Repentance Opens Oneself to the Holy Spirit

Dr. Mike 2026 , , , ,

Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” Acts 8:18-24

Simon Magnus was a renowned man in the city of Samaria because of his magic. He amazed the crowd. The people recognized him as the power of God that is called Great (Acts 8:10). He himself heard Philip preach the gospel message and became a believer. He was baptized and continued to follow Philip watching him perform miracles. He was amazed.

But the people who were baptized did not yet receive the Holy Spirit. So, Peter and John came to lay hands on them to receive the Holy Spirit. When Simon Magnus saw this, he wanted the same power to do the same. So he offered the apostles money. He thought he could buy this ability. Peter though rebuked him and chastised him to repent. Simon’s heart was not right before God. His intention was for selfish reasons. Peter recognized that Simon was in a state of bitterness being held in a bond of iniquity. He needed to repent before God.

In some ways I can relate with Simon. In my early walk, I wanted the blessing of God. My sole purpose was to please the inner hunger of satisfying my dreams and goals. I needed God to help me achieve my plans. In many ways, it was a business transaction. I supported him if HE would support me. I didn’t really surrender my entire kingdom. Instead, I wanted his Kingdom to help make my kingdom to grow.

In many ways, it was Mike walking the Christian lifestyle the best he knew how on his own. Jesus was only a passenger observing my frustration. The Holy Spirit continued to nudge me, but I ignored HIS major advances.

But through a process of loses, pain, and struggles, my eyes slowly began to open. I got tired of banging my head against the wall. There had to be a better way. There is. It’s called repentance.

When the truth slapped this face, I then realize my stupidity. I had never totally surrendered my kingdom to Lord Jesus on day one. But over time, HE dismantled each corner of the soul. Yes, at the start HE was the Lord of my faith. Then He was the Lord of my money. Followed by the Lord of my relationships. But no, HE was not the Lord of my goals and dreams yet. I was doing everything in my ability to keep this kingdom while supporting God’s Kingdom. Only after I surrendered this kingdom, did life in the Spirit began to noticeably change.

God knew for this person to continue growing, there was one piece of the old man that had to go. Yes, God’s Spirit is alive and working in each of us. But HE will not involve HIMSELF more than you allow. As we taste more and more of God’s Spirit though, our willingness to repent grows. As we realize what needs to change, we repent. We refocus our eyes onto Jesus. We thank HIM for HIS life work, death, and resurrection. We seek ways to support HIS Kingdom in our small world. We learn to follow the influence of the Holy Spirit in us. We cry out longing to see the world through the eyes of the Triune God. HE is creating HIS masterpiece in us – the new YOU.

The work is not about us improving ourselves. The work is the Holy Spirit regenerating us into the image of Jesus Christ. This is HIS work. We are allowing HIM to change us as we hang onto our Lord in the process. Nothing is sacred but HIM. Everything is possible, with HIM. HE is the reason we can now experience life the way God intended it to be.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

Click Here for more Writings Neatly Bound in Book Format Available at Your Favorite Bookstore.

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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Redemption Maze

Dr. Mike 2026 , , , ,

“And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption…” 1 Corinthians 1:30

Yes, Jesus paid the price to redeem humanity from the clutches of sin. The virus which enslaves us to the carnal desires of our heart. Yet, the journey to fully understand the benefits we received from HIS work takes awhile to sink in. At least it did me. In some ways, it was like wandering through a maze.

To redeem is to pay out. To purchase the contract. It was usually in reference to buy out a slave’s freedom. The apostle Paul used the term in multiple places. He though emphasized how Jesus paid the price to redeem us. We were all on death row. Guilty of breaking every God-ordain law. But Jesus poured out HIS blood on behalf of all humanity in exchanged for our freedom. HE redeemed us from our death sentence.

