Summer – no more Rain!
Vacation
Hollis Vacation meant two things: Relatives and Amusement parks, which meant Roller Coasters.
Spiritual Analogy is pretty easy – Don’t ride a spiritual roller coaster.
Or better yet, Life has its ups and downs.
Let’s start on a solid place:
But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless, when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:15-18 NKJV
We are in a relationship with God. No veil lies over that relationship, but we are still getting to know Him. We are learning to see Him as He is. We are being transformed from Glory to Glory.
Sunglasses are coming off. We see through a glass darkly. And it’s good. The more you know God the more you will succeed in living this Christian life.
But there are ups and down. Moses/David/Daniel
Remember what Paul just said? But he also said this:
Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. 2 Corinthians 11:25-27
Paul learned this great spiritual lesson:
For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. Philippians 4:11
Let’s get on the Roller Coaster!
Going Up! –
God wants you to ascend. Greater Knowledge, Love, Power, Effect for the Kingdom.
Don’t fear this embrace it. The ride up can be scary, but that is where you are meant to go. You will find new level of peace and effectiveness for the kingdom, but it won’t always feel like that.
First time for everything – Better to say “Whoa” than “Giddy-up!”
Paul knew this:
Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14
The Upward Call is something we need to follow, reach for, be passionate about
But two verses later Paul says this:
However, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. Philippians 3:16
When you go up though something’s got to be under you.
Click! Click! Click! What is that?. <Coaster diagram Photo>
Beams/Track/Posts/Concrete/ Anchors <anchor bolts photo>
Bible/Prayer/Fellowship/Outreach
Almost to the Top -Love it/you can see everything. But it’s scary up there.
Keep your head at the top:
Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs16:18
Humility grounds us. Humility isn’t a minor thing in the Christian’s life, but a fundamental part of Christ being formed in us.
Going Down! The fun part of a roller coaster, but not the fun part of life. Sooner or later the down times come in life. Why?
- Sin
- Unwise choices
- Broken Relationships
- LIFE
“Life has its crap moments.” – Theologian Jean Hollis (I will call for this before you put it on the screen. Also, leave this out of the app notes. Thanks.)
Elijah had one of the greatest spiritual roller coaster moments in Scripture.
Elijah Up
At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command.37 Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—He is God! The Lord—He is God!” 1 Kings 18:36-39
Elijah Down
So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 1 Kings 19:2-4
Elijah Gets a Grip
The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. 1 Kings 19: 11-13
Growth happens on the down. You hear God more clearly on the down, if you will listen. Elijah got a revelation of God and then he got the Word of the Lord. We need the Word of the Lord in the tough times.
How? 1. Scripture 2. Counsel 3. Peace.
God is glorified on the up times in our lives. Miracles/healing/testimony God is gloried by these but he is even more glorified by how we live our lives on the down times. Do we still trust him when things go sideways?
Upside Down!
Beast – Tunnel of Darkness
Son of Beast – Story – Ridiculous looking<Photo>
It was shut down. <News Story Photo>
When we are upside down in our life there is no gravity. Everything we thought was solid is gone. Then what do we do? We need to be tethered to the Anchors. Jesus Anchors. Anchors of the Character of God. Anchors of who God is.
Be connected to:
- Faithfulness of God
- Goodness of God
- The Sovereignty of God
- Promises of God
Here’s three anchors:
As for God, His way is blameless. The word of the LORD is tested [it is perfect, it is faultless]; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.” Psalm 18:30 AMP
He is the Rock, His work is perfect; all His ways are just. Deut 32:4
These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. John 16:33
Riverview Park in Des Moines.
Fun, with a scary coaster. Now its small and gone. Only the anchors are left.
Our problems are huge to us now, but tiny compared to a clear view of God and his purposes.