Help from the Holy Spirit

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. He helps us remember guidance from His previous statements and create mental pictures of which we can understand the meaning. The Holy Spirit does not make decisions for us. He prompts us with confidence to follow those plans associated with godly principles. He does all this in preparation, but leaves the final decisions for thoughts and actions to the individual. In this way we progress along our unique individual spiritual journey one day at a time. "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

Son of Man

Have you ever wondered about the reason Jesus wanted to be known as “the Son of man?” One reason is that it was a description from the prophets of the Father reaching out to His wayward children. When the people heard “Son of man,” they should have remembered the words the Holy Spirit gave to Ezekiel: And he said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.”  And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.  And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day." - Ezek. 2:1-3 (ESV)

Light and Life

In scripture, darkness is used as a symbol. It symbolizes the location of evil, crime, predators, deception, sin, and death. In reality, however, it is more than a symbol, it personifies a pervasive way of living and viewing the world. Darkness is the opposite of God. [Jesus said] "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." – Jn. 8:12 (NIV). When one follows Jesus, they allow His teaching to guide their lives.  They begin a unique individual spiritual journey guided by the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will not guide a person down a pathway filled with anything but Light. He will attempt to overpower any darkness that is inside us. This light, or righteous direction, will fill our hearts mold us closer into the servant Jesus wants us to become.

Correction

Few people really crave correction; in fact, many people view it as a form of personal rejection and are naturally defensive when corrective comments come their way. However, being corrected is an indication that our choices regarding something are not adequate or acceptable for another person. Further, that other person who may be correcting believers are convinced they have a greater understanding about the proper way to complete an action. Additionally, it is also true that correction requires personal investment from the one offering correction; they must consider us worthy of the time spent to correct us. Most of us like to look as presentable as possible when we meet other people. Since this has an important impact on the way other people accept us, when a friend kindly says, “you have a spot of dirt on the rear of your pants leg,” or “your hair is ruffled in the back,” we usually appreciate this. These elements of disorder are usually things we would instantly change if we knew about them. The friend accepts us and wants others to avoid negative thoughts about us; these are attempts to be helpful. There are also times in our spiritual lives when things become amiss. A friend may make us aware of these things and encourage us to correct them. For our spiritual lives, it is only when we can realize and understand that the indwelling Holy Spirit loves us more than any other friend possibly could. Without Him, we can never understand the things that are amiss in our lives and the correction God wants. From this approach, we should cherish correction when the Holy Spirit uses other Christians to help polish us. The writer of Hebrews issued a strong statement about people who were adopted. “If you are not disciplined — and everyone undergoes discipline — then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.” Hebrews 12:8 (NIV). We are wise to recognize that correction, whether large or small,  offers an opportunity to improve, instead of a challenge to be rejected. When someone, friend or not, offers a note of correction, or demands correction for words or actions, how do you first respond? A valuable suggested response might be, “thank you for making me aware of this.” In doing this, whether you agree at first, later, or never, you have acknowledged their input and it becomes your decision whether or not to change and how to change your words or actions. It also provides a way to stop their description of their objection.

Sheep

The biblical example used of sheep is crucial. Sheep have little ability to protect themselves from predators and are neither very hardy, nor very intelligent animals. In addition to this, they can become easily frightened and thus very attached to their keeper. These qualities can be very descriptive of people as well. Both sheep and people need a trustworthy guide for safety in life. Jesus used this example when describing Himself: “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” – Jn. 10:14-15 (ESV). The sheep will accept the shepherd whom they know and trust, then unquestionably follow him wherever he leads. Those people who follow Jesus as shepherd also have the indwelling Holy Spirit to help protect them from predators and guide them along the winding, twisting, up and down pathways of their unique individual spiritual journeys throughout physical life. Shepherd is also a good description of those within the new kingdom who strive to lead Christians along paths which are safe and healthy for both their physical and spiritual pathways.

