One of the most transformational things we can do is build a real, vibrant relationship with the word of God. Many Christians struggle with reading the Bible, finding it boring or dry, but it is possible to turn that into something glorious—like God speaking directly to you every day.

**Be Honest About Your Current Relationship**

“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22 NKJV)

I want you to be honest—not religious. If you are reading the Bible and finding it boring, do not pretend. Go to God and say Lord I find this really boring I am struggling. He knows it anyway—he is not surprised or hurt. God is never disillusioned about you because he has no illusions about you in the first place. He sees everything knows everything. Just be honest with him and he will help you appreciate those things. The best test to discern where you are in your relationship with God is to look back at the last 24 hours and see how much time you actually spent reading the Bible. Look back at the last seven days but do not count Sunday. How much time did you actually spend reading God’s word? None of this is to condemn us but to actually look and understand where we are. We can con ourselves con others. The Bible says be doers of the word not hearers deceiving your own self. We move into self-deception when we have beliefs that do not have corresponding actions.

**Get a Vision from God**

“Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4 NKJV)

I want you to go on a journey and allow God to give you a completely other vision. Let me set up my vision to you. I believe God wants us to have a relationship with this book that is thrilling that is glorious. If you read about somebody like Smith Wigglesworth he would never go more than about 15 minutes without reading the Bible. He would sit down at every meal and say let us just take a moment and see what father is saying. He had that relationship that this is actually God speaking to him. Imagine a relationship with the Bible where you read it and you are thrilled. It says in the song of Solomon my heart leapt when I heard the voice of the one I loved. Psalm one speaks about the man his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law he meditates day and night. David said in Psalm 119 how I love your word it is my meditation all the day. Jeremiah 15 16 your words were found and I did eat them your word was the joy and the rejoicing of my life. Imagine the most addictive crazy substance food drink whatever illicit substance you have ever tried in your life that you absolutely love. Imagine if you had a relationship with the Bible where you absolutely love it. You love sitting down and reading for half an hour an hour great. You love studying you love walking the floor maybe just driving your car and quoting God’s word and meeting God in his word new love unpacking it picking it apart. Great to be there with friends where the thing you want to do more than anything else on planet Earth is to talk about the word of God what does this mean what does this mean how would this relate to that. God wants you to have that relationship. The word of God is not a book about God but it is God speaking to you.

**Go on a Journey to Form Habits**

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.” (Hebrews 4:12 NKJV)

I want to encourage you to go on a journey maybe give yourself a few weeks or a few months and say if for the rest of my life I want to step into that vision then it is okay that I spend a few weeks or months developing those habits forming new habits creating space and time assembling the resources I need recalibrating my relationship with the Bible. It is possible to do this in a few moments but it might behoove you to spend a few days doing this. Why not go on a journey where you spend some time and allow God to give you a vision of what that really could what should look like. The kind of thing where you can look in your own imagination think yeah like that is so cool this is how I am going to be I am going to have this romance with this book with the God who wrote it. Imagine a teenage girl or boy getting a text message from somebody they are in love with. It is just information it is bits it is ones and zeros flying over the ether but when they get that message they do not look at it and go this is on WhatsApp or iMessage or it is an email or Snapchat they hear the heart the heart leaps with joy or the heart breaks if the message was not good. They are having relational communication with a person through that message. That is what this is. That is how God wants you to relate to that. Read it like a theologian read it like a lovesick teenager and you will get more of what God is actually trying to say to you. If it is worth stepping into creating those lifelong habits for the rest of my life then it is okay that I spend a few weeks or months forming those habits.

**Practical Steps to Build the Relationship**

“The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63 NKJV)

I will share some practicals in coming teachings but go over those three steps. Be honest take stock take inventory look at where you are actually walking right now. Go on a journey with God go on a journey with God’s word. Hebrews 4 12 says the word of God is alive it is living it is powerful it is sharper than any two edged sword and it will bless you.

Let that truth settle in your spirit.

Selah.

**Scriptures for Further Study:** James 1:22, Psalm 37:4, Hebrews 4:12, John 6:63, Psalm 1:2, Psalm 119:97, Jeremiah 15:16, Song of Solomon 2:3, Matthew 4:4, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Psalm 119:105, Joshua 1:8, Romans 10:17, Psalm 119:11, Deuteronomy 8:3, Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 6:17, 1 Peter 1:23, Isaiah 55:11, Acts 17:11, Psalm 119:130, Luke 24:32, John 5:39, Romans 15:4, 2 Peter 1:19

**10 Questions for Reflection:**

1. What is my current relationship with the Bible really like?

2. How honest am I with God about finding the Bible boring?

3. Where have I deceived myself about reading the Bible?

4. What vision does God want to give me for his word?

5. How can I develop a thrilling relationship with the Bible?

6. What habits do I need to form for lifelong Bible reading?

7. How does the Bible become God speaking to me?

8. Where do I need to recalibrate my approach to God’s word?

9. What resources will help me build this relationship?

10. How can I turn dry reading into glorious encounter?

One of the greatest truths in Scripture is the life God gives us through Christ—a life that conquers everything it touches. Let me share a story that shows this life in action and why we need to thank God for it daily.

The Life That Conquers Death

“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10 NKJV)

Jesus came not to improve or patch up our lives or give us good teaching or productivity methods. He came that we might have life—Zoe—and Zoe more abundantly. The New Testament uses four Greek words for life, speaking of general life like animal life, manner of life, or lifestyle like a culture. But Zoe is only ever used for the life of God—eternal life that cannot die, the source of all life. In him was Zoe, that life is the light of men. Jesus said I am the resurrection and the life. He said because I live you will be alive, you will be filled with Zoe also. He said I am the vine and you are the branch. Right now the same life, the Zoe, the eternal life that is in Jesus, I have been yoked with in the spirit, and I have that same life in me right now.

A Story from India

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10 NKJV)

Years ago I was preaching in India doing crusades in the evening but during the daytime I was staying with a pastor who had a small Bible school. One morning I am teaching this Bible school—about 30 students—and as I am teaching there is a knock on the door. The pastor’s wife went to the door and there was a beggar. She let out a yell of horror and shock and shooed this beggar away. She closed the door came back in disappeared into the kitchen then came out with some money opened the door and threw money into the yard. The beggar was on all fours collecting coins. The pastor explained that the guy was a leper. They do not allow lepers in the home. I am British—I have never met a leper. The guy was still in the garden so I reached into my bag pulled some money—not a massive amount but I knew it would bless the guy. I went out called the guy over tried to speak English French. He did not understand a word I said. I could not understand his language. I put this money in his pocket tapped him on the shoulder—God bless you. Suddenly I felt the love of God well up in me for the man. I took this guy in my arms and began hugging him. He was a bit shorter than me his head on my lower shoulders or chest area. The guy began sobbing and sobbing and sobbing. All of the rejection—if everywhere you go people shoo you away pull the kids to the other side of the road—years of rejection. I hugged this man for what felt like five minutes maybe less. Did not pray for him could not really feel I could do anything. I just loved on him and hugged him. In the end he composed himself went away. I went back in washed my hands. I forgot all about it till about three days later when he came back completely healed with a medical certificate stating that he was now healed. I was really happy for him but then went upstairs to the room I was staying in and said Lord what happened what went on there? I missed something here. The Lord said to me you were not afraid of catching what he had so he caught what you had. Greater is he that is in you than the leprosy that is in him. I suddenly realized the amazing power of the life of Jesus. Jesus went about preaching life resurrection life.

Experiencing the Life of God

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6 NKJV)

All of that sounds great but how do we experience it? If I spend all of my time trying to get things from God it feels like I spend more time trying to get something from God than I enjoy the thing I got from God. I had that experience with sickness where I would believe believe believe eventually get healed or come through it and go great then something else would happen. Or with financial need where I would believe believe believe—it is like I was always in a battle and never in a rest. The truth I am sharing really changed my perspective on this. Jesus never got sick. Maybe he was attacked by sickness and disease—I am pretty certain he was, the Bible obviously does not say that but he was tempted in all ways as we are. Jesus never caught what people had. People caught what he had. In the Old Testament if a leper touched you you would become unclean—when a leper touched Jesus the leper became clean. You already have it. You do not need to get it. In fact when you try to get what you already have you begin to lose the experience of what you have. Begin to thank God for it. You already have overflowing life.

Let that truth settle in your spirit.

Selah.

Scriptures for Further Study: John 10:10, Hosea 4:6, John 1:4, John 11:25, John 3:16, John 5:24, John 6:63, John 14:6, Romans 6:4, Romans 6:23, Romans 8:2, Romans 8:11, 1 John 5:11-12, 2 Timothy 1:10, Colossians 3:3-4, Ephesians 2:4-5, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 2:20, Genesis 2:7, Romans 5:12, Ezekiel 18:20, Ephesians 2:1, Colossians 2:13, Hebrews 11:3, Psalm 139:14

10 Questions for Reflection:

1. What does the Zoe life of God mean for my daily battles?

2. How have I tried to get what God has already given?

3. Where do I need to thank God for overflowing life?

4. Have I experienced God’s life conquering sickness?

5. How does the leper story change my view of God’s power?

6. What rejection have I faced that God’s life can heal?

7. Am I in battle or rest with God’s provision?

8. How can I release God’s life to others?

9. What does it mean Jesus never caught sickness?

10. How does Zoe life conquer everything?

What is the Zoe Life of God?

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” (John 11:25 NKJV)

There are four Greek words used in the New Testament to describe life. They speak of different things such as general life—like animal life, the fact that something is alive versus dead—manner of life, or lifestyle like a culture. But there is also a word that is only ever used for the life of God, a word called Zoe, which literally speaks of God’s eternal life, life which cannot die, life which is the source of all life. In him was life. In him was Zoe, that life is the light of men. Jesus said I am the resurrection and the life. Jesus comes to the tomb of Lazarus, a guy who is dead, and he says I am the resurrection and the life. He who lives and believes in me even though he dies yet will he live. Jesus comes to give us life. It is life Jim but not as you know it. God’s life conquers all death. God’s life conquers sickness and disease. God’s life cannot ever be attacked by any little thing. God’s life conquers everything.

What Does It Mean to Be Dead in Our Sins?

“The soul who sins shall die.” (Ezekiel 18:20 NKJV)

God said to Adam and Eve the day you eat the tree you will surely die. The Bible says the soul that sins will die. In effect the whole of mankind is dead. Are we physically alive? Yes but we are dead in terms of our connection with God. We are dead in the sense we are separated from God. God gave us life when he created us. The Lord breathed into Adam the breath of life but Adam and Eve literally died the day they sinned. They did not die initially physically but in the same way if you take a fish out of the sea it does not instantly die but out of the sea a fish begins to wither and die. We physically from the moment we are born are on a journey into the grave, and soulishly as well separated from God we are dead people walking. Jesus comes not to improve our life but to literally raise us from the dead. He comes to give us life in our spirit. We often talk about being born again being a new creation but what really happens when we are born again—it does not happen to our body and it does not happen to our soul. It actually literally happens to our spirit. To be outside disconnected from God is literally to be dead. To be brought back into relationship with him to be grafted with him—when Jesus said I am the vine you are the branch. If you cut off the branch from a tree it is still green it still smells nice for a while but it will begin to wither and die. Jesus has connected us back into himself. He is the vine we are the branch. The very life that is flowing through Jesus right now flows through every Christian.

Why Do We Not Experience It?

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6 NKJV)

If it is true we have the resurrection life of Jesus in us then why do we not experience that life in the way God wants us to? The Bible says again and again my people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge. You will know the truth the truth you know will set you free. We have God’s life in us right now but we actually do need to know about it. We need to come to God’s word. Jesus said the words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life. We find out about the life we have when we read the word of God. No knowledge about God’s life—you do not have it. Secondly we encounter God’s life through faith as well. We have actually got to believe God we have got to appropriate we have got to engage our faith. Everything Jesus had he gives up at Calvary’s cross. Yet everything he gave up at Calvary’s cross is yours and mine but we have got to literally learn to appropriate and receive those things by faith. We do not get them automatically. They do not simply drop on us like cherries on a tree because we are Christians. We have got to believe for that. We have got to believe for his life in us going to believe for his life through us. We have got to believe to experience the life of God in this life right here and right now.

Does DNA Prove the Existence of God’s Life?

