Recent Blog Entries

  • 12 hours ago
    Posted by Dion Todd
    Then Mordecai asked them to return this answer to Esther: "Don't think to yourself that you will escape in the king's house any more than all the Jews. For if you remain silent now, then relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Who...
  • Wed at 3:01 AM
    Posted by Dion Todd
    In the same hour, the fingers of a man's hand came out and wrote near the lamp stand on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace. The king saw the part of the hand that wrote. Then the king's face was changed in him, and his thoughts troubled him; and the joints of his thighs were loosened, and ...
  • Tue at 3:01 AM
    Posted by Dion Todd
    One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, "If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!" But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Don't you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this ma...
View All
  • March 25, 2022 - led by Lynn Brown
    This is a group for RHM sponsored events like corporate fasts. Everyone is welcome to join and participate in things currently going on in the ministry. We love you and thank you for being a part of Refreshing Hope!
View All

By My Spirit

  • RHM Devotional: By My Spirit from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.

    Today I want to talk about the Holy Spirit and how He is an intricate part in every meaningful thing that we do. He is the invisible line that connects the dots for us. He is the One that shares that sudden inspiration with us. He is the One that causes us to be in the right place, at the right time, and gives us the right words to speak. When the angel was speaking to Zechariah about the uncompleted temple, he said this:

    This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. Zechariah 4:6 ESV

    The Lord works here on earth today through the Holy Spirit. It was not an after thought or plan B, but His plan all along. Jesus had this to say about the Holy Spirit, and so much more:

    “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:26 ESV

    “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” John 16:7 ESV

    “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” John 16:12-14 ESV

    The Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Truth are just different translations of the same Person. I will simply call Him the Holy Spirit from here on for consistency.

    Jesus promised that He would send the Holy Spirit, and He did on the day of Pentecost shortly after His ascension. Jesus went to heaven, and the Holy Spirit came down to earth. In Acts chapter 2, He blew into the upper room where the 120 disciples were and rested on them like tongues of fire.

    He brought with Him spiritual gifts like unknown tongues, prophesy, interpretation, discernment and so much more. He distributed them among the believers, and even Mother Mary spoke in tongues. The church was forever changed, and where Jesus could only minister in one area at a time, now the gospel began to spread like a fire.

    I want to be clear that the Holy Spirit is still on earth. He is alive and well today, and He will remain here until Jesus Christ returns. The word spirit means breeze, breath, wind. He is as invisible as the wind, but you can feel His presence, and He can affect the natural world as surely as a tornado can affect a trailer park. We can see where He has been.

    When the Lord calls us to do something, it is usually the Holy Spirit that relays that command to us. He is involved in everything that the Lord is doing. Learning to recognize His voice is one of the most important things that you can do in your spiritual life.

    God chooses the weak in the world to shame the strong (1 Corinthians 1:26) and the Holy Spirit is how He does it. He chose a young boy named David to defeat the giant warrior Goliath, through His Holy Spirit. David slung the rock, and the Holy Spirit guided it straight into Goliath’s forehead. 

    The Apostles Peter and John were uneducated fishermen, yet the Holy Spirit used them to perform miracles that astonished the priests and pharisees at the temple. The man at the gate called Beautiful in the temple had been crippled for over 40 years when Peter said “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” and the man leaped up and followed them (Acts 3:6). No one saw the Holy Spirit that day, but the lame man walked.

    The Holy Spirit shares little secrets with us. I once had a nagging feeling to give someone $100. So when I went to church, I rolled a $100 bill up in my hand and when I found them, I gave them a handshake leaving it with them. They broke down in tears for they were in terrible need that week and had been praying to God for help, but had told no one about it. God heard their prayers, and the Holy Spirit sent me. There is no greater feeling than aligning yourself with the Holy Spirit, but sometimes we are the ones in need.

    Once after a long month of work at our church, I was becoming worn out and tired. We came home that day to see a new tax bill for $500, and I knew it was going to be a struggle to pay it. I was annoyed, and I told Sylvia “If we had not spent so much time working at the church, we would have the money to pay this.” We told no one and didn’t mention it again, but when we went to church that Sunday, one of the elders walked up to me and handed me an envelope. He said, I feel like we should pay you something for all the work that you have been doing. Inside the envelope was $500. The Holy Spirit knew our need, and He spoke to the elder. He understands us.

    There is so much more that I could tell you, so many times that He has beautifully pulled me through hopeless situations. When He put me into things that were way over my head, yet I came out on top. I can honestly tell you that when you have no one but Him to look to, you will find that He is more than enough. Do not put you trust in your own resources, or your own strength. Live in the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

    You can pray this with me if you like:

    Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want to know Your Holy Spirit. I want more of You. Please fill me with Your presence. Teach me to be spiritually sensitive and open my ears to hear what You are saying today, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.


Tip: You must be logged into the website to leave comments.

 

Social Sharing

31 comments
  • 0
Debi Burton
Debi Burton Jehovah, I want more of you and fill me the knowledge of your Holy Spirit and help me understand and my church here is doing fasting..... help me to understand it. Thank you in Jesus’s name I pray........ Amen
January 7, 2019
  • 0
Virginia Gibson
Virginia Gibson I really like the live reading ...
January 7, 2019
  • 1
Liesel  aka  Lisa Wardle
Liesel aka Lisa Wardle

Amen!!!