In the process now, we wait for the complete fulfillment of our redemption. But because of the work of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, God now includes us in Christ.  We are now sealed by the Holy Spirit which is our guarantee. Jesus now lives in us. HE will bring us to HIM after we pass-on from this age into eternity. We can now enjoy the forgiveness of our sins. When Papa God looks at us, HE views us as righteous through the prism of Jesus. The paperwork for our adoption into God’s family is completed.

We have been forgiven; our direct relationship with God restored. We are now included within the family of God. As we circle the maze of redemption, each truth hits home. The alienation from God is broken. We are now included in Christ. We get to taste the eternal benefits now as we wait for the redemption of our bodies.    

It has taken me years to truly comprehend the weight of glory God has given us in Christ. He has given us wisdom through the pages of the Bible and in himself. He has made us righteous before God. He is leading the Spirit in the sanctification of our soul. He has freed us from sin’s shackles. 

My brain explodes each time I think of the various avenues connected to the redemption maze. It starts with Jesus in the center. And connects with all the riches of HIS kingdom now and into eternity. I challenge you to take time out and focus on what Jesus’ redemption means to you. Gives us all something more to pray and be thankful about.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

Click Here for more Writings Neatly Bound in Book Format Available at Your Favorite Bookstore.

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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Fear and Love

Dr. Mike 2026 , , , , ,

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 1 John 4:18 (English Standard Version)

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We ourselves are eye-witnesses able and willing to testify to the fact that the Father did send the Son to save the world. Everyone who acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God lives in him, and he lives in God. So we have come to know and trust the love God has for us. God is love, and the man whose life is lived in love does, in fact, live in God, and God does, in fact, live in him. So our love for him grows more and more, filling us with complete confidence for the day when he shall judge all men—for we realize that our life in this world is actually his life lived in us. Love contains no fear—indeed fully-developed love expels every particle of fear, for fear always contains some of the torture of feeling guilty. This means that the man who lives in fear has not yet had his love perfected. 1 John 4:16b-18 (J.P. Phillips NT)

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If we really love God, we will not be afraid of him. We cannot love him completely and also be afraid. We would only be afraid of God if we thought that he would punish us. So, if someone is afraid that God will punish them, it shows that they do not completely know God’s love. 1 John 4:18 (Easy English Bible)

Knowing Jesus means more love and confidence, less and less fear.

I borrowed this line from the J.B. Phillips New Testament. It is brief, but to the point. When God’s love lives in you through the presence of Papa God, Lord Jesus, and Holy Spirit, fear is displaced. You do not deny your fear. Instead, your trust is in God’s love which assures you that HE will lead you.

Life is a training process preparing one for eternity with Jesus. One of the attributes of God we learn is love. We learn love by practicing ways to express HIS love with others. We may begin slowly and awkwardly. But we learn. As we extend our hand to help someone, love’s seeds are cast. If we are rejected, God’s grace covers us through the pain. The more we practice ways to love others, the better we grow.

You may have to walk through the fear. You may turn and run away from it. You may laugh at it. Whatever God inspires you to do, you have learned to faithfully trust HIM.

If unsure where to begin, we start with Jesus. We find ways to love HIM. Initially, we discover all the ways HE shows his love to us. Then we seek out ways to express our love to HIM.

From there, we begin to practice with those closes to us, our family. As our ability to find ways to sacrifice and support them grows, we keep expanding our reach. We have friends, business associates, and neighbors to add unto our list. And the list never ends.

As we meet strangers in the grocery store or mall, we find ways to show love to them. It may be as simple as a smile or opening a door.

Small steps. Easy gestures. Simple words. It doesn’t have to be a big moment. Just expressing small tidbits of ways to let others know you care for them. That they are appreciated.

If you are a person who is dealing with fear in your life, make Love your pathway through it. It begins by developing a deeper relationship with Jesus. Then allowing Jesus’s love be expressed through you. So let HIM be the center of your exodus. HE will lead you through your fears. In the process, your love tank will grow and dump the fears away.    

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

Click Here for more Writings Neatly Bound in Book Format Available at Your Favorite Bookstore.

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message! | Copyright 2013-Present | Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved