God's Presence Manifests in the Atmosphere of Love
In John 14–17, Jesus repeatedly connects the manifestation of God’s presence to keeping His commandments—but He defines those commandments as loving God and loving people, rooted in the truth that “We love Him because He first loved us.” When heard as a servant, His words sound conditional and legalistic; when heard as a friend, they become a relational invitation where obedience flows naturally from being loved. Love is not permissive but transformative—it grounds us, fills us with joy and peace, produces unity that reveals Christ to the world, and creates the very environment where His Spirit works most powerfully.
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“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
When you read the teachings of Jesus, you have a choice.
You can hear Him as a servant, or you can hear Him as a friend.
That choice matters more than we often realize—because how you hear Him determines how you apply what He says, how you experience God’s presence, and whether the Christian life feels relational and empowering or heavy and legalistic.
Jesus Himself makes this distinction explicit. In John 15:15, He says, “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”
That statement is not poetic filler. It is a deliberate redefinition of our relationship with God. And it sits right in the middle of one of the most important stretches of teaching Jesus ever gave—John chapters 14 through 17—where He prepares His disciples for life after His physical departure.
In those chapters, Jesus is not merely teaching theology. He is charging His friends with the work they are going to continue once He leaves. He is explaining how the Spirit will live in them, guide them, empower them, and reveal truth to them. And at the same time, He repeatedly emphasizes the importance of keeping His commandments.
That combination—Spirit empowerment and obedience—has often been misunderstood. When heard through the ears of a servant, Jesus’ words can sound like conditions, requirements, or spiritual hoops we must jump through to access God. But when heard through the ears of a friend, something very different emerges.
And that difference is the heart of this message.
The Gap Between Belief and Experience
One of the most common struggles among believers is not a lack of belief—it’s a lack of experience.
We believe God loves us.
We believe Christ died for us.
We believe grace is available.
We believe the Spirit lives in us.
Yet many people quietly live with a disconnect between what they believe is true and what they actually experience in daily life.
This isn’t about hypocrisy. It’s about real people dealing with real pressures—fear, anxiety, disappointment, insecurity, relational tension, unresolved pain—and wondering how the gospel actually applies when “the rubber meets the road.”
We know what Scripture says. But we also know what our experience feels like. And too often, those two things don’t line up.
That gap is where frustration grows. It’s where people begin to think God is distant, withholding, or unpredictable. And it’s often where people slip into a servant mindset—believing that God loves them, but still feeling like they’re at His mercy.
Servant Thinking Produces Confusion
Jesus directly addresses this issue when He says in John 15:15, “A servant does not know what his master is doing.”
That line explains so much.
When you think like a servant, confusion feels normal. You’re always trying to discern what God might be doing, why something happened, or whether He’s pleased with you. You’re left interpreting circumstances, emotions, and outcomes as signs of God’s will.
I said it plainly in the sermon: “If you’re confused, you’re thinking like a servant.”
Jesus does not want His followers living in confusion. He doesn’t want us guessing. He doesn’t want us reading tea leaves in world events or personal circumstances to try to decipher His intentions.
That’s why He follows that statement with something astonishing: “But I have called you friends, for everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you.”
God is not hiding from you. He is not withholding information. He is not interested in keeping you in the dark.
We Don’t Interpret God Through Circumstances
One of the dangers of servant thinking is that it tries to understand God by interpreting physical events.
I shared an example in the message of someone claiming that an ice storm was a form of God’s justice because the word “justice” contains the word “ice.” As strange as that may sound, that kind of thinking is more common than we realize.
We look at disasters, sickness, political turmoil, or personal hardship and assume God must be communicating something through them.
But that thinking is backwards.
As I said in the sermon, “You don’t understand the spirit by a physical circumstance. You look at God, you extrapolate truth from Him based on His Word, then you look at the circumstance.”
The brokenness in the world is not a message from God—it is the result of sin entering creation. Death, decay, storms, sickness, and disorder are not divine communication tools. They are evidence of a world not functioning as God intended.
Jesus didn’t interpret storms to understand the Father—He spoke to them.
The Holy Spirit Declares What Belongs to Jesus
In John 16:13–15, Jesus explains the role of the Holy Spirit after His departure. He says the Spirit will guide us into truth, and then He adds something critical: “He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.”
That phrase tells us exactly what the Spirit does.
The Holy Spirit doesn’t exist to create mystery, confusion, or dependence on spiritual elites. He exists to declare what belongs to Jesus.
And what belongs to Jesus?
Everything He has authority over.
As I said in the message, “What belongs to Jesus is what He has authority over—and that’s everything.”
That means when the Spirit speaks, reveals, or moves, He is testifying to Christ’s finished work—His victory, His authority, His righteousness, His peace, His life—and making those realities known to us.
This is why genuine prophecy always points back to Jesus. It doesn’t elevate fear. It doesn’t make people dependent. It doesn’t leave you confused. It testifies to what Christ has accomplished and invites you into expectation.
Love Is the Environment Where God Manifests
Throughout John 14–17, Jesus repeatedly connects the manifestation of God’s presence to one specific thing: keeping His commandments.
This happens at least four or five times.
In John 14:15–17, Jesus says, “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper… the Spirit of truth… for He dwells with you and will be in you.”
In John 14:21, He says, “He who has My commandments and keeps them… I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
In John 14:23, He adds, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word… and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”
And again in John 15:9–11, “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love… that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”
If you hear those statements as a servant, they sound conditional and legalistic. They sound like rules you must obey to earn God’s presence.
But Jesus is not speaking as a lawgiver. He is speaking as a friend.
His Commandments Are Love
Jesus is careful to define His commandments clearly.
