“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you BELIEVED, you were MARKED in HIM with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.” Ephesians 1:13 — The eternal gift of God includes the mark of God, the filling of the Holy Spirit. The Jewish worshipers of Jehovah God, looked in HOPE for a coming Messiah. They gladly anticipated to embrace His future coming.  When Jesus walked among humanity in Israel, the GENTILES, had only lack and NO HOPE. With sinking hearts in the midst of their empty vessels, they yearned for help.  They wanted and WAITED “for the WORD of the TRUTH ” In desperation all unsatisfied souls desire the real TRUTH, NOT a VEILED version. Back in the days when Jesus physically walked in Israel, many gentiles RECEIVED the Word of God. History is recorded in Acts 10 about the conversion of a Gentile named Cornelius who was an Italian centurion. His baptism is followed by the baptism of a female Gentile named Lydia who lived in the Roman colony in Philippi. (Acts 16)  The entire families of both Cornelius and Lydia were baptized. God used a transformed Jew named Paul to initiate faith and unity among the Jews and the Gentiles in Ephesus. God seeks to possess all people on earth as it is in heaven.

To be redeemed from the oppression of guilt, and the shame of sin — remains good news! People who admit and BELIEVE that they are helpless sinners, confess that they have lied, rebelled, hated, stolen a least a hotel pen, and that they have murdered the reputations of others with gossip.  They chose to repent of their sins to embrace the truth; that they NEED a SAVIOR. Their GLAD reception is recorded.  “After that ye BELIEVED, ye were SEALED with that HOLY SPIRIT of PROMISE.” —Note the order: They first BELIEVED, then they were SEALED. Compare the 2026 reception of the Holy Spirit with the experience of the Day of Pentecost.   Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38. The work of the Holy Spirit is first to convict, then sanctify.  John 16:8-11 “When HE comes, HE will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in ME; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see ME no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.” As Peter boldly told an international crowd, #1 REPENT #2 BE FORGIVEN #3 BE BAPTIZED #4 RECEIVE the Holy Spirit. The LIGHT of the gospel truth SHINES before mankind; ● By FAITH people around the globe open their eyes to welcome the truth; ● Then they are SEALED by the GIFT of the HOLY SPIRIT. YES, LORD, we thank You!

Ephesians 2:10-13 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Remember that at one time all Gentiles were separate from Christ, and we were excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of God’s promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus we who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” The FAITH to BELIEVE is yet being ministered as another precious gift of God. Our Lord teaches us in John 16:8-13 to recognize the work of the HOLY SPIRIT in the world. He convicts hearts of SIN, so they they will BELIEVE in Jesus as their needed Savior. The special GIFT of God’s presence in the BODY OF CHRIST still moves today in order to convince souls that “I am a sinner, and I need a Savior.”  Be amazed that you are God’s creation and that He pursues you. It is our Father’s desire to possess you fully.  Truth is, the Spirit of God INHABITS those who believe in Jesus.  According to God’s will, the HOLY SPIRIT INDWELLS receptive souls. A trusting  soul welcomes Him and submits so that the Spirit of God can, “GUIDE us unto ALL the TRUTH.” The fullness of the Holy Spirit’s Presence is the purchased SEAL of God in the NEW COVENANT. We are marked, set aside, adopted, anointed, as God’s Ambassadors on earth. Let that truth sink in deeply. Our IDENTITY ‘in Christ’ is far SUPERIOR than a nationality, personality, disability, rank, or title. We were ADOPTED by the KING, and our home is in heaven. Let your heart burst with thanksgiving to our God.

Psalm 139:5-8 “You hem me in behind and before, and You lay Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there.” As the Spirit of God indwells us, wherever we go He is there. Psalm 22:3 declares, “Yet You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.” Another translation says, “You inhabit the praises of Your people.” In Hebrew, the root word for enthroned highlights the concept of GOD’S sovereign SEAT in the heart of mankind, or His dwelling place in the MIDST of us. Enthroned on inhabited, the emphasis is on God’s delighted response to our worship. And so it is written by God, and so it is true! Hosanna in the highest! AMEN

In 2 Chronicles 5:13-14 the Israelites PRAISED the LORD with instruments and voices. “The GLORY of the LORD filled the HOUSE of GOD.” WOW! According to scripture, we are NOW the temple of His Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, under the old covenant, God’s Spirit manifested with a visible, tangible presence. It is recorded for us in history in this chronicle and in Isaiah chapter 6. The Holy Spirit of God became EVIDENT within the CORPORATE act of PRAISE. Our worship does not compel God to do anything, but GOD often reveals HIS PRESENCE where there is GENUINE, reverent PRAISE. How thrilling to know that GOD is “dwelling in us and in our praises.” Our Abba Father is enthroned in our hearts as we praise Him for Who He is, for what He is yet doing, and for His eternal plan for us. Glory to God, for He alone is worthy of our praises! Amen!

♡ The absolute Holiness of God – The text of Psalm 22:3 highlights GOD’S HOLINESS and HIS distinction from all that He created.  It shows that our worship of GOD sets us in a HEART posture of exciting, REVERENT AWE.

♡ Enthronement/Dwelling – Enthroned is an action verb. This verb in Hebrew means a secure sense of already established. The imagery is that our PRAISES create a SACRED SPACE where GOD communes with us, He reigns, He has dominion, and He is rightly celebrated.

In both the Old and New Testaments, WORSHIP OF GOD is consistently depicted as a SPACE in which GOD MEETS and INTERACTS with HIS PEOPLE. If we do not praise Him, even the rocks will cry out.   Notice that all creation sings His praises. The birds sing, the harvest field is full of arms lifted High. Every breath we take speaks the name of God. Inhale Yah, exhale Weh! Jewish Rabbis agree with the scientific recording that verifies Yahweh is the sound of breath. Yahweh is a central aspect of the Hebrew understanding of God. The name of God that reflects His divine, holy nature, His covenant relationships, and the reverence with which Jehovah, Yahweh is due.

• Genesis 2:4 is where the name is introduced in the creation account.
• Exodus 6:3 God states that He revealed His name to the patriarchs.
• Psalm 138:2 speaks to the exaltation of God’s name above all things. The name Yahweh reflects many attributes of God, His sovereignty, His righteousness, mercy, and faithfulness.

The living Word of God will have His way in all who accept His fullness. God does not just speak the words that everyone would like to hear. The Holy Spirit inspired every writer to pen the truth for us.  Every word profits mankind’s soul. If mere mortal wrote the Bible their pride would omit the failures of mankind. But God has spoken His Word and determined that His Word, His promises will  NEVER change. When you read the Bible, you are connecting with your Creator. Do not consider what man has said, but wisely take care to heed what God had recorded in the Holy Scriptures.

In context, Paul is writing from prison what the Spirit of God had him pen for our benefit.  2 Timothy 3:12-15 “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” Worship God in spirit and truth and be blessed in His presence.