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Month: October 2021

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Spiritual Intelligence – The mind Of Christ 

There is a common consensus that we are the product of our thinking.  The way a person thinks determines who they are.  “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”  (Prov 23:7). All thinking starts with an axiom, hypothesis, assumption, idea, structure, filter, basis, or premise. In mathematics or logic, an axiom is an unprovable rule or first principle accepted as accurate because it is self-evident or beneficial.   

A Battlefield in the Mind

Paul states that our warfare is directed first against principalities, or in other words, principals, foundational thoughts, and structures of thinking  (Eph. 6:12). He explains this thought-idea-structure in more detail in (2 Cor. 10:3-6).  Again, Paul uses warfare language and metaphors to describe that our battle is against strongholds, arguments, thoughts, high things raised against the knowledge of God.   

Word Study: 746. ἀρχή archḗ; gen. archḗs. Beginning. Archḗdenotes an act. cause, as in Col. 1:18; Rev. 3:14 (cf. Rev. 1:8; 21:6; 22:13). Christ is “the beginning” because He is the efficient cause of creation; “the head” because He is before all things, and all things were created by Him and for Him (John 1:1-3; Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 1:10). Archḗmay also mean “the pass” – the beginning of something, as the beginning of a line, road, and so forth. The line or road is conceived in one’s mind, but where one touches the paper to draw the line is the pass, the beginning of the line (Matt. 19:8; Mark 1:1; 10:6; 13:8). Archḗ also means the extremity or outermost point (Acts 10:11; 11:5); rule, authority, dominion, power (Luke 20:20; 1 Cor. 15:24). 

The Battle Is For First Position

These original structures and patterns are very powerful if applied to the truth and knowledge of God but can also be totally debilitating and destructive if based on a foundational lie.  Neuropathways form in this way too: The central nervous system (CNS) goes through a three-step process when it functions: sensory input, neural processing, and motor output. The sensory input stage is when the neurons (or excitable nerve cells) of the sensory organs are electrically  excited. 

This is why first experiences are so binding. A child exposed to pornography at a young age builds a dopamine enriched pathway towards self-gratification without relational intimacy.  This will potentially wreck his ability to actually have a meaningful relationship with a real girl. Upbringing, parental role models, types of learned behavior, quality of education, culture and religion builds mental structures of thought that can either be reductional and restrictive or enabling and freeing! 

How You Think Determines What You Think

The problem is hence not so much what you think, but how you think. What are the bases, first premise, axiom from which we begin our thoughts?  

Negative self-destructive thoughts are: I’m unworthy; I am never good enough; I am a failure; I am useless; I’m stupid; I am always excluded; I am weak; I am illegitimate; I am poor; I am a sinner and desperately wicked; etc.  

Now let’s study 1 Corinthians chapter 2 in detail to understand and grasp Jesus’ solution and way out:  

At the start Paul makes it clear that he did not come with excellence of speech, or man’s wisdom.  He already in detail explained this premise in the previous chapter: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” (1 Cor 1:19)  

So the way and structure of how the world thinks is not going to unlock your full godly divine potential! You need to acquire a new way of thinking. You need to start your thinking from a different premise.  

Note, that nowhere in this passage Paul is telling us what to think. Parenthood, money, business, wealth creation or even relational challenges are not mentioned anywhere.  You must first get your starting point from which you center your thinking right.  Jesus started His ministry and preaching also with a change of mind. “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:15.

Word Study: 3340. μετανοέω metanoéō; contracted metanoṓ, fut. metanoḗsō, from metá (G3326), denoting change of place or condition, and noéō (G3539), to exercise the mind, think, comprehend. To repent, change the mind, relent. Theologically, it involves regret or sorrow, accompanied by a true change of heart toward God. 

Notice the order: First, repent then believe.  Simply put – your thinking determines your faith. Faith originates from a certain premise, basis, filter of thinking.  Twins who have everything in common can yet determine to live two different succinct opposing paths. Because they premise their thinking from a different conclusion, conviction, and mindset.  

Jesus does not say that specific sins need to be repented of. He did not say, stop abusing alcohol, He said repent! He was speaking mostly to the Jewish religious crowd about a certain way of thinking.  Jesus makes it plain: the Kingdom of heaven is at hand, there is a new season at hand. You need to accept and come to understand a kingdom oriented heavenly-minded way of thinking.  All Jesus’ parables and deeds were in fact, built on a different axiom! He operated from the premise, foundation, structure of a limitless supernatural realm. This was the major difference between Jesus and the Pharisees: He already attained heaven, God’s favour, oneness with the divine and operated from this premise. All their works and beliefs were based on the exterior (what things seemed like) whilst trying to achieve an inside axiom.  Jesus operated from a Kingdom-of-heaven perspective.  

Opposite To How The World Thinks

Now let’s get back to 1 Corinthians 2. 

“However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.”  Remember the principalities, powers, and rulers, strongholds, arguments, and high things already mentioned. (Eph. 6:12; 2 Cor 10:3) 

Then Paul beautifully explains the knowledge and understanding of a heavenly minded person:  “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

But as it is written:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,

Nor have entered into the heart of man

The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Meaning, we do not base our thinking on material, measurable, visible sensory things. 

“But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” 

The Mind of Christ is Received

Note that the premise, foundation, structure, and axiom of this knowledge is spiritually received. It cannot be intellectually acquired. When one received Jesus Christ, and He becomes the premise of our thinking, everything changes!! When one receives the mind of Christ we receive His perspective and way of thinking.  

The apostle James, brother of Jesus clearly explains: “O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?“(James 2:20).  Contrastingly, we know that we cannot be saved by our works.  Could it then mean that works without Christ is dead? What we try to accomplish in our own power is dead.  This is self-righteousness and an abomination against God.  “by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight.” (Rom 3:20; Ps. 143:2; Acts 13:39; Gal. 2:16] 

Jesus said: “Seek ye first the kingdom and His righteousness!” (Matt. 6:33) Our starting point thus begins in Him! When we receive His righteousness, the least is greater than John the Baptist, who is considered the greatest of all the OT heroes (Mat 11:11). We therefore RECEIVE the Mind of Christ! His MIND is a gift, it is an awakening, a whole new realization, conviction, and premise of consciousness! We live, move and have our being, in Him! 

Heaven is in God, not God in heaven! When Jesus said, heaven is at hand. He was speaking from a heaven-cosmic-divine-spiritual-eternal worldview. Later, Jesus would pray to the Father, speaking of Himself; “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” (John 17:16) – our citizenship is in heaven (Phil 3:20). “Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.” (1 Peter 2:11-12). 

THE MIND OF CHRIST is received by being convinced of heavenly realities! We are seated with Him in heavenly places (Eph 2:6). 

Make Up Your Mind

Our old worldly reasoning reacts against this KINGDOM Reality.  Why are we not all healed and prosper in everything? Why do we suffer, and face so much hardship? Let’s conclude with weighing Jesus’ life: Did He prosper in the way the world sees prosperity? No, He died a gruesome death; His own people did not believe; His own inner circle betrayed Him; they doubted, and denied they knew Him.  Yet Jesus overcame the World and the wicked one! (John 16:25).

This is our liberation: the world has lost its hold on us; we should not care what people think (1 Cor 4:3-5; 1 Cor 15:10); we loose our taste for earthly carnal desires and we lose our fear of death and failure.

The mind of Christ:

  • Helps us focus only on being obedient
  • Helps us complete our calling and legacy!
  • Helps us remain calm in the midst of adversary, tribulation and persecution! “Like a lamb led to slaughter”. 
  • Bravely and fearlessly does what is right at any cost!  

A New Premise and Reality

Oh how wonderful to have received the mind of Christ!! “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Eph. 3:17).

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 8:38) 

Paul received the mind of Christ: “But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” (2 Cor 6:4-10). 

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The Will of God – A Holy Sanctuary

Sanctuary of Assembly

https://youtu.be/LB0Qy2HtusU

Since the beginning of time, God is seeking a people who could be His holy sanctuary and dwelling place. The story of God’s people provides us with a roadmap for our spiritual growth as an individual but also for the greater body of Christ. 

