Sustainable power ∙∙

Sustainable power ∙∙

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, “From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.” – John 7:38

John 7:37-39

 37 Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!

 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”

 39 (When he said, “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

NASA’s Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 have both successfully reached “Interstellar space” and continue their cosmic journey through the Universe. Voyager 1 is a space probe launched by NASA on September 5, 1977. Voyager 2 was launched on August 20, 1977. These spacecraft have been operating for over four decades. As of January 2024, Voyager 1 was over 15 billion miles from Earth, and Voyager 2 was 12 billion miles from Earth.

How have they managed to function continuously for such a prolonged period? The answer lies in their power source.

Mankind learned to harness wind power to create sailing ships and, later, windmills. They discovered steam power for engines, motors, and tools. Similarly, internal combustion and diesel engines were developed. They require fossil fuels. Electrical energy was used to run tools, machines, appliances, cell phones, and computers.

All these power sources, including the one used by the Voyager probes, can only function as long as the energy powering them remains available.

The Father had a better idea. He created atomic energy and the sun. They will not run out of energy or turn off any time soon. As long as the sun is shining, energy is available. More recently, solar-powered cells that run off the sun’s energy were created. Solar cells allow space probes and satellites to run continuously as long as the cells face the sun. Atomic power was understood and harnessed, and radioisotope thermoelectric generators, or RTGs, were invented. The RTGs have powered Voyager 1 and 2 since their launch in 1967.

What energy source do you depend upon to live a life pleasing to the Father? Regrettably, many of the children of the King try to renew their spirits as though they were internal spiritual batteries that keep running down. They repetitively seek new “energy fixes.” They are reminiscent of a hamster on a wheel. There is lots of motion but no real progress and certainly no permanence. Whatever power or enthusiasm they tap into does not last.

Once again, the Father had a better idea. The Father supplied a power source that never runs down or wears out. It belongs to every child of the King. We need only to understand it, actualize it, and live it out in their daily lives.

REFLECT & PRAY

It is almost incredible to think that the Father would provide a sustainable, self-contained power supply for each child of the King. Yet our everlasting Father, the Almighty God, intelligently designed and created nuclear fusion and uses it to power the sun and the stars every day, everywhere, wherever they are found.

Father how I long to serve You. But on my own, I lack the power and ability to do so. Thank You for giving me the Holy Spirit when I believed. Encourage me to rely upon and utilize the Spirit’s power each day.

INSIGHT

The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has provided an internal, permanent, constantly self-generating, sustainable power source for every child of the King.

The Lord Jesus Christ exclaimed, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water’” (John 7:38). The apostle John explains, “When he said, ‘living water,’ he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him” (John 7:39).

In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit would anoint and empower people. But in most cases, the empowerment was temporary. For example, this occurred in Ezekiel’s life and service as a prophet. He stated, “Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon me, and he told me to say . . .” (Ezekiel 11:5). During the Old Testament era, only a chosen few of the Creator’s children had the honor of having the Holy Spirit reside within them. After confessing his wrongdoing, he pleaded, “Do not take Your Holy Spirit from me” (Psalms 51:11).

During the Old Testament epoch, the Holy Spirit was with the Father’s children but did not live in them. When the Lord Jesus Christ came on the scene, all that changed. He promised to ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit as another helper. The Holy Spirit would remain in each believer forever.

During the Old Testament epoch, the Holy Spirit was with the Father’s children, but He did not live in them. When the Lord Jesus Christ came on the scene, all that changed. He promised to ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit as another helper. The Holy Spirit would remain in each believer forever.

John 14:17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth . . . he lives with you now and later will be in you.

John 14:16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever.

Following His resurrection, the Lord Jesus Christ assured His disciples that the arrival of the Holy Spirit was imminent. They were instructed to remain in Jerusalem and await the Holy Spirit’s coming. Upon His arrival, they would receive the ultimate power source that would never deplete or exhaust – the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

Luke 24:49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.

Acts 2:1-4

 1 On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place.

 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.

 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit.

There was a period of time required between the promise in the Gospels and the fulfillment in the book of Acts. This is no longer the case. We accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord; we are adopted into the Father’s Forever Family and given the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:15 You received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him “Abba, Father.”

The power and energy of the Holy Spirit dwell within every child of the King. Do you enjoy and benefit from the overflow of the Holy Spirit from within, or are you like a hamster on a wheel?

