In Sermon Illustrations: "Sword of the Spirit"

The Harry Wilson Story

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Jun 3, 2009

THE HARRY WILSON STORY When I came to faith in Jesus in 1985 the vicar at the church was another Wilson, Harry Wilson, not Harold Wilson! He told us his story of believing in Jesus, being selected for ordination training and heading off to college. Whilst at Bible College he realised that he was ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Anglican

No More Rules

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jun 27, 2009

NO MORE RULES More than 28 years ago, before I married Sandy, I was a lousy cook. I could maybe cook hot dogs and beans (out of a can), and those didn’t always turn out so well. That’s because I was confined to a set of instructions called a "cookbook." It was a list of rules and regulations, a ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Revelation And Ovaltine

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Jun 27, 2009

REVELATION AND OVALTINE The word often translated "revelation" or as I translated it, "unveiling," could also be understood as "decoding." Ever heard of those Ovaltine Decoder Rings in the '40s? Ovaltine drink advertisements used to have a coded message on them (as did some of the Ovaltine radio ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: *other

I Remember A Pastor Friend Who Used To Pray ...

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Sep 2, 2009

I remember a pastor friend who used to pray every Sunday, “Lord, please let SOMETHING happen today ...read more

Tags: Prayer, Prayer In The Spirit

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What's That Noise?

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Sep 3, 2009

WHAT'S THAT NOISE? I read a humorous story about a man who strolled out of a hardware store with a smile on his face and a brand-new chainsaw in his hands. He was told it could cut down five big oak trees in an hour. Twenty-four hours later, however, his smile was gone. Frustrated, he was back at ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Baptist

Losing Your Breath

Contributed by Charles Wallis on Sep 22, 2009

LOSING YOUR BREATH Have you ever lost your breath? Anyone who has asthma or knows someone with Asthma knows how scary it can be to lose your breath. We have the same ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit Attributes

Denomination: Pentecostal

Theologian J.i. Packer: "…think Of It This Way. ...

Contributed by Rev Dr Randall M Deal Sr on Oct 4, 2009

Theologian J.I. Packer: "…think of it this way. It is as if the Spirit stands behind us, throwing light over our shoulder on to Jesus who stands facing us. The Spirit’s message to us is never, 'Look at me; listen to me; come to me; get to know me,' but always, 'Look at him, and see his glory; ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Baptist

Like A Glove

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 23, 2022

Here’s a story of how I explain the Holy Spirit in us to children. I take an empty glove and tell the kids that it's a magic glove. I tell them it is amazing because it can pick things up. Then, I drop it on a hymn book or Bible and tell it to pick up the book. When it doesn't move, I ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Holy Spirit, Abiding

Stopping To Focus

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 28, 2022

Have you ever wondered why a pigeon walks so funny? According to an interesting article in the Detroit Free Press, a pigeon walks the way it does so it can’t see where it’s going. Because it can’t adjust its focus as it moves, the pigeon actually has to bring its head to a complete stop between ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1, John 15:1-11

Tags: Holy Spirit, Dependence

The 100% Solution!

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 26, 2022

Since the beginning of time, mankind has craved peace! When Adam and Eve came upon the body of their son Abel, slain by his brother Cain, they no doubt longed for peace. The peculiar thing about peace is this; man has always longed for the time when peace was in his life––yet peace has so seldom ...read more

Scripture: John 14:25-27

Tags: Holy Spirit, Peace

The Agitator

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 26, 2022

Does anyone know what that piece in the middle of the washer is called? The part in the middle that moves back and forth and shakes the clothes back and forth? What is that called? I’m going to call it an Agitator. What is the purpose of the Agitator? As far as I can tell, its sole purpose is to ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-24

Tags: Holy Spirit, Sanctification

I Read The Story About A Football Player Whose ...  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Jun 3, 2003

I read the story about a football player whose performance exceeded the expectation of others. "…. In the last two minutes of the game, with the score against his team, makes a touchdown. He runs faster than his legs can carry him, and farther than he has ever dreamed of running. When he comes ...read more

Tags: Change, Holy Spirit General, Holy Spirit Attributes

Denomination: United Methodist

Emptied Out And Filled Up  PRO

Contributed by Pat Cook on Jun 28, 2003

EMPTIED OUT AND FILLED UP D. L. Moody said, “I believe firmly that the moment our hearts are emptied of pride and selfishness and ambition and everything that is contrary to God’s law, the Holy Spirit will fill every corner of our hearts. But if we are full of pride and conceit and ambition ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18, Hosea 5:4

Tags: Law, Holy Spirit In Believers, Holy Spirit General

Denomination: Baptist

A Fair Piece To Go!" Zechariah 12:10-14 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on May 16, 2005

“A Fair Piece to Go!” Zechariah 12:10-14 Key verse(s) 10:“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication.” Restlessness! When we were children it was not unusual for us to be restless. In fact, it was that restlessness that often got ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 12:10-14

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers, Holy Spirit Attributes, Cleansing

Denomination: Lutheran

What Does It Mean To Have Joy?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 2, 2023

Joy is God’s gift to believers. Paul speaks of more than just a mood. This is a deep confidence that was rooted in God’s sovereign control of the universe, His on unchanging divine promises and eternal spiritual realities including the assurance of ultimate victory for those in ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:19-22, Philippians 4:4

Tags: Spirit Filled Life, Happiness, Joy, Fruit Of The Spirit

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Semper Fi - Forever Faithful

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 12, 2023

One of the most tragic events during the Reagan Presidency was the Sunday morning terrorist bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, in which hundreds of Americans were killed or wounded as they slept. Many of us can still recall the terrible scenes as the dazed survivors worked to dig out their ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

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

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Amazing Story Of The Waldorf-Astoria

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 12, 2023

One stormy night an elderly couple entered the lobby of a small hotel and asked for a room. The clerk said they were filled, as were all the hotels in town. "But I can't send a fine couple like you out in the rain," he said. "Would you be willing to sleep in my room?" The ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

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

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Counterfeit Preachers

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 10, 2023

Did you know that counterfeiting of money is one of the oldest crimes in history? Here in America it became a serious problem during the 19th century when banks issued their own currency. In fact, by the time of the Civil War, it was estimated that one-third of all currency in circulation was ...read more

Tags: Spirits, Spirit Of Error, Discernment, Truth, False Teachers, Spirit Of Truth, False Prophets  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Recently I Read The Biography Of Norman Grubb, A ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 18, 2000

Recently I read the biography of Norman Grubb, a missionary in Africa and the leader of his mission for 30 years. I was struck by what he wrote: "At conversion we learned that we had not done what we should, but then we soon learn that of ourselves we cannot do what we should." We need the enabling ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Justification, Lead, Holy Spirit In Believers, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit Attributes  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Three Levels Of Fruit Bearing

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 2, 2023

Galatians 5:19-23 describes the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit described by Paul in Galatians 5 is not something that is a goal for Christian living produced by the ability of the believer. No, it is the very character of Christ produced within us by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. In ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:19-23

Tags: Fruit Of The Spirit, Spiritual Maturity, Leaders, Spirit Filled Life, Fruit Bearing, Holy Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational