Power for living

Don’t forget!

Don’t forget to visit, like, share, and follow God’s Word is Life on Facebook! https://m.facebook.com/pastorhoot/?tsid=0.8345818494675541&source=result

I post much more encouragement, memes, and information to that page than the website.

Rejoice Always

There are a lot of places in Scripture where it specifically says, ‘this is the will of God”, although it is certainly implied in most places. And, definitely is in the commandments…

Yet, here is one where it’s absolutely clear. It was our kids memory and handwriting verse at school Monday and Tuesday. Originally, until I said something, they looked at three verses and saw them as separate.

I had they take a closer look then zoom back out again. Guys, it’s all one sentence, one thought, one instruction.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16‭-‬18 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/1th.5.16-18.ESV

New Messages Coming in March

Long awaited…!

We will be starting a new message series in March.

I have been commissioned to preach every Sunday in March at Boiling Springs Church of God in Decatur, IL. Stop by 10:45 if you’re available, or stay tuned to godswordislife.com for audio and video of the messages.

May God bless you all!

Pastor Joe

Back in the Saddle Again

Friends,
Life can be so crazy and overwhelming sometimes, we know the secret of contentment comes from God alone through His Son, Jesus the Messiah, the Christ, the Holy and Appointed One of God. Philippians 4:13 reveals that secret, “I”, Paul says, “can do all things through Him (Jesus) who gives me strength.”
I am praying for strength right now, going through the holidays, working both my full-time job, part-time substitute teaching, both volunteer ministry and occasional pulpit supply preaching plus of course, famil; in the meantime, neglecting to post and write.
I apologize once again for my negligence.
Getting back on the ball, so please like, share, follow, recommend on Facebook  and godswordislife.com
God’s Word is Life and we can have peace and contentment through Him who gives us strength!
Thanks!

Quick Update

First, an apology, I have not been posting much for the last couple months nor writing much, for those who are following God’s Word Is Life, I’m sorry. Just really busy with work and family.
Second, I promise to get back on the ball sharing encouragement, perspective, and biblical truth regarding life and recovery.
Third, a request. Please like, share, follow, and recommend both the Facebook page and the website godswordislife.com
Let’s get the message of renewal, hope, joy, and contentment to the world through the mercy and grace offered to us ALL through a relationship with our Creator Father through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus the Christ, and the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Thank you all for your support!

God’s Glory May Be in the Scars

Some scars are more easily hidden than others…

https://churchleaders.com/outreach-missions/outreach-missions-articles/346944-gods-glory-may-be-in-the-scars.html

Bearing Fruit

Last message in our series, Power for Living, “Bearing Fruit” focuses on the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5.

‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit.’

Galatians 5:22-23,25 https://my.bible.com/bible/107/GAL.5.22-23,25

The Ultimate Power Up

Part two in our series, Power For Living, we discuss the gifts of the Spirit.

The gifts come in three categories, if you will… sign gifts, support or helping gifts, and the people who are gifts.

  1. People Gifts; specific “job titles” that Holy Spirit has given to the Church to lead it…
  • Apostle: Individuals gifted with the ability to plant and administer new churches Ephesians 4:11
  • Prophet also prophecy: boldly and fearlessly proclaiming God’s truth, Ephesians 4:11, Romans 12:6, 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28
  • Evangelist: passionately leading others to the saving knowledge of Christ, Ephesians 4:11
  • Shepherd, Pastor, Overseer: overseeing, training, feeding, coaching/leading, Ephesians 4:11
  • Teacher also teaching: making clear the truth of God’s Word with simplicity & accuracy, Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11
  1. Miraculous Gifts; also called sign gifts are given to authenticate the message of Christ
  • Tongues. Ability to (a) speak to God in a language never learned, and/or (b) to receive and communicate an immediate message of God to His people through a divinely anointed utterance in a language never learned. (1 Cor 12:10,28; 14:13-19; Acts 2:1-13; 19:1-7; 10:44-46)
  • Interpretation. Ability to make known in the vernacular the message of one who speaks in tongues. (1 Cor 12:20,30; 14:13, 26-28)
  • Miracles: 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28
  • Healing: 1 Corinthians 12:9, 28
  1. Support, team, or helping Gifts; They are activity-, ministry- or task-oriented gifts. They are functional.
  • Faith: Ability to discern with extraordinary confidence the will and purposes of God for the future of His work. (1 Cor 12:9; Acts 27:21-25; Acts 11:22-24; Rom 4:18-21; Heb 11)
  • Discernment and discerning of spirits: Ability to know with assurance whether certain behavior or message or feeling purported to be of God is in reality divine, human, or satanic. 1 Corinthians 12:10, Acts 16:16-18; 1 Jn 4:1-6
  • Wisdom. Ability to know the mind of the Holy Spirit in such a way as to receive insight into how given knowledge may best be applied to specific needs arising in the body of Christ. (1 Cor 12:8; Acts 6:3, 10; 2 Pet 3:15; 1 Cor 2:1-13; Jas 1:5,6)
  • Knowledge and Word of Knowledge. Ability to discover, accumulate, analyze and clarify information and ideas which are pertinent to the growth and well-being of the body. The Word of Knowledge is the revelation of a fact in existence which cannot be seen, heard or revealed naturally. It is in existence, it is a fact, it is knowledge
  • Intercession. Ability to pray for extended periods of time on a regular basis and see frequent and specific answers to prayers to a degree much greater than that which is expected of the average Christian. (Jas 5:14-16; 1 Tim 2:2,2; Col 1:9-12)
  • Martyrdom. Ability to undergo suffering for the faith even to the point of death, while consistently displaying a joyous and victorious attitude which brings glory to God. (1 Cor 13:3; Acts 7:54-60; 12:1-5; 8:1-4)
  • Service. Ability to identify the unmet needs involved in a task related to God’s work, and to make use of available resources to meet
  • Helps. Ability to invest the talents you have in the life and ministry of other members of the body, thus enabling them to increase the effectiveness of their own spiritual gifts. (1 Cor 12:28; Rom 16:1,2; Acts 9:36)
  • Exhortation: motivating others to action, application and purpose, Romans 12:8
  • Mercy-showing: Ability to feel genuine empathy and compassion for individuals, both Christian and non-Christian, who suffer distressing physical, mental or emotional problems, and to translate that compassion into cheerfully done deeds which reflect Christ’s love and alleviate the suffering. (Rom 12:8; Acts 16:33,34; Lk 10:33-35; Acts 8:4; Rom 10:15)
  • Giving: releasing material resources to further the work of the Church, Romans 12:8
  • Administration: organizing, administering, promoting, leading, Romans 12:8; 1 Corinthians 12:28
  • Singleness: someone who, like Paul himself, is without the attachment of family or spouse can go places and do things in ministry that others with the attachments should not likely do…  1 Corinthians 7:7

Holy Wind Power

Part one in our series, Power For Living,  in Holy Wind Power, we meet the Holy Spirit.

Given to the Church on the day of Pentecost, we look at Holy Spirit’s attributes and responsibilities in the lives of believers.