Dealing with Suffering

Every one of us considers ourselves suffering from something from time to time. Different people have different levels of tolerance for suffering. We may experience suffering from some sort of rejection. Perhaps it is a relationship gone wrong for no reason we understand, or from a mistake we clearly understand. Perhaps it goes as far as a broken heart where all our expectations and dreams are shattered. Or a deep and lasting hurt from physical abuse or the death of a loved one. One of the most painful responses we can hear is, I am sorry, but there is someone else for you. Perhaps it is a job loss that has turned into financial disaster. Perhaps it is an accident or illness that debilitates us in some way; the things we used to do without thinking about them become major ordeals to be carefully planned. Perhaps it is a child who has walked away from God. When any of these events cross our paths, someone may flippantly quote, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” - Jas. 1:2-3 (ESV) or “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. - Rom. 5:3-5 (ESV). While all these are certainly true, the Holy Spirit cannot shield us from this pain or take it away. However, the Holy Spirit experiences these events or feelings along with us and He is beside us to remind us that we are a part of something greater that the present challenge, no matter how devastating it may seem. He will help guide the healing process. He might remind us about those who also lived in severe struggles long ago, [Paul and Barnabas were] strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, " strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” - Acts 14:22 (ESV). How do we allow the Holly Spirit to help us heal from these experiences? There are some guidelines that may help when suffering touches your own life? 
1. A most difficult reality is that we need to realize that as God’s servants, we should strive to live lives that focus on Him and not on us. It is difficult in this ‘serve me’ world, but the desires of our Savior and God need to be placed above our personal needs, preferences, and comforts. Jesus’ mother provides a good example for us regarding her controversial pregnancy, “And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” - Lk. 1:38 (RSV)
2.  We need to realize that suffering is part of the life experience in a broken world. Suffering does not always mean you have done something wrong and are being punished as a result. Paul suffered many trials for doing what Jesus asked him to do and his actions were not wrong. Jesus Christ suffered greatly on earth. Isaiah tells us that, “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;  and as one from whom men hide their face, he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” – Isa. 53:3 (ESV). If Jesus did not escape suffering, why should we believe we can? 
3.  We need to realize that God can heal our suffering.  Suffering can cause us to depend upon Him more.  We all have a great tendency to forget God when times are good. but we cry out to Him when times are uncomfortable.  God allows the suffering to show us how much we really do need Him.  Jesus said, "Apart from Me you can do nothing" (Jn. 15:5).   
4.  Accept the suffering as an opportunity for Christ’s example to be displayed through you. In addition to all of Paul's external issues, he also had one physical issue. It was a thorn in the flesh that bothered him greatly. He asked the Lord three times to take it away. However, Jesus said to him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” - 2 Cor. 12:9 (ESV). 
If you are a Christian and suffering today, depend on the indwelling Holy Spirit to provide consolation. We must only ask Him to do this and open the scriptures for Him to speak. God’s grace will be sufficient in your suffering, but you must trust Him. How these events unfold may be different for each Christian as they walk along their unique individual spiritual journey. However, so long as you follow the pathway provided by the Holy Spirit, you will offer praise to God, which is the goal of each one for whom Christ died.

Help

 Life here on earth is challenging. Personal plans fail and replacement actions never seem adequate for what is missing. Acquaintances overlook us and good friends can let us down. Even those we trust most as brothers or sisters in Jesus can severely wound us. Sometimes our prayers can feel like they go unanswered and even ignored. Where is the Holy Spirit that lives inside me? Our physical health can deteriorate more rapidly than we expect. Advancing age can steal a loved one's mind before their body gives up. We can grow weary, worn out and discouraged by the circumstances that surround our lives and robs us of the joy that used to fill our days. When we become overburdened with these things, we may find ourselves beginning to doubt our place in life. Sometimes, we may doubt God's involvement in our lives. This was the question John the Baptist’s disciples went to ask Jesus (Matt. 11:1-6); Jesus’ actions was the answer provided to John. If the Holy Spirit is honing me and He is described as good, why do I not recognize some goodness in my life? Does the Holy Spirit really help me in some way or have I resisted His activities and stopped whatever He was trying to do through me? When this happens, we feel defeated and afraid to talk to anyone about our doubts; we may decide to create a façade and deny our real state of weakness. As a result, we wrestle with these challenges and fears alone. But why are we afraid to admit our doubts? We are not alone in having doubts. As we move forward on our unique individual spiritual journey, each person may experience various doubts about different things, maybe even life, itself. However, we are not alone. Even the men who had spent time living with Jesus were discouraged after Jesus’ death. As they hid, they received good news, but could they believe it? “and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.” – Lk. 24:9-11 (ESV). These men ran to the tomb immediately to find out if the news was true. Finding the tomb open and empty corroborated the news, but left them with many more questions.  Later, Jesus personally visited these disciples, but one Apostle did not personally witness this meeting. “Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Jn. 20:24-25 (ESV). Seeing Jesus alive after such a cruel death was unbelievable; from this encounter Thomas gained the description of “Doubting Thomas.”
During our times of struggles, we should depend on the Holy Spirit to guide us to calmness using the examples of John the Baptist, the Apostles, and the cloud of witnesses that surround us. (Heb. 12:1). The Holy Sprit has provided so many ways the ease our concerns, but we must trust Him and ask Him for help.