Meditations about the Fall of a Minister (Part 2)

Hi Everyone,

Amen to everything that Huilian said...just one thing though: the "fire" of which Paul speaks does Not refer to trials we face in life, but rather to an experience of purification that we will undergo, according to Paul, on "the Day (that) will being (the work) to light", referring to the Jewish idea of the Future Day of Judgement. Just highlighting this because as a CE pastor, it is my job to try to let the Scriptures speak for themselves rather than we end up making them say something they don't...

That said, still a hearty amen to everything mentioned...trials Do serve to highlight our hearts to ourselves. Since we are on the Corinthian letters, perhaps the first 5 chapters of 2 Corinthians serves as a model for how this happens. As Paul undergoes great trials, he points out that they are "pressed but not crushed, persecuted not abandoned", because of "this ministry" of the Holy Spirit that they have, so much so that they bear in their bodies the death of Jesus that they might also experience the (resurrected) life of Jesus. In other words, when Paul was 'squeezed' like a sponge by his terrible trials, what came out of him was the rich experience of the Holy Spirit as resurrection life...very different from what comes out of us when we are squeezed!

So...all Pentecostals should have foreseen my conclusion to this already...when you are being squeezed by trials, and crappy stuff comes out instead of godly stuff, cry out for more of the Holy Spirit! Paul is obviously the super 'zai' example we should strive towards!

Chris

On Tue, Jan 20, 2009 at 9:25 PM, Hui Lian Phan <huilian84@hotmail.com> wrote:
Hi all,

In response to Daniel's email, just as when he was sending out this email, I was checking up on the lakeland revival and was also listening to what Bill Johnson had to say.

This verse was brought to my mind,

1 Corinthians 3:12-14 (New International Version)

12If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.

the fire that will test the quality of each man's work is refering to the trials that we have to face in life. What God is looking for is that we that we remain anchored in Him, and in his character such that we will not be overcome by the world, but be able to overcome and withstand everything. Out of our hearts, our attitudes and reaction will determine whether we qualify for this reward as trials will expose any part of us which is not anchored in God.

So as an encouragement, let's shape up our lives and our character. I think this is important even before we start ministry work. :)