Illumination and Cooperation

If we cooperate, He will illuminate, both in our understanding of the Word and in our spiritual transformation.

October’s Awakening, Day 26:

If you do not understand a book by a departed writer you are unable to ask him his meaning, but the Spirit, who inspired Holy Scripture, lives forever, and He delights to open the Word to those who seek His instruction.

 -Charles Spurgeon

A man's readiness and commitment are not enough if he does not enjoy help from above as well; equally help from above is no benefit to us unless there is also commitment and readiness on our part. Thus I entreat you neither to entrust everything to God and then fall asleep, nor to think, when you are striving diligently, that you will achieve everything by your own efforts.

 -John Chrysostom

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. John 16:13 NIV

            It is fortunate that as believers, we have the Holy Spirit within us to both illuminate the Word of God to better understand its deep meanings, and for the opportunity to allow Him to transform us toward spiritual maturity. Cooperation is the key. The Spirit of God will quicken our spirit and instruct and lead us, but we must actively listen and follow. We cannot do it in our own strength nor will the Holy Spirit forcibly act upon us. Our free-will must surrender to Him, or we will never completely understand His Word nor become spiritually mature. Is your spirit ready to submit and surrender to Him, or are you kicking against the goads?

The Spiritual Reality

Annihilation and extinction in God’s creation doesn’t exist, only transformation from one form to another; particles to different particles or to energy, energy to different forms of energy or to particles. Everything created remains.

October’s Awakening, Day 25:

In this modern world of ours many people seem to think that science has somehow made such religious ideas as immortality untimely or old fashioned. I think science has a real surprise for the skeptics. Science, for instance, tells us that nothing in nature, not even the tiniest particle, can disappear without a trace. Nature does not know extinction. All it knows is transformation. If God applies this fundamental principle to the most minute and insignificant parts of His universe, doesn't it make sense to assume that He applies it to the masterpiece of His creation, the human soul?

 -Dr. Warner von Braun, founder of U.S. space exploration program

Since the Holy Spirit did not intend to teach us whether heaven moves or stands still, nor whether the earth is located at its center or off to one side, then so much the less was it intended to settle for us any other conclusion of the same kind. Now if the Holy Spirit has purposely neglected to teach us propositions of this sort as irrelevant to the highest goal (that is, to our salvation), how can anyone affirm that it is obligatory to take sides on them? I would say here something that was heard from an ecclesiastic of the most eminent degree: "The intention of the Holy Spirit is to teach us how one goes to heaven, not how heaven goes."

 -Galileo Galilei 

            In all God’s creation, conservation and economy is His key. Existence in some form is eternal. As Einstein’s special theory of relativity states, E=mc², matter and energy are interchangeable and nothing is lost. God chooses to conserve every particle and every minutia of energy in some manner, shape, or form. As we are the epitome of His creation, in His very image, we are uniquely retained in our pristine created state. Every human being exists forever, and ultimately will reside in the place of their own choosing. Annihilation is not an option, there is only existence. 

Spiritual Prosperity

Prosperity in the natural and the spiritual is all about connecting and staying connected with God.

October’s Awakening, Day 24:

God knows our hearts. He will always make sure that we prosper to the degree we prosper spiritually.

 -Brian L Summy, “It's Not About Me, It's About God”

Be careful. . . the times in your life when you feel like giving up and forgetting about the consequences are the times when you most need spiritual accountability and a true relationship with God that will give you strength in the midst of your weakness or frustration.

 -Chrystal Armstrong, “God's Divine Design for Dating and Marriage” 

            Prospering in the natural is best when we are prospering in the spiritual most. But the converse is not true. Times of prosperity in the natural may do absolutely nothing to enhance our spiritual lives. In fact, sometimes prosperity can leave us spiritually dry and dead. The reason is simple: when we are prospering, we tend to believe that we’re doing it all on our own and God takes the back seat. It is when times are tough and we are struggling that we typically reach out more to God. Of course, that should not be the case, since all that we are and all that we have is from Him. Spiritual dependence on God is a wonderful thing, but spiritual dependence on Self will always result in failure.

            Alternately, we must never get to the extreme of despair such that we lose all hope in Him and give up. It is precisely then that we need Him most, and He will be the strength in our weakness and the serenity amidst our turmoil. We would do best to get connected and stay connected, whether we’re on top of the mountain or in the dry, desert valley below.

God Is a Spiritual Builder

Do not neglect the progression of your spirituality to maturity, for that is what God is most interested in.

October’s Awakening, Day 23:

Much confusion in the Christian life comes from ignoring the simple truth that God is far more interested in building your character than he is anything else.

 -Rick Warren

Improving your personal life will greatly depend on spiritual improvement and through Holy Scripture.

 -Clement Getate, “Your Cross to Happiness”

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3,4 NIV

            Everything in our spiritual nature filters down into our character, attributes, thoughts, and behavior. That’s why it’s imperative for God to build us up into spiritual maturity, for if our spirituality is lacking, so too, everything else in our lives. He created us as tripartite beings, body, soul, and spirit, and if any of those natures are in disarray, our entire essence will suffer. The spiritual nature can be difficult to cultivate, because it requires consistently being in His presence, praying, and studying His Word, gleaning feedback from the Holy Spirit and our constant, associated modification thereof.  

Shaped in Affliction

God uses life to get our attention and guide us in the way we should go. Sometimes it just takes a light touch, sometimes it takes a branding iron.

October’s Awakening, Day 22:

Most of the grand truths of God have to be learned by trouble; they must be burned into us with the hot iron of affliction, otherwise we shall not truly receive them.

 -Charles Spurgeon

We are either in the process of resisting God's truth or in the process of being shaped and molded by his truth.

 -Charles Stanley

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:11,12 NIV

            We are creatures of habit, the status quo, and resistant to change. In fact, until the pain of change is gain, we remain the same. That’s why, unfortunately, adversity and affliction are necessary components in our lives to force us into moving forward to a better place mentally and spiritually. Knowing this should give us some consolation, but it doesn’t make it easier. In each situation, try to envision and understand what God is showing you and try to do better the next time. We needlessly bring about much strife in our own lives by simply making poor choices. Seek Him first and oftentimes the road will be just a little less rocky.

Adversity with Dependence on God

Overcoming adversity with increasing dependence on God creates an environment that propels us into spiritual maturity.

October’s Awakening, Day 21:

Adversity is not simply a tool. It is God's most effective tool for the advancement of our spiritual lives. The circumstances and events that we see as setbacks are oftentimes the very things that launch us into periods of intense spiritual growth. Once we begin to understand this, and accept it as a spiritual fact of life, adversity becomes easier to bear.

 -Charles Stanley

As a potter must bake his jars in a very hot furnace in order to create a wonderful masterpiece, God will also allow you to face trials and challenges that will strengthen your faith and help you become more spiritually mature and dependent on Him.

 -Janet Fuller, “The Bible: The Key Bible Chapters”

because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:3,4 NIV

            Adversity is the part of life we like least, yet it is the part of life that propels us onward towards the greatest potential spiritual growth and maturity. Faith, trust, and love untested are nothing at all. It takes introspective focus to solidify what we know and believe in our heart and to stand firm in it. Our character and spiritual nature are strengthened when we overcome obstacles that seemed insurmountable at the time. Our faith, trust, and dependence on God blossoms and each new impasse we face becomes easier. That’s why patience, persistence, and perseverance are key character elements seen throughout the Bible. Embrace adversity, knowing that God is working through you to make you into a most wonderful masterpiece.

True Spirituality

How are you progressing spiritually? How many attributes of true spirituality do you possess?

October’s Awakening, Day 20:

True spirituality manifests itself in certain dominant desires.

1.     First is the desire to be holy rather than happy.

2.     A man may be considered spiritual when he wants to see the honor of God advanced through his life even if it means that he himself must suffer temporary dishonor or loss.

3.     The spiritual man wants to carry his cross.

4.     Again, a Christian is spiritual when he sees everything from God’s viewpoint.

5.      Another desire of the spiritual man is to die right rather than to live wrong.

6.     The desire to see others advance at his expense.

7.     The spiritual man habitually makes eternity-judgments instead of time-judgments.

  -A. W. Tozer

You no more need a day off from spiritual concentration in matters of your life than your heart needs a day off from beating. As you cannot take a day off morally and remain moral, you cannot take a day off spiritually and remain spiritual.

 -Oswald Chambers

            We are spiritual beings and we should strive to keep that aspect of our being always at the forefront, as that is the way we have been created. Just like physical strength and mental ability, we must continue to exercise, strengthen, and feed our spiritual nature appropriately to gain increasing ability and stability. Likewise, just as improper exercise and consuming inappropriate food can make us unhealthy, so too, it is with our spiritual nature.

            What we read, study, meditate on, and who we pray to and what we pray for, all infiltrates into our spiritual nature and becomes a part of it. We should take great pride in keeping every aspect of our being in a healthy balance, for if one part is amiss it will assuredly affect the others. Strive to become whole and complete, mature and not lacking anything good, and continue to always be becoming – it is a life process and a life journey.