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The present-day operation of all spiritual gifts and the experiential dimension of the Holy Spirit.
Key question: “How is the Holy Spirit actively manifesting His power and gifts in the church today?”
23,549 sermon illustrations through the Charismatic lens
"'Do not be conformed to this world'—the world of white supremacy, of unjust systems, of oppressive patterns. The renewed mind sees through lies and imagines freedom. Transformation is liberation: minds freed from internalized oppression, bodies offered for the struggle." — James Cone.
"God is not indifferent. He cares—tenderly, personally, like a mother for her child. 'Cast your cares' because the Father's arms are always open. This is the tenderness of God: He delights in taking our burdens. We pray, we confess, we...
"As we see prophetic signs increasing, anxiety rises. But God's care remains constant through changing ages. Whatever dispensation, whatever era, the believer can cast cares on the unchanging God. He who holds the future holds your today." — Warren Wiersbe.
"'You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies'—the oppressed eat while oppressors watch. This is reversal, vindication, dignity restored. The poor feast; the powerful see. God sets the liberation banquet in plain sight of those who...
"I wrote from prison: 'I believe God will give us all the power we need to resist... I believe God will bring good out of evil.' Jeremiah 29:11 is a prison letter to exiles. Hope is not freedom from captivity...
"David wrote this Psalm looking forward to the Messiah-Shepherd. Israel awaits the fulfillment when Messiah reigns and literally shepherds His people. But in this church age, we too have the Good Shepherd caring for us until He comes again to shepherd all nations." — J.
"'You anoint my head with oil'—this is the Spirit's overflow! The shepherd didn't just dab oil; he poured until the cup ran over. God doesn't give the Spirit by measure. When He anoints, He anoints abundantly, lavishly, overflowingly. Expect the overflow!" — A.W.
"In Jesus Christ God has said Yes to humanity. The giving of the Son is the great divine Yes that precedes and grounds every other word from God.
"The substance of faith is Christ; the evidence is Christ. What is hoped for is Christ's kingdom; what is unseen is Christ reigning. Faith is not belief in beliefs but trust in a Person. Christ is what faith grasps; Christ...
"Eternal life is not just endless existence but the life of the age to come—resurrection life, new creation life. Sin's wages are death, the undoing of creation. God's gift is life, the renewal of all things. In Christ, we receive...
"Mission is not essentially an action by which the church puts forth its own power and wisdom to conquer the world around it; it is an action of God, putting forth the power of his Spirit to bring the universal...
"What are God's plans? In Ephesians we learn: to unite all things in Christ. The 'hope and future' of Jeremiah 29:11 finds its ultimate meaning in Christ. He IS the plan. Every promise of hope converges on Him. Our future...
"In this dispensation, the church holds Israel's calling temporarily: a royal priesthood, a holy nation. Until Israel's restoration, we bear witness. Our identity is unique to this age—chosen from Jews and Gentiles alike, a new people declaring His praises until He comes." — Warren Wiersbe.
The devil wants you terrified, paralyzed, hopeless. But God says 'Be strong!' This is gospel against fear. When terror comes, cling to the Word: 'I am with you.' Christ has conquered; what can man or devil do? A mighty fortress...
"For the JOY set before Him, Jesus endured the cross. What was that joy? The joy of redemption accomplished, new creation begun, His people gathered. We run toward that same joy—the renewal of all things. The race is run toward...
"God has plans—but notice the call to seek, to pray, to build, to plant. Divine plans don't bypass human participation. Hope and a future come as we cooperate with what God is doing. The promise is not passive; it's an invitation to partner." — E.
"The Sermon on the Mount describes kingdom people—and kingdom people are visible. The city cannot be hidden because the kingdom cannot be hidden. Good works announce the arrival of God's reign. The world sees and asks: 'What makes these people...
"Yes, you'll have trouble—Jesus said so! But TAKE HEART! He has OVERCOME! That means YOU can overcome! The same power that raised Jesus lives in you! Don't let trouble defeat you; the Victor lives inside you! Shout it: I am...
"The cloud of witnesses includes the martyrs of Latin America—Oscar Romero, the Salvadoran martyrs, all who gave their lives for justice. They ran the race of faith confronting oppression. Jesus endured the cross—solidarity with the crucified. We run toward liberation,...
"The Christian life is a race—not a sprint but a marathon requiring endurance. We are surrounded by witnesses, encouraged by their example. We lay aside every weight—not just sins but anything that slows us.
"Fear has to do with judgment—but believers will not face condemnation. Perfect love assures us: in the day of judgment, we will have confidence. As end-times events intensify, fear may rise—but God's love is greater. Those who know His love...
"In the interior castle of the soul, stillness awaits. 'Be still and know'—this is the prayer of quiet, the contemplative rest in God's presence. Through silence and solitude, we enter deeper rooms of union. In stillness, God speaks; in knowing, we are transformed." — St.
"The waters and fires are sanctifying—they purify, they test, they strengthen. We pass THROUGH, not around. Grace sustains us in the passing; we emerge transformed. This is prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying grace at work: God with us through every refining fire." — John Wesley.
"By faith we are ingrafted into Christ so that His death becomes ours. We are not merely inspired by His example; we participate in His crucifixion. His death is our death, legally and mystically. This is the heart of union with Christ." — John Calvin.