| The Optimum Flow Of Life; Ref: Peter Tan | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Dec 9 2007, 12:47 AM (357 Views) | |
| Stace4Jesus | Dec 9 2007, 12:47 AM Post #1 |
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Just wanting to share.. it is really good. Quote *** Fatherly Talk 1.24 – The Optimum Flow of Life Dearly Beloved, We all know that the Bible says that everything that we see is made up of things which are invisible (2 Corinthians 4:18; Hebrews 11:3). Based on Romans 1:20, where all creation was made to reflect God’s image, many assume that this process of the visible being affected by the invisible is a completed process which ended at creation; this was true before the fall but the image has been corrupted since sin entered the world. In truth, the present physical world is still being changed and affected from the invisible spiritual realm. This process will continue until all rule and all authority comes under God (1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Hebrews 2:5-8; Romans 8:18-21). 2 Corinthians 4:18 and Hebrews 11:3 were written to help us understand how we continue to be an instrument to effect this change (of the invisible world upon the visible physical world) towards the perfection of Christ. It was in view of this ability that we have in Christ to effect this physical world that the power of exercising faith comes in (2 Corinthians 4:13-16; Hebrews 11:1, 6). Through all the teachings, we have established that it is not our own faith, effort or energy but the gift of faith, love, grace and God’s strength within us that helps us to achieve this dominion (Romans 5:17; 8:37; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 3:20; Philippians 4:13). Once we are firmly established in the understanding that it is not us but Christ in us who enables us to fulfil our destinies in this life, the next logical step would be to understand how to flow with this internal energy source from Christ within us. Some of the keys to understanding this optimum flow of Christ’s life from within us is liken to a surfer riding a high energy ocean wave. 1. There are ebbs and heights in the flow of the power of the Holy Spirit through us (Isaiah 40:31). We need to be sensitive to times and seasons of the Holy Spirit (John 7:6-8; Acts 1:7-8; 3:19, 21). Some of these cycles and seasons are long dispensations while others are short cycles of days or weeks (Ephesians 1:10; 5:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:1). Like a surfer, we should always swim towards the wave to ‘catch and ride the wave.’ In between the waves, the surfer exercises more effort to swim but when the waves come, the only effort is to balance and ride out the wave. These spiritual waves are invisible spiritual energy waves that flow from God to our spirits and outwards to the physical world. Some of these waves have been released since the resurrection of Christ and lasts for thousands of years but within them are smaller waves that effect individual lives differently through His gifting (Ephesians 3:10; 4:7). a. Part of the causes of the ebb and flow are the balance of flows of God’s goodness and mercy on a daily basis (Psalm 23:6) interacting with seasons of ‘attempted evil days by the enemy’ (The word ‘attempted’ is used to qualify the fact that it need not be a successful attack of the enemy if we are aware of it and successfully put on the armour of God – Ephesians 6:13). We need to know when to have seasons of fasting when the battle heats up and when to rejoice and feast when the Lord gives the victory (Luke 4:1-2, 13; 5:33-35; Romans 12:15). b. Part of the causes of the ebb and flow are our own internal needs to take time to strengthen our inner man versus times of display of outward manifestations of inner strength in fruitfulness (Psalm 1:2-3). Times of pruning versus times of fruitfulness (John 15:2). Times of growing roots versus times of branching out (Mark 4:13-20; Ephesians 3:17-18). We need to know when to soar like an eagle, when to run with the vision, when to walk by faith at a steady pace and when to be still and wait upon God (Isaiah 40:31). c. Part of the ebb and flow is caused by the corporate faith of believers and the community as a whole (Acts 4:32, 33; 5:11-14) – the atmosphere of faith. Jesus was sensitive to the atmosphere of faith as He restricted the disciples who could follow Him to three and removed all the mocking unbelievers out of the house where He raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead (Mark 5:37-41). Paul was conscious of the flow of faith when he commanded the crippled man to walk only after he had preached the word of faith (Acts 14:7-10). Even Jesus could not do mighty works when a whole community is entrenched in unbelief (Mark 6:5-6). The acceptance of the word of God and the positive effect of one or two miracles can grow an atmosphere of faith (Acts 19:10-20). 2. Different principles and methods apply to flowing in the low ebbs as opposed to riding the heights of an energetic wave (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8; Luke 5:34-35). There are always times of waiting and tarrying versus times of simply walking in the miracles (Acts 4:24-31; 5:12-16). At all times, the energising is still from Christ and the Holy Spirit within (John 15:5; 1 Corinthians 15:10). Even Paul acknowledges that the signs and wonders of an apostle are accomplished with perseverance (2 Corinthians 12:12). The spiritual breakthroughs in Ephesus were accomplished only after three years of daily (365 days a year and each session possibly lasting hours) solid and patient ministry in the Word of God and tearful prayers (Acts 19:10; 20:31). a. The times of low ebbs are actually as important as they are hidden from public view for they are times of building a solid root foundation. These are times when outwardly you seem to grow smaller through the pruning of the Lord as old branches are removed from your life (John 15:3). Yet they are the most important times as your roots are given sufficient time to grow strong (Psalm 1:2-3). This is an important time of waiting on the Lord when you grow more ‘bonded’ (Hebrew –qavah) and in union with the Lord (Isaiah 40:31). Those who try to shorten the optimum time required for this and those who bypass this vital stage completely will be completely destroyed when they try to bear fruit because they have no