But you, my friends, must fortify yourselves in your most sacred faith. Continue to pray in the power of the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in the love of God, and look forward to the day when our Lord Jesus Christ in his mercy will give eternal life. Jude 20-21 New English Bible

Fortify yourselves in your most sacred faith. These verses show us ways we can be strengthened. We need strength from God because the things He has called us to do cannot be achieved by our own human effort. “He who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4b).

Continue to pray in the power of the Holy Spirit. Aren’t you glad that God sent the Holy Spirit? He is the fortifier and strengthener, and His “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12 NKJV) is available to guide and lead us. The spiritual effects of praying in the Spirit are similar to the physical effects of exercise. Prayer will fortify you so that you won’t faint or lose heart (Luke 18:1). Instead, you can be strengthened “with power through His Spirit in the inner man” (Ephesians 3:16).

Keep yourselves in the love of God. To stay in the love walk with others, we must first understand our spiritual roots: that we are loved and accepted by God. When Jesus comes into our world, He changes us on the inside. Instead of bitterness controlling us, “the love of Christ controls us” (2 Corinthians 5:14).

[I pray] That He [The Lord] would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19

The fruit of the Spirit can work in your life. As we fortify ourselves by getting in the Word, praying in the Spirit, and continually walking in love, we will become more sensitive to the subtle promptings of the Holy Spirit. We will walk in the Spirit, not in the flesh. We will be less dull and more perceptive, less static and more dynamic, less fleshly and more spiritual! We will grow stronger, and the fruit of the Spirit will show up powerfully in our lives.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Ephesians 5:22-23

God bless you!
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2011 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every blessing that is ours in the Messiah. Philemon 1:6 ISV

Ac•knowl•edge v. To admit the existence, reality, or truth of; to recognize as being valid or having force or power; to express thanks or gratitude for.*

Jesus has done something so great—we have so much to be thankful for. Getting saved is the best feature of your life. And now you’ve been given the mission to communicate this amazing truth of the gospel of Jesus.

But how can we spark a hunger in others if we’re not really excited about what God has supplied? How can we be joyous about it if it’s dull to us, or inform people if we aren’t familiar with it? That’s why we need to delve into the Scriptures and find out what God has done for us. We have been blessed with every blessing that heaven has itself (Ephesians 1:3). We could spend a lifetime discovering and understanding what those amazing blessings are.

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37

You don’t have to “feel” spiritual in order to be used by God. As you press through the attack of the enemy and stay sensitive to the Holy Spirit, you will have moments of impact that can precipitate change in a family, a neighborhood, a region.

People can tell you’ve been with Jesus, not because of your superior speech but because of the authentic presence and power of God (1 Corinthians 2:1-5). God has given you the heart of a conqueror (Romans 8:37), so shake off the heaviness, fear, and doubt and be ready to intercept broken lives.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:19

God is faithful!
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2011 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. ISV verse taken from the International Standard Version®. Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation. *The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at . . . the hour of prayer. And a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along . . . When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, “Look at us!” And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!” Acts 3:1-6

Some of the most effective and miraculous things happen in the in-between, seemingly random moments.

These guys, Peter and John, were on their way to a prayer meeting and encountered a person in need. They didn’t have any cash on them, but they had something far better. You may not feel like you have everything figured out, but you have something substantial in your life that is transmittable—“What I do have I give.”

“. . . Be ready in season and out of season.” (2 Timothy 4:2a)

In the most unassuming moments, major things can take place. When Jesus was tired from His journey, wanting water at the well, He encountered a lady with a troubled past, who was dismissed by society. And yet, after her encounter with Jesus, she became the catalyst for her entire Samaritan city (John 4).

There is always going to be a broken person “on the way to the temple,” when you’re tired from traveling, when you’re at the grocery store or your kid’s soccer game. And if you stay sensitive to the subtle promptings of the Holy Spirit you can end up benefiting the lives of the people you encounter.

Renew your willingness to obey God in the middle of your daily routine. Every day get up with an expectation that the anointing of the Holy Spirit can and will flow through you.

