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The Holy Spirit - Living with the Presence and Power of the Spirit within us

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!emersonk78@me.comExcel Still More Journal - AmazonNew GENESIS Daily Bible Devotional!Daily Bible Devotional Series - AmazonSponsors: Spiritbuilding Publishers Website: www.spiritbuilding.comTyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer, Statewide MortgageWebsites: https://statewidemortgage.com/https://tylercain.floify.com/Phone: 813-380-8487Notes on a recent sermon: Romans 8 and the Holy Spirit 5 Amazing Sources of Confidence:- No Condmenation in Jesus (8:1-2)- Holy Spirit within us (8:9-11; I Cor. 3:16; 6:18-20)- Adopted by the Father (8:15-17)- Justified and Glorified (8:18, 28-30)- In Christ's Amazing Love (8:35-39At the same time, we are called to be faithful:- Walk by the Spirit, not flesh (8:4-5)- Death to deeds of the body (8:12-13)- Live in God without fear (8:15-16)- Endure suffering with hope (8:18, 23-25)- Conform to Christ's image (8:17, 29)HOW do I stay confident in Christ when I fall so woefully short of these goals?Here are a few things we know that help:1) Grace creates a relationship: obedience chooses to live in it.2) Faithfulness is about Lordship; no sinless perfection.3) Struggle is expected in the Christian, not condemned.4) God Gives His HOLY SPIRIT to Help Us in our Walk!That last one is HUGE. Here are 8 things Romans 8 teaches that the Holy Spirit is doing. You do not have to explain them. But you must BELIEVE. And pray for these things. - He Sets Us Free (8:1-2)- He Dwells In Us (8:11)- He Gives Life to our Mortal Bodies (8:11)- He Helps us Defeat Sin (8:13)- The Spirit Leads us (8:14)- He Testifies with us (8:16)- He Helps our weaknesses (8:26)- The Spirit Interceded in prayer (8:26)

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Preparing for 2026 (Pt. 3 of 3) - Your Miracle Morning

Jan 500:22:28Tap to summarize

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!emersonk78@me.comExcel Still More Journal - AmazonNew GENESIS Daily Bible Devotional!Daily Bible Devotional Series - AmazonSponsors: Spiritbuilding Publishers Website: www.spiritbuilding.comTyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer, Statewide MortgageWebsites: https://statewidemortgage.com/https://tylercain.floify.com/Phone: 813-380-8487Intro Idea: THE MIRACLE MORNING! 30-60 minutes each morning of prayer, reading, and planning! Start your day well if you hope to live it well. This creates consistency and growth. 7. Holy Living: Fight Sin and Win in Christ • Romans 6:11-14 – “Sin shall not have dominion over you.”• Galatians 5:16-25 – “Walk in the Spirit… the fruit of the Spirit.”• 1 John 1:5-9 – “He is faithful and just to forgive.”Questions:• What specific sins have been plaguing your heart and life?• What patterns, places, or habits make this temptation overwhelming?• How does a personal connection to Christ make a difference?Exercises:• Pair up a fruit of the Spirit daily that opposes your sin.• Remove or minimize a factor that leads to your downfall.• Share your struggle with a trusted believer who can help.8. Living on Mission: Do the Work God Has Planned • Ephesians 2:8-10 – “Created in Christ Jesus for good works.”• Romans 12:4-8 – “Having gifts that differ, use them.”• Matthew 5:14-16 – “Let your light shine before others.”Questions:• What do you know God wants to see more of in your service?• Can you recall a time when such was central to your day and life?• The work is the people. Will you start with one person this week?Exercises:• Write down a generic mission and three possible specific actions.• Pray for opportunities, open doors, and wisdom to identify them.• The work is the people, pick a person or family and get started.9. Do Hard Things: Invite Suffering for the Sake of Growth • James 1:2-4 – “The testing of your faith produces endurance.”• Hebrews 12:1-11 – “He disciplines us for our good.”• 1 Peter 4:12-13 – “Rejoice as you share Christ’s sufferings.”Questions:• What does God want from you that is hard to do faithfully?• Are you willing to suffer for it, or is cost and pain off limits?• Will you accept help, support, or accountability partnerships?Exercises:• Pray to register difficulty as opportunities to explore.• Clearly note the forward-looking why for a hard thing.• Plan something specific

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Revelation 22 - Daily Bible Devotional

