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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?”
20644 illustrations found
Imagine a vibrant church in Southern California during the late 1960s, where the air is thick with anticipation and the scent of ocean breeze mingles with the warmth of hope. A charismatic pastor named Chuck Smith, with his well-thumbed Bible...
There is a moment in centering prayer when the mind finally stops reaching. The sacred word dissolves. The breath slows. And in that vast interior...
In the monastery chapel at Gethsemani, Thomas Merton once described a moment during night vigils when the wind howled against the Kentucky hills, rattling windows...
In the monastery at Gethsemani, Thomas Merton once described how words spoken from the surface of the mind remain merely words. But a word that...
In Luke 9:23, Jesus says, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow me." We...
In the writings of John of the Cross, there comes a season he calls the dark night — when every familiar consolation withdraws, when prayer...
In centering prayer, there comes a moment when every thought, every ambition, every carefully constructed image of ourselves dissolves into silence. Thomas Merton called this...
In the writings of Teresa of Avila, she describes seasons when prayer feels like drawing water from a deep well with a broken bucket —...
In the monastery at Gethsemani, Thomas Merton once described a moment during centering prayer when every thought finally fell silent — not the silence of...
Imagine standing on the sun-kissed shores of California in the early 1970s, the air buzzing with anticipation. The waves crash rhythmically against the beach, but it’s not just the ocean that draws the crowds. It’s a palpable energy—a revival that...
In the practice of centering prayer, there comes a moment Thomas Merton called "the point of nothingness" — that raw, undefended place where every title,...
In the monastery at Gethsemani, Thomas Merton once described how the monks would rise at 3:15 a.m. for Vigils, shuffling through cold corridors in darkness,...
In the sixteenth century, John of the Cross sat in a tiny prison cell in Toledo, barely six feet by ten, where his own Carmelite...
In the monasteries of medieval Spain, Teresa of Avila observed something paradoxical about the soul's journey. The deeper one traveled inward through prayer, the more...
There is a moment in centering prayer when every distraction has been released, every thought gently set aside, and what remains is not peace but...
In the monastery at Gethsemani, Thomas Merton once described how new monks would arrive carrying invisible suitcases — packed with ambitions, identities, and the endless...
Teresa of Avila described the soul as a castle with many mansions, and at the very center, in the innermost room, Christ waits. Most of...
Thomas Merton once described a moment in his Louisville hermitage when he realized his hours of centering prayer had not made him holier than the...
In the tradition of *lectio divina*, we do not merely read Scripture — we allow Scripture to read us. A monk once described his decades-long...
In the Charismatic tradition, Genesis 27:41-46 highlights the tension between human emotions and divine purpose. This passage illustrates how God's sovereignty can work through flawed human actions, demonstrating the importance of yielding to the Holy Spirit in navigating familial and relational conflicts.
In the Charismatic tradition, Genesis 30:1-24 highlights God's sovereignty and His ability to intervene supernaturally in human affairs. The passage emphasizes the faith of Leah and Rachel, showcasing that God responds to our cries and desires, often in unexpected ways...
In the late 1960s and early 70s, amidst the vibrant chaos of counterculture, there emerged a movement that transformed lives in ways many thought impossible. Imagine yourself stepping into a dusty California park filled with young people, their laughter mixing...
In the Charismatic tradition, Genesis 16:1-16 reveals God's willingness to engage with humanity in their struggles and doubts. The passage emphasizes God's sovereignty and His capacity to intervene supernaturally in human circumstances, showcasing His promise to fulfill His covenant even...
In the Charismatic tradition, Genesis 20:1-18 emphasizes God's sovereignty and providence even in the midst of human failure and deception. This passage reveals how God intervenes supernaturally to protect His covenant people, illustrating the importance of trusting in God's guidance...