In John 14 and 15 we find the record of our Lord’s principal teachings about the Holy Spirit’s ministry to believers, and in these chapters we will also find access to miracles of a kind that those true to the Bible can expect to see.

Remember the Lord’s promise of blessing for obedience when making decisions about your future. Do not leave Him out of the equation of your life when deciding which path you will take. True success in life is a byproduct of obedience to His Word (Joshua 1:8).

Have you ever realized God was leading you to do something, but you thought, “I don’t think I can do this”? I have often said that everything God has done in my life has surprised me. But, I have also learned that each time the Lord wants to accomplish something through our lives, we must submit in three important ways.

You can’t miss the urgency and passion with which Jesus carried out His ministry. Throughout His life on Earth, He was busy about the Father’s business. As young as a twelve-year-old He said, “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49).

I am so glad that our God has given us many promises and that He absolutely performs His promises. I have never been disappointed in the faithfulness of our Lord as He has been true to His Word time and time again in my life.

I remember, as a boy, the day my parents brought home our first television set. The picture was in black and white, and very “snowy” because the closest stations were fifty miles away. It was a huge technological jump, however, from listening to a religious broadcast or the news on the radio that sat in the corner of our kitchen.

Every spiritual leader, including the pastor (actually, especially the pastor) needs personal and spiritual accountability. I have gathered a team of godly men with whom I meet (sometimes on the phone, but often in person) on a regular basis for accountability.

Hannah’s story is about far more than intensity in prayer. It is about a woman who poured out her heart to everyone but God. And it is about the change God worked in her when she poured out her heart to Him.

Each year, as a part of our stewardship campaign, we have men from our church give stewardship testimonies. We generally have a testimony every Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night for a month, and two or three additional testimonies at our stewardship banquet.

Preaching of the Word of God has been central for us. The Bible reminds us in 2 Timothy 4:2, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” God has chosen to change lives through the preaching of His Word. God uses His Word to build the lives of His people.