Category: Weekly Word of Encouragement

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Mt. 5:3 (ESV) This is the first of the famous beatitudes which is the beginning of the famous Sermon on the Mount which is considered the core of Christian living taught by Jesus. The poor in spirit are those who recognize that they are spiritually destitute on their own. Since this sermon is spoken to Jesus’ disciples (Mt. 5:1) Jesus is implying that when we recognize that we are not self-sufficient and come to Jesus and follow him then the kingdom of heaven belongs to us! This is a matter of our interior life not our external actions, although later in the Sermon Jesus makes is clear that without external actions we are not his disciples. But the encouragement is that it is good to find ourselves in spiritual poverty and then come to Jesus that way, Continue Reading →

“I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified” Acts 20:32 (ESV). This quote is from Paul’s speech to the elders of the Ephesian church and he emphasizes how important the “word of his grace” is for our spiritual growth. If we devote ourselves honestly and wholly to God’s words which we have in Scripture then his words will definitely build us up. Even more we will gain an inheritance with the rest of the saints of God, which reminds us of Jesus words to ““Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Mt. 6:20).  Below is an effective pattern for absorbing God’s words: Activational Scripture Reading. Read a passage of scripture, for example the verse in this post. What is this passage saying? Take at least 2 minutes Continue Reading →

“”And when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.” Acts 5:40-41 ESV. We may not experience physical persecution but we may experience social persecution or discrimination in the workplace. Even high school students are unpopular if they are holy. Thus, we can follow the example of the apostles and rejoice when we lose out for Jesus, what greater honor is there? Jesus encourages us with this promise: “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.” Matt. 5: 11-12 ESV. I Am A Child Of God And An HeirJuly 24, 2026The Continue Reading →

“And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” Acts 2:17 (ESV) The promise of God’s Spirit actually dwelling inside His people was one of the most important promises of the Old Testament. This indwelling would mean that God’s people would have the power to actually follow God’s directives for living. They would also have power to be channels of God’s kingdom power on earth in order to fulfill God’s desire for people to hear from God and for healing hearts as well as bodies. Now we have this power available to us and we can “be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18) and “keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25) and “by the Spirit [we] Continue Reading →

“”For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.” For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.” Rev. 19:7-8 (NLT) After Jesus returns we, the bride of Christ, will “wear” all the good deeds we have done in our life. This means that every good deed we do has eternal value, they are not forgotten. These deeds will shine on us for eternity! This may sound a little strange to our ears but consider how much God values the good things you do. He wants people to help and build up one another even more than we think. It is so important to Him that He will beautify us with our good deeds and display them to all creation and we will be full of inexpressible Continue Reading →