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1 NKJV)

There was an atheist famous atheist called Carl Sagan famous in the 70s and 80s. He is dead now a great guy cosmologist studied the universe. The show in the 70s and 80s was really famous and he was the one who came up with this idea and it was actually really true what he said. He said if we ever discover information out there in the universe it will prove the existence of extraterrestrial life. He said information even if we cannot understand the information information is proof of intelligence. He was actually one of the founders of a government project called SETI in the United States the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Right now ever since that time they have had radio telescopes pointed out in the universe looking for signals from outer space. Carl Sagan wrote a book and they made it into a movie in the 1990s called Contact starring Jodie Foster. It was about a lady in the 90s fiction obviously who discovered a signal coming from outer space. They could decode the signal. There was a signal of prime numbers coming from outer space which can never happen by accident all of the prime numbers. So it proved information is proof of intelligence. But what this guy Sagan had never thought through and discovered at the time was when they decoded the DNA in the human genome in animal life it is teeming with information. There is more information in one strand of DNA in your body than there is in all of the libraries in New York City put together. If information random matter and energy cannot produce information then where did the DNA in our bodies come from? Because there is incredibly detailed ordered information in us. DNA is a proof of intelligence who made us. God made us. We did not make ourselves.

Why is the Resurrection So Important to Christianity?

“And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!” (1 Corinthians 15:17 NKJV)

The apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15 if Jesus did not rise from the dead this whole thing is in vain. Jesus was not a great teacher was not another prophet a wise man. The whole of Christianity—the early church never really celebrated the birth of Jesus. It is a big thing for us Christmas. Resurrection was everything. In a very real sense here is why resurrection is important because Jesus did not die so we could live. Jesus died so we could die. It sounds weird to us but one of the greatest gifts he ever gave us was to kill us was to take that old nature that Adamic nature that old man and nail it to the cross of Calvary. When Jesus died we died. When Jesus was buried we were buried. Now for us that is symbolized by baptism being buried in the waters of baptism we are raised to newness of life. When Jesus rose we rose. When Jesus ascended we ascended and when Jesus sat down at the right hand of God the Father we are seated with him. The whole of mankind is a dead species when it comes to God. We cannot be renewed we cannot be reformed we cannot be tweaked we cannot be energized God cannot do any patch up fixer up job on mankind. All he can ever do is raise us from the dead. It is really important we realize we have been a resurrected person. When you became a Christian your habits are still the same your unrenewed mind still the same your body still the same your understanding your education your IQ level is still the same. The one thing that happened to you when you got born again is you became a resurrected person. We should actually look at ourselves through that lens and literally say I am a live person. I once was dead I now am alive in Jesus name.

Let that truth settle in your spirit.

Selah.

Scriptures for Further Study: John 11:25, Ezekiel 18:20, Hosea 4:6, Genesis 1:1, 1 Corinthians 15:17, John 1:4, John 10:10, Romans 6:4, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:1, Ephesians 2:5, Colossians 2:13, John 3:3-6, John 5:24, John 6:63, Romans 8:11, 1 John 5:11-12, Genesis 2:7, Romans 5:12, Romans 7:18, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 4:22-24, Colossians 3:9-10, Hebrews 11:3

10 Questions for Reflection:

1. What does the Zoe life of God mean to my daily walk?

2. How have I experienced God’s life conquering death in my life?

3. Where am I still dead in sins and need resurrection?

4. Why do I not always experience the life God promises?

5. How can I appropriate God’s life by faith?

6. What does DNA reveal about God’s design?

7. How does the resurrection change my identity?

8. Am I a resurrected person in Christ?

9. Where do I need to know the truth to be set free?

10. How can I believe for God’s life through me?

Reflections on Israel from Jerusalem

Being in Israel for the first time has reinforced some key truths about this land and God’s plan for it. As Christians, we need a theology about Israel, Jerusalem, and the people— it is foundational to our faith. Removing Israel removes the foundation of God’s promises.

The God of Israel and the Israel of God

“For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.” (Romans 11:16 NKJV)

I do not believe the church replaced Israel, superseded it, fulfilled it, and now God is finished with it. All of God’s promises are yes and amen in Christ, but all of God’s promises to Abraham and his children are still true as well. God has a special plan for everybody, but all of God’s special plans for everybody come through his special plan for Israel. God has a plan for the Arab nations, for every nation, every tribe, every tongue, but those plans for every nation come through his plan for Israel. Pull out the foundation stones of his plan for Israel and you remove the foundation for every other nation.

The Spectrum of Beliefs About Israel

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you.’” (Psalm 122:6 NKJV)

There is a massive spectrum of beliefs around Israel, from anti-Semitism and hatred on one end to Christians viewing Israel like some Christian Disneyland on the other, with every shade in between. I have been around messianic Jewish congregations enough to see more spectrums of belief about Israel, God’s plan, what it means to be Jewish believers, than in the church. All those beliefs tend to think they are the center, that they have it right, that people who do not see it as strongly are lukewarm and people more serious are extreme.

Mixing Politics and Eschatology

“For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” (Romans 11:25 NKJV)

It is very hard not to take two other things and add them to the cocktail of what we believe about Israel. People tend to take politics, particularly US politics or Israeli politics, and mix in political thoughts about Israel. People then take in eschatology, end time viewpoints, and add those to their viewpoint on Israel. How you see the last times tends to get thrown in with the viewpoint on Israel.

Pressing Into the Word

“But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel.” (Romans 9:6 NKJV)

We have to press into the word of God. We have to keep reading God’s word, God’s Bible, and we all will have viewpoints and perspectives, but we have to keep asking if that is what the Bible actually says. To anybody who thinks God is finished with Israel, I want to challenge you to just read the Bible. Read it and do not try to over-interpret it, just read it like it means what it says and it says what it means. To people on the other spectrum, the starting point is not the Bible. The starting point is they are so in love with Israel that at times they want to bypass Jesus. Read the gospels. Jesus does not pull punches. He says many will come from the east and west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of God, and the children of the kingdom of Israel will be cast into outer darkness. Jesus knows no salvation outside of faith in himself. There is no salvation, Jew or Gentile, outside of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Jewish Messiah. We do not want to come with a romantic sentimental viewpoint that glosses over unbelief. When Jesus was looking at Pharisees who thought they would come into contact with God through obedience to the law, he had no truck with that. Paul had the same attitude. I see at times Christians who get romantic if people are wearing certain clothes or doing certain things. The whaling wall is great to be there, great to know we are touching the stones that held the temple. It is great to see the thoughts and prayers of millions of people over the years, but there is nothing sacred about those stones, those walls. Jesus said there is not one stone left here which will be here. He literally said to the disciples around 33 AD that they would see these pulled down in their generation, and it happened in 70 AD. People say, is God going to build another temple? Are the Jewish people going to build another temple? I do not know. Maybe yes, maybe no. One thing I know is God is never going to put his glory in another man-made temple. Know you not that you are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

The Truth is in the Spirit

“And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ‘The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.’” (Romans 11:26 NKJV)

The truth of Israel is in the spirit, not in the flesh. The truth of Israel and what God has done here, will do here, and is doing here right now, you tap into it in the Holy Spirit. Once we step out of the spirit, we look in the flesh for the key, for a pressure, for physical things, for a wall, for things to attach our hearts to. God wants many people to come here. He wants us to come and pray. He wants us to come in love and honor and cherish all peoples, but especially the Jew, the Jew first and then the Gentile. We have a debt to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. But catch that in the spirit. Discerning in the spirit what God is doing here, and do not simply buy into some tourism, cheap tawdry thing. God wants us to be a people who walk in the spirit, the sons of Isaac, who discern what he is doing in the times and the seasons. Has God finished with Israel? No, he is only just getting started. He is the God of Israel. Jesus is the Jewish Messiah forever and ever. His throne is going to be set up in the new Jerusalem, and there will be no temple because the light of God will fill that place. The glory of God will fill that place. The nations will stream to Jerusalem. It is a privilege to be here with a thousand pastors, to meet the Israeli government, to pray, to say we love you, we do not hate you, we pray for you. There is something illuminating about the power of anti-Semitism. There is hatred and racism in every nation and everybody has been through it, but anti-Semitism is different. Anti-Semitism itself is a testimony to the reality of God choosing Israel. Satan hates Israel in a way he does not hate any other nation. Satan knows that if he can wipe out the people of Israel, he would wipe off the promises and the prophetic destiny of heaven, and he will never do that because the one who keeps Israel will not slumber or sleep. We have a God who is real, a God who will honor his promises to Abraham, a God who asked Abraham to sacrifice his son. Because Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son for God, the Bible says in Hebrews that Abraham was willing to believe that God would raise up Isaac, the son of promise, from the dead. Hundreds of yards from where I am sitting right now, there is a mosque, and around that mosque it says there is no God but Allah, and he has no son. I tell you, there is a God. There is no God but Abba, and he does have a son. One day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Let us stand up against anti-Semitism, let us never give into that. There are subtle forms of anti-Semitism creeping into conservatism in the United States right now, and let us stand against that. Let us pray for the people of Israel. Do not fall in love with a surface, religious, Christianese, Disneyland version of Israel, discern what God is doing.

Let that truth settle in your spirit.

Selah.

Scriptures for Further Study: Romans 11:16, Psalm 122:6, Romans 11:25, Romans 9:6, Romans 11:26, Genesis 12:3, Genesis 17:7-8, Romans 11:1, Romans 11:17-18, Galatians 3:29, Romans 9:4-5, Hebrews 11:17-19, Romans 9:27, Isaiah 66:8, Zechariah 12:10, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ezekiel 36:26-27, Romans 11:29, Psalm 105:8-11, Amos 9:14-15, Isaiah 43:5-6, Zechariah 14:16, Revelation 21:2, Revelation 21:22-23, Romans 11:8

10 Questions for Reflection:

1. What does the God of Israel mean to my faith?

2. How do I view the church’s relationship to Israel?

3. Where have I mixed politics with my theology of Israel?

4. How does my end-time view affect what I believe about Israel?

5. Have I pressed into the Word to form my views on Israel?

6. What does Jesus’ words in the Gospels teach me about Israel?

7. How can I discern God’s plan for Israel in the Spirit?

8. Where have I seen anti-Semitism in my circles?

9. What does it mean to pray for the peace of Jerusalem?

10. How can I honor God’s promises to Abraham today?

Greetings from Florida.

This week I am ministering in Florida, with services in Pompano Beach, Miami, Fort Myers, and Bradenton. This coming Sunday, I will be back in New England and plan to speak about the Person, Presence, and Power of the Holy Spirit at Sturbridge Worship Center.

Next week, we have our friend Ian Andrews, the international healing evangelist, speaking in our churches in New England. I encourage everyone in the area to attend those services (Connecticut on Saturday, October 25, and Massachusetts on Sunday, October 26).

In November, I will be taking a team to Ireland. We are looking forward to an amazing time with old and new friends and to living a spiritual adventure. I currently have a fundraiser for this trip — if you would like to donate, please click on the banner below.

In early December, I will be traveling to Israel for the first time. Together with a group of pastors and influencers, we have been invited to go to Jerusalem to meet Benjamin Netanyahu. Léa and I will be traveling together and are looking forward to that time in God’s chosen nation.

I have a brand new book out called The Spirit-Filled Life. I encourage you to get a copy — we also have a study guide available for this book, and several small groups are currently using it. This is the largest book I have ever written, and I have poured many years of life and experience into it. I encourage you to get a copy and buy one for a friend. It is not too early to buy Christmas presents!

I have recently signed with a literary agency and am working on a new book called Transformed, which should come to market in 2026.

Thanks to everyone who has supported our YouTube channel. We currently have over 1.1 million subscribers and more than 500,000 views each month. Visit our channel and share it with your friends — it really helps when we receive comments and a thumbs-up.

Thanks for all our ministry partners for your prayers and support of our ministry.

Graham Jones

NEW BOOK

THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE by Graham Jones

Graham’s new book The Spirit-Filled Life explores how to walk in the fullness and power of the Holy Spirit—how to receive this experience, how to flow in the gifts, and much more. This is Graham’s largest book, with years of experience poured into its pages.

“Graham’s wisdom shines through every page”

Brian Simmons - The Passion Translation

Order Here

THIS IS THAT

The Bible is God’s word. The Bible is a book from heaven. The Bible is different than any other book on planet Earth. It is literally a manifestation of God on the Earth. We can use words so flippantly without at times pausing to come to a complete understanding of what we actually mean. What is the Bible? What is God’s word?

