Prayer empowers

Recently, a picture was published showing a police officer keeling to pray beside his cruiser. This was actually a simple testimony to the power that he thought would guide and protect him that day. Many other policemen pray verbal or silent prayers in their crusiers before leaving or on the way to answer a call, because they do not know what dangers they may face. Many military organizations have troops who will pray before going into battle every day. These examples speak of groups of people who understnd they live in a world of unseen and unexpected dangers. We all live in such a world, although the dangers may be differnt. The letter known as Acts documented the power of the Holy Spirit guiding early believers as they proclaimed the message of Jesus by their actions and words. The same Holy Spirit who empowered those early believers empowers us, to the degree we allow. Prayer is our avenue to His guidance. "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should." - Eph. 6:18-20 (NIV)

Semper Fi

When people become exhausted or experience an intense level of pain, energy required for patiently addressing many situations dwindles and tempers can flare. Sometimes feelings are hurt or dreams and expectations end in heartbreak. Exhaustion can usually be solved with rest, but pain is a major source of energy drain on people; any type of pain may prevent getting the rest needed to restore healthy body functions. Prominent questions for addressing any pain focus on intensity and cause. Rest and relaxation can usually ease pain caused by simple physical stress and physiological pain can be addressed by a physician, while emotional pain is sometimes more difficult to calm since there may be so many intertwined causes and degrees of distress. Spiritual pain has only one solution, Jesus. Human emotions are an extremely powerful part of our existence. Inputs from any of our 5 senses can trigger thoughts and intense emotional responses; our emotions can quickly gain control of further thoughts and subsequent actions. Can the indwelling partner of Christians help in these situations? Yes! He knows every desire, expectation, thought, feeling, and inclination we have. If we turn to Him and ask, He will help us. The Holy Spirit does not prevent us from having certain feelings or emotional responses. He does not prevent us from making poor decisions or judge us – He wants to help us make good decisions, but we have to ask Him. He does protect Christians against Satanic attacks to the degree allowed, we only need to turn to Him and ask. He speaks to us immediately when we admit we need His help, honestly pray to Him, and open ourselves to His guidance. If we want to hear His response, we must open the Bible and listen to His words. Reading scripture and focusing on God can soothe anger, start healing bruised emotions, and provide guidance for next steps for any recovery needed. However, it is imperative we believe He will help and ask for His help. His operation is a continuance of the ways Jesus worked while here on earth. USA Marines have a strong bond exemplified by the motto: Semper fidelis, Latin for “always faithful.” A Christian’s bond to God is stronger; the Holy Spirit is always faithful to stand by us, protect and encourage us, as much as we will allow. Let us allow the Holy Spirit to lead us along our unique individual spiritual journey and remain always faithful to Jesus.

Sustenance

Jesus said much about sustenance and life. He used physical life as an example of the spiritual life within us. His hearers knew they needed food and water to stay alive. Jesus relates this need for sustenance to their spiritual lives. Jesus and God were one; we could see Jesus, but not God. Jesus not only demonstrated the qualities of God lived out in human form, but also how He was the solution to ALL spiritual challenges. He was water to quench spiritual thirst (Jn 4:10), and bread to subdue hunger, "Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." Jn. 6:35 (NIV)

Resolution

Accept God displayed as Jesus the prophet, trying to point His people back to a teaching they had overlooked. Jesus was the great prophet promised and the solution they so desperately needed, but they would not follow what had been given them earlier. It was their lack of following the earlier information that showed how mistaken they were about Jesus. Jesus harshly scolded the Jewish leaders when He said, "Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” Jn. 5:45-47 (NASB)

Oblivious

The people to whom Jesus came physically, failed to recognize Him. Even though the Holy Spirit promised Him via words of scripture, these people failed to recognize the source of the message given. John wrote, "You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life." - John 5:39-40   "Yes, the scriptures are important, but Jesus is more so. He was God with us, Immanuel (Matthew 1:23). As important as the Scriptures are, Jesus is very much more important because He was the source and the revelation of scripture meaning. He is God's message (John 1:1, 14). He gives life. He is the focus we need to have as we follow the Holy Spirit along our unique individual spiritual journey.

New Life

Some people fear death, others find it intriguing. In an effort to demystify death, there are stories about those who have returned from death, because it was not their time. These are limited occurrences, but only the people living when Jesus returns will escape eventual physical death. An encounter with God radically changes a person’s viewpoint. What they once thought was desirable or suitable in this physical realm is changed, they view this life as a stepping stone, yet an impediment to pure joy. Their understanding of “life” becomes enriched. Physical life becomes more than mere physical existence. These stories come and go and few participants seem to spread the news, but when the Son gives “life,” it continues; it has new direction and power by the indwelling Holy Spirit. One day all will be raised from physical death and given a new body, then, as God’s children, we will experience His glory. Until that event we long for, Christians constantly live life as a new person. Jesus conquered death, so the death event is no longer viewed as cessation of existence, but realization of true existence. "For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it." - Jn. 5:21 (NIV). Until that time of earthly death, all who attempt to follow Jesus, travel along a unique individual spiritual journey, led by the Holy Spirit: if we will allow Him to do so..

Anticipate

We are continually faced with challenges and opportunities. We should anticipate these activities because Jesus said, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33). Not only this, but also the same Holy Spirit lives within us as Paul, and he said, "I can do all things [to serve God] through him who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13). Another person said most eloquently, "Do not long for the absence of problems in your life. That is an unrealistic goal, since in this world you will have trouble. You have an eternity of problem-free living reserved for you in heaven. Rejoice in that inheritance, which no one can take away from you, but do not seek your heaven on earth." We should ask the Holy Spirit to guide us along our unique individual spiritual journey and empower us to overcome all things which the world launches toward us.

