The Holy Spirit is a person with whom we can relate, not just a power to be controlled. He convicts the world of sin (primarily unbelief), righteousness, and judgment—always with love and gentleness, never condemnation. For believers, the Spirit convicts of specific sins to shape us more like Jesus through personal conviction, community accountability, and transparent relationships. Following Jesus comes with costs—social, financial, time, and misunderstanding—but the Holy Spirit helps prepare us for these challenges. When we respond to His conviction and bring our struggles into the light, we find freedom rather than bondage.

Youth Sunday at Life Church, featuring graduating seniors sharing their testimonies, favorite Bible verses, and future plans. Each student spoke about how their faith journey through youth group has shaped them and prepared them for their next chapter in life.

In this sermon, Pastor Jeff discusses the gifts of tongues and interpretation of tongues as part of their series on the Gifts of the Spirit. He explains that these are the only two gifts that emerged after Pentecost, while the other seven spiritual gifts were present in the Old Testament. The pastor emphasizes that speaking in tongues can manifest in three ways: as a language unknown to the speaker but understood by listeners in their native tongue, as a public message requiring interpretation, and as a private prayer language between an individual and God.

In a world of spiritual confusion, discernment is essential for believers to distinguish between God's truth and deception. This gift goes beyond natural intuition to supernatural insight into spiritual influences. Through biblical examples like Solomon and Paul, we see how discernment operates in real situations. The enemy is real and strategic, often mixing truth with subtle lies. By understanding spiritual warfare and equipping ourselves with God's armor—truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and Scripture—we can stand firm against deception and walk confidently in God's truth.

Revival begins with individual believers surrendering to the Holy Spirit, not waiting for a massive movement. True revival awakens Christians and transforms non-believers through God's power. The gift of prophecy—delivering declarations of God's mind, will, or knowledge—is available to every believer, not just special people. When we operate in spiritual gifts like prophecy, people far from God take notice. Learning to hear God's voice involves reading Scripture, paying attention to impressions, and noticing unexpected words or pictures that come to mind. By becoming yielded vessels for the Holy Spirit, ordinary people can spark extraordinary revival.

A remarkable journey unfolds as Saya transitions from struggling under Congo's dictatorship to becoming a transformative peacemaker in both the United States and Africa. Through God's grace, he established the Good Friend ministry in Kikwit, Congo, serving albinos, teen mothers, and people with disabilities. This ministry exemplifies true peacemaking by addressing internal conflicts and challenging societal strongholds that create brokenness. The work continues to grow, focusing on practical needs like construction, water access, and medical supplies, while inspiring others to become peacemakers in their own communities.