Removed from the Sanctuary

God’s story with humanity begins in a temple-like garden where we are in perfect, holy union with the divine. Man believes a lie: he must eat some forbidden fruit to be like God and to know good and evil.  Consequently, man is cast out of this holy sanctuary.[1]  Later, God would reveal himself to one of Adam’s descendants, Abraham, who would become the Arch-father of God’s called-out special people.[2] This group of people, a family of twelve tribes, receive their existence from serving God, doing what God says.  If they serve God with their whole heart, they are blessed.  In contrast, when they become passive and indifferent, they are dispersed and lose everything.  

A Redeemer Leads Them Back to a Holy Land

Because of a series of do-it-our-own-way acts of disobedience, they become slaves to the Egyptians, working hard to build their pyramids and shrines. An ex-Egyptian king, a Hebrew called Moses, inspired this leaderless group of slaves to follow him to a promised Utopia-like land of milk and honey – Canaan. God revealed Himself to this group of slaves with divine signs and wonders and a continual supernatural cloud that they learned to follow through the desert.[3]  

Then God asked Moses to build Him a tent of meeting. [4] King Solomon, Israel’s genius, a “Nobel prize winner”, constructed an impressive temple.  Solomon doubted that his temple could contain God almighty,[5] yet continued, and God visited the temple periodically with His cloud. [6]

Rulers and Kings – A Nation Divided

After Solomon, the nation was divided into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.  None of the kings of the ten tribes of Israel served God.  Eventually, God’s judgement came about at the hands of the Assyrians, whose foreign policy was to disperse and divide the nations they conquered among all its various subjects.

On the other hand, eight of the nineteen kings who reigned in Judah served God and brought about some reforms in their lifetime – for example, Hezekiah and Josiah.  

Exile!

Regrettably, they also continued a path of rebellion and disloyalty towards God, and God elevated the Babylonians to destroy everything. They flattened the walls, the temple and the city of Jerusalem.  The best young men became eunuchs in Babylon.  

The Book of Lamentations came about as to how the remnant dealt with corporate grief. Then a young eunuch called Daniel, who became state secretary because of his accuracy of interpreting the king’s dreams, saw in the scriptures that this punishment would only last seventy-years.  During his ministry in Babylon, three pagan kings, one Babylonian and two Persians, acknowledged that the God of the Hebrews was the only true God. 

Return From Exile

God then used Ezra and one pagan ruler called Cyrus to fund and rebuild the temple, a smaller and more humble physical structure, but called it, “greater than the former” by the Prophet Haggai. [7] The Persian King Artaxerxes, permitted Nehemiah the cupbearer to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem in 52 days.  Malachi is the last Prophet who spoke the oracles of God before a 400-year silence and the arrival of Jesus Christ.  

Following their return from exile, the people of Israel lived as a restored community in the land of Palestine. However, instead of learning from their past negative experiences and serving and loving God will all their heart, soul and strength, they became immoral and careless. The reforms initiated by the post-captivity leaders Nehemiah and Ezra had not prevented a severe spiritual decline among the Israelite population. Malachi, the scribe, was burdened with the spiritual problems of his people.[8]

Sanctuary Restored But People Not Interested

God was reasoning with His people in a question-answer fashion.  God found their religious sacrifices contemptuous, fabricated, and insincere.  This half-hearted religion is evident in leaders who do not speak out against lawlessness while committing the same evils.[9] Their marriage covenants exhibited the same adultery and disloyalty of heart.[10] The withholding of tithes and offerings were further evidence of their passive resistance against God. [11]

Promise of Open Heaven

Surprisingly the tone changes – there is a promise of open heaven!! 

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the LORD of hosts; “And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,” Says the LORD of hosts. (Mal 3:10-12) 

A Holy Remnant

Through all these hundreds of years, the goal is still today: I want a people to be my sanctuary, my Eden, my delight, so that I can bless them to be a blessing to the nations. 

The dialogue continues as the people complain by saying: ‘It is useless to serve God; What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, And that we have walked as mourners before the LORD of hosts? (Mal 3:14). It seems that the wicked are more blessed than the righteous! This is the accusation against God! 

