Nowhere to hide

 "And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and he said to me, “Say, Thus says the LORD: So you think, O house of Israel. For I know the things that come into your mind." — Ezekiel 11:5 (ESV) What a frightening thought sometimes, "someone else knows what I thought about that topic or person!" Perhaps shocking, but it is true, God knows the innermost thoughts of everyone. We can plan, scheme, and plot quietly so so no other person might know what we are thinking. We can choose to share our inner thoughts to no one else, but God knows them. For the Christian, the indwelling Holy Spirit  wiil help us dismiss the bad thoughts and focus on the good ones, if we will allow it. The Spirit not only inspired God's message in Scripture, but he also convicts, informs, and transforms our mind and spirit, helping us overcome the pull of our fleshly nature. The Spirit challenges and confronts the thoughts we wouldn't dare say out loud. When God's words are spoken, heard, and read, they are directed to the struggle of each heart seeking to be conformed to the will of God. The message of God comes from the Holy Spirit. That message has power because the Holy Spirit convicts as well as informs. Let's ask the Spirit to speak to our hearts, minister to our needs, inspire our godly longings, support us through our weaknesses, confront our duplicity, and help us know God's truth!

The human Mind

 "And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and he said to me, “Say, Thus says the LORD: So you think, O house of Israel. For I know the things that come into your mind." — Ezekiel 11:5 ESV What a frightening thought sometimes, "someone else knows what I thought about that topic or person, about what I almost said!" Perhaps shocking, but it is true, God knows the innermost thoughts of everyone. We can plan, scheme, and plot quietly so as no other person might know what we are thinking. We can choose to share our inner thoughts to no one else, but God knows them. For the Christian, the indwelling Holy Spirit  wiil help us dismiss the bad thoughts and focus on the good ones, if we will allow it. The Holy Spirit not only inspired God's message in Scripture, but he also convicts, informs, and transforms our mind and spirit, helping us overcome the pull of our fleshly nature. The Spirit challenges and confronts the thoughts we wouldn't dare not speak. When God's words are spoken, heard, and read, they are directed to the struggle of each heart seeking to be conformed to the will of God. The Holy Spirit brings messages from God. Those messages have power because the Holy Spirit informs and convicts us; many times those messages come due to a scriptural teaching we remember. If we will allow Him this freedom, the Holy Spirit will change our thought patterns and cause us to remember many things He has already provided from God's Word.

isolated or empowered

Do you ever feel isolated? The Christian is never isolated, they have the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide them and empower them. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father." — Romans 8:14-15 NLT Because of this, we do important things by God's powerful presence, the Holy Spirit living in us and empowering us. We speak and we serve by the inspiration and power of the Spirit. The gifts that we are given come from the Holy Spirit — that's what the term "spiritual gifts" means. The Spirit gives each of us appropriate gifts to use in the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:4-7). This brings glory to God — Father, Son, and Spirit — because God is the source and the strength of all of the good that we do. We are God's empowered army, fighting Satan and defending our siblings.

Focus

Focus. This single concept has held the key for success in so many different endeavors of life. Businesses thrive when their actions are highly focused; they become skilled at delivering a high quality product. Dancers, musicians, physicians, and sports athletes spend endless hours practicing in order to become the best they can be at their chosen endeavor. A great deal of this practice involves developing "muscle memory," (action without analysis) immediate action born out of training. This concept was at the heart of Paul’s own interest when he challenged believers to “set our minds on things above” in the Colossian letter (3:2). It was the foremost attitude of Paul's message to the Philippians when he said, "it is the one thing I do." Focus is fundamental to spiritual success as well as other areas of success. Keeping the main goal in focus during the multitude of their other responsibilities is always a challenge for a follower of Jesus Christ. One of the key elements to spiritual growth is the ability to obtain and then maintain focus during the Christian life. The critical part of the ultimate solution is to let go of our own limited solutions and let the indwelling Holy Spirit guide us to do what He wants. When one does this, they will be successful in the things that matter most in life: another step along the pathway known as your personal spiritual journey. "Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Phil. 3:13–14 (NASB)