God’s word is God speaking. If Jesus walked through the wall of your room right now and began speaking to you, the words he spoke to you would be God’s word. And yet, Jesus himself is God’s word. Scripture is God’s word in written form. And more than anything else, God’s word is Jesus.

In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. The same was in the beginning with God (John 1:1). And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory (John 1:14).

I saw a rider on a horse, and his name was the word of God (Revelation 19:13 - “He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.”).

In humanity, we have a tendency to confuse God speaking, with the means and methods through which he chooses to speak. Imagine if Jesus were to appear to you right now and stood before you; perhaps you would be shaking and terrified with the glory of God upon him. Imagine Jesus spoke to you and told you that he loved you immensely. What a glorious experience! Would that experience have any more truth or validity than you simply opening the Bible and reading the words that Jesus loves you (John 3:16)?

In reality, the methods God chooses to speak through are completely irrelevant compared with the fact that it is actually God speaking. God can speak through a myriad of different ways and means. Some of these can seem dramatic and out of the ordinary to us, while others can seem quite normative and mundane. The key issue is always whether it is God speaking.

I love the story of the German missionary evangelist, Reinhard Bonnke, who, in his younger days, was at a large healing campaign in Africa with a famous evangelist. On the night of the event, the evangelist sent Reinhard Bonnke a message, saying that God had told him to go home and that Bonnke should preach that night. With fear and trepidation, Bonnke preached a salvation message, after which he called forward all those who needed healing. As Bonnke stood before a large crowd of sick people, God spoke these words into his heart: “My words in your mouth are just as powerful as my words in my mouth.”

At first, Reinhard Bonnke thought that this must be blasphemous, wondering if Satan was putting thoughts in his mind. Yet, as he thought over that phrase, he came to the realization of the power and truth of those words. The power was not in the mouth, but in the word, the word of God. Bonnke did not need to look at the delivery system, but rather the word of God which was delivered.

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We can use words so flippantly without at times pausing to come to a complete understanding of what we actually mean. What is the Bible? What is God’s word?

God’s word is God speaking. If Jesus walked through the wall of your room right now and began speaking to you, the words he spoke to you would be God’s word. And yet, Jesus himself is God’s word. Scripture is God’s word in written form. And more than anything else, God’s word is Jesus.

In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. The same was in the beginning with God (John 1:1). And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory (John 1:14).

I saw a rider on a horse, and his name was the word of God (Revelation 19:13 – “He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.”).

In humanity, we have a tendency to confuse God speaking, with the means and methods through which he chooses to speak. Imagine if Jesus were to appear to you right now and stood before you; perhaps you would be shaking and terrified with the glory of God upon him. Imagine Jesus spoke to you and told you that he loved you immensely. What a glorious experience! Would that experience have any more truth or validity than you simply opening the Bible and reading the words that Jesus loves you (John 3:16)?

In reality, the methods God chooses to speak through are completely irrelevant compared with the fact that it is actually God speaking. God can speak through a myriad of different ways and means. Some of these can seem dramatic and out of the ordinary to us, while others can seem quite normative and mundane. The key issue is always whether it is God speaking.

I love the story of the German missionary evangelist, Reinhard Bonnke, who, in his younger days, was at a large healing campaign in Africa with a famous evangelist. On the night of the event, the evangelist sent Reinhard Bonnke a message, saying that God had told him to go home and that Bonnke should preach that night. With fear and trepidation, Bonnke preached a salvation message, after which he called forward all those who needed healing. As Bonnke stood before a large crowd of sick people, God spoke these words into his heart: “My words in your mouth are just as powerful as my words in my mouth.”

At first, Reinhard Bonnke thought that this must be blasphemous, wondering if Satan was putting thoughts in his mind. Yet, as he thought over that phrase, he came to the realization of the power and truth of those words. The power was not in the mouth, but in the word, the word of God. Bonnke did not need to look at the delivery system, but rather the word of God which was delivered.

With an increasing sense of boldness, Reinhard Bonnke asked how many people were blind in that crowd; over 20 people responded. Bonnke did not pray for the people. He simply asked them to put their hands on their own eyes and let out a cry of “blind eyes, open.” People began letting out cries of joy, exclaiming, “I can see! I can see!”

God’s word in your mouth is just as powerful as God’s word in his mouth.

The writer to the Hebrews begins his epistle with these words: “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;” (Hebrews 1:1-2).

God spoke the universe into existence at the beginning of time. God spoke through an audible voice (Exodus 3:4-6). God spoke through prophets (2 Kings 17:13). God spoke through a donkey (Numbers 22:28-30). God spoke through nature (Psalm 19:1). God spoke by writing on the wall in Babylon (Daniel 5:5), and God spoke through his written word (Psalm 119:105).

The writer of Hebrews says that in these last days, God has chosen to speak to us by his son: “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;” (Hebrews 1:1-2).

I love the fact that every time a prophet would speak to the people of Israel, he would preface his words with “Thus says the Lord.” It is interesting that Jesus never once used this phrase when speaking to the people of Israel. Jesus would not say, “Thus says the Lord,” but rather we see Jesus again and again saying, “Verily, verily, I say to you” (John 5:24, John 6:47, etc.), indicating that he himself is the Lord, the word of God spoken to you.

Jesus is the living word. The Bible is the written word. The Bible is God’s word. The Bible is God speaking to us. The Bible is God. This might seem incredible to grasp, and yet I passionately believe that the Bible contains just as much power as Jesus does.

In Romans, chapter 10, Paul draws this analogy: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down from above) or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” Instead, he says, “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (Romans 10:6-8).

In fact, Paul is saying to his readers that we do not need Jesus to step down from the throne of God and come and visit us on the Earth. Rather, when we have the word of God in our heart and in our mouth, it is just as powerful as having Jesus present in our midst. God’s word is not distant and far away, and we do not need to wait for some future visitation. God’s word is clearly available to any believer who will place their faith in it.

The Bible contains the knowledge of God, and yet it is so much more. The very life and essence of God is contained within his word. The Bible is not a book of information; rather, the Bible is a book of life.

Jesus said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).

Throughout the entire Bible, we read about experiences that men and women had with the living God. These stories are examples for our benefit (1 Corinthians 10:11). The goal of these stories is not merely for us to marvel at the wonderful experiences others have had, but to realize that the same experiences are available to us today.

The Bible is a book of experience, but it is also a book of life. The Bible is a book of knowledge, but it is also a book of invitation.

When you go into a restaurant and sit down, a menu will be presented to you. That menu will usually contain photographs, titles, and descriptions of various dishes which the restaurant can make and offers to you. There is a simple truth many Western evangelicals have missed: we cannot eat the menu. The menu speaks of a greater reality that exists in the kitchen. The goal of a restaurant is not that we would enter, read the menu, and go away hungry, yet with an increased knowledge of the chef’s possibilities.

Rather, the goal of the restaurant is that we would come in, be informed about the possibilities that exist within the kitchen, and then put a demand upon that information to produce a meal that will satisfy us.

The goal of biblical knowledge is not simply biblical knowledge. The goal of biblical knowledge is biblical experience.

“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39).

The Bible is the wardrobe through which we can continually access a glorious realm from another dimension, much like in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. On a very real level, we will receive from God’s word what we expect to receive. If we come seeking knowledge, we will find the knowledge we seek. If we come seeking instruction, teaching, or admonition, we will find them in the Bible and benefit from them. If we come to the Bible for an encounter with the Zoe life of God, we will find that within its pages. If we come to God’s word looking for immutable promises that can never fail, then we will find them there. Selah.

In Western evangelical circles, the church often struggles with the tension between knowledge and experience. In America, where I am based, many traditional churches proudly proclaim themselves to be Bible-believing churches. They sincerely believe that their version of Christianity is anchored in, and upon, the knowledge of God contained in the Scriptures. With one eye closed, they are correct. The challenge is that those very scriptures, on which they claim to build their foundation, command us to draw upon that knowledge and step into the experience of that understanding. It is not enough to have an awareness of salvation. The comprehension of salvation will not save you. The goal of the insight into salvation is that we would encounter Jesus the Savior!
Many years ago, my wife and I knew a wonderful man who had taught in a well-known Scottish university as a theological lecturer. For many years, this man taught high-level theology to students. He knew the scriptures inside out and back to front in Greek and Hebrew; there was only one problem. He did not yet know Jesus. Once, this man went camping with his wife in the south of England. As the normal campsite was closed, they ended up camping in a facility where a large Christian charismatic event was taking place. They went there to avoid all of the “crazy charismatics” and simply enjoy their holiday. One evening, they ran out of milk. The man went to the campsite store to buy a pint of milk. On his way back, he walked past a tent where a children’s meeting was taking place and was drawn to listen. That evening, somebody was teaching the children about the baptism in the Holy Spirit. At the end of this teaching, the speaker invited children to come forward, accept Jesus as Savior, and be filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. Without knowing what was happening, this great and knowledgeable man walked forward, surrounded by young children. That evening, he gave his life to Jesus. That evening, he stepped into the experience described in Acts 2:4: “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Three hours later, he came back to his tent, and his wife exclaimed, “Where have you been?” When he opened his mouth to respond, he began speaking in tongues, and the power of God fell upon his wife. Knowledge became experience.

After that summer vacation, this man returned to his university in Scotland. At the beginning of September, he taught the same course, based upon the same notes, that he had taught every year for the last 20 years. This year, however, as he taught, the power of God began to fall in the lecture hall. Students began falling to their knees in repentance; people began weeping and crying out to God. It was not the knowledge that was causing this; he had taught the same thing year after year. Rather, this year, knowledge had encountered experience.

There is an equally significant danger in seeking experience outside of knowledge. Many people in my stream of Christianity (the charismatic movement) highly value spiritual and revival experiences. I love this, I am proud of this, and I believe this is completely valid. In spite of that, there can be a danger when our experience exceeds our biblical knowledge. Sooner or later, people will begin to have experiences which are not biblical or valid. There is an equal danger of people basing their beliefs on an experience. If you have many experiences that you believe are important and valid, after a while, you will tend to place trust in those experiences. God’s word should produce experience, and yet, it is also vital that every experience leads us back to God’s word.

Every revival movement in history has contained two important components. Usually, in these movements, there has been a great and glorious outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Believers have experienced God in a way that was beyond the ordinary and their expectations. Nearly every revival movement has also birthed fresh understanding and revelation of the Scriptures. I do not mean to imply that God has said something new in a season of revival; rather, during a season when the church experiences an awakening and visitation of God’s spirit, our eyes are opened to see truth that was always contained in God’s word, but our religious traditions had blinded us from perceiving these truths.

The sad reality is that in nearly every revival in church history, we see the same pattern emerge. There is an outbreak of experience of the Holy Spirit, and glorious truths are restored to the church from God’s word. The church begins to fall in love with its new doctrine and builds walls around it, and over time, loses the experience that matched the doctrine.

Nearly every denomination, at least in Western Christianity, was born in the fires of revival. All of these denominations brought important truths back into the body of Christ:

• Lutheran movement — justification by faith.

• Anabaptist movement — water baptism.

• Wesleyans and Methodist revival — repentance and discipleship.

• Holiness movements — restoration of personal sanctification and holiness.

• Pentecostal revival — the infilling and baptism of the Holy Spirit.

All of these movements brought both great experiences and truths back into the body of Christ, and yet, over time, the experiences in these movements became shadows of their former selves. To some degree, they all still teach the knowledge they acquired during the experience of revival, but each of these movements has lost the fire and experience of that revival.

I believe that one of the foundational keys to moving into the fullness of the spirit is to be a people who both embrace the truth of God’s word and then put a demand on the Holy Spirit to produce biblical experiences that mirror and match the promises of the word. We need to be a people full of faith and full of the Holy Spirit, and it is not a legitimate choice to suggest that we can have one above the other.

Stephen was a man full of faith and full of the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5).

The second article of furniture in the outer court that the people of Israel would encounter was the brazen laver (Exodus 30:18 NKJV). This was a large brass bowl, one that would be highly polished and would contain clear and clean water. When somebody wished to approach the presence of God, blood would be shed at the altar. Then the person would need to gaze into this brass bowl and wash their hands and face in the water. The brazen laver or bowl speaks about the washing of water by the word of God. That He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word (Ephesians 5:26 NKJV). The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin, but that is not the only cleansing we need in our lives to approach God. The blood of Jesus makes me righteous, but the word of God sanctifies me. Again and again in the New Testament, we see this principle that it is God’s word that sanctifies the people of God.

Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth (John 17:17 NKJV).

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises (the word of God), that by these promises we become partakers of the divine nature and are sanctified from the corruption in the world through lust (2 Peter 1:4 NKJV).

Christ loved his church that he might wash and sanctify it with the washing of water by the word (Ephesians 5:26 NKJV).

Having these promises, let us sanctify ourselves (2 Corinthians 7:1 NKJV).

The Word of God is also a mirror. James, the brother of Jesus, wrote:

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does (James 1:22-25 NKJV).

The Word of God is a mirror in two different ways. Firstly, it shows us the reality of our current state. We may judge ourselves and evaluate ourselves in many ways, but it is the Word of God, and only the Word of God, that can truly show us how God sees us. This is true for sin in our life and for God’s correction, but it is also true for “instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV). The Word of God shows us how God sees us in Christ Jesus. When I look into the Word of God, I see myself through the lens of heaven and the opinion of God. I see that I am more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37 NKJV), I see that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13 NKJV), I see that I am the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV).

The washing of the water of the Word of God sanctifies our minds and our hearts. It literally washes and cleanses us from the dust and the effects of life. We cannot live in this world. We cannot walk in this world without being, at least to a large degree, affected by that life in this world. It is good to study the Bible. It is beneficial to understand the Bible. It is advantageous to delve in and unpack the truths there, but at a very practical level, the Word of God literally washes you. Scripture washes away the “reality” of this world and renews our mind to the realities of heaven. God’s Word recalibrates us. The Bible realigns our soul with our spirit and enables us to come into the presence of the Lord. Selah.

When the children of Israel would pass from the outer court into the inner court, the first article they would encounter in the inner court was the golden candlestick, or menorah. The menorah was a seven-headed candlestick, and each candle would be kept alight continually. The menorah, or golden candlestick, represents the Spirit of God. The book of Isaiah refers to the seven Spirits of God.

The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2 NKJV).

The menorah also represents the spirit of man, and how man’s spirit is called to be in union and fellowship with God’s Spirit.

The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the inner depths of his heart (Proverbs 20:27 NKJV).

To enter into God’s presence requires revelation. To enter into God’s presence requires illumination. Jesus spoke in Mark chapter 4, in the parable of the sower sowing the word, that no man lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Jesus was speaking of the revelation that comes to our spirit when we encounter the Word of God.

The measure of thought and study you give to the truth you hear will determine the measure of virtue and knowledge that flows into your life, and more besides will be given to you (Mark 4:24 AMPC).

It is vital that we grasp that entering into the presence of God is not a mechanical or process-driven action. At a practical level, we can only ever enter into God’s presence by divine invitation. It is not enough to say the right words and perform the correct actions by rote. We need the Spirit of God, working with our own spirit, to awaken us to His reality. If we are truly to enter into the presence of God, then our worship must be in spirit and in truth (John 4:24 NKJV).

I am an analytical person. I am a thinker. I love to analyze. I am certain that I drive many of my friends crazy during conversations because, at some point, I begin to talk and engage as a lawyer would. I often want to stop someone mid-sentence and cross-examine them about how one concept applies to another, or point out that they have veered into a completely different subject. We are all unique. We are all created equally, and yet we are each created differently. I have discovered in my own journey with God, and observed while helping others on theirs, that our intellect can often interfere with our connection to God.

To be perfectly clear, God is never opposed to your intellect. He delights in it. He created it, and the Bible instructs us to love the Lord our God with all of our mind (Matthew 22:37 NKJV). Despite this truth, it is essential that we submit our intellect to our spirit. The mind will always attempt to figure God out. It will always try to understand Him. I have come to learn that revelation does not come through understanding.

Rather, God reveals things to us, and then, as a secondary response, we may engage our intellect to think, examine, and inquire. We do not believe because we understand. We understand because we believe.

By faith, we understand (Hebrews 11:3 NKJV).

In Luke chapter 7 (Luke 7:36–50 NKJV), we read the story of Simon the Pharisee, who invited Jesus to his home one evening. I believe Simon was a good man and had sincere, meaningful questions to pose to Jesus.

Imagine the setting. Simon has invited Jesus for dinner. He has also invited his learned and intellectual colleagues. Together, this group of men is questioning Jesus, I believe in good faith, about who He is and His understanding of the Torah.

In the midst of their discourse, a woman enters the room. She is not there to serve, she is not there to clean, and she has not come to ask any questions. Mary falls at the feet of Jesus and begins to anoint His feet, then wipe them with her hair.

Think for a moment of the contrast between Simon and his friends, asking valid intellectual and theological questions of Jesus, and Mary, who simply wanted to pour out her soul before Him and worship Him.

It is likely that Simon understood certain truths about the Messiah that Mary had never fully grasped. However, I would suggest it is just as true that Mary had perceived things about Jesus that Simon could not comprehend. Jesus was in Simon’s mind, but Jesus was in Mary’s heart.

If we are to enter into the presence of God, there is a place where we, like Mary, need to set aside our intellect for a time—not to work out the presence of God, but to bow before the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Selah.

The second piece of furniture that the children of Israel would encounter in the inner court was the table of showbread. It was a large table with twelve loaves of unleavened bread made from finely ground flour. The twelve loaves would represent the twelve tribes of Israel, and later the twelve apostles of the Lamb. The finely ground flour would represent the offering of our will to God.

If we are to enter successfully, and consistently, into the presence of God, then it is vital that we engage the step of laying down our will before the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Your soul loves God, but your soul wants God on its own terms. Your soul adores God, but your soul will always want to maintain control. Throughout all of our journey on this earth, until Jesus comes or calls, there will be a battle between our flesh and our spirit (Galatians 5:17 NKJV). Your flesh will always want to pull you away from God, and your spirit will always want to draw you nearer to Him. Who will win that battle? The answer is found in our soul. To truly walk with God, we must choose with our will to allow our spirit to dominate and not our flesh. We must allow our will to be laid down as an offering before the King of Kings, rather than to allow our flesh to dictate what will happen. At a practical level, I see this battle played out every week in every church. Whenever we come into the presence of God, there is a part of us, our spirit, that delights in entering into His presence. This part yearns and longs for communion (common union) with the living God. We were made by God. We were made for God. We were made for communion with God.

In spite of these glorious truths, there is another part of us, our flesh, which wants God, but wants to stay in control. There is a war between the flesh and the spirit.

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be (Romans 8:7 NKJV).

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God; they are foolishness to him. Nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things (1 Corinthians 2:14–15 NKJV).

One of the most glorious things we can ever do is to learn to pray in the Spirit. A major component and part of praying in the Spirit is the action of praying in tongues. Having exercised this gift for nearly 40 years, I have come to the conclusion that every time we pray in the Spirit, this battle occurs. If I decide that for the next 15 minutes I am going to pray in other tongues, I notice that I encounter this battle, especially in the first 5 to 10 minutes. If I begin praying in tongues, there is a place where my natural, unrenewed mind wants to take back the steering wheel of my time and my day. My mind is suddenly flooded with many of the things that I should do. I find an incredible resistance, as Stephen Pressfield calls it, that rises up inside of me and tries to draw me away from my choice to engage with the Spirit.

How do I win this battle? It is actually very easy. It is actually very simple. I can simply choose with my will to do something. I choose to pray in the Holy Spirit. I may not feel like this; my flesh might be much more enticed by watching the show on Netflix, and so forth. But I can simply choose what I will do. I can choose to raise my arm in the air. I can choose to put my arm down. I can choose to pray in tongues, or I can choose not to. I can choose to worship God, or I can choose my own pursuits. To enter into the presence of the Lord is to lay down one’s will and to submit oneself to the leadership and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The final article of furniture an Israeli would encounter when entering through the inner court would be the altar of incense.

This was a golden altar on which a special incense would be burnt and offered unto the Lord.

The sacrifice of incense was the final step that one would need to engage with before entering into the most holy place (the holy of holies). This step is one of the most important keys in learning to enter into the presence of God. The altar of incense represents the altar of our worship that we bring and offer unto the Lord. It is worship that brings us finally into the presence of the Lord.

But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel. (Psalm 22:3 NKJV)

We cannot come into the presence of the Lord without blood (the righteousness of Jesus Christ), but it is equally our offering of worship that draws us into the glorious presence of the Lord.

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. (Hebrews 13:15 NKJV)

You are a worshipper, you were born to be a worshipper, and you were born again to be a worshipper. It is vital that we grasp this, the Father does not seek worship, rather, the Father seeks worshippers (John 4:23 NKJV). Worship is your connection with Father God. Worship is the connection point, more than any other, between your spirit and your soul. When we bring the sacrifice of praise and worship, we acknowledge who God is and literally lift Him up. So, I was born in the UK, and to this day in the UK, in a courtroom, one would refer to the judge as “your worship.” I do not mean we are worshipping the judge. Rather, we are ascribing worth and value to the position that the judge holds. Worship literally comes from an old English word, worth-ship. There is no entrance into the presence of the Lord without worship.

It is also vital we grasp the principle of a sacrifice of worship. In the western world, we have so developed our thinking, practices, and habits around worship, that it is often the case that we miss the heart of God’s purpose and intent in worship. If worship does not cost you something, then it has no value. This can be hard in our culture to grasp, but God wants your worship to be of value to you so it is of value to Him. I am not implying that God wants you to suffer, but He wants you to pay a price for worship.

In 2 Samuel 24 (2 Samuel 24 NKJV), we read the story where David is called to make a sacrifice before the Lord. To give a brief background, David had disobeyed God and sinned against the commandments of the Lord. As a result, judgment had come upon the nation of Israel. The angel of death is sent to inflict judgment, and at that moment, David is on the threshing floor of a farmer called Araunah. At that moment, God speaks to David and says, if you will give me a sacrifice, I will hold back judgment. The farmer hears and understands this message and immediately offers David his threshing floor to make the sacrifice, his bulls, his knives, everything David will need for the sacrifice is offered to him. In this context, David makes an amazing statement which would behoove us to think through in the context of worship.

Then the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing.” (2 Samuel 24:24 NKJV)

David then buys the threshing floor and oxen from the farmer and offers them as an appropriate sacrifice to God. The sacrifice is received because it cost David something. Just as an interesting side note, the piece of real estate that David bought was the very place where the Temple would be built. God’s sacrifice of Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice in this universe which cost Him everything.

I have learned, and I believe the Bible teaches, that we need to bring to the Lord a sacrifice of praise that will cost us something. There are times when we love to worship. There are times when we enjoy worship. There are times when we long to worship. But if we are honest, there are times when we do not. There are times when our flesh simply wants to do what it wants to do. There are times in worship where we desire to pull back, to take back control, to not press further into the things of God.

These are the times we are making a sacrifice of praise. There have been several moments and seasons of breakthrough in my life when I know God has called me to praise Him without any feelings, any emotions, or any sense of His presence. We do not feel God’s presence and worship Him. We worship, and that will bring us into the presence of the Lord. Selah.

To enter into the presence of the Lord is a journey. We have seen that we are body, soul, and spirit. And that if we are to move into the place where we truly worship God, “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24 NKJV), then we must learn to walk through the biblical stages concerning our body and then our soul before we can enter into that place of spirit to spirit worship. This is a journey, but it can be a very short journey. I believe it is possible to come into the manifest presence of God in a few brief seconds. This is a path that we can practice. This is a route that we can learn to traverse with ease and familiarity. The essential aspect of entering into God’s presence is to come in God’s way and with God’s prescribed methodology. In the same manner that Uzzah was struck dead because he treated lightly God’s protocols and prescriptions for bringing the presence of God into Jerusalem. The more we move into a place of the manifest glory of God, the more weight, reverence, and awe we need to bring to these subjects.

When coming into the presence of the Lord, we need to learn to discern and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. This is not a mechanical process. There are times when He will speedily bring us from the outer court to the inner court. Sometimes, when He knows that we need to linger in a specific arena of worship and press in. On occasions we can pass quickly from a place of high celebration and exuberant worship into the Shekinah glory of God. At other moments He wishes us to linger in the inner court and truly release an offering of the incense of our worship. The vital element is always to follow His leading and guidance. It is crucial to never lean on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5 NKJV). The fundamental principle is always to submit our will and offer ourselves as that living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him, which is our reasonable service (Romans 12:1 NKJV). As a young man, I was privileged to spend some time under the ministry of the late Ruth Ward Heflin. She was an amazing Pentecostal evangelist who lived for many years in Mount Zion, Jerusalem. I highly recommend to you her book, Glory. Ruth Heflin would teach that we praise until the spirit of worship comes, we then continue to worship until we enter the Holy of Holies, quite literally the glory of God, and that it is the Holy Spirit who moves us from this one place to another.

