Banquet With The King

Sunday, February 8, 2026

The Holy Spirit in the Trinity

Holy Spirit - You are welcome in my heart.
...and in my life.

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:14-19

Meditate. Consider the Holy Spirit in the Trinity.

When studying the Bible, it is helpful to go back a few verses to understand the passage. What was Paul thinking of—what caused him to fall to his knees?.

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22

We are not only part of God’s family…but we are the holy temple—the very home for the Lord.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 1 Corinthians 6:19.

Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16.

The Holy Spirit is an essential part of God. It is the Holy Spirit in me—in my heart—in my soul. This is just what I have been overwhelmed by for years. We invite Christ into our hearts—and it is the Holy Spirit that dwells—LIVES—in us. The Trinity is at work in our lives. We tell our children, grandchildren, friends, family, and even perfect strangers to “invite Jesus” into their hearts—and it is the Holy Spirit that humbly comes there to guide and direct our thoughts, words, and actions. That is God’s love flowing through us. God’s love is so deep—so wide—so long—so high that we may not ever be able to fathom it without praying for that understanding. How big is God’s Love for you? Have you fallen to your knees lately? It is your choice…no one else can make that decision for you.

Prayer – Holy Spirit, You are welcome in my heart—and my life. You are precious to me and may my thoughts, words and actions bring glory to the Father, Son, and You. I pray that those reading this blog today may experience the love of Christ—although it is too great to totally understand. Please, Holy Spirit, give inner strength—and the power to understand God’s love to us all.

Verse of Salvation ~ "When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life." Titus 3:4-7

What can we learn from this about Jesus, about life, and about God?

From June 16, 2024, Banquet With The King blog.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

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Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Saturday, February 7, 2026

The Trinity at Creation

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. Genesis 1:1-4

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. John 1:1-5

Meditate. Consider the Trinity.

God is a spirit.
At creation...He created light.
God is three persons...the Trinity.

Trinity at Creation. They were all there. Father God. Jesus the Son. The Holy Spirit. The Father was with Jesus, the Word. John declares that Jesus, the Word, was God. God the Father is God. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. All three persons of the Trinity were there at Creation. Jesus was the Creator—with guidance of the Father, and with the Holy Spirit overseeing the process, hovering right where the action was.

Some people may think that Jesus didn’t exist until He was “born” in Bethlehem. John tells us that in the beginning the Word already existed. There was a lot of time from the Creation until Jesus came to earth as a man, but He existed already. He was. That is just like He is right now…and always will be. Before He came to earth as a baby, He existed in Heaven.

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see--such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross. Colossians 1:15-20

He knew you before you were born. He knew and knows ahead of time just what is going to happen—except when He will return—only the Heavenly Father knows.

Jesus told them, "Don't let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah.' They will deceive many. ... "However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. "When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah's day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn't realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. ... "So you, too, must keep watch! For you don't know what day your Lord is coming. Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected. Matthew 24:4-5, 36-39, 42-44

Jesus was at Creation with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Now the Holy Spirit indwells all Christians—so He is with us always. Jesus said to be ready all the time, for the Son of Man (Jesus) will come when least expected. Jesus said to be ready. Are you ready? Is Jesus your Lord and Savior?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, forgive me for not being ready all the time—for allowing my time to be taken up with worldly activities. Help me to focus on You…all the time.

Verses of Salvation ~ All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance--an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. 1 Peter 1:3-6

What can we learn from this about Jesus, about life, and about God?

Comments?

Joy ahead for all believers. Joy for Lori now in Heaven with our Lord. Praises!

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Friday, February 6, 2026

Who is the Trinity?

After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy." Matthew 3:16-17

Meditate. Consider the Trinity.

The Trinity of God is made up of the Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit. There is no direct reference to the Trinity in the Bible, except in the Amplified translation.

After these things I looked, and this is what I saw: a vast multitude which no one could count, [gathered] from every nation and from all the tribes and peoples and languages [of the earth], standing before the throne and before the Lamb (Christ), dressed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands; and in a loud voice they cried out, saying, "Salvation [belongs] to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb [our salvation is the Trinity's to give, and to God the Trinity we owe our deliverance]." Revelation 7:9-10 AMP

The three persons of the Trinity were together at Creation and again at Jesus baptism. Then, as recorded in John, the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, descended and landed on Him as Jesus came up out of the Jordan River. Additionally, the very voice of God from heaven was heard saying, "This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy."

There were only a couple of instances when we hear God speak about Jesus from Heaven. Besides at Jesus’ baptism the other time was at the Transfiguration, when Moses and Elijah appeared to talk with Jesus about when He would leave the earth.

About eight days later Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white. ... As Moses and Elijah were starting to leave, Peter, not even knowing what he was saying, blurted out, "Master, it's wonderful for us to be here! Let's make three shelters as memorials--one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." But even as he was saying this, a cloud overshadowed them, and terror gripped them as the cloud covered them. Then a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him." When the voice finished, Jesus was there alone. They didn't tell anyone at that time what they had seen. Luke 9:28-29, 33-36

The Trinity each has their specific personality and function. For them to be all together at the Creation and the baptism is unique. They were there…together…and separately.

What can we learn from this about Jesus, about life, and about God?

Prayer – Lord God, guide me into a greater knowledge and understanding of You—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Help me apply this to my life and my testimony of You.

Verse of Salvation ~ Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Psalm 25:5 ESV

Lemons at a Cafe in Lisbon, Portugal

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

It’s gray outside. Time for a tangy taste of lemons to brighten our days.

