Always

Since creation, God has been extremely nurturing of His children. He has wanted to provide the bet things for those who were faithful and correct those who made decisions about which He did not approve. YHWH was extremely happy when His children would listen to His instructions via the Holy Spirit. God and Jesus do not change (Heb. 13:8 '... yesterday, today, forever ...'); His pleasure in the time of Moses can be replicated now, when we follow His instructions. "Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the Spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the LORD had commanded Moses." Deut. 34:9 (NIV)

Love

Today, we use the word "love" to describe many things and levels of feeling. When Jesus spoke, He intended "love" to indicate more than thoughts, but actions. When we reach out to help other people with the same concern as for ourselves, we mirror God's efforts for us. He loved us so much He came to earth and suffered a cruel sacrifice for us. How should this realization affect our view of other people? "And the second command is like the first: 'You must love other people the same as you love yourself.' All of the law and the writings of the prophets take their meaning from these two commands." — Matthew 22:39-40 (ERV)

Sharing

As far back in time as Moses, God's focused servants who had the Holy Spirit have wanted this Spirit to be distributed to more people. This sharing would mean they could be closer to God. Those who accept Jesus' gift, possess what Moses wished for so long ago. "Moses replied, "Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the LORD's people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!" Numbers 11:29 (NIV)

New Creation

We think a great deal about people, be it family, friends, or strangers near Christmas time. It is important how we view other people since we are only declared sinless. Jesus' sacrifice provides two choices, to view them as spiritual brothers and sisters which we might encourage or a person whom we might influence to look toward Jesus in some way. Brothers and sisters will likely disappoint us at various points, however, if we will allow, the Holy Spirit can motivate us to consider them in a different way, valued beyond their earthly existence and actions. "For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." — 2 Corinthians 5:14-17 (ESV)

AntiChrist

While the meaning of the word AntiChrist is simple (Christ rejected), for those who do not believe in Jesus Christ, the ramifications are paramount - and certainly it is an individual choice. Without Jesus, means a present and future life away from Jehovah God. "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the [spirit] of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world." 1JN 4:1-3 (NIV)

Preaching

 Perhaps a good way to think of a "prophet" in the Old Testament is a 'preacher.' Many generally think of "prophecy" as having a predictive element. This can be true, but when God's word is preached to people who are living in a sinful world, it is relatively easy to predict that corrective events will occur at some point. So long as the preacher shares the Word of God, he is following the guidance of the Holy Spirit. "For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." 2Peter 1:21 (NIV) 

King's children

Pointing out our lack of understanding of our God's (or indwelling Holy Spirit's) work in our surroundings, Sarah Young wrote, "I AM TAKING CARE OF YOU. Feel the warmth and security of being enveloped in My loving Presence. Every detail of your life is under My control. Moreover, everything fits into a pattern for good, to those who love Me and are called according to My design and purpose. Because the world is in an abnormal, fallen condition, people tend to think that chance governs the universe. Events may seem to occur randomly, with little or no meaning. People who view the world this way have overlooked one basic fact: the limitations of human understanding. What you know of the world you inhabit is only the tip of the iceberg. Submerged beneath the surface of the visible world are mysteries too vast for you to comprehend. If you could only see how close I am to you and how constantly I work on your behalf, you would never again doubt that I am wonderfully caring for you. This is why you must live by faith, not by sight; trusting in My mysterious, majestic Presence. {Romans 8:28 (amp); Job 42:1–3; 1 Peter 5:7; 2 Corinthians 5:7} We must remember we are children of the King, the creator and maintainer of the universe.

