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What Being Spirit Filled Looks Like (Ephesians 5:18-21)
The city of Ephesus in ancient times was known for a festival in which they would worship a false god called Bacchus. Bacchus was the god of wine, and their worship involved rampant drunkenness. The first century Ephesian believers that Paul wrote to knew all too well the effects of being “drunk with wine,” yet the Holy Spirit chose to use that imagery to explain an important truth about how He works in our lives.
When you are sober, your God-given ability to reason stops you from blindly following the impulsive desires of your flesh. When you are drunk, you don’t think things through properly. You don’t think about the consequences of your actions, but instead you do what you feel like doing at any given moment. People who are drunk are more likely to do things that will hurt themselves and hurt others. The more drunk one becomes, the worse it gets. That is why the Bible is crystal clear about avoiding intoxicating substances. (Proverbs 20:1)
The Holy Spirit has the exact opposite effect in our lives. When we are under His influence, we are controlled by God’s desires and the desires of our flesh are inhibited. This is the concept known as the filling of the Spirit. Just like the unbelievers in Ephesus would fill themselves with their “god” and then behave horribly as they were “under the influence,” believers are to be filled with the Spirit and behave according to His influence. As Christians, we should be "filled with the Spirit,” (Ephesians 5:18) allowing Him to influence every part of our life.
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- Apr 21, 2024What Being Spirit Filled Looks Like (Ephesians 5:18-21)
What Being Spirit Filled Looks Like (Ephesians 5:18-21)The city of Ephesus in ancient times was known for a festival in which they would worship a false god called Bacchus. Bacchus was the god of wine, and their worship involved rampant drunkenness. The first century Ephesian believers that Paul wrote to knew all too well the effects of being “drunk with wine,” yet the Holy Spirit chose to use that imagery to explain an important truth about how He works in our lives.When you are sober, your God-given ability to reason stops you from blindly following the impulsive desires of your flesh. When you are drunk, you don’t think things through properly. You don’t think about the consequences of your actions, but instead you do what you feel like doing at any given moment. People who are drunk are more likely to do things that will hurt themselves and hurt others. The more drunk one becomes, the worse it gets. That is why the Bible is crystal clear about avoiding intoxicating substances. (Proverbs 20:1)The Holy Spirit has the exact opposite effect in our lives. When we are under His influence, we are controlled by God’s desires and the desires of our flesh are inhibited. This is the concept known as the filling of the Spirit. Just like the unbelievers in Ephesus would fill themselves with their “god” and then behave horribly as they were “under the influence,” believers are to be filled with the Spirit and behave according to His influence. As Christians, we should be "filled with the Spirit,” (Ephesians 5:18) allowing Him to influence every part of our life.
- Apr 21, 2024The Filling Of The Spirit (Ephesians 5:18-21)
The Filling Of The Spirit (Ephesians 5:18-21)The city of Ephesus in ancient times was known for a festival in which they would worship a false god called Bacchus. Bacchus was the god of wine, and their worship involved rampant drunkenness. The first century Ephesian believers that Paul wrote to knew all too well the effects of being “drunk with wine,” yet the Holy Spirit chose to use that imagery to explain an important truth about how He works in our lives.When you are sober, your God-given ability to reason stops you from blindly following the impulsive desires of your flesh. When you are drunk, you don’t think things through properly. You don’t think about the consequences of your actions, but instead you do what you feel like doing at any given moment. People who are drunk are more likely to do things that will hurt themselves and hurt others. The more drunk one becomes, the worse it gets. That is why the Bible is crystal clear about avoiding intoxicating substances. (Proverbs 20:1)The Holy Spirit has the exact opposite effect in our lives. When we are under His influence, we are controlled by God’s desires and the desires of our flesh are inhibited. This is the concept known as the filling of the Spirit. Just like the unbelievers in Ephesus would fill themselves with their “god” and then behave horribly as they were “under the influence,” believers are to be filled with the Spirit and behave according to His influence. As Christians, we should be "filled with the Spirit,” (Ephesians 5:18) allowing Him to influence every part of our life.
- Apr 17, 2024I Have Made Thee A Watchman (Ezekiel 3:15-21)
I Have Made Thee A Watchman (Ezekiel 3:15-21)15 Then I came to them of the captivity at Telabib, that dwelt by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.16 And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.
- Apr 16, 2024Change Your Clothes (Colossians 3:8-13)
Change Your Clothes (Colossians 3:8-13)But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
- Apr 15, 2024What Were You Thinking? (Acts 26:28)
What Were You Thinking? (Acts 26:28)
- Apr 14, 2024Jehovahjireh (Genesis 22:14)
Jehovahjireh (Genesis 22:14)Special Guests:Evangelist Paul Crow & FamilyPaul Crow was born and reared in Greenville, South Carolina. He was saved at the age of fifteen. Not long after his salvation, ministry opportunities began to present themselves. By the time Paul graduated from high school, he was certain that God wanted him to preach.Sarah Crow was saved after she graduated from high school. Shortly afterward, she entered Ambassador Baptist College where she surrendered her life to full-time Christian service.Since July of 2002, Paul and his family have traveled in full time evangelism, preaching in churches all over the United States and foreign countries as well. Their greatest joy is to see souls saved and churches revived. Paul and Sarah are active members of the Clearview Baptist of Southaven, Mississippi, where Paul serves as staff evangelist.
