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I KNOW I Can Philippians 4:12-13 (KJV) "I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." When we hear verse 13, we think of all the things that we do each day and give the glory to God. We think of the ten hours of work our boss gives us to do in eight hours. We think of the children at home making messes, and getting into trouble. We also think of the trip over the holidays to our in-laws, and we say, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." We know the Joy of the Lord is our strength, and we also know that as we walk in the Spirit the Lord will only ask us to do things that we are ready to do. The Lord does strengthen us. But, how often do we put verse 12 in context with verse 13. "I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." How can we be full and hungry? How can we abound and suffer need? The Holy Spirit is balanced. We are an extreme people. We go till we can't go any more. We shop till we drop. We eat till we are full. We are even unbalanced in our Spiritual Walk. We hear something new and either deny it or run with it. Whatever happened to 1 Thessalonians 5:21 (KJV) "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good"? An example might be one who is introduced to the ministry of deliverance. This person can either reject it totally, as many churches today have, or take off at full speed looking in everyone's eyes for a demon. If this teaching is new to that person, the proper thing to do is study it for himself. If we don't, it is entirely upon our own choosing in accepting or rejecting. The verse says we can do "all things through Christ," not on our own. We must study to show ourselves approved unto God (2 Timothy 2:15). It is by hearing the Spirit of God that we can find balance. We can be hungry, yet filled. We must be filled daily so the enemy cannot find room to come in, yet we must hunger for more of God, because we don't have all of Him yet. We can abound and still suffer need. We can be strong and mighty and conquer all of evil, yet we need the Lord to guide us and lead us. It is not by our own merit that we can do anything, only by God's. We are simply vessels being used in the ministry that must come before the Harvest. We must learn and understand balance in our lives to win the lost. The world really wants balance. We can tell that by our government's attempts to legislate it. But balance only comes by the leading and direction of the Holy Spirit. We all want it our way in the flesh, but we all want it the right way. We must be that diligent example to show others how to find balance in their lives. It is a struggle, but we can find the balance in all things through Christ who strengthens us. - Chad Ross January 1996 Newsletter | Resentment | Pastor's Journal January 1995 Preparing and Prepared part 1 of 4 | Prophecy Given to LWCF I Know I Can | Knowing His Voice Revised: June 25, 2008. |
Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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