The Five Wise Virgins

  "Elijah was a man with a nature like ours [with the same physical, mental, and spiritual limitations and shortcomings], and he prayed  [ d ] intensely for it not to rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months." (James 5:17) In my devotional time with the Lord this morning, I felt a deep burning desire in my spirit to see ALL CHRISTIANS, walking in POWER. If you are a Christian and don't have this longing in your heart, I really encourage you to pray and ask God for it. What it means to be a Christian for me is to fully reflect CHRIST. His nature and character, and POWER. What 'kind' of power am I talking about here? Let's take a look at Acts 1:18. " But you will receive power  and  ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses  [to tell people about Me]  both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:18) It is the POWER of the Holy Spirit. POWER tha

John 3:22-30 (the Passion Translation) So they went to John and asked him, "Teacher, are you aware that the One you told us about at the crossing place-he's now baptizing everyone with larger crowds than yours. People are flocking to him! What do you think about that?" (verse 26) John answered them, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless God bestows it." (verse 27) What a remarkable answer that John gave to his disciples. From it I can somehow see that John was a type of God's servant who truly understood the calling of God upon his life. He was secure in the gifting and ministry that God entrusted him with. Each one of us I believe are involved in a certain area of ministry. It could be inside the church, in the marketplace, or even in the area of family. One of the dangerous things for us who are involved in a ministry is when we start to compare ourselves, or our ministry's success/failure with other people's. To learn from other