Blast from the Past #7: A Picture

Here is a picture that came to me in a couple of chapters so I would like to share it with you. I saw a scale with the three chains holding each of two trays. On the left side was FAITH and SPIRIT. On the right side was FLESH and FEAR. Then I saw that dynamite was on the left tray and manure was on the right tray. Both sides were balanced. Then I saw MIND, WILL, and EMOTIONS were about to weight either side. When they weighted one side or another, the scale shifted to tip that side toward the floor. When they weighted the FAITH - SPIRIT side, the dynamite blew up and massive positive spiritual Holy Spirit energy was released. When they weighted the FLESH - FEAR side, demons filled the manure and it became even more of a cesspool. It also came to me that when EMOTIONS are allowed to take MIND and WILL toward one side or the other, it is the weakest part of us that is doing the leading.

Comments? Thoughts? Other pictures, words,  dreams, visions, etc. 

Blast from the Past #6: Elders and Youngers

     In I Peter 5: 1- 11 there is a wonderful truth to consider at the beginning of this pivotal year of 2009. 

Consider verses 1-4, where elders are exhorted to

1) shepherd the flock of God

2) serve as willing, honest, and eager overseers

3) serve as examples, not Lords over those entrusted to them (the flock)

If they do this they will be rewarded by the Chief Shepherd with a non-fading crown of glory.

Consider verses 5-9, younger people (non-elders) are exhorted to

1) submit to elders

2) submit to one another

3) be clothed with humility (humble yourself under the mighty hand of God)

4) cast all your care on Him

5) be sober (serious-minded), be vigilant (carefully watchful), resist the enemy remaining steadfast (not changing, not moving, unshakable) in the faith BECAUSE, as your adversary, the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (completely eat, leaving no scraps)

The inference is that IF you submit to elders, submit to one another, become clothed in humility, and cast all your care on Him (actions) while being serious-minded, carefully watchful, and in a state of resistance to the enemy, steadfastly holding to your faith (states of being), then you will, after a time period of suffering, be perfected, established, strengthened, and settled by and in Christ (verse 10) and exalted in due time (verse 6). Compare Col. 2:6,7. If you DON'T receive God's grace to do the actions and live in the states of being listed, then you become a thanksgiving dinner for the enemy (only he won't be thanking God).

It is assumed that God's true elders/overseers/shepherds (not title only) have been faithful in this process (where there has been some suffering) and have been perfected, established, settled, and already exalted by God (to one degree or another) in order to shepherd the flock without Lording over it (being examples instead) and serving as willing, honest, and eager overseers.

What are your thoughts?