In John 13:34–35, He says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you… By this all will know that you are My disciples.”
And the foundation of that love is revealed in 1 John 4:19: “We love Him because He first loved us.”
That verse changes everything.
We don’t love God to get Him to love us. We love Him because He already does.
Obedience is not a prerequisite for relationship—it is a response to it.
As I said in the sermon, “You can’t love Him unless you know He loves you first.”
When you hear Jesus’ commandments as a servant, they feel like pressure. When you hear them as a friend, they feel like an invitation into alignment.
Love Is Not Permissive—It Is Transformative
Jesus’ love was never permissive. It never ignored sin. But it also never shamed or condemned people into transformation.
Love rescues. Love strengthens. Love matures.
I reflected in the message on how Jesus loved His disciples before the cross—rough fishermen, a tax collector, flawed men who didn’t fully understand Him. He walked with them. He was patient. He was kind. He didn’t excuse sin, but He also didn’t relate to them through condemnation.
Love doesn’t let sin stay—it empowers you to leave it behind.
As I said, “The more I feel and know His love for me, the less I even desire those things.”
This is why love is not sentimental. It is powerful. It grounds us. It stabilizes us. It changes who we are from the inside out.
Joy, Peace, and Stability Flow From Love
In John 15:11, Jesus says He spoke these things “that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”
Joy is not something we chase. It’s something that remains when we abide in love.
And this is where the kingdom becomes tangible. Scripture tells us that “the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy.” When peace is ruling your heart, you are experiencing the kingdom now.
This is why Jesus’ words are not about hype, revival moments, or emotional highs. They’re about a steady, anchored life—one that produces fruit over time.
Unity and Love Are the Church’s Witness
In John 17:20–26, Jesus prays not only for His disciples, but for us—for all who would believe through their word.
And what does He pray for?
Unity.
“That they all may be one… that the world may believe that You sent Me.”
Jesus does not say the world will believe because of miracles alone. He says the world will believe when they see love-fueled unity.
Love is evangelistic.
It reveals the reality of Christ to a watching world.
Hearing Jesus as a Friend Changes Everything
When you hear Jesus as a servant, you strive.
When you hear Him as a friend, you respond.
When you hear Him as a servant, obedience feels heavy.
When you hear Him as a friend, obedience flows naturally.
When you hear Him as a servant, you fear failure.
When you hear Him as a friend, you run toward Him when you fall.
This is why Jesus says plainly, “I no longer call you servants… I have called you friends.”
And this is why love must become more than a concept. It must become a way of life.
As I said at the end of the message, “When you let Him love you, He’ll speak to you.”
That is the invitation.
Let Him love you—especially when it’s hard.
That’s where His Spirit works most powerfully.
Jesus Calls You a Friend: Living From His Perspective, Not Confusion
Jesus doesn’t relate to you as a servant trying to figure Him out. He calls you a friend. And a friend knows what the Father is doing. Confusion isn’t a sign God is withholding—it’s an invitation to renew your mind and live from the identity Jesus already gave you.
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“No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”
Jesus calls you a friend. And when He takes the time to give you a specific perspective, we should make sure that perspective becomes the foundation of what we believe.
In John 15, Jesus deliberately gives us His view of us. He tells us plainly that He no longer sees us as servants, but as friends.
John 15:14–15 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
This is only possible because of the new birth, and because through Christ’s finished work we have been given the right to become the children of God.
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.
Jesus goes on to explain the difference between a servant and a friend. A servant does not know what his master is doing. But since we are no longer servants and are His friends, He says that He is making known to us everything the Father has made known to Him.
That statement deserves time.
Ponder it for a while. Sit still. Take a few deep breaths. Allow the Holy Spirit to illuminate the depth of this truth. Let it saturate your heart to the point that it actually changes how you see yourself.
As I did that, the insight that came was this: if Jesus has made everything known to us that the Father made known to Him, and if Scripture tells us that we have the mind of Christ, then that means that in every situation and in every decision we face, it is possible to have the mind of Christ—and to know what the Father has made known to Christ about that issue or decision.
1 Corinthians 2:16 For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
If you’re confused, it’s not because God is withholding from you. It’s because you’re thinking like a servant and not like a friend.
Confusion reveals where we need to renew our minds—where repentance is needed—and where we need to put on the new man. The new man is a friend of God, someone Jesus shares His knowledge with.
James reinforces this when he writes:
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
You’re God’s friend. You have the mind of Christ. It brings Him joy to share His wisdom with you. In fact, Scripture says it brings Him great pleasure to give you His kingdom.
Luke 12:32 Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Your responsibility is to believe that. To persuade your heart of His reality until it becomes your reality. When you do, you’ll find that you don’t have to live in confusion.
His word will emerge from your spirit into your heart. And when you are thinking like a friend of God, it will begin to take shape in your thoughts and emotions. His wisdom will become a natural fruit in your thinking—sometimes so natural it almost feels like your own thoughts.
That is His grace at work.
This is how it functions. He is in you like leaven, quietly working His way through your entire being.
Matthew 13:33 The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.
Your role is simple but intentional: take Him at His word. Put on the mindset that you are His friend—because He deliberately tells you that you are.
Believe it. Let it guard your thinking. Put off every thought that contradicts it. And make confident decisions from your sonship in Christ.
Season Your Words with Thanksgiving
Your words reveal the atmosphere of your heart, and gratitude is one of the fastest ways to change that inner environment. When thanksgiving rises first, peace begins to guard your emotions, your thoughts, and eventually your speech. As you intentionally practice Philippians 4:8–9 toward the people in your life—seeing what’s true, noble, lovely, and of good report—your reactions soften, your perspective shifts, and your relationships become places where the love of Jesus can actually be felt.
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“Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
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Season Your Words With Thanksgiving: How Gratitude Guards Your Heart and Shapes Your Speech
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been exploring how gratitude shapes the way we see God, ourselves, and the people around us. We started in Message 1 with Jesus rebuking His disciples for not considering the miracle of the loaves—showing that fear and anxiety grow in a heart that forgets His provision. When we attach significance to His goodness with gratitude, our hearts soften, anxiety loses its grip, and we begin to experience the peace described in Philippians 4.
In Message 2, we shifted our focus to relationships and the destructive habit of assuming motives—how quickly we judge others in our minds and create unnecessary pain. Gratitude interrupts those mental loops, reframes our perception of people, and helps us stop taking everything so personally.
Now, in Message 3, we’re taking these ideas into something incredibly practical: our words. Because whatever is happening in your heart—fear, peace, judgment, gratitude—will always show up in the things you say. A grateful, peace-guarded heart doesn’t just change your inner world; it changes the way you speak and the way you love.
This connection between the heart and the mouth might seem simple, but the more closely you examine Scripture and your own life, the more you realize that your speech is a spiritual barometer. It tells you what’s happening in your inner world long before your behavior does.
And if your words are reactive, sharp, or anxious—especially with the people closest to you—that’s not a communication problem. That’s a heart problem. But the good news is that the same grace that transformed your spirit can transform your desires, reactions, and even your vocabulary.
Faith Has to Reach Where You Actually Live
One of the great challenges in modern Christianity is that we often stop at mental agreement. We believe the right doctrines, know the right verses, and can quote the right truths—yet those truths never fully penetrate the deeper layers of thought, emotion, memory, and desire.
But Jesus never preached a surface-level faith. His words went straight to the inner life. He didn’t merely call His followers to right behavior; He called them to right desires. When He taught that even wrongful thoughts made a person guilty, He wasn’t raising the bar to shame us—He was exposing the impossibility of self-righteousness and pointing us toward the Savior who would give us His own life and righteousness.
So transformation in Christ isn’t behavior modification from the outside in. It’s renewal from the inside out—an alignment of desires, motives, and beliefs that eventually shows up in how we speak.
And this is where the everyday application becomes incredibly important.
Why We Are Most Reactive With the People We Love
It’s not your coworkers or strangers who pull the most reactivity out of you—it’s your family. It’s the people you love most, the people whose opinions matter most, the people who have a history with you. With them, old patterns resurface quickly.
We also tend to be most judgmental with family—not because they’re the most judgmental people, but because we assume motives faster with them than anyone else. Before they explain themselves, we’ve already decided what they meant, why they said it, and what it says about who they are.
This internal leap is a form of judgment Jesus warned us about: presuming to know the heart. And the moment we do it, our words follow. Tone shifts. Frustration leaks out. Sarcasm slips through. The atmosphere changes.
Proverbs 18:21 reminds us how powerful this is:
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue…”
Words don’t simply communicate—they shape. They imprint. They can lift or crush, heal or injure. They can even lodge themselves inside us for years.
Which is why Proverbs 21:23 offers one of the most practical promises in Scripture:
“Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.”
Guarding your mouth isn’t about walking on eggshells. It’s about tending to the condition of your heart so your words flow from peace rather than tension.
Gratitude Is the Atmosphere Where Peace Grows
Sara shared a little bit during my sermon, too. She touched on something profound: Gratitude is one of the simplest yet most overlooked spiritual disciplines. It’s something we teach children early, but often forget to practice ourselves.
→ Gratitude shifts the internal atmosphere.
→ It aligns your mind with God’s goodness.
→ It softens your heart toward people.
→ It prepares you to speak life instead of reacting out of habit.
Paul understood this, which is why his famous passage in Philippians 4 doesn’t begin with avoiding anxiety—it begins with thanksgiving:
“…in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving…” (Phil 4:6)
Thanksgiving doesn’t just express appreciation—it invites peace. And peace doesn’t just calm emotions—it literally guards your heart and mind (Phil 4:7). That guarding is what stabilizes your speech.
Which is why Paul immediately follows with:
“Think on these things… true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report.” (Phil 4:8)
This isn’t just positive thinking. It’s a deliberate reframing of how you see people. Gratitude and truth become the filter through which you interpret their actions. And when your perception shifts, your words follow.
Gratitude → Peace → Guarded Heart → Healthy Words → Healthy Relationships.
This pattern is simple, but it is not automatic. It must be applied.
Putting Gratitude Into Practice With Real People
The holidays are approaching. You’ll spend more time with family—people you love deeply and react to quickly. You may walk into conversations with people who push old buttons or trigger old patterns.
But imagine walking into those same moments with a heart already grounded in gratitude. Imagine framing the people in your life through the lens of what God says is true, noble, lovely, and of good report.
That doesn’t mean ignoring issues or pretending everything is perfect. It means refusing to enter the situation in a defensive posture. Gratitude positions your heart so that even if someone else reacts poorly, you don’t have to join them there.
Your words can stay anchored in peace.
Let Gratitude Do the Guarding
This whole process isn’t about suppressing what you feel—it’s about letting the peace of God rule in your heart so your words reflect who you truly are in Christ.
→ Gratitude prepares the heart.
→ Peace guards the heart.
→ Guarded hearts speak life.
Every relationship in your life changes when gratitude becomes your default posture. Not because you force better behavior, but because your words now flow from a heart shaped by Jesus.
