The Spirit’s Extraordinary Work through Ordinary Gifts
God does not leave His people unequipped. Every believer in Christ is given at least one spiritual gift by the Holy Spirit. This means there are no spectators in the body of Christ — only participants. These gifts are not talents or learned skills, but Spirit-empowered abilities given for the church’s good.
The Spirit’s Extraordinary Work through Ordinary Gifts
What comes to mind when you hear the words “spiritual gifts”? For many in the modern church, the imagination runs to the spectacular — tongues, prophecies, healings, visions. But what if the most powerful, most consistent, and most transformative work of the Holy Spirit isn’t found in the fireworks, but in the faithfulness?
The Extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit—And Why They Ceased
In a world captivated by spectacle, it’s no surprise that the miraculous or “sign gifts” of the Spirit continue to dominate conversations about the Holy Spirit. Tongues. Prophecy. Healing. These terms evoke strong reactions—either fascination or skepticism, awe or concern.
But amidst all the noise, one question must guide our thinking: What does Scripture actually teach?
If the modern expressions of these gifts differ radically from their biblical definition, function, and purpose, we must be willing to step back and evaluate them not by experience, but by the Word of God.
The Extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit and Me
The gift of tongues was never about private expression or spiritual ecstasy. At Pentecost, the Spirit gave believers the miraculous ability to speak real, known human languages they had never learned. This wasn’t chaos—it was clarity. The purpose? To proclaim the gospel to the nations and serve as a sign of judgment to unbelieving Israel. Today’s unintelligible and disorderly displays fall short of this biblical model.
The Holy Spirit and Me
The Holy Spirit is not a mystical force or an impersonal power. He is a divine person – the Third Person of the Trinity, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son. This means He has a mind, will, and emotions, and can be grieved by our actions (Eph. 4:30). He speaks (Acts 13:2), teaches (John 14:26), and intercedes for us (Rom. 8:26), demonstrating personal qualities that cannot be attributed to mere power or energy.
The Holy Spirit: A What or a Who?
When you hear the words “Holy Spirit,” what comes to mind? For many, it’s an image of a mystical force, a powerful energy, or an intense emotional experience. We sing lyrics like, “Holy Spirit, You are welcome here, come flood this place and fill the atmosphere,” without stopping to ask – is this an accurate picture of the Holy Spirit as presented in Scripture? Is He merely a force to be summoned or an impersonal power to be felt, or is He something far more profound?
Live Without Fear
Scripture: John 14:25–26
Meaning:
Jesus promised His disciples that they would not be left alone after His departure. He spoke of the Holy Spirit as their Helper — one who would come alongside them, teach them all things, and bring to their remembrance all He had said. The Spirit is not a temporary substitute for Jesus but the ongoing presence of Christ in the believer’s life. He is the One who comforts, strengthens, and empowers us to live without fear.
If You Love Me, You Will Not Fear
WHEN FEAR LOSES ITS GRIP
Fear is a thief. It robs us of peace, paralyzes our faith, and silences our witness. It creeps in during uncertain times, whispers doubts in the dark, and magnifies the worst-case scenarios. It chains us to comfort and locks us in silence.
But in John 14:25–31, Jesus offers His disciples something stronger than fear, something that transcends the chaos and confusion they were about to face. In one of His final conversations before the cross, He gives them three powerful gifts: His Spirit, His peace, and His victory.
Obedience is Love
Day 1: The Measure of Love
John 14:15
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”
Meaning:
Jesus does not equate love with words, emotions, or intentions. He equates love with obedience. The true measure of our love for Christ is not how we feel in moments of worship, but how we follow in moments of pressure, temptation, and testing. Obedience is not legalism—it is love in action.
If You Love Me, You Will Obey Me (Part 1)
When Love Walks in Boots
In our world, love is often reduced to sentiment—something we feel, say, or express in moments of emotion. But Jesus doesn’t leave love in the realm of abstract feeling. He defines love in the language of action, loyalty, and obedience. In one of His final conversations with the disciples before the cross, He draws a line between those who say they love Him and those who truly do:
