Running on empty, filling when full
At last week's meeting I shared about the need to keep filling up with the Word. As God sends more people into my path for me to share the gospel with, I realise the importance of getting my spiritual fuel tank topped up. When I don't fill up on the Word, I have less to give - I am less wise, less patient, less energetic. My wife can testify to that haha (my wife: that's not funny :P).
I must admit that until recently, I have never really felt the importance of filling up on the Word (apart from general exhortations from people like my leaders and pastors as a generally Good Thing To Do). Personally, I like reading the Bible. It's really quite an interesting book. But it's never actually felt like it could be a recharging experience until recently.
That set me thinking. Many's the time that I've read the Bible, then put it aside, having gained nothing very much. Why? The answer came to me quite clearly - my petrol tank has been full most of the time, because I haven't driven anywhere on God's fuel. So pouring more petrol just spills out from an already full tank. Do you see what I'm getting at? We need to fill up, but we also need to drive somewhere with it, otherwise filling up with more petrol is pointless. Have any of us felt that filling up on the Word is a pointless exercise? Maybe we should drive somewhere and then fill up with fresh petrol.
Of course, the funny thing is that when we're driving, we might end up thinking we're too busy to fill up. So, we should remember - fill up on the Word, then drive somewhere. Then FILL UP AGAIN.
Paul says: "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Cor 10:3-5
In Paul's view, the Christian's weapons are not for causing physical damage, but to "demolish arguments and every pretension", and "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ". And what is the Christian's principal weapon? The sword of the Spirit i.e. the Word (Eph 6:17)!
The Word allows us to receive encouragement and instruction for ourselves and speak the same encouragement and instruction to our brothers and sisters. It also gives us wisdom to speak God's love to the lives of those who don't know Him yet. If we don't know who God is, or what His will is, how can we tell others about Him? See Rom 10:17 - "Consequently faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the WORD OF CHRIST"
So, we use the Word to "demolish arguments", such as when we see our brothers and sisters discouraged. We remind them to break free of discouragement, trusting that "God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 2 Cor 9:8. We also remind our Christian colleagues to stand firm in God's principles, even when the work environment is difficult, knowing that "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Cor 10:13. God has provided guidance for us to encourage those around us in every situation - let's not go unarmed!
And what about our family, friends and colleagues who have yet to know Christ? One application of the Word is in the field of apologetics - this is useful, but I think people seldom get argued into the Kingdom. But it's like the ministerial pay thing. We don't want logic (pay) to be the reason why people come into the kingdom (civil service), but we don't want logic (pay) to be the reason why people DON'T come into the kingdom (civil service). So be prepared.
The other application is in speaking God's promises and love. In the midst of trouble, let them know the depth of God's love Rom 8:38-39 "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." When lost and uncertain, let them understand Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight."
Let's keep on sharpening our swords, and blunt them with frequent use :) Your world needs you!
I must admit that until recently, I have never really felt the importance of filling up on the Word (apart from general exhortations from people like my leaders and pastors as a generally Good Thing To Do). Personally, I like reading the Bible. It's really quite an interesting book. But it's never actually felt like it could be a recharging experience until recently.
That set me thinking. Many's the time that I've read the Bible, then put it aside, having gained nothing very much. Why? The answer came to me quite clearly - my petrol tank has been full most of the time, because I haven't driven anywhere on God's fuel. So pouring more petrol just spills out from an already full tank. Do you see what I'm getting at? We need to fill up, but we also need to drive somewhere with it, otherwise filling up with more petrol is pointless. Have any of us felt that filling up on the Word is a pointless exercise? Maybe we should drive somewhere and then fill up with fresh petrol.
Of course, the funny thing is that when we're driving, we might end up thinking we're too busy to fill up. So, we should remember - fill up on the Word, then drive somewhere. Then FILL UP AGAIN.
Paul says: "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Cor 10:3-5
In Paul's view, the Christian's weapons are not for causing physical damage, but to "demolish arguments and every pretension", and "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ". And what is the Christian's principal weapon? The sword of the Spirit i.e. the Word (Eph 6:17)!
The Word allows us to receive encouragement and instruction for ourselves and speak the same encouragement and instruction to our brothers and sisters. It also gives us wisdom to speak God's love to the lives of those who don't know Him yet. If we don't know who God is, or what His will is, how can we tell others about Him? See Rom 10:17 - "Consequently faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the WORD OF CHRIST"
So, we use the Word to "demolish arguments", such as when we see our brothers and sisters discouraged. We remind them to break free of discouragement, trusting that "God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 2 Cor 9:8. We also remind our Christian colleagues to stand firm in God's principles, even when the work environment is difficult, knowing that "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Cor 10:13. God has provided guidance for us to encourage those around us in every situation - let's not go unarmed!
And what about our family, friends and colleagues who have yet to know Christ? One application of the Word is in the field of apologetics - this is useful, but I think people seldom get argued into the Kingdom. But it's like the ministerial pay thing. We don't want logic (pay) to be the reason why people come into the kingdom (civil service), but we don't want logic (pay) to be the reason why people DON'T come into the kingdom (civil service). So be prepared.
The other application is in speaking God's promises and love. In the midst of trouble, let them know the depth of God's love Rom 8:38-39 "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." When lost and uncertain, let them understand Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight."
Let's keep on sharpening our swords, and blunt them with frequent use :) Your world needs you!
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