Steve Simms's Blog
September 16, 2025
How To Recognize a True Christian
View all responsesWhen I try to use self-effort to cook up the fruit of the Spirit, I always fail. Only the Holy Spirit can produce it in my life.
Here’s how to spot genuine Christ-followers. According to the Bible they are doers of the word not hearers only. (James 1:22) Look for the fruit of the Spirit in the things they say and do. When the risen Jesus Christ is living inside of someone God the Holy Spirit produces:
* Love not bitterness,
* Joy not negativity,
* Peace not hostility,
* Patience not pushiness,
* Kindness not meanness,
* Goodness not self-righteousness,
* Faithfulness not falsehood,
* Gentleness not brashness,
* Self-control not self-justification.
Beware. There are many false prophets. (1 John 4:1) Jesus said to watch out for wolves in sheep’s clothing. (Matthew 7:15) They claim to be Christian but there’s very little of the fruit of the Spirit flowing out of them in the things they say and do. Listening to false prophets is like settling for burnt toast.
Jesus is the God-man (John 1:1&14) who rose from the dead, (Matthew 28:5-6) lives in His true followers, (Colossians 1:27) leads them from within, (Romans 8:14) and produces the fruit of the Spirit inside of them. (Galatians 5:22-23)
If you are looking for someone to admire, and celebrate, don’t settle for a mere human being. Behold the Lamb of God — the God-man Jesus Christ! Give all glory, honor, and praise to Him! (Revelation 5:11-13)
Instead of talking about religion and politics I find it much more exciting and life-transforming to talk about the risen Jesus and the government He is establishing in surrendered and obedient human hearts — the kingdom of God. (Matthew 6:33) He’s ready to establish and maintain His government in your heart, moment-by-moment, if you will let Him.
Let the glorious attraction of the living Jesus set you free from the many distractions that cause you to ignore Him. Allow Jesus to take His place as the never-ending focus of your life. (Hebrews 12:2) The Bible will show you how.
The Bible meddles with my mind, my methods, and my moods all the time. (Hebrews 4:12) Will you let it meddle with you? (2 Timothy 3:16) A preacher who neglects to mention repentance, humility, the fruit of the Spirit, loving your enemies, and blessing those who curse you is neglecting his responsibility.
Christ alone
Is the cornerstone —
No person,
No nation.
When love is gone
We’ve gone wrong.
Our only hope
Is Christ alone.
September 15, 2025
The Lesson of Recovery
View all responsesIf your joy has been lost, it can be retrieved. If your inner peace has vanished, it can be rediscovered When love has diminished it can be restored. If your faith has faded it can be recovered.
If the fruit of the Holy Spirit has withered in your life, it can be revived. If your direct personal connection with the risen Jesus is shaky, it can be made stronger than ever through a spiritual wakening called revival.
When people saw Jesus healing people and doing miracles, they were amazed and praised God. (Matthew 15:31) Two of Christ’s first disciples when threatened with prison or death said: “We cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20)
When people see Jesus doing miracles and when they experience His presence and reality in their life, they are amazed by Him. All they want to talk about is Jesus. They continually testify about the incredible things they have seen, heard, and experienced Him say and do. They are so focused on the living Jesus that the things of earth fade away from their awareness.
We live in a time when there’s not much amazement about Jesus. There’s very little focus on Him. You seldom hear church goers testify about how Jesus is working in their life. (Revelation 12:11) They rarely even say His name unless a preacher tells them to or they are made to repeat words written on a Sunday morning bulletin. Instead, Christianity has focused on personal prosperity, promoting preachers as personalities, political power, and prideful self-focus. It desperately needs reviving and reconnecting with the risen Jesus!
To experience revival, keep your focus on the risen Jesus, not on any other person, place, or thing. Revival restores Christians to an ongoing awareness of the presence of the risen Jesus. It keeps them in such awe of Him that they humbly listen to His voice, set aside their own will and opinions, and excitedly obey Him.
Revival isn’t a bunch of people merely repeating a “salvation” prayer after a leader and then being baptized. If the people’s beliefs, words, and way of life isn’t changed from within to align with the Sermon on the Mount that’s just a powerless form of religion.
