My grandfather, John Wesley, always critiqued my sermons when I began teaching the Scriptures. Often he would say,
“If I don’t share what needs improvement, you won’t believe me when I share what is excellent!”
Twenty years later, his advice to “never preach a sermon that does not change your life first” still resonates. Last Sunday I preached on the person, power and presence of the Holy Spirit at Houston’s First Baptist Church. I wanted to share the message with you because it was so convicting to me in my time of study and preparation. I pray this message will encourage you as it has others. We have all of the Holy Spirit, but does the Holy Spirit have all of us?
Your Inner Strength: The Filling of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is largely the forgotten member of the Trinity, yet He is our needed guide in our Christian walk. We are sealed at Salvation, yet we are to be continually filled again and again with the Holy Spirit. Do you need wisdom, guidance, freedom, victory? Are you experiencing roadblocks, dead ends, and boredom? Yield your life in complete surrender to His work, and ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Here’s a pic from Father’s Day. Our triplets, Abel, Ryder and Jaxson, celebrate their second birthday on July 7! They are thriving and we thank God for your prayers as we continue to serve the Lord. Lily Faith celebrates her ninth birthday this Saturday and Justin is six going on 21!
Thank you, Skyler, for your sensitivity to God’s Spirit working in your life. It was a blessing to pray with so many at the altar.
I am grateful to the media department at Houston’s First Baptist for posting this video!
Yours, as ever
Jeremiah J. Johnston, Ph.D.
P.S. Here is a message I presented at Prestonwood Baptist Church men’s conference “Man Up” – Galatians 1:10 “Am I a man pleaser or a God pleaser?
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