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Texas pastor says grace of the Holy Spirit can be felt today: 'Available for all'

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Texas pastor says grace of the Holy Spirit can be felt today: 'Available for all'

Verses fom the Acts of the Apostles, the fifth book of the New Testament, are particularly noteworthy today.

“While Peter was still speaking these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word. The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles also, for they could hear them speaking in tongues and glorifying God,” the passage says.

It continues, “Then Peter responded, ‘Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit even as we have?’ He ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 10:44-48). 

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The Acts of the Apostles is traditionally attributed to St. Luke the Evangelist, according to the website BibleGateway.

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In the book, “Luke has provided a broad survey of the church’s development from the resurrection of Jesus to Paul’s first Roman imprisonment, the point at which the book ends,” said the same source.

“In telling this story, Luke describes the emergence of Christianity from its origins in Judaism to its position as a religion of worldwide status and appeal,” the site added. 

Rev. Jeremiah Johnston of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Texas reflects on Acts 10:44-48, when the Holy Spirit falls upon the Gentiles. (Cameron Bertuzzi/iStock)

These specific verses demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit, the “forgotten” person of the Holy Trinity, Rev. Jeremiah Johnston told Fox News Digital.

Johnston is pastor of apologetics at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, and president of the Christian Thinkers Society. 

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An outpouring of the Holy Spirit is particularly needed today, said Johnston, as evidenced by the increasingly polarized society that is stricken with crime, protests, and anger. 

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“Before Peter could even finish his powerful sermon, the ‘Pentecost of the Gentile world’ took place in the coastal city of Caesarea, some 70 miles northwest of Jerusalem,” said Johnston. 

This message — that “the good news of peace through Jesus Christ” was available to both the Gentiles and Jewish people — “left the Jewish-believers traveling with Peter from Joppa stunned, yes, even shocked,” he said. 

Peter was preaching at Caesaria, a city on the coast of Israel that is now a national park.  (Jon G. Fuller/Eye Ubiquitous/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

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“It only took 118 words of Peter’s sermon to transform the hearts of everyone,” said Johnston, with the help of the Holy Spirit’s descent upon those who were listening. 

This, he said, changed everything. 

“The Gentiles responded to Peter’s message with faith in Christ and God immediately accepted them and sealed their faith with the Holy Spirit — the same grace is available for all today,” said Johnston. 

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These new Christian believers were then baptized, a “fitting response to God’s grace in their lives with the Holy Spirit,” he said. 

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In the modern world, “we hear echoes and see signposts of the Holy Spirit’s handiwork today with mass-spontaneous baptisms occurring at universities all over America,” said Johnston. 

A mass baptism took place on the campus of Auburn University in Sept. 2023 – something Johnston called an “echo” of the Holy Spirit’s handiwork.  (Mateo Arenas)

This, he said, is further proof that “the way God acted in the past is the way He is acting in the present,” a theological principle known as “typology.” 

“Even when our country betrays a growing divide, more grace is available through the Holy Spirit working in your life,” he said. 

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A Christian’s life is only effective, however, with the “correct understanding of the Holy Spirit.” 

And while many Christians have less of an understanding of the Holy Spirit compared to the other persons in the Holy Trinity, the Bible “reminds us it is impossible to live a transformational Christian life without the filling of the Holy Spirit,” said Johnston.

“As a follower of Jesus,” he said, “I have all the Holy Spirit, but the more important question we must contemplatively and prayerfully ponder is: Does the Holy Spirit have all of me?”

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Security guard fatally shot outside Houston restaurant after confrontation with suspect

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Security guard fatally shot outside Houston restaurant after confrontation with suspect

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A security guard was fatally shot outside a Houston restaurant Wednesday evening after a confrontation with another man, authorities said.

The shooting happened around 6:15 p.m. outside Connie’s Seafood Market Restaurant, the Houston Police Department said.

Police told reporters that the security guard, who was working for the restaurant, was standing in the parking lot when a fight broke out between him and another man, FOX26 Houston reported.

Police said the security guard was shot at least once. He was rushed to a hospital where he later died.

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OFF-DUTY DEPUTY SHOT AND KILLED WHILE WORKING SECURITY JOB IN TEXAS, SUSPECT REMAINS AT LARGE

A security guard was fatally shot outside a Houston restaurant Wednesday evening after a confrontation with another man, authorities said. (Houston Police Department)

Authorities did not immediately release the name of the victim.

The suspect was last seen running away from the parking lot after the shooting.

The security guard was working for the restaurant at the time of the shooting. (Google Maps)

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BROWN UNIVERSITY SHOOTER CONFESSED IN VIDEOS TO PLANNING ATTACK FOR LONG TIME, SHOWED NO REMORSE: DOJ

No details about the suspect or the circumstances that led to the altercation have been released as of Thursday morning.

Houston police were reviewing surveillance footage as they search for the shooting suspect. (Mayra Beltran/Houston Chronicle, File)

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Officials said investigators were reviewing surveillance footage and speaking with witnesses to get a description of the suspect.

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Texas teachers’ union sues state over investigation into controversial Charlie Kirk posts

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Texas teachers’ union sues state over investigation into controversial Charlie Kirk posts

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The Texas American Federation of Teachers (AFT) announced on Tuesday that it plans to sue the Texas Education Agency (TEA) over what it called “unlawful investigations” into school officials over social media posts made about Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

In September, Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath sent out a letter to state school superintendents announcing that he was launching investigations into school officials that he said “posted and/or shared reprehensible and inappropriate content on social media” regarding the Turning Point USA founder’s death.