- Apr 14, 2024Missed Opportunities (Acts 24:24)
Missed Opportunities (Acts 24:24)Special Guests: Evangelist Paul Crow & FamilyPaul Crow was born and reared in Greenville, South Carolina. He was saved at the age of fifteen. Not long after his salvation, ministry opportunities began to present themselves. By the time Paul graduated from high school, he was certain that God wanted him to preach. Sarah Crow was saved after she graduated from high school. Shortly afterward, she entered Ambassador Baptist College where she surrendered her life to full-time Christian service. Since July of 2002, Paul and his family have traveled in full time evangelism, preaching in churches all over the United States and foreign countries as well. Their greatest joy is to see souls saved and churches revived. Paul and Sarah are active members of the Clearview Baptist of Southaven, Mississippi, where Paul serves as staff evangelist.
- Apr 7, 2024Peters Journey of Surrender (Matthew 4:18-20)
Peters Journey of Surrender (Matthew 4:18-20)
- Apr 7, 2024Surrender to the Lord (Luke 6:46)
Surrender to the Lord (Luke 6:46)As Christians, we believe that Jesus Christ is Lord. Jesus is not a god. He is the Lord God, coequal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. But what exactly does it mean to call Jesus your “Lord”? The term “lord” is not as familiar to those of us who live under a representative form of government. In other times and places, a “lord” was someone who had total rule over others. The Biblical term means much the same thing. To call Jesus “Lord” is to acknowledge His right to rule. If you call Jesus your Lord, then He should have total rule over your life. He is the Lord Jesus Christ, but the question that remains to be answered is, is He truly your Lord?In Luke 6:46, Jesus said, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” It is possible to call Jesus your “Lord” and yet not be in obedience to Him. He could be your Lord in name only if you are not surrendered to his Lordship in your life.There is a direct connection between victorious Christian living and the Lordship of Christ. As long as we are following the desires of our flesh, we will continue to live in defeat to sin. As long as you are living for yourself, you will be frustrated and dissatisfied. To enjoy the victory over sin that Jesus has won for us and find peace and fulfillment in Christ, we must live surrendered to His rule in our lives.
- Mar 31, 2024“I say unto thee, Arise” (Luke 7:11-17)
“I say unto thee, Arise” (Luke 7:11-17)And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.
- Mar 31, 2024Christ The Lord Is Risen Today
Christ The Lord Is Risen Today
- Mar 31, 2024“O Grave, Where Is Thy Victory?” (I Corinthians 15)
“O Grave, Where Is Thy Victory?” (I Corinthians 15)For all of human history, people have been obsessed with cheating death. There is something in our consciences put there by God that lets us know that death is not a good thing. Death came to creation as a result of man’s sin. Sin causes all our problems, and the greatest problem it causes is death. Is there a solution to our sin problem and, therefore, a solution to the problem of death? Despite all of our scientific advancements and attempts to avoid death, the fact remains that each of us will die.What, then, is to be done? Is there no hope? There is hope, but it is not found in us. Hope is found in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.Jesus Christ solved our sin problem when he “became sin for us” and “died for us.” He paid the penalty for our sin so that we could be delivered from death. But the gospel message also includes the fact that Jesus rose again. The resurrection proves that Jesus is the conqueror of sin and death. Death has been “swallowed up in victory,” and now God offers to give victory over sin to all who will place their faith in Jesus Christ.God does not want us to live in defeat to sin. He wants us to live in victory, and He freely “giveth us the victory through Lord Jesus Christ.” Through faith in Jesus, you can be saved from your sins and receive eternal life. And as a Christian, you can live in victory over sin and death “through our Lord Jesus Christ.” On this Resurrection Sunday, let us praise the Lord who gives us victory in Jesus!
- Mar 24, 2024Man’s First Sin (Genesis 3)
Man’s First Sin (Genesis 3)
- Mar 24, 2024Sin Is The Problem (Romans 3:23)
Sin Is The Problem (Romans 3:23)It has been said that the first step in solving any problem is acknowledging that there is one. You must then properly define the problem to be able to correctly solve it. There is no shortage of problems in our lives, but all of them can be traced back to one big problem. That big problem is sin.What is sin? Sin is any failure to live up to God’s standard. Who is a sinner? Everyone is a sinner. That means that everyone has a big problem because sin ruins everything.When God created the world, He declared that it was good, but then sin happened and all of creation was affected. We have sickness, pain, despair, death, and all other forms of unpleasant and undesirable suffering because of sin.Until we see that our problems in life are ultimately sin problems in one way or another, we will never be able to solve them. But when we accept that sin is the root cause of all our problems, then we can solve it properly.How do we solve our sin problem? The answer is, “With the gospel.” The gospel is the solution that God gave to the problem of sin. By grace through faith in Jesus’ death on the cross for our sin and resurrection, we are saved from sin. That means we are rescued from the punishment of sin which is eternal death in hell. It also means that after we are saved, we are released from the power of sin. Because of what Jesus did for us, we can live holy and righteous lives. Sin is the problem. The gospel is the solution.
- Mar 17, 2024Thy Money Perish With Thee (Acts 8:9-25)
Thy Money Perish With Thee (Acts 8:9-25)Have you ever noticed how expensive it is to exist? Money is not evil. It is quite handy to have most
of the time. Nor it is not sin to be wealthy. but it is a sin to live for money. It is a sin to trust in
riches. it is a sin to measure your worth or the value of others based on material things.
But we live in such a materialistic world and Christians are not immune to materialism. The church
at Laodicea was materialistic. They said, “I am rich and increased of goods and have need of
nothing” when in reality they were wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. They had to learn to
find true treasures in God instead of their money and their possessions.
In acts 8 we read of a man names Simon who had to learn that money cannot buy spiritual
blessings. His story is a great lesson to us that God is not impressed with our wealth and we cannot
pay our way to spiritual blessings.
