and yet...
Later, Jesus showed himself to his followers by Lake Galilee.[a] This is how it happened: 2 Some of the followers were together. They were Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the two sons of Zebedee, and two other followers. 3 Simon Peter said, “I am going out to fish.”
The other followers said, “We will go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat. They fished that night but caught nothing.
4 Early the next morning Jesus stood on the shore. But the followers did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then he said to them, “Friends, have you caught any fish?”
They answered, “No.”
6 He said, “Throw your net into the water on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they did this. They caught so many fish that they could not pull the net back into the boat.
7 The follower whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” John 21:1-7 ICB
Praise you Lord, you are not limited by our limitations
you are not restricted by our restrictions
You can bring complete and utter transformation into something I have done
repeatedly and fruitlessly for years....
You are able to change me in ways i could never imagine
You are able to change situations and relationships and dynamics
The Lord replies,
“Look at the nations. Watch them.
Be totally amazed at what you see.
I am going to do something in your days
that you would never believe.
You would not believe it
even if someone told you about it....
Be totally amazed at what you see.
I am going to do something in your days
that you would never believe.
You would not believe it
even if someone told you about it....
The message I give you
waits for the time I have appointed.
It speaks about what is going to happen.
And all of it will come true.
It might take a while.
But wait for it.
You can be sure it will come.
It will happen when I want it to.
waits for the time I have appointed.
It speaks about what is going to happen.
And all of it will come true.
It might take a while.
But wait for it.
You can be sure it will come.
It will happen when I want it to.
Habbakuk 1:5 and 2:3 NIRV
The KEY is to hearing your message...
How can I hear you and be moving along in your plan
and not just stuck in my own universe of what I want and feel and desire?
In physics, it is proven that it is impossible to determine the motion of one object relating to another object from the viewpoint of either of these objects.
If you are in one, it looks like the other one is always moving but you are still
but you may be moving and the other object is still.
Like when you are in a parked car and the car next to you begins to move
you have a sensation that you are moving if you are looking at the car next to you, but in fact you are not moving at all
motion can only be confirmed by a non mobile observer from a completely separate vantage point
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ....
8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed...
12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.
14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure...
2 Corinthians 10: 5, 8, 12-14a KJV
Now I am going to appeal to you personally, by the gentleness and sympathy of Christ himself...
The truth is that, although of course we lead normal human lives, the battle we are fighting is on the spiritual level. The very weapons we use are not those of human warfare but powerful in God’s warfare for the destruction of the enemy’s strongholds.
Our battle is to bring down every deceptive fantasy and every imposing defence that men erect against the true knowledge of God.
We even fight to capture every thought until it acknowledges the authority of Christ. Once we are sure of your obedience we shall not shrink from dealing with those who refuse to obey....
12-16 Of course we shouldn’t dare include ourselves in the same class as those who write their own testimonials, or even to compare ourselves with them!
All they are doing, of course, is to measure themselves by their own standards or by comparisons within their own circle, and that doesn’t make for accurate estimation, you may be sure.
No, we shall not make any wild claims, but simply judge ourselves by that line of duty which God has marked out for us, and that line includes our work on your behalf. We do not exceed our duty when we embrace your interests, for it was our preaching of the Gospel which brought us into contact with you. Our pride is not in matters beyond our proper sphere nor in the labours of other men. No, our hope is that your growing faith will mean the expansion of our sphere of action, so that before long we shall be preaching the Gospel in districts beyond you, instead of being proud of work that has already been done in someone else’s province.
17 But, ‘He who glories, let him glory in the Lord’.
18 It is not self-commendation that matters, it is winning the approval of God.
2 Corinthians 10: 1-6, 12-16 Phillips
(Note: I have really selected a few verses out from a longer passage - for the context of the whole chapter see: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%2011&version=PHILLIPS )
Paul is effective and fruitful in what he is doing because:
1. He understands it is a spiritual battle
2. He seeks to bring/let his own thoughts, perspectives and attitudes be brought into the light of God's word and evaluated there
3. He seeks to obey Christ, beginning in his thoughts and inner life
4. He does not try to figure out where he is and how he is doing by comparing himself to others
5. He is seeking to be in the boundaries that God has given him
Like the disciples hearing the direction - put the net on the right side of the boat - put it here not just anywhere
O, Lord, sometimes I have a pretty clear idea what you want me to do be doing and most of the time I don't really. I have so much trouble knowing where healthy boundaries are, in my thoughts, in my relationships, in my work
Lord please show me my sphere,
help me to be in the boundaries of where you want me and do what you want me do to
no more and no less
to not go beyond and be overbearing and controlling
to not shirk responding to a need you are presenting to me that you want me to respond to
I wake up each morning and there is more to do than can ever be done
more needs around than can ever possibly be met
help me to abide in you and walk with you
to simply hear and respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit and
be in the flow of what you are doing
in the sphere you want me to be in
amen
"Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Trust in God.
Trust in me also....
Remain joined to me and I will remain joined to you...
I am the vine. You are the branches. If you remain joined to me, and I to you, you will bear a lot of fruit. You can’t do anything without me. "
John 14:1, John 15:4-5
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