Translations:
Essentials To Live
There are things essential and vital for
life. Not just physical, but spiritual and emotional things as well.
1.
Biologist- water, food, and shelter.
2.
Pharmacist- trace minerals, vitamins, supplements.
3.
Redneck survivalist- shotgun, chainsaw, and trotline.
We need energy, or
strength, or power to live. Especially in this super sonic, super charged world
we live in where things are changing almost by the minute. We get energy
primarily by food, vitamins, minerals, and proper rest. There are all kinds of
high energy food and drinks. But spiritually, we need God, and His power.
A.
Power to live on. God’s power, through the Holy Spirit, to take us
through the conflict, stress, and frustration of this fast paced world we live
in. In Col. 1, God holds all things together by the power of His word. In 1973,
Americans worked an average of 40.3 hours a week. In 1999, that jumped to 50.6
hours per week. Today, many work two and sometimes more jobs. The stress is
killing us. We almost have to force ourselves to slow down and refocus. We
recharge our spiritual batteries by WORSHIP. An all inclusive definition of
worship: To focus on God, whatever the time, whatever the place, whatever the
situation. Is.41:31, says,Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new
strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get
tired, they will walk and not become weary. Psalms 46:10- Be still, or cease
striving, and know that I am God. Get quiet, get alone, and remove all
distractions.
B.
Relationship. First to God, and then to other people. For fellowship,
support, and encouragement. Adam lived in the garden in paradise and perfection.
No taxes, no stress, no phone calls, no worries. Yet, in Gen.2:18, God says it
is not good for man to be alone. One study in California said that an isolated
person who keeps to himself and disengages from life is 3 times more likely to
die early, 4 times more likely to experience emotional burnout, 5 times more
likely to be clinically depressed, and 10 times more likely to be hospitalized.
Eccl.4: 9-10- Two are better than one, because they have a better return for
their labor, For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion.
But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. For the
believer, the extended family is the church. It is not just not just a place to
dress up, sing, and preach, but the most important thing is to build solid,
lasting relationships. Don’t wait for a tragedy to reveal that you have no
relationships to lean on. Heb. 10:25. Don’t forsake our assembling together.
Stay engaged and connected to your local church.
C.
Principles. Foundational morals and truths to live by. God’s word,
unchanging truth, is our map to navigate life. It is solid, timeless, and
relevant in any culture. Psalms 119:89-90. Forever, O Lord, your word is settled
in heaven. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; You established
the earth, and it stands. God’s truth will almost always run counter to the
present culture and current mood. There can be no compromise on clear scripture.
Acts 4:12. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name
under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved. John 14:6.
I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but
through me. Here Jesus leaves no wiggle room at all, and it smacks against the
current philosophy of compromise and tolerance. It’s truth, not tolerance, that
sets and keeps you free. John 17:17. Sanctify them in truth, Father, thy word is
truth. Compromise of clear scripture always spirals downward to deception and
abomination, and we start calling something church that’s not church. When
scripture isn’t clear or silent, we go to Romans 14, and the authority of
conscience.
D. Plan. What are you going
to do with your life? Are we going to live by design or default. We can work
with God to develop our gifts, talents, passions, and wise use of time, or we
can just wash up on life’s beach and say “ Oh well, whatever.” You are not an
accident. God has a plan for you. Eph. 2:10. For we are His workmanship; created
in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, so that we would
walk in them. Jer. 1:5. Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before
you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.
The greatest loss of all is to miss our destiny, or misuse the plan God has for
each of us. We all have our plans, and everyone else has plans for you. We have
to navigate through all that, and find God’s plan. Then we adjust or abandon
other plans accordingly. It’s never to early or late to start. Stay on course
unless or until God changes something. All of our life experience, our
victories, our defeats, our gifts and talents, and our character and temperment,
are blended and woven by God to fulfill our destiny and complete our assignment.
D.
Purpose. Why am I here? Very closely related to plan. What’s it all about
Alfie? According to Pastor Rick Warren, in his book, The Purpose Driven Life,
it’s not about you. The purpose for your life is far greater than your own
personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. If you want to
know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born
by his purpose and for his purpose. No one else can guide you to your destiny.
You must come to God directly. It’s to important to entrust to anyone else. The
way to save your life, Jesus says, is to lose it for my sake. God stands ready
to reveal your destiny and purpose. It requires relationship and communication
and fellowship with Him. Don’t get impatient, it’s takes time to make a
masterpiece. Acts 20:24. But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to
myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry, which I received from
the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God. You may
have had a bad start in life. You may have stumbled, and may be stumbling now.
But be of good cheer. God is with you and for you. You can have a good finish.
Gary
Brownlow, PhD, Fire and Rain Ministries
