Find Spiritual Growth with Us (11)

The Renewal by the Holy Spirit

One day, Sister Alice shared her testimony of life renewal with me, which deeply moved and benefited me. She admitted that in her job, she sinned against God by chasing vain glory and faced unbearable stress that often made her think of death, until she was diagnosed with cancer.

Before her surgery, an elder in the church, knowing the wrongs she committed due to personal desires, gave her three loving reminders while she was feeling very guilty and scared: First, spiritual life is the most important. Second, God is both loving and just. Third, God is almighty. These reminders helped her keep focused while handling her issues, gradually turning her prayers from worry and fear to, “I don’t want to let God down anymore.”

During her chemotherapy, she often read Psalm 51 and, like David, earnestly confessed and repented to God. The loving God moved church members to pray with her and strengthen her faith.

One day, as she was praying and repenting as usual, asking God if He had forgiven her, she suddenly saw a vision with the words “Punishment and Chastisement” flashing before her eyes. Feeling a chill up her spine, she thought, “It’s over! God’s punishment is coming, what do I do?” But soon, she heard a gentle voice telling her, “The ‘punishment’ is your illness, and I have taken the ‘chastisement’ for you because you fear pain.” Then she saw another vision of Jesus crucified, freshly whipped, with blood dripping onto the ground. Moved and saddened, she cried.

Later, the Holy Spirit also moved her during prayer, apart from chemotherapy times, to pray for an hour each day.

God told her that people today make mistakes but are unwilling to repent, which grieves Him. He was pleased with her truly repentant heart and told her she was righteous in His eyes. Suffering for her, God felt she was unworthy and sorry, which helped her understand the meaning of the hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” She told me from now on she would strive to repay the Lord and live for Him.

Thank God! The “Renewal by the Holy Spirit” made her self-aware and transformed into a new person. We pray for the Holy Spirit’s renewal to completely sanctify us, to follow Jesus’ example, and to glorify the true God!

“For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

Join us in the upcoming Fall Evangelical Service and Spiritual Convocation in September.  And let the new (and revived) motivation to live for Christ begin.

Thursday, September 26, 2024 6:50PM to 8:10PM
Friday and Saturday, September 27-28, 2024 9:00AM to 8:10PM
Sunday, September 29, 2024 9:00AM to 1:00PM

Complimentary lunch and dinner will be served.

Please find our church location below:

4N550 Church Road
Bensenville, IL 60106
 Google Maps

In the meantime, please feel free to join us for our regular Sabbath (Friday evening and Saturday) services online or in-person.

Friday Evening Service:  7:50PM – 9:00PM

Saturday Morning Service:  10:50AM – 12:00Noon

Saturday Afternoon Service:  1:30PM – 2:40PM

Email us at ilovejesus@tjc-chicago.org