The dialogue changes; this time, the people of God, the remnant, start speaking to one another! Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another,  And the LORD listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name. “They shall be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him.” (Mal 3:16-17). 

Heaven has been keeping a record, a book of remembrance, of eternal vindication of all the righteous acts of courage and faith. 

The day of the Lord is coming. A “day” means a moment in time, a change of season. Salvation is always in one day. “shall a nation be birth in a day?” (Isa 66:8) All the great stories of deliverance in the Bible happened in one day! Sacred moments in time, where heaven meets earth. 

But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; And you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves. You shall trample the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet. On the day that I do this,” Says the LORD of hosts. (Mal 4:2-3) 

The Will of God – Jesus is Sanctuary!

Jesus is the fulfilment and enactment of this prophecy of an open heaven: Jesus is the day of the Lord. He is the birth of a new nation.  He is the gateway and entrance to a permanent spiritual sanctuary in the Spirit. 

“And Jesus, having been baptized, went up straightway from the water, and lo, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him: and behold, a voice out of the heavens saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I have found my delight.” (Mat 3:16)

Remember Jesus received this blessing before He did any miracle or drove out any demons. He got this divine heavenly endorsement being an ordinary artisan and faithful to His earthly parents. 

Those in CHRIST experience an OPEN HEAVEN – a here on earth as it is in heaven reality! He showed us to live this reality (Heb 4:14-16). He fulfilled His earthly ministry from an open-heaven reality, temple, sanctuary, mobile, temporary tent-like body displaying and revealing God’s glory.  

The Final Destruction of the Temple Made With Hands

Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the temple. And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” (Mt 24:1–2) see Mark 13:1-2; Luke 21:5, 6. 

Jesus cleanses the temple: John 2:13-22 

Jesus proclaimed the temple would be destroyed and rebuild in three days. (Matt. 26:61; Mark 14:58; Matt. 27:40; Mark 15:29),

“But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.”  (Isa 66:2). 

“God does not live in shrines made with hands.” (Acts 17:24). 

Roman General Titus finally destroyed the City in 70AD.

His Sanctuary Is His Church

  • The body of Christ is now His temple and sanctuary (John 2:21)
  • Something more significant than the temple is here (Matt. 12:6)
  • You are God’s temple, and God’s Spirit lives in you (1 Cor. 3:16)
  • The temple of God is holy, which temple you are (1 Cor. 3:17)
  • Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19)
  • We are the temple of the living God (2 Cor. 6:16)
  • The whole building is growing into a holy temple (Eph. 2:21)
  • I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God (Rev. 3:12)
  • what agreement has the temple of God with idols? (2 Cor. 6:16).

  • The whole church as God’s temple (Eph 2:21-22)

He is Eden, tabernacle, open heaven, tent of meeting, city, nation, culture, mountain, the glory of God!!!

For more on the Priestly mandate of the Church.

An Empowered Sanctuary

After all that Jesus had done, only 120 people [12] obeyed the command of Jesus to wait until they were endowed by power from heaven.  120 become 3000, and 5000, “and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” The sanctuary of God is established and demonstrated throughout the earth! Being all of the goodness, and fullness of God and a blessing to the nations!

https://hrco.co.za/raak-betrokke/

[1] Gen 3

[2] Gen 12 

[3] Exo 13:21-22

[4] Exo 25:8 H4720. מִקְדָּשׁ miqdāš: A masculine noun meaning a holy or sacred place, a sanctuary. As a nominal form from the verb qāḏaš (H6942), meaning to be set apart or to be consecrated, this noun designates that which has been sanctified or set apart as sacred and holy as opposed to the secular, common, or profane. 

[5] 2 Chron 2:5-6

[6] 2 Chron 5:14 

[7] Haggai 2:9 

[8] Hayford, Jack W., ed. Spirit Filled Life Study Bible. electronic ed. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1997. Print.

[9] Malachi 2:6-9.

[10] Mal 2:14-16.

[11] Malachi 3:8-11.

[12] Acts 1:15

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Die Wil van God – Vloei

Die Wil Van God is soos… ‘n vloei; ‘n rivier; ‘n stroom; ‘n energie; ‘n wentelbaan; ‘n frekwensie. 

