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 indicates the 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 Tim. 1:13-14. Any insurance policies are never claimed, since damage or destruction does not occur. In most cases, the insurance company will not issue policies for those items that at high risk or if they do the premiums are quite expensive. They may not insure products that are at high risk for damage or destruction. Our Christian spiritual journey is at high risk since evil influences are continually attempting to distract us and draw us away from our protector, the Holy Spirit. Christians must continually guard against influences that want to pull us away from God. No external force can accomplish this, the person must individually decide to ignore the Holy Spirit’s help and move away from God.

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. 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 their 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. Let’s not forget that all kinds of things can preoccupy our thinking. If we’re called to the ministry, even our ministerial responsibilities can so occupy our thoughts that we seldom think of the Holy Spirit or focus on cultivating our relationship with Him. Yes, that seems like a contradiction. However, it’s very possible to be so involved in good works that we hardly ever slow down long enough to spend time with the Lord, read His Word, and listen to what His Spirit wants to say to our hearts. Sometimes it’s just the cares of this life that pull us away from the Holy Spirit. We can get so busy and so committed to doing so many things, even good things, that our continual busyness deteriorates our spiritual life. With all of this in mind, James 4:5 could be read this way: “The Spirit who has come to settle down, make His home, and permanently dwell in us is moved by an all-consuming, ever-growing, passionate desire to possess us — and He is envious and filled with malice toward anything or anyone who tries to take His place in our lives.”

We live in the world, work in the world, and function as human beings in the world. There is no way to get around that. Jesus didn’t pray that we would be removed from the world, but that we would be kept from the world (see John 17:15). There is nothing wrong with going to work, buying a house, purchasing a new car, or enjoying beautiful clothes. Those things are part of living an abundant life on this earth. They are not wrong unless they consume and preoccupy our thoughts. Let’s not forget that all kinds of things can preoccupy our thinking. If we’re called to the ministry, even our ministerial responsibilities can so occupy our thoughts that we seldom think of the Holy Spirit or focus on cultivating our relationship with Him. Yes, that seems like a contradiction. However, it’s very possible to be so involved in good works that we hardly ever slow down long enough to spend time with the Lord, read His Word, and listen to what His Spirit wants to say to our hearts. Sometimes it’s just the cares of this life that pull us away from the Holy Spirit. We can get so busy and so committed to doing so many things, even good things, that our continual busyness deteriorates our spiritual life. Amazing as it is, even good things, if taken to an extreme, become adulterous in the eyes of the Lord. Only He knows how to balance us, but we have to open our hearts and our spiritual ears to listen to His counsel. That’s why it’s so crucial to set aside time to spend with Him every day. So don’t tell yourself that you have too much to do to spend time with the Lord each day. When it comes right down to it, you basically do what you want to do. If having communion with the Holy Spirit is a priority, you’ll make time for Him. If it’s not a priority, you won’t make that time. It’s that simple. Perhaps you’re reading this today and thinking, I have so much to learn about the Holy Spirit. I didn’t know I was supposed to intentionally have communion with Him. I didn’t know I could depend on Him as my Comforter. I didn’t know I could grieve Him with my attitudes. I didn’t realize how important it is for me to develop a closer fellowship with the Holy Spirit! If that is you, you’re in a great position today — standing at the threshold of a whole new realm of God in your life! His Word promises that if you draw closer to Him, He will draw closer to you (see James 4:8). I can’t help but wonder how many Christians die and go to Heaven — and then find out how much they missed because they never experience a real partnership with the Holy Spirit. Don’t let that be your story!

It

We sometimes here the following scripture used as encouraging words about many things, "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." — Matt. 7:7-8 (NIV) But what really is "it"? "it" is not a serious or trivial physical desire. "it" is a close relationship with Jesus and entry into God's kingdom. When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. Martha said to Jesus, "So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet Him; but Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give You whatever You ask Him" — John 11:20-22 (Berean Study Bible) Did Martha really know the meaning of what she said? She probably didn't know the full meaning of what she said, but her absolute trust is undeniable. Martha should serve as a model for us to trust beyond our understanding. This kind of trust is fostered by the indwelling Holy Spirit, if we allow it.

Gifts

The people to whom Peter wrote had developed interpersonal judgement which flows from competition. This competition was mostly to please the Jewish priests who guided them. Life in Jesus, displays hospitality and encouragement; this flows from acceptance of the other person, as Jesus did. In their own view, they may not be what they want to be now or will become in the future, but they are likely not what others expect them to be. When believers accepted Jesus, they also received the indwelling Holy Spirit as a gift to guide them along their unique independent spiritual journey. This is a common connection all Christians share and should guide us to accept the other person wherever they are on their personal spiritual journey. "Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." - 1 Peter 4:9-11 (NASB).

