Our guest speaker today brings an interesting perspective.  If they say you're a door, or you're a signpost, as will be discussed this session, I think everyone understands that you're not, really.  These are just examples, metaphors.  But what about a temple?  That's real, and that has power.  Power to change you.  Power to change others.  Your life is completely and irrevocably changed when the power of the Living God, the person of the Holy Spirit, because of Jesus Himself, has taken control of you.

When Adam was first made by God, his body was not alive.  Funny... never really thought of it that way.  He was in a sense dead, at least until the Spirit of God moved on and in him, "breathed" on him, and suddenly Adam had life.

Once again, practicing the rituals of a particular religion is not what gives your spirit life.  Even at the group level, if it's comprised of nothing more than a collection of spiritually dead people who just attend periodic rituals we call church, you've got a dead church.

​We're looking for life both on the individual and corporate level.  Now you've got something.

For those of us who have gone through devastating circumstances, to the point where we really didn't think our heart could take much more without failing, these are the times when we need real comfort, the kind of comfort that can bring back complete rest in our hearts.

This week we're looking at Peter in the courtyard.  It's a story we've all heard so often that the tendency is to not listen too closely.  And that ends up being the central issue, doesn't it.  Focusing on ourselves, and then, when the pressure is on we react knee-jerk style.  This isn't about focusing about others.  It's about focusing on ourselves in a different way.  Getting quiet, learning to talk to our Living Lord, learning to listen and being willing to be honest in self assessment.  

...and they do more times than not in most of our lives.  Life is supposed to be long periods of peace interrupted only be brief periods of difficulty.  At least that's the way we hope.  What is our immediate response in tough circumstances.  Let's dig in to find out the best way.

We're continuing in the 2nd chapter of Habakkuk. Don't ever allow the evil one to bring you to discouragement with life.

We're continuing in Habakkuk. When trouble comes, particularly when the source of the problem seems to be initiated by others, don't be too quick.

Most of us have a preconceived notion as to what life is supposed to look like.  When our plans begin to take an unexpected and not so pleasant turn, how we react largely depends on the set of lenses through which we're viewing life.  Unbelief is an act of the will, but doubt arises from a broken life, a broken heart.  And there is a cure.  Life through the lense of Habakkuk.

In Psalm 25 the Lord speaks of those who are willing to allow their will to be bent by Him. That's followed by a direct connection to Him, in turn, coaching and personally instructing them in good judgement, particularly to those who will be placed in positions of authority and have the power to exact good, balanced justice in a society bent on evil.  That would be helpful in today's society, bent on destruction.

​The time is getting closer. Get ready.

Not by what you see or by what people whisper in your ear.  That's the way most people's lives are driven.  We're still on the subject of the Holy Spirit.  Let's listen.