The Message Bible translates Romans 8:5-7 this way, “Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, and ends up thinking more about self than God.”

Our obedience and giving are tied together, and both must be carried out by the unction of the Holy Spirit. Why? Because obedience and giving are only eternally fruitful when done by the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus’ name offends many people. Just start talking about Jesus at the grocery store or hair salon. You will create a stir and most likely experience a lot of push back…Moreover, people instinctively know that they are responsible to Jesus, and they don’t want to be. It makes people angry to have inferred accountability to God.

Plans, agendas and programs of themselves are utterly ineffective without the Holy Spirit’s influence and Jesus’ power to save. “Master, we have toiled all the night and have taken nothing.” What was the reason for this?

Our words are powerful. Proverbs 18:21 tells us that the tongue can bring death or life. What you say about yourself and others has the power to destroy or build up.