When revival happens sermon-hearers will be changed into Jesus-mirrors. They will reflect and radiate His love, His presence, and His power everywhere they go. Sunday church goers will be miraculously transformed into radical and obedient Christ-followers who humble themselves, earnestly seek a greater awareness of God’s presence, turn away from all the sins they are defending, forgive everyone, love their enemies, and bless those who curse them. What will it take to experience a Spirit-led revival? Begin to daily and wholeheartedly obey 2 Chronicles 7:14.
If you’ve never lived with an ongoing awareness of the living Jesus and the fruit of His Spirit, you can begin to daily live that way. Begin to continually surrender your thoughts, words, feelings, desires, and behaviors to His moment-by-moment control and allow Him to be the absolute Lord and Director of your daily life.
Jesus is better
Than lottery pics.
Jesus is better
Than getting your kicks.
Jesus is better
Than politics.
Nothing is better
Than Jesus Christ.
September 14, 2025
People shall not live by bread alone!
View all responsesLiving in such discouraging and depressing times, people need more than mere physical food. They need hope, love, and encouragement. My favorite food is spiritual food. “Man shall not live by bread alone.” (Matthew 4:4)
No miracle has ever dazzled and amazed me as much as the miracle of God’s love. When someone speaks sincere, caring, and encouraging words to me from their heart, I’m deeply moved by something supernatural. When I’m aware that God loves, forgives, and sets me free in spite of all my sins and flaws, I’m astonished.
When I’m praying over a stranger and I begin to sense so much love for him or her that my eyes fill with tears I know that I am walking out a miracle. When I go against my strong feelings of resentment and consistently ask God to bless someone who has hurt me and done me much harm, God the Holy Spirit tells me that I am following the signs and wonders of His narrow way. (Matthew 7:14)
Jesus walked on water and invited His disciples to step out of the boat and walk to Him. (Matthew 14:25-31) His disciple, the man called Peter, obeyed Jesus and walked out of the fishing boat, on to the water, and into an untold number of Sunday sermons. If you have read the biblical account or heard one of the sermons, you know that Peter began to sink but Jesus pulled him up and together they walked back to the boat. Peter experienced a miracle! But what was the miracle?
The miracle wasn’t that Peter walked. Most human beings can walk. The miracle was that when gravity took over and Peter started sinking, Jesus pulled him back up and supernaturally kept him afloat as Peter himself moved his own feet and legs in order to walk back to the boat.
It’s not a miracle when you obey the risen Jesus. It’s a choice. The miracle is that when you obey Christ living in you, (Colossians 1:27) God supernaturally works in and through you.
Step out of your comfort-zone-boat and experience this for yourself. Ask Jesus, “Lord, if it’s You (Matthew 14:28) living in me, tell me something that You want me to do.” Then listen to Jesus because He said that His seep hear His voice. (John 10:27)
When Christ’s still small voice (1 Kings 19:12) speaks to you, do what He tells you to even if you are afraid. When you begin to walk out what Jesus says you’ll be amazed at the miracles that will happen. Even if you start to sink, Jesus will pull you through! As you’ve humbled yourself, in due time He will lift you up. (1 Peter 4:6) (Remember, Christ won’t tell you to do things that contradict what He said in the Bible.)
When God’s miraculous love is welcomed, embraced, and fully surrendered to (1 Corinthians 14:1) many other miracles will follow. Allow God to continually work (1 Thessalonians 5:19) the miracle of His love (Matthew 22:37-39) — including love for your enemies (Matthew 5:44) — in and through you wherever you are and everywhere you go. Then goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life. (Psalm 23:6)
It’s lovely when we,
The body of Christ,
Are community–
Truly family.
Then we start to see
Christ in you and me.
Christianity’s
Not about a place.
It’s about showing
God’s love face to face.
The body of Christ
Should never replace
True community
With religion,
Ceremony,
Or politics.
(Jesus didn’t tell His followers to make Rome great. He told them to “Bless those who curse you.”)
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I Try to Run Away from People Who Use Angry Hateful Words
Political hatred, anger, and violence is evil! People who have been tried and convicted by a jury of their peers for engaging in political violence shouldn't be pardoned.
For people who truly love Jesus, all lives really do matter. When I talk about Jesus I'm not talking about an arrogant hard right Jesus, or an all approving far left Jesus. I'm talking about the risen Jesus who commands us to love one another and even to love our enemies!