root in themselves (Mark 4:16-17). Remember that the whole tree depends 100% on its root system. Everything depends on its foundation (Matthew 7:24-27; 1 Corinthians 3:10-12). If a surfer does not take time to swim towards the waves, there will be no waves to ride. If a sail boat does not put out its sails, no amount of wind is going to be of any benefit. If we are not prepared to grow roots and foundations in our own inner life with the Lord, there will be no opportunities for the Lord do His works through us. b. The times of foundational building involved great internal structural changes within us. These involved renewal of the mind, establishment in God’s love for us, strengthening of our first love towards God, growing in grace, growing in faith in the Lord, etc. (Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 3:17-19; Revelations 2:2-4; 3:15-20; Hebrews 11:6). They involved much time in the study of the Word, in prayer and fasting, in worship, etc. (2 Timothy 2:15, 15-17; Luke 5:35; Acts 6:4; 1 Corinthians 7:5; 2 Corinthians 11:27; Acts 13:1-3). God continues to expose more and more of our weaknesses that need to be yielded to Him until we are perfectly moulded in His image (2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Hebrews 4:15, 16; Romans 8:23-30). Our thought patterns are changed during this time which will also impact upon our habits and styles as we behold more of the glory of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:14-18). All these will not be done in one cycle but it will be done gradually through many ebbs and flows. For like the Israelites, we are not able to posses all of the promise land at one time but God gives us possession as we grow bit by bit (Deuteronomy 7:22, 23). It will be glory to glory and grace upon grace – one step at a time for each cycle (2 Corinthians 3:18; John 1:16). 3. Learning to ride the heights of each wave is purely an art of letting go and keeping balanced. One must walk in perfect love and absolute trust in the reality of a personal God if one is to ride on the wave that flows from God (Proverbs 3:5, 6). Note that you would have to trust the Lord to open all the right doors in His time (not in your time); and also to acknowledge that He is in control of every one of your steps even if they meander through a wilderness (Deuteronomy 8:2; Mark 1:12) and even in your failures (Psalm 37:23-24; Romans 8:28). a. There will always be a risk element in every step of faith and in every act of trust. Peter walked on water at the risk of drowning. Though he stumbled and nearly drowned, he received an experience which no other disciple (left shivering in their fear in the safety of the boat) had ever encountered (Matthew 14:28-32). Young David experienced a real danger of being killed by Goliath when he ventured (against the advice of everyone, including the whole army of Israel) to fight Goliath with a slingshot (1 Samuel 17). He was a person used to overcoming the dangers of lions and bears before that – not because of his self confidence but rather because of his confidence and trust in God (1 Samuel 17:37). The only difference between you and a person of great faith and accomplishment is the willingness to overcome the fear-factor and take the risk of entrusting your entire life in the hands of God for something that you fully believe in from the depths of your spirit. The world is filled with cowards and only the bold will possess the promise land (Luke 4:29). It is not the stupid, idiotic and foolish gamble with one’s life but rather it is the measured and evaluated risk that one is willing to take in an act of faith and trust in God. It is a step taken after the intelligent and carefully thought-out counting of the risk and cost (Luke 14:26-33). Yet it involves the risking and forsaking of everything to take this step (Luke 14:33). Abraham risked everything when he left the safety of Haran on his venture of faith (Hebrews 11:8, 9). Everyone who is a hero of faith has risk all to take the step of faith required to show their trust in God not merely by words but by action. Trust is an act and not a mere mental concept. b. Once the step of faith is taken, the key is to keep one’s balance through flowing with the current. For the surfer, his balance is maintained on his surfboard. For the believer, his balance is maintained by the written Word of God by which everything is measured (2 Timothy 3:16) and by your conscience of right and wrong (Hebrews 5:14). Paul lived his entire life being sensitive to his conscience (Acts 23:1; 2 Timothy 1:3). The whole purpose of life in service and obedience to God is love from a pure heart, a good conscience and sincere faith (2 Timothy 1:5). Those who do not listen to their conscience will experience shipwreck in their faith venture (2 Timothy 1:19). Never do anything that is not in line with the written Word of God and never ever violate your inner conscience. Don’t associate with people who have no conscience; their paths are a roadway to destruction both in this life and in the next. Right and wrong in your life should neither be determined by what other people around you are saying nor by society. It should be determined by the Word of God and the life and blood of Jesus. Only Jesus and the Word of God can cleansed us from a conscience filled with dead works and an evil conscience (Hebrews 9:12; 10:22). The Word of God and your conscience is your surfboard to ride the energy wave of God. As a surfer shifts his weight (left, right, forward or backward) to flow in harmony with the energy of the wave he is riding, we should balance the external pressures that the act of faith produces by being sensitive to what the Word of God is saying (both logos and rhema) and what our conscience is saying. The centre of gravity is the love of God that must be kept balanced above the surfboard of faith and conscience. Some of the most powerful achievements done that has an eternal effect upon this world are done at the peak of the waves. The actions of man and woman of faith riding on the energising of God within has changed history and produced eternal changes upon this world. May God continue to teach and train each of us to ride the waves of God that are continually being released upon this earth. In His love Ps Peter Tan Unquote *** www.eaglevision.com.my |
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8:01 PM Jul 10