Post by Zac Loh on Dec 3, 2008 15:20:19 GMT -5
I got this `opposing dynamics’ terminology from Bobby Conner (EaglesView Ministries at www.bobbyconner.org/).
It is about reconciling two seemingly opposing good ideas, maximizing from these two seemingly opposing benefits. It is `dynamic’ true to the word. How many times have we struggled to have balance between two opposing theology? It is to put aside the game which says that you have to put one down in order to lift the other up. Not only that we can have both working hand-in-hand; the result will be better than adding two, separate, results. It is about a positive compounding effect.
The first opposing dynamics: we trust God when He is not showing us anything, and we also trust God to show us things so that we can pray accurately according to His will.
The solution is to be led by the Holy Spirit. Whether God’s will is made known, or it is unknown: we prayed according to God’s will because we have been led by the Holy Spirit.
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27)
Caution (to prepare, not to scare): avoid the fallacy of having always to sense the Holy Spirit before we do anything. God did not give us a spirit of fear; but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Often, it’s an issue of the heart. Do you want to pray God’s will because you love Him? Or are you moved by self-preserving negative fear? Is our motive right? God loves us. Be secure in that.
We need to build our houses on the solid rock of God’s truths which God had already revealed to us. If we are lost or confused, we need to do the things which we already know before-hand - having faith and a good conscience (2 Timothy 1:13-14; 1 Timothy 1:19).
Give yourself to the Holy Spirit. He is more interested in filling you than to get you do anything. Open yourself up to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit wants to fill you.
The second opposing dynamics: how do we be completely surrendered to the Holy Spirit, and at the same time, keep a look-out to strict adherence, compliance, to the Bible?
We can have both. We can bridge the gap. Let’s start-off by examining a line of thought: `if the leading of the Holy Spirit covers all; all it takes, then, is to develop our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.’ There are three problems:
1. We think we can stop learning about the Holy Spirit. We think that the knowledge about the Holy Spirit is limited. We think we can know all there is to know (it is pride!). Of course, it is preposterous. Nevertheless, we have shockingly adopted such pseudo attitude at times. Conversely, those who subscribe only to the understanding of the Bible, and limit the Holy Spirit, are actually behaving similarly. We think we have the perfect understanding of the Bible. We assume that our interpretation is never interrupted by our own human nature (can a person be purely clinical?) nor subject to outside/other influences (can a person be totally abstract?). We need humility!
2. We think we can be sensitive enough every time. We act as though we will never be taken over by our human self. And that we will never make a mistake in life.
3. We think we are spiritually mature at once. You know, the physical senses of a baby are not fully developed - at day one. It is hilarious. But we think we can shoot up spiritually in one day, or one year, or three to five years in bible seminary. Even Bible interpretation is depended on spiritually maturity (1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Hebrews 5:12-14). The Bible is never meant, primarily, to be an academic masterpiece. It is to be a Living Word!
Many godly people have experienced the Holy Spirit. God used these people to reveal His ways. We are to learn from them. What better way than to read them in the Bible? We need to be acquainted with the Bible. We need to be continuous studying, searching and seeking the truth in the Bible.
The third opposing dynamics: the `user friendly’ flexibility in heart-felt praying as opposed to the structured rigidity of The Lord’s Prayer.
One might think: Why do we need to follow The Lord’s Prayer (it’s too rigid!)?
Look at Romans 8:26-27 again: the Holy Spirit makes intercession for the saints (through the saints) according to the will of God. And what did Jesus teach in The Lord’s Prayer? YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. The Spirit and the Word goes together!
When we capture the truth of The Lord’s Prayer in our prayer experience, we will have divine synergy in our prayer. Our prayer will accelerate and step-up to spiritual quantum power (this is not an exaggeration!).
The fourth opposing dynamics: why do we need to pray God’s will when His will is done irregardless?
“ For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. “ For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:8-11)
Suffice to say, God’s will is accomplished anyhow. The question is: will you be a part of it? It is up to you. God’s will, will be done. Whether you will be in His blessed plan, is an entirely different matter. You can decide whether to be a part of it.
Let me qualify the concept of opposing dynamics by saying that we do draw a line (at the right thing, at the right time). For example, we draw a line between God and Satan; between spiritual light and spiritual darkness; between truth and fallacy/falsehood/deception; between right and wrong; and between heaven and hell.