How is your power source working out for you?

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© Dr. H 2024

Receiving God’s signals ∙∙

Receiving God’s signals ∙∙

Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left. – Isaiah 30:21

Isaiah 30:15-20

 15 This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it.

 18 So the LORD must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.

 20 Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes.

Hall of Fame coach Paul Brown originated using NFL headsets in 1956. This innovation was brought about by John Campbell and George Sarles, who had created a small radio receiver that could be inserted into a quarterback’s helmet, allowing communication from the sideline.

Headsets were first tested in a preseason game against Detroit. However, a Lions coach noticed the transmitter and objected to the league. As a result, Commissioner Bert Bell banned the devices, a prohibition that lasted almost four decades. It wasn’t until 1994 that the NFL approved a radio communication system for the sidelines and the quarterback.

Today’s headsets are lightweight, comfortable, and durable. They allow coaches to communicate on the sidelines and relay play calls to the quarterback. One defensive player can receive communication from his coach. The sound comes from two round, orange speakers in the helmet, right behind the quarterback’s ears. Since 2014, they have been manufactured exclusively by Bose, using their noise-canceling technology.

Today, the NFL utilizes continual communication between the coach and the leaders of the offense and the defense on the field.

This constant interaction mirrors our spiritual communication with the Father. As children of the King, we have been given the privilege and ability to have and maintain continual communication as well. We speak to the Father through prayer and intercession. The Father answers us in myriad ways to show us how to execute His game plan (Hebrews 1:1). He speaks through the Scriptures. He communicates with us through people He places into our lives. Some children of the King have the incredible privilege of hearing His voice or seeing dreams and visions.

Why has the Father established two-way continual communication with us? Our father created two-way contact because He wanted to call the plays. He wants us to depend on Him for the most effective direction and carry out His game plan. In football, even highly trained, experienced, and skilled players listen to their coach and team leader. In the same way, we too, should heed the coaching and leadership of our heavenly Father.

REFLECT & PRAY

The Father is the best signal-caller there is. He has a terrific game plan conceived in eternity past. He has considered all contingencies for every situation. He always knows in advance what the opposition is planning to do.

Father You promised to guide me as I hear Your voice as I walk with You. Teach me to actively listen, trust, and follow You.

INSIGHT

Tragically, it seems almost inevitable that many children of the King stop listening, go their own way, and veer off course. Like sheep, we wander off and become disoriented. The result is collateral damage. Our ability to hear, see, and follow directions is diminished. It is as though we are wearing earplugs and very thick, dark sunglasses. We manage to switch channels and no longer hear His signal. Perhaps all we hear is silence or white noise. Or worse, we hear other voices. But the voices are not the Father speaking to us (1 John 4:1).

When we lose our connection, the Father continues to transmit. He is always there to provide direction and comfort. That’s just Who He is. We need only to tune back in.

2 Timothy 2:13 If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.

This is nothing less than pure grace. He promises to guide us when we ask Him.

Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

Isaiah 30:20-21

 20 The sovereign master will give you distress to eat and suffering to drink, but your Teacher will no longer be hidden; your eyes will see him.

 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

But it takes more than seeing and listening. It is incumbent upon every child of the King to really focus, hear, trust, and obey. Because of our fallen human nature, we experiment with things we think might work. But such efforts prove futile. Yet, we seem to drift further and further away. We are all too ready to place our trust in useless alternatives. It is almost as though we are too proud and self-affected to trust the Father.

Psalms 33:16-17

 16 The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior.

 17 Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory – for all its strength, it cannot save you.

Yet, there are always the faithful few who strive to do the right thing no matter what. These children of the King choose to depend upon the Father alone. They seek to bask in the sunshine of His loyal love.

Psalms 33:18-22

 18 The LORD takes notice of his loyal followers, on those who hope in his steadfast love.

 19 He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine.

 20 We put our hope in the LORD. He is our help and our shield.

 21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.

 22 Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone.

The faithful children of the King wait in hope for deliverance from the Father as their faithful, dependable source of help.

A world of enormous joy and fulfillment opens up as they trust in Him. They desire and pray that His unfailing love will surround and embrace them.

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© Dr. H 2024

What is your AQ? ∙∙

What is your AQ? ∙∙

Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. – Hebrews 5:8

2 Peter 1:5-8

 5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge,

 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness,

 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.  8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Adversity Quotient, or AQ, is a concept that gauges an individual’s capacity to handle life’s challenges. First introduced in 1997 by Paul Stoltz in his book, “Adversity Quotient: Turning Obstacles into Opportunities,” AQ is often called the science of resilience.

