Inner being

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

Come in

Some passages of scripture are filled with mental images a person from the original culture would immediately understand. For many passages from John’s Revelation this is especially true. Let us consider, "Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends . . . Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches." - Rev 3:20;22 (NLT). Around this time, a locked door indicated some level of protection from whatever was outside, and opening the door meant trust of the person who is to come inside. The first element here is notification that someone on the other side of this safety device wants to enter. John introduces this as, "hear." This word meant more than absorbing the sound that is made, perhaps an alert at the door.  To these hearers, it meant understanding what was said and accepting the meaning. One can listen to words and not understand their meaning. Finally, when one opened the door and invited a person into his home, the home owner was expected to do all in their power to give them aid and even protection. A meal was understood to indicate a level of acceptance and close fellowship. To the original hearers, this describes a sincere invitation to those people who are able to understand the significance of having a very close relationship with God. As then, the closest relationship to God now is via the Holy Spirit. As Christians move along their unique individual spiritual journey, they should ask the Holy Spirit to guide their pathway and offer praise to God.

Living by the Spirit

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

Aid

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

Indwelling Guide

When we became Christians, Jesus gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit. We have been born again, or perhaps better stated, "born from above." (Jn. 3:3) Now, the Holy Spirit lives within us, making our bodies part of a Temple and blessing us as we serve God. We can be courageous people even in the face of attack, criticism, and ridicule because of the Spirit's empowerment. This indwelling also produces fruit displaying actions of which God would approve (Gal. 5). Additionally, the Spirit pours love into our heart and provides courage for serving God. The Spirit's powerful presence can help us overcome sinful leanings and live the lives Jesus desires (Rom. 8:13). As we move along our unique independent spiritual journey, let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help guide us to the better servants of God. 

Cry

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

Temples

In times past and in some places today, structures are erected to provide a visible image and location to remind themselves and others of the concept people considered their greater, guiding, driving force: these were temples of an idol. Idolatry is essentially considering someone or something greater than ones self and becoming servants of that concept. Not all temples are visible structures for idols. "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple." - 1 Cor. 3:16-17 (ESV). The one greater thing for people should be only Jehovah God! Scripture is clear that God directed the Holy Spirit to live within Christians. Since that is the case, shouldn't we avoid anything that is counter to His efforts to produce a holy human temple? This will make the Spirit's task of sanctification more straightforward. If this is a formidable effort on our part, He will help overcome these challenges if we ask Him. "Put to death (become separated from), therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." Col. 3:5 (NIV)

Real Life

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

Stumble

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

Well done tasks offer praise to God

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

Redemption

What does "redemption" mean for people? The concept of redemption describes "buying back, releasing, ransoming." When people realize they are in a condition in which there is no escape, they seek help for a way out of this condition. Perhaps like paying off one's financial debts when they see no ways to pay them off, themselves. When the condition is sin, there is only one way out, Jesus Christ. Accepting His offered gift provides not only redemption from this sinful condition, but also an indwelling helper for the journey ahead: the twisting, undulating journey of life ending in eternal bliss with God. "And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us," Rom. 5:5 (NIV). Once this event occurs, the person begins a unique independent spiritual journey. Their change process is known sometimes as sanctification, or becoming more dedicated to godly actions and thoughts.

BFF

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

Never Alone

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

Ear to Hear

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

Groaning

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

Holy Spirit Helps

There are many ways that the Holy Spirit works in the lives of Christians to make them more like Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit speaks to us via the scriptures. He takes what we read or hear, helps us put the pieces together and understand the teaching. "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." - 2 Tim. 3:16-17 (ESV). As we move along our unique individual spiritual journey, He leads us to be more sanctified. He develops the characteristics we know as fruit. And, He empowers Christians to witness about Jesus. He guides us into all truth.