I believe that:
Palestinian lives matter.
Jewish lives matter.
Muslim lives matter.
Christian lives matter.
Pagan lives matter.
Athiest lives matter.
Black lives matter.
White lives matter.
Soldier lives matter.
Civilian lives matter.
Friends' lives matter.
Enemies' lives matter.
Ukrainian lives matter.
Russian lives matter.
Conservative lives matter.
Liberal lives matter.
Rich lives matter.
Poor lives matter.
European lives matter.
Asian lives matter.
African lives matter.
North and South American lives matter.
And your life matters![image error]Pexels.com" data-medium-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." data-large-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." src="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." alt="" class="wp-image-44562" />Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com
I See Myself as a Follower
View all responsesI see myself as a follower on a very narrow path. Step by step throughout each day I diligently seek to faithfully stay with the trail I’m on. You may have read a description of the pathway I’m following. In the Bible Jesus says: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)
Haven’t you read
Where Isaiah
The prophet said
“All we like sheep
Have gone astray.
We have all turned
To our own way,”?
The Good Shepherd
Has saved the day.
He’s paid the price
To wash away
All of our sins.
He invites us
To start to see
Life through His lens–
The mind of Christ
And be transformed
To His image.
Far too many Christians are sheep without an ongoing and obedient relationship with the Good Sheperd. (Matthew 9:36-37) Let Jesus, the Great Sheperd of the sheep, (Hebrews 13:19-21) continually keep you and transform you by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2)
Jesus is the Good Sheperd. (John 10:11) His sheep hear His voice. (John 10:27) They follow Him (Matthew 4:19) away from bad thoughts, bad feelings, bad desires, and bad behaviors. (Matthew 4:17)
When Christian faith is based on ongoing personal surrender to and obedience to the risen Jesus (Matthew 16:24) it’s powerful and life changing. Christians need to be talking to Jesus, listening to Jesus, and obeying Jesus instead gossiping about conspiracy theories. (2 Corinthians 12:9 and Ephesians 4:29) If Christians in the USA would seek to individually be directly led and controlled by God the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14) and endeavor to obey the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5, 6, and 7) and the rest of the New Testament with as much intensity and commitment as they are putting into politics, we would experience a great, culture-transforming, spiritual awakening. Haven’t you read Ephesians 5:14?
When I'm walkingThrough the night
The bright light
Of the moon
Above my head
Reminds me of
What I've read
And I see
Christ the Bright
And Morning Star,
God the Son,
Rising in my soul. [image error]Pexels.com" data-medium-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." data-large-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." src="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." alt="" class="wp-image-44548" />Photo by moon chahcha on Pexels.com
September 11, 2025
Every Word God Speaks to My Heart
View all responsesMy favorite word is every word that God speaks to my heart. These are the latest words that came into my heart. I believe that they are from Him.
Come to Jesus with your heart humble, open, hungry and honest like a little child’s, so that He and His Father can supernaturally reveal His never-ending presence, power, and reality to you. Let your heart be drawn into and remain constantly yoked to Christ like a pair of oxen pulling a loaded wagon. Then you will discover that having Jesus always walking with you and working within you will cause you to see your burden as a light affliction that is producing eternal glory in and through you. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
As you daily take Christ’s yoke of gentleness and lowliness upon you and learn from Him through ongoing direct personal revelation you will find true inner peace in your soul. Live your life consistently yoked heart-to-heart with the risen Jesus because when He is ignored the Holy Spirit is quenched (1 Thessalonians 5:19) and religion becomes nothing more than an empty and powerless outward form of godliness. (2 Timothy 3:5)
For God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven (Matthew 6:10) it must begin inside of human hearts that are so solidly yoked to Jesus that He is able to transform people’s thinking and behavior to align with God’s desires. Will you allow God the Holy Spirit to yoke all of your thoughts, feelings, desires, and behaviors to the living Jesus?