Om die Here te dien is ‘n bepaalde ritme van regleef en harmonie wat genesend vir self en vir ander is.  Hierdie vloei kan ook beskryf word as ‘n genade. Wanneer jy in hierdie vloei is, is dinge makliker, is jy gefokus, en gebeur alles natuurlik. Vloei is energie of beweging – dit is dus geloof in aksie. “Getting into the flow” beteken ook daar is grense, ‘n fokus, ‘n konsentrasie. Soos ‘n aansluiting op ‘n snelweg, probeer mense die spoed van die verkeer meet en dan saam integreer. Hierdie vloei kan ook beskryf word as liefde. Liefde is ‘n vloei, ‘n positiewe energie. Eenheid is ‘n vloei. Behou die eenheid. 

Die vyand sal alles doen om hierdie harmonie te versteur, te onderbreek wat uiteindelik lei tot ‘n siklus van verwoesting en uiteindelik die dood.  Godsdiens is dood, en sal altyd die vloei van die lewe probeer keer. 

Ons lewens draai letterlik om verskillende multivlak siklusse: reeksgebeure wat gereeld in dieselfde volgorde herhaal word. Daar is honderde verskillende soorte siklusse in ons wêreld en in die heelal. Sommige is natuurlik, soos die verandering van die seisoene, jaarlikse dieremigrasies of die ritmes wat ons slaappatrone beheer. Ander is mens-geproduseer, soos die groei en oes van gewasse, musikale ritmes of ekonomiese siklusse. 

“Meganiese dinge beweeg in ‘n reguit lyn. So kan ‘n masjien wanneer dit voldoende aangedryf is in ‘n sekere rigting stuur. Maar prosesse soos geskiedenis en ekonomie behels mense, en wanneer mense betrokke is, is die resultate veranderlik en siklies.” 

Daar is verskillende energievelde waarin mense funksioneer. Soos magnetiese strome van krag wat jou aantrek of wegstoot.

Alles Is Vloei van Energie 

Jou liggaam: Die bloed in jou are, menstruasie siklus, biologiese horlosie, slaappatrone, die suurstof toevoer in jou longe. 

Die Lewe: die klankgolwe wat ons hoor, die voertuie wat na die middestad in en uit beweeg, die omgang van transaksies wat die ekonomie lewend hou. 

Die Kosmos: Wentelbane, sentripetale en sentrifugale kragte. 

Seisoene: van nou af sal al die dae van die aarde, saaityd en oestyd, koue en hitte, somer en winter, dag en nag nie ophou nie. (Gen 8:22)

Die Natuur: Al die strome loop in die see, en tog word die see nie vol nie; na die plek waarheen die riviere loop, daarheen loop hulle altyd weer. (Pred. 1:7)

Die Ewige Nou:  Parallelle siklusse in die Bybel. “Different sections ascribe the same duration to the period described Rev 12 compared to Rev 20.” [1]

Generasies: Daar is seisoene van nabyheid, en van stilte (Rigters) 

Ons lewe is siklus van op en af: Josef 

Bepaalde tyd vir alles: Pred 3:1-11 

Die sewe feeste wat volgens die Landbou en seisoene bepaal is: Lev 23

Siklusse van 7: Die Bybel bevat baie verwysings na siklusse van sewe – die getal van volledigheid. Benewens dié van die Shmita-jaar – die sewende jaar van elke sewe jaar – toe God die heelal geskep het, het Hy ses dae geneem en op die sewende gerus. Net so geniet ons Shabbat – ‘n dag van rus – op die sewende dag van die week. Tussen Pasga en Pinkster is daar ‘n siklus van sewe weke – die Fees van Weke. Op ‘n groter skaal is daar siklusse van sewe Shmita-jare (sewe siklusse van sewe jaar) wat lei tot die 50ste  jaar – die Jubeljaar. 
Politieke Seisoene: Hy verander tog die tye en die geleenthede; Hy sit konings af en stel konings aan; Hy verleen wysheid aan die wyse manne en kennis aan die wat insig het; (Dan 2:21) 