January 7, 2019
  • 0
Kevin J. Eck
Kevin J. Eck Amen,
January 8, 2019
  • 0
Kevin J. Eck
Kevin J. Eck Amen,
January 9, 2019
  • 1
Tyler Velau
Tyler Velau

I don't really understand fasting either. Food is a biological necessity, it's one of the 3 basic needs: food, water and shelter. Since it is so important, why deprive of something you need to survive? To clarify, I am not trying to bash fasting or to speak against it, only to ask my questions so I can gain knowledge by the answers. Debi, I hope that the Lord speaks to both of us and helps to enlighten us on this and other issues of significance that we may individually need help with. Peace and kindness be with all of you. 

January 7, 2019
  • 1
Debi Burton
Debi Burton

Thank you..... hopefully we can understand the why and the benefits of fasting.

January 8, 2019
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

Tyler, I think I've showed you Dion's full teaching on fasting, but not sure if Debi has seen it, so here it is, Debi :):https://www.refreshinghope.org/blogs/1/972/fasting-a-lost-art-of-the-church. In case it doesn't link, you can also find it under "Pastor's Corner". One thing, on survival, obviously, we have not died from fasting, so there is that ;). I remember one time we were watching some "survival" type show, where a couple had only been without food for the afternoon and were already complaining about how hungry they were. Perhaps we in the "first world" make a bit much about how much we really need ;). In any case, there is much Biblical precedent, including Jesus, for the power of fasting, so it's down to a matter of whether we choose, or not, to step out in faith :). 

January 8, 2019
  • 1
Debi Burton
Debi Burton

Thank you, will check it out

January 10, 2019
  • 1
Liesel  aka  Lisa Wardle
Liesel aka Lisa Wardleedited: January 6, 2019

Amen! Oh Lord God most high, please fill me with Thy Holy Spirit, seal me, direct me and lead me, more and more of Thee and less and less of me, in the name of Jesus Christ I ask and pray, Amen!

January 6, 2019
  • 1
Lynn Brown
Lynn Brown

Amen! I hope you are doing well Liesel :)

January 7, 2019
  • 1
Liesel  aka  Lisa Wardle
Liesel aka Lisa Wardle

One day at a time, Lynn, and thanks for asking! I'm living now what I've been saying all along, and I'm finding out that all things are possible with my Lord, I can do all things through Him, He is my strength, my shield and my sanity!!! Love you, sister (L)

January 7, 2019
  • 1
Schalk  de Beer
Schalk de Beer

Yes Lord, amen

January 7, 2019
  • 1
David and Dianna Wyles
David and Dianna Wyles

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want to know Your Holy Spirit. I want more of You. Please fill me with Your presence. Teach me to be spiritually sensitive and open my ears to hear what You are saying today, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen. thank you

 

 

January 7, 2019
  • 1
Liesel  aka  Lisa Wardle
Liesel aka Lisa Wardle

Amen!!!

January 7, 2019
  • 1
David  Earlywine
David Earlywine

Amen,thank you Paster Dion 

January 7, 2019
  • 1
Kay Collinsworth
Kay Collinsworth

Amen!

January 7, 2019
  • 1
Lynn Brown
Lynn Brown

Thank you for this awesome message Pastor Dion! Heavenly Father, I want to know Your Holy Spirit. I want more of You. Please fill me with Your presence. Teach me to be spiritually sensitive and open my ears to hear what You are saying today, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

January 7, 2019
  • 1
Liesel  aka  Lisa Wardle
Liesel aka Lisa Wardle

Amen!!!

January 7, 2019
  • 1
Marisa Jackson
Marisa Jackson

Amen!!

January 7, 2019
  • 1
Jose Simo
Jose Simo

Heavenly Father, thank You for all Your support. Open my ears to listen to Your word, that Your Holy Spirit touch me in the things that You have for me today. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 

Praise the Lord, thank you Pastor for this wonderful message. God bless you.

 

January 7, 2019
  • 1
Jim Jarrell
Jim Jarrell

Amen! Thank You Father for giving us Your Holy Spirit to guide us by.

January 7, 2019
  • 1
Ida Ruth Rodriguez
Ida Ruth Rodriguez

Amen! Thank you, Pastor Dion! This just confirmed something for me.

January 7, 2019
  • 1
Kathy Banfield
Kathy Banfield

When I pause to praise and thank the Lord for the many good things He does, I sense the Spirit's presense in a very profound way! I do believe God appreciates us when we appreciate Him.

January 7, 2019
  • 1
Celeste Strenn
Celeste Strenn

Amen!

January 7, 2019
  • 1
Jeffrey Smith
Jeffrey Smith

Great word! Amen.

January 7, 2019
  • 1
Susan Petho
Susan Petho

Amen!

January 7, 2019
  • 1
Mari Kaufmann
Mari Kaufmann

I felt such a beautiful warmth the other day. Something just lovely. It was like a literal strong hug with no one near me.  I know it was spiritual. Please God allow your Holy Spirit to help me and my Grandchildren. Amen. 

January 7, 2019
  • 1
Wesley Paulus
Wesley Paulus

Amen!

January 7, 2019
  • 1
Colleen Farquharson
Colleen Farquharson

Thank you Pastor Dion for the message on The Holy Spirit....I know more about it now than before.

January 7, 2019
  • 1
Sherry McCosh
Sherry McCosh

Thank you for this message today!

 

January 7, 2019