It’s Not All About You: Loaves, Lordship, and Letting Go of Judgment
Jesus expected His disciples to read themselves into the miracle of the loaves—to let His provision reshape how they saw themselves and what they believed He would do for them. Instead, they slipped back into fear. We often do the same thing in our relationships. Luke 6 shows us how easily we judge people by assuming their motives, especially with family, and that judgment always multiplies back into more conflict than we ever intended. The blog calls us to interrupt that cycle by using Philippians 4. Pick someone you’ve had tension with and choose to think on what’s true, lovely, admirable, and honorable about them. When you do, you break the judgment loop, heal your reactions, and let the peace of God lead your heart.
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“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
There’s a moment in Mark 6 that reveals something stunning about the heart of Jesus—and something equally stunning about the human heart. After feeding thousands from a handful of loaves, Jesus sends His disciples across the lake while He goes up to pray. A storm sweeps in, panic sets in, and when Jesus appears walking on the water, the disciples are overwhelmed with fear.
Mark says of them…
“They were greatly amazed… for they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.”
Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid, be of good cheer, I am here.” Jesus expected the miracle of the loaves to change the way they saw themselves in relation to Him, from then on. He expected them to interpret their well-being through His provision and power. He expected them to say, “If He fed thousands through us, He will surely protect and provide for us.”
They were supposed to read themselves into His miracle—to let His faithfulness reshape their self-image, their expectation, and their confidence in His lordship.
Instead, they did what we often do:
They returned to fear because they returned to the old version of themselves.
Miracles Aren’t Just Proof of What Jesus Can Do—They're Invitations to See Who We Are With and In Him
Every time Jesus reveals Himself, He is also revealing who you are in Him. If He provided for them, He will provide for you. If He calmed their storm, He will stand with you in yours. You are not the exception.
The disciples failed in this not because they didn’t remember the details of the miracle, but because they didn’t let that miracle reinterpret their expectations.
That’s the healthy way to read yourself into life’s circumstances, here’s the unhealthy way…
When Reading Yourself Into the Story Becomes a Trap
In Luke 6, Jesus teaches a principle as powerful as the feeding of the five thousand:
“Judge not, and you shall not be judged… with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you—pressed down, shaken together, and running over.”
Most people only apply this to money, but Jesus is talking about relationships.
Judgment, in the way Scripture describes it here, is not just about deciding right and wrong in your own logic. Judgment is assuming motive, attaching significance to someone’s actions in your own perspective, and then treating them according to your assumptions.
And when we do that, Jesus says it multiplies back into our lives—good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over.
Judgment is a seed too.
You sow judgment, and you reap more anger, more conflict, more strife, more relational turbulence than you ever meant to plant. This is especially true with the people closest to us.
“It’s not that our families are the most judgmental people, it’s just that we are the most judgmental and thin-skinned with our families.”
Why?
Because our identities were formed around them. We’re emotionally exposed around them. We react faster, assume quicker, and rehearse offenses longer.
We read ourselves into everything:
They didn’t text me back—are they mad?
They walked right past me—are they ignoring me?
They didn’t say thank you—do they even appreciate me?
We build entire emotional stories on fragments of information. And just like the disciples in the boat, we project our fears onto a moment that Jesus is trying to use to shape us.
Two Kinds of “Reading Yourself Into the Story”
1. The way Jesus intends:
Let His faithfulness redefine how you see yourself. Every miracle, every promise, every display of His compassion is meant to say: “This is who I am—and this is who you are with Me.”
2. The way Jesus warns us against:
Reading your insecurities, assumptions, and fears into what other people do. That’s judgment. That’s self-inflicted pain. That’s the feedback loop that keeps relationships in turmoil.
The same heart that Jesus wants to make confident in Him can quickly become the heart that assumes the worst in others.
The Hardest Homework You’ll Ever Do
Philippians 4 Homework for Your Heart
Pick one person you have had tension or strife with—
yes, that person.
Sit with the Lord and walk through Philippians 4:8 with their name in mind:
1. What is TRUE about them?
This includes who they are in Christ and the sincere good qualities they possess.
2. What is HONORABLE about them?
Where can you show respect, even if you disagree?
3. What is RIGHT?
Not “right” according to your emotions, but right according to Scripture.
4. What is PURE?
Filter out motives you’ve assumed.
5. What is LOVELY?
Yes, there is something lovely. Write it down.
6. What is ADMIRABLE?
Even one small thing counts.
7. What is EXCELLENT or PRAISEWORTHY?
How can you reinforce the good rather than rehearse the bad?
When you do this, something powerful happens:
Your heart stops reading fear and hurt into the story and starts reading love and truth into it instead.
You break the feedback loop.
You disrupt the judgment cycle.
You choose the mind of Christ over the reflex of the flesh.
And whether they change or not— you will.
The Cure for Anxiety and a Formula for Peace
When you’re facing something you feel the desire to pray about, ask yourself; Where is Jesus and who is Jesus in this situation? Are there any promises I can stand on and speak? What miracle of Jesus am I meditating on to persuade my heart of his power, character, and will in this situation?
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“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God”
Consider the Loaves
After Jesus multiplied the loaves and fish to feed thousands, Scripture says something surprising about the disciples. Mark 6:52 tells us, “They had not understood about the loaves, because their hearts were hardened.”
These were men who had seen miracles with their own eyes. They watched Jesus feed a crowd of twenty thousand people with one basket of food. They had collected the leftovers. Yet hours later, when the storm hit, they were terrified. They thought they were going to die. Jesus walks across the water, steps into their chaos, and says, “Be of good cheer. It is I; do not be afraid.”
Then the Scripture adds, “They were amazed… for they had not understood about the loaves.” In other words, their observation of the miracle of the loaves hadn’t sunk into their hearts to the degree that it affected the next problem they faced. They didn’t attach the proper amount of significance to what they saw Jesus do, to the point that it changed their expectations.