“Such posts could constitute a violation of the Educators’ Code of Ethics and each instance will be thoroughly reviewed to determine whether sanctionable conduct has occurred and staff will investigate accordingly,” Morath wrote. “While the exercise of free speech is a fundamental right we are all blessed to share, it does not give carte blanche authority to celebrate or sow violence against those that share different beliefs and perspectives.”

TEXAS TECH STUDENT ARRESTED, EXPELLED AFTER VIDEO SHOWS HER ‘MOCKING’ CHARLIE KIRK VIGIL: OFFICIALS

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Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath issued a letter in September announcing investigations into teachers’ social media posts about Charlie Kirk’s assassination. (fstop123/iStock via Getty Images Plus)

The lawsuit alleges that since the letter was issued, several Texas AFT members have been placed on administrative leave, reprimanded or terminated over their social media posts, which the organization claims is a First Amendment violation.

“Somewhere and somehow, our state’s leaders lost their way,” Texas AFT President Zeph Capo said in a statement. “A few well-placed Texas politicians and bureaucrats think it is good for their careers to trample on educators’ free speech rights. They decided scoring a few cheap points was worth the unfair discipline, the doxxing, and the death threats targeted at Texas teachers. Meanwhile, educators and their families are afraid that they’ll lose everything: their livelihoods, their reputations, and their very purpose for being, which is to impart critical thinking.”

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National AFT President Randi Weingarten also released a statement condemning the TEA.

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Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, released a statement condemning the Texas Education Agency for the letter. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“Sadly, Texas officials, unlike their colleagues in Utah, decided to exploit the tragedy of Mr. Kirk’s senseless murder, rather than deescalate,” Weingarten said. “Their actions are a transparent effort to smear and shame educators, divide our communities, and deny our kids opportunities to learn and thrive. They are a state-sponsored attack on teachers because of what they thought were private comments to friends and family. And even if we think some of this speech is noxious, defending one’s right to speak is the essence of our democracy.”

She added, “You don’t lose your constitutional rights when you decide to become a teacher—the Constitution, for it to have any meaning at all, has to work for all Americans, not just some.”

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The AFT is seeking a permanent injunction of the TEA policy and investigations. The TEA declined to comment to Fox News Digital.

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School officials across the country have been fired or reprimanded for appearing to celebrate Charlie Kirk’s assassination. (Phill Magakoe/AFP via Getty Images)

In the weeks following Kirk’s assassination, several public school teachers across the nation were reprimanded or fired after going viral with controversial social media posts that appeared to celebrate his death.

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott previously announced that more than 100 teachers in the state would have their teaching certifications suspended after investigators found they had called for or encouraged violence following Kirk’s assassination.

Fox News’ Kristine Parks contributed to this report.

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Former MLB great Mark Teixeira makes stance on Minnesota ICE shooting clear

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Former MLB great Mark Teixeira makes stance on Minnesota ICE shooting clear

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The Minnesota ICE shooting that resulted in the death of Renee Good has drawn strong reactions everywhere.

According to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Good was operating a vehicle that agents ordered her to exit. Good, according to Noem, refused and “attempted to run them over and ram them with her vehicle.”

After Vice President JD Vance delivered a strong statement defending ICE agents for their work, the White House posted a graphic with a portion of Vance’s plea and the caption, “STAND WITH ICE.”

 

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Texas Rangers first baseman Mark Teixeira rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Baltimore Orioles at Ameriquest Field Aug. 7, 2005, in Arlington, Texas. (Tim Heitman/USA Today Sports )

Former MLB All-Star Mark Teixeira, who launched his campaign for Texas’ 21st Congressional District in August as a Republican to “help defend President Trump’s America First agenda,” voiced his support.

“I stand with ICE,” the former Texas Ranger, Atlanta Brave, Los Angeles Angel and New York Yankee wrote on X.

Teixeira’s announcement followed Rep. Chip Roy’s decision not to seek re-election and run for Texas attorney general. Roy, who represents the district, made the announcement in a campaign video shared on X last year. His video centered on preserving the Lone Star State’s legacy of “liberty, freedom and self-determination.”

Former New York Yankee Mark Teixeira throws out the first pitch before a game between the Minnesota Twins and the Yankees in the 2019 ALDS at Yankee Stadium.  (Brad Penner/USA Today Sports)

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Noem called the incident “domestic terrorism.”

“An officer of ours acted quickly and defensively, shot to protect himself and the people around him,” she said.

Federal authorities said Good tried to run over ICE agents who were part of a 2,000-member team sent to the Twin Cities to round up and deport undocumented immigrant criminals.

Teixeira, 45, played 14 seasons in the majors. He debuted with the Rangers in 2003 but is perhaps best known for being an MVP candidate and World Series champion with the Yankees, the final stop of his career.

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New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira hits an RBI single against the Oakland Athletics during the sixth inning at the Oakland Coliseum May 22, 2016, in Oakland, Calif. (Kelley L Cox/USA Today Sports)

One of the best hitters in the game, Teixeira was a three-time Silver Slugger Award winner and finished his career with a .269 batting average and 409 home runs. He was a five-time Gold Glove winner and was a member of the Yankees’ 2009 World Series championship team. 

The congressional race is set for November 2026, with a primary scheduled for March.

Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.

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