What happens when we enter into the Holy of Holies? We literally enter into the glory of God. In the presence of God, we are back in the garden. Within the presence of God, we see the face of God. Amid the presence of God, we stand in the glory of God. Inside the presence of God, there is nothing to do, that is, there is no work to accomplish. All the work has been accomplished on the cross (John 19:30).

In the Holy of Holies, there is no time. We have stepped out of time into eternity. We bathe in the glory of God, that glory that we were created to inhabit. When we enter into the glory of God, we are like a fish that has come back into the water. We are in our natural environment. We were created from glory and for glory. Nearly every evangelical I have ever met knows two scriptures. John 3:16 and Romans 3:23. In my experience, most of them, or most of us, have never truly thought through the implications of Romans 3:23. We glibly say all have sinned (and rightly so), but we miss the point. All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23 NKJV). The awfulness of sin is separation from God. The devastation of sin is removal from the glory of God. The purpose of Calvary was not to forgive our sins. The purpose of Calvary was to forgive our sins and bring us back into the glory of God. Selah. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. (Hebrews 2:10 NKJV) You were created to stand in the glory of God. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. (1 Peter 4:14 NKJV) I encourage you to daily practice the habits and disciplines of entering into the presence of God.

I trust you are well. This month I spent two weeks in France, and celebrated my 25th wedding anniversary. This weekend, I will be speaking in Sturbridge Worship Center on Sunday morning. I will be teaching this week on faith in God's keeping power and how we can learn to rest and abide in that power. In the evening, we are holding a revival and Holy Spirit service in Norwalk Connecticut. Ia looking forward to seeing the Lord move in power. On Monday, I will be traveling to Atlanta, Georgia, and then onto Dallas Texas. In the coming week, I will be ministering in Dallas, covington, Austin and El Paso, Texas. At the end of this ministry trip, I will be spending several days at the Southwest Believers Convention with a group of friends.

I am looking forward to a busy fall season with much going on here in New England. This fall I also have trip scheduled to the UK, Florida and will be taking a mission team to Ireland. We still have places open if you are interested (details below). Drop me a line if you were interested in details about the travel dates or organizing an event in your area.

Thanks to everyone who has supported our Youtube channel. We currently have over 1.1 Million subscribers and over 500,000 views each month. Visit our channel and share with your friends. (It really helps when we receive comments and a thumbs up).

Thanks for all our ministry partners for your prayers and support of our ministry.

Graham Jone

NEW BOOK: Building a Relationship with God

by Graham Jones

BOOK OFFER

Our new book is currently on offer for $2.99 Kindle, $9.99 Paperback

In the pages of this book, British evangelist Graham Jones explores how to build a flourishing relationship with God that will satisfy and sustain us for now and eternity. Graham teaches that we do not need to build our own individual relationship with God; rather, we have been called into the fellowship of the eternal relationship between Jesus and His Father.

Through biblical truth and practical application, enter and build habits that will sustain a glorious relationship with Jesus.

“Graham’s wisdom shines through every page”

Brian Simmons - The Passion Translation

Order Here

HOW TO ENTER THE PRESENCE OF GOD PART ONE

How can we learn to consistently come into God’s presence? How can we learn to live in God’s presence in a permanent way?

I confess, as a younger Christian, there were times when I would experience God’s presence, and times when I would not. There was a lack of consistency in my ability or understanding to come into the presence of God. Over time, I have learned, grown, and practiced this reality, and I believe there are several keys given by Scripture that we can embrace and build into the fabric of our walk with God.

I believe that when God gave the structure of the temple or tabernacle to Moses, He was literally setting out a plan or road map to bring His people back into His presence. The writer to the Hebrews speaks much of this. He calls it, “the way into the holiest place.” (Hebrews 9:8)

When Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden, God stationed cherubim with a flaming sword to block the way back into His presence. In that moment, mankind lost access to the presence of God. (Genesis 3:24)

From the fall of mankind at the beginning of the book of Genesis until the time when Israel was brought out from Egypt, mankind could no longer enter into the presence of God. Through the ministry of Moses and his encounters with God in the desert, God established a system of blood sacrifice so that He could begin to bring His presence back into the world.

Read More

Each week Graham produces videos and audio including:

• Daily video updates | Link

• Audio Podcasts | Link

• A weekly live Q&A Session | Link

• Live Sermons from our services | Link

• New Courses on our Ministry School | Link

Watch or listen on your social media channels.

ITINERARY

JULY 2025

1 Chambon Sur Lignon, France

2 Chambon Sur Lignon, France

6 Sturbridge Worship Center 10am

6 New England fellowship 4pm

8 NYC, NY

13 Sturbridge Worship Center 10am

13 New England fellowship 4pm

14-18 NH Ministry Tour

20 Sturbridge Worship Center 10am

20 Norwalk Revival Service 4pm

21 Travel

22 Dallas, Texas

23 Covington Texas

25 Austin Texas

27 El Paso Texas

28 Fort Worth Texas

29 Fort Worth Texas

30 Fort Worth Texas

31 Fort Worth Texas

Graham is currently booking 1 to 3 night engagements for 2025 in the US and Europe. If you are interested in inviting Graham to ministry and your church or event use the link below for more details. Graham charges no fee or money to do events with local churches. Our only requirement is that we take a free-will offering for our mission work.

Find out more

Our ministry is possible because of faithful friends, partners and churches who support us both through prayer and financial giving. If you would like to give online or join our partner program please use the links below.

Graham currently serves as senior leader of three churches in the New England area and oversees a relational network of churches and ministries called Wineskin. GJM is currently working on a church planting program as part of our school of ministry. See the ministryschool.net website for more details.

How can we learn to consistently come into God’s presence? How can we learn to live in God’s presence in a permanent way?

I confess, as a younger Christian, there were times when I would experience God’s presence, and times when I would not. There was a lack of consistency in my ability or understanding to come into the presence of God. Over time, I have learned, grown, and practiced this reality, and I believe there are several keys given by Scripture that we can embrace and build into the fabric of our walk with God.

I believe that when God gave the structure of the temple or tabernacle to Moses, He was literally setting out a plan or road map to bring His people back into His presence. The writer to the Hebrews speaks much of this. He calls it, “the way into the holiest place.” (Hebrews 9:8)

When Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden, God stationed cherubim with a flaming sword to block the way back into His presence. In that moment, mankind lost access to the presence of God. (Genesis 3:24)

From the fall of mankind at the beginning of the book of Genesis until the time when Israel was brought out from Egypt, mankind could no longer enter into the presence of God. Through the ministry of Moses and his encounters with God in the desert, God established a system of blood sacrifice so that He could begin to bring His presence back into the world.

The Bible has much to say on the subject of the tabernacle. There are 328 verses in the Bible concerning the subject of the tabernacle—approximately 300 in the Old Testament and 28 in the New Testament. When God instructed Moses to build the tabernacle, He warned him clearly, saying, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” (Hebrews 8:5)

It was vital that Moses completely followed God’s instructions. The earthly tabernacle—whether the original movable tent version or the later elaborate stone constructions—was built upon a heavenly plan and design that God wants us to grasp. We no longer need to visit a temple or tabernacle to worship God. “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)

In constructing the temple, God was showing mankind how to come into His presence. I believe it is important that we come into God’s presence in God’s way. I also believe it is vital that we approach God in the manner He has ordained, not according to our own preferences. Just as it was not appropriate for David to construct his own personal etiquette around the transportation of the ark, so also God has prescribed a protocol, method, and pathway by which we must come into His presence.

It is important to note that the various steps God has outlined in this pathway are not for His benefit, but for ours.

“I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go.” (Isaiah 48:17)

The tabernacle is a plan for how to come into God’s presence.

There are various steps that the people of Israel were required to follow in the Outer Court, the Inner Court, and the Holy of Holies. The temple was a three-part or triune construction. God is triune. (The Trinity.) We also, created in God’s image and likeness, are triune beings. We are spirit, soul, and body. (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

The three stages—or courts—of the temple each correspond to one part of our being. In the Outer Court, we worship God with praise, celebration, and exaltation. We literally offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to God. (Romans 12:1)

We raise our voices and sing. (Psalm 95:1) We lift our hands to the Lord. (Psalm 134:2) We clap our hands. (Psalm 47:1) We come into His courts with thanksgiving and praise. (Psalm 100:4)

In the Outer Court, we submit our bodies to the Lordship of Jesus and celebrate who God truly is. It would be wise to examine the original meanings of the Hebrew words for praise and worship. In comparison with the average—even exuberant—Western evangelical or charismatic church, all of our worship is tame and insipid when measured against the Hebrew understanding of worship.

While the Outer Court relates to our body, the Inner Court pertains to our soul. In the Outer Court, we praise, celebrate, and exalt. In the Inner Court, we worship. The Outer Court is a place where we dance and spin with joy before our God. The Inner Court is where we kneel and pour out our hearts and emotions as an offering before the Lord.

Come, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. (Psalm 95:6–7)

The Outer Court relates to our body. The Inner Court relates to our soul.

The Holy of Holies, or the Most Holy Place, corresponds to worshiping in the Spirit. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:24) There is a place in worship that goes beyond emotions. There is a place in worship where we literally meet God, Spirit to spirit. He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. (1 Corinthians 6:17)

Throughout all eternity, this is the place of worship we will continually inhabit—unbroken and glorious Spirit-to-Spirit communion with the Triune God. However, it is possible for us to enter into that glorious place now. God, in His wisdom, has prepared a pathway for us to come into that place. It can be difficult, especially for the uninitiated—for those who have not practiced—to enter immediately into that realm of Spirit-to-Spirit communication with God. There are often matters within our soul that must be addressed and laid aside in order to enter into that place of glorious fellowship with the Lord.

Our spirit is seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:6) Yet, despite this, our soul is not, and neither is our body. Our soul and body dwell on the earth. Our body becomes tired and is affected by the world around it. For most of us, whether we are aware of it or not, our soul is not in continuous communion and fellowship with God. Our soul is influenced by many things—usually by what we allow to enter through our eyes, our ears, the words of our mouth, and the environment in which we live. There is no work, effort, or striving required to enter into Spirit-to-Spirit communication with God—we are already there! The true effort, and at times struggle, is to bring our body and our soul into that same place of glorious communion.

On the journey into the Most Holy Place, the people of Israel would pass through five stages that represented important steps in preparation for the entry and acceptance in the Most Holy Place and the presence of God. Today, we do not enter a physical temple. The curtain or veil has been rent (John 19:30), and yet we need to pass through these same five steps and deal with the same five issues that the people of Israel needed to engage with.

The first item of furniture one would see when entering into the outer court was a brass table or brazen altar (Exodus 27:1-8). This is the place of sacrifice. This is the place where blood was shed. Nobody could come into the presence of God without the shedding of blood. No sacrifice would be acceptable without the shedding of blood. The blood of Christ has been shed once for all. It never needs to be shed again (who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. Hebrews 7:27). Although the blood of Christ has been shed once and for all, it is vital that we engage with that truth. The biggest blockage every born-again, spirit-filled Christian will experience today in engaging the presence of God is sin and the consciousness of sin. It is the blood of Christ, and the blood of Christ alone, which will deal with these things.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us of all sins and the blood of Christ cleanses us from all unrighteousness (If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9).

It is vital that we are cleansed from all sin, and it is also vital that we are cleansed from the consciousness of sin. Each and every week in a church context, I will see people who are struggling to engage with God’s presence. For those two reasons. Firstly, there is sin in their life. Secondly, there is transgression in their existence they have not repented, forsaken, and been cleansed from. Often, more frequently, there are people who genuinely have asked God to forgive them, but they are living in the swamp of condemnation. Satan, the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10), is speaking to them. They are living under the influence of Satan’s voice of condemnation more than they are the voice of the blood of Jesus.

The blood of Jesus speaks (Hebrews 12:24). It is not enough that the blood of Jesus, on the heavenly altar, speaks of our righteousness. We must, here on the earth, align our words with the words of the blood. We must agree with what the word of God says about the blood of Jesus.

They overcame him (Satan, the accuser of the brethren), by the word of their testimony and the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 12:11).