Jan 200:05:35Tap to summarize

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!Revelation 22 John sees a river of the water of life flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb, clear as crystal. On either side of the river stands the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit and offering healing to the nations. There will be no more curse, and God's servants will see His face and reign with Him forever. The angel tells John that these words are trustworthy and true. Jesus declares that He is coming soon and bringing His reward and judgment with Him. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last. The book ends with a final invitation to come and freely receive the water of life in the name of the coming Lord Jesus and to enjoy His unmatched grace. God offers us the water of life, flowing from His throne, freely and without cost. The tree of life brings healing, and we will see God's face and serve Him forever. This beautiful promise calls us to live with the enduring hope of reigning forever and ever. Jesus came in judgment against Rome in the past, and He is coming again; we must be ready. Our lives should reflect the light of Christ and the truth of His word. We are called to obey, to worship, and to invite others to come and receive this life. As we wait, let us live faithfully, trusting in the One who is coming again and joyfully knowing His grace is with us. Heavenly Father, we praise You for the promise of eternal life and the hope of seeing Your face. Thank You for the river of life and the healing that flows from Your throne. We long for the day when the last curse will be gone and everything will be made new. Help us to obey Your word and remain faithful as we wait for Christ, the Alpha and the Omega. Fill our hearts with worship, and may we invite others to receive Your gift of life. Come, Lord Jesus. Prepare us for Your final return with joy and hope. Thought Questions: Do you long for a life without the curse of sin or the danger of darkness? How important is heaven to you, and how are you showing it? Jesus came in judgment against Rome many centuries ago. Do you believe He is coming again one final time, and how does that affect you? When you read Scripture, do you hear Christ calling you? How will you come to Jesus, abandon sin, and experience His grace today?

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Matthew 17 - Daily Bible Devotional

Jan 28, 202500:04:20Tap to summarize

Send us a textGood morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)Youtube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comMatthew 17Jesus takes His closest three disciples on a high mountain and is transfigured right before their eyes. Peter, James, and John are amazed at Jesus’ face shining like the sun. The Father then speaks and says, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” Following this incredible event, Matthew records something unfortunate. A boy has a demon that the disciples cannot cast out. Jesus is frustrated at their unbelief, stating this as the reason they fail to help the boy. Jesus strongly advises prayer and fasting! Faith would be crucial very soon, as Jesus again describes that He must die and be raised on the third day. The chapter ends with Jesus casually fetching poll-tax money from a fish’s mouth, indicating how little such things are of concern to Him. We have every reason to believe in the power of Christ. He is God’s Son and is testified as such by the Father Himself. We must live by faith in Him. This does not mean we always understand everything about Him. The disciples had questions about what to do on the mountain and the significance of Elijah’s appearance. A lack of understanding is not a lack of faith. But later, the disciples did not trust in Christ’s power to cast out demons through them, and Jesus was extremely upset by their doubt. They needed more prayer and fasting to fortify their trust, especially with great trials coming. We may not always understand, but we must always believe! Glorious Father of Light, thank You for announcing and proving the name of Jesus. By Your proclamation, and by Jesus’ miracles and life, we believe! Help our unbelief, wherever it may be found. Father, will you hear our questions and continue to be patient with our lack of understanding? We pray this will not be counted as a lack of faith. But Lord, strengthen us to never doubt what Christ can do with us, around us, and through us. Help us to do great things in the name of the One who died and was raised again. Thought Questions: - What would it have been like to see Jesus shine as the Father spoke of Him from heaven? What does it look like to live today as if you had seen it? - How would prayer and fasting have made all the difference in the disciples being able to cast out demons? What can those practices do for you? - If Jesus casually paid poll taxes even though He had every right not to, what does that teach us about where our focus and attention should be?

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Matthew 16 - Daily Bible Devotional

Jan 27, 202500:04:20Tap to summarize

Send us a textGood morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)Youtube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comMatthew 16As Jesus begins to expand His ministry toward Jerusalem, He lays out some strong and needful teaching for His disciples. Firstly, the Pharisees and scribes are false teachers. They always seek signs because their hearts are not open to the truth. Their teachings are unkind, unlawfully binding, and must be avoided. Jesus then turns attention to “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” His point is that He is the only way, truth, and life. His church is built upon the confession of Jesus as Christ, the Son of God. He follows by explaining that the road to glory would require His suffering, death, and resurrection. The disciples struggle with this, but eternal life requires His sacrifice as well as sacrifices by all who follow Him. There comes a time when things need to be plainly spoken. Christ was patient with the Pharisees, but it was time to warn the disciples away from their form of teaching. His church would welcome all but would only be enjoyed by those who confess Him as Christ and the Son of God. The path of faith would lead to heaven but would require extreme and total submission to God’s will, perhaps even suffering or death. In the judgment, people will be willing to do anything to get to heaven, but the saved will have made that commitment during their lives here on earth. Jesus has extensively spoken to us about discipleship. Are we willing to submit and follow Him? Great Creator and all-powerful God, teach us a form of belief that is willing to make hard choices. There are teachings around us that are false. Help us to reject them. There is a single truth that dominates the Christian: Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Give us the boldness to stand upon it in every part of our lives. Jesus gave everything to become our Savior. Guide us to be thankful and to put forth our lives as sacrificial offerings to You in gratitude and allegiance. Forgive our failures and strengthen us to be ready when Your Son returns. Thought Questions: - The Pharisees demanded signs, even after Jesus had shown them so much. Has Christ done enough for you to be faithful to Him? - If the church is built upon the confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, what should that statement look like and mean in your life? - “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (16:26)

