Receive the Holy Spirit

John 20 : 19 - 22, Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. NKJV

Sharing this scripture is like watching the final scene from a movie first. We know how it ends, but what has transpired up to this point? Go with me back in time to about forty-two months before Jesus began His earthly ministry, and before He called each of these men, who gathered in this room because they were afraid of the Jews, to be His disciples.

As we’re reading through the gospels, we can watch the spiritual growth of the disciples and even see glimpses of strong faith. If you have ever lost a job or stepped out in faith to begin a new career, you can relate to the faith and courage it must have taken for these men to leave their occupations and their families to follow Christ when He called them into the ministry.

It was as if they had no doubts about Jesus’ call; they all decided to leave their old lives behind. Nevertheless, there are far more occasions that we can read in the gospels where the disciples became fearful, worried, or hardened their hearts because they found themselves in adverse circumstances. At one moment, Peter was walking on water; however, in the next moment this professional fisherman, who could swim, was about to drown and was consumed with fear.

There was a man who brought his son to the disciples and asked them to heal the boy because he had a tormenting spirit. The disciples tried to set the boy free, but failed. I’m sure they struggled at times with thoughts and feelings of frustration and failure when they tried doing all that Jesus did; nonetheless, their efforts fell short of the set goal.

Over the years, I’ve wondered why the disciples seemed to be on an emotional roller coaster. Some days they were strong men of faith, and other days Jesus had to rebuke them for their unbelief and teach them about the error of their ways. Recently, the Lord showed me why the disciples seemed to be double-minded at times.

The disciples did not have the Holy Spirit dwelling in their spirit. All they had was their faith in Jesus, and their faith wavered from time to time. I share this with you today to let you know how vitally important it is for believers in Christ to rely completely upon the power of the Holy Spirit, so that we don’t vacillate from one day to the next in our faith walk.

The Holy Spirit gives us power to become children of God and to live the “life of Christ” daily. He gives us power to do what Jesus did while He walked on the earth. Jesus said that we (the body of Christ) would do greater works than He. After Jesus breathed on the disciples and commanded them to receive the Holy Spirit, we never read of any of them denying Jesus again. We don’t see them fail Jesus or bring shame to His name any more after they received the Spirit of God in their lives.

If you believe in Jesus as the Son of God, then you have the Holy Spirit living within your spirit as well. Now, you have the power to become all that God has called you to be and to do in Christ. It’s time for the church to come out of hiding because of the fear of man and to receive a fresh breath from the Holy Spirit of God. We need to be about our Father’s business, instead of worrying about upsetting the religious world. There is a world that is dying without Christ, and they need to see us (Jesus’ disciples) walking in the power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit.

Let’s Reach this World for Christ,
Pastor Asa Dockery

A Brand New Person

A Brand New Person

2 Corinthians 5 : 14 - 17, For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if one died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. NKJV

I’m grateful that God gave Paul these revelations about the difference between our old nature and our new nature. Paul is a wonderful example of how powerful the grace of God is toward sinners who humble themselves before the Lord. Paul was once called Saul of Tarsus. As Saul, he killed and imprisoned many followers of Christ because of their faith. Therefore, if anyone could write about the spiritual transformation that occurs in the hearts of believers when they come to Christ, Paul could. He was able to write from his own experience of Christ’s power to change the coldest, hardest heart and make it new again; Paul was changed so much that he was no longer known by his old ways.

You may not remember when you were born, but one thing is certain. From the moment you were born and took your first breath, you had a sin nature. Even though you were innocent in your conscience concerning sin, no one had to teach you how to sin. “It comes natural to all of us.”

Just as you must be conceived/born in order to exist in this physical world, you must be born again, if you desire to see and enter into the kingdom of God. Whenever you received Christ by faith, God sent His Holy Spirit to make His abode in your spirit. From the very moment that the Holy Spirit made your dead spirit alive, you became a brand-new person before God. Therefore, God tells us through Paul that we are a new creature in Christ, and the old things are passed away.