Jesus expected his disciples to ponder his miracle to the point that they shouldn’t have been afraid of the storm, and he expected them to frame their view of themselves in light of the miracle he did for thousands of people.
When we fail to meditate on what Jesus has already done—His character, His power, His heart for us—we become vulnerable to fear. The storm reveals whether we’ve truly trusted His nature. Jesus wasn’t frustrated that they didn’t have enough faith to calm the waves; He was frustrated because they doubted who He showed Himself to be. Had they remembered the loaves, they would have been at peace in the storm. Had they taken the miracle personally, in other words, adopted the mindset that he would take care of them too, they wouldn’t have been afraid, even in the face of death.
When we recall God’s faithfulness, good cheer or gratitude rises, and then gratitude brings peace. That’s what Paul was describing in Philippians 4:6–7 when he said, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Paul doesn’t just say “pray.” He says pray with thanksgiving. Why? Because thanksgiving remembers the loaves. Gratitude remembers who God is, what He’s done, and what He promises to do. Thanksgiving turns prayer from desperation into confidence.
Gratitude reminds the heart of the character of God.
A lot of us pray with fear, focused on what we lack. We pray with worry. We pray with confusion. But you can pray with thanksgiving. Why? Because you’ve remembered the loaves.
When you know who Jesus is—His character, His power, His heart—you can pray from peace, not panic. You can make your requests known to God without fear of being ignored, because you know His heart toward you. Jesus said the Father “knows what you need before you even ask.” So when you do ask, don’t ask from lack. It’s okay to acknowledge the need, but don’t root your request in worry. Root it in trust.
Jesus and the disciples recognized the need for food that day. He didn’t ignore it, but He met it with faith and compassion, not fear. Later, when they were in danger on the water, they could have expected the same kind of provision—the same heart of love, the same faithfulness that fed the multitudes. That’s the point Jesus wanted them to see. The miracle of the loaves wasn’t just about bread; it was a revelation of His character.
Jesus said, ““Be of good cheer. It is I. Don’t be afraid.” When you recognize Jesus in the situation, fear should leave.
When you’re facing something you feel the desire to pray about, ask yourself; Where is Jesus and who is Jesus in this situation? Are there any promises I can stand on and speak? What miracle of Jesus am I meditating on to persuade my heart of his power, character, and will in this situation?
Every situation in life gives us a chance to consider the loaves again—to look at the track record of God’s goodness and settle our hearts in His character. When you do that, Philippians 4:7 becomes your reality: “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Christ Jesus.”
Peace doesn’t mean every detail of your life is perfect. It means you’re anchored in a truth deeper than the chaos around you. It’s the awareness that Jesus is in the boat. It’s the confidence that the same One who multiplied the loaves will multiply provision, wisdom, and strength for whatever storm you’re facing.
Peace is not passive. It’s not the absence of problems—it’s the presence of Jesus. It’s remembering the loaves until your heart believes that He is enough.
Homework: Practice the Peace Formula
This week, take time to “consider the loaves.” Think back on what Jesus has done in your life—His power, His character, His track record of provision. Make it personal. Recall the miracles, the answered prayers, the moments when His peace carried you through.
Then use Philippians 4:8–9 as your thought process when anxiety tries to rise:
“Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report… meditate on these things.”
When something troubling happens, pause and ask:
What is true about Jesus in this situation?
What is lovely and good about His character right now?
What past evidence of His faithfulness can I remember?
Write those thoughts down. Speak them out loud with gratitude.
As you do, your heart will soften, your fear will dissolve, and peace—the kind that passes understanding—will guard your heart and mind.
Be of good cheer. Jesus is here. Don’t be afraid.
Quit Worrying About Making A Miatske
In a world that often measures worth by productivity and approval, it's easy to feel like we have to work tirelessly to earn acceptance. However, as believers in Christ, we are invited to approach our kingdom work from a place of rest, knowing that we are already approved by God through Christ's finished work. We can co-labor with Him, ceasing from our own works, resting in Christ’s completed work, and live free from the fear of scrutiny, thriving in our God-given passions and callings.
“Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest”
Laboring from Rest: Embracing God's Approval in Christ
How to Work While Resting
In a world that often measures worth by productivity and approval, it's easy to feel like we have to work tirelessly to earn acceptance. However, as believers in Christ, we are invited to approach our kingdom work from a place of rest, knowing that we are already approved by God through Christ's finished work. We can co-labor with Him, ceasing from our own works, resting in Christ’s completed work, and live free from the fear of scrutiny, thriving in our God-given passions and callings.
Not Working for Approval, But from Approval
I’m sure you have experienced the pressure of working for someone's approval—striving to be accepted. This mindset can lead to anxiety and burnout, as we constantly worry about making mistakes and being judged. But the gospel offers a different way: we are complete in Him, and what we do now is labor from completeness rather than striving to be made whole with God through trying to be holy and constant repentance..
Working While Resting in His Finished Work
The writer of Hebrews encourages us to enter God's rest:
"For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience" (Hebrews 4:8-11).
This passage reminds us that we can cease from our works because God has already completed the work of salvation. Our efforts are no longer about earning approval but living out the reality of God's finished work.
Why Can We Rest?
Paul writes in Romans:
"For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit" (Romans 8:3-4).
And in Acts, we read:
"Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses" (Acts 13:38-39).
These verses highlight the completeness of Christ's work on our behalf. Because Jesus has fulfilled the righteous requirements of the law, we are justified and forgiven. This is the foundation of our rest: the work of salvation and sanctification is complete, and we now live within that reality.
How Do You Enter God's Rest?
Entering God's rest involves a few key steps:
Repent and Believe the Gospel: Acknowledge your need for Christ and trust in His finished work.
