I WILL (Part IV)

I WILL (Part IV)

Kingdom Principle Number Four: Your will cannot remain aligned with God’s will if you dialogue with the devil.  The Bible describes Satan as “more subtle than any,” and this is a sober warning against entering into communication with him. (Genesis 3:1)  Consider this.  Communication is the first step toward communion (intimate fellowship).  A friend of mine often points out the fact that long-term married couples tend to physically resemble one another.  One day he asked me to explain “why?”  I responded with a smile and said, “They eat the same diet, they share the same living environment, they engage in the same conversations which results in an eventual alignment of thought processes and worldviews.  Why wouldn’t they wind up looking like one another?”  There is an important life lesson embedded here.

In the words of my high school health teacher, the late Mr. Arthur Feldman, “You are what you eat!”  While my teacher was focusing on physical health, the same principle pertains to spiritual health.  Our will is an amalgamation (a potent blend) of every life experience that we “eat,” that is, we intentionally internalize and digest.  Therefore, our will (which is the foundation for all our choices and decisions) is the primary determiner of emotional and spiritual health.  If we would be transparent enough to reveal what we have been ‘eating’ lately (intellectually, emotionally, spiritually), discerning persons could tell us how we will be ‘thinking’ and ‘deciding’ and ‘acting’ in the future.  Wow!  Our will is in a constant state of flux because it is the product of our personal interactions with life experiences and our unique responses (reactions) to them. 

Kingdom Principle Number Five: Our will can be adjusted when we choose to transcend our circumstances via close encounterS with Jesus Christ.  Since we human beings are creatures of habit, we tend to follow familiar pathways that I term ‘life momentum’ unless some outside force compels or empowers us to do otherwise.  Case in point: the man at the Pool of Bethesda.  It seems unfathomable to us that he had actually been laying there for 38 years!  But such was the case.  Periodically, an angel “troubled the water” and the first person to enter in would receive complete healing. (John 5:4) 

This man’s will had been negatively altered by his associates and by his environment.  According to John, he was surrounded by “a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered” individuals. (John 5:3) Nevertheless, any impediment (near or far) only constitutes a healing opportunity for the Living Lord!

Therefore, “when Jesus saw him…and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he said unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?” (John 5:6) Christ’s question is pivotal to our understanding.  The healing of this man’s long-term handicap would be directly predicated upon his will to seek and embrace wholeness.  But instead of answering Jesus directly, the crippled man offered excuses: “Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” (John 5:7) 

Jesus wisely ignored his perceptions (his environmental excuses) and took authority over both his will and his infirmity with these Words:  “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.” (John 5:8) FAITH is always VOICE-ACTIVATED.  Thus, Kingdom Principle Number Six: The Word alters the will.  This truth should motivate all believers to be steadfast students in the Word to experience daily attitude adjustments.

In the aftermath of his personal deliverance, some took strong exception to the fact that Jesus Christ had healed him on the Sabbath.  They were more concerned with religious legalism than real deliverance.  A word to the wise is sufficient: ‘Never ever allow anyone to define either your will or your personal experience of an encounter with the transforming power of Jesus Christ.’  I love the fact that Jesus did not argue with his religious naysayers.  His response was simple: “My Father works hitherto, and I work.” (John 5:17)  Translation: ‘I will not be deterred from Kingdom work by the viewpoint or criticism of the crowd.’

In closing, we must always maintain a heart openness and spiritual allegiance to The Living Word.  He is the One and Only true attitude adjuster.  Knowing this, “I WILL…bless The Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (Psalm 34:1) Amen?  Amen!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!