The old things are passed away because our old nature is dead. Now that we’re alive unto God, we must live the kind of life that is pleasing to Him. The old man and our old identity are also done away with through the blood of Jesus and the Holy Spirit who lives in our spirit (inner man). Once we become born again, we don’t have to live in guilt and fear about our past; neither do we have to live any longer in bondage to sin because the old nature is dead. If the Son has made you free, then you are free, indeed.

The more we know and understand that our past, as well as the old nature, is dead and buried through the work of Christ, the more liberty we will walk in as new converts. Nevertheless, if we continue to see ourselves as just “an old sinner,” who is saved by grace, then we won’t experience the liberty of Christ to its fullest. If the Word of God says that the old man is dead, how can we continue to live in bondage to sin, unless we refuse to believe the Word, or unless we’ve been taught something other than the truth?

If you believe in Jesus as the Son of God and have confessed that He is your personal Savior and Lord, then you are free from sin and your sin-stained past. You have been made a “NEW CREATION” in Christ. You now have “the power and the right” to live for God and to bring glory to His name by living holy; nevertheless, you must still choose to live a righteous life.

It DOES matter what we believe when it comes to our salvation in Christ. If we don’t take the Word of God for what it says, then we won’t be able to experience the freedom that comes with Christ. However, if we simply believe it as it is written, we will experience total liberty from the guilt and bondage associated with the old man.

If you have lived your “saved life” in bondage to a belief that won’t allow you to be totally separated from the guilt and sin of your old nature, then I invite you to taste and see that the Lord is good. Take God at His Word; walk in His love and experience the liberating power of God’s grace.

Free to Live in Christ,
Pastor Asa Dockery

The Power of Faith

Matthew 17 : 19 - 20, Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. NKJV

When Christians activate their faith through the Word of God, it gives them the power to see the miraculous take place in the physical realm. Paul tells us in Romans 12 : 3 that God has given the measure of faith to everyone. All we have to do is learn how to release or activate our faith so that it works in our lives, especially when we face a difficult or seemingly impossible situation.

In the scripture for today’s word, Jesus teaches us how to release our faith so that it can work on our behalf to bring about the things that we need. Jesus told the disciples that if they had faith, they could say what they wanted to see come to pass, and then they would have it. This means that we are to speak those things that we have the faith for; and then we should expect to receive what we have spoken. Our mouths have the ability to create... this is especially true when we confess with our mouth based on what we believe in our heart.

Another example of this same principle is given by Paul in Roman 10 : 9. Paul says, “...if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” We see that he agrees with what Jesus told His disciples in Mark 11. We must declare from our mouth those things that we believe are in accordance with God’s Word so that we can receive the promises of God.

It’s amazing to me how faith can be so tiny, and yet be so powerful that if it is used effectively can move something as massive as a mountain. Nevertheless, that is exactly what Jesus said, and He didn’t exaggerate. This tells us that faith is powerful. Therefore, when we declare those things that we need to happen in our lives, we must stand in faith.

Furthermore, when we choose to respond to a negative report or a bad situation in faith, we are empowered to move forward to victory over the enemy that has attacked us. In other words, faith will help us walk “out of” problems that might otherwise try to hold us captive. Instead of accepting an evil report as the final word for this season of our lives, we must choose to stand on God’s Word in faith and trust in God’s plan to bring us through victoriously.

If you’ve hit a seemingly impossible situation, and everything in your soul is telling you that it won’t pass, then make a conscious decision to stand by faith. Many Christians are living in bondage to past situations simply because they don’t know how to “choose to respond” by faith and walk out of the pit of hopelessness. Personally, I have experienced many setbacks and hardships, and the enemy has tried to use them to hold me back in ministry; however, the Holy Spirit has repeatedly shown me how to keep moving forward by faith until the victory has been won.

Do you need to walk out of a pit today? If so, get in God’s Word and find a promise that “fits” your particular battle. Then stand on that promise as the only option and the final word for your life until your faith becomes sight. Use your faith to help you keep a good attitude and a right-perspective on the battle that you’re facing. If you believe you’re a grasshopper, then you’ll see yourself as a grasshopper. However, if you see yourself as more than a conqueror through Christ, you will be more than a conqueror. Faith works, but you have to work it!

Releasing the Power of Faith,
Pastor Asa Dockery

Where Do I Go From Here?

