BY THE SPIRIT

April 12

Bible Reading: John 15:26-27

John 15:26, “But when the Spirit comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.  And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.”

It was a “by the Spirit” work when you trusted in Jesus for salvation.  You were convicted “by the Spirit” of your sins.  Someone was led “by the Spirit” to share the truth with you.  “By the Spirit” your eyes were opened to the glory of Jesus.  That is the way it works.

“I will build My church,” said Jesus, “and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). So, the Spirit came on Pentecost, as Jesus had promised, and Christ’s church building work began.  He set forth His simple plan to His disciples: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).  Jesus purposed to empower ordinary men with the Spirit to declare His extraordinary message.

Who were these men Jesus used at the start of His church building plan?  Ordinary people.  “Uneducated and untrained men” (Acts 4:13).  They held no Bible college or seminary degrees and had received no training in apologetics or church growth methodology.  They were men who had just recently abandoned or even denied Jesus.  Lacking courage, they had even hidden out behind closed doors, “for fear of the Jews,” after the resurrection (John 20:19, 26).  They had no elaborate plan or methodology.  No building or budget.  They were ordinary people like us.  But once indwelt by the Spirit, they went on to boldly and faithfully declare the truth about Jesus.  And the rest, as they say, is history. 

Albert Barnes commented on this: “Within the space of thirty years after the death of Christ the gospel had been carried to all parts of the civilized and to no small portion of the uncivilized world…Within thirty years it had settled the point that it would overturn every bloody altar, close every pagan temple, bring under its influence everywhere men of office, rank, and power, and ‘the banners of faith would soon stream from the palaces of Caesars.’ All this would be accomplished by the instrumentality of Jews—of fishermen—of Nazarenes.  They had neither wealth, armies, nor allies.  With the exception of Paul, they were men without learning.  They were taught only the Holy Ghost, armed only with the power of God, victorious only because Christ was their captain, and the world acknowledged the presence of the messengers of the Highest and the power of the Christian religion.  Its success never has been, and never can be accounted for by any other supposition than that God attended it.” 

Albert Barnes

It was a BY THE SPIRIT work.  And it is so to this day.  It is the Spirit of Truth that leads and emboldens us to be effective witnesses as Christ’s ambassadors.  Apart from the Spirit, we’ve no power to do that.  By the Spirit, God can work through us in a manner that is exceeding abundantly beyond what we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).

An effective witness is one that is led and empowered by the Spirit of Truth.

LET IT BE SAID OF US
Let it be said of us that the Lord was our passion,
That with gladness we bore every cross we were given;
That we fought the good fight, and we finished the course;
Knowing within us the power of the risen Lord.

CHORUS:
Let the cross be our glory and the Lord be our song!
By mercy made holy, by the Spirit made strong.
Let the cross be our glory and the Lord be our song!
Till the likeness of Jesus be through us made known.
Let the cross be our glory and the Lord be our song.

Let it be said of us, we were marked by forgiveness;
We were known by our love and delighted in mercy;
We were ruled by His peace, heeding unity’s call,
Joined as one body that Christ would be seen by all.

Written by: Steve Fry
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Author: looking2jesus13

Jerry L. Conklin was born and raised in Hillsboro, Oregon. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served for six years in the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program. He was assigned to the USS *Omaha* (SSN-692), a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine, where he served as a reactor-plant electrical operator. His military service took him to ports and locations throughout the world and provided extensive technical training, leadership experience, and an enduring appreciation for those who serve in the Armed Forces. Following his Navy service, Jerry earned a bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Technology from Thomas Edison State University. He worked at the Trojan Nuclear Plant near Rainier, Oregon, first as a reactor operator and later as a training specialist. After sensing God’s call to pastoral ministry, he left the nuclear-power industry and earned a master’s degree in theology from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon. Jerry served for twenty-seven and a half years as senior pastor of Lewis and Clark Bible Church in Astoria, Oregon. During those years, he preached and taught the Scriptures, provided pastoral counseling, performed weddings and memorial services, trained church leaders, and served individuals and families throughout the community. He also served as a fire department chaplain and participated in a variety of community ministries. After retiring from full-time pastoral ministry, Jerry and his wife, Laura, moved to Heppner, Oregon. There he served for approximately four years as a chaplain with Pioneer Memorial Home Health and Hospice, providing spiritual and emotional support to more than 150 patients and their families. In 2023, the Oregon Association for Home Care honored him as its Chaplain of the Year. Jerry also helped establish South Morrow County Seniors Matter, a nonprofit organization created to address the needs of older adults following the COVID-19 pandemic. As chairman, he worked with community leaders and volunteers to develop a weekly senior meal program, a monthly veterans’ lunch, and other activities and services. The organization served hundreds of seniors, mobilized more than 200 volunteers, and received statewide and national recognition. In 2025, Jerry was named Heppner’s Man of the Year, and his community service was later recognized by United States Senator Jeff Merkley. International missions have also been an important part of Jerry’s ministry. He has made ten trips to Uganda, where he has taught at pastors’ conferences, preached in churches, participated in Bible-school graduations, distributed Bibles and Christian materials, and encouraged local pastors and ministry leaders. He developed the discipleship booklet *First Steps with Jesus* to help new believers understand and grow in their faith. Jerry is the author of numerous books, Bible studies, devotionals, and teaching resources, including works centered on prayer, Christian hope, spiritual growth, and the person of Jesus Christ. His decades of preaching and teaching reflect his commitment to presenting biblical truth clearly, practically, and faithfully. Jerry and Laura were married for nearly forty-two years and raised four children. They were also blessed with three grandchildren. Laura passed away in August 2025 following an eight-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. Jerry currently lives in Hillsboro, where he helps care for his elderly father. He continues to preach, teach, write, and serve others through pastoral and community ministry.

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