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Attitude Is Everything

Jan 27, 202500:20:42Tap to summarize

Send us a textIf you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)Youtube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comSponsors: Jon Cunningham, Owner, Cunningham Financial GroupWebsite: www.cunninghamfinancialgroup.com Phone: 205-326-7364Tyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer, Statewide MortgageWebsites: https://statewidemortgage.com/https://tylercain.floify.com/Phone: 813-380-8487I'd like to include the text from Philippians 2:1-5 - Think about the changes Jesus made and why He did so. What if He hadn't done that? What if He waited for us to get to Him? What if He wasn't willing to take the hit since none of this was His fault? Jesus was humble, loving, and exhibited the perfect attitude. Let's learn about that and put it into practice in our lives and relationships. 2:5 Have this attitude [e]in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be [f]grasped, 7 but [g]emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and [h]being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death [i]on a cross. 9 For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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Matthew 15 - Daily Bible Devotional

Jan 24, 202500:04:20Tap to summarize

Send us a textGood morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)Youtube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comMatthew 15The scribes and Pharisees are back on the scene, renewing their accusations against Jesus and His disciples, this time about the washing of hands before eating. Jesus points out how these teachers violate the actual commandments of God for the sake of their traditions. Their interpretation of the law has taken precedence over the actual teachings of God’s law! Jesus reveals this is happening because of their hearts. They should be less concerned about others’ dirty hands, and more concerned with their unholy hearts. This is set in contrast to the great miracles that follow. A Canaanite woman begs for healing for her daughter, and Christ commends her faith. Jesus heals many by the sea, as they glorify God. He then feeds another group of over 4,000 people, demonstrating His compassion once again. This chapter features two very different categories of people. On the one hand, the Pharisees are supposed to be the most knowledgeable and righteous people in Israel. However, they prove to be harsh and hypocritical and ultimately miss out on the immense blessings of Christ. Set in contrast, a Gentile woman, who knows she is unworthy of Jesus, begs for His help in faith. All those who pursue Jesus are healed, fed, and blessed. We must be careful because knowledge is good, but only from pure, humble, and holy hearts. We must never let knowledge make us judges of others. May we always humbly bow before Christ, side by side, begging for His help and showing mercy to others. Kind and Loving Father, will you seed in us Your heart of compassion and consideration of others? We thank you for the Scripture, for knowledge, and for wisdom. But Lord, we pray those things do not foster within us hearts that are hard or filled with pride. Help us to never elevate ourselves and bind things on others we have no right to bind. Open our eyes to know Your Truth, and never a truth of our own will and design. And Father, keep us humble, always placing all our expectations and hope in the grace of Your beloved Son. Thought Questions: - How can you grow in knowledge without becoming like a Pharisee? Why is your heart such a powerful factor in that process? - Can you have convictions and “traditions” you interpret in Scripture without weaponizing them to judge others? What does this require? - Why is Jesus always saving and blessing people who know so little? How can you be like these people, even as you grow in knowledge?

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Matthew 14 - Daily Bible Devotional

Jan 23, 202500:04:12Tap to summarize

Send us a textGood morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)Youtube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comMatthew 14King Herod hears of Jesus’ works and believes John the Baptist has risen from the dead. Sadly, John was beheaded by Herod, not many days before. Matthew records the details of that event. John was bold and faithful at the cost of his life. The rest of this chapter records Jesus’ actions after hearing of this. He seeks seclusion but He is also drawn by compassion to keep healing the people. Jesus feeds the 5,000 with five loaves and two fish. Jesus then sends the disciples out in a boat, as He goes to the mountains to pray. Coming to them walking on water, He commands Peter to come out of the boat. Peter becomes frightened and Jesus asks him and all of them why they continue to doubt Him! Jesus loved John the Baptist. He was no doubt deeply grieved by John’s death. John gave his life to preach the truth, even though he opposed powerful people. This chapter reads as if Jesus has some expectation of His disciples. He is effectively saying: “My cousin just died for this cause. Is this resulting in deeper faith among My disciples?” He challenged His disciples to feed the 5,000 before doing it Himself. Jesus called Peter upon the water, before having to reach out and save him in his doubt. Jesus is looking for results. God’s Son expects followers, including you and me, to grow in faith, move past doubt, and be changed by His power and His sacrifices on our behalf. Devoted God and Father, thank you for Your willingness to endure loss for our sake. It must have been painful to watch John die, knowing that soon after Your only begotten Son would give His own life. And it must have been frustrating to see disciples still stumble in unbelief. Thank You for your patience in our weakness and thank You for continuing to demand we deepen our trust in You. Lord, help our unbelief. Train us to carry out Christ’s work in faith and to walk on water through any storm, with our eyes on Jesus. Thought Questions: - What kind of faith must John have had to preach morality to one who had the power to end his life? Do you and I have that kind of courage? - Are you comfortable with Christ expecting deeper trust from you? Why is that important for the benefit of the people in your life? - Would you have asked to walk to Jesus on the water? And more crucially, what does that faith look like in the storms of life today?

