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Here's a simple formula for maintaining a righteous lifestyle. Paul says in Galatians 5:16, "Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature." Every moment of every day, we have a choice. We can live according to our fleshly desires for comfort and pleasure. Or, we can trust the Holy Spirit to enable us to fearlessly serve the Lord.

Resisting the tug of the flesh isn't easy. Even the disciples, who spent three years learning directly from Jesus, couldn't expect to achieve righteousness in their own strength. The Lord instructed the disciples in Acts 1:4 to wait in Jerusalem until the power of the Holy Spirit came upon them. We can put no more confidence in the flesh than did 11 of Jesus‘ close friends.

In order to walk by the Holy Spirit we must accept the truth that it's impossible to live the Christian life alone. If we depend upon our experiences and strength, we'll fail. God's Spirit works in and through us. That's why submitting our will to His power and guidance is critical. And surrender isn't a one-time deal. Believers have to yield repeatedly. For sanctification is not a once for all experience, but a continuous experience. Sanctification is not a second experience – it is an every second experience!

Every time a decision must be made, we should look to the Spirit for guidance. Righteous living simply isn't natural for human beings. We require help. Our Father has graciously given us the Helper so we can live in a godly manner. When we choose to yield to His direction, joy and peace will follow.

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 10.24. Live for God, on purpose, leaning not on the arm of the flesh, but rather, living in the power of His Spirit!

It's a SmoothJazz Sunday at WFA

Don't miss this Sunday at WFA! It's a SmoothJazz Sunday here as Randy Estelle returns to Wilmington! Randy will be "Spreading the Fires of Praise" here as he brings the "Exalt Project" tour to WFA! Randy and the WFA Praise Team will be joining together for a fantastic time of praise and worship!

Randy Estelle, international concert pianist and vocalist, returns to WFA this Sunday, June 13th, for a special morning of praise, worship and encouragement from the Word! Randy's credits include eleven solo recordings, over 120 personal appearances yearly, producer honors on numerous CD projects for other artists and an extensive background in praise and worship ministry. He began studying piano at age seven and presented his first professional performance at age twelve. Awarded a full scholarship, he studied as a piano major at Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was during his time at CMU that he and his wife, Lisa, had a life changing encounter with Jesus Christ, and were called to ministry, serving first as Music Director in the church of his conversion, and then as Associate Pastor after his ordination.

Today, with prestigious credentials in classical performance, he is also considered one of Christian music's premiere innovators in the areas of jazz, blues, and other eclectic styles.

Mr. Estelle has appeared as a soloist with the Billy Graham Association, the Third World Leadership Conference (Nassau, Bahamas), the Joshua Awards and as a session producer/musician with many artists including Bill Gaither. He and his wife, Lisa, are founders of Courtyard Media Ministries and they have also written over 150 songs including four full production musicals. In addition, he has written and recorded film scores for Star Productions and KidzRoom.

Humor-filled, dynamic, power-packed, anointed and uplifting are all words used to describe this concert experience. You won't want to miss this exciting morning of ministry! Bring your friends and neighbors!

You can visit Randy's website at www.RandyEstelle.com.

The weather may be hot outside, but the music will be hotter inside this Sunday at WFA! SmoothJazz and hot worship – Spreading the Fires of Praise with Randy Estelle! You have my personal invitation!

Shout!

Are you fighting a battle you're afraid you won't win? Who are you depending on – God or yourself? When faced with the combined armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, God told His people Israel, "...The battle is not yours, but God's..." (2 Chronicles 20:15) And God's never lost a battle yet!

He told Joshua, "...I have delivered Jericho into your hands..." (Joshua 6:2) Notice, He didn't say, "I will deliver" or "I might deliver." No, He said, "...I have delivered Jericho into your hands!..." Israel already had the victory, now they were being called to act on it.

But the question remained – how? God's answer was "...Shout..." Joshua told the Israelites, "...When you hear...the trumpets...give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and [you] will go...straight in." (Joshua 6:5)

Now no rational person would expect a shout, no matter how loud, to bring down the walls of a big city. But this was no ordinary shout; it was a shout of faith based on a promise God had made. Even though victory looked impossible, when Israel shouted God responded by bringing down the walls and opening the doors to the Promised Land.