Provision

A simple reflection: God always provided the means necessary to accomplish His desires. "I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone." NU 11:17 (NIV)

Emotions

Emotions are very powerful for motivating and convicting people. Spirit filled Jesus displayed several emotions handled in a manner honoring the Father. Jesus showed great sadness over how His people treated His messengers, symbolized by Jerusalem; in anger, He overturned the tables of money changers at Passover; He wept because of Lazarus' death; He was greatly distressed before being arrested and crucified. An encouragement for us is that all this happened while indwelled by the same Holy Spirit that indwells us. It is unlikely any of us will ever experience something like crucifixion, but the Holy Spirit was constantly there. No matter how stressful or emotional our struggles become, the Holy Spirit will not leave us, He will attempt to strengthen us as much as we will allow. We must make the choice; only we can open up ourselves to Him and His guidance or push Him away. "Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us." 1JN 3:24. (NIV)

Clothing

Those who attempt to follow Jesus' teaching need to walk very carefully, because our surroundings may be physically and spiritually dangerous; some people will be affected differently. Our appearance (clothing) should reflect wisdom and concern for others. We must depend on the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide us correctly. "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:15-16 (NIV); "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:12 (NIV) This is evidence the Holy Spirit guides us.

Conscience

How often do we think about our consciences? A good description of one's conscience is: "a part of our thought process which helps us make decisions based on personal understanding of our core beliefs." It may also constantly remind us of any poor choices; it may seem like a constant thought about something that 'just won't go away.' Without a God-centered base, one's conscience may consider ungodly actions as normal and expected. When one accepts God's plan and the Holy Spirit lives within them, their conscience also undergoes a cleansing transformation; actions that displease God are no longer considered as acceptable. "Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins." Hebrews 9:14 (NLT)

Eating

A prominent discussion in our society is eating, both for health and weight management. For a balanced life, we need to pay as much attention to the words we speak as the food we eat. The words we speak reflect the spiritual food we have consumed. The words we speak communicate our beliefs, feelings, and attitudes. Jesus said "Not that which goes into the mouth defiles a man; but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man...what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. (Matt. 15:11, 18) We must carefully guard what we say, because it can be so easily misinterpreted. "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. — Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

Discerning

There is a real difference between listening, hearing, and understanding. While these Jews struggled, people with the indwelling Holy Spirit, find hearing and understanding and easier task. We should learn from history: when the Paul proclaimed news of the Kingdom to people in Rome, unbelieving Jews started arguing with each other, Paul interrupted: "Being in disagreement with one another, they were dismissed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit accurately spoke to our fathers through Isaiah the prophet, 26 ‘Go to this people and say: You shall certainly hear, but never understand; and you shall certainly see, but never perceive; 27 for the heart of this people has grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and they have closed their eyes, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.[a]" Acts 28:25-27 (Modern English Version)

Advocate

Some of the guidance provided by Jesus to honor the Father seems foreign and difficult for us to understand and do. God calls (invites) believers to do things that He has designed to help ourselves and others. Those of us who are indwelled by the Holy Spirit will find great help, "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Eph. 2:10). We must admit WE don't know the best ways to reach out to others an depend on the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide us; He will lead us to do the proper things (good works or actions). "If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth." John 14:15-17a (NLT)

Careful Competition

Competition is almost a law of nature. Struggles for domination are observed as part of the life cycle of living organisms. They compete to survive; they compete for sustenance, they compete for life itself, they compete to reproduce. In order to survive they must overpower other organisms seeking the available sources of nourishment. Plants and animals compete for sunlight and water. Animals compete for the ability to reproduce. Many of Jehovah’s crowning creation find themselves in competition regularly, some is friendly banter and some is brutal aggression. Adam and Eve were told to “subdue creation.” The intention was to work together not in competition with each other. To balance the desire to subdue, YHWH gave this greatest of His creation a desire to consider other organisms of life respectfully. They were not only valuable as His creation, but even more as a builders of the future. Most things are best understood related to the spiritual realm. If the competition is with Satan for the souls of people, the competition is worth the investment; but remember this is a battle already won if the person so chooses, and one should not trade their own salvation trying to win another, this is the responsibility of the Holy Spirit. "Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted." Galatians 6:1 (NASV)

Polishing

When we read Jn. 16:8 (NLT), “And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment,” we usually don’t argue too much. Why? Maybe we assume sometimes the Holy Spirit is most concerned with convicting those in the world who do not believe in Jesus; that He was and is a real, historical person with a wondrous goal. Perhaps we overlook the Holy Spirit’s goal for those who already believe. He is still concerned with our sanctification. The idea of making something holy and dedicated means He continues to work on us when we think we don’t need more polishing, but we do. We are not sinless, only declared so.

A purpose, an invitation (call)

Someone pondered, You look but you cannot see him. You see only the fabric of circumstances woven and interlaced. You might question the purpose behind this thread or that. But be assured, God has a pattern. He has a plan, the Bible promises us this. He is not finished, but when he is, the result will be beautiful! "In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" ( Romans 8:28).

Nourishment

Humans have several innate needs to survive. Besides physical nourishment, humans need psychological support. A part of this support is a need for purpose, particularly something to motivate their focus. Besides purpose, or perhaps along with it is a need for some level of appreciation. When appreciation crumbles, bullying finds a ripe field in which to blossom. Some level of appreciation does not mean complete acceptance of all words or actions, but sincere concern for the source. When another person realizes we are open to considering their struggles, then when we attempt to understand and appreciate their challenges; they will likely allow us to help them find better solutions to those situations with which they struggle. A relationship has elements of: understanding, a level of acceptance, a level of disagreement, overall concern for the individual, and willingness to help the person and ourselves. The prime example of this is God. For those who believe in Him and recognize a need for His help, He accepts whatever they have become and provides the Holy Spirit to help them overcome the past. "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." 2CO 3:17

Dedicated

When one has a great interest in something, normally we might say they are focused on that item. This focus may turn into infatuation or deeper interest. Such attitudes can wane at times, replaced by other interests. When the attention and focus does not wane, the persons may develop a strong attachment and commitment to the item; this can then become dedication. When one becomes dedicated, many personal preferences lose some of their importance, making way for closer bonding to that item. Oh, another word describing this "dedication" is "holy." When the item is God we can grow closer to Him by allowing the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide us toward that end. "Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. — 1 Thessalonians 5:23 NLT

Inner being

What is your inner being except your heart. "heart' is a short way to describe the reasons and motivations for all we think and do. When we allow the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts and actions, we are strengthened and encouraged to do the things Jesus would have us do. Additionally, people will somehow receive benefit and God will be praised. "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ..." — Ephesians 3:16 NIV

Hear

Some scriptures are chock full of references a person from that early culture would immediately understand. In the passage today, there are several: First, around this time, a locked door indicated some level of protection from what was without, and opening the door meant trust of the person who is to come inside. More than this, when one invited a person into his home, the home owner was expected to do all in their power to give them aid and even protection. A meal was understood to indicate a level of acceptance and close fellowship. The final word is "hear." This word meant more than absorbing the sound that is made, it meant understanding what was said. One can listen to words and not understand their meaning. This describes a sincere invitation to those people who are able to understand the significance of having a vey close relationship with God via the Holy Spirit. ""Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends . . . Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches." Rev 3:20;22 (NLT)

Living by the Spirit

Living by the Spirit is a difficult exercise sometimes. Frequently it requires actions that my seem new, unexpected, and difficult to visualize the end result. Yet, if we live our lives doing the actions that Jesus did, the result will work out in a way that praises God. Those actions we take will reflect our learning progress along our journey toward heaven. "But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us. — Galatians 5:5 NLT

Aid

We often think of help as another person providing aid so that we may complete a planned activity. This is accurate for tasks in the physical realm, but falls short for tasks in the spiritual realm. Tasks in the spiritual realm are dictated by God and He has provided Jesus to provide the needed aid because no human can supply such needs in the spiritual realm. When Jesus, our Lord, went away, He left the Holy Spirit to help us (as much as we will allow) for needs in the spiritual realm. When we are focused on the spiritual realm, mankind's actions in the physical realm should have no affect on our completed activities for the spiritual realm. "So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" — Hebrews 13:6

New life

When we became Christians, Jesus gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit. We have been born again, or perhaps better, "born from above." (Jn. 3:3) Now, the Holy Spirit lives within us, making our bodies part of a Temple and blessing us as we serve God. We can be courageous people even in the face of attack, criticism, and ridicule because of the Spirit's empowerment. This indwelling also produces fruit exhibiting actions of which God would approve. Additionally, the Spirit pours love into our heart and provides courage for serving God. The Spirit's powerful presence can help us overcome sinful leanings and live the lives Jesus desires. 

Cry

Does God cry? If Jesus as a human cried and He told us we see the Father through Him, it is safe to conclude God can become deeply touched. The text literally says Jesus "shed tears." (Jn 11:35) While it is unlikely that God, beyond Jesus has the ability to shed tears we think of as humans, He is still touched by events surrounding His children. What did Jesus cry about? Was it the death of Lazarus, who He knew He would bring back to life shortly, or the sadness He saw in Mary and Martha - those very close to Him? Based on other writings about Jesus, I propose it was due to His sympathy with these women, people who He cared about. Well, Jesus now cares deeply for His creation and whatever form it may take, He is certainly saddened by human challenges. Jesus mirrored this when He tried to interact with the Jews, "He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored." Mark 3:5 (ESV)

Idolatry

Idolatry is essentially considering someone or something greater than ourselves and becoming servants of that thing. The one greater thing should be only the God, Jehovah! Scripture is clear that God directed the Holy Spirit to live within the Christian. Since that is the case, shouldn't we avoid anything that is counter to His efforts? This will make the Spirit's task of sanctification easier. If this is a formidable effort, He will help overcome these challenges if we ask Him. "Put to death (become separated from), therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." Colossians 3:5 (NIV)

Real Life

Physical life is a regenerative force motivated by our hopes and desires, fueled by our perpetually degrading physical bodies. Spiritual life is perpetually developing and being made more effective by the indwelling Holy Spirit. "But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. Romans 8:10-11 (NIV)

Stumble

When we encounter impediments as we walk, we may stumble. Perhaps our foot hits an obstacle as we walk and we must regain our balance before moving on. Our spiritual lives with Christ is described as a walk. We must attempt to walk carefully and surely. If we stumble in our spiritual lies, the Holy Spirit is nearby to help. "We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: ... in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;" — 2 Corinthians 6:3-6 NIV

Well done tasks offer praise to God

Many of us work very hard at the tasks we embrace. If these are a godly tasks, they will turn into praise to God in some way. We may never visualize the final results, but (if we ask) the Holy Spirit can help use any activity to offer praise to God, somehow. "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

Divine BFF

The acronym BFF is supposed to mean Best Friend Forever in modern texting communication. It is hoped to mean someone who accepts you as you are and attempts to ease any pain or share any joy experienced in life - someone to share life with you. Sharing life can mean shared celebrations or direct trusted correction when needed. Both of these are part of being a best friend, and knowing that whatever challenge arises, they will never turn away. The indwelling Holy Spirit goes far beyond a BFF; He is a part of God. "I will talk to the Father, and he’ll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can't take him in because it doesn't have eyes to see him, doesn't know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you! I will not leave you orphaned. I'm coming back." — John 14:16-18 MESSAGE

Never Alone

Our physical existence may involve times when we feel alone, by ourselves, lacking personal confidence. This is a feeling the Christian never needs to experience because the Holy Spirit lives within us; we only need to allow Him to help guide us toward godly objectives. When we are distressed and reach out to God, we always have someone to go with us and help us. “And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. Romans 8:27 (NLT)

Ear to Hear

The last letter in the Bible, Revelation has some teachings that are very confusing to many people due to differences in background. However difficult to comprehend, there are many messages provided to us by Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Think carefully about this: "He who has an ear (metaphor for perception), let him hear (metaphor for understand) what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it." — Revelation 2:17 ESV

Groaning

When something is in distress and uncomfortable, those internal struggles can be observed by the emission of evidence of this struggle. Everything separated from God's perfect presence is under duress. "For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us."  Romans 8:22-23 (NLT)

Holy Spirit Help

The Holy Spirit speaks to us via the scriptures. He takes what we read or hear, helps us put the pieces together and understand the teaching. "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." — 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV

Son of man

Have you ever wondered about the reason Jesus wanted to be known as “the Son of man?” One reason is that it was a description from the prophets of the Father reaching out to His errant children. When the people heard “Son of man,” they should have remembered the words the Holy Spirit gave to Ezekiel: "Stand up, son of man," said the voice [of the Spirit]. "I want to speak with you [Ezekiel]." The Spirit came into me as he spoke, and he set me on my feet. I listened carefully to his words. "Son of man," he said, "I am sending you to the nation of Israel, a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me. They and their ancestors have been rebelling against me to this very day." — Ezekiel 2:1-3 NLT

Holy Spirit Communication

Holy Spirit communication can be extremely difficult because it tends to demand we open up completely and makes us admit what we are feeling. Do you have a physical friend with whom you are not hesitant to share ANYTHING. The Holy Spirit is closer to the Christian than such a friend. As you communicate with the Spirit, you must realize nothing should be held back. He already knows your desires and biases, therefore everything you say or do, the real motivations are known to Him.