If we are to enter the presence of the Lord with ease and facility, then it is vital that we solve the sin problem. We need to be cleansed from sin, and we need to be cleansed from the consciousness and condemnation of sin.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1 NKJV.)

Humanity will always walk away from God and hide from God, as Adam and Eve did in the garden, when there is sin or the consciousness of sin in our being. We cannot simply live as sinners who are pardoned. However, it is crucial that we learn to clothe ourselves in the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV.)

Righteousness gives us boldness to access the presence of God.

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus. (Hebrews 10:19 NKJV.)

From God’s vantage point and in his eternal perspective, we are already righteous because of the finished works of Christ and the blood of Jesus. Our mission and goal is to establish our hearts in that righteousness. We need to renew our minds and allow the truth of the work of the cross to go from our mind, through our mouth, and into our hearts.

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:23-24 NKJV.)

In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you. (Isaiah 54:14 NKJV.)

In the story of Exodus, when the angel of death came to visit Egypt, each family of the nation of Israel needed to slaughter a lamb. The blood of the lamb was shed, and yet that blood needed to be applied to the doorposts of each house. In the same manner, the blood of Jesus needs to be applied to our lives. It is not enough that we have a theological belief in the power of the blood of Jesus. Rather, the blood of Jesus requires practical application to our lives. God commanded the children of Israel to take a herb called hyssop. They were to dip this into the blood and then apply it to the doorposts of their houses. We apply the blood of Jesus to our lives through the words of our mouths. It is essential that we learn to declare the righteousness of Jesus Christ with the words that we speak.

For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:10 NKJV.)

One of the most powerful things we can do as a Christian, and one of the most beneficial practices for the rest of your life, is to take all of the Bible verses that speak about the blood of Jesus and learn to declare them daily over your life in the present, first-person tense. For example, Hebrews 10:19 says, “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus.” (Hebrews 10:19.) You can proclaim, I have boldness and daily access to God’s presence because of the blood of Jesus.

The realities of what Jesus accomplished on the cross are settled forever in heaven. When Jesus arose from the dead, the first person to meet him was Mary. She immediately reached out to embrace him, and Jesus would not allow her to touch him. He responded, "I have not yet ascended to my God and your God." Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’”

Jesus needed to ascend into the heavenly throne room and pour out his blood on the heavenly altar, where it still resides today. Later that day, Jesus would appear to his disciples and encourage them to touch him. "Handle me, for a spirit has not flesh and bone as you see I have." Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”

Notice that Jesus did not say flesh and blood to the disciples, but rather flesh and bone. The blood of Jesus is on the altar in heaven right now. His blood is speaking right now. Christ's blood will speak throughout all eternity, and it is speaking better things than the blood of Abel. Right now, the blood of Jesus is declaring that we have been made righteous before the courts of heaven.

There is an old-fashioned term that we used to hear often in the churches, or in all the hymns and songs: “Pleading the blood.” What does it mean to plead the blood? To plead is a legal term. Pleading means to state one’s position and posture before the law. If somebody is involved in a court case, the very first question they will ever be asked at the arraignment is, "How do you plead?"

At a very real level, each and every one of us, every single day, are asked the question, how do we plead? The world has only two answers to this question: guilty or innocent. The world is still feeding from the tree of the knowledge of good or evil. The world evaluates everything as good or evil. Hence, we plead guilty or innocent. But we, the believers, have another plea. When the accuser of the brethren comes and accuses us, we do not cry, "I am guilty," nor do we cry, "I am innocent." Rather, we plead the blood. Our defense is that we are righteous in the blood of Jesus. We stand in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. While this is a settled matter in heaven, it is often not a settled matter in our own lives and in our own hearts. Our role is to take the things that are forever settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89), and make them settled in our own hearts.

There was a season in my life, around 20 years ago, where the Lord had been speaking to me about engaging in this process of daily proclaiming the blood scriptures over my life. Over a period of time, these truths had really sunk into my heart, and I began to develop faith in the word regarding the power of the blood.

Several months after beginning this discipline, I was preaching in a charismatic church in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I had been speaking in the church for a couple of evenings, and at the end of the second service, after praying for a line of people, I sat down on the front row to gather my belongings together and have a glass of water. A lady approached me and said that she had a prophetic word for me. As a rule, I never allow people I do not know to give unsolicited prophetic words over my life. I have learnt that this can be dangerous, and I put a high premium on protecting my heart from unhelpful or unbiblical words spoken over my life. In spite of this, for whatever reason, possibly I was simply tired and did not have the energy to deal with offending the lady, etc., I allowed this woman to speak. That evening, in my sermon, I had mentioned how my wife was eight months pregnant. I would be returning to Europe next week and wanted to be there for the birth of my second child. This lady began “prophesying,” and she literally commenced pronouncing a curse on me. For around two minutes, she mumbled on, saying, “I see death, death is coming, blackness, darkness, death, yea, verily, death,” etc. This was definitely not a word of edification, exhortation, and comfort. 1 Corinthians 14:3.

When the lady had finished her curse, she ended with, “thus saith the Lord,” and began walking away. As she walked away, I reached out for the “hem of her garment,” and pulled her back to me. I said, why do we not pray together over that word? When I opened my mouth and began to speak, all of the verses I had stored up in the interior of my heart concerning the blood of Jesus began to come out like bullets out of a machine gun. I stood there at the front of the church and declared, “it is written, it is written, it is written,” and broke every word of curse she had spoken by the power of the blood of Jesus. The blood is powerful. It declares we are righteous. But if we are to enter successfully and consistently into the presence of the Lord, then it is vital we establish our hearts in that place of righteousness.

In the book of Esther, we see a wonderful example of the principle of righteousness and entrance into the presence of the king. In this story, there is a time when Esther wants to enter into the royal court and plead before the king for the life of the Jewish people. Esther is the wife of the king, but in those days, the king had many wives and concubines, and Esther had no right or privilege whatsoever to simply march into the throne room of the king and make requests. Esther knew, and correctly so, that she could probably lose her life if she did this. During that era, the protocol was that somebody would present themselves for entry to the court of the king. The king could choose to raise the sceptre, which means the person had right of entry to the courtroom, or not. If not, they would be refused, or even pay a price for having dared to enter his presence. Of course, when Esther enters the courtroom, the king raises the sceptre and declares that she can ask for anything, even up to half of his kingdom.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and the sceptre of your kingdom is a sceptre of righteousness. But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.” (Hebrews 1:8 NKJV)

The king of heaven has forever raised the sceptre of righteousness for us, his people. We are no longer in the place of Isaiah, living in fear and terror when we come anywhere near the presence of the Lord. Far from it. Rather, we are at perfect peace and at home in his presence. Literally, we are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. (Isaiah 26:3 NKJV) And raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:6 NKJV)

The king has not offered us anything up to half of his kingdom; rather, he has literally said, whatever you ask in my name, I will do. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (John 14:13 NKJV)

It is your father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom of God. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32 NKJV)

Continued in part two.

Greetings from France. I am currently in my home in France for 2 weeks with my family. Léa and I are celebrating out 25th wedding anniversary!

I will be doing some ministry (but not much) while here, and lot’s of time on the beach! In July I have a busy schedule with meetings in our New England churches and travel to New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Texas.

I am currently working on a new book project called “The Spirit-Filled Life” in which I explore how to live a life in the fullness and overflow of God’s Spirit.

Thanks to everyone who bought my last book, “Building a Relationship with God,” which explores how to practically deepen your daily walk with Him in a way that truly satisfies. It is available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle formats. There is also a study guide available to accompany the book, ideal for personal or small group studies.

In November, I’ll be taking a team to Ireland. (details below).

Thanks to everyone who has supported our Youtube channel. We currently have over 1.1 Million subscribers and over 500,000 views each month. Visit our channel and share with your friends. (It really helps when we receive comments and a thumbs up).

Thanks for all our ministry partners for your prayers and support of our ministry.

Graham Jones

NEW BOOK: Building a Relationship with God

by Graham Jones

BOOK OFFER

Our new book is currently on offer for $2.99 Kindle, $9.99 Paperback

In the pages of this book, British evangelist Graham Jones explores how to build a flourishing relationship with God that will satisfy and sustain us for now and eternity. Graham teaches that we do not need to build our own individual relationship with God; rather, we have been called into the fellowship of the eternal relationship between Jesus and His Father.

Through biblical truth and practical application, enter and build habits that will sustain a glorious relationship with Jesus.

“Graham’s wisdom shines through every page”

Brian Simmons - The Passion Translation

Order Her

Each week Graham produces videos and audio including:

• Daily video updates | Link

• Audio Podcasts | Link

• A weekly live Q&A Session | Link

• Live Sermons from our services | Link

• New Courses on our Ministry School | Link

Watch or listen on your social media channels.

ITINERARY

JUNE 2025

1 Sturbridge Worship Center 10am
1 New England fellowship 4pm
8 Sturbridge Worship Center 10am
8 New England fellowship 4pm
15 Sturbridge Worship Center 10am
15 New England fellowship 4pm
17 Lyon France
18 France Ministry Tour
19 France Ministry Tour
20 France Ministry Tour
20 France Ministry Tour
22 France Ministry Tour
23 Lyon, France
23 Chambon Sur Lignon, France
24 Chambon Sur Lignon, France
29 Eglise Zoe, Tence, France

Graham is currently booking 1 to 3 night engagements for 2025 in the US and Europe. If you are interested in inviting Graham to ministry and your church or event use the link below for more details. Graham charges no fee or money to do events with local churches. Our only requirement is that we take a free-will offering for our mission work.

Find out more

Our ministry is possible because of faithful friends, partners and churches who support us both through prayer and financial giving. If you would like to give online or join our partner program please use the links below.

Graham currently serves as senior leader of three churches in the New England area and oversees a relational network of churches and ministries called Wineskin. GJM is currently working on a church planting program as part of our school of ministry. See the ministryschool.net website for more details.

Greetings from Sunny Florida.

This week I am ministering in Florida, and yes, the weather is glorious! Yesterday I was with a powerful church in Bradenton and saw the Lord do some wonderful things there. Today I am in Orlando, and will be speaking in Lakeland and Melbourne, Florida in the next couple of days.

If you were in New England plan on joining us this coming weekend for one of our Easter celebration services. I have a powerful message I am looking forward to delivering this weekend.

In May in June, I will be ministering in Texas and France in addition to a normal services around New England.

I have just released a new book, “Building a Relationship with God,” which explores how to practically deepen your daily walk with Him in a way that truly satisfies. It is available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle formats. There is also a study guide available to accompany the book, ideal for personal or small group studies. This week we have a special easter offer on this book (see details below).

In November, I’ll be taking a team to Ireland, and there is currently an “early bird” price for those who sign up before mid-May (details below).

Thanks to everyone who has supported our Youtube channel. We currently have over 1.1 Million subscribers and over 500,000 views each month. Visit our channel and share with your friends. (It really helps when we receive comments and a thumbs up). Over the next few weeks I will be teaching on the topic of “Building a Relationship with God”.

Thanks for all our ministry partners for your prayers and support of our ministry.

Graham Jones

NEW BOOK: Building a Relationship with God

by Graham Jones

BOOK OFFER

Our new book is currently on offer for $2.99 Kindle, $9.99 Paperback

In the pages of this book, British evangelist Graham Jones explores how to build a flourishing relationship with God that will satisfy and sustain us for now and eternity. Graham teaches that we do not need to build our own individual relationship with God; rather, we have been called into the fellowship of the eternal relationship between Jesus and His Father.

Through biblical truth and practical application, enter and build habits that will sustain a glorious relationship with Jesus.

“Graham’s wisdom shines through every page”

Brian Simmons - The Passion Translation

Order Her

HOW TO HEAR FROM GOD (WITHOUT BEING WEIRD)

In this blog post, I want to share some simple thoughts with you about how we can learn to hear God’s voice (without being weird). I love hearing from God. There is something intrinsically supernatural about the Creator of the universe speaking to His children. One of my favorite things to observe is the face of someone as they realize—perhaps for the first time—that God is real, personal, and, more importantly, interested in their lives.

One of the greatest challenges for most of us in this generation is that we live in the midst of an unbelieving world that denies the reality of God. There are many ways of addressing this unbelief and demonstrating the reality of God, and much ink has been spilled on the various approaches.

Read the full blog post

Each week Graham produces videos and audio including:

• Daily video updates | Link

• Audio Podcasts | Link

• A weekly live Q&A Session | Link

• Live Sermons from our services | Link

• New Courses on our Ministry School | Link

Watch or listen on your social media channels.

