Similar interests

Most people enjoy conversations with other people who share similar interests? I have observed people of both genders discuss basketball, football, or other sports for hours and never tire of the conversation. If not sports the topic might be balet, opera, NASCAR, or fishing. People feel a kinship to others who share like interests. We focus on our own opinions and preferences. There are also those who share a common interst in God's word. It is very easy for the Holy Spirit to encourage and teach people who are interested in God, His Word, His opinions, His actions. We need to believe and follow as the Holy Spirit leads us. Jesus responded to some Jews, "But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God,” - Jn. 8:45-47 (ESV).

Surrounded by Angels

We may treasure that we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, but that is not all. For God's will to be accomplished, He not only uses people, but also angels. Scriptures says, "The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them" (Psalm 34:7). The "eth" indicates continual actions. And Elisha prayed for his servant, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha,"(2 Kings 6:17).  In 2Cor. 11:14, we learn, "And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light." Yes, we are surrounded by angels, some good and some bad. Yet, as Jesus demonstrated, all are subject to the indwelling Holy Spirit that carries on Jesus' work. We cannot see water vapor in many states, but nevertheless, it is in the air that surrounds us. Although we cannot see these angels, they can see us and are near to help us live in ways that glorify God. Indwelt by the Holy Spirit and surrounded by angels, God is always with us. His eye is always upon us both day and night, not judge us, but to guard and help us - if we will allow it. One person proposed, "If devils do us mischief, shining ones do us service." Scripture indicates the angels are camped around us, they are continually present and on watch; a camped group does not come and go. This camp surrounds those "in Christ" so that they cannot be attacked from any quarter; the adversary cannot break through the entrenchments of the LORD of angels. We have protection that is permanently guaranteed and watched by these angels. The protectors are sentenels and messengers of God Almighty. Our protectors will not be surprised by sudden assaults nor swallowed up by overwhelming forces. Spiritual protection and deliverance is promised in this verse -- "deliverance by the great Captain of our salvation, and that deliverance we shall obtain again and again until our warfare is accomplished and we exchange the field of conflict for the home of rest."

Hope

Hope can be understood as "desire + expectation." What do you really hope for? Throughout our lives, we could make lists of the physical things we have desired, and fewer than we expected to receive. We must note how these lists of physical hopes have changed as the circumstances of our lives changed. Some hopes we realized, some we did not. At some point in our lives, the importance of physical hopes evaporate; yes, James 4:14 describes physical life as a mist or vapor.  The only constant in life is change. At any time, we can choose a spiritual hope that never changes and will never evaporate. If we choose to begin a unique individual spiritual journey led by the Holy Spirit toward eternity based on Jesus' principles, all the changes within our physical lives can have purpose. They can be infused with hope: desire for being with Jesus and expectation of that reality. "For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness." - Gal. 5:5 (NASV)

Right Hand

Generally, Bible students can grasp the symbol of trust and strength in the term "right hand." Furthermore, the Old Testament, Jesus Himself, and the letters to Revelation visualize the ascended Jesus as "sitting at the right hand of God the Father" (Ps. 110:1; Matt. 22:44; 26:64; Lk. 22:69; Rom. 8:34; Col. 3:1; Heb. 8:1; 12:2; 1Pet. 3:22; Rev. 3:21). This might seem as if Jesus did His part in providing a sacrifice and sits patiently waiting for the the work on earth to continue guided by the Holy Spirit. Such an opinion represents a part of the senario, but Christians should be encouraged to note that when Jesus' followers were persecuted, they gained enough immediate attention to cause Jesus to rise to His feet and stand. Jesus is intimately interested in the struggles Christians face when honoring any part of the Trinity. This is revealed when Stephen was stoned. "But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. - Acts 7:55 (NASB) Christians are never alone in their godly challenges. These people have a goal of bringing honor to God as they travel their unique individual spiritual journey.

Difference

A valid questions is, "Does the Holy Spirit make a difference in my life?" A following question needs to be, "What difference does the Holy Spirit make in my life?" The Galatian Christians struggled with adversaries who wanted to do them harm and divert them from following God. In order to help these Christians understand who to trust, Paul provided a comparison of values; He outlined both bad and good practices. The bad ones were those motivated by the flesh; the good ones were those motivated by the indwelling Holy Spirit. As we travel our unique individual spiritual journey, the indwelling Holy Spirit should make a difference in our life! He will if we let Him.  "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit." - Gal. 5:16-25 (ESV)

What does Israel mean

Israel was not only a man’s name, but also a descriptor given to Israel's decedents, the people chosen by Jehovah God to do His will, His people. This descriptor was never a land mass; this is a descriptor of where his people lived. Initially, the chosen people were Jews but later the title was expanded to mean all those who accepted Jesus as the Messiah and Savior. Paul described them as being "grafted in" - Rom. 11:17-18. After the resurrection, God’s chosen people became anyone who accepted Jesus; He then dwelled within them. (Isa. 45:17; Rom. 11:26; Rom. 8:11). The responsibility of people who have accepted Jesus is to  imitate His time on earth. We need to live a life that brings honor to God's name and reach out to help other people. Being a part of Israel means living as a child of God.

Understanding

When was the last time you read a scripture and thought, "I just don't understand this?" Occasionally, one of those scriptures for some has been from Acts 8:38-40, "Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea." - Acts 8:38-40 (NIV) It seems clear the two men went into the water, but "suddenly" Philip was taken away and preached in towns along the way to Caesarea. What does "suddenly" mean. Those seeking wondrous activities of the Holy Spirit propose he was lifted up in the air and flown to another place. I propose a different explanation. Philip was probably not picked up at all, he left the eunuch, exited the road, and continued his journey home, the one he had begun. Luke's point here is not a miracle to cause belief, but one to explain how the Gospel was preached as the disciples went from place to place. Throughout the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit inspires, convicts, empowers, emboldens, directs, guides, and leads God's servants in sharing the story of Jesus in much of the Roman Empire. The Holy Spirit does not always act in mystical ways.