 

Refined by Fire

Our body's natural reaction to physical pain is to recoil or move away from the source as quickly as possible. However, spiritual pain needs to be handled differently. God wants to teach us endurance--much like a long-distance runner builds up strength in training - so that we can fully benefit from what He is developing in our hearts. He uses trials as a refining fire to purify us like gold and bring us to greater spiritual maturity. As we realize that we are actually being made more complete through our adversities, we'll begin to face challenging times with confidence that He always has our best interest in mind. While a worldly viewpoint sees hope and joy in the midst of dark times as naïve, a spiritual perspective discerns that we're really progressing on a journey toward life at its fullest. We can be filled with supernatural joy, knowing that the Lord is making us into world-changing spiritual warriors. God is always at work in our lives. Even during seasons of adversity, He wants to accomplish something powerful and good. How should this knowledge affect our response? We must learn to choose rejoicing during difficult times. This doesn't mean we have to be happy about the hardship itself. Instead, joy comes from drawing close to the Lord and believing steadfastly that through His redemptive power, He is growing and preparing us. If your usual response to trials is anxiety, anger, or depression, the idea of having joy in the midst of a negative situation might not seem logical. However,  on your unique independent spiritual journey, if you look beneath the surface, you will discover that this biblical directive makes sense for several reasons. In these times, our defender, the Holy Spirit, provides comfort (protection and encouragement). "In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." - 1 Pet. 1:6-7 (ISV).

Motivation

Most people work hard if they have a purpose and reason. Visible throughout the human race, some people are motivated about almost anything and others are motivated by almost nothing. Proverbs has much to say about the one who works hard and the alternative. {Proverbs 10:4, "Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich;" Proverbs 10:26, "Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, So is the lazy one to those who send him;" Proverbs 22:13 "The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside; I will be killed in the streets!"} To some of the first believers Paul would say, "let him who works eat. .  ." - 2 Thessalonians 3:10; the Hebrew writer states it another way, "so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises" - Hebrews 6:12. So what are we to understand? First, we need to be careful not to criticize a person for not working as we think they should; only the Holy Spirit really knows all the details surrounding each person's motivations. Jesus healed many who were unable to work. Second, we should seek to understand their difficulties and encourage them. Third, we should seek ways to help them as the Holy Spirit wants, not as we desire. Christians have an important purpose: praise God in all our actions! The reason is that we are God's children destined for eternity with him, that should be strong motivation. Paul's admonition seeks to avoid bad feelings for those who followed Christ when he says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Colossians 3:23 (NIV).

Efficient direction

Many times, people offer great praise to the energy and drive observed in a sports team that demonstrates close coordination and seamless performance of the members. This coordination and interdependence is also observed in the famous U.S. Navy Blue Angel team. Some people say these examples show a spirit of team "oneness." When believers in Jesus are baptized, they become members of the body of Christ which includes other humans who are also on their own unique spiritual journey, allowing the Holy Spirit to prepare them for eternity. They were adopted into God's massive family of which Jesus is the head and all Christians are siblings with other brothers and sisters. "We were all baptized by one Spirit into one body... and we were all given the one Spirit to drink." 1 Cor. 12:13 (NIV). As members of this family, we have benefits and responsibilities. One major responsibility is encouraging others, whether it is other family members or those curious about the family ideals. To accomplish this, the Holy Spirit gives each Christian gifts, perhaps unique, through which He works to accomplish His desires. These gifts may change from time to time depending of what the Holy Spirit needs accomplished. These gifts are supernatural and only come from the Spirit at His discretion. "All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines." - 1 Cor. 12:11 (NIV). The believer cannot demand these gifts, but they may request and explore, yet they should accept them by following the guidance given by the Holy Spirit to the specific individual to accomplish His goal of unity or oneness for praising God. 

Catastrophe

 Continuing to sin willfully once one knows the truth, is catastrophic for the believer guided by the Holy Spirit. Resisting or rejecting the Holy Spirit is devastating to a person; it equates to unbelief and unbelief was the reason Jesus could do few miracles in His hometown. "And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them" - Mk. 6:5. (NASV) This is powerful! He "could do" few miracles could also be stated, He 'no power to do' many miracles because of their unbelief. Disregarding His guidance (e.g. once one knows the truth) is almost as severe as premeditated lying to him. When Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit, they paid with their physical lives. Based such observations, Paul stated, "How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?" - Hebrews 10:29 (NIV) The work of Jesus provides the only way to remove sins. If one rejects this work, he rejects everything that God is and everything He has given. It is continuously insulting the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. This deflates grace and robs Him of the power to act in beneficial ways. The message of Jesus is precious and must never be spurned, rejected, discounted, treated lightly, or ignored. The message of Jesus is precious, and to reject this message is to insult all that is holy. As we follow our unique independent spiritual journey, we must ask the Holy Spirit for guidance.

Die to unrighteousness

When we drive a vehicle, we have taken on a massive responsibility, to move ourselves and perhaps some passengers from one place to another while not harming other people or property along the way. Most times keeping the automobile on the roadway and "between the lines," is not usually critically challenging. When we consider this is a journey, we must make many choices, but the primary one is the desired endpoint. If yours is the only auto on the roadway for a time, the choice to accelerate or decelerate slightly usually causes few issues. All these choices change when there are other autos on the roadway around us. When we share the roadway with others who have different driving abilities, practices, goals, and personalities, we may find ourselves in a place which can almost turn into a battleground. This experience becomes particularly acute when there are intersections along the roadway. Radical changes in direction can be precarious if adequate provisions have not been made. Many years ago, one culture developed a travel element called a "roundabout," to ease these intersection difficulties. When using this method, roadway traffic did not stop when an intersection was encountered, all traffic went into a circular pathway merging in and out until they could safely change directions. Designed primarily for horse drawn traffic to avoid stopping, this method has remained in some areas until today. This solution was all but replaced by building overpasses, in which one vehicle pass above the others. All Christians are on a spiritual pathway towards heaven. This is a pathway that allows each one time to be sanctified, or become more dedicated to God; people move at different speeds along this pathway. There are many other pathways Christians encounter on this spiritual journey; a major challenge is to choose the proper direction along this journey. When intersections of life and faith occur along this journey, the resulting pathway and subsequent results are not always the ones we might desire. Along this life journey, each of us must make many choices; some will not have the result we anticipate. While an example about driving and death may sound scary, the only way we can stay on this pathway and reach the goal is to die, or be separated from, distractions of the world. We must die and die and die. Every day we die to the things that supposedly make us strong in this world. Every day we kill the need to have more, to be more. Every day we die for Him. Our lives need to guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Obedience

I read once of a person who remarked: "I've yet to meet a Christian whose knowledge didn't exceed his obedience." His point was simple: Most Christians know far more about God's truth than they live. Since the Holy Spirit lives within the Christian and is leading us toward greater sanctification (holiness to God), this should not surprising. In order to escalate this process, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to direct more of our actions. We need to be diligent in searching and seeking God's truth and then acting on our understanding. "For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." - Rom. 8:14.

Living Water

We may marvel at this statement about water. Why such a big deal about water. Besides being an almost universal cleaner, in the middle East, clean water was very scarce in some areas. Webster defines addiction as, "compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance (such as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal; broadly; persistent compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be harmful." Humans are addicted to water, they need it to survive. "On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as[a] the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified," - John 7:37-39 {ESV}. Jesus was looking forward to the outpouring of the Spirit and the time when the Holy Spirit lives inside those who believe in him. That time is now! This outpouring isn't a limited supply of water like a cistern, but an unlimited supply of refreshment like an artesian well. It isn't a well of water that sometimes goes dry in the long hot summer, but a supply that continuously overflows. And what is this water, this source of refreshment? The Holy Spirit! The Helper Jesus sends to us. So why don't we experience the overflow? Could it be because we don't seek this overflow, don't expect this overflow, and don't ask Jesus to send this overflow (Luke 11:13; Romans 15:13; cf. John 4:13-14)? When this source is in our being, it is a continual guide along our unique individual spiritual journey.

Confidence

As we live our daily lives, we generally accomplish better results when we pursue an activity with confidence. If the activities are in the physical world, we may have confidence due to our previous training or experience. This is a dangerous place where pride can engulf us. With activity, we need to be confronted with the realization that we do not have all knowledge and we can (and must) learn something from every endeavor. We must also learn that many opinions and conclusions may be true for only ourselves; others may have different and valid conclusions for their lives. This is especially true for our spiritual lives. Each one who has accepted Jesus in now on an individual spiritual journey. Others may advise or support, but this journey is one's unique journey, as specific as their background, to date. The most confident advice we can accept or give, needs to come from the Holy Spirit who lives with us. It is this residence which is empowering us and transforming us continuously along our spiritual journey. "Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant — not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." - 2 Cor. 3:4-6 (NIV).

 

Give up

 Step back from life for a moment and consider all that you have accumulated thus far in life. Perhaps you have made it through High School and college and found a vocation you really enjoy. Perhaps you have found people you enjoy being around as much as possible. Perhaps you have gone further and gained higher education and are in a vocation which benefits people as best you know how. Perhaps you are comfortable with your present life. What if you discovered the place you are in life and those things you have accumulated were not what you needed to gain eternal life. Could you, would you, make the changes necessary to pursue eternal life? Jesus asked the rich young ruler to lay aside all the things that prevented this man from following Him (Lk. 18:18-23). He did not. However, Paul did. Once he discovered a love for Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit, Paul did just that and writes to his co-workers in Philippi about this decision. "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things." – Phil. 3:8 (NIV). Are there things in your life that are preventing you from following Jesus? The short, medium, and long term results are worth whatever you must give up to enter eternity with Jehovah God.