Cease from Your Own Works to Be Approved: Stop striving for approval through your efforts and rest in the approval that comes from God.
Have a Heart of Faith Toward God: Believe what He has said about your situation and commit to trusting Him.
A Heart of Faith Toward God
To cultivate a heart of faith, we must immerse ourselves in God's promises. Do you know what He has said about your situation? Are you committed to believing Him and resting in His finished work in that area? This faith allows us to work diligently and passionately without the fear of making mistakes or being rejected.
Productivity from a Place of Rest
When we labor from rest, we become the most productive. Our work is not driven by a need for acceptance but by the freedom and security we have in Christ. We are no longer worried about making mistakes because we know that the God of unlimited provision is with us, blessing our efforts.
Laboring from rest means you can intensely work from your passion and love for people in your calling without the worry and fear of rejection. Embrace the rest that Christ offers, and let it transform the way you work and live. I encourage you to quit waiting until you feel ready to step into those kingdom passion that are stirring in your heart. Move out in love, plan well, work diligently, and thrive in your calling!
Healing is the Fruit of the Word of God in Your Heart
God is the Word and the Word is God. All things were made by the Word. The Word is alive and active. It’s in your heart to bear fruits and gifts. Today we’ll discuss the power of the Word in your heart to see healing.
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”
God has nothing else to give you because he has already given you Christ, who is everything.
It’s an illusion to think you have to convince God to give you something if you have Christ. But we still live in physical bodies, in a realm where sin and death are still active, and we have to overcome that dimension to experience those things that God has given us in Christ.
We do that by faith. But faith isn’t your power to believe; faith is your response to what God has already done in Christ. Faith is a response to God’s description of himself. Faith hears God say, “I am the Lord God, your healer,” and believes that it becomes your reality over and above any other reality, not by force but by fruit.
The spiritual things that pertain to life and godliness become realities in our lives as the fruit grows on a tree. The tree already has the genetics to bear the fruit, and given enough time, the fruit will grow without being hindered. You can take any fruit tree and plant its seeds, and those seeds will become a tree that grows more of the same fruit - UNLESS - something acts on it to make the tree unfruitful.
This is also true of the Word of God in us. It’s the way of the Kingdom that is in us, kingdom seeds bear fruit after their own kind.
Christ has been planted in you. Christ is the Word, and the Word is in you. What kind of fruit will the Word grow into you and through you if it is allowed to grow? All the fruits of the spirit and all the gifts of the spirit.
So why don’t they always grow? Because the Word gets choked out in our hearts, and our heart's capacity to bear fruit becomes unfruitful. The Word is trying to grow, but the soil/heart might be choking and disallowing it to grow.
This is why some people are healed, and some aren’t. It is why things seem to work for people in strength, not those in fear.
It’s not because some people have more faith; it’s because some people are more convinced of the capacity of that Word in their lives that they keep their hearts in a receptive state, which allows them to grow into fruit. Your faith doesn’t make the Word grow or move God. The role of your faith is to persuade your heart of God’s truth so it stays open and allows the Word/Kingdom in you to grow, and it will unless you stop it.
The Word is Alive in You
In the beginning was the Word. The Word was and is God. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Everything made was made by him, for him, and through him. Who? Jesus, the living Word of God. And now Christ is in you, so the Word is in you. The Word, which was and is God and made everything, is in you. It lives where your spirit and soul meet. It lives in your joints and bone marrow. It’s in the deepest aspects of your being, spirit, soul, and body.
What’s it doing in there?
It’s seeking to grow and bear fruit. Your role is to agree with its/his intent and believe. The fruit of the Word of God, the fruit of Christ in you, will grow on its own. You just have to make sure you don’t choke it from growing into your physical body and life by worrying, caring too much about the things of the world, lusting after other things, and being deceived by money.
The absence of those things don’t convince God to do things for you, it’s a matter of the heart. The heart is the governor that allows the Word to bear fruit or chokes it.
Between Two Realms
We live where the carnal and spiritual realms overlap. We have physical bodies, but we are spirits by nature. We experience the realities of the physical dimension, but we can also experience the spiritual realities that Jesus came to give us. He said that he came so we could have abundant life. Life is spiritual.
Like an airplane that weighs tons can fly through the air because the law of lift superseded the law of gravity, we can experience spiritual realities as they supersede physical laws. Jesus didn’t break natural law of the surface tension of water as it relates to a human body, he walked in a spiritual reality in which the created material particles of this world rearranged themselves to serve the will of the creator.
We can experience spiritual realities because the spirit of the living, all-powerful God has joined himself to our spirit. We have been delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of Jesus Christ. We are in the realm of God’s spiritual kingdom, while at the same time, we’re in the realm of physical creation.
God is the Word, and the Word is God. All things were made by the Word. The Word is alive and active. It’s in your heart to bear fruits and gifts.
Things you can do to ensure your heart stays sensitive to His Word
Put on the new man in your mind
Hold the Word of God in your heart until it’s possible
Repentance (turn from sin and get your thoughts and actions in alignment with God’s ways). Repentance is the acknowledgment of what Christ has done for you.
from my God Our Healer series
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God Wants To Provide For You Because You Are Valuable to Him
God declares Himself as your provider, a good Father who desires to bless and care for you. His ability to provide is independent of the economy, the stock market, or any other human systems we typically rely on. God's provision is spiritual in nature. Join us today as we explore the spiritual nature of His provision.
#1 from The Spiritual Nature of Provision
“Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns—and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
God loves you and wants to provide for you because you are valuable to Him. He sees you as part of His family and wants to help you along in life. He doesn’t just want to meet your needs according to the world’s standards, He wants to bless you according to His Kingdom’s standards. God is not affected by the earth’s economy.
Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
God is the creator of everything. He knows how everything works. He is more than capable of blessing you even amid famine or wandering in a desert.
2 Corinthians 9:8, 11 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
If you want to break out of the cage this world imposes on you financially and experience what it’s like to have access to all of God’s resources, there are just a few shifts you need to make in your thinking and your finances.
Of course, God’s provision is not just money. It’s first and foremost deliverance from sin and death by giving us salvation by grace through faith in Christ. God then supplies grace to our hearts so we can be strengthened by Him and be comforted into the image of Christ, walking in love toward others and exercising Christ’s authority for ministry toward others. But for you to be able to be generous on every occasion, we must live how God prescribes.
Consider this passage. Proverbs 11:24 One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.
Do you believe that when you give freely, you will gain more? If not, then it’s time to repent (change your thinking) and believe the Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. In God’s Kingdom, charity and generosity are like seeds that produce provision for you. It’s not because God sees the act and then chooses to bless you; He already set in motion our connection with His spiritual Kingdom, and this is how it works.
In addition to engineering His spiritual realm to bless those who give cheerfully, He also gives us His Spirit so we’ll know everything He has given us and how to walk in it.
1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the Spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
It’s like we can’t lose if we are willing to live in relation to His Kingdom and the way He designed it. So how do we do that?
Proverbs 11:25 A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
Proverbs 19:17 Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.
Proverbs 22:9 A generous man will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
I will make no empty or spiritual-sounding promises to you about sowing into our ministry or anyone’s ministry. I will only encourage you to consider living according to God’s Kingdom rather than this world’s broken carnal systems. Wisdom still lives debt-free, saves for emergencies, plans for the future, and leaves an inheritance to our children, but we are not limited to trading hours of our lives for dollars.
God’s system of provision is much more efficient and rewarding, but you must engage it willingly from the heart. Just because you do charity does not mean God is obligated to bless you, that’s self-righteousness. The sweet spot of living generously and experiencing God’s Kingdom provision is when you give with joy and gratitude. and If you give and you feel a sense of lack, like you are giving away something you are going to need, as if your future depends on it, then you need to change your thinking to reflect giving as seed planting, just like how God tells us His Kingdom works. Start today! Be a joyful, cheerful giver and watch His Kingdom provision grow in your life.
Of course, I invite you to sow into Forward Ministries, but even more so, I want to encourage you to stop living according to the world's economy with your finances and use them how God prescribes, on every occasion.
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A Study on what Jesus Taught about the Holy Spirit
My study notes on what Jesus taught about the Holy Spirit from John 14, 15, and 16.
In my last blog I recommend this study exercise: read through John chapters 14, 15, and 16 and make a list of all the things Jesus teaches about the Holy Spirit. Get a vision for how you can experience each attribute in specific areas of your life. Then, as you live each day, look for ways to be filled with His Spirit; in other words, look for ways to yield to His influence and power (grace) in those moments. Know Him and how he operates, and then expect to experience Him practically, whether for fruit or gifts.
Homework Notes
Key teachings of Jesus about the Holy Spirit from John chapters 14, 15, and 16.
John 14
Helper/Advocate (Paraclete):
"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever" (John 14:16).
Spirit of Truth:
"Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you" (John 14:17).
Teacher and Reminder:
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you" (John 14:26).
John 15
Testifies About Jesus:
"But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me" (John 15:26).
Empowers Witness:
"And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning" (John 15:27).
John 16
Coming After Jesus' Departure:
"Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you" (John 16:7).
Convicts the World:
"And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment" (John 16:8).
"Concerning sin, because they do not believe in me" (John 16:9).
"Concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer" (John 16:10).
"Concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged" (John 16:11).
Guides into All Truth:
"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come" (John 16:13).
Glorifies Jesus:
"He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you" (John 16:14).
Reveals Jesus' Teachings:
"All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you" (John 16:15).
Easy Way to Memorize the Attributes of the Holy Spirit in John 14-16
Acronym: H.E.L.P.E.R. G.U.I.D.E.
H - Helper/Advocate
E - Empowers witness
L - Leads into all truth
P - Proceeds from the Father
E - Exposes (Convicts) the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment
R - Reminds believers of Jesus’ teachings
G - Glorifies Jesus
U - Understands (teaches) all things
I - Informs (declares) what is to come
D - Dwells with and in believers
E - Enables remembrance
Practical Ways to Experience the Holy Spirit in Life’s Situations
1. Helper/Advocate
Situation: Facing a difficult decision.
Experience: Pray for guidance, trust that the Holy Spirit will provide wisdom and clarity.
2. Empowers Witness
Situation: Sharing your faith with others.
Experience: Feel a sense of boldness and clarity in your words, knowing the Spirit is empowering your testimony.
3. Leads into All Truth
Situation: Studying the Bible or seeking to understand complex issues.
Experience: Sense of deeper understanding and insight as the Holy Spirit illuminates the scriptures and truth.
4. Proceeds from the Father
Situation: Seeking a deeper relationship with God.
Experience: A sense of connection and communication with the Father through prayer and worship.
5. Exposes (Convicts) the World of Sin, Righteousness, and Judgment
Situation: Feeling conviction about a personal sin or witnessing societal injustice.
Experience: A clear sense of conviction leading to repentance and a desire for righteousness.
6. Reminds Believers of Jesus’ Teachings
Situation: Needing comfort or direction in times of stress or confusion.
Experience: Recollection of scripture and Jesus’ words that bring comfort and guidance.
7. Glorifies Jesus
Situation: Worship and daily life.
Experience: A focus on Jesus and a desire to honor Him in actions, thoughts, and words.