Ewige Vloei van Voorsiening 

Toe God die mens geskape het, het God vir hom voorsiening gemaak. Die hele skepping is ‘n netwerk en biosfeer van voorsiening: die sogenaamde “circle of life”. So was daar grond om te bewerk. (Gen 2:17). Die Here het ‘n rivier gegee, wat vier vertakkings gehad het. “where there is gold. And the gold of that land is good” (Gen 2:11b-12a) 

Daar is genoeg voorsiening vir die mens gemaak op die aarde, met geen tekorte nie, maar dan moet ons volgens God se voorskrifte die grond bewerk, die vrugbaarheid deel, ingedagte dat ons rentmeesters is, moet ons die grond oppas. Dit laat rus, sodat dit optimaal kan bly voorsien aan ons behoeftes (Sien herlewingslandbou). Sakeleiers moet reg met werknemers en kliënte werk om vloei van inkomste te verseker.  ‘n Gesonde geloofsgemeenskap is ‘n vloei van voorsiening deur diepgaande verhoudinge en wederkerige deelname. 

“The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

God se voorsiening aan ons is nie beperk nie, en word nooit bevraagteken nie. Om God se voorsiening te bevraagteken is so absurd as om die son te bevraagteken as ons dit nie sien tydens die nag nie, en as die wolke die hemelruim oorskadu nie.

Behou Die Vloei

Vloei spreek van voorsiening en orde: Lug vir ons longe, minerale vir ons spiere en organe, stimulasie vir ons brein, voedsel vir ons siel. ‘n Goeie bestuurder probeer in die momentum van die verkeer bly, om sodoende brandstof te spaar, maar ook om nie die insittendes naar te maak met te vinnige stop/wegtrek bewegings nie. 

‘n Fikse persoon se toevloei van suurstof is beter as iemand wat nooit oefening doen nie. 

‘n Goeie toespraak vloei gemaklik van insiggewende feite na finale klimaks, en ‘n appèl om iets te doen. 

‘n Gesonde besigheid beheer die vloei van tyd, produktiwiteit, en kostes tot ‘n winsgewende roetine. 

In die positiewe sielkunde is ‘n vloeitoestand, ook bekend as die sone (“the zone”), die geestestoestand waarin ‘n persoon wat ‘n aktiwiteit doen, ten volle gedompel is in ‘n gevoel van energieke fokus, volle betrokkenheid en genot tydens die aktiwiteit. In wese word vloei gekenmerk deur die volledige opname in wat ‘n mens doen, en ‘n gevolglike transformasie in ‘n mens se gevoel van tyd. [2]

Onderbreking van Vloei 

Daar is mense wat ingeprop is in ‘n vloei van selfsugtige ambisie, korrupsie, self-vergelding, onvergifnis, jaloesie, selfsug, eie-waan wat die vloei van seën verbreek (Joh 10:10) as gevolg van:

1) Onkunde

BID tot die HERE om reën in die tyd van die laat reëns. (Zech 10:1) 
Elia het profeties God se wil verstaan en daarvolgens gebid. (1 King 18) 
in die eerste jaar van sy regering het ek, Daniël, in die boeke gemerk dat die getal jare waaroor die woord van die HERE tot die profeet Jeremia gekom het met betrekking tot die puinhope van Jerusalem, sewentig volle jare was. (Dan 9:2) 

Die trekooievaar ken sy tye van kom en gaan, die tortelduif, die swaeltjie en die kraanvoël kom op ‘n vaste tyd terug, maar my volk wil nie weet wat die Here vir hulle vasgestel het nie. (Jer 8:7) Die tyd is vervul en die koninkryk van God het naby gekom; bekeer julle en glo die evangelie. (Mark 1:15; Gal. 4:4; Efés. 1:10) 

Die vloei van genade is soms reg hier by jou, en mens sien dit nie raak nie.  Ons kan nie reën maak nie, slim landbouers weet om water op te vang, die seisoene reg te lees, en te weet wanneer om te plant. Alles is tydsberekening.  

Die ebvloei van finansiële markte en spandering tendense.  In elke krisis is daar ‘n geleentheid. Wanneer die see terugtrek, kom daar ‘n brander.  Die meeste wins word gemaak wanneer jy hierdie beweging rek kan lees, en weet wanneer om te koop en te verkoop.  

