Sealed with the Holy Spirit

"In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth,
 the gospel of your salvation - having also believed,
you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
who is given as a pledge of our inheritance,
with a view to the redemption of God's own possession,
to the praise of His glory."
Ephesians 1:13-14

"...you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise..."  This is huge! We were sealed - closed up, never to leave without Someone (Jesus) breaking the seal.  We are God's!  We are His children!  This is irrevocable!  And not only were we sealed, but we were sealed with the Holy Spirit.  This is the God who comforts, who teaches, who abides within us, who convicts.  I had a young lady that I am working with be tempted by alcohol which her father offered to her.  She is a new believer and told me her story expecting condemnation.  She drank a couple of sips and then felt so convicted that she turned and left feeling like a failure.  But, the Holy Spirit was in her!  He convicted her!  That was proof of her childhood!  She obeyed that conviction and changed her behavior.  She did not fail the test!  She triumphed!  And we rejoiced together.

The Holy Spirit is God's conscience within us.  He speaks to us teaching training, rebuking.  He is love, just like Jesus and God.  His conviction is out of love for our good!  Rejoice when the Holy Spirit is evident within you!  God's truth led to salvation, which led to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit which is a sign of the promise of God's inheritance of heaven!  God redeemed us for His own.  Because of this, we praise Him and recognize His glory over the sin and chaos of this world.  There is hope!  There is forever!

Hint of the day: Listen to the voice of God within you.  Learn to discern His voice.  When we follow Him it becomes easier and easier.  This is also true about not following Him.  When we ignore God, it because easier to ignore Him the next time!  Teach your children that it is like a muscle.  If you don't use it the muscle will atrophy.  If you use it continually it will strengthen.  When your child is struggling over an issue, step back.  Ask him/her to pray about it and see what God says.  Then after they have heard from God be there to confirm and encourage and help them to be obedient.  My third son wanted to go on a mission trip when he was 13.  He didn't have the money.  We told him to pray about it.  He did and decided to use the money that he had been saving up for a surf boaord.  This was 1/3 of the money that he needed.  After making that decision the other 2/3 of the money came in from friends and church.  He went to Haiti and learned a lot there, but the lesson started when he heard and obeyed the Holy Spirit.