ITINERARY

APRIL 2025

4 New York City, NY

6 Sturbridge Worship Center 10am

6 New England fellowship 4pm

8 Floria Ministry Tour

9 Floria Ministry Tour

10 Floria Ministry Tour

11 Floria Ministry Tour

12 Floria Ministry Tour - Bradenton

13 Floria Ministry Tour - Orlando

14 Floria Ministry Tour- Lakeland

15 Floria Ministry Tour - Orlando

16 Floria Ministry Tour - Melbourne

17 Floria Ministry Tour - Miami

20 Sturbridge Worship Center 10am

20 New England fellowship 4pm

22 NYC, NY

24 Pennsylvania

27 Sturbridge Worship Center 10am

27 New England fellowship 4pm

30 Mentoring School Online

Graham is currently booking 1 to 3 night engagements for 2025 in the US and Europe. If you are interested in inviting Graham to ministry and your church or event use the link below for more details. Graham charges no fee or money to do events with local churches. Our only requirement is that we take a free-will offering for our mission work.

Find out more

Our ministry is possible because of faithful friends, partners and churches who support us both through prayer and financial giving. If you would like to give online or join our partner program please use the links below.

Graham currently serves as senior leader of three churches in the New England area and oversees a relational network of churches and ministries called Wineskin. GJM is currently working on a church planting program as part of our school of ministry. See the ministryschool.net website for more details.

In this blog post, I want to share some simple thoughts with you about how we can learn to hear God’s voice (without being weird). I love hearing from God. There is something intrinsically supernatural about the Creator of the universe speaking to His children. One of my favorite things to observe is the face of someone as they realize—perhaps for the first time—that God is real, personal, and, more importantly, interested in their lives.

One of the greatest challenges for most of us in this generation is that we live in the midst of an unbelieving world that denies the reality of God. There are many ways of addressing this unbelief and demonstrating the reality of God, and much ink has been spilled on the various approaches.

Creation testifies to the existence of God (Romans 1:20).

We can argue through apologetics the reasons why it is logical to believe in God.

We can rely on the testimonies of those living, and indeed those who have lived in ages past, regarding the reality of God in their lives.

We can point to answered prayer and to the many things that God has done in our own lives.

In spite of this, there is something glorious and immediate that happens when somebody sees God reveal something that another person could not possibly have known. When Jesus said to Nathanael in John chapter 1, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you” (John 1:48), all of Nathanael’s defences were immediately broken down, and he was ready to receive from Jesus.

The same thing is true in our own lives. I believe God wants to speak to us for many reasons. Some of these may seem important to us, while others may appear trivial. I believe they are all important to God.

For a reason I have never been able to understand, the subject of hearing from God tends to attract people with a tendency toward the weird, the wacky, and the spectacular. Sadly, in a country like America, subjects such as the prophetic and hearing from God often bear the stigma of those who have set a poor example in doing so. I have met many church pastors who shy away from allowing the prophetic—hearing God’s voice—to flow in their churches. I have found it interesting to note that none of these pastors base their objections on a biblical or theological argument. No serious student of the Bible can believe in cessationism. The very Bible we claim to follow denies its existence. Rather, the objection of many pastors is simply the damage that comes when people try to speak in God’s name and cause confusion, manipulation, and poor testimony. Many of these pastors have come to the conclusion that the answer to a bad example of hearing from God is to stay away from the subject altogether. While I love many of my pastor brethren, I must respectfully disagree.

The antidote to a bad example of hearing from God is a good example of someone hearing from God. The antidote to a poor biblical experience is a good biblical experience.

In this blog post, I want to give you five practical keys that I have learned and, more importantly, that I put into practice to help me on the journey of hearing from God. In the UK, when a young person is learning to drive, they are required by law to put a large “L” on the front and back of the car to demonstrate to everyone around them that they are a learner. I have often wished that older Christians (myself included) would wear an L plate when trying to hear from God, especially in the context of speaking that to others.

I encourage you to try these keys and put them into action in your life.

I. IDENTITY

The first key in trying to hear from God is not to try to hear from God. In the New Testament, God gives us our identity as a gift, and then empowers us to live that out in our daily lives.

I do not attain the status of a righteous person by doing righteous things. Rather, God calls me righteous—as an identity—and when I establish my heart in that identity, it becomes easy to live and practice a righteous life.

This may seem mysterious, but I believe that when we begin to establish our hearts in the reality that we can hear from God, then it will become easy to practice that reality.My name is Graham, and I hear God’s voice. This is not true based on my life experience. Rather, it is true because God declares it to be true in His Word. We must learn to take our identity by faith from God’s Word, and base it on His Word alone—not on our experience.

Jesus said in John 10:27, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” This is a statement of fact. It is not a promise we must attain, but a truth we believe, and the Holy Spirit will work it out in our life experience.

You can step into the identity of one who hears from God on a consistent, clear, and accurate basis.

II. GOD SPEAKS IN A NATURAL AND NORMAL WAY

One of the challenges in hearing from God is realizing that God is more natural than we are. God is never religious. He never puts on a funny voice. He never pretends or performs. There is a rule of thumb I have found very reliable in many years of ministry: the more someone tries to be dramatic, spectacular, and strange, the less they are actually hearing from God. The people who hear from God in a clear and accurate way usually do so without theatrics. Do not look for God in the wind, the fire, or the earthquake. Rather, listen for Him in the still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12).

I have often taught on this subject using the passage in 1 Samuel chapter 3. In this passage, God speaks to Samuel for the first time. God speaks in such a natural, normal, and familiar voice that Samuel makes the mistake of thinking it cannot be God. He assumes it must be a familiar voice—namely, that of Eli, the man he heard every day. It is only when Samuel begins to believe that he is actually hearing from God that God continues to speak to him.

“Speak, for Your servant hears” (1 Samuel 3:10).

Ninety-nine percent of the time, God will not speak in a weird or dramatic way. Usually, you will think it is your own voice in your own mind. Just as an exercise, take a moment right now and count to five in your mind. That is the voice you will hear when God is speaking to you. Natural. Normal. Familiar. And yes—often followed by doubt.

III. GOD SPEAKS TO OUR FAITH

I was blessed to learn this lesson at a very young age, and it has served me well over many years. Simply put, God speaks to faith. When we believe that God is speaking to us, we will begin to hear His voice.

Most people have a simple problem: they do not believe God is speaking to them, and they do not believe they can hear from God (see point number one).

In the story of Samuel, it was only when Samuel acknowledged that the voice was God’s and placed himself in a position to hear from Him that God continued to speak. Before trying to hear from God, come into a place of faith. Believe that you are no longer hearing your own mind, the devil, last night’s pizza, or anything else. Believe that God is speaking to you, and you will begin to hear His voice.

Satan speaks to our fears. God speaks to our faith. Selah.

IV. REALITY

For many people, this is a difficult key and the area in which they often stumble. It is possible to develop our relationship with God in a way that only expects to hear from Him at the devotional level. In such a place, we hear God affirm His love for us, correct us from sin, remind us that we are His children, and so on. This is absolutely priceless. However, we are missing out on the glorious benefit of hearing God speak into accurate and precise situations.

Take a moment to think this through. The challenge for most of us is that hearing God say “I love you” or “You are My child” requires very little faith. In one sense, it is almost impossible to get it wrong. I liken this to learning to swim in the kiddie pool. It is safe, shallow, warm, and very difficult to make a mistake.

The challenge comes when that same person tries to hear from God in a way that is predictive, regulatory, or specific. I have noticed over many years that people will often avoid having their “hearing from God” tested by whether it was actually real or not.

I love to move in the word of knowledge in a church or ministry setting. In an average week, I will usually do this five to ten times at a minimum. One of the things I love about this gift is the instant feedback it provides. If I stand up in a meeting and say, “There is a lady on my left with a damaged heart valve,” it is either right or wrong. If it is right, faith in the room rises. If it is wrong, I feel foolish.

The challenge for most of us is that we are so afraid of looking foolish. We are so afraid of getting it wrong. We are so afraid of having our ego—or indeed our pride—damaged, that we learn to avoid testing what we think we have heard from God with reality.

I have discovered that the more willing we are to do this, the more God will speak to us. Also, the more we are willing to test our hearing from God in the real world, the more our own faith and confidence will grow.

A great way of doing this is to begin each day by praying and asking God to show you what will happen that day. Ask Him to show you things to come (John 16:13).

Over time, you will grow in both accuracy and confidence in this matter.

V. PRACTICE

The way we learn any skill is through practice. The challenge I have seen in ministry is that many Christians never want to practice hearing from God until a very dramatic situation arises in their life. That is the wrong time to practice.

The best time to learn to hear from God was twenty years ago. The second-best time is today. The worst time is tomorrow. We improve in any skill by repetition and intentionality.

It is perfectly acceptable to wear the “L” (learner) plate and be someone who is constantly growing, using every situation to develop their ability to hear from God.

Everything that comes from God will be perfect. Everything that flows through us will be imperfect. Each and every time we practice, we move forward on that journey of hearing from God. Selah.

I hope these keys will help, inspire, and challenge you. I am well aware that there are many other subjects I could have mentioned, and vital topics I have omitted.

My encouragement to you is to be a hearer and a doer of the Word of God (James 1:22).

Graham Jones

Greetings from the USA,

I trust this email finds you well and walking with God.

Today, I will be preaching at my home church in Sturbridge, MA, on “The Power of New Creation,” and baptizing several people. This afternoon, we will be holding a healing service in Norwalk, CT, and are excited to see all that God will do.

In April, I will be ministering in Florida for a week, as well as in New Hampshire. In May, I will be doing a ministry tour of Texas.

I have just released a new book, “Building a Relationship with God,” which explores how to practically deepen your daily walk with Him in a way that truly satisfies. It is available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle formats. There is also a study guide available to accompany the book, ideal for personal or small group studies.

In November, I’ll be taking a team to Ireland, and there is currently an “early bird” price for those who sign up before mid-May (details below).

Thanks to everyone who has supported our Youtube channel. We currently have over 1.1 Million subscribers and over 500,000 views each month. Visit our channel and share with your friends. (It really helps when we receive comments and a thumbs up). One the next few weeks I will be teaching on the topic of “Building a Relationship with God”.

Thanks for all our ministry partners for your prayers and support of our ministry.

Graham Jones

NEW BOOK: Building a Relationship with God

by Graham Jones

Have you ever struggled in your relationship with God?

Have you ever asked if there was more?

Have you ever struggled to get victory over sin?

The church has taught people how to begin a relationship with God, but has often failed at teaching them how to build and sustain that relationship. The body of Christ is filled with believers who struggle to enjoy and live out this new life.

In the pages of this book, British evangelist Graham Jones explores how to build a flourishing relationship with God that will satisfy and sustain us for now and eternity.

Graham teaches that we do not need to build our own individual relationship with God; rather, we have been called into the fellowship of the eternal relationship between Jesus and His Father.

Through biblical truth and practical application, enter and build habits that will sustain a glorious relationship with Jesus.

“Graham’s wisdom shines through every page”

Brian Simmons - The Passion Translation

Order Here

Victory in your Emotions Part One

I want to explore with you one of the most important subjects that we can ever understand in our journey with God. There is a fundamental challenge that every human being faces in understanding our emotions. In my experience as a local church pastor, most of the people I encounter confront this issue without taking the necessary time to examine what is really happening and, more importantly, how to overcome this challenge in a way that leads to victory.

In the first part of this two-part series on achieving victory over our emotions, I aim to explain, in a straightforward manner, how our human emotions operate. I also intend to show how this area of our lives consistently leads us into patterns of failure or sin and, most importantly, how we can step into a clear and present victory that I believe God offers to each of His children.

Read the full blog post

Each week Graham produces videos and audio including:

• Daily video updates | Link

• Audio Podcasts | Link

• A weekly live Q&A Session | Link

• Live Sermons from our services | Link

• New Courses on our Ministry School | Link

Watch or listen on your social media channels.

