Friday 10 July 2020

A Balanced Message:

A Balanced Diet
A balanced message is what we are called to preach. It is not one that is lopsided. We are each a spirit, we each have a soul and each lives in a mortal body. To gain mastery in this life, we need mastery in all three areas. Gaining mastery in any one or two without all three in the list leaves us immatured. For, the neglected aspect becomes to us a breach through which the enemy can gain access.

We need to talk about our spiritual well being. We need to talk about our soul's well being. We need to talk about our physical well being just as well. Why? They affect one another. They are all interconnected. So, no excusing away from anyone of them. I know religious folks are all so fast to drift towards caring for the spirit. They twist scriptures to align with their corrupted way of thinking.

Jesus says, "he has come that we might have life and life more abundantly," [John 10:10] these are quick to limit it to spiritual life. Yet they don't limit the first part of the same verse to the spiritual realm. Undeniably they see the devil stealing, killing, and destroying lives in all three realms, yet their lazy minds will not allow them to see that the life Jesus speaks about is also for all three realms. 

These are people who have made their emotions their gods. Rather, than allow the word to speak, they force-fit it through their precast mindset and belief. Thinking they are doing the will of the Father, they are fooled into doing their own bidding. Of such Jesus says, "I never knew you." [Matthew 7:23] You workers of iniquity who worship a god after your own image, this is a call to repentance for you.

Yet, there is another set, who, obviously don't lay allegiance to being religious. They are more about what the know or not know. Filled with knowledge are all about what they can do in their own strength. The seemingly neglect or overlook the G-Factor, I mean grace factor. Someone did not tell them "it is not by power, nor by might, but by God's spirit." 

Such makes the giant strides, of which the human mind and spirit are capable of, but end up missing it in, possibly, the most unlikely place(s). Why? They forgot, "We have an enemy," who goes about looking for opportune circumstances and situations to take advantage of. They miss the fact, the devil is a predator, [1 Peter 5:8] and the weapons of our warfare are not carnal.  [2 Corinthians 10:4]

One thing that helps on this journey is the fact and truth that "All Truths are Parallel." Fundamentally, Truth is a person. That Person is Jesus Christ. [John 14:6] He is not limited in any way, shape, or form. The scriptures tell us "He upholds all things by the Word of His Power." [Hebrews 1:3] Jesus parting prayer is for God to separate us out by His Word. His Word is Truth. [John 17:17]

Funny enough that makes it count two of the things Jesus says will mark us out as Christians. The first is Love. He said Love will mark us out. The love we show to one another. [John 13:35] So, two things Jesus says will mark us out as believers, people who belong to the Way, the Truth, and the Life. These are Love and Truth, the distinguishing mark of a believer, one whose name has been recording in the annals of Heaven.

If Jesus says these should mark us out, guess what should be the chief hallmark of a balanced message. Obviously, "Love and Truth." Zig Ziglar tells us, "The foundation of stones for a balanced success are honesty, character, integrity, faith, love, and loyalty." One can easily relate/replace honesty, character, integrity, faith, and loyalty with Truth.

God did not leave us orphans. [John 14:18] He sent His Spirit to be with us and help us on this route. He said He "will not leave us, nor forsake us." [Joshua 1:5; Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5] We are not helpless.

I love Myles Munroe's five (5) questions you need to answer to become successful in life. In a sense, it seems to depicts what a balanced message should address, with the emblem of Love and Truth. Below are these questions:

1. Who am I? (My Identity?)
2. Where am I From? (My Source?)
3. Why am I here? (My Purpose? The Difference I am Here to make)
4. What Can I Do? (My true ability?)
5. Where am I Going? (My Destiny?)

One would suppose a balanced message will revolve around these, and the difference God brings to bear in Christ Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Not missing any sector of our being and never missing the truth of who we are.

We are spirit beings having a human experience. The totality of God's counsel, as provided in His Word, is our compass home. And it is the end of the discussion in all matters. Our guiding banner will always be, "Let God be true and every man a liar." [Romans 3:4] For anything to be true, or truth it must have a foundation in the Word of God, the Word of Truth, and Truth itself.

All truths are parallel. They NEVER contradict one another, irrespective of where, or with whom, they are found. If you ever find a contradiction, it is either there is an error in the statement itself or its understanding. The Word of Truth ALWAYS trumps every other voice. And, must be held above every other whenever we hit a crossroad. 

As Galileo Galilei points out, "All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them."

© 2020 Akin Akinbodunse

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