AQ isn’t just about navigating major life crises; it also relates to how we react to everyday stressors, from minor inconveniences to profound disappointments and heartaches. Our response to life’s ups and downs reveals our AQ.

Research has demonstrated that AQ is a strong predictor of personal success. It can accurately indicate one’s approach to change, stress management techniques, tenacity, determination, wisdom, and character traits. In essence, AQ is a measure of an individual’s mental and emotional elasticity.

Similar to IQ, AQ is not fixed and can be improved upon. AQ enhancement programs have been shown to boost AQ levels by 11-23%, leading to increased productivity, enhanced performance, greater innovation, and improved morale, according to PEAK Learning.

These modern scientific findings echo age-old wisdom first revealed in the Scriptures. The Father has been in the business of developing His children’s AQ for over 4500 years.

The scriptures emphasize the importance of resilience and tenacity. Although the terminology might differ, with references to proven character, self-control, moral excellence, diligence, integrity, perseverance, endurance, maturity, hope, reverence, and godliness, the underlying message remains the same: overcoming adversity is integral to personal growth and development.

REFLECT & PRAY

Our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! – 2 Corinthians 4:17

Father I am limited in my comprehension of your ways. Enable me to begin to comprehend the immensity and perfection of Your eternal perspective and purpose.

INSIGHT

The Father employs an unexpected technique to cultivate our Adversity Quotient: adversity. He introduces various challenges, hardships, and trials into our lives. The process begins gently, but as we grow, mature, and exhibit character and honesty, the tests and obstacles often intensify. The development of AQ is akin to muscle growth – it becomes stronger through exertion and exercise.

Romans 5:3-4

 3 When we run into problems and trials, we know that they help us develop endurance.

 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope.

James 1:2-4

 2 When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Hardship and adversity have a way of wearing us down. That is all part of the process. The difficulties of life may seem overwhelming and ceaseless. We often feel abandoned.

Paul was a man with tremendous AQ. He was determined to remain faithful and overcome every obstacle. Paul was successful. His responses to hardship revealed his character and the depth of his relationship with the Father. He had learned the art and science of surrender rather than resistance to the Father’s will for his life.

Rather than seeking to escape, he learned to depend upon the Father’s power to go through the great challenges that he faced. He developed a unique trait that should be common for all of the children of the King, going forward on his knees.

Hudson Taylor, of the China Inland Mission, wrote to Jonathan Goforth, that to be successful in China, “You must go forward on your knees.”

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen” (Elisabeth Kübler-Ross).

Psalms 121:1-3

 1 I look up to the mountains – does my help come from there?

 2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth!

 3 He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber.

Psalms 27:13-14

 13 I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

 14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD.

We can be confident that we will know and experience the Father’s goodness while we live. It encourages us to be brave, courageous, and wait expectantly.

The Father we serve is worthy of our loyalty and confidence. Adversity is one of the strategies He employs to mature our faith, conform us to the likeness of His Son, and fulfill His unique plan for each of our lives. Temporary afflictions yield “an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:17). When we allow Him the freedom to work, His light will enlighten and radiate through us in each trial.

“When God wants to drill a man and thrill a man and skill a man, when God wants to mold a man to play the noblest part; when He yearns with all His heart to create so great and bold a man that all the world shall be amazed, watch His methods, watch His ways! How He ruthlessly perfects whom He royally elects!”

“How He hammers him and hurts him, and with mighty blows converts him, into trial shapes of clay which only God understands; while his tortured heart is crying, and he lifts beseeching hands! How he bends but never breaks.”

“When his good He undertakes; how He uses whom He chooses, and which every purpose fuses him; By every act induces him to try His splendor out – God knows what He’s about (anonymous).”

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© Dr. H 2024

Limitless ∙

Limitless ∙

He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon, the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated as Peter). – John 1:42

Mark 1:16-18

 16 As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen.

 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”

 18 Immediately, they left their nets and followed Him.

Could it be that each person on planet Earth faces real or imagined obstacles in life? Are we able to transcend our presumed limits? Can we move beyond what we see? Sadly, many individuals are myopic and shortsighted. We impose restrictions on ourselves that are either self-inflicted or imparted by those who disparage us. These non-affirming individuals belittle our ambitions. Regrettably, we often limit our potential because of a lack of vision and the artificial limitations imposed upon us by others.