Awe

 While many people don’t usually like to have conversations about burials, there have been some really interesting practices used over the years. The time and terrain has had much to do with burials over the years. Some have been buried in caves, in open ravines, in water (sometimes on a burning boat), or under the earth. While now most have heard of the burial quip “6 feet under.” The origin of this seems to be a plague outbreak in England in 1665. As the disease swept the country, the mayor of London made a law about how to deal with the bodies to avoid further infections. Among his specifications, noted in “Orders Conceived and Published by the Lord Major and Aldermen of the City of London, Concerning the Infection of the Plague,” was that “all the graves shall be at least six feet deep.” This avoided dead bodies piled outside a township. They would be consumed by animals or parasites and gave rise to mass illnesses, usually called plagues, also many people did not like to be near the smell of decaying bodies. For those people who died in arid areas, dead bodies were sometimes covered with a shallow layer of soil and rocks. In the time of Jesus, the dead body was deposited in a cave-like structure. As the need arose, the structure would be used over and over to prevent animals from consuming the dead person or robbers from stealing whatever may have been left as memorials. They would allow the flesh to decay and then move the bones to allow later use of the tomb. To interrupt the mourning process and open a tomb before the proper time would not only produce a putrid smell, but a breach of the burial process. Such scandalous things were not done in the time of Jesus. Empathizing with those mourners, have you ever been at an event in which someone proposed to do an action that seemed either impossible or completely insanely unbelievable? You may have stood in wide-eyed awe. Well, that is what Jesus did. But, He did it for a time of teaching and relief for the family. So, they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me." – Jn. 11:41-42 (Berean Study Bible). Jesus did the unimaginable for the family of Lazarus. Jesus left the Holy Spirit to guide His followers after He returned to the Father. If we trust the Holy Spirit to lead us along our unique independent spiritual journey, He may surprise us with the tasks He makes available to us. It may not be as surprising as returning a person to physical life, but we may observe people experience a spiritual rebirth.

Pure information

 Have you ever longed for information that was pure and without defilement? This is especially important for our spiritual lives. Following the wrong information can lead to eternal disaster. Jehovah God is the true God and He has promised to provide all those who follow Jesus pure truth. "All that the Father has is mine. That is why I said, 'He will take what is mine and declare it to you.'" – Jn. 16:15 (ISV). God has given us His Holy Spirit for an indwelling partner. He will guide us into all truth from Jesus. One person has well stated, “God does not just want to convey information, but he is sharing himself in Jesus and in the Holy Spirit so that truth is much more than something we believe; it is something we live out of the very fabric of our relationship to God through the Holy Spirit.” Christians need to allow the Holy Spirit to direct them along their unique independent spiritual journey toward eternity.

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).

Body a Temple

At the time the Bible was written, worship of any gods was usually done at a site where that particular god dwelled or lived within. This site was called a "temple." Such sites were considered sacred since once entering them, a follower thought they would be closer to that particular god. This also applied to the Jewish temple for Jehovah God, except entrance was limited to only a priest once per year. Paul used this common understanding to communicate that because of Jesus, the Curtain separating God from the people was eliminated individual people became the temple of God and Jehovah God as the Holy Spirit dwells within people, so individual people become temples of God. "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." - 1 Cor. 6:19-20.

Proper worship

 When challenged by the woman at the Samaritan well, Jesus shared with her that a time was coming when worship of God would move beyond special places, special people, and special actions to a time when each person would worship God wherever they were and whenever they desired. He said, "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” - Jn. 4:23-24 9 (NIV).

Remembering

 One of the ways the Holy Spirit communicates to us is via remembrance. We read and study His Word but it seems sometimes we receive nothing from it, at the time. However, when we read His Word, all the information to which we are exposed is retained in our minds. Sometimes when we need to use that information, the Holy Spirit helps our recall and we remember the parts we need at that time. When we lack understanding, perhaps we have not yet gathered or experienced adequate supporting information. Perhaps we have not yet read a needed portion of scripture. The Holy Spirit understands this and may prompt us to explore a portion of scripture we have not considered before. When the time is optimum, the Holy Spirit can cause us to remember previously gained information. This is not NEW information; it is just a new realization of the information that was already revealed. This happened to Jesus' apostles, "Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him."- Jn. 12:14-16 (NASB).

Emotions

In His life here on earth, Jesus displayed many earthly emotions. Focusing on ourselves, as we try to follow His practices, it is helpful to know some of the feelings we have were displayed by Jesus. Regarding His physical body, He was tired, thirsty, and hungry. To know that He grew angry, became frustrated, felt sorrow, and even was indignant should give us great comfort. The depth of the emotions of God are difficult to fathom, but they are nevertheless there. Jesus was touched by what He saw surrounding Lazarus' death. He already knew that He would raise him, but the family and mourners did not. To observe the pain about the loss of His friend had an observable effect on Him, even to tears, "When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews weeping who came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They told him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept," -  Jn. 11:33-35 (ISV).

