Holy Spirit

BE TRANSFORMED— NOT CONFORMED!

(July 09, 2025) Carol Round challenges us regarding our discerning… 

I like refinishing furniture, taking something old and making it look new. However, I haven’t had time to do that lately. My sister mentioned recently she wanted to refinish a used piece she’d found for sale into a coffee bar for her kitchen.

Like me, she bemoaned the fact of her busyness and not having time to transform the furniture into something new and useful.

Transforming the Mind
In Romans 12:2 Paul talks about a different kind of transformation. This type of transformation isn’t physical… it’s about our mind being transformed so we can ‘be able to test and approve what God’s will is for our lives— His good, pleasing and perfect will.’

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DRY DESERT TO FLOWING STREAMS DESTINY

(April 13, 2025) Dr Sam Selva Raj recalls God’s goodness…

F. B. Meyer has named Psalm 107:33-43 as The ‘Loving-Kindnesses of the Lord.’ 

Verse 35 is very meaningful to me— ‘He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs.’ And I share with you another of my precious Pit to Palace experiences, one where God miraculously turned a dry…  ‘desert’… in to ‘pools of water’ for me, my family and our ministry.

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THE BLESSING OF A TIMELY WORD

(August 14, 2024) Norman and Margaret Moss share another precious meditation…

Through the years we’ve been blessed with good hearing.

Recently I (Norman) have noticed that my friends have a tendency to mutter and this led me to experiment with a redundant hearing aid belonging to someone else. I was surprised to find that wearing this device attracted a number of song birds to sing beautifully outside my window. 

I recalled the old story of the elderly lady who had just been fitted with a hearing aid. She returned to report to the audiologist.

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PRESS IN, PRESS ON, PRESS FORWARD!

(May 09, 2024) Richard Winter encourages…

Folks, I want to start with a confession!

No – not about a sin, but about a place I used to go to, to make me a better person. Before Covid I went to the gym – many times, and I didn’t like it all that much.

You do the same things to get in shape, understanding it’s not just vain repetitions with weights and exercises but about your future. You do It again and again and one day you marvel at your change – you’ve lost weight and, hey, you’re looking good.

You’re able to do many more things, you’re breathing more easily… and your clothes fit you in a very enhancing way.

Needed: Spiritual Exercises!
But there is another side to us all beyond the physical. We are spiritual beings, and the apostle Paul wrote about another ‘gym’ that he attended – and so should we.

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BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING

(March 28, 2024) Dr Robert McQuillan shares …

Dear Dr Robert
I know that the prayer of Jabez has been highlighted for a few years now, with several booklets written about it. It happened to come to mind the other day and I was wondering what your thoughts are on this prayer. Danny.

Hi Danny
I was first struck by this prayer many years ago, but unfortunately with Easter virtually here I’m limited time-wise and unable to respond to you as I wish.

However, it so happens that my friend Dr Richard Winter recently emailed me some brief thoughts on this prayer – a different slant that he’d shared with his church and blessed them all. I know that he won’t mind me sharing them below…

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IT WAS HIS LIFE FOR YOUR LIFE!

(March 19, 2024) Wayne Swift calls it as it is, challenging us to reflect on a great truth…

Good Friday next week!

The day Christians remember the life of a great man who lived some two thousand years ago, and recalling His deeds and with affection and gratitude we extend Him our appreciation for the gracious way He gave up His life for us!

But… what was the background here? Let me share a eulogy to this great individual…

1. Beginning
Two young people, Mary and Joseph, were betrothed to be married – Joseph, an honourable man and his fiancée Mary, a young virgin with an outstanding reputation. Out-of-the-blue Mary claimed to have had a dream about falling pregnant to God Himself (Luke 1:35). Joseph must have thought she’d lost the plot! But then an angel appeared to him confirming Mary’ story (Matthew 1:20).

