Spirits on SermonAudio

In John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress, few figures offer a more sobering warning to the traveling soul than the character Temporary. Living in the town of Grace-less, right next door to Turn-back, Temporary begins his journey with intense zeal—weeping over his sins, seeking godly counsel, and setting his face resolutely toward the Celestial City. Yet, despite his bright start and genuine emotional stirrings, his zeal quickly cools, he aligns himself with a man named Save-self, and he slides back into total spiritual ruin. Through this tragic figure, Bunyan illustrates what Puritan theologians like Thomas Goodwin, John Owen, Jonathan Edwards, and A. W. Pink identified as the "common influences" of the Holy Spirit—a work that can enlighten the mind, stir the emotions, and reform outward behavior without ever regenerating the heart. Temporary's story is not a tale of open hypocrisy, but a compelling, cautionary study in the vital difference between a temporary emotional reaction to the truth and a permanent, heart-transforming union with Jesus Christ.

Jesus gave the apostles and the seventy-two direct power over unclean spirits... but is that authority universal, or was it unique to them? Kevin and Josh work through Luke 10, Acts, and Ephesians 6 to ask what delegated authority actually means for believers today. Should we be casting out demons?

The sermon exhorts believers to live conduct worthy of the gospel by maintaining unity and remaining unafraid in the face of opposition. Drawing primarily from Philippians 1, the message emphasizes that Christians are called to stand firm together, mirroring the spiritual DNA found in historic creeds and confessions. It contrasts the terror induced by modern media and political rhetoric with the assurance provided by God's sealing of the Holy Spirit. The preacher argues that suffering for Christ is a granted privilege that confirms salvation, while opposition serves as proof of perdition for adversaries. Ultimately, the text encourages the audience to find safety and strength in their eternal inheritance rather than reacting to transient worldly threats.

Wednesday Evening service at Calvary Baptist Pastor Tracy Puckett We are an old fashioned, Independent Missionary Baptist Church, with Holy Ghost, King James preaching, and spirit filled singing. We invite you to come and be a part of our church family. Our doors are always open, and we hope that you and your family will come and experience the love of God here at Calvary! "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. (Psalm 122:1)"

The sermon explores the critical importance of self-control by examining Proverbs 25:28, which compares an unbridled spirit to a city with broken walls. It illustrates how unchecked emotions, desires, and impulses gradually erode personal integrity and expose individuals to spiritual danger and destructive consequences for themselves and others. The speaker emphasizes that true strength lies not in conquering external enemies but in mastering one's own inner nature through the discipline of temperance. Ultimately, the message asserts that believers cannot rely on their own willpower alone but must depend on the Holy Spirit to rebuild these protective boundaries and maintain spiritual vigilance against temptation.

The message addresses the urgent need for sexual purity in a culture saturated with immorality, grounding its argument in 1 Thessalonians 4. It defines sanctification as God's explicit will for believers to abstain from sexual sin and emphasizes that this standard is not achievable through human effort alone but requires reliance on the Holy Spirit. The speaker highlights the destructive consequences of sexual impurity on individuals and communities, warning against the illusion that grace removes all earthly repercussions for unrepentant sin. Practical steps for maintaining purity are outlined, including setting strict boundaries, filling the mind with godly thoughts, and establishing accountability within brotherhood. Ultimately, the message calls men to pursue a deep relationship with God as the foundation for overcoming temptation and living a holy life.

The sermon explores the Christian walk of faith, love, and hope as described in Colossians 1, emphasizing the necessity of bearing spiritual fruit through the Holy Spirit. It encourages believers to cultivate a deep prayer life that seeks wisdom and understanding rather than merely requesting physical healing or relief. The preacher illustrates how God patiently guides individuals toward truth, using personal anecdotes to demonstrate that enduring trials with gratitude keeps burdens light. Central to the message is the reconciliation achieved through Christ's blood, which delivers believers from darkness into His kingdom of light. Ultimately, the text calls the audience to rejoice continually, trusting in God's sovereignty and the promise of perfection found in Jesus Christ.

THE UNSEEN WORK — REMOVING THE VEIL 1. Biblical Example: The Church at Thessalonica The church at Thessalonica demonstrates what happens when the gospel transforms a community. Paul preached Jesus, reasoned from the Scriptures, and lived out the gospel before the people. The Thessalonians received the Word even amid affliction, followed the Lord, turned from idols, served the living and true God, and waited for Jesus' return. Their faith became an example to other believers, and the message of the Lord sounded forth from them throughout Macedonia, Achaia, and beyond. Their visible transformation, however, had an unseen cause: God's work through the Holy Spirit. Paul could preach, explain, persuade, and model the gospel, but only God could remove the spiritual veil and enable people to see the glory of Christ. 2. A Biblical Vision of Salvation: God Removes the Veil (The Seen and Unseen Evidence of Saving Grace) Humanity is spiritually blind because of sin and the influence of Satan. People do not naturally recognize the worth of Christ or turn to God on their own. Their hearts and minds are covered by spiritual darkness. Yet God can command light to shine into dark hearts. Through the gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit, He removes the veil, convicts people of sin, reveals the righteousness of Christ, and warns them of judgment. When God removes the veil, people see the emptiness of idols and turn to the living and true God. They begin to serve Him and wait for Jesus' return. Salvation is not produced by human persuasion, religious effort, or moral improvement. It is accomplished by God through the gospel, the Holy Spirit, and faith in Jesus Christ. God alone g