Although He knows your motivations and reasoning, He will not stop a bad decision from playing out with its consequences. He rejoices with you in your good decisions, and feels the hurt from the bad ones. While we would like to shift the blame for some of our decisions, it cannot be. The comment about actions without responsibility, “the Devil made me do it,” is an attempt to avoid taking responsibility for our actions. Perhaps an ungodly germination, but the final decision was our own. Such redirections will not be accepted when the Spirit knows all our motives. When we better understand this, we might better understand Jesus' goals for His siblings.

Timely Meeting

If you had the opportunity to meet Jesus in person, what would you feel? Unbelievers would likely be dumbfounded: that which I considered nonexistent, really is true! Hmm, now what should I do, think, say, uh . . .

If you are a believer, I suggest this meeting would be radically different. Certainly you would probably feel overwhelmed. What would you try to say to someone who knows everything you are thinking, everything you have ever thought, said, and did? All the thoughts, words, or actions for which He has forgiven you! This is someone who was with you through all the struggles and learning experiences you endured -- this is someone who knows all the depth of your present shock. Would you want to praise Him for, for . . . everything? Would you suspect He wants something different from you — but what?

I would like to suggest this is an experience you can have any second of any day. All we need to do is begin reading His words left for us and remember the Holy Spirit lives within us and will be as active as we are willing to allow Him to be. Jesus’ promise to His disciples (Jn. 16:12-14) also applies in part to His other children:  “I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

At that point you should be partially astonished, but also realize that He loves you enough to not only die for you, but is also committed to help you become what He wants you to be. What the Holy Spirit reveals for an individual to do probably will not exactly mirror the task given to any other person since our past experiences have made each of us unique, to a degree. Although being a bit unique, we all need to embrace the guidance God gives to us and courageously act on it. Since part of the triune God lives within the Christian, sometimes we think it is so far beyond our comprehension we deny its reality. Each person the Holy Spirit indwells has immense power to accomplish those things Jesus wants done. We should remember that when we are aligned with His desires, we have the same power Jesus did. One of our major challenges is replacing our desires with Jesus’ desires.

Holy Spirit yeast

Opposed to the Jewish teachers lectures, Jesus provided understanding using stories which encompassed activities His hearers encountered most every day. What better way to describe the change expected when one enters the Kingdom of Heaven than the transformation which occurs when an invigorating element is added to what we consume for sustenance. As the yeast produces a different presentation of the same material, when the Holy Spirit come to indwell a person, that person is changed. Then Jesus told the people another story: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman mixes into a big bowl of flour to make bread. The yeast makes all the dough (bread) rise." — Matthew 13:33 (ERV)

Human perfection

{From Heartlight} Often, as humans we strive for perfection in many areas, only to be met with the realization that there is constantly more to do. When the target becomes spiritual perfection, only Jesus was able to achieve this feat. God realizes this – the motivation for Jesus coming to earth was to accomplish what others of  human-kind could not. The motivation of the Holy Spirit is to help human-kind understand they need the gift offered by Jesus’ death and those who accept it change into a person who honors God. "The mark of a saint is not perfection, but consecration. A saint is not a man without faults, but a man who has given himself without reserve to God." — W. T. Richardson

How should Christians respond?

