How can Christians distinguish a spiritual experience from the leading of the Holy Spirit? Doreen Virtue explains why every experience, feeling, and spiritual claim must be tested by Scripture. True work of the Holy Spirit points believers to Jesus Christ, convicts of sin, comforts in trials, and leads God's people in biblical truth. For more biblical answers to your questions, visit https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-qa/

A brief bit of encouragement for the journey from God's Word. Today's Scripture reading: 2 Samuel 24 To support this devotional ministry: https://faithbaptiststerling.com/give/ Music: "Awaken the Dawn" by Stanton Lanier https://www.stantonlanier.com CCLI #20109360

Pastor Tim covers Acts 12:6-18, detailing the Apostle Peter's miraculous escape from Herod's prison.

This sermon examines Revelation 9:1-12, interpreting the fifth trumpet judgment as the unleashing of demonic forces upon the earth during the tribulation. The preacher identifies the fallen star holding the key to the bottomless pit as Satan and describes the resulting plague of locust-like demons that torment the unsaved for five months without killing them. Emphasizing the reality of hell and the severity of divine judgment, the message highlights the protection offered to believers who bear God's seal. The tone is urgent and convicting, aiming to motivate listeners toward evangelism by illustrating the desperate need for salvation before eternal consequences. Ultimately, the passage serves as a call to trust in Jesus Christ to escape the coming wrath.

This devotional explores how the Word of God enables believers to persevere in faith by acting as a living and active force that penetrates the human heart. It contrasts the Bible with mere informational media, emphasizing its unique ability to expose sin and discern the intentions of the soul through the Holy Spirit. The preacher illustrates this penetrating work using medical metaphors, describing how divine truth convicts and cuts away spiritual disease to bring about sanctification. Despite the discomfort of conviction, this process serves as evidence of God's love and confirms one's identity as a child of God. Ultimately, the Word both judges and heals, guiding believers toward eternal rest in God's presence.

The sermon explores the theological concept of Gentile inclusion in God's covenant, using the biblical narrative of Leah and Jacob to illustrate how those outside the original promise are grafted into the family of God. Drawing heavily from Romans and Ephesians, the speaker emphasizes that salvation is not earned through lineage or works but is received solely through faith in the blood of Christ. The message highlights the imputation of Christ's righteousness to believers and assures them of immediate presence with the Lord upon death, rejecting any notion of purgatory. Urging listeners to recognize their past separation from God, the preacher presents the gospel as a free gift available to all who call upon the name of Jesus. The central intent is to convict those outside the faith to repentance while comforting believers with the security of their eternal inheritance.

This sermon continues to establish a theological foundation for understanding why God allows evil by exploring the attributes of God's sovereignty, specifically His counsel and will. It defines God's counsel as the expression of His infinite wisdom revealed through Scripture, urging believers to delight in His Word rather than the advice of the ungodly. The preacher distinguishes between God's revealed will, which is known and can be obeyed, and His permissive will, which is ultimately used to accomplish His perfect purposes. Emphasizing that God desires all men to be saved and calls for holy living, the message warns against rejecting divine instruction while acknowledging that God permits human disobedience without compromising His own nature. The central intent is to comfort believers with the certainty of God's wisdom and to convict them to align their lives with the clear directives found in the Bible.

The sermon explores the Christian life as a continuous walk in the Spirit, defined by gradual progress in sanctification rather than immediate perfection. It contrasts this spiritual movement with the lust of the flesh, explaining that stopping one's forward momentum allows self-reliance and sin to regain mastery. The speaker emphasizes that believers cannot fulfill their desire to please God through their own strength but must rely entirely on the Holy Spirit through persistent prayer and humility. By plainly recognizing the works of the flesh with godly conviction, Christians can experience true repentance and restoration. Ultimately, walking in the Spirit empowers believers to overcome sin and bear fruit that honors God.