What does the Holy Spirit have to do with righteousness, peace, and joy? The context for this verse is Paul’s discussion regarding how we should use our freedom from legalism. Do we indulge our freedom by doing something we are free to do but which might cause a Christian brother or sister to violate their [...]
Here is my story. Enjoy and let me know what you think. Here is what I know. As far as everyone around me was concerned I was too far gone to ever become a Christian. As far as I was concerned, I was too far gone to become a Christian, even when [...]
For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. [This makes the holiness of the Old Testament look pale in comparison.] And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very [...]
Hello. This is Mark's wife Shell with an introduction to this teaching. I have often told Mark he needs to tell people the reason he hears from God so quickly. He takes an hour each day sitting in stillness and silence with God. Sometimes he won't hear or sense anything for days, but he still [...]
Mark Cowper-Smith Zechariah Chapter 4:6 - “not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty” As far as I am concerned, this is the central message we need to “live” in order to survive in ministry. Not understanding the balance between our effort and His is what brings [...]
The following post is a collection of excerpts from Mark's sermon. Listen to the podcast for the full sermon. The Bible says that Jabez was an honorable man and from this we can deduce that his prayer for blessing and an enlarged territory was not a selfish prayer. He was asking for blessing in order [...]
Mark Cowper-Smith The kingdom of God starts with a spiritual reality. Whether you believe in Him or not, He is present around you. He is in this world waiting for you to interact with Him, here and now. When you enter into the kingdom of God a spiritual change happens and you begin to [...]
We speak often of “life in the Holy Spirit” but often it means different things to different people usually depending upon our differing theology about the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit. This is unfortunate because life in the Spirit is a much deeper reality than simply whether or not you believe in the supernatural [...]
We had a very interesting video testimony scheduled for last Sunday about a family set free from years of negative spiritual activity in their home, referred to as "haunting". I decided that I should take the opportunity to speak on the subject of our Christian authority over evil. There is a very illuminating incident in [...]
Recently Shell and I were down in Guadalajara doing a conference at a cutting edge church there. The conference was on training the church to recognize communication from God and how to share it effectively. I was ready to teach Sunday morning but I knew I had a prophetic word for the church. I thought [...]
Do you ever doubt your influence? I am talking about your good influence. I never doubt my bad influence. I think all of us wonder from time to time just how much good we are actually doing for God. Last Tuesday I was asking myself that question. It always seems to me that I could [...]
We Christians think of ourselves as truthful people. We say we not only know the truth but we love it as well. Being a Christian, I have a lot of Christian friends. Being a pastor, I have known a lot of Christians over the years, in good times and bad. I find the above statement very [...]
Mark Cowper-Smith Let’s be honest, most of us aren’t.We all like to think of ourselves as basically honest people. We believe this because most of the time we don’t leave the house in the morning intending to lie our way through the day. Strangely, neither do we leave the house consciously intending to [...]
Today, I suggest we kill a sacred cow. The sacred cow is, "bigger is better." I planted the first church I pastored, and I did it as a church growth disciple. I began with what I took to be a foundational tenet of the church growth movement; "Your church will succeed or fail based on your leadership". [...]
All religions are basically the same. A spiritual, material, eternal reward is offered and a system of behavior is required. When properly applied, the behavior brings the reward. The rewards differ: Nirvana, 72 Virgins, Cosmic Consciousness, Heaven, etc. As well, the system of behavior differs: prayer wheels, jihad, religious rituals, moral living, etc. But the [...]
Mark Cowper-Smith Someone has asked me how to respond to someone who doesn't really care about their life choices because they think God has to love them on account of Grace. This attitude is, of course, a misapplication of God's unconditional love. Sadly, it proliferates where teaching on grace abounds. In fact, this [...]
Someone has asked me why, given all we know about our faith as a relationship with God rather than a works based religion, do we so easily fall back into a works based, religious orientation toward God. I think there are two basic reason for this. The first is pride. Sadly, pride survives conversion. In [...]
Mark Cowper-Smith We all want more of God in our lives, so how do we get more of Him? Psalm 78:40-42 in the KJV says, "How oft did they provoke Him in the wilderness, and grieve Him in the desert! Yea, ....they limited the Holy One of Israel." It is more than possible [...]
Someone sent me an article from Richard Rohr about the Dark Night of the Soul. I am including the full article and then my comments below. There comes to many seekers, at some time or a few times in their lives, a “dark night,” a period of seeming distance from God, from the ways in [...]
