Month 5:12, Week 2:4 (Revee/Shavu'ot), Year:Day 5936:130 AM
Gregorian Calendar: Monday 30 July 2012
Authentic Living
Learning the Three Elements
"Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart" (Gal.6:9, NKJV).
The internet, as a vehicle for ministry, relies primarily on words and pictures. As with any communication that is not face-to-face, the possibililties for being misinterpreted are endless. It is, in my view, an especial tragedy when believers engage in the favourite sport of atheists, verbal fencing.
I produce a great many words, as my readers well know, because my articles, sermons and devotionals are, for now, my chief mode of communication. And however good words are, there yet remains something better, because that which is of the Ruach (Spirit) is never understood just by words but by intent. The German philosopher Goethe nailed the particular problem down when he said:
"The spirit in which we act is the chief matter. Action can only be understood and represented by the spirit".
Perhaps that is what Paul had in mind when he said:
"Our sufficiency is from Elohim (God), who also made us sufficient as ministers of the New Covenant, not of the letter but of the Ruach (Spirit); for the letter kills, but the Ruach (Spirit) gives life" (2 Cor.3:5-6, NKJV).
So I hope that my words do not send you to sleep but that you sense the Ruach (Spirit) that is behind them.
You have all heard the addage, "actions speak louder than words" but even actions are liable to misinterpretation. Well-intentioned actions can cause calamity when badly timed or because the one acting is insenstive to the spirit of others in whose presence the action is being performed.
For successful communication we require a trinity of elements working together in harmony: words, intent/spirit, and actions. Leave any element out and the possibility for misunderstanding rises dramatically.
To understand the Scriptures requires no less than all three of these elements:
- 1. Understanding the words written in the linguistic and historical context - that requires diligent and careful study;
- 2. Understanding the intent of spirit of the Heavenly Author inspiring the human authors - that requires a connection to the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) which only comes about as a result of regeneration or being born again and remaining in that rebirth; and
- 3. Incarnating both the words and original intent or spirit of the Scriptures by applying and living them out in daily life for others to by blessed by being seen, heard and generally experienced with the whole person.
A fully rounded off talmid (disciple) of the Master Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) views all three of these elements and takes all together. Some people are clever wordsmiths who say one thing but have false intentions. Others may say one thing but act out a different behaviour altogether. But once the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) is in action, words, deeds and intents meld together in harmony.
Understanding people can for sure be tough for the simple reason that this echadness is missing. There are many actors instead of people being real in the way that Yahweh wants them to be. To see through acting and performing - and there are sadly many unregenerated believers who do so - means we must dive to the centre of a person and see what is actually generating their behaviour. When people act out, they do so because they are concerned about what people think about them - their opinions. Why is this important to them? Because they use people to prop up their sense of worth or value instead of allowing Yahweh to be their validation. They accordingly live for themselves instead of for others, one of the chief evidences of unregeneration.
To the true believer, life consists of seeing how much he can put into life for others unlike the heathen (even if he calls himself 'Christian' or 'Messianic') who is chiefly interested in getting out of life all that he can for himself. Indeed, I would say that this is one of the most reliable litmus tests for authentic emunah (faith). It is the difference between having fun and seeking to be a blessing.
Therefore, "Do good to all" (Gal.6:10, NKJV). What I must do is all that should concern me, and not be concerned with what people's opinions of me are,. It is only Yahweh's view of me that matters, to please Him, so that I act with right intent, which is to always serve my Elohim (God) by blessing His children.
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