Guide

Someone said, "Remember that I can fit everything into a pattern for good, including the things you wish were different. Start with where you are at this point in time and space, accepting that this is where I intend you to be." This can be a daunting opinion to hold. We long to see this all-embracing pattern for good! Sometimes we can’t begin to imagine how the Holy Spirit can guide us to fit all our struggles into such a pattern. Sometimes our circumstances seem like a series of gigantic mistakes; I should have done something differently, I should have avoided this mess. I need to make a new beginning but how can I begin to correct something I created, something I should have been able to prevent in the beginning. Jesus told His disciples, the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak. Many times when we try to accept our circumstances as God's will, we feel as if we are against a solid wall. We need to determine to make a new beginning and ask the Holy Spirit to help us make decisions that will glorify God. Even then we may perceive that each step forward is accompanied by two steps in the opposite direction, the holy Spirit may be helping us at levels we do not perceive. In these cases, we need to start anew and continue to follow our understanding of the pathways provided by the Holy Spirit. Even if we could see the all-encompassing pattern, you wouldn’t be able to understand it. Some things—many things—are simply beyond our grasp. We should not dwell on what we could have done differently, for that is an exercise in unreality: The past cannot be different from what has actually occurred. NOW is the only place and time to start anew. We need to accept our present situation and learn from what happened, as best we understand it. We must trust the guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead us along our unique independent spiritual journey to eternity. "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Rom. 8:28 (NASB). Cf. Deut. 29:29:  "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law." (NASB). 

Instruction

Jesus attempted to instruct His disciples about many things. At this time, they needed to gain understanding about the source of living, blessings from God, e.g. manna  compared to bread of heaven. It was a different concept and they found it difficult to grasp. Many people today like to find the quickest and easiest way to complete an undertaking or a specific task. In so doing, the quality and reliability of the effort may become, 'not very good,' and failure may come quickly. Sometimes we avoid a concern for value. Perhaps the item we acquire is a trial exercise and we aren't concerned about how long it lasts, we will choose something else next time. Value seeks the best possible product for the length of time needed the price paid. Sometimes paying a bit more for a higher quality product will delay the cost to replace it very soon. It is an exercise in the reason and the longevity one expects when spending the resources they control. A slightly higher price for a product, an item, that lasts longer before needing replacement, is likely a money saving purchase and has greater value. Jesus' activities were ones that last for eternity; at the same time, they came at a great physical cost for his earthly existence. When He finished His work on earth, Jesus was to leave His disciples. This was best for them, but they could not yet understand all the details, this would come when the Holy Spirit empowered them to understand and act. Concerning the bread, Jesus needed them to understand his actions were greater than the delivering of Manna. "Many of His disciples said, "This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?" Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, "Does this offend you? Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again?" – Jn. 6:60-62.

Weakness

 As believers, we are to follow Jesus’ instructions. Our love for God is not exhibited by how well we talk or how loudly we shout, but by how obediently we act. Three times in John 14, Jesus said that those who love Him will keep His commandments (vv. 15, 21, 23). It is apparent that this message is very important! Jesus said the commandments were His commandments. He personally owned them, so when we reject them, we reject Him. Biblical knowledge is critical, but it is not the ultimate test of your love for God. Knowledge is a means to an end; the end is obedience and glorifying God. As believers, we receive help from the Holy Spirit to keep Christ’s commandments. Jesus knew we would need it! Another time, Jesus would tell His disciples, "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matt. 26:41). We also struggle with this issue. Our spirits are often willing, but our flesh is always weak. He prayed to the Father and promised to send us “another Helper.” The word “another” implies that the next Helper would be like Jesus, who was the first Helper. Jesus is the embodiment of truth, and the Spirit is the empowerment of truth. The Spirit indwells every disciple of Christ. So be filled with the Spirit, walk in the Spirit, and do not quench the Spirit.

Understanding empowerment

The things Jesus did were meant to provide insight into how God the Father viewed His creation. Jesus would say “I and the Father are one”, - (Jn. 10:30) and, "By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me", - (Jn. 5:30). We further learn that the Holy Spirit empowered Jesus (first verses of Isa. 11; 42; 61). Whether by calming the storm, healing the sick, giving sight to the blind or raising the dead, or casting out demons, Jesus displayed the sensitivities of God the Father. Jesus said, “If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” - (Luke 11:20). He’s not like other miracle workers who do amazing things and then life proceeds as it always has. No -- to Jesus, his miracles were a sign indicating the coming of the kingdom of God. They were a foretaste of what the kingdom was going to be like. And this sets Jesus apart from others, a practice his apostles continued after His resurrection. One person has said, "Jesus saw his miracles as bringing about something unprecedented--the coming of God’s dominion. He didn't merely see himself as a worker of miracles; he saw himself as the one in whom and through whom the promises of God come to pass. That’s a not-too-thinly-veiled claim of transcendence." The empowering presence that enabled Jesus lives within each Christian now. The Holy Spirit will empower us to do Jesus' will as we move along our unique independent spiritual journey. We just need to understand what He wants at any given time. This understanding will begin as we reach out to other people.

