Pactolus Baptist Church

Daily Devotional

By Pastor Jerry Teboe

A Closer Walk with Christ in 2026

The Holy Spirit

1 John 4:4

  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 

                John continues his teaching to his children in the faith.  He has spoken two times about love and has spoken of the spirit of antichrist which is the spirit found in the world.  Here he is teaching concerning the protection of the believer from the onslaught of the world and its doctrine.  John wants the believers to know that God has given to them a special power, and that power is in the person of the Holy Spirit that indwells each believer.

                Jesus taught that the Holy Spirit would come once He had gone back to heaven.  This is found in John 16:7,  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.  Then as He was about to ascend back into heaven, He again promised the Holy Spirit would come on them.  This is seen in Acts 1:8, But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.  On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came to indwell each believer.   And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:3-4).

                The Holy Spirit now dwells in each believer, and John is showing that each of us today has a power which is greater than the world.  Therefore, he says, Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.  Since we have this power of God, we can live apart from the world and above the influence of the world.  Therefore, we as Christians should be” lights” to the world and not influenced by the doctrines of the world.

                We should be encouraged as believers by the fact that we have the Holy Spirit living and abiding in us.  This presence of God within us gives us the power and strength to live for Him in the midst of trials and temptations. 

Bible Reading for the Year

Prayer Needs

Please pray for Jennifer Teboe Buchamer.  She was admitted to ECU hospital Wednesday because of very low hemoglobin levels.  She received two infusions on Wednesday, but will get another one Friday.

Please continue to pray for Shirley Deans.   She is in the hospital with heart problems but seems a little better.

Please pray Beth Buchta.  On September 9^th, she has an appointment with her orthopedist about the ongoing pain in her leg.

Please continue to pray for Marvin Silverthorne for his eyesight to improve.  The doctors just discovered cancer in his pancreas. Pray for him please.

Please continue to pray for Faye Smith, Jack Gargis’ sister.  She is still in the hospital and is weak and not eating much at all.    The family greatly appreciates your prayers.

Thank you for praying for Dr. Joe Jordan.  Pray for wisdom for his primary care doctor who is waiting on the results of several tests to make a diagnosis.  He is doing some better.  Please continue to pray for him.

Praise the Lord!  Linda Franks was able to go home from the hospital Tuesday afternoon!

Please continue to pray for Vickie Dalton.  Pray for God’s healing.  She has some good days and some bad ones.

Please continue to pray for Peggy Warren.  She is facing some difficult challenges, but seems to be getting some better. 

Pray for our Missionaries! 

Sue Singleton and the mission in Cambodia

Dr. Joe Jordan and the CBM (Cross and Bible Ministries) 

Travis and Caroline Fennessy – IBM missionaries to Southeast Asia