It is about reconciling two seemingly opposing good ideas, maximizing from these two seemingly opposing benefits. It is `dynamic’ true to the word. How many times have we struggled to have balance between two opposing theology? It is to put aside the game which says that you have to put one down in order to lift the other up. Not only that we can have both working hand-in-hand; the result will be better than adding two, separate, results. It is about a positive compounding effect.
The first opposing dynamics: we trust God when He is not showing us anything, and we also trust God to show us things so that we can pray accurately according to His will.
The solution is to be led by the Holy Spirit. Whether God’s will is made known, or it is unknown: we prayed according to God’s will because we have been led by the Holy Spirit.
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27)
Caution (to prepare, not to scare): avoid the fallacy of having always to sense the Holy Spirit before we do anything. God did not give us a spirit of fear; but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Often, it’s an issue of the heart. Do you want to pray God’s will because you love Him? Or are you moved by self-preserving negative fear? Is our motive right? God loves us. Be secure in that.
We need to build our houses on the solid rock of God’s truths which God had already revealed to us. If we are lost or confused, we need to do the things which we already know before-hand - having faith and a good conscience (2 Timothy 1:13-14; 1 Timothy 1:19).
Give yourself to the Holy Spirit. He is more interested in filling you than to get you do anything. Open yourself up to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit wants to fill you.
The second opposing dynamics: how do we be completely surrendered to the Holy Spirit, and at the same time, keep a look-out to strict adherence, compliance, to the Bible?
We can have both. We can bridge the gap. Let’s start-off by examining a line of thought: `if the leading of the Holy Spirit covers all; all it takes, then, is to develop our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.’ There are three problems:
1. We think we can stop learning about the Holy Spirit. We think that the knowledge about the Holy Spirit is limited. We think we can know all there is to know (it is pride!). Of course, it is preposterous. Nevertheless, we have shockingly adopted such pseudo attitude at times. Conversely, those who subscribe only to the understanding of the Bible, and limit the Holy Spirit, are actually behaving similarly. We think we have the perfect understanding of the Bible. We assume that our interpretation is never interrupted by our own human nature (can a person be purely clinical?) nor subject to outside/other influences (can a person be totally abstract?). We need humility!
2. We think we can be sensitive enough every time. We act as though we will never be taken over by our human self. And that we will never make a mistake in life.
3. We think we are spiritually mature at once. You know, the physical senses of a baby are not fully developed - at day one. It is hilarious. But we think we can shoot up spiritually in one day, or one year, or three to five years in bible seminary. Even Bible interpretation is depended on spiritually maturity (1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Hebrews 5:12-14). The Bible is never meant, primarily, to be an academic masterpiece. It is to be a Living Word!
Many godly people have experienced the Holy Spirit. God used these people to reveal His ways. We are to learn from them. What better way than to read them in the Bible? We need to be acquainted with the Bible. We need to be continuous studying, searching and seeking the truth in the Bible.
The third opposing dynamics: the `user friendly’ flexibility in heart-felt praying as opposed to the structured rigidity of The Lord’s Prayer.
One might think: Why do we need to follow The Lord’s Prayer (it’s too rigid!)?
Look at Romans 8:26-27 again: the Holy Spirit makes intercession for the saints (through the saints) according to the will of God. And what did Jesus teach in The Lord’s Prayer? YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. The Spirit and the Word goes together!
When we capture the truth of The Lord’s Prayer in our prayer experience, we will have divine synergy in our prayer. Our prayer will accelerate and step-up to spiritual quantum power (this is not an exaggeration!).
The fourth opposing dynamics: why do we need to pray God’s will when His will is done irregardless?
“ For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. “ For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:8-11)
Suffice to say, God’s will is accomplished anyhow. The question is: will you be a part of it? It is up to you. God’s will, will be done. Whether you will be in His blessed plan, is an entirely different matter. You can decide whether to be a part of it.
Let me qualify the concept of opposing dynamics by saying that we do draw a line (at the right thing, at the right time). For example, we draw a line between God and Satan; between spiritual light and spiritual darkness; between truth and fallacy/falsehood/deception; between right and wrong; and between heaven and hell.