 

Control

 Many of us would like to think we are in control of our lives to some extent. Many times, we rely on the , "cause and effect" concept from Physics. Our decisions and actions usually produce predictable results, to some extent. We learn to make decisions that usually cause good or bad results to occur based on the expectation that repeated actions produce an expected result. Better, we learn which decisions produce the outcomes we desire. Although this sounds manageable, sometimes bad things happen in a good context, we may call this learning life-skills. However, events sometimes occur that are totally unexpected and perhaps difficult to grasp, or even shatter our understanding of how to manage life. When these events occur, we desperately seek for explanations guided by a power higher than ourselves. As in a race, we are often greatly disappointed when the results of our words or actions do not produce the results we want and expect. Although, sometimes really good things happen with no logical explanation. We did not plan or define the way to become a child of God, nor did we deserve it. The gift offered by Jesus is not payment for anything we did; we cannot control it or manipulate it. This is a free gift because of His love, which defies explanation. All people are invited to become children of God, to be born from above. Sadly, some will not give up trying to control their own eternity based on their own understanding; some will not want to receive this wonderful gift for something they cannot personally achieve. "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God," - Jn. 1:12-13 (ESV).

Speak to Me

 As a believer, do you desire for God to speak directly to you? Jeremiah also struggled with this and was told, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jer. 29:13 (NIV). One quick answer to this is to say read the Bible and God has just spoken to you. While this is certainly true, your real desire is for God to speak to you in a way you can understand about your specific question. In order for this to occur, you must realize that the communication is likely not to be teaming with praise and accolades toward you. God is perfect, you are not. Communication from Him is meant to help you become more of what He wants you to be, meaning much of what He communicates may be corrective. But that leaves the question how do I understand what He wants me to understand? You might compare this to a recorded conversation with another person. When you replay the recording, you will likely perceive ideas or concepts that you did not when you first heard the words. Sometimes, time and reflection are required for the communication to be understood. This is especially true for the things that God communicates. In order to help overcome this communication difficulty, God has given us the Holy Spirit to dwell within us and clarify His desires for our understanding. So how do any of us receive His communication? Every day, God, speaks to the Christian through the Holy Spirit in some way. One challenge for us is that He may speak at different times and different ways to various people. At times He invites us to draw close and listen as He reveals Himself, His character and His direction. Other times He calls us to participate in His purposes. Still other times He my simply whisper, reminding us of His amazing love for us. Hearing from God is one of those topics that can easily stir up confusion and frustration. A critical question to ask is, "How do I know if God is speaking to me?" "How do I discern whether it is His voice speaking or just my own ideas and desires?" "What if I feel God telling me to do something that doesn’t seem logical? A basic truth is, there’s no magic formula for discerning God’s voice. We learn to recognize it the way we recognize voices of those close to us: by knowing Him. And when we know Him, we can tell if what we are thinking or feeling led to do is from Him or not. At only one time, I had a direct communication from the Holy Spirit. It was a dark time in my life, after some life changing events. I was seeking relief and solutions for issues that troubled me. As I was driving and praying "when is this going to change", a voice as if from the passenger seat came into my mind saying, "When it is time." I was so shocked, I pulled to the side of the road to examine the other seat. Was there a voice that caused my eardrums to vibrate or did the thought skip that sense? I am unsure, but the Holy Spirit used the necessary means to cause that information to sear my mind. It is an event that I have not forgotten for 17 years. I treasure that thought and I have been blessed in many wonderful ways in the years since. Communication from the Spirit can be startling and reassuring. When struggling to interpret communication from the Holy Spirit, these questions may help arrive at a clearer answer: 1. Does what I perceive line up with Scripture? God will never speak to us or tell us to do something that’s contrary to His Word. But unless we know Scripture, we will not be able to discern whether or not what we hear is consistent with the Word. We will learn the will of God when we read and pray the Word of God. 2. Is what I perceive consistent with God’s character? God’s Word also provides rich information regarding His character. Just as God always speaks in accordance with His Word, He speaks in accordance with His character. God will not say anything inconsistent with who He is. The longer we know Him and the more we experience Him personally, the more we learn about His character. 3. Is what I perceive confirmed through messages at church or in my quiet times? When God speaks to you about a particular issue, you cannot escape it. Around every corner there’s a sermon or Bible study lesson or speaker’s topic or conversation with a friend that’s consistent with what you’ve been hearing from God in your time alone with Him. When you invest in time spent alone with God, He will speak to you. Listen for His voice, and then look for the message to be confirmed. 4. Is what I perceive beyond me? Sometimes the Holy Spirit may call you to do something big that you can’t do in our own strength -- either it is beyond your ability or beyond your natural human desire. Perhaps this thing can only happen through the Holy Spirit's divine intervention. Don’t look at your inabilities and dwell in insecurities. Look at what God wants. See this call as your opportunity to watch Him work in you and through you. 5. Is what you perceive pleasing to God? Depending on many personal pressures, it is sometimes easy to reject the idea that we have heard something from the Spirit. In these situations, especially if the information is not pleasing to us, we might use any excuse to convince ourselves it is not His voice so we don’t need to act. If what you’re doing pleases God, then even if what you thought you heard from Him wasn’t His voice, you are still pleasing Him. You should always seek to do those things that please God. When these 5 questions align, the Holy Spirit will help you accomplish the task. Please remember, God's word says much about His desires and character; immerse yourself in learning more about Him. The Holy Spirit will provide understanding over time.