8. Understands (Teaches) All Things
Situation: Learning and growing in faith.
Experience: Moments of enlightenment where complex concepts of faith become clear.
9. Informs (Declares) What is to Come
Situation: Making future plans or seeking direction.
Experience: Sense of peace and direction, feeling led towards certain actions or decisions.
10. Dwells with and in Believers
Situation: Everyday life and moments of solitude.
Experience: Constant sense of companionship, never feeling truly alone as the Spirit is always present.
11. Enables Remembrance
Situation: Needing to recall important teachings of Jesus or biblical principles.
Experience: Timely recollection of scripture and teachings that apply to current situations.
Daily Practices to Foster the Holy Spirit’s Presence
Prayer: Regular, sincere prayer invites the Holy Spirit to guide and empower.
Bible Study: Consistent reading and studying of the Scriptures allow the Holy Spirit to teach and remind.
Worship: Engaging in worship helps believers feel the presence and guidance of the Spirit.
Fellowship: Participating in a faith community provides opportunities to experience the Spirit’s work through others.
Obedience: Following the Spirit’s guidance in everyday decisions strengthens awareness and sensitivity to His presence.
Reflection: Taking time to reflect on experiences and recognizing the Spirit’s influence in various aspects of life.
Using the acronym H.E.L.P.E.R. G.U.I.D.E. and these practical applications can help believers remember and actively seek the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit in their daily lives.
For more on this topic, check out these series.
➡️ The Ministry of the Holy Spirit series: Download | Watch | Listen
➡️ Grace and the Supernatural series: Download | Listen
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Pentecost: The Promise of Power
Thank you for joining us for Pentecost Sunday! Today we celebrate one of the greatest promises fulfilled, the giving of the Holy Spirit God’s spirit dwelling in the believer is the source of regeneration, salvation, and continual life in Christ. God’s Spirit living in you will bear fruit through you and empower you to minister God’s will to others. His Spirit will guide and correct you, He will give you strength and healing, and He will always remind you what Christ has accomplished for you.
“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.”
You either have the Spirit of God dwelling in you, or you don’t. At Salvation, God puts a new spirit in you and even places His own Spirit in you. It’s like a marriage covenant where we become betrothed to God. His Spirit is the seal of the eternal covenant we enter with God through Christ. If you believe that God sent Jesus to save you, you have been born again and God has placed His Spirit in you, period, end of story.
1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
The baptism of the Spirit and, subsequently, living filled with the Spirit are not all about praying on tongues. That is a capacity or a gift that you can use once God lives in you, but it’s not the culmination or the sole “evidence” of having God’s spirit.
Look at these instances from Acts where believers who already received the spirit became filled with the spirit.
In Acts 4:8 filled with the Spirit and spoke with wisdom to the rulers of the people and elders of Israel
In Acts 4:31 filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke the word of God with boldness
In Acts 13:8 Paul filled with the Spirit gets a word of knowledge about Elymas the sorcerer and rebukes him
So what’s my point?
My point is that if you have placed your faith in Christ, you are indeed complete in Him, and you lack nothing. You don’t need to wait for a separate infilling of the Spirit. You don’t need to receive an aspect of God’s Spirit that you didn’t already receive. And you don’t have to have someone else lay hands on you to get more of God. You either have the Spirit, or you don’t.
What’s Missing?
Once you are born again and God takes up residence in you, it’s your choice to live “filled with the Spirit.” Filled means to be under the influence of or permeated with. You can have God's Spirit in you, but you are not yielding to His influence on your life. You might be born again, but you are not putting on the Spirit or intentionally choosing to allow the Spirit to empower you.
The fruits of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit (including tongues) work in you and through you by grace through faith. Meaning that you believe, and then you experience the influence, power, or manifestation of His spirit in the form of wisdom, healing, fruit, gifts, inspiration to preach, and a host of other capacities.
For the record, the Greek word for “receive” is lambano, which means:
to take with the hand
lay hold of, any person or thing in order to use it
to take up a thing to be carried
to take upon one's self
See the full lexicon entry here: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2983/kjv/tr/0-1/
To receive the Spirit is to lay hold of it and take it upon oneself to use it. We have this idea that the Spirit chooses to fall on people in His own timing, and you just have to wait for it to happen, but that is not what the definition indicates. And if you re-read the stories in Acts where people received the Spirit, they were either ignorant of the Spirit or were born again and had not yet laid hold of the Spirit to be empowered by Him.
Choose to Yield
God is not going to control you; you must choose to yield to His influence in your heart. If you want to experience the power of His Spirit, you must make an intentional and conscious choice in the situation in which you need His power to yield to Him, to lay hold of His Spirit, and become filled in that specific moment. You carry His Spirit; He’s in you, and He’s not going to leave, but you have to allow Him to empower you, which is an act of faith.
Quit waiting and choose.
Study and Application Exercise
I recommend this study exercise: read through John chapters 14, 15, and 16 and make a list of all the things Jesus teaches about the Holy Spirit. Get a vision for how you can experience each attribute in specific areas of your life. Then, as you live each day, look for ways to be filled with His Spirit; in other words, look for ways to yield to His influence and power (grace) in those moments.
Know Him and how he operates, and then expect to experience Him practically, whether for fruit or gifts.
I’ll post another blog after this one for use as a study guide. Once you have completed this exercise, send me an email on how it affects you.
For more on this topic, check out these series.
➡️ The Ministry of the Holy Spirit series: Download | Watch | Listen
➡️ Grace and the Supernatural series: Download | Listen
➡️ Become a Member to Download ALL my Series and Meditations
➡️ Help me reach more people! Give a One-Time or Recurring Donation