Called by our own name

Before social distancing, I attended a gathering with many people and remembered only a few faces and fewer names. Memories fade and appearances change with passing years, but some people’s names are never forgotten. The people whose name we remember most clearly are the ones with whom we have closer relationships. They know what our name means, why we are valued, and probably what we value. We may be surprised when out of a sea of people, another person recognizes our face and perhaps remembers our name after a long separation. Have you ever looked around to see a mass of people who were strangers? Did you feel alone? This is not the place of a child of God. To Him every person is precious and everyone matters. The Lord said to the prophet Isaiah, “Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me”, Isa. 49:16 (ESV). Astounding! "Engraved." Cannot be taken off. Your name is on God’s hand. This is the same image as the Ten Commandments; instructions which did not change, but were engraved or etched in a most permanent medium, stone. Have you ever considered that individually, you have as much value to God as 99 other people? What else could Jesus have meant, “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?” - Lk. 15:4 (ESV) We are of so much value that He chose to sacrifice Himself on a cross and then live within us via the Holy Spirit. Paul described God’s acceptance of the Corinthians as, “and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee,” - 2Cor. 1:22 (ESV). Additionally, "God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,  so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." - Eph. 2:4-7 (ESV). So, children of God are completely and continuously cleansed because of Jesus, known by God and have their eternal future sealed with a promise. Until the promise is revealed, the Holy Spirit is as close as any other can be and will provide as much guidance as we are willing to accept. In the mass confusion of people and activities, we are never alone; we always have a helper beside us.

Glory

Animals and humans especially, are generally motivated by physical sight. What we can see becomes more real to us than some happenings we do not personally witness. Jesus was God’s answer to this dilemma. B.B. Warfield described Jesus as, “the visible manifestation of the invisible God.” Jesus was the visible Glory of God. This reflects Jesus’ words to Phillip, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.” – Jn. 14:9-10 (ESV)

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.  It is a powerful name and commands control over even the demons. “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 Cor. 6:11 (NLT)

Overcoming imperfections

All humans are imperfect, all of us have something wrong with our bodies. As opposed to an unknown, lurking disaster, blessed are those who know of and admit these weaknesses; in this way, we can avoid more serious injury. Poor choices and mistakes may cause injuries that are visible for as long as we live. There may be scars inside as well as outside our bodies and sometimes there may be some degree of pain associated with these conditions. Our bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made, which allows some level of physical healing. Besides this, and more serious for our future life, our thoughts and actions will eventually produce spiritual defects in our existence. How can those spiritual injuries be healed? Jesus is the only way for spiritual healing, and He covers our mistakes completely. St. Augustine of Hippo is quoted as saying "It is easy to want things from the Lord and yet not want the Lord Himself, as though the gift could ever be preferable to the Giver." Is this true for us, today; do you want to be spiritually and perhaps physically healed? If so, actively seek Jesus' present representative, the Holy Spirit and be ready for Him to begin changing you and making you whole again! He will help us at a rate that is best for our unique individual spiritual journey. "One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Jn. 5:5-7 (NIV)

Mind

During our daily activities or when the day's planned activities are at an end, what fills our minds? Is it the way others have manipulated and controlled us, or satisfaction about some accomplished goal? We might remember, "For they that are after the flesh mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit." - Rom. 8:5 (ASV). Most people don't like to be manipulated or controlled; this is very true for Christians, also. However, there is a tension between being in personal control and responsibility. In fact, while remaining responsible, we are controlled and manipulated either by our sinful nature or by the Spirit of God; there is no middle ground in this. Sometimes Satan can manipulate us to think various choices are our personal freedom away from the control of others. These rebellious choices end up wounding us, our relationships, and pushing us away from God. This personal freedom enslaves us to addictive processes, systems, and habits. We can be drawn into the spinning vortex of sin's power: our thoughts and plans are increasingly controlled by sin's enslaving lifestyle. The Spirit, however, can free us from this bondage, however it remains the Christian's responsibility to ask the resident Holy Spirit for help. If we ask, the Spirit can give us the power to live with real freedom, enjoying a life full of his fruit - love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). We must choose to actively seek the Spirit's influence over our will, and commit to His guidance in what we think and do. When we take this approach, those thoughts at the end of the day become more pleasant. We have taken another step along our unique individual spiritual journey.

Fruitful

Christians are often challenged to "be fruitful." The next thought is usually, what kind of fruit can I, or do I, produce? Paul also reproduces this teaching in Galatians 5:16-26 by contrasting the works of the flesh and the works produced by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Reality is that all people produce some kind of "fruit" by our words and actions. Some fruit is honorable to God, some is not. It is encouraging that those who have the indwelling Holy Spirit produce fruit which is made good by God's further actions. “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." Matt. 7:15-20 and "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Gal. 5:22-23

Worth

Humans very often consider their value and worth linked to the physical world, signified by its demands and activities. In the grand scheme of things, our earthy lives are not as important as our spiritual lives and the life to come. However, our actions while in human form determine where we will spend eternity. Physical struggles and pains are troublesome, but not as important as our next state of life. When a person makes the decision to accept Christ's gift and spend eternity with Him, the Holy Spirit comes to live within the person and can guide him through the period of time until the earthly life ends and eternity begins.  "But if Christ is in you, the body is indeed dead on account of sin, but the Spirit is life on account of righteousness." — Rom. 8:10 (Berean Literal Bible).