Frustrated

Paul was frustrated with the Christians in Galatia. They had accepted Jesus as Lord, were indwelled by the Holy Spirit, but were attempting to return to the pathways they had chosen to give up. "So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?" - Gal. 3:5 (NIV). The Holy Spirit is given to those who accept Jesus’ gift. If they will ask and follow, He will use them to perform great helps to the people around them. But, He will not overpower our personal decisions. If our decisions are to ignore His guidance and return to the practices we had before, He has been pushed away. We cannot force God to act by adhering to a set of rules or demanded actions. We should follow His guidance as we walk along our unique independent spiritual journey to Heaven.

Waiting

We wait for traffic, we wait for a doctor, we wait for our turn at the cash register, we wait for friends. A wait person once told me, "I'm sorry for the wait." my response was, "Thanks, but I don't mind, if I wasn't waiting here I would be waiting somewhere else." It seems like most of us are always waiting for something every day. More challenging, we wait for entrance into our eternal home; our place is decided, we must wait until it is time. Like us, even the world waits for salvation (Rom. 8:19). The indwelling Holy Spirit can help comfort us as we wait for our eventual and permanent home. If we will only ask, He will guide us along our unique individual spiritual journey in the ways we need to go to please the Father, a foretaste of our eventual celebration.

Help

“but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us,” – Rom. 5:8 (ESV). There are times in the lives of humans in which they need help. This help can apply to myriad of activities in daily life. When we need help, many times we reach out to those we trust, those we love for this help. Th greatest need for help humans have is to remove what separates them from God, sin. John described the solution, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life,” – Jn. 3:16 (ESV). This is a free gift because of God’s Grace and only needs to be accepted. William Barclay said, "Love always involves responsibility, and love always involves sacrifice. And we do not really love Christ unless we are prepared to face His task and to take up His Cross." With this gift also comes an indwelling partner and protector. If one asks, the Holy Spirit will guide them along a unique individual pathway to eternity with God. 

Harm

"The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." - Psalm 121:7-8 (NIV). We observe this promise in action when we consider the life of Joseph, son of Jacob. The overarching theme of Joseph's life was that no matter what circumstances he faced, God was always with him. Whether it was dreams about the future, struggles with his brothers's poor treatment of him, whether his work was in slavery, his ability to explain dreams, his abilities ot manage the food source for millions of people, or reconnecting with his family, God was with him as He promised. Those of us who have accepted Jesus as our savior also have a promise. It is a promise that He will never leave us, and He will supply what we need spiritually, and He has prepared for us a place with him in heaven for eternity. We also have a demonstration of God's ability to protect and use us so long as we are faithful to Him.

Good

Jesus responded to a man’s comment 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.” - Rom. 8:28 (NLT). 

Charity

 Our lives on earth are all about choices. We can choose to learn about good and evil; we can choose to use good or evil words; we can choose to do good or evil acts. We can choose to encourage others, or not. Our spiritual life is all about choices as well. The first choice is to believe in Jehovah God, the second most important choice is to accept that Jesus is His son and our pathway to redemption. Beyond this, we have the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide and sanctify our choices. Evelyn Underhill once said, "The spiritual life is a stern choice. It is not a consoling retreat from the difficulties of existence, but an invitation to enter fully into that difficult existence, and there apply the Charity of God, and bear the cost." Think of this and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you along your unique individual spiritual journey.

Desire

Creatures God created are driven by desire. An animal, fish, or bird is driven by at least two primal desires, to exist (food, and water, safety, companionship) and to reproduce. Humans also have these, followed by a desire for acceptance by other humans. Beyond these needs for existence is the desire to reproduce. A significant part of this process is attraction of one gender to the other. Humans also have a desire for the pleasure that accompanies the reproductive process. Satisfaction of sexual or reproductive desires can escalate into cravings, a strong desire to resolve the need in a particular way.

Similar to the other parts of creation, God made the bodies of His human creation to alert them to needs for survival. At times, a dry mouth or thick tongue becomes a signal from the body that hydration is needed. A growl from the stomach is a signal that sustenance is needed. As these needs increase, intensity to satisfy them escalates. These needs are critical to our bodies for survival, but they must be satisfied or controlled. A really thirsty or dehydrated person can attempt to drink more water than their body can absorb quickly; thus they become sick. The same is true for hunger. This bodily alarm indicates that cells need energy. When one attempts to satisfy intense hunger, one may eat more food than can be timely digested and distributed to body cells; sickness ensues.  The end result is actually worse for the body than a slower pathway to gaining the needed result. Beyond this, some bodies signal a need for solving bodily needs by a strong desire for a particular food or drink, a craving.

