Christian Witness – Salisbury Baptist Church

Filled by Boldness

3rd August 2025

There is a crucial distinction between what is meant by "receiving the Holy Spirit" and "being filled with the Holy Spirit" although sometimes both might happen at a one event or at separate times. While every believer receives the Spirit at the moment of salvation (a foundational transaction of faith in Jesus Christ) being filled with the Spirit is when He the Holy Spirit takes control. This filling results in a divine empowerment to do God's work, such as speaking His word with a boldness that is not our own. The Christian life involves not only the certainty of having received the Spirit but also a continual possibility of being filled by Him to live effectively for Christ in an evil world.

Love on the Stretch

The Joy of the Sent Ones

16th March 2025

Jesus promises His disciples that their sorrow will turn to unshakable joy—not mere happiness, but a deep current that remains despite circumstances. This joy flows from three realities outlined in John 17: being sanctified by God's Word, being kept by Christ, and being sent into the world. When we truly grasp that we are His and He is ours, we experience the fullness of His joy. This joy becomes most evident when we witness to others about Christ, not seeking spiritual experiences for their own sake, but focusing on Christ Himself. God's love stretched to its limits produces in us a joy that no one can take away.

Speaking from the Heart

10th November 2024

True Christian witness flows not from memorised doctrine or intellectual knowledge alone, but from a heart overflowing with love for Jesus Christ. Just as a person in love cannot help speaking about their beloved, those who spend time with Christ and worship Him deeply will speak of Him to others naturally and authentically. This principle is demonstrated through Scripture and live examples. Authentic spiritual authority and effective witness come not through eloquence or education alone, but through a genuine, heart-level relationship with the Lord Jesus. When others recognise that we have "been with Jesus," our words carry His authority and power.