In Sermon Illustrations: "Holy Ghost"

I Am In A Hurry, But God Isn't!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 6, 2023

The purposes of God often develop slowly because His grand designs are never hurried. The great New England preacher Phillips Brooks was noted for his poise and quiet manner. At times, however, even he suffered moments of frustration and irritability. One day a friend saw him feverishly pacing the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Fruit Of The Spirit, Waiting On God, Holy Spirit, Endurance, Patience, Forbearance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Called To Be Faithful

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 12, 2023

Mark Hatfield tells of touring Calcutta with Mother Teresa and visiting the so-called "House of Dying," where sick children are cared for in their last days, and the dispensary, where the poor line up by the hundreds to receive medical attention. Watching Mother Teresa minister to these ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Holy Spirit, Faithfulness, Success, Fruit Of The Spirit, Spirit Filled Life  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Rembrandt Painted Himself At The Cross

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 19, 2023

The great Dutch artist, Rembrandt, has a famous painting of the crucifixion in which your attention is first drawn to the dying Savior. Then you notice the crowd gathered around that scene, with their various attitudes and actions. Finally, you notice at the edge of the picture a lone figure ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23, Romans 5:8

Tags: Conviction, Roman Road, Sinners, Holy Spirit, Sin, Salvation, Cross  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Where Is God Working?

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on May 21, 2023

Pastor Henry Blackaby, of Faith Baptist Church in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada began to sense God leading them to an outreach ministry on the college campus. He had never done student work. Their church had never done student work. Their denominational student ministries department recommended ...read more

Scripture: John 5:17-20, Romans 3:10-11, John 6:44

Tags: Evangelism, Holy Spirit, Discipleship, God At Work, Joining God At Work  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Trouble In The Church  PRO

Contributed by Douglas Duvall on Dec 3, 2006

Trouble in the Church ACTS 15:1-12 I. Decision 15:1-4 A. Men 15:1 B. Method 15:2 C. Messages 15:3-4 II. Demand 15:5-6 A. Demands 15:5 B. Deliberations 15:6 III. Declaration 15:7-12 A. Choice 15:7 B. Comparison 15:8-9 C. Conversion 15:10-12 Introduction Peter had ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 12:24-27

Denomination: Baptist

If A Man Is Filled With Anger, Than Anger ...  PRO

Contributed by Emile Wolfaardt on Jul 13, 2001

If a man is filled with anger, than anger controls his life. If a man is filled with greed, then greed dominates his life. If a man is filled with lust, then lust governs his life. If a man is filled with love, then love influences all he does. And if a man is filled with ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18, Romans 8:14-17, Ephesians 1:13-14, 2 Corinthians 5:1-5

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Greed, Holy Spirit In Believers, Dominate, Emotions, Anger, Control  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: *other

Going No Where Fast  PRO

Contributed by Philip Cairns on Feb 1, 2002

GOING NO WHERE FAST In his book "Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life", the author Charles Swindoll tells a story about the 19th Century agnostic Thomas Huxley (some of you might know that it was Huxley who promoted Darwinism and Humanism in his attacks on Christianity). Huxley was in Dublin and ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 1:1-22, Exodus 2:11-23

Tags: Hurry, Knowing God's Will, Holy Spirit In Believers, Gospel, Assurance Of Salvation, Busy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Holiness

A Father Who Will Never Leave Us

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 31, 2021

A FATHER WHO WILL NEVER LEAVE US Devotional written by Dr. Larry Petton When I was pastoring in Texas, a sweet little girl came up to me once and said, "Pastor Larry, will Jesus ever leave me if I trust in Him?" I knelt down beside the little girl and said, "Why do you ask me ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:1-5

Tags: Holy Spirit, Assurance, God's Faithfulness, Our Father In Heaven, The Son Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

9 Characteristics Of Revivals In The Bible

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 31, 2022

In his book Revival Fire, Geoff Waugh lists nine similarities among Biblical revivals: They occurred in times of moral darkness & national depression. Each began in the heart of a consecrated servant of God who became the energizing power behind it. Each revival rested on the Word ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: Holy Spirit, Revival, Last Days, Old Testament, New Testament, Church  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lazarus Churches That Are Dead And Stinketh!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 31, 2022

Vance Havner once commented that ministries often begin with a man who has a vision. That vision is captured by others and becomes a movement. As the movement gains followers and momentum, it becomes a machine. After a while, people forget all about the vision and what was once a movement ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: Book Of Acts, Backsliding, Dying Churches, Church, Holy Spirit, Revival, Repentance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Cannot Say The Lord's Prayer If...