Tasty Lemon Bars

1 cup all-purpose flour or substitute

½ cup butter

¼ cup powdered sugar

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

½ tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

2 Tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice

Rind of ½ lemon, zested

Blend flour and powdered sugar, and cut in butter. Press into an 8-or 9-inch square pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Beat remaining ingredients together. Pour over baked crust. Bake 20-25 minutes. Let cool, slice, and enjoy.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMP),

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Thursday, February 5, 2026

Baptized by the Holy Spirit

The Lamb of God
Sacrificed for our sins.
Can you testify to this in your life?

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I was talking about when I said, 'A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.' I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel." Then John testified, "I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. I didn't know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, 'The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God." John 1:29-34

Meditate. Consider God’s guidance in scripture.

Jesus was baptized with water. John told us that Jesus was the Chosen One of God and that He would baptize with the Holy Spirit. What does it mean to be baptized with the Holy Spirit?

When a person repents of their sins and accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior, they become indwelt by the Holy Spirit, filled with the Holy Spirit. That is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is an experience that everyone who believes experiences, whether they realize it or not. As Christians, we are all part of the body of Christ.

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13

Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus, encouraging Christians to be united in the body of Christ and the Spirit.

Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all. Ephesians 4:3-6

One baptism.

John the Baptist testified that he knew Jesus. When he baptized Jesus, he knew that He was the Chosen One of God because he saw the Spirit descend and rest on the one who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. That would be Jesus, whom John had just baptized.

Prayer – Lord Jesus, it is amazing that John the Baptist recognized You as the Chosen One. It must have been exciting for him to see the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, coming down on Him. God had a plan…and He still does. It will be exhilarating watching it unfold. Will it be soon?

Verse of Salvation ~ As for us, we can't help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:13

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Who is This Lamb of God?

Baptism in the Jordan River
Israel

Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. "I am the one who needs to be baptized by you," he said, "so why are you coming to me?" But Jesus said, "It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires." So John agreed to baptize him. Matthew 3:13-15

Meditate. What does it mean to be baptized?

Who is this Lamb of God? John declared that the Lamb was Jesus as he saw Jesus coming toward him. John felt unworthy. Could he already have known who Jesus was, although he said that he didn’t recognize Him as The Messiah? The Lamb of God was the Messiah—the one who came to take away the sins of the world. Read on in John 1. God told John to baptize people and the Messiah would be revealed.

What does it mean to be baptized? During Jesus time…and in earlier Biblical times, purification was a cleansing ritual for people so that they were pure when they went into the Temple. There were special baths for their routine. The purification process was specifically delineated with instruction from the Lord and is noted in the books of Leviticus 15 and Numbers 19.

Then someone who is ceremonially clean will gather up the ashes of the heifer and deposit them in a purified place outside the camp. They will be kept there for the community of Israel to use in the water for the purification ceremony. This ceremony is performed for the removal of sin. Numbers 19:9, 17

Now, Christians become Christians when they realize they are sinners…we all are…they repent, ask for their sins to be forgiven, and for Jesus to be their Savior. Their lives change. Transformed.

As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world's interest in me has also died. It doesn't matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. May God's peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God. Galatians 6:14-16

Frequently, soon after their conversion, the individuals are baptized. Baptism takes the form of either a sprinkling or a full immersion. Baptism is an outward sign of an inward change—their conversion. What does that mean? It is a spiritual rebirth. The person has actually changed.

Prayer – Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God. You gave up so much to leave Heaven and become the Lamb of God, as well as a teacher, prophet, servant, only Son of God the Father, our Savior, and trusted friend. Thank you, Jesus. Your blood covers our sins, wipes them away, and we can be purified. Cleansed pure so that we are forgiven. Help us to serve You in our endeavor to seek You with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Verse of Salvation ~ For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, 'The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.' There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved." Acts 4:11-12

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Tuesday, February 3, 2026

What is a Winnowing Fork?

"I (John) baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I'm not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire." Matthew 3:11-12

Meditate on Jesus’ role in coming to earth.

What is a “winnowing fork,” and how is Jesus going to use it? A winnowing fork is an implement that farmers in ancient times used on the threshing floor to separate the chaff from the kernels of grain. Matthew records John’s words that the grain and chaff will be separated. The grain would be gathered and saved. The chaff would be burned up in an eternal fire.

Is the grain those who would believe in the Son of God, the Christians, and the chaff, the unbelievers, those who would be condemned to a final death in an eternal fire? I think that would be a logical, good guess. The winnowing fork was essential for separating the parts of the wheat—the grain kernels and the chaff. Spiritually, what could the winnowing fork be attributed to? Who…or what…separates the grain from the chaff? In this scripture passage, we are told that “someone” is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. That “someone” is Jesus. He is the one that John was referring to as not being worthy to be His slave and carry His sandals. Yes. Jesus is the one with the winnowing fork. We can be sure that He will one day be separating the grain and the chaff—those who believe and those who don’t. Where will you be? On the pile of chaff headed to the eternal fire or gathered with the kernels of grain?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, I believe in You as my Lord and Savior. I know that one day you will winnow the harvest of souls. The good ones in one pile…and the chaff to be discarded in the fire.

Verse of Salvation ~ Who among you fears the LORD and obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the LORD and rely on your God. But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires. This is the reward you will receive from me: You will soon fall down in great torment. Isaiah 50:10-11

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories