Change of Spiritual Season?

The week has passed with a series of planning meetings and 2 weekend messages. A lot of discussions and forecasting into 2015. A lot of reflections and filtering. What was interesting is the realization of the state that we are in and that God is doing something within us. Personally, I felt that there is going to be an interesting season that God is leading me and the church in 2015. 

But how do you know that there is a change of ‘spiritual season’?

Some of them are:

1.       When you talk to people around you, they are saying almost the same thing or sensing.

When a physical season changes, from winter to spring, people talk about it. They start to prepare the right clothing. They go into the season.

2.       When you seek God for His plan for you, God leads you to do something you do not normally do.

When you have been doing something for the past many years and then you found yourself doing something else, then it is a good time to note that season might be changing.

3.       When your heart’s desire and inclination starts to grow towards other things

I must make known that there is a difference between heart growing cold/indifferent VS heart growing towards other things. The former is resulted because of the neglect of one’s spiritual life whereas the latter is resulted because of God’s leading and our spiritual growth.

Do you think whether you are in the midst of the spiritual transition? 

And in every season, there is a role that individual has to play and fit into God’s plan. What is yours?

I think it is good to seek the Lord now, in a regular daily basis, so as to move on to the next season with confidence and the strength of God.

Extent of His Love

And He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch." (Mark 14:34 NASB)

While Jesus was much burdened about the Cross at this point of time, there was also a great concern for His disciples. His soul was grieved not just because of the Cross but also partly for His sheep. He was going to be struck as the shepherd of the flock. And when He was arrest and eventually gone, the sheep would be in distress. Leading towards His death on the cross, this Shepherd still have much burden for His sheep. That is the Jesus we have. He has great burden and love for his sheep. (This love for the church is also found in Paul in the midst of his suffering. 2 Cor 11:28)

At that point of time, the disciples had to be instructed to keep watch of the coming 'attack''. They were to be on the alert and on their guard lest they fall away. They were to exercise their own responsibilities as the Shepherd had to carry His own cross. Yet I believe that Jesus was praying for them as He prayed to the Father for Himself. His love for His sheep is simply amazing.

Now at this point of time, the scenario is slightly different. We have a risen Lord and He does not have to face death and carry that burden anymore. Presently He is seated at the right hand of the Father interceding for us (Romans 8:34). He is constantly praying for us, His sheep. And for that, we can take heart and courage in our journey.

But does it mean we don't need to watch and pray? No. We still have the responsibility to watch and pray. But now, our security is in the love of the One who has been free from His burden. His focus is on us now.  

Structurally fit, Spiritually beneficial (3 John 1:2)

Recently, there are some of us whose health are not doing well. My prayer is that God will restore and strengthen the body so that you can serve Him more efficiently. My prayer is that this temple whereby the Holy Spirit dwells will be restored for His use.

However, more than praying for a good and strong body, we are reminded that our body do degenerated due to age. It does have an expiry date. The question is how well we take care of and use our body before we hit our expiry date. While we seek to have good health to accomplish things and also to enjoy the goodness and prosperity God has given, we must also seek that our soul prosper and grow.

The physical and spiritual aspects must grow in tandem. While the temple must be structurally fit for worship, yet the teaching from the temple must be spiritually beneficial for transformation.

I pray that "you may prosper in all things and all is well with you both physically and spiritually"   



  

Lessons from Heb 12:1-2

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV) ¹  Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ²  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

We are in the last quarter of 2014! How fast it was. Usually this is the time of the year that many of us are reflecting our 2014 and planning for 2015. While we may have made some 'stumble' here and there, let's pick up ourselves and move on and run. At the same time, while we want to set in place the things God has put in our hearts, let's fix our eyes on Jesus. Look at His example of running His race, demonstrating the right focus in completing the race.

What should we learn from Him? 
Personally, He should learn from Him the need to remove distractions and run towards the finishing line. While it is common sense to us as runners of a race, yet in the spiritual sense we often neglect that we need to move on step by step towards our destination. We are bothered by and got distracted many a times by 'things' along our way. Some of us may even shift our destination time to time. Therefore, remind ourselves what God is calling us into and keep our focus on the author and finisher Jesus. Align with the Finisher and He will give us the direction and encouragement to run.