Spread the Fire - May 2008 - (Page 11)

major questions, “What does this mean?” and “What must we do?” These will always be the two mysteries the church must solve. These are the same questions that people have today about every mystery in life. The degree to which the church is able to answer these questions is the degree of influence it will have in society. The questions demand wisdom, but at a deeper level they call for a prophetic people. The people that hear from God will rule the day. In the plot of the movie, “Evan Almighty,” a recently elected congressman receives a Noah-like call for the 21st century. As God challenges Evan to delve deeper into God’s will for his life, the viewer realizes the contemporary challenge of serving God when society doesn’t understand. As I watched the movie, I had to ask myself if I would risk it all to implement the interpretation of God’s communication into my circumstances. How about you? Will you take the time to listen, turn aside and respond to the voice of heaven? How you answer that question will determine your destiny. Solving complex mysteries will take more time, demanding a level of wisdom like that of Solomon. Isn’t it a relief that we serve the God of Solomon? How will we cope with extreme mysteries? When the church of Corinth had a question about exercising the gift of tongues, Paul answered by telling them to pray for the interpretation of the mystery (Explore 1 Corinthians 14:2, 10-11, 13). Mysteries need interpretation. Unlocking a mystery requires our desire to seek the interpretation. We are learning to interpret God’s mysteries in the same way someone interprets a foreign language. We must learn the language before we can interpret it to others. where you learn the language He speaks will cause you to unravel the mystery. Give yourself to understanding His language. LEARNING THE LANGUAGE OF HEAVEN The first element in learning any language is motivation. Whether it’s French, Spanish or Heaven, you must have a deep desire to understand it. Being equipped is the next step. The Bible is God’s language book. Study it and you will know how He communicates. In order to learn a language, you must be in the environment where it is spoken. Seek out a church culture that celebrates hearing heaven’s voice and learning to communicate with God. Learning a new language requires humility because you will make mistakes, many of them humorous ones. It will seem strange as you learn to speak its sounds but keep trying. Take time. There is no crash course in learning the voice of God. In fact, it takes a lifetime of interaction with Him. There will be times you misunderstand, but allow yourself time to learn. God the Father is pleased that you want to learn His language in the same way you are pleased when someone is trying to learn your language. SOLVING MYSTERIES IN THE CHURCH The church will be confronting important mysteries in this generation. Where is the church heading? How will leadership shift? What is the right model for building a true kingdom culture? Are tragic situations going to radically change how we live? What will the future be for my children? Perhaps you will never know why ducks come home, but God is willing to help you solve some of life’s greatest mysteries. Are you willing to turn aside and give yourself to understanding Him The people thath e a r fromGOD w i l l rule theday Paul is saying that a life of intimacy with God S TF - 1 1

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Spread the Fire - May 2008

Spread the Fire - May 2008 Contents In the River From Mystery to Clarity: Understanding the Language of Heaven Don't Settle for a Substitute Marooned in Bolivia The Sign of Israel's Blooming International Itinerary Resource Center Catalogue Visitor Information Upcoming Events

Spread the Fire - May 2008

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