Like Jesus, humans exist in this environment we call the world. We live in the world, work in the world, and function as human beings in the world with other human beings. This is God’s will for humans. Jesus didn’t pray that His disciples would be removed from the world, but they would be kept from the world (John 17:15), or essentially being controlled by the world’s values. There is nothing wrong with going to work, enjoying a sport, buying a house or a new car. We may even enjoy having and wearing beautiful clothes. Those things are part of living a fruitful life in our environment, earth. These desires are not wrong unless they consume and preoccupy the person’s thoughts, pushing God’s interests aside.

Desires and cravings extend to other aspects of their physical lives, as well. Companionship is a fundamental need for humans as are their psychological, emotional, and sexual needs. These needs are some of the most difficult to monitor and control. Our minds work at an amazingly fast pace and actions caused by these needs and desires are often difficult to rapidly understand and fully manage. A Christian has a huge advantage since they have the Holy Spirit (God) dwelling inside them. Sometimes this seems like a complete solution, however, we must realize that although we have the greatest entity that exists living inside us, He does not overpower our personal choices, (good or bad). Like Jesus, God does not force us to make any particular decision. 

The struggle we humans face between good and evil or flesh and spirit have been described and debated for millennia. There seems to be absolute answer for many items, but many others have several acceptable answers considered “good”, and righteous before God. In the social aspect of human life, attraction and bonding can defy logical explanation. Humans of both genders can be filled with strong emotions of anger, envy, and hurt; these feeling can cause opinions they never thought possible and actions that follow, may be astounding. Competition between acquaintances can be similar to lower class animals.

Humans also have spiritual aspects of their lives. Humans also desire to know the reason they exist; due to this, many pursue locating a supreme being.  Some find Jehovah God. This desire leads to expectations.  Desire+expectation=Hope. Hope in the view of the Hebrew people also included, commitment. It was an expectation that God will always love them and protect them spiritually. When the biblical writers focused on the physical interests, they generally referred to them as concerns of the flesh, or dominated by non-spiritual elements. When a person decides to accept Jesus as their savior, all their past physical and spiritual mistakes are erased before God; they are as pure as newborn infants. Not only this, but also the Holy Spirit begins to reside within them. This indwelling prompts them to remember what they have learned from scripture. Those who are sealed by God and are His children are expected to increasingly act as He desires. Paul would say, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Gal.5:16 (NIV) or “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves.” Gal.5:16 (NLT). As we move along our unique individual spiritual journey, let’s ask the Holy Spirit to guide us each step of the way.

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 may create personal 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). Let us rely on the Holy Spirit to lead us along our unique independent spiritual journey towards heaven.

Fear

Fear is a compelling emotion. First, one needs to believe there is something that exists to fear. Once this has been established, one should attempt to understand the item that is feared. Some people many fear rattlesnakes since they can be lethal. With some knowledge, great fear can evolve into great respect. Many people say they "fear" God, but God does not desire people to fear Him in this way; He wants the respect He deserves. When people really fear (or are afraid of) God, it is likely because they do not know how much He loves them. Those who know more about God, recognize He only disciplines people when nothing else has achieved the results needed. He loved us so much he sent Jesus to die a cruel death to provide a way for His children to be near Him forever. "As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him." — Psalm 103:13 >> Remember He loved each of us enough to seal us with His Holy Spirit, "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit."-  Eph. 1:13 (NIV).

Price

Few things in our physical lives are gained without some kind of cost. Many events in this life represent a transaction of cost/benefit decision, and the exchange may be money, services, or other efforts. At some time, each Christian has realized their actions produced a debt that was impossible for them to repay and they do not have the proper method of payment. The cost for repayment of their debt was a gift, yet it was extremely expensive: a person’s life who was unflawed, yes, Jesus’ life. Christians are not expected to pay back this gift, but inform others about it out of appreciation and concern. There have been some, however, who have exchanged this precious gift for something of less valuable, earthly concerns. This is precisely what we find in Rom. 1:25. Paul uses a word for “exchange” which was usually applied to financial transactions, when he said they, “exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.” Rom. 1:25 (ESV). They made a poor purchase transaction. As we follow our unique individual spiritual journey, let’s allow to Holy Spirit to prompt us to make eternal decisions. 

Committment

In Hebrew, one prominent meaning of "love" includes the element, 'commitment.' Have you ever been associated with an intense discussion or argument? Have you ever had a friend or a loved one who was involved in such an encounter that their lives might be in danger? Sometimes those people having such a discussion cannot speak rationally due to other personal issues and it is best to leave the situation and let tempers "cool down", some. Let’s remember one situation in which the persistent Paul found himself as he taught about Jesus. He had an intense argument. Yet when he went away, the Holy Spirit continued to work on these people in his absence. While his efforts were productive, Paul was not the point, it was the Holy Spirit promoting Jesus. "And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death. But when the brethren learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus. So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase." - Acts 9:29-31 (NASB). If Christians have the opportunity, they need to introduce others to Jesus, but they must remember that they are the instruments of the message, not the orchestrator.