Psalms 119 : 103 - 105, How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. NKJV

Ephesians 2 : 10, For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. NKJV

Many times in scripture the Lord told one of His servants that He had already gone before them to prepare the way they were to travel. He then gave them specific instructions to follow so that His divine will could be fulfilled, not only in that situation, but in His servant’s life.

In the New Testament, Jesus told His disciples that He would meet them in Galilee after His passion. He foretold His plans to them so that when the time came, they would know what to do and where to be in order to be reunited with Him. It was also a way of building the disciples’ faith... because they would see that all He had said had actually come to pass.

Did you know that God has a map/plan for our lives? He’s not trying to control us; nevertheless, He does want to be there for us to keep us from taking “wrong paths” as we navigate which path or consider choices in life. When we come to an intersection in life, it will demand that we decide which way to travel. Quite often we have to make decisions that will impact our life long term, such issues as relationships, business, finances, health, children, etc. Our decisions are generally based on a limited amount of information. Some decisions come with the promise of a brighter future, but there is no guarantee.

At this point, God, the Word, and His Spirit come into the picture. God already knows the end from the beginning; He knows what paths we should choose and the right decisions you and I should make in order to maximize our fullest potential in this life and assure that we will complete His purpose.

So the next time you come to a “crossroad,” and you need to make a decision, ask the Lord to lead the way. It will show the Lord that your faith and confidence are in Him and will allow Him to keep you safe on this journey called life. Just think of this as GPS (God's Positioning Satellite), guiding you along the right path for your life and family.

Use Caution Up Ahead,
Pastor Asa Dockery

With God All Things Are Possible

Jeremiah 32 : 26 - 27, Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me? NKJV

Is there ANYTHING too difficult for the God of the Bible? Everything that exists was created by the Lord; therefore, nothing is impossible for Him. Consequently, what may be too difficult or seem hopeless for us is still possible for God.

Perhaps you’re facing a “seemingly” impossible situation, and whenever you think about what you have to face in the natural realm, you feel hopeless. The Lord doesn’t want you to fear; neither does He want you to think that you’re in your situation alone.

Just because things are out of our control, and we have no power to change an adverse situation in our own strength doesn’t mean that we have to accept things exactly the way life brings them to us. The Word of God tells us that He is a very present HELP in times of trouble. God wants to HELP you so that you can overcome the obstacles you face and give you His peace during the process.

Now let’s look at what we must do in order to invite God’s power into our lives. James 4 tells us that God gives His grace to the humble, but He opposes the proud. Therefore, if we want the Lord to move on our behalf and deliver us from trouble, we must be willing to trust in Him for the answer. What is grace and how does it help us?

Paul teaches in 2 Corinthians 12 that grace is the strength of God. When you and I seek the Lord and rely upon Him, He has promised to give us His grace (strength). You will know the very moment that God pours out His grace upon your life to help you because things will begin to seem easier and look doable. Nothing in the natural realm has changed. The only thing that has changed is your perspective about the situation, since you now have God’s strength working for you.

What is impossible with men is possible with God. The key is to get with God; we do this through our faith. Place your faith in God’s ability to transform you and to work His plan in the situations you face, and then watch as God releases His grace and empowers you. I love it when God releases His strength/grace in my life to give me victory over trials and problems that are too difficult for me. I am able to rest and watch as God moves the mountains and destroys the opposition that has grieved me.

After you pray and give God your impossible problems, wait on Him to move. As you wait, you are practicing your faith to rest in Him. Waiting on God is also an act of faith. It welcomes the presence of God to invade your world and give you much-needed relief. Are you tired and weary from the battles you’ve incurred? If so, then give all your burdens and cares over to God today and afterwards rest/wait on Him. The ONE who called you by name is also faithful to you and will perform His good Word in your life.

If God Be for Us,
Pastor Asa Dockery

Peculiar

1 Peter 2 : 9 - 10, But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: KJV

What comes to your mind when you think about something being peculiar? I think of peculiar as strange, odd, or different than the norm. The word peculiar in this portion of scripture means: one’s own property, possession, and preservation- as preserving the soul for salvation. Peter tells us by the Holy Spirit that we are a chosen generation, (God’s own property) that He has purchased so that we might declare His praises to this world.