“If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else. It will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them” (Bruce Lee).

“Keep away from people who belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great” (Mark Twain).

During biblical times, surnames did not exist. People were identified by their father’s name (for instance, Simon, son of John, Judah Ben Hur) or their place of origin (for example, Jesus of Nazareth, Simon of Cyrene). A person’s name was believed to embody their personality characteristics.

The Father can see below the surface. He knows the inner recesses of our hearts and minds. He sees beyond the present day and is aware of future events before they happen. The Father often assigned new names to individuals in the Scriptures, which signified their new character, purpose, or responsibility.

Simon is an English translation of the Hebrew name Shimon. Shimon is derived from the Hebrew term sh’ma, which signifies listen, hear, be attentive, or pay attention. The Lord Jesus Christ had a broader vision for Simon. Being a mere “listener” was too limiting and restrictive. The Father had a far different plan in mind for him.

John 1:42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon, the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated as Peter).

When the Lord Jesus Christ first encountered Simon, He knew what Simon would ultimately become. The Greek translated as look is emblepo, a combination of en, meaning in or on, and blepo, meaning to look. It means to look in the face, fix the eyes upon, look at, or upon. Thus, it had the sense of deep contemplation, consideration, and clear discernment: see clearly, discern.

Upon meeting Simon, the Lord Jesus Christ clearly discerned the future. He declared that Simon’s name would be Cephas. This new name was a prophecy of Simon’s future identity. It was a prediction of what he would become. Cephas is an Aramaic term that translates to rock. The Greek equivalent of Cephas is Peter, derived from the Greek word Petros, also signifying a rock. Therefore, Peter and Cephas are not separate names but the same name in two different languages.

Matthew 16:18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means rock) . . ..

Simon’s initial encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ changed the trajectory of his life. It would take many years for the weak, inconsistent, unpredictable, and impulsive Simon to be transformed into a steadfast rock. Yet, that was precisely what the Father accomplished.

Tomorrow is always the first day of the rest of your life! Make the rest of your life the best of your life!

REFLECT & PRAY

“The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him. By God’s help, I aim to be that man” (Moody).

Father I am aware that from time immemorial, You have seen the inception, progression, and culmination of my life. Embolden me to perceive myself through Your eyes and have faith in myself as You do.

INSIGHT

But there’s more, in the Old Testament, a change of name often signified that the individual had entered into a new relationship with the Father. It was akin to a fresh start in life. That person now had a new beginning, a calling, and a purpose.

When the Father looks upon us, He is not limited by our present circumstances. In fact, He perceives not only what we are, but also what we will become. His vision extends beyond our immediate status. The Father also sees not only the possibilities and potential but also what will actually happen.

As Lord Jesus Christ beheld Peter, He saw more than just a fisherman from Galilee. Instead, He recognized the future leader and spokesperson of the early church.

The story is told of Michelangelo chipping away with his chisel at a huge, shapeless piece of rock. Someone approached and asked Michelangelo what he was doing. Michelangelo replied, “I am releasing the angel imprisoned in this marble.”

The Father sees and can release the hidden potential in each of us. He gently whispers to each of us, “Give me your life, and I will make you what you have it in you to be.” He has intelligently designed each of His children for a specific purpose. His purpose is His dream for our lives!

When the Father looks at His children, what does He see? He sees what we will become because He knows what we will become. When we look at His children, what do we see? And when we look at ourselves . . ..

Mark 1:16-18

 16 As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen.

 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”

 18 Immediately, they left their nets and followed Him.

“‘Follow me’ meant ‘come behind me as a disciple.’ It was an invitation, but in view of who Jesus was it had the force of a command” (Constable).

Their task was no longer to cast nets for fish but rather for people. Just as fishing requires hard work, self-sacrifice, and expertise, so too would their new mission of reaching out to lost humanity. They had a lot to learn, yet they responded without hesitation. They dropped everything, left their current tasks behind, and devoted themselves to becoming disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord Jesus Christ asks all the children of the King to follow Him, become His disciples, and embark on the journey He designed them for from eternity past.

