January 2026 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Category Archives: Holy Spirit
only Jesus: securer of God’s redemption
Hebrews 9:11-10:18. Jesus has done for us what no other could do. He recognized that he was born to die on that cross, and that his death could do what all the prayers, ceremonies and sacrifices could never do. By … Continue reading
Posted in atonement, deliverance, forgiveness, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, redemption, sanctification
Tagged Hebrews 10, Hebrews 9
Leave a comment
blasphemy and heaven’s king
Matthew 12. The scribes and Pharisees condemn Jesus for what he is doing. They do not realize it, but they are committing the unpardonable sin. They are attacking the work that God is doing through his chosen servant (15-21), empowered … Continue reading
Posted in church, discernment, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, witness
Tagged Matthew 12
Leave a comment
light from heaven’s king
Matthew 4:12-25. Jesus moved from his home town of Nazareth to the great city of Capernaum. From there he launched his year-long great Galilean ministry. The region had a reputation of spiritual darkness and physical danger. It was the perfect … Continue reading
Posted in church, discipleship, gospel, Holy Spirit, ministry, missions, witness
Tagged Matthew 4
Leave a comment
preparing for heaven’s king
Matthew 3. The life of John the Baptist was consumed with one task: preparing Israel for heaven’s king. His call for repentance was directed not toward the pagan masses, but toward a nation whose heart had forgotten that their God … Continue reading
Posted in commitment, destruction in hell, discernment, ethnic Israel, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, preparation, second coming
Tagged Matthew 3
2 Comments
the destiny of heaven’s king
Matthew 2:13-23. Who you are right now is the result of a thousand decisions – some large and some small – and those decisions shaped your destiny. The catalysts for those decisions are various. In Jesus’ early life, his parents … Continue reading
Posted in dependence upon God, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, scriptures, second coming
Tagged Matthew 2
Leave a comment
the virgin birth of heaven’s king
Jesus’ birth was completely natural; there was nothing supernatural about it. His conception was the miracle. The human DNA that would have come from Joseph in a natural conception came from the Holy Spirit instead. Matthew tells the story by … Continue reading
the earthly family of heaven’s king
Matthew 1:1-17. The Gospel of Matthew is a great adventure story by which readers are confronted with the reality that they have been visited by an extra-terrestrial: heaven’s king, Jesus Christ. Matthew first encountered the king when he was called … Continue reading
Posted in ethnic Israel, family, gospel, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, plan of God
Tagged Matthew 1
Leave a comment
growing in our areas of strength
Philemon 4-7. The Holy Spirit’s counsel through the scriptures reaches down and touches us, encouraging growth in every facet of our lives, not just our weaknesses. Philemon was well-known for two things: He had great faith in the LORD and … Continue reading
Posted in commitment, dependence upon God, Holy Spirit, sanctification, scriptures
Tagged Philemon
Leave a comment
mission: do not be ashamed
2 Timothy 1:8-18. Most of the leaders in the churches of Asia Minor had already stopped visiting Paul – apparently ashamed that he was still imprisoned. In this section, Paul explains why Timothy should not join them, in deserting him … Continue reading
Posted in church, commitment, faithfulness, gospel, Holy Spirit, missions, witness
Tagged 2 Timothy 1
Leave a comment
mission: revive the passion
2 Timothy 1:1-7. Paul’s final words to Timothy are recorded in this letter. They reveal the priorities of a man who was impassioned with the gospel. He was motivated by the “promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus.” … Continue reading
Devotions 