Brighter Life Ministry

Acts  8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.  8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,  8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. In Acts 8, we see Simon, who was once a sorcerer and used to impressing people with his powers, offering money to receive the ability to impart the Holy Spirit. He saw the apostles laying their hands on believers and the power of God transforming lives, and he thought, “I want that!” But instead of seeing it as a gift to receive humbly, he saw it as something he could buy, as if he was shopping for magic. The first truth that stands out about this story is that, God's  gifts are not for sale. Salvation, the Holy Spirit, grace, love, forgiveness—these are all gifts from God that are given freely to those who believe. In fact, they are priceless, beyond any earthly curren...

Isaiah  41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.  41:11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. The reality of living in this world filled with differing views, ambitions, and values means we sometimes face opposition. This opposition may come in the like of those who are “incensed against us.” these may be people who openly disagree with us, criticize our values, or even actively work against us.  The word “incensed” in the context of the scripture mean  anger, resentment, or hostility. God is realistic about this. Being His follower does not exempt us from facing opposition. But the presence of opposition does not mean the absence of God’s protection. Jesus Himself reminded His disciples, “If the world hates y...

Isaiah  40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.  The journey of faith is not an easy one. We face trials and burdens that sometimes seem too heavy to bear. Yet in these moments, we are reminded of the strength and hope we have in our Lord, who is our sustainer, our refuge, and our rest. We live in a quick-get-it world, with demands from work, family, health, and society constantly vying for our attention. It’s natural to feel drained and overwhelmed. Even the strongest among us can grow tired, both physically and spiritually.  But the Bible reminds us in Isaiah 40:30, “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall.” If even the young and strong can grow weary, we know this weariness is a universal human experience. Weariness isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of our humanity. But when we try to fight...

Ephesians  2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.  2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Our scripture passage today gives us a clear truth about the salvation we receive through Christ Jesus,  it is clearly stated, it is not by our making, but by the grace of God. Grace is the unearned, undeserved favor of God. It’s not something we can buy, achieve, or work for. Grace is given to us freely by God. It is His favor poured out on us despite our shortcomings, our sins, and our inability to live up to His perfect standard. If we break it down, grace is God’s choice to extend kindness, mercy, and forgiveness to us, even though we have done nothing to earn it. And that’s exactly what makes it so beautiful: we could never earn it. It’s a gift, freely given by a loving Father...

Jeremiah  9:23 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:  9:24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. Our scripture passage today points to three things that often consume our minds: wisdom, might, and riches. These things are not sinful on their own, but when we allow them to become the source of our identity, our pride, and our security, they become idols. God reminds us here that the true value of our lives isn’t found in earthly achievements, intelligence, or possessions, but in our relationship with Him. We live in a world that exalts intelligence, and for many of us, knowledge has become the pathway to success, power, and self-worth. But wisdom that isn’t rooted in God ultimately leads ...