Hey BTO Fam!!

I have something important I need to tell you! You ready?!!! YOU HAVE POWER! Every time I see the news or what is posted on social media, it seems so discouraging. Seeing the destruction, lawlessness, sickness, confusion and spite of our nation. As a result, we feel heavy, powerless, and sometimes even hopeless.

As I write this, be encouraged in your spirit! We are not hopeless! Right now, I am praying for a breakthrough and a tenderness to sweep through this nation. That forgiveness and healing would flow over every augment that tries to consume our attention. We don’t confess what we see; we confess the word over our nation and over our problems. You see, you’ve been given power by the Father to thrive. That power is the infilling and presence of the Holy Spirit. Let’s read our verse and unpack a life changing idea.

Ephesians 5:15-21 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Did you read that verse? In the midst of evil days and unwise choices, we have help. That help is the Holy Spirit. Paul told the church in Ephesus to be FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT. As believers, we know the Bible was written under the guidance of The Spirit. Sure, it was written by human hands but the words of the Bible are directly what the Father wanted to say. Be confident in knowing there is no error or lie and every word in the Bible is intentional. Paul wasn’t shy about offering real help for hard days. THE 4TH KEY TO THRIVING IN A HARD SEASON IS TO BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.

There are five key decisions we make in the process of Spiritual transformation. The first is repentance and receiving Jesus as the savior of our lives. Next is water baptism which is a public confession that we put our faith in Jesus and put to death our old life. The next step is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Why? Because the Father God wants to coach you, like Jesus did the disciples. His spirit is the coach and he helps you navigate hard seasons. After that, the next step is jumping into your Bible so that what God has to say can begin to retrain your mind to His thoughts. Your last step is becoming a giver. That is right, generosity. That includes tithing, giving your time, helping people, sharing your faith, and doing life. All of these speak to becoming a giver. Giving helps bring what you are putting in, out. This is the process of transformation. The reason we need the Holy Spirit is because we naturally get hurt, heavy, and discouraged. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to stay the course.

Here is the take away today. You are not alone. You have help and it’s the Holy Spirit. I want you to know the way you receive the Holy Spirit is...ASK! You asked for repentance and Jesus to become Lord. You asked to be water baptized and you left that old man/woman in the watery grave Now it's time for you to ask for the coach. The helper, the Holy Spirit to empower you to thrive in a hard season.

Love ya,

Pastor Steven