When you're looking for an open door and all you can see is a brick wall, the last thing you feel like doing is shouting "victory," right? But you need to do it regardless, because:

• the shout of praise leads to victory

• it puts your faith "on the record"

• it confounds the enemy and robs him of two of his greatest weapons: doubt and discouragement

• obedience, even when you don't understand, always brings results.

So shout, for the victory is yours!

How to Handle Criticism

Nehemiah teaches us three important truths about handling criticism:

Expect it.

When spectators watch a race, where do they focus their attention? On the front runners! Someone said, "Criticism is something you can avoid easily; by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing." But those three options don't work. So Nehemiah answered his critics, "...I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down..." (Nehemiah 6:3) Don't step down to the level of your critics.

Evaluate it.

"...Sanballat... sent to me, saying, ‘Come, let us meet...‘ But they thought to do me harm." (Nehemiah 6:2) When people say, "I'm going to tell you something for your own good," often they've nothing good to tell you. When you're criticized, ask yourself:

• Who criticized me? "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." (Proverbs 27:6) Has this person earned the right to speak into your life?

• Why was this criticism given? Out of a personal hurt, or for my benefit?" Hurting people hurt people; so maintain the right attitude, looking for the grain of truth, making the necessary changes, and taking the high road.

Outlive it.

When Nehemiah's friends told him to run and hide, he replied, "'I will not‘ ...So the wall was finished... in fifty-two days... when all our enemies heard of it... they perceived that this work was done by our God." (Nehemiah 6:11-16) Sometimes you're in more danger from the counsel of your friends than you are from the criticism of your enemies. That's when you must know who you are, know what God's called you to do, and outlive the criticism!

On the Other Side

A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side."

Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know."

"You don't know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?"

The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side of which came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.

Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear.

I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing... I know my Master is there and that is enough.

Follow Jesus Christ

Many times in my life I have been in a strange town and did not know how to get to my destination. When I stopped for directions people would often say something like, "Go two blocks, turn left at the stop sign then go until you come to the fourth traffic light and turn right. You can't miss it." But I often did miss it.

However, once when I asked directions the man did not give me a list of directions but got in his car and said, "Follow me, I'll take you right to it." In a sense, that man became the way to my destination. In the same manner, Jesus is our way to heaven. We do not get to heaven by following a list of directions but by following Jesus Christ.

Skipping Church

Lately, Pastor Mike had grown weary from the demands of his growing church. He was getting very little sleep and a couple of deacons had really been putting him to the test.

So, one beautiful spring Sunday morning he decided that he would feel better with a relaxing round of golf. Pretending to be sick, he calls the deacons and informs them that he is sick and will not be able to make it that day. He scheduled in a guest speaker so everything was under control without him.

As Pastor Mike was preparing to tee off on the first hole, the Archangel Michael looked over at God and said, "I'm sorry, sir, but what are you going to do? Pastor Mike called in to his deacons and said he was sick. He lied to them and to the church. And, he is skipping church all together. Shouldn't you punish him somehow for his behavior?"

"Sure," said the Father. "I'm going to make him hit a hole-in-one on every hole."

"A hole-in-one on every hole?!" said Michael. "That's not punishment. That's a blessing. No one has ever done that and you're going to help this lazy, lying pastor score a hole-in-one on every hole? How is that punishment?!"

"Who's he gonna tell?"

The Last Impression

I was meeting a friend at a restaurant and as I went in, I noticed two pretty girls looking at me.

"Nine," I heard one whisper as I passed.

Feeling pleased with myself, I swaggered over to my buddy and told him a girl had just rated me a nine out of ten.

"I don't want to ruin it for you," he said, "but when I walked in, they were speaking German."

It's always a fantastic time in the Lord when Randy Estelle joins us here at WFA! It doesn't seem possible that it has been a year and a half since his last visit – but, we will make up for lost time on Sunday when we all "get our praise on!" Invite your friends, co-workers, neighbors, loved ones... everyone... to come to church with your this Sunday! It's gonna be great!