Through

"Beyond every conquest is a promise fulfilled." ~Living Beyond Yourself, Beth Moore.

How many times have we come face to face with an issue, circumstance, or person we wanted to be delivered from? Finding a way around, above, or even under, we attempt to avoid it because going through it, enduring it, whatever it is, won't be easy, will probably be painful, uncomfortable, and nine out of ten times, it will be inconvenient.

Going over, around, or under, means we may not get to what's beyond that circumstance - a promise waiting to be fulfilled. Have you ever felt or just known that something in your life was set apart, like a promise in your heart that was made but left unfulfilled, maybe betrayed? And maybe there's still a sliver of hope that beyond the next peak or around the next corner, that something will be fulfilled, made complete. Or maybe after years and years of hope, disappointment after disappointment, there's walls where hope once stood.

Wherever you're at, whatever you're going through, my hope is that you will fight through it because there is a promise waiting to be fulfilled.

Romans 8:37-38 says, "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

We have faith to fight, not just to conquer and defeat circumstances and sin, but to partake and participate in His promise to us. But why must we suffer? Why do we go through pain?

C.S. Lewis writes in "The Problem of Pain," that the entire issue of pain is, in fact, created by Christianity:

"In a sense, it [Christianity] creates, rather than solves, the problem of pain, for pain would be no problem unless side by side with our daily experience of this painful world, we had received what we think a good assurance that ultimate reality is righteous and loving."

To look at the problem of pain and Christianity is a blog for another time. But we all experience pain and are probably going through something painful right now or soon will be, I wanted to encourage you that you are not alone. And that hope that you have with eager anticipation or buried down deep will not disappoint you... if you have your hope in the Right place:

"And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:3-5

"Do not be anxious in anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcentds all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

During those dark days when you just want a beam of sunshine on your face to warm your soul but everywhere you turn is dark, gloomy, or there's walls and buildings.... no way out. Take a minute to pray. He hears your prayer and, like a window being cut out in the wall, His warmth and peace will shine through.

There is a hope that will not disappoint. Fight THROUGH with faith that comes simply by asking Him for help and letting Him go with you through your circumstance.

Longing and desire

Beth Moore's "Living Beyond Yourself" study of the fruit of the Holy Spirit has been so timely! When faced with difficult circumstances and choices, it's easy to focus in and forget about the rest of the world. This usually leads to more frustration, losing sight of the "big" picture, and making poor decisions. As Nick and I face a few large decisions, this study has been great in doing just what the title suggests, living beyond ourselves.

The past few weeks, the study has taken us through the Holy Spirit's history as written in both the Old and New Testaments and then through Galatians to set the stage.

Yesterday, we started looking at love. The first of the fruit. However, we started with what type of love this fruit is not. Yesterday was "eros" love.

Eros was never used in the New Testament but was more commonly used by Greeks and is found in Greek literature. Eros, the Greek mythological god of love personifies "longing and desire," which is exactly what eros means. "Eros is a selfish love; it asks 'what can I get for myself?'" It is often associated with sexual love and can lead to a possessive, controlling "love." Although sexuality was never created for conquering and possession, on its own, a part from God's redeeming love it becomes just that.

If God has created family and through families, raised up the church to share His love, then what is the best way to destroy the church? Destroy the family. Sex, as it was created to be, is the expression of "dowd" and "rayah" used by Solomon and his lover (Song of Songs). "Dowd" means "my one beloved" and rayah means "female associate" or "the woman of my dreams." God created physical desire and attraction but not selfish eros. That desire for each other is important. In the study, Beth puts it this way:

Dowd and rayah are both specialized terms in the context of these Scriptures. This kind of love is acceptable toward only one person: your marriage partner. If you are married, God gave you this precious gift (see I Cor. 7:7) that you might experience great pleasure together.

As I write these words, I am aware that many of you reading them may have no physical desire for your mate. It may be that you love him dearly, but he simply has become undesirable to you. Please hear my heart and allow me to be very open with you for the sake of God's kingdom. Physical love or sexual intercourse is to marriage what prayer is to our spiritual life. prayer is the hallmark of intimacy with Christ. Sexual desire and fulfillment are the hallmarks of inticmacy with out mate. With the exception of medical or physical limitations, I do not believe healthy marriages exist absent of physical affection. 

[....] I know exactly what some of you are thinking, and I understand these feelings with all my heart: But, Beth, how can I make myself feel desire for my husband? I just don't! Some years ago, a very godly woman gave me the best advice I've ever been given concerning this area of marriage, and it was her own personal testimony. She said, "Ever single day I pray to thrill to his touch."

[....] You're right in thinking you cannot make yourself feel desire. But, oh, my sweet sister, God can change your heart and give you healthy desires toward your mate. Will you let him?

Tomorrow, we'll look at the next type of love philos meaning "friend love."