Holy Spirit is our God helper, teacher and comforter…it was expedient that Jesus leave this earth so that the Father could send Him to all who believe in the sacrifice of His Son for their sins.
All glory and honor belongs to our triune Godhead who gives us peace through His mercy and grace.
Joy of the Lord is our strength. Faith in times of trouble shows others the power of God in our life. As we wait for the return of our Savior, Jesus Christ, His mercy and grace sustains us.
John 1:33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’
"'Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die. ' Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, The Lord Is Peace. To this day it still stands at Ophrah, which belongs to the Abiezrites" (Judges 6:23-24).
By naming the altar Jehovah Shalom, meaning "The LORD Is Peace," Gideon reminded himself and all of Israel that God not only promised them victory leading to civil peace but also the gift of His presence in the battle, leading to spiritual peace. Gideon would continue to need reminders that the Lord was with him, but this moment marked a turning point in his faith. And when we're at peace with God like Gideon was, we, too, can have confidence to face life's most impossible situations. When we are "justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).
Lord, help me remember that all things are possible with You (Mark 10:27). Remind me that I don't have to search for peace in other people or things because You are peace. First 5
I do what I can and He does what I can’t.
We live in a world that needs healing, from the gentle arms and hands of grace. And every smile, every laugh, every moment of kindness, every bit of gentleness and tenderness, and every gift of grace, lets a little more healing light spill into our world.
We are—all of us in our own way—broken. Sabbath Moments
When you do the most what you do the best, you put a smile on God’s face. And what could be better than that?Max Lucado
Mark 1:4–8
4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. 8 I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” The New King James Version
John’s baptism prepared his followers to receive the new message about Christ and His kingdom.John humbly understood and accepted his own role in the coming Kingdom.
The prediction that Christ will baptize you with the Holy Spirit appears in each Gospel and was repeated by Christ in Acts 1:5 as being “not many days from now.” Presumably the Day of Pentecost marked the fulfillment of this promise. The NKJV Study Bible
repentance (Gk. metanoia) (1:4; Matt. 3:8; Acts 5:31; 11:18) Strong’s #3341: This Greek word is a compound word derived from meta, meaning “after” and suggesting some type of change, and nous, meaning “mind.” Thus the word strictly denotes “a change of mind.” But it also connotes remorse for sin, accompanied by a desire to turn away from one’s sin, to God, for salvation. Both John the Baptist and Jesus began their ministries with a call to repentance (see Matt. 3:2; 4:17)—a call that many of the social outcasts and “sinners” of that day answered (see Luke 19:1–10), but that the religious people rejected (Luke 11:39–44; 18:9–14).
In ancient Israel, water was often used as an instrument for purification. As a result, baptism in Judaism often was about ritual cleansing and may have involved multiple and regular baptisms. By contrast, John’s baptism stressed transformation—a turning from sin—and thus marked a turning point in a person’s life.
John points to Jesus’ greater ministry, even calling Him the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
John’s baptism was about forgiveness of sins in the sense that it pointed to Jesus, who was the means of providing that forgiveness.
After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites crossed the Jordan to take possession of the promised land. The river carried symbolic connotations of national renewal and the fulfillment of God’s work among them. It is at this location that John the Baptist inaugurates the way for spiritual renewal.
John understands himself to be the forerunner of the Messiah. Removing and carrying sandals was the work of slaves. John is stating that he is not worthy even to be a slave of the Messiah (the anointed one of God). John’s baptism was in preparation for the Messiah, through whom God would pour out His Spirit on the people of Israel. John anticipates that Jesus’ appearance would directly precede the arrival of God’s Spirit. Faithlife Study Bible
Acts 1:5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
Acts 11:16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
Acts 13:24 after John had first preached, before His coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
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