Obligations

We are surrounded by obligations. When one lives in a society, one is obliged to follow the social rules of that society. When one drives, they are obliged to follow the laws of the road; this also has implications of auto insurance. Not only these, but we are also constantly encouraged by others to do things that are not ethical and could be physically or spiritually harmful. Our interaction with other Christians also contains obligations - to their spiritual lives. The indwelling Holy Spirit will help us fulfill those obligations to others, if we will let Him guide us. The needs of others are sometimes different and complex, our response to others may not look exactly identical, but if we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us, those responses will be what is needed. Paul very clearly discusses flesh and physical actions, things that could cause us or someone else spiritual harm, when he writes, "Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation — but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. — Romans 8:12-13 (NIV)

Coming Judgment

When speaking of the coming judgment on Jerusalem, Jesus said, “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32 NKJV). With this statement, the disciples would have remembered being taught that Lot, his wife, and their daughters basically had to be dragged by the hand out of the city for escape. As they were led out of the area of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot and his family were given explicit instructions, [not to look back]. "But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt." (Genesis 19:26 NLT) Unjust? A deeper study of this phrase indicates the thought was likely, 'leave behind all desires for whatever was now in their past'. Yet, Lot's wife did look back, and it appears not to have been a quick glance and sigh of "at last we are gone," or "lets see what is next", but she looked back in a longing manner. Perhaps she anticipated missing her daughters' weddings and grandchildren or other things, but she was not really ready to move beyond their past sinful surroundings. The disciples would need to break with some previous and familiar surroundings as they followed Jesus' pathway - what a masterful example. So many human attitudes and actions are directly linked to our internal feelings of comfort and familiarity, and we must monitor them very carefully. When we become Christians and enter into God's spiritual kingdom, like the disciples, at times we must move out of our comfort zone; we must set aside our previous entrapments and move forward to serve Jesus in some way. We are empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit to accomplish this goal, to find those things we can do to flesh out Jesus' strongest desires, Help others! For us to move out of our comfort zone, Jesus' desires must become a part of our internal desires. When we begin acting and watch for the Holy Spirit's guidance, these changes become more natural and easy.

Pathways

For those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good — crucified. Those who choose this spiritual journey must continually attempt to replace our physical foundations with spiritual ones. The Holy Spirit lives within us to do just this, as much as we will allow. "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives." Gal. 5:24-25 (NLT)

Analogy

When a person recognizes a child in physical danger, many people will go extreme measures to protect them. The children may be unaware of the danger or do not have the power to overcome the situation. These measures used for rescue may be life threatening to the rescuer. This example is directly analogous to the spiritual lives of many adults, today. Even the most experienced spiritual adults are really still children with much to learn about some spiritual dangers. We must trust the indwelling Holy Spirit to lead and fight our spiritual battles; there is no one more powerful and who can use us to overcome the spiritual struggles we and others face. We have a responsibility to other believers - we must help them follow the Holy Spirit's guidance. No, it is not our own efforts that cause results, but we must allow the Holy Spirit to use us and address the situation as He understands is best. When we follow this pathway, God is glorified, the trapped person is helped, and we realize we have been an effective servant. Paul spoke of this to some new converts in Galatia, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.” Gal. 6:1. (NIV) "As a Christ-follower, having godly friends to help us steer away from sin is crucial. True Christian friends view each other’s holiness as important. We should welcome a friend in the faith who is willing to gently reveal when we need an attitude adjustment and a spiritual sharpening. . . In return, let’s be loving enough to do the same for our friends. There is something uniquely special about a Christian friendship. It’s a soul-to-soul connection that lasts for eternity."

Face to Face

Certainly God is mysterious and beyond full human understanding. However, whenever God's chosen people turn to face God, as Moses did, God removes the veil and they are face to face! They can suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of ancient chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, as a living Spirit residing within a believer, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. "But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."  2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (Berean Study Bible)

Invisible confidence

When Jesus was on earth, He was always close to His disciples; it was as if He was beside them or even within them. When Jesus left He said "when I go away, another will come and live within you, speaking of the indwelling Holy Spirit. "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you." Jn 16:7 (ESV). So, Paul told the Colossians that the invisible confidence of being with Him in eternity was the seal of the One who continued Jesus' work after He went away. "And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory." Colossians 1:26-27 (NLT) Is there a secret to following Jesus' example and desires? Yes, it is the indwelling Holy Spirit or Christ's guide, who guides each dedicated Christian to follow Jesus' desires. The pathway along our spiritual journey is not working hard in your own strength to serve Jesus, it is following the leading of the indwelling Holy Spirit: this is assurance of sharing his glory.