The date, October 28, 1949, holds a distinct place in Christian history. Why? It is not due to a revolutionary theologian affixing a paradigm-shifting document on a church door in Wittenburg. Nor was it because a renowned evangelist, pastor, or teacher was born. Instead, it was because a young man, profoundly devoted to God, wrote a simple yet profound sentence. These words are now among the most frequently cited Christian phrases not originating from the Holy Scriptures. They were written by Jim Elliott, a missionary who was martyred on January 8, 1956, by the Aucas in Ecuador (Kevin Halloran).

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

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© Dr. H 2023

Mighty in spirit

Mighty in spirit

We fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. – 2 Corinthians 4:18

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

 16 Therefore, we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,

 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

As we journey through life, we usher in our golden years, a phase marked by two contrasting realities. On one hand, our physical bodies inevitably succumb to the ravages of time, we wear down, wear out, and eventually return to the earth from whence they came. On the other hand, aging brings its perks.

Aging is synonymous with the development of what’s known as crystallized intelligence. Crystallized intelligence is the accumulation of knowledge. This knowledge is accumulated from both education and life experience. As we age, our reservoir of knowledge or crystallized intelligence grows and becomes stronger. The learning journey is never-ending; there’s always something new to discover or understand.

The ultimate benefit lies in honing our ability to utilize this accumulated wisdom effectively. The way we see, understand, and navigate our way through the world becomes characterized by wisdom. Wisdom, after all, is the practical application of knowledge; that is, wisdom is putting our knowledge to good use.

However, more significant than the growth of crystallized intelligence is the growth of our spirit. Our human spirit can grow stronger as we grow closer to the Father and learn to rely upon Him. This is possible for every child of the King. John the Baptist is an impressive example of spiritual growth. Luke makes a very salient observation. 

Luke 1:80 The child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit.

The human spirit is capable of growing stronger and stronger when exercised and developed over time. The apostle Paul shows us the way.

“Paul’s sufferings, while not fatal, were destroying his body. Nevertheless, even this did not discourage him for even though physically he was decaying, spiritually he was still developing” (Constable). Paul underwent a complete paradigm shift. What sparked this transformation? From a human viewpoint, it was entirely unexpected.

Romans 5:2-5

 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.

 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope.

 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

The trials and tribulations that Paul faced and overcame transformed him. He now had the Father’s perspective. This eternal perspective focused on the hope that things to come sustained Paul during the temporary sufferings that marked his life. “What is seen (the material) is temporary, but what is unseen (the spiritual) is eternal” (BKC).

REFLECT & PRAY

What we see is informed by what we expect to see. When our eyes are earthbound, we are restricted by what is perceptible in the physical world.

Father open the eyes of my heart to see things as they really are, not as they appear to be to my limited human eyes.

INSIGHT

He had learned to view things through the Father’s lens. Paul sees as the Father sees. The eyes of Paul’s heart had become enlightened (Ephesians 1:18). He could now see the unseen. The Father Himself is unseen by human eyes. But with the eyes of faith, the eyes of the heart, He becomes visible. The Father and all that He had revealed and promised had become more real and substantial than what Paul could see with his physical eyes.

Like Moses, Paul was able to persevere and overcome hardship.

Hebrews 11:27 [Moses] kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.

Paul was convinced that his sufferings and hardship in this life were fleeting and momentary.

2 Corinthians 4:18 The things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

The Scriptures present an intriguing paradox permeated with irony. The physical things that we see now seem durable and lasting. However, they are, in reality, temporary, ephemeral, transient, and fleeting.  The eternal realities of the Father and eternity, which we cannot see with our physical eyes, are lasting and eternal.

Eternal, invisible realities become clear and vibrant as transient, visible realities fade and become dim. The challenges of temporary discouragement diminish. Paul was mighty in spirit. His spirit was being renewed day by day. Even as Paul’s outer physical existence was breaking down, often unprotected, abused, beaten, and frequently left for dead, the Father renewed him inwardly every day. He became stronger and stronger in his spirit. He became increasingly robust as he responded in faith to the adversities he faced. Instead of dragging him down, they served as opportunities to experience great joy.

James 1:2-4

 2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

 4 So let it grow . . ..

“God will never be a debtor to anyone. That means that any ‘sacrifice’ we make or hardship we endure for His sake and by His Spirit, He will amply reward out of all proportion to what we suffered” (Stanley).

“It’s easy to grow old if you haven’t grown up” (John Hively).

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© Dr. H 2023