ITINERARY

APRIL 2025

4 New York City, NY
6 Sturbridge Worship Center 10am
6 New England fellowship 4pm
8 Floria Ministry Tour
9 Floria Ministry Tour
10 Floria Ministry Tour
11 Floria Ministry Tour
12 Floria Ministry Tour
13 Floria Ministry Tour
14 Floria Ministry Tour
20 Sturbridge Worship Center 10am
20 New England fellowship 4pm
22 NYC, NY
24 Pennsylvania
27 Sturbridge Worship Center 10am
27 New England fellowship 4pm
30 Mentoring School Online

Graham is currently booking 1 to 3 night engagements for 2025 in the US and Europe. If you are interested in inviting Graham to ministry and your church or event use the link below for more details. Graham charges no fee or money to do events with local churches. Our only requirement is that we take a free-will offering for our mission work.

Find out more

Our ministry is possible because of faithful friends, partners and churches who support us both through prayer and financial giving. If you would like to give online or join our partner program please use the links below.

Graham currently serves as senior leader of three churches in the New England area and oversees a relational network of churches and ministries called Wineskin. GJM is currently working on a church planting program as part of our school of ministry. See the ministryschool.net website for more details.

Subscribe now

I want to explore with you one of the most important subjects that we can ever understand in our journey with God. There is a fundamental challenge that every human being faces in understanding our emotions. In my experience as a local church pastor, most of the people I encounter confront this issue without taking the necessary time to examine what is really happening and, more importantly, how to overcome this challenge in a way that leads to victory.

In the first part of this two-part series on achieving victory over our emotions, I aim to explain, in a straightforward manner, how our human emotions operate. I also intend to show how this area of our lives consistently leads us into patterns of failure or sin and, most importantly, how we can step into a clear and present victory that I believe God offers to each of His children.

Our emotions are both wonderful and mysterious. Many of us experience a conflicted relationship with our feelings. On a practical level, we often struggle to differentiate between our emotions and our true selves. When we experience an emotion, it frequently dominates our reality, leading us to mistakenly believe that the emotion defines our entire being. It is common to find ourselves, perhaps even daily, in situations where our emotions drive us to act against what we know to be God’s will, against our better judgment, or into decisions that we later regret. The challenge that we all face is this: regardless of our strong resolve, pre-made decisions, or well-intentioned resolutions, a powerful emotional pull can easily override our intended path.

It is worth noting that it is relatively simple to make decisions when we are looking toward the future. For example, at the start of a new year, many of us make resolutions with clarity and strong intention. We outline choices that we believe will lead our lives in a better direction. Such decisions are made while we are removed from the immediate experience of emotion. However, when we are confronted with strong feelings later on, these positive intentions often seem insufficient. In those moments, our emotional state can feel overwhelming, steering us away from our earlier resolutions.

A common difficulty is that many of us cannot separate our feelings from our identity. We have an innate tendency to assume that our emotions define who we are. When an emotion is experienced, it is undeniably real and intense, a notion reinforced by countless cultural messages, including those in popular music. One of the most valuable insights I have learned is the importance of distinguishing between one’s feelings and one’s true self. While our emotions are genuine, they are not permanent, and they do not constitute our essence.

It is useful to consider that our soul is comprised of three distinct components: our will, our mind, and our emotions. When our feelings speak to us, they can seem overwhelmingly dominant. If another person comes seeking advice about a difficult area in their life, it is often easier for us to provide objective counsel. Yet, when we find ourselves amid an emotional storm, our willpower may seem small in comparison with the overwhelming force of our feelings. Recognizing this reality is the first step in our journey toward emotional victory. In this post and the following one, I will provide practical keys to help you learn to govern your emotions instead of allowing them to govern you.

The first step in changing any emotional state is to acknowledge the condition in which you are presently. Although this may appear obvious, it is often the case that we do not immediately realize which emotional state we are experiencing. The danger lies in drawing conclusions or making decisions based on an unrecognized or unexamined state of emotion. Often, we are so immersed in our feelings that they become the environment in which we operate. Much like a fish that is unaware of the water in which it lives, we may not notice our emotional context until we move from one dramatic state to another. For instance, leaving the comfort of a warm home for the cold air outside produces an immediate and unmistakable difference. In a similar manner, if we become accustomed to a particular state of emotion, recognizing it becomes a vital key to changing its influence.

One helpful practice in this regard is mindfulness. Although some Christians may approach the term with apprehension, mindfulness simply means taking a moment to objectively examine how you truly feel. Over the last few years, I have engaged in periods of fasting from food, during which I have noticed a predictable pattern. Typically, in the afternoon, as physical hunger begins to set in, I also experience an emotional downturn, a feeling of sadness and despondency that resembles a brief period of depression. In these moments, the mere thought of satisfying my hunger by eating is magnified by the emotional state in which I find myself.

I have learned that by taking two or three minutes to pause and carefully analyze my current emotional and physical state, I can gain a clearer perspective. More often than not, I discover that while I may be experiencing some level of hunger or discomfort, the intensity of these feelings is relatively manageable, perhaps only reaching five to ten percent of their perceived power. This reflection helps me to understand that I have allowed my emotions to begin influencing my behavior, and it is within this fertile ground for emotion that temptation may arise.

Another practical measure is to invite the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Instead of inadvertently slipping into a state of emotion that may lead to unfavorable decisions, I have found it beneficial to ask the Holy Spirit for discernment. Our gracious and ever-present friend, the Holy Spirit, is available to help, direct, and counsel us in our daily lives. When you ask for His help in recognizing the onset of an unproductive state of emotion, trust that He will reveal what is occurring. In my own experience, I have discovered that when I grant permission for the Holy Spirit to intervene, He consistently follows through with clarity and support.

Once you have recognized the state of emotion in which you are immersed, the next key is to take authority over those negative feelings. When our emotions become overwhelming, they often dominate our thoughts and influence our decisions. As a result, we find ourselves locked into a cycle in which our emotions dictate our subsequent actions. Recognizing that our state of emotion is currently steering our thought processes is essential in reclaiming control over our lives.

When you become aware of a specific emotional condition, you have the opportunity to reclaim the steering wheel of your life. It is important to assert your authority in that situation. This process does not mean that you deny the reality of your feelings; rather, you are denying those feelings the power to dictate your actions. When you experience feelings of sadness or discouragement, speak to these emotions and declare that they will no longer hold sway over your decisions. Affirm that you are in control of your thoughts and that you will not allow these feelings to dominate your will.

It is crucial to recognize that we cannot simply choose to turn our emotions on or off. Although we are not always in direct control of the initial emotional surge, we are in command of our will and our thought processes. When you consciously choose to focus your will on a particular idea or perspective, your emotions tend to follow. In many cases, our emotional responses are delayed reflections of the state of our will and mind. By directing your thought life in a positive and constructive manner, you can eventually influence your state of emotion, even if the change is gradual.

The third key to mastering your emotions is to understand that you cannot truly combat a negative feeling by struggling with it directly. When you attempt to wrestle with an emotion, you often engage with it more deeply, thereby giving it additional power. Instead, the strategy is to displace the negative emotion with a greater truth.

A scriptural illustration of this principle is found in Isaiah 61:3 (NKJV):

“We will provide for those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.”

By focusing on the truth that God desires you to experience joy and fulfillment, you can begin to shift your emotional state. When you concentrate on a feeling, you unintentionally magnify its presence in your life. The goal, therefore, is to change the channel of your emotional focus. Ask yourself what state of emotion God desires for you at this moment. Through faith, step into that truth and align your present experience with the reality that is already available to you in Christ Jesus.

To further illustrate this point, consider a scenario in which you wake up feeling sad, despondent, and without purpose. In such a state, life may seem devoid of meaning, and you might feel overwhelmed by lethargy, guilt, or shame. The first step is to recognize this condition. Take a moment to acknowledge your feelings without judgment. State to yourself, “I am experiencing sadness right now.” Recognizing the reality of your current state does not mean that you are resigned to it; rather, it is an important first step toward transformation.

The next step is to take authority over your state of emotion. This might involve a physical change in posture, such as rising from bed or standing up, to affirm your determination to overcome the negative condition. In doing so, speak firmly and clearly to your feelings. Declare that these emotions no longer have the authority to dictate your actions. In this way, you are asserting control over your mind and body.

The subsequent step is to determine and embrace the state of emotion that God desires for you. It is my conviction that God wishes for you to experience a life filled with joy, passion, and enthusiasm for His presence, for your identity in Christ, and for the daily opportunities that He provides. Take a moment to envision yourself as the person that God sees you to be—a person empowered by His truth and love. Then, through faith, step into that new reality. This process involves a deliberate choice to reject the negative emotions that have held you captive and to adopt the renewed identity that God bestows upon you.

Scripture reinforces this transformation in Ephesians 4:22-24 (NKJV):

“That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

By allowing this truth to shape your thoughts and actions, you begin to move from the old state of emotion toward a renewed state of mind and spirit. This is not to say that your feelings will immediately change. Instead, it is a gradual process in which your will and thought life align with the identity that God has given you. Over time, this deliberate alignment will lead your emotions to reflect the peace, joy, and strength that are inherent in your new state.

Let us consider a practical scenario that may be familiar to many. Imagine that on a particular day you awaken feeling overwhelmed by a sense of sadness and discouragement. The weight of these feelings makes it difficult to see any hope or purpose in the day ahead. In this situation, applying the three keys outlined above can be transformative.

First, take a moment to pause and reflect on your feelings. Acknowledge the sadness without immediately judging yourself or the emotion. Recognize that you are in a temporary state and that it does not define your entire identity. By admitting, “I am feeling this way right now,” you create space for change.

Next, exercise your will by physically and verbally asserting control. Stand up, change your posture, and speak a declaration over your situation. For example, you might say, “I acknowledge these feelings, but I will not allow them to govern my decisions today.” This act of taking authority over your state of emotion is both a physical and mental affirmation of your power to choose a different path.

Finally, consciously decide to embrace the state of emotion that God intends for you. Reflect on the promise of joy and passion that comes from being a child of God. Visualize yourself engaging with the day in a manner that reflects this truth. As you make this choice, allow your mind and will to direct your focus away from the negative feelings and toward the positive reality that God has established for you. Over time, and with persistent effort, you may notice that your emotional responses begin to shift in alignment with this new direction.

The process of achieving victory over our emotions is not instantaneous. It requires recognition of our current state, a deliberate exercise of our will, and a conscious decision to replace negative feelings with the truth of who we are in Christ. In recognizing that our emotions are not permanent and do not define us, we reclaim our power. We learn to live not under the sway of fleeting feelings but according to the enduring promises of God.

As you practice these principles daily, recognizing your emotions, asserting control over them, and intentionally choosing the state that aligns with God’s desire for you, you will find that your emotional life gradually transforms. This transformation is not merely a change in mood, but a profound shift in the way you experience and interact with the world around you. It is a journey toward aligning your inner reality with the eternal truth found in Christ Jesus.

I invite you to reflect on these keys and integrate them into your daily life. In our next blog post, we will explore additional practical strategies and deeper insights on how to continue this journey toward emotional victory. May you experience the peace and strength that come from aligning your heart, mind, and will with God’s purpose, and may you walk confidently in the freedom that is available to every one of His children.

I have decided to bring this blog back to life. Here are my thoughts and expectations for this blog, the reasons behind this revival, and ways you can stay connected in the days ahead.

First and foremost, I love creating. God is creative, God created you, and God wants you to be creative too. A significant part of my day is spent creating content, and it has been for many years. Currently, my creative endeavors include:

Church sermons

YouTube videos

Books I am writing

Articles

Over the past few years, I have primarily used social media to promote and share content. While social media can be a great tool, it also has its drawbacks.

With so many platforms, it is challenging to connect with a wide audience. We all likely have our preferred social media channels. Personally, I enjoy using X (formerly Twitter), but I am not as active on Facebook or Instagram.

Secondly, with the notable exception of X/Twitter, most social media platforms are owned by very liberal entities. These platforms often censor or penalize content that reflects a godly or Christian worldview. While we can choose to complain about this, I do not see it changing any time soon. By using my blog as the primary outlet for sharing content, I can maintain control of the distribution rather than relying on an algorithm. I will continue using my current social media platforms, but in the future, they will primarily direct you back to this blog.

How I Plan to Use This Blog:

Sharing random thoughts, articles, and fun experiences as I travel and walk through life

Daily video updates

Audio and video messages from my New England churches

Posting rough drafts from my current book projects for feedback and input

Ministry announcements

And much more.

How Can You Stay in Touch with This Blog?

First, I encourage you to bookmark this page and check back regularly. I will also post links to new blog entries on social media.

You can connect to this blog using the RSS feed linked here.

The best way to stay updated is to sign up for our weekly email newsletter. The newsletter will include links to everything posted on the blog each week. (see below to sign up)