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Matthew 13 - Daily Bible Devotional

Jan 22, 202500:04:08Tap to summarize

Send us a textGood morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)Youtube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comMatthew 13In this packed chapter, Matthew records seven earthly stories Jesus told to make spiritual points. He begins with the parable of the Sower and the seed, which teaches the Gospel should be shared with everyone, but few will have the right heart to accept and share it. Then attention turns to the wheat and the tares, indicating that God is patient, waiting until the judgment to separate the saved and the lost. The parable of the net and fish makes this same point at the end of the chapter. Mixed in are stories about a mustard seed and pecks of flour. Two seemingly small things would grow and affect everything around them, just like Christ’s kingdom! Jesus pictures His kingdom as a priceless pearl and a treasure, worth every cost to possess. These parables are Jesus’ way of helping us understand the kingdom He was coming to establish as well as the kind of people who would be in it. Many would hear the gospel and reject it, or let the world pervert it, but only a few would take it in and build their lives around it. Right now, God allows all to live on this earth, but a time is coming when He will gather His people, the faithful, and the rest will be destroyed. We must see a relationship with Jesus and His people as the greatest treasure of our lives. The kingdom started small and seemingly insignificant, but now it reaches through time and affects the entire world. Wonderful Father, thank you for sending Jesus to teach us about His kingdom. Thank You for His parables. They give us unforgettable imagery to help us understand spiritual things. Help us to be the good soil, to take in the word, love it, and let it grow and produce. Strengthen us not to be distracted by affliction, worries, or wealth. There is no greater treasure than the kingdom of Christ. May we believe that and embrace it. Help us understand that judgment is coming, and that an eternal separation will follow. Lead us to belong to You. Thought Questions: - How do you measure which kind of soil you have been lately? What is the best way to soften your heart and be more like the good soil? - If God is allowing wheat (saved) to grow with the tares (lost) until judgment, there must be a reason. What do you think that is? - What cost would you pay to possess citizenship in the kingdom of Christ? In what ways is your life demonstrating to God the truth of that claim?

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Matthew 12 - Daily Bible Devotional

Jan 21, 202500:04:25Tap to summarize

Send us a textGood morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)Youtube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comMatthew 12The opposition of the Pharisees has been ramping up through Jesus’ ministry and takes center stage in this chapter. Christ’s disciples eat grain heads on the Sabbath, and the Pharisees take the opportunity to accuse them of sin. Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath, and the Pharisees conspire to destroy Him! Jesus heals a man of demonic possession, and the Pharisees accuse Him of having a demon. All along Jesus puts them in their place. His disciples violated no law by eating on the Sabbath, for Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath! It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath, including miraculously healing a lame man. Jesus works with the Spirit, not with the devil, and all who suggest such will be eternally judged for the sin of blasphemy. Jesus goes on to say that speaking against the Spirit is worthy of eternal punishment. These evil accusations of the Pharisees indicate rotten, jealous, selfish hearts. He also exclaims that many nations of old repented on less evidence than Jesus was providing, indicating the Pharisees are far from God. We need to be humble enough to look at the Pharisees and ask, “How have I been like them?” Jesus is worthy to be worshiped, honored, and followed. We must love Him from the heart. We must love and serve His disciples as our family in the body of Christ. He defends and loves His saints. We should not be attacking or accusing others. We must be faithful supporters of one another in Christ. Patient and Gracious God, please bear with us as we grow in our faith. Help us purge the spirit of the Pharisees in our hearts and lives. Give us wisdom to listen, to learn, and to love. And extinguish in us any desire to immediately question, judge, or attack our Lord or anyone in His family of believers. Humble us to hear His call to repentance and to respond. May the unclean spirits that flee from us by your grace not return to find a place of abode in our hearts and relationships ever again. Thought Questions: - What does it mean for Jesus to tell the Pharisees, “I desire compassion and not sacrifice”? How important is compassion in evaluating others? - If Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath, eternal God, and Healer of others, what place should He hold in your life today and what does that look like? - How important should the Christian family be to us? If we are all Jesus’ “brother and sister and mother,” how do you demonstrate that in service?

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The Holy Spirit - Living with the Presence and Power of the Spirit within us