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I Do This Every Day and Every Night
View all responsesDay and night my plans and schedule are simple. I long for and pursue one thing. Like the ancient King David my heart cries out: “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him . . .” (Psalm 27:4)
When Jesus is truly present, His authority, Lordship, and reign as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is at hand. He has brought the kingdom (the inner government) of heaven near to us. (Matthew 4:17) Will you strive (1 Corinthians 9:24-27) to always surrender to, submit to, and obey Christ as your Ruler and Absolute Master — as your Lord and your God? (John 20:28) Will you freely allow King Jesus to step-by-step remove you from the dominion of inner darkness and bring you into full alignment with His kingdom (His inner government)? (Colossians 1:13)
If you are a citizen of the kingdom of heaven, behold the Lamb of God, (John 1:29) continually fix your eyes on the risen Jesus, (Hebrews 12:2) and become a daily demonstration of the presence, power, (1 Corinthians 2:4) and fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) of God the Holy Spirit. In everything you think, say, and do follow and obey the inner leading of God the Spirit. (Romans 8:14)
Never stop seeking Jesus! The world is full of pleasure-seekers, comfort-seekers, and power-seekers, but Christ-seekers are hard to find. Consistently be one both now and forever! (Matthew 6:33)
Is it possible for Jesus to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and drive out demons through you? Yes! Do the above and you will begin to see and experience miracles both in and through your life.
September 9, 2025
Casual (Lukewarm) Christianity Raises a Red Flag With Me
View all responsesCasual, lukewarm Christianity raises a red flag with me. Why? Because of what Jesus said in Revelation 3:16: “Because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”
Jesus preaches. The kingdom of God is right here right now! Wake up and passionately seek as your first priority to be ruled and governed within by King Jesus day-and-night. (Matthew 6:33)
Jesus teaches. Christ-seekers listen to His voice and follow Him. (John 10:27) Christ-seekers receive direct revelation from God. (1 Corinthians 2:10-13) They receive access to the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16) Christ-seekers are taught by God to love one another. (1 Thessalonians 4:9) Jesus-first seekers hear the words of God. (John 8:47) They are taught (John 14:26) and led by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:14)
Jesus heals. Jesus is seeker-sensitive and seeker-friendly. Continually seek as your first priority to align your will and your desires with King Jesus and everything else in your life will begin to make sense and fall into place. (Matthew 6:33) Let your weariness, pain, and disappointment draw you to Christ and He will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28) Wake up and become a radically committed Christ-seeker.
Christ-seekers are not self-seeking. (1 Corinthians 13:4-5) They’re self-denying, daily-cross-bearing Christ-followers. (Luke 9:23) True Christ-followers are Christ-seekers, not merely Christ-inquirers. They’re deeply passionate about staying focused on the risen Jesus. They’re not just occasionally curious about Him.
“Seeking” is a powerful concept in the Bible. It involves actively and passionately pursuing the kingdom (the inner government) of God, the presence and will of the Lord and King Jesus, and His righteousness (right-living). (Matthew 6:33) Seeking God requires intention, attention, and persistence.
To seek first God’s kingdom, begin to consistently pray like ancient King David did: “O God, You are my God; earnestly I seek You. My soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land without water.” (Psalm 63:1) King David testified: “I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles.” (Psalm 34-4-6)
God rewards people who earnestly and diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6) He shines His light in the heart of a Christ-seeker. (2 Corinthians 4:6) Wake up! “Seek and you shall find.” (Matthew 7:7)
When some of Christ’s followers went to His tomb, two angles said to them: “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!” (Luke 24:5-6) Jesus is not entombed in history or in religion. He doesn’t stay there. He has risen and is now present everywhere. (Matthew 28:20) Seek Christ’s presence wherever you are and wherever you go.
September 8, 2025
My Ideal Week Is to Consistently Follow and Obey the Risen Jesus
View all responsesMatthew 8 — Christ-Seekers Experience Amazing Words, Amazing Faith, and Amazing Miracles
In Matthew 6 Jesus says to make seeking the kingdom of God your first priority–the passion of your life. (6:33) In Matthew 8 we see seekers seeking Jesus.
