With all of the massive amounts of rain we have had in the last few days, and how it has impacted our church building, I have to admit I’ve been a little preoccupied by it. Today when I was picking up my co-worker to commute to work, the building across from her house was having the roof repaired. She mentioned that it was old and was probably leaky – with all the rain we’ve been having, she said, the water found its way to all of the weak spots. And immediately – at the speed of the Holy Spirit, the below analogy came to mind.
“Analogy of hard rain falling onto roof - it reveals where there are vulnerabilities in the structure, and water will leak through. It is kind of like the work of the Holy Spirit in our sanctification: He reveals to us where there are weak spots, vulnerabilities in our faith and character. He shows us where they are saggy and blistered by the world and its influence, and our own natures, and where we may have tried to plug up the holes with the equivalent of spitballs or tarps. With the rain damage, the homeowner most often must contract with an outside source to repair the vulnerable spots on the roof. The expert contractor uses his knowledge and skill to repair the vulnerabilities in the roof – for a fee – and may offer a warranty period of up to 20 years. Yet, the indwelling Holy Spirit, Himself, not only repairs our vulnerable places, those weakness and immaturities in our faith, or where our character is out of alignment with Christ – He can eventually perfect them for eternity …the price of the repairs to the ‘homeowner’ is submission to the Holy Spirit’s plan.
“The Holy Spirit uses tried and true tools to firm up and strengthen us and help us become leak-resistant: -- (1) God’s Word, which He helps to be operational in us to strengthen and shore-up our faith structure to withstand the torrents, and amend our character; (2) He promotes within us the desire for unceasing prayer as an avenue that keeps us continually in communication with the Father, receiving confirmation and affirmation during the building project; (3) He enables us to engage in true worship, worship that acts like rolls of tar paper that help shield the foundations that have been built; (4) and (5) the Holy Spirit also empowers us carry out the stewardship of what has been built into us and for us, and in using the service and ministerial gifts God endows within His redeemed people so that we can enjoy living into the new life being built in Christ.”
I cannot look at a leaky roof the way I used to!
Hebrews 3:4 -- For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.
2 Corinthians 5:1 -- For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Ephesians 2:10 -- For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Ephesians 2:19b-20 – [You] are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
No comments:
Post a Comment