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 8, 2022

An unknown author put together an interesting (convicting) summary of how we cannot pray the Lord's Prayer, which should be actually referred to as the Disciples’ Prayer, for Jesus had no sin to confess. I cannot say “our” if I live only for myself. I cannot say, “Father” if I do not endeavor ...read more

Tags: Kingdom Of God, Sermon On The Mount, Forgiveness, Prayer, Temptation, Holiness, Lord's Prayer  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Only Time Jesus Did Not Use "father" In Prayer!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 8, 2022

“Father” is probably the most common term we use in prayer, and rightly so, because that is how Jesus addressed His prayers, using the phrase more than 70 different times. The only prayer Jesus ever prayed without using the name, "Father", was when He was on the Cross and cried out, “My ...read more

Tags: Cross, Prayer, God The Father, Heavenly Father, Holiness Of God, Prayers Of Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is Your Ministry Making Any Difference?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 12, 2023

Sometimes we think that God is not using us if we are not preaching to thousands every weekend. If you think that, remember this story about the value of one soul! I recently read about an old man, walking the beach at dawn, who noticed a young man ahead of him picking up starfish and flinging ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Ministry, Holy Spirit, Faithfulness, Success, Fruit Of The Spirit, Spirit Filled Life  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Seven Facts About False Teachers

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 2, 2023

FALSE TEACHERS... * Have always been in the Church since Acts (Acts 20). * More false teachers will show up near the Rapture of the Church, i.e. “the last days” (II Timothy 3). * False teachers contradict the truth of the Word of God (John 17:17). * False teachers have 3 key wrong doctrines: ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit, Satan, Discernment, False Teachers, False Teaching, Righteous Judgment  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Saw This Incredible Answer To Prayer For Healing

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 13, 2024

While pastoring a Southern Baptist church in Texas, one day I heard that one of our church members was in the hospital after being bitten by a brown recluse spider. It was a pretty serious situation. The doctor had told the young mom that they may have to amputate her hand if the swelling did not ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit, Healing, Satan, Prayer, Unity, Anointing, Testimony, Elders, Miracle  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[104]. A Message From A Poem – God’s Attributes

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 8, 2025

[104]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – GOD’S ATTRIBUTES Some people dispute the term Attributes of God. They say it can only be applied to statements such as God IS love. Others look at it in a wider sense taking in the qualities of the Godhead. In this poem, I took 4 words to make 4 stanzas ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:4-5, Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:4-5, Ephesians 2:14, Colossians 3:12, 1 Thessalonians 3:13  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Character Of God, Attributes Of God, Grace, Love, Mercy, Peace, Compassion, Holiness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Oil Was Discovered On Some Oklahoma Property ...  PRO

Contributed by Bill Lobbs on Mar 1, 2001

Oil was discovered on some Oklahoma property belonging to an elderly Indian. All his life he had been poverty stricken, just eking out a living. But the discovery of oil had suddenly made him a very wealthy man. The first thing he bought was a very big Cadillac. He wanted the longest car in the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-6

Tags: Excercising Faith, Essentials Of Faith, God's Omnipotence, Gift, Holy Spirit Attributes, Prosperity  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

There Are Advantages To Being Able To See. For ...  PRO

Contributed by Howard Flynn on May 17, 2001

There are advantages to being able to see. For example, when I was a seminary student, I went to apply for a driver license. The clerk at the Department of Motor Vehicles asked me to read a line on the eye chart. I responded by reading a series of what I thought the correct letters were. To this, ...read more

Tags: Display, Honor, Kingdom Of God, Holy Spirit Attributes, Love Of The Disciples, Lord, Relationships  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Adventist

A Professor One Day Demonstrated To His Class ...  PRO

Contributed by Johnny Bley on Jul 11, 2001

A professor one day demonstrated to his class the power of an electro-magnet. He placed 2 lbs. of nails on a table with the wires of an electo-magnet under the table. When he flipped the switch, the nails came togehter and he was able to form the nails into various shapes as long as the current ...read more

Tags: God's Omniscience, Gifts Discernment, Holy Spirit In Believers, Oneness, Power Of Unity, Unity  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Six Kinds Of Biblical Preaching

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 19, 2022

Thomas Constable points out that there are 6 different kinds of biblical preaching: (1) kerugma, which means proclamation of the clear facts of the Christian message. (2) didache or teaching. This was explanation and interpretation of the facts-the "so what?" (3) paraklesis, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:11

Tags: Ministry, Church, Holy Spirit, Teaching, Preaching, Word Of God, Pastors, Simon Peter  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational