand of God Himself.

No man could orchestrate it. No program could schedule it. No wall could withstand it.

Only God could do it—and only hungry hearts will see it.

But before we cry out for revival in our nation, we must ask: are our own houses ready to host His presence?

Self-Reflection for Houses of God: Preparing the Congregation for Revival

Before revival sweeps through cities, it must first sweep through the house of God—the local congregation. We often long to see the fire fall, but have we prepared the altar where it might rest? Revival does not begin in the crowds; it begins in the hearts of the leaders, the worshipers, and the intercessors within the house.

“For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God.” (1 Peter 4:17, NASB)

If we truly desire revival today, we must first examine our house:

  • Is Jesus exalted above all programs and personalities?
  • Is the Word of God honored without compromise?
  • Is prayer the engine of the congregation, or an afterthought?
  • Are we walking in unity, or are divisions and offenses quietly tolerated?
  • Are miracles welcomed or explained away?
  • Is holiness pursued, or is it considered optional?

Far too often, churches today are busy building walls—walls of doctrinal division, walls of competition, walls of pride. We must repent. In true revival, God will tear down every wallwe have built to separate ourselves from the larger body of Christ. If we cling to factions, if we protect our image more than His presence, revival will bypass us.

Revival will come to the house that is hungry for God, not for applause. It will fall where the Spirit is not grieved but welcomed. It will rest where repentance is real, prayer is fervent, and Jesus alone is glorified.

How can we apply this to our house of God?

  • Call the congregation to fasting and prayer.
  • Tear down unspoken offenses and seek reconciliation.
  • Re-center the ministry on the Word and the Spirit.
  • Remove anything that quenches the move of God—whether pride, control, or tradition.
  • Teach and model humility, holiness, and hunger.
  • Be willing to lose the crowds if it means gaining His presence.

Revival today will not look like bigger budgets and flashier lights. It will look like a humble congregation on their knees, weeping for more of God, welcoming His Spirit, and abandoning everything else for the sake of His glory.

If we prepare the house, He will come.

“Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight!” (Mark 1:3, NASB)

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Prayers, Tongues

Tongues as Deep Spiritual Groanings

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Intercessory Travail

Unlocking the Mystery: The Four Kinds of Tongues in the Bible – Part 4

There are moments in the life of a believer when words fail, and prayer moves beyond language into the realm of deep spiritual groanings. This is not the formal tongues spoken in public, nor even the personal prayer language; it is Spirit-led intercession so profound that it cannot be expressed in human speech.

“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26, NASB)

These are the times when the Holy Spirit prays through us — birthing, warring, and interceding for the will of God to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

What Are Deep Spiritual Groanings?

Unlike other kinds of tongues where structured speech is given, deep spiritual groanings are the sighs, cries, and wordless utterances born from the deepest part of the soul. The believer’s spirit, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, utters what the mind cannot conceive.

Paul describes it as a kind of divine burden:

“For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.” (Romans 8:22, NASB)

Just as creation groans for redemption, so believers sometimes enter into deep spiritual travail — groaning with God’s Spirit for breakthrough, for nations, for revival, or for the salvation of souls.

Why Deep Spiritual Groanings Matter

These moments are not simply emotional experiences; they are spiritual transactions. In these times:

  • The Holy Spirit aligns our prayers with the perfect will of God.
  • Intercession becomes deeper and more effective, bypassing human limitations.
  • Spiritual breakthroughs are birthed unseen, but felt powerfully.

When we are too weak, too burdened, or too confused to know how to pray, the Spirit steps in — carrying our prayer life beyond what our minds can comprehend.

Travail for Revival

In the late 20th century, before a major revival broke out in Brownsville, Florida, a small group of intercessors gathered weekly. During those gatherings, prayer often moved beyond words. People groaned and cried out under the weight of a burden they couldn’t articulate. Shortly after, a wave of revival swept through their church, impacting thousands with salvation and restoration — a visible answer to the invisible groanings of the Spirit.

The Labor Pains of New Birth

Paul compares the work of prayer to childbirth:

“My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you.” (Galatians 4:19, NASB)

Labor is intense, exhausting, and filled with groanings. But labor results in new life. So it is with deep spiritual groanings — they are the labor pains of birthing God’s purposes into reality.

Self-Examination Questions

  • Have I invited the Holy Spirit to lead me beyond my own understanding in prayer?
  • Do I press deeper when prayer becomes difficult, trusting the Spirit to intercede through me?
  • Am I willing to carry burdens in prayer until breakthrough comes?
Faith That Builds When Others Doubt
A woman in quiet prayer, building faith in the unseen—trusting God before the storm comes.