The Holy Spirit’s Dwelling Place

Jews in the first century had a belief that God dwelled on Earth in the Holy of Holies at the Jerusalem temple. They were very protective of this area since they thought God had asked them to defend His dwelling place. In an argument with some Freedmen Jews in Jerusalem and before his death Stephen pointed out that the places to worship God had moved around to different places in the past and now, that “God dwells in heaven, not in temples made with hands.” (Acts 7:48-50). No, God’s presence was not limited to the one temple area. Speaking by the Holy Spirit, Stephen spoke of the ultimate dwelling place of God, within humans. If defaming the earthly temple was an action worthy of death, what of defaming the present dwelling of the Holy Spirit, our bodies? Not so long ago, a group of people set fire to a church and it burned to the ground. His was appalling. Perhaps they were disappointed or angry with God, but God does not live in church buildings. What do we think when some attack the present dwelling of God the Holy Spirit, our bodies? Many Christians don’t have the same shock when it comes to harming the present temple of the Holy Spirit -their own bodies. Some distract efficient bodily function with drugs, food, or drink. Another group burden the body with stress and exhaustion. Many people justify these abuses as their right to treat their body as they want. But that is especially not true for Christians. The Corinthians had followed idols which allowed them to act without any control. Now, when they accepted Jesus and received the indwelling Holy Spirit, they needed to understand that what they did to their body was important to God for personal health and their influence on others. “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? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” 1 Cor. 6:19-20 (NASB). While we exist in this world, we can do nothing apart from our physical body. We will only have one in this life, so we should do our best to keep it in good condition. Believers should also recognize their responsibility to treat the earthly body like the sacred and special dwelling place that it is. People cannot reach their full potential while neglecting the proper care of their bodies. Education, talents, abilities or gifts are of little use if one does not have the health to complete needed tasks well. As we move along our unique independent spiritual journey, we need to maintain our health so that we can be the best servants of the Holy Spirit possible.

Expectations

 In hindsight it seems evident that the Jewish people of the first century did not expect or understand the message Jesus brought. They desired and expected a different form of Messiah. They expected physical freedom, but were offered spiritual freedom. They did not recognize God walking among them, and could not believe the words He spoke. "At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon. The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, ‘How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.’” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. 'But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep,'" - Jn. 10:22-25 (ASV). 

Jerusalem

 When Abram entered the land of Canaan around 2000 BC the city of Jerusalem was called Salem (Genesis 14). After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. - Genesis 14:17-20. Melchizedek’s city was called Salem, or Shalem, which is also the name of the God whose worship was centered in the city. The full name of this God was “God Most High, Creator of Heaven and Earth” since he was the God of creation. That the name Salem refers to Jerusalem is evidenced by Psalm 76:2 which uses "Salem" as a parallel for "Zion", the citadel of Jerusalem. Acts 15, uses the statements “up to Jerusalem; down from Judea”, or essentially Jerusalem. To the Hebrews, Jerusalem was an elevated area, both physically and spiritually. The city of Jerusalem is certainly on a raised area, so this is literally true. But, there are other spiritual meanings as well. The word comes from Hebrew, Yerushalayim, literally "foundation of peace," or a place that indicates peace with God. God directed that a temple be built on this plain to remind those who believed in Him that He loved them and would protect them, so long as they were faithful to Him. Jerusalem came to represent the presence of God on earth, especially in the Holy of Holies within the temple. It was the place King David established the capital of the promised land. The location also reminded those to whom it was precious, they no longer needed to fight against God. It was here, at the temple, that their sins were not “removed,” but “covered,” or “pushed forward” each year. Removal would wait for Jesus’ sacrifice. He displayed what God wanted from His servants, but those of the religious firmament in Jerusalem, killed the Messiah, the promised King. When Jesus came to earth, he was Emmanuel, a visible indication of “God with us,” more personal than “God on Earth. When Jesus returned to heaven, believers were given the Holy Spirit to reside inside them. Because of this, we now experience “God within us.” In the first century, the reminder of God’s presence was so strong the Holy Spirit led John to use a concept supplied by Ezekiel as he described the future relationship with God; it was a New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:1ff.). New leadership was being installed. This indicates a promise to enjoy continued peace and fellowship with God -  over, under, around, and through our being for eternity.

Courage

 “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” – Heb. 3:13 (ESV). Courage is serious business; it is the ability to act in the face of something that is frightening or painful or threatening. Encouragement or exhortation means that you share your courage with someone who needs it. It means you’re going to join hands and walk with them while they’re facing something difficult. Maybe that person is grieving or facing a serious challenge or going through a hard season where there are no easy answers. Encouragement is not necessarily about knowing just the right words. Sometimes words are not necessary. Sometimes words are inadequate. Many times just your presence says, “I know this is a hard place, but I’m going to stand here with you. You’re not going to go through this alone.” Commit yourself to being an encourager. Allow yourself to stand alongside someone and share your strength even when you don’t have all the answers.

Unexpected

Then Peter responded (to the Jerusalem Council), "While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.” - Acts 10:44-48 (NASV). Can anyone properly object when the Holy Spirit has clearly been involved?  No, Never!