When people drink enough wine, they lose the ability to act normally, or as others expect. Those who drink too much are often described as “overcome,” something else has taken control of them, something has caused them to act differently than expected. Whether one remembers Peter at the Pentecost wherein the Holy Spirit was given to men or Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail, these men were overcome and demonstrated something had taken control of them in times of difficulty. “Stop getting drunk with wine, which leads to wild living, but keep on being filled with the Spirit. Then you will recite to one another psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; you will sing and make music to the Lord with your hearts; you will consistently give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah” Ephesians 5:18-20 (ISV)

Holy Spirit Decision Making

Based on Holy Spirit guidance, Christians make decisions by rational reflection on their life-situation, helped by wise and godly advice, within the parameters that the Word of God establishes.

Dedicated because of the Holy Spirit

Circumcision was a physical act used by the Jews. More importantly, the act was supposed to indicate a male’s irreversible dedication to God. This act provided a distinction for those who served only Jehovah God. Such dedicated devotion was understood to symbolize a spiritual commitment to the one God. “For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh” Philippians 3:3 (NIV)

Mistakes

Have you ever done something or said something and you just could not forget about the event? This might be your conscience reminding you of something that you knew was opposed to God's desires. All humans experience these times, but Christians should not despair. Christians have a relationship with God because of Jesus. There is a way to correct this feeling: realize and accept that Jesus paid an extremely high price to void those activities, if we will trust Him; the Holy Spirit will helps us learn form these events and put them behind us. "Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins." HEB 9:14 (NLT)

What is "it"

When many people read Matthew 7:7-8, they may be thinking of material things they would like to acquire (food, drink, clothes, goods). However, please recall Jesus' previous words in Matt. 6:33: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Jesus' ministry was acutely focused on the spiritual health of human creation. I suggest a valid translation based on the context might be:7 “Ask about righteousness and guidance toward the Kingdom will be given to you; seek righteousness and guidance toward the Kingdom and you will find help toward this goal; boldly pursue righteousness and guidance toward the Kingdom and barriers will be removed for you. 8 For everyone who asks about righteousness and guidance toward the Kingdom receives help; the one who seeks righteousness and guidance toward the Kingdom finds the path; and to the one who boldly pursues righteousness and guidance toward the Kingdom the gifted path to these goals will become apparent.

9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! If we will allow Him, the Holy Spirit will guide us toward the 'it'! "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." — Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)

Inheritance promise guaranteed

When a person finds a property they want to purchase, many times they will indicate their seriousness about completing a purchase transaction by making a pledge towards that decision; they invest “earnest money," towards that eventual, final transaction. In order to legally validate such a commitment, this initial action is personally signed, “sealed” or recorded as authentic. God has done the same with those who accept Jesus. “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation – having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:13-14 (NASV)

The Gift

As Christians, God’s Holy Spirit in us, is our greatest gift from God. When we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, we receive the gift and the giver. The Holy Spirit indicates unity with God, our source of communication from God, and the guarantee that we belong to Him, His children. "Being" indicates a continual process. "For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him." Rom 8:14-17 (NASV)

The Father was pleased with His Son

“After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." Matt. 3:16-17 (NASV)

Proper Balance

Referring to Ezek 11:2-4, Phil Ware admonishes Christians. "Our lives and the word of the Lord are needed to counterbalance the leaning of this culture which tends to put its own selfish slant on things.  Let's ask the Spirit to convict us of the lies we are told in our culture. Let's ask the Spirit to empower us to both live and speak God's truth with grace, truth, and power. Our lives and voices are needed to speak to people who are being sucked down the drain of sin and destruction by the many voices around them that do not speak the will of God."

Holy Spirit, help us set our minds on God

As children of God we need to think often about how to honor our Father. Our indwelling Helper can guide this desire. “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Col. 3:1-4 (ESV)

Good

Jesus responded to a man by saying that none is good except God alone (Mk 10:18, Lk. 18:19). From this we need to understand that when we allow the Holy Spirit to direct us. The result will turn out to honor God; when our values are similar to God’s we will be satisfied that the results are “good” for the Father, not necessarily what we may define as good for us. “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” — Romans 8:28 (NLT)

Peace with God equals cleanliness

The word “peace” can communicate different ideas to people.  Sometimes the word indicates a broad meaning of general health and well being. Other times, it can indicate lack of disagreement between two parties. When our sins are cleansed, there is no longer something about which to foster any opinion; sin that separated us from God disappears. Acceptance of Jesus’ gift cleanses our sins and allows us to exist very close to God, even a part of Him within us. “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” Psalms 103:12 (NLT)

Hidden

Many people become uncomfortable when information or actions are hidden from them; they want to know more information about many things. When information is uncertain, humans create explanations. Jesus was careful to instruct His disciples about His coming death, but they did not understand without the help of the Holy Spirit. Now, the Holy Spirit helps us to understand at a rate we can comprehend, the only pathway to an eternity with the Father. “But God has revealed those things to us by his Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the deep things of God. Is there anyone who can understand his own thoughts except his own inner spirit? In the same way, no one can know the thoughts of God except God's Spirit. Now, we have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we can understand the things that were freely given to us by God.” 1 Cor. 2:10-13. (ISV)

What does Israel mean?

"Israel" was not only a man’s name, but also a descriptor given to Israel's decedents, the people chosen by Jehovah God to do His will, never a land mass. Initially, the chosen people were Jews but later the title was expanded to mean all those who accepted Jesus as the Messiah and Savior. After the resurrection, God’s chosen people became anyone who accepted Jesus; He then dwelled within them. (Isa. 45:17; Rom. 11:26; Rom. 8:11)

What is a Jew?

No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God. Romans 2:29 (NIV)

Temple?

At the time this was written, a temple was a location that symbolized the presence of a deity and provided a place to visibly worship to it. Christians should live their lives as visible representatives of the God we serve. A part of Him lives within us and we should always represent His revealed desires. By our actions people around us may find reasons to offer praise to God. “Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT)

Accursed/Lord?

The descriptions “accursed,” and “Lord,” are polar opposites. Something accursed is pledged for destruction; Lord, on the other hand, means absolute ownership, pledged for usefulness. By His resurrection, Jesus proved that those He owns will not suffer destruction; the seal of the indwelling Holy Spirit will help the latter be realized. “Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus is accursed’; and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:3 (NASV)

What is in a name

A name represents a designation for, a description of, and perhaps the essence of the person. When Moses asked the name of the power from the burning bush, the answer was a holy name, a name beyond comprehension, “I am that I am.” When we consider the name Jesus, we should realize that it attempts to describe all He stands for, all He did for creation; all He did for those who accept Him.  “Some of you were once like that [living sinful lives]. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11 (NLT)

Permanent Assurance

Results of many goals and experiences in life can be altered. The work Jesus did on the cross was a one-time event in the spiritual realm, which resulted in a gift that can never be changed. When one learns of this gift, he has the opportunity to ignore it or later walk away from the promise. But, the obedient believer has a permanent seal, guaranteeing union with Jehovah God one day, forever. “But don't be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval." John 6:27 (NLT)

Safety

Most people, men, women, and children want to feel “safe.” The challenge for self or others can be understanding from what exactly we want safety. The answer may be a combination of physical, verbal, emotional, or spiritual dangers. When one feels safe, they usually describe this as security or comfort. Comfort can be described as having someone to walk with you through whatever struggles you encounter; the Holy Spirit does this for those who accept Jesus as Savior.

“I'm not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.” John 17:15 (NLT)

Father!

A cry out to a parent may indicate a need for help or an endearing comment. For those who have been adopted, hopefully they develop a sense of acceptance by and fondness for the new parent. We should fondly and respectfully reach out to the Father who adopted us, knowing He invested greatly when he purchased our redemption from our old way of life. “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’" Romans 8:15 (NIV)

Start Every Day

When we awake each morning, we should invite the indwelling Holy Spirit to help us offer praise to God in some way during the coming day.

Where can I go from your Spirit

Loneliness is a powerful emotion. It is the sense that something is missing. What is discerned as missing can be people, environment, or other common needs. This is complicated by our perception: we can feel lonely while in a crowd of people, yet no one with whom we can be contented. This is usually accomplished after spending time with the other person and sharing ourselves. As a child of God, we have a friend who lives within us 24/7/365, knows us better than we know ourselves, accepts us as we are, and will speak to us via God’s Word any time we are ready to listen. He may prompt us to change, but His motivation is always for God’s glory. God's Word and prayer is a two-way intimate conversation. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)