Friend or Foe

On what basis do you consider a person to be a friend or foe? Many times the basis is whether or not the person agrees with us about any number of opinions. Is it not better for a friend to be one who accepts us and seeks our best interest? [Jesus said,] "I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command." — John 15:11-14

Guard

There is a major aspect of our lives on which we chose to carry insurance. This generally indicates an object or part of our lives we greatly desire not to lose. Usually the amount of insurance policy indicate the monetsry value we place on this thing.  "What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you — guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us." — 2 Timothy 1:13-14

Change

 Jeremiah once spoke about a time in the future when the status quo would change. The practices adopted by the most dedicated servants of God would be upended. Personal actions, which were followed so closely for reward, would be replaced by a freely granted status. The actions of Jesus would lead to a firm covenant of acceptance and guidance. "But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” — Jeremiah 31:33-34 (NASB) Those of this new covenant be empowered and transformed by the Holy Spirit of the living God who will place His instructions on our hearts and make them a part of His covenant people. As important as the scriptures are, the Spirit who inspired them is also the One who is essential for us to understand and live the intent of them. The Holy Spirit will inform, transform, and conform God's people to be like Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:17-18). 

Anguish

Jesus felt anguish! His caring acts for his disciples were carried out as he battled his own personal anguish. His teaching of truth and service was shared with the disciples who would cause a significant part of that anguish. Knowing what lay ahead, Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice for the human race. It is amazing that the infinite God would expose Himself to the pain that could be inflicted on Him by finite and mortal people He has made. Not only this, but He lives within those cleansed individuals via the Holy Spirit. God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit feel anguish at our betrayals and failures to be loyal to him. However, Jesus' sacrifice continues to cleanse us moment, by moment. "But if we [continually] walk in the light, as he is in the light, we [continually] have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, [continually] purifies us from all sin. 1 Jn. 1:7 (NIV)

Envy

"Or do you think the Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to dwell in us yearns with envy?" - James 4:5 (Berean Study Bible) Imagine the emotions of a young man who discovers someone else has captured the heart of the one he loves. That’s the same feeling James was describing when he wrote, “The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy.” Very succinctly, James states both that the Holy Spirit dwells in us and passionately yearns for us. This word “envy” comes from the Greek word phthonos, which was frequently used in literature from the New Testament period, thus enabling us to know precisely what it means. The word phthonos means jealousy — an emotion so strong that it tends toward taking vengeance upon someone. The young man, who lost the one he loved, feels jealous and has a deep desire for his former relationship to be restored. He also most likely bears some malice toward the romantic thief. He is envious of the relationship that has replaced the one he used to have with the one whom he loves, and desires to have again. This should make James 4:5 clear to us. The Holy Spirit loves us. He is preoccupied with us. He wants our total dedication. He passionately desires our affection to be set on Him. When we walk and talk like unbelievers and give our lives to natural pursuits, the Holy Spirit feels like a lover who has been robbed. He feels jealous for His relationship with us to be restored. He has divine malice for the worldliness that has usurped His role in our lives. And He is filled with a godly envy to see things put back the way they should be. When you put all three of these words expressing continual action together — dwells, lusts, and envy — this paints a vibrant picture. The Holy Spirit is not a passive partner. He aggressively and actively pursues us because He knows the choices are our own. When we give a piece of ourselves to something or someone else’s control, He wants to seize it and bring it back under His divine control. He even has godly malice toward our preoccupation with other things. As we live our lives in this world, we must work and function as human beings. Jesus didn’t pray that his disciples would be removed from the world, but that we would be kept from the world (John 17:15) {perhaps being consumed worldly desires}. There is nothing wrong with going to work, buying a house, purchasing a new car, or enjoying beautiful clothes and grooming. Those things are part of living an abundant life on this earth. They are not wrong unless they consume and preoccupy our thoughts, alllowing us to overlook the other humans we meet along the way. Many times, the first person to fade into the background is our partner, the indwelling Holy Spirit. The cares of this life sometimes pull us away from our indwelling companion. This hurts Him and causes godly envy.

The gift

As believers, when Jesus came we might understand the concept of God changed from God for us, to Immanuel (God with us), and finally God within us. As Christians, God’s Holy Spirit indwelling us, is our greatest gift from God; this is our guarantee we have been cleansed of our sins. When we receive the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we receive the gift and the giver. The Holy Spirit indicates unity with God, our source of communication with God, and the seal that we belong to Him - we become His children. In this verse, "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)