Groanings Too Deep for Words

Deep spiritual groanings are not signs of weakness; they are evidence of the Spirit’s strength working through us. In these moments, the believer touches the heart of God, interceding not with eloquence, but with the raw, Spirit-born language of heaven.

“He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:27, NASB)

Yield to these groanings. Trust that God hears them. They are powerful, effective, and they move heaven and earth.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, thank You for helping us when we are weak. Teach us to trust You when words fail and to surrender to the deep groanings You birth within us. Let our prayers align with God’s perfect will. Move through us to bring revival, healing, and salvation to the earth. In Yeshua’s name we pray, amen.

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Kept reading eh?

“Groanings Too Deep for Words”

Lyrics:

[Verse 1]
When words fall silent, and my heart can’t speak,
Your Spirit prays for me, when I am weak.
Groanings rise like rivers unseen,
You carry my soul where I’ve never been.

[Pre-Chorus]
In the stillness, You are near,
Breaking through every doubt and fear.

[Chorus]
Groanings too deep for words,
Spirit, You move in the unseen surge.
Heaven and earth align,
In the soundless cry that touches the divine.

[Verse 2]
You intercede with holy fire,
Breathing life to my silent desire.
When my strength is gone and hope feels blurred,
You speak for me in groanings unheard.

[Pre-Chorus]
In the stillness, You are near,
Breaking through every doubt and fear.

[Chorus]
Groanings too deep for words,
Spirit, You move in the unseen surge.
Heaven and earth align,
In the soundless cry that touches the divine.

[Bridge]
Birth in me what eyes can’t see,
Move in power, set captives free.
Groanings rise, the battle turns,
As heaven bends to Spirit yearns.

[Chorus]
Groanings too deep for words,
Spirit, You move in the unseen surge.
Heaven and earth align,
In the soundless cry that touches the divine.

[Outro]
Groanings too deep… too deep for words,
Spirit, speak what can’t be heard.

Holy Spirit

Boldness in the Presence of God

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A Call to the Fearless

This word was born last night at the Pray West Boylston prayer meeting at Freedom Worship Center, and was sparked in part by a message two Sundays ago by Samuel Maisonet, formerly of Faith Church in Auburn. It is a word for now — for you, beloved of God.

The world trembles at the sound of danger. Men pray for safety; hearts seek shelter. But I write to you, beloved, that you would not pray as the world prays. You are called higher. You are summoned to boldness in the presence of God.

When the early Church faced threats — real threats of death and imprisonment — they did not plead for protection. They did not beg to be hidden. They lifted their voices and cried:

“And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence.” — Acts 4:29 (NASB)

The ground beneath them shook. Heaven answered with fire. They were filled again with the Holy Spirit. They spoke the Word of God with boldness, not fear.

But boldness is not born of flesh. It is born in the presence of God.

Come and see the prophet Isaiah. He was drawn up to the heights of heaven, where the Lord sat enthroned, high and lifted up. Seraphim circled and cried:

“Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD of armies, The whole earth is full of His glory.” — Isaiah 6:3 (NASB)

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.
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.

Isaiah fell on his face:

“Woe to me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of armies.” — Isaiah 6:5 (NASB)

The fire of God touched him. His guilt was taken away. His sin was atoned for. Then — only then — did he hear the voice of the Lord:

“Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” — Isaiah 6:8 (NASB)

Return to the Lord in brokenness
Return to the Lord in brokenness

Beloved, Isaiah did not hesitate. His heart, once trembling, now burned. He answered:

“Here am I. Send me!” — Isaiah 6:8 (NASB)

This is the secret: Boldness comes after brokenness. Confidence is born from cleansing. You cannot stand fearless before men until you have bowed low before God.

Boldness in the presence of God is not arrogance — it is holiness on fire. It is the soul washed clean by the blood of Yeshua, the lips purified by His mercy, the heart inflamed by His Spirit. It is the Church, shaken but unshaken. It is the believer, trembling but bold.

And understand this: When God speaks, His command is often 180 degrees opposite to human logic. Where we would pray for protection, He calls us to pray for boldness. Where we would build walls, He calls us to tear them down with His love. His ways are not our ways — they are higher.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. — Isaiah 55:8 (NASB)

“Whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” — Matthew 16:25 (NASB)

Boldness is not reckless noise; it is love in motion. Last night, the Spirit whispered a deeper truth: it is not only God’s love that draws people — it is God’s love in us. The world will not be won by arguments or anger, but by a bold, visible love that cannot be denied. The true disciple goes out in love and shines. They see Yeshua in us.

As the song “Send Me” by Bethel Music so beautifully sings:

“And before You even ask, oh my answer will be yes.”

This is the posture of boldness: a surrendered yes before the question is even asked.

Will you not come? Will you not enter the presence of the Most High? Will you not fall before Him and be made new?