Seeker 1 (a leper condemned unclean and untouchable by society) says: “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” (8:2)
Jesus reaches out and touches this person who society says should never be touched. Then He says: “I am willing. Be clean!” Seeker 1 is immediately healed of leprosy and uncleanness. (8:3)
Seeker 2 says: “Lord, my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” (8:6)
Jesus says: “Shall I come and heal him?” (8:7)
Seeker 2 says: “Lord, I do not deserve to have You come under my roof. Just say the word and my servant will be healed.” (8:8)
Jesus is amazed and says to the crowd gathered around Him: “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” (8:10)
Turning directly to Seeker 2 Jesus says: “Let it be done just as you believed it would.” Seeker 2’s servant is healed at that very moment. (8:13)
Many seekers bring demonized people to Jesus. Jesus drives out the evil spirits with a word and heals those who are sick. This fulfills God’s word that was spoken and written centuries earlier by Isaiah the prophet: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.” (8:16-17)
Seeker 3 says: “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” (8:19)
Jesus says: “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” (8:20)
Seeker 4 says: “Lord, first let me go and burry my father.” (8:21)
Jesus says: “Follow Me and let the dead bury their own dead.” (8:22)
Jesus disciples follow Him into a boat. While they are crossing the Sea of Galilee a furious storm comes up and waves are sweeping over the boat. Jesus is asleep but fear turns His disciples into passionate seekers, and they wake Him up saying: “We’re going to drown.” (8:23-26)
Jesus says to His disciples: “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then He rebukes the storm and the waves and suddenly it is completely calm. (8:26)
Christ’s disciples are amazed and say: “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey Him?” (8:27)
On the other side of the lake two demonized men meet Jesus. They shout: “What do you want with us, Son of God? . . . If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” A large heard of pigs is feeding nearby. (8:30-31)
Jesus says: “Go!” (8:32)
The demons come out of the two men and enter the pigs. The whole heard rushes into the Sea of Galilee and drowns. The pig keepers run away and tell the local town about what happened. The townspeople go out to find Jesus, but they aren’t true seekers. Instead of seeking for Christ to stay, they beg Him to go away. (8:32-34)
Jesus is “the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) Do you want Him to stay with you, (Hebrews 13:5) to live in you, (Colossians 1:27) to be your Lord and your God, (John 20:28) and to rule and lead you by His Spirit? (Romans 8:14) Or do you want Him to go away and let you do things your own way?
September 7, 2025
My Respect Goes Frist to the King (The King and Eye)
View all responsesFirst things first. As inspirational as many athletes are, they don’t receive my first respect. That goes to The King. I strive to see eye to eye with Him.
In the Sermon on the Mount King Jesus (Revelation 19:16) used the word “first’ twice. First He said to “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” (Matthew 6:33) Second, He said to “First take the plank out of your own eye.” (Matthew 7:5) Matthew sums up Christ’s message by saying that Jesus preached “Repent for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17) To repent is to take the plank out of your own eye. “The kingdom of Heaven is at hand,” means that the will of God and His inner government is available to those who will seek it as their first priority.
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus also said: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7) Jesus asked God the Father: “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) He said to keep seeking God’s kingdom (God’s will) as the first purpose of your life. (Matthew 6:33) The more you will humbly, sincerely, and persistently knock on God’s door, the closer you will get to His inner kingdom and His will in your daily life. (James 4:6)
Which way will you go? Will you continually seek and passionately pursue the narrow gate and road that leads to life? (Matthew 7:13-14) Or will you casually drift along the broad road that leads to destruction? The risen Jesus is the narrow gate! (John 10:7)
Be very careful because Jesus warned of false prophets who look like sheep “but inwardly are ferocious wolves.” (Matthew 7:15) Jesus said that you can recognize false prophets by their fruit. (Matthew 7:16) If a preacher, teacher, or leader doesn’t bear the “good fruit” of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23–love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) he is a false prophet. (Matthew 7:19-20) It’s not enough to say “Lord, Lord!” Christ followers are called to actually obey the living Jesus and do the will of God. (Matthew 7:21-28)
Fortunately, Jesus, the gate to the kingdom of God, is ready to live inside of you, (Colossians 1:27) empower you, (Acts 1:8) and continually lead you by His Spirit. (Romans 8:28) Never stop seeking King Jesus and His inner government of your life with “all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”? (Matthew 22:37) Always keep the risen Jesus first and center in your daily focus.
Some people think I am crazy for trusting so much in Jesus. Here are the people who I think are crazy. People who trust distracted drivers in parking lots not to accidently hit them when they step right in front of their moving vehicles while focusing on their phone. Stop, look, and listen.
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