Long life

Humans have a general desire to live a long life. There are physical, and emotional aches and pains along the way, but we are usually looking for something greater and better each day of our lives. Ancient people were very aware of leaving this world and wanted to be remembered. The Thessalonians were very interested in a pathway to eternal life. Paul wrote, "Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. Reading scripture guides one to God has put within each of us an inner sense that life on earth is not all there is.” - 1Thess. 4:13-18 (NIV). This was also a concern in the Old Testament, “[God] has also set eternity in the hearts of men” (Eccl. 3:11). Many times there is a small internal voice that causes us to yearn for life with a higher being. This desire is satisfied only via eternal life with God. Paul also wrote to the Romans, “What may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen . . . so that men are without excuse” (Rom. 1:19-20). When we embrace Jesus' gift, just as God lives forever, we who are made in His likeness will also live forever.

Secure

In another post, I presented a concepts called "daily grind of uncertainty." While in our hustle bustle world of busyness, this uncertainty can germinate when we are not focused on godly concepts and flourish when others with critical attitudes and comments cross our paths. However, three items can help us combat such feelings. First, remembering that you are of such importance that someone, God or Jesus, died to release you from anything that might cause uncertainly of closeness to God. Second, the Christian has the indwelling Holy Spirit, God himself, living within them; no person or entity is more powerful that God. Third Jesus will always protect our spiritual lives. We may pass through some times we struggle with many parts of life, but Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit said, "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one." - Jn. 10:28-30. 

Eyes

 We place a great deal of dependence on our eyes and what we can see.  When difficulties arise, we usually seek contacts, glasses or other solutions to maintain the ability to create images in our minds of those things observed with our eyes. The eye is only one of our senses, but we tend to depend heavily on them. When we sense something via any of our senses, our minds react based on our previous experiences. Sounds, sight, and touch of a loved one remind us of many fond memories. Many visions can excite our perception about the magnificence of God’s creation. What we sense also drives our next actions; will they be positive or negative in God’s sight? If we have a strong previous experience of God’s word, then we can better translate those things we sense to make the better decisions for next feelings and steps. The Holy Spirit, who lives within the Christian desires to prompt us to make the best choices for next actions and glorify God in some way. He desires to help us make decisions that guide us along holy pathways. “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psa. 119:105); “The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is bad, your body also is full of darkness.” (Lk. 11:34); “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matt. 7:3-5). As we move along our unique independent spiritual journey, we need to seek His pathway, but it is our own decision.

In the Light

 Many times Christians do things that, in retrospect, are either wrong or not best. When those things occur, most times we would rather no one else knows about our failures and we try to hide them or consider them less serious than they really are. A way to describe not admitting mistakes or defects in our character can be described as "darkness." A life dedicated to God attempts to admit that even though they are declared sinless by the grace of God, we are in fact, not sinless. When we admit these faults and confess our wrongdoings, we live in the light. A person living in the light doesn't need to fear God's judgment. The indwelling Holy Spirit will help overcome tendencies toward falsehood or dishonesty, if we ask Him. When we admit or confess our weaknesses and ask the Holy Spirit for help, help will come. One person said, "My desire to open my life to the light of God's truth and holiness reveals my desire to do what is right. My reluctance reveals how the power of sin has come into my life and my heart." John would advise this, "Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God." Jn. 3:20-21 (NIV).

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 protect him that day. Many other policemen pray verbal or silent prayers in their cruisers 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 understand they live in a world of unseen and unexpected dangers. We all live in such a spiritual world, although the dangers may be different. 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 one 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 some 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. 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. 

Sustenance

Jesus had much to say 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, "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) 

Direction

Imagine 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).

Immanuel

The people to whom Jesus came physically, failed to recognize Him. Even though the Holy Spirit gave the words of scripture, these people failed to recognize the target for the message given. He was God with us, Immanuel (Matt. 1:23). Further,  "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." - Jn. 5:39-40. While the scriptures are an important link to what the Holy Spirit has left, for following God's plan, Jesus is much more important. He is the central message to which scriptures point. When one relies on the Holy Spirit to reveal the meaning and purpose for earthly life. Christians should depend on Him as we follow our unique independent spiritual journey here on earth.

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. Their understanding of “life” becomes enriched. Physical life becomes more than mere physical existence. Some people grasp the significance of this transition for others. These participants seem to spread the news, that when the Son gives “life,” it continues; it has new direction and is empowered 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)

Curse

 "So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit," - 1 Cor. 12:3 (NLT). When people look at this scripture, some are a bit confused since our culture seems to define "curse" differently than what was meant at this time. In the present day, "curse" seems to signify a by-word or expression of frustration and disappointment. During the New Testament time in history, "curse" really meant to wish bad things on something and perhaps do almost anything to cause them to fail. (remember the fig tree that Jesus cursed in Mk. 11:14). So, no person who really believes in Jesus would want His efforts or goals to fail. This is not consistent with the workings of the Holy Spirit.