Laat ons dan nie slaap soos die ander nie, maar laat ons waak en nugter wees. Want die wat slaap, slaap in die nag; en die wat dronk word, is in die nag dronk. Maar laat ons wat van die dag is, nugter wees, met die borswapen van geloof en liefde aan, en as helm die hoop op die saligheid. (1 Thes 5:1-11)

2) Nalaat Om Goed/Reg Te Doen  

En laat ons nie moeg word om goed te doen nie, want op die regte tyd sal ons maai as ons nie verslap nie. (Gal 6:9) Reg doen is ‘n bepaalde energie, ‘n gravitasie.  Gee, en aan julle sal gegee word. ’n Goeie maat wat ingedruk en geskud en oorlopend is, sal hulle in jul skoot gee, want met dieselfde maat waarmee julle meet, sal weer vir julle gemeet word. (Luk 6:38) Dit is eenvoudig, bly in die vloei, hou aan beweeg. Moenie kyk na hoe die Here iemand anders seën en jy het nog niks nie. Hou aan, jou beurt kom. Bly in die vloei.  Mens moet liefde gee, om liefde te ontvang. Glimlag en jy ontvang ‘n glimlag.  Wat jy saai sal jy maai.

3)    Vergifnis of Onvergifnis 

(Mat 18: 15-35) In tye van oorlog verf mense hulle gesigte of sit maskers op, om nie langer hulleself of die vyand as ‘n groeiende ontwikkelende geïntegreerde persoon te sien nie, maar ‘n statiese beeld van boosheid.  Wanneer ons te nagekom voel, vorm ons statiese beelde van mense, en ons begin in ons gedagtes met hierdie drogbeeld veg, terwyl die oortreder intussen vloei, en ontwikkel.  Ons haak vas by hierdie beeld in ons gedagtes, en ondervind allerhande wrok en wraak gedagtes. Die vloei van die verhouding is onderbreek. Die dialoog van gesprek en luister is gestaak, en daar vind dus nie langer ontwikkeling plaas nie. Vergifnis herstel die vloei. Ons almal het vergifnis nodig, en moet dit gee om dit te kan ontvang. 

4)   Voorsiening of Slegte Rentmeesterskap 

  • Vrees – Mat 25:26
  • Luiheid – (Prov 19:15; 31:27; Eccl 10:18)
  • Armoede mentaliteit en minderwaardigheid – Aan elkeen wat het, sal meer gegee word, en van hom wat nie het nie, sal ook die bietjie wat hy het, weggevat word. (Lk 19:26). Jy moet verantwoordelikheid neem vir jou eie vloei. Jou eie gebedstyd, aanbidding, gehoorsaamheid, gesindheid bepaal jou spoed en beweging, wanneer jy saam met ander gelowiges tyd spandeer bou dit die momentum.  

5) Ontrekking en Isolasie 

Isolasie stop die vloei van genade wat deur die samesyn van gelowiges vir jou, stig, opbou, en laat groei (Ef 4:16; Rom 14:19; 15:2; 1 Kor 14:3, 5, 12, 26).

Moenie die prop uittrek nie. Moenie onttrek nie! Daar is ‘n reuse voorsiening in die liggaam van Christus, en te veel mense bly in isolasie.  Keep engaging! Moenie jou hart wegdraai nie. Bly in die vloei van die liggaam.  Die samekomste van die gelowiges is ‘n vloei, wanneer jy een byeenkoms gemis het, is jy nie meer in die vloei nie.  Kies jou stroom! Jy kan nie in talle kerke se stroom inhaak nie, jy gaan deurmekaar raak, en kan selfs hulle stroom deurmekaar maak. Sien die vloei van waar God jou wil gebruik! Beweeg saam in die vloei. As almal nou dans, dans saam! As almal bid, bid saam. Bly in die vloei. Mense wat vir te lank geïsoleer is, sukkel met sosiale integrasie en vloei.  

[1] Hendriksen, William. More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1967. Print.

[2] https://exploringyourmind.com/positive-psychology-a-flow-state/