Press On!
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2010 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. 2 Chronicles 16:9a

God is looking for people who will give their hearts to Him. He’s not looking for methodology or fancy pants know-it-alls. God is looking for people He can use—people of prayer, people who are yielded to and following Him, people who are sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

Don’t underestimate the value of everyday life. The least-noticed things are facilitating the greatest impact. The real world changers in World War II were not just the guys on the battlefield—they were also the people under the ground digging up the coal to fuel the world. The real changers are the Rosa Parks of the world, who take a stand for justice at the end of a hard work day, or Mrs. Everest, Winston Churchill’s nanny, who cared for him when no one else did and took the time to tell him about Jesus. These people in their normal everyday lives shaped the future.

You and I have this little life moment to communicate Jesus to our generation. It’s about lifting up Jesus and obeying the voice of the Holy Spirit when you go to the grocery store, when you get gas, at the office, with your kids at the playground—God loves doing extravagant things in what seems like common moments.

Your life is valuable. The rest of the world won’t reinforce that—it will either belittle and undermine your life and mission, or support narcissism. So lay aside the mindset of “How am I going to figure out my deal?” and just go to the feet of Jesus and say, “Okay, God, accomplish through me what You desire.” It’s amazing what God can do with an obedient heart.

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

God bless you!
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2010 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

When the man went out toward the east with a line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he led me through the water, water reaching the ankles. Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the knees. Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the loins. Again he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not ford, for the water had risen, enough water to swim in, a river that could not be forded. Ezekiel 47:3-5

There’s rich symbolism in those words that God inspired Ezekiel to write. The river is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, and God has called every one of us believers to flow in it.

Ankle deep water symbolizes our walk in the Spirit. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). Every day we are being invited to get out of our beds and not let our primal instincts govern us but, instead, to walk by the Spirit.

Knee deep water reveals the importance of getting on our knees and praying. “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18). We are at our best when we make our prayer life central.

Loin deep water represents serving in the Spirit. Your loins are the part of your body where your leverage comes from, and when these muscles are being worked, you have a greater bounce in your step. We are to translate our walk and prayer in the Spirit into action by serving in the Spirit. “Serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials . . .” (Acts 20:19).

Enough to swim in. Now you are completely saturated with the rivers of living water: “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). Let’s get filled with the Holy Spirit and let it spill out into all of life.

Jesus said, “‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, “From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.”’ But this He spoke of the Spirit.” (John 7:37b-38). Christianity is not meant to be a sub-culture contained in a reservoir, but a mighty flowing river of God bringing healing to the nations.

Jump in – the water’s fine!
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2010 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:5

God’s love does not originate from our niceness—it’s been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit!

Our first increase of love needs to be toward God. We can start well in our love walk and then drift if we aren’t connected to the source. The believers in the Ephesian church, despite all their good works and perseverance, were held accountable by God because they left their first love (Revelation 2:4). If we’ve let our love grow cold, there is a way to get strengthened so that once again our love for God is central. “Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first” (Revelation 2:5a).

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11

The love walk is the most vital thing you can be doing right now. As you renew your dedication to grow in your relationship with God and walk in love toward others, a by-product will be a sharpened understanding of the next steps you should take in life. As you are seeking God first, the other concerns in life will start to work out according to God’s will (Matthew 6:33)!

Press on!
Pastor Jeff

Copyright © 2009 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:26-28

We are called to a dynamic life of prayer, but not alone: we have the advantage of the Holy Spirit’s help. Prayer is going before the Lord with the authority He’s delegated to us and exerting that influence by the power of the name of Jesus to impact the world we live in. Great social changes are attributed to believers who prayed.

Pray frequently. God has called us to pray all the time (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Prayer is not a dutiful thing—the Holy Spirit is activating us to do business with God and push back darkness. So get in the habit of praying the first two minutes of everything you do: when you get on an airplane, right before an important phone call, before a test, in the car. Get in the habit of taking everything to God in prayer.

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18 NKJV*

Pray passionately. “The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]” (James 5:16b AMP**). Pray specifically. Know specifically what you are believing God for. And if you don’t know exactly what to pray, the Holy Spirit is right there to intercede on your behalf.

God wants our church to have a revolutionary experience in terms of fruitfulness. Revolutionary things happen in these times of prayer. When you get up in the morning pray 120 seconds: praise God and worship Him, pray for wisdom, pray out what you know to pray, pray in the Spirit, pray out things about your future, pray out things that bug you. “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).

God is able,
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2009 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. *New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.** Amplified Bible. Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation.

Do not give the devil an opportunity. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:27, 31-32

Love, conforming to the image of Christ and valuing people, produces an atmosphere charged with potential. If we let ourselves become bitter instead of living this Christian life to the fullest, we are of no good to those who desperately need help. Jesus, with ultimate love, came to bridge a fallen world to a holy God and to set captives free. But He didn’t stop there. He sent the Holy Spirit to help us so we can overcome every obstacle in our lives and help others break out of their bondage.

Sow with a view to righteousness, reap in accordance with kindness; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord until He comes to rain righteousness on you. Hosea 10:12

There are seasons when God will move on a generation and give them an opportunity to turn to Him. I believe we are approaching such a season, and now is the time to deal with the weights and encumbrances that try to make us back off (Hebrews 12:1). As we humble ourselves and are quick to repent, we open the door to an increased flow of God’s love in and through our lives.

Keep your eye on the big picture of what this life is all about: As you believe for God’s perfect will to come to pass and stay ready to follow the Holy Spirit, you will see resistant hearts open up to the gospel and closed nations welcome Jesus’ perfect love.

Get Ready!
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2009 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 1 Corinthians 2:12-13

Jesus did not leave us to our own devices. God sent us a Helper, the wonderful Holy Spirit, to help with all the details of our lives (John 15:26; 16:13). There is a great deal at stake. That’s why it’s imperative we walk closely with God, crucify our flesh, be merciful, and cherish no other thought than to press on and flow with the Holy Spirit.

“This is the great day of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. You not only need to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, but you need to know how to help others receive the Holy Spirit. You are living in the midst of a generation that has awakened. Never has a generation, since the day the church started, been faced with more hungry, desperate, thirsty people who desire help from God. If we ever needed to know how to help people, it is today.” –John Osteen*

God wants to do something through you. The Holy Spirit is available to pull you out of the ordinary into the divinely effective. You are equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:17): to lead your family members to Jesus before they die, to lay hands on the sick, to share the Gospel and break down walls.

We need to do everything we can to remove obstacles, increase our love walk, grow in the Spirit and go 100% with God’s will for our lives. God has a plan, and the gates of hell cannot prevail against what He’s about to do. Let’s deal with sin, get rid of hindrances and move to the next level. As we do so, we’ll be more effective than we’ve ever been.

We are equipped for every good work!
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2009 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. *John Osteen, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Copyright 1980 by John Osteen.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 1 Corinthians 2:12-13

An advantage of giving your life to Jesus is that you’ve been given the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth and equip you for every good work so you can see biblical results modeled in your 21st-century life. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, that was poured out on the day of Pentecost, that changed Peter from an overly-nervous denier of Christ into someone who boldly led 3,000 people to salvation, is still at work in your life today (Acts 2:41; Romans 8:11).

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him. 1 John 2:20, 27

The anointing of the Holy Spirit is not just reserved for those in the pulpit. You have an anointing! When God’s anointing comes into your life it keeps you from getting dry and cracked and gives you a fresh perspective and a rich understanding of the possibilities of what God has for you. Ask God to help you conquer any area that makes you less sensitive to His voice.

God will have His say in our North American modern moment. We are at a turning point in our culture, and He is reminding us of who we are in Christ. Our minds are being roused and our hearts are being focused. As we rely on the Holy Spirit to equip us for the call, we will increase in effectiveness and see the yoke of bondage broken and people set free.

We’re anointed!
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2009 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.