Do not pray merely for safety. Pray for boldness.
Do not ask merely for comfort. Ask to be sent.
Do not walk in mere knowledge. Walk in love.

The Lord is asking even now:

“Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?”

Let the cry rise from your cleansed lips:

“Here am I. Send me!”

The world is waiting for the fearless.
The lost are waiting for the loved.
Heaven is waiting for the willing.
The Lord of Glory is waiting for you.

From trembling knees to lion’s roar,
You lift my voice to heights unknown.
In fire and cloud, You speak once more —
The King of Glory claims His own.

Closing Prayer

O Holy Father, El Shaddai,

I come trembling before Your throne. Cleanse my heart with Your holy fire; purify my lips with Your coal. Let every fear be burned away by Your presence. Let every weakness be clothed in Your strength.

Fill me, O Lord, with the power of Your Spirit. Let boldness rise where once there was fear. Let Your love overflow from my heart. Let my voice proclaim the name of Yeshua without shrinking back. Grant me the courage to answer when You call, to stand firm when others fall away, to speak when silence tempts me.

Here I am, Lord — send me.
Here I am, Lord — fill me.
Here I am, Lord — use me for Your glory.

In the mighty name of Yeshua, the King of kings,

Amen.

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Tongues

Tongues for Interpretation in the Church

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Public Ministry

Unlocking the Mystery: The Four Kinds of Tongues in the Bible – Part 3

While the personal prayer language builds up the individual, the Bible reveals another kind of tongue — one intended for the building up of the entire Church. This is tongues for interpretation in the public assembly, where a message in tongues is paired with an interpretation so all can be edified.

“But the one who prophesies speaks to people for edification, exhortation, and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but the one who prophesies edifies the church.” (1 Corinthians 14:3–4, NASB)

Paul carefully lays out guidelines for public use of tongues, emphasizing that interpretation must accompany tongues when spoken in the congregation. Without interpretation, the congregation cannot understand and is not built up.

What Is the Interpretation of Tongues?

The interpretation of tongues is a spiritual gift distinct from the gift of tongues itself. It is the supernatural ability, given by the Holy Spirit, to translate the meaning of a message spoken in tongues into the common language of the assembly.

“To another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.” (1 Corinthians 12:10, NASB)

Interpretation is not mere translation. It is Spirit-given understanding of the message’s essence, capturing and conveying the heart of what was spoken, not necessarily word-for-word.

Without interpretation, tongues in the public assembly remain a mystery to the listeners. With interpretation, they become prophecy — intelligible words that strengthen, encourage, and comfort the Church.

Why Interpretation of Tongues Matters

Paul places a high priority on clarity in the assembly:

“However, in the church I prefer to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.” (1 Corinthians 14:19, NASB)

The public use of tongues without interpretation can cause confusion or seem disorderly to outsiders. But when interpretation follows, it reveals that God is present and speaking through His people.

Paul commands:

“If anyone speaks in a tongue, it must be by two or at the most three, and each one in turn, and one is to interpret; but if there is no interpreter, he is to keep silent in the church; and have him speak to himself and to God.” (1 Corinthians 14:27–28, NASB)

Order in Worship

At a Spirit-filled church in the Midwest, a member stood up during a quiet moment in worship and spoke a message in tongues. The room fell silent. Then, another member, recognized by the elders as having the gift of interpretation, stood and gave the interpretation — a call to repentance and renewal. That night, many came to the altar in tears. Visitors later said they felt God’s tangible presence and heard Him calling them, even though they had no prior understanding of spiritual gifts.

The Trumpet’s Clear Sound

Paul writes:

“Yet even lifeless instruments, whether flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? For if the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?” (1 Corinthians 14:7–8, NASB)

Interpretation gives clarity to the sound, like a clear trumpet call before battle. It transforms the unknown into the known, calling the Church to action, repentance, or encouragement.

Self-Examination Questions

  • Am I open to the Holy Spirit using me in the gift of interpretation?
  • When I hear a message in tongues, do I pray for understanding so the Church can be edified?
  • Am I committed to maintaining order and clarity when spiritual gifts are in operation?

Let All Be Done for Edification

Public tongues paired with interpretation magnify God’s voice among His people. This gift, when exercised properly, brings unity, encouragement, and conviction. It displays the Holy Spirit’s presence in a way that points all hearts back to God.

“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But all things must be done properly and in an orderly way.” (1 Corinthians 14:39–40, NASB)

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Prayer

Holy Spirit, we thank You for giving gifts to Your Church. Teach us to pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, especially those that edify the Body. Stir in us the gift of interpretation that the voice of God may be clear in our gatherings. Help us walk in order, humility, and readiness to hear and obey. In Yeshua’s name we pray, amen.

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