Four Spiritual Principles Series Are Based on 4 Spiritual Secrets' Book by Dick Woodward Principle 1 - I’M Not, but He Is
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Making wholeness possible for individuals, communities, and the world. Invitation to Silence Yes, he will set you firmly in place and build you up. - 1 Peter 5:10 TPT 10 And then, after your brief suffering, the God of all loving grace, who has called you to share in his eternal glory in Christ, will personally and powerfully restore you and make you stronger than ever. Yes, he will set you firmly in place and build you up. 11 And he has all the power needed to do this —forever! Amen.- 1 Peter 5:10-11 TPT Take Courage Slow down, take time / Breath in He said / He'd reveal what's to come The thoughts in His mind / Always higher than mine / He'll reveal all to come [Chorus] Take courage my heart / Stay steadfast my soul He's in the waiting / He's in the waiting Hold onto your hope / As your triumph unfolds He's never failing / He's never failing Sing praise my soul / Find strength in joy / Let His Words lead you on Do not forget / His great faithfulness / He'll finish all He's begun [Chorus] (x2) And You who hold the stars / Who call them each by name Will surely keep Your promise to me / That I will rise in Your victory (x2) [Chorus] (x2) Kristene DiMarco Prayer Four Spiritual Principles series are based on 4 Spiritual Secrets' book by Dick Woodward Principle 1 - I’m not, but He is. Principle 2 - I can’t, but He can. Principle 3 - I don’t want to, but He wants to. Principle 4 - I didn’t, but He did. Second Spiritual Principle I Can't But He Can The first principle focuses on identity. The second principle focuses on performance and purpose. Some of the "I can't's" in the Bible: For as a branch severed from the vine will not bear fruit, so your life will be fruitless unless you live your life intimately joined to mine. 5 “I am the sprouting vine and you’re my branches. As you live in union with me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you—but when you live separated from me you are powerless. - John 15:4-5 TPT But he answered me, “My grace is always more than enough for you, and my power finds its full expression through your weakness.” So I will celebrate my weaknesses, for when I’m weak I sense more deeply the mighty power of Christ living in me… For my weakness becomes a portal to God’s power. - 2 Cor 12:9-10 TPT 19 So Jesus said, “I speak to you timeless truth. The Son is not able to do anything from himself or through my own initiative. I only do the works that I see the Father doing, for the Son does the same works as his Father. 20 “Because the Father loves his Son so much, he always reveals to me everything that he is about to do. And you will all be amazed when he shows me even greater works than what you’ve seen so far! - John 5:19-20 TPT If God’s grace doesn’t help the builders, they will labor in vain to build a house. If God’s mercy doesn’t protect the city, all the sentries will circle it in vain. 2 It really is senseless to work so hard from early morning till late at night, toiling to make a living for fear of not having enough. God can provide for his lovers even while they sleep! - Psalm 127:1-2 TPT We don't like "I'can't" moments of life. • Culturally, we have been raised and live in a culture that values performance. • Individually, our false self seeks security in performance. We don't do "I can't" very well. • While there is some value in performance, the spiritual journey is in many ways a journey of "descent." God leads us to real "I can't" moments in life. • A real "I can't" moment is not a moment of under-functioning, of fear, or of distancing. It's the real experience of reaching the end of ourselves. "Laying bear in the basement of my life." • A real "I can't" moment is the grace of God in our lives. Spiritual an "I can't" moment precedes growth (resurrection). Moses, David, Paul, Jesus. • I can't fix, control, or predict "I can't" moments in my life. God provides freedom and intimacy through "I can't" moments in life. • Freedom from fear (being stuck in life, fear of failure, fear of commitment). • Freedom from performance (pride and/or exhaustion). • Freedom from being disconnected from God (becoming "independent contractors" for God). Peter's transformation through "I can't" moments • I can't fish • I can't walk • I can't be courageous • I can't love 26 Those who heard this said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus responded, “What appears humanly impossible is more than possible with God. For God can do what man cannot.” - Luke 18:26-27 TPT This is the mystery of the Christian life, to receive a new self, which depends not on what we can achieve but on what we are willing to receive. - Esther de Waal Dialogue Prayer The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. - Num 6:24-26 .