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SHARING A PROPHETIC WORD

(January 26, 2024) Dr Robert McQuillan shares on the 1Corinthians 12:10 manifestation gift of prophecy…

Dear Dr Robert
Please share on the gift of the Spirit termed prophecy. Kelvin.

Hi Kelvin

Please note that my comments below are particularly for pentecostal and charismatic church attenders, although the Holy Spirit operates in other denominations too!

Let’s begin with something many ask… What is ‘a word of prophecy?’ In brief… a timely word from God. In outworking, prophesying is someone boldly speaking a word from God under divine Holy Spirit inspiration that blesses people, en masse or individually. Yes, they sense it in their spirit and allow God to use them verbally.

Three-fold benefits
As a supernational manifestation, it’s a vocal gift used in faith (itself one of the 1Corinthians 12:8-10 nine gifts). It’s meant to manifested (phanerōsis… exhibited, expressed) – responsibly demonstrated in church circles. In 1Corinthians 14:5, Paul urged that this gift be operated more, even more that tongues coupled with interpretation! Verse 2 explains its 3-fold benefits – strengthening, encouragement, comfort.

  • Strengthening… sometimes translated edification
    A word connected with architecture, to do with ‘building up.’ Something we all need!
  • Encouragement… or exhortation
    This links with the ministry of the Spirit whom we can rely on to encourage us in dark times and spur us on to great achievements. This too is something Christians need regularly.
  • Comfort… or consolation
    A word akin to encouragement, also relating to the work of the Spirit who is known as the great comforter (In John 14:26 Jesus called Him the parakletos – comforter, consoler, advocate). It’s not only on the loss of a loved one that Christians need divine comfort!
  • Further, prophecy demonstrates that God is real and comforts people by telling them that He knows what’s going down, loves them and cares so deeply in a personal way.
  • It also draws people closer to Him, inspiring them to go onward in God and in life itself. 2024 is a year when many wish to move on in God, If someone receives a prophetic word in this area, they’ll definitely be inspired.

Five important notations here:
(1) Generally missing today
Sadly it appears that this gift hasn’t been operating for several years as often and strongly as it used to. I recall ‘old-time-pentecostal’ Sundays when prophecy (and tongues/interpretation) flowed freely after communion or in praise/worship times, not necessarily through the pastor (or pastors) but operated by ‘ordinary’ church attenders… ‘ordinary’ but Spirit-filled and obedient to Him!

Recently some friends moved to another town and immediately began visiting a number of pentecostal churches. I received a sad letter asking, ‘Dr Robert… don’t Pentecostal churches allow prophecy, tongues and interpretation to occur anymore?’

(2) Ministering speakers
Many times a Spirit-filled preacher, whether pastor or guest speaker, may pause preaching and bring a word of prophecy, usually encouraging, even directive for the church. Such sudden ministry grabs listeners’ attention. It’s also enlightening  when ministers point to individuals unknown to them and give a prophetic word.

(3) Operable in any service/meeting
Prophecy can operate in any church service or meeting – children’s, youth, men’s, women’s, Bible study, even church maintenance days, as well as eldership, deaconate or business meetings.
It can also operate when counselling someone, often setting them free from what’s troubling them. Handled wisely this gift can be used anywhere on a Holy Spirit leading.

(4) ‘Out there’
God loves everyone and can use any of us to speak a prophetic word to an unsaved person! Usually this is accompanied by the sister gifts of words of knowledge and wisdom.
For example, you could be talking to a stranger in a shop or arcade and suddenly, even in saying goodbye, you have ‘a word’ for them whether they’re Christian or not. I’ve found such a word really touches hearts, especially when it’s an encouragement, and I explain that God had told me about their situation/character/difficulties.
Knowing that you don’t know them, they’re blown away and if unsaved, it’s an opportunity to share God’s love. I’ve found that no one has ever queried what I’ve shared.

(5) Responsibility
When the Holy Spirit gives someone ‘a word’ to speak forth, that person is open to being used by the Spirit, has an ongoing relationship with Him, and always willing to be used by Him. Naturally it doesn’t happen all the time, nor everywhere. I’m talking about special occasions where God wants to use you and you sense His leading, prompting, and you dare to go for it.
If you sense the Holy Spirit desiring to use you in this area, I’m confident that you’ll be prompt to respond to His leading… responsibly. Experience teaches us much. Don’t be afraid: boldly allow Him to speak through you… using your voice. You’ll know when to start and when to stop… and not go become ‘fleshly.’

Attitude
Christians should have the right attitude toward words of prophecy… and its operation. Prophecy is not to be taken lightly or ignored! Paul warns in 1Thessalonians. 5:20: ‘Do not treat prophecies with contempt.’ That is… don’t despise or stifle either them or the one bringing them!

If a person given such a word can’t quite understand it, encourage them to put it ‘on the back burner.’ Experience has affirmed that it will become clear in time (I’ve had later phone messages confirming this is true).

As for Christians, especially leaders, 1Timothy 4:15 seeks to persuade us to practise our ministry gift, indeed to give ourselves completely to them, that they are to be ‘kept dusted off and in use’ as the Message Bible puts it.

As inferred above prophecy is an incredible gift that not only operates in churches but the Spirit can use it to reach unchurched ‘out there.’ It can open doors to new relationships and sharing the gospel message is accepted because you’ve earned the right and respect of someone new.

I like what Paul says about all gifts – ‘Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people!’ (1Corinthians 12:7Mge).

More could be said here but may all that I have shared encourage you, Kelvin.
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Got a question for Dr Robert or Pr Maureen McQuillan? Email either: OnlinerConnect@gmail.com
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GATE OF THE YEAR

(January 11, 2024) Robert McQuillan shares 2024-centred encouragement.

Odd title isn’t it. Picked it up the other night from an old James Stewart movie, 1940’s Mortal Storm. Set in South Germany’s Alps, it tells of the change that sweeps a particular town so quickly and dramatically when Hitler’s coming to power in January 1933 is announced. Contentment between families and friends vanishes when most of the town embraces the Nazi creed, and only a few don’t. It is indeed the beginning of a mortal storm.

As this classic movie concludes, some lines from a poem are narrated over celestial music –
‘I said to a man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God.
That shall be to you better than a light and safer than a known way.”’

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STUNNED, SCARED, SHEPHERDED

(October 08, 2023) Robert McQuillan shares a breakthrough experience to encourage others, especially young believers feeling inadequate in serving Jesus…

According to Dr Fred Luskin, Stanford University, we have approximately 60,000 thoughts per day – 90% being repetitive!

Well, I woke up with one repetitive thought going round and round in my mind… and couldn’t switch it off! A simple but so meaningful eight-word scripture that’s had my back for decades. Then I started recalling the time some 50 years ago when that verse’s reality hit me, becoming an inner strength that I’ve never forgotten.

‘Which scripture?’ you ask, probably thinking everyone has some Bible verse that’s so meaningful to them.

  • True… John 3:16 for example: ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ 
  • Maureen,  my darling wife, delights in Romans 15:13 – ‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.’ 
  • What’s your favourite that you cling to in times of troubles?
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PAUL’S GREAT CONCERN

(September 26, 2023) Brian Bell shares some thoughts on Paul’s concern about non-Christian behaviour…  

The apostle Paul had spent about 18 months with the believers in the Roman city of Corinth before he moved on. During the next three years that church grew in number but, unfortunately, also encountered a range of problems. And now a disquieted Paul writes them a letter expressing some concerns.

In many senses Paul’s 1 Corinthians’ letter may be considered unpleasant reading, since he addresses some exceedingly difficult issues – what we in our generation would call – ‘non-Christian behaviours.’

Among other things he talks about is rival factions within this gathering of early believers. I would draw our attention to the following…

Paul’s Plea
In verse 1:10bNLT, a troubled Paul writes pleadingly about divisions in the church – ‘Let there be real harmony so there won’t be divisions within the church, I plead with you…’

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