If you’re truly born again, then I can tell you on the authority of God’s word that you’re not going to fit into this world’s system or its ways. Why? It is because you don’t have the same nature dwelling in your heart as those who are in the world. Therefore, you aren’t typical in the way that the world would define “being normal.”

Jesus tells us in John that we are not of this world because He has chosen us and has separated us from it so that we might become one with Him. Not being normal doesn’t mean that we have to be “weird or spooky." As Christians, who are not of this world, God has called us to be extraordinary. We are to become like our Savior and Lord. Jesus was anything but normal. Nevertheless, He was very level-headed and humble... He was extraordinary in every way.

The Bible teaches us that the JUST shall live by faith. Once we learn how to live by faith as God’s children, we will no longer be normal. People who live by faith also do extraordinary things for God. Through faith, Christians go against the system and defy the odds. We don’t accept whatever life throws at us as being the final word. Faith in God gives us “an out” or an option that the world isn’t privy to because they’re unbelievers.

So what are you facing today that appears to be a dead end or is hopeless to you in the natural realm? As a “faith-walker,” you have a powerful God who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above what you are able to ask or imagine. Therefore, turn this problem over to Him. After you give God your cares, thus allowing Him to move on your behalf, He will give you direction and a way out so that you can obtain victory over the enemy who is opposing you. Let me leave you with an example from the Word that will help you to grab hold of this principle of faith.

Romans 4 : 17 - 22, (as it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations") in the presence of Him whom he believed -- God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your descendants be." And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness." NKJV

As you read about Abraham’s faith-filled reaction to God’s plan to bless them with a son in their old age, you will notice that Abraham didn’t respond in a weird or strange way. Nevertheless, he did respond in an extraordinary way. After God made the promise to Abraham that he and Sarah would have a son, Abraham no longer considered the enormous negative odds they were facing in their own bodies.

ALL of Abraham’s confidence and hope was in God’s ability and not his own. Because Abraham took God at His Word and believed it fully, from that moment on, God empowered him to see with eyes of faith. Eyes of faith refuse to consider the opposition or any mountains that may stand in the way of receiving the promise. The key to Abraham’s victory was solidified when he believed God’s promise; consequently, faith strengthened him.

What mountain or impossible situation are you up against today? Stand in prayer and on God’s promises and allow God to strengthen any weaknesses you may have so that you can inherit the promise by faith. With God, all things are possible.

Give Me Strength Lord,
Pastor Asa Dockery

Becoming A Disciple of Christ

John 8 : 30 - 36, As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, 'You will be made free'?" Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. NKJV

In today’s scripture, we can see very plainly that it’s easier for us to believe in Jesus than it is to receive the truth from Him about our spiritual condition. There were many Jews who believed in Jesus that day; nevertheless, when He told them the truth about the sin in their lives, they disagreed with Him. Let’s look more closely at this scripture and see what we can find out. It’s possible to believe in Jesus and still be bound (as the Jews in today’s scripture). It’s only when we’re willing to receive and obey His instructions that we can become truly liberated.

The Lord opened my spiritual eyes to receive deeper understanding from these verses so that we can see where we may be erring in our faith walk. What does it show others when we say that we believe in Jesus (follow Him), but we disagree with Him when His Holy Spirit puts His finger on our sin issues? As followers of Christ, we haven’t been given the option to “pick and choose” which commandments and instructions we will obey.

Jesus told His disciples (and us) that in order to follow Him, we must first deny self and take up our cross. It’s not enough to say I believe, and then not follow up your belief with action. James tells us that faith without works (obedient actions) is dead.

If you read the remainder of the story in John 8, you will see that the Jews turned on Jesus. They were unwilling to deny self or receive Jesus’ Word as the truth in their lives. Consequently, they rejected Him and tried to stone Him. Self is a Christian’s biggest enemy. When we’re faced with a truth from God’s Word that challenges our wrong way of thinking, we must be willing to lay our lives down, accept that truth into our hearts, and then allow it to liberate us from sin and from bondages. Christ came to set us free; and you can be liberated today through His truth.

The Truth Sets Us Free,
Pastor Asa Dockery