interfatio

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Inspired by the message that my pastor gave on Sunday, he said that as Christians we need to run interference, not avoidance when it comes to living our lives in the world. I was meditating and found that the Christian life is very similar to the game of football. I am NOT an expert, but here are a few things I thought of.

Teams
In football there are two teams, yours and the opposing team, in this case your team can be you, your church family and don’t forget the cloud of witnesses (Heb 12:1)! The opposing team is the enemy, his minions, the “cares and worries of this world” Mark 4:19. Both teams take turns on offense and defense (Matt 11:12). Hence why in some seasons it seems like everyone in your team is being hit with stuff and other times there’s breakthrough for everyone.

Player Positions
As in the game each of us has an assignment, a “position” to play, don’t forget! So does the other side! Each player has specific roles to play, positions to be in for each play. Play to play is different, hence in different seasons, different plays. Don’t go back to an old playbook, God (the Coach) might be changing your playbook altogether. We need to be in tune collectively with the Coach to get the current play and communicate well within our own team.

Sacks and Injuries
Sometimes we all get sacked, or knocked out of the game, we’re sidelined by things we never saw coming that the enemy planned to wipe us out for good. But the Good Physician (Holy Spirit) is on the sidelines with us waiting and willing to help us heal and get back in the game. There are also positions for people with healing abilities like the Team Doctor, who’s also part of them team. Behind the scenes roles are just as important as those on the field.

Game Movement
It is important to note, that in the game of football both teams have their eyes on the ball, one to stop movement, one to further movement. Important here: if someone on your team a Christian brother or sister has forward movement? Don’t go pulling them back/down with your words/attitude, then you’re leaving a hole in your defensive line for them to get hit. Forward movement is good for everyone on your team. The enemy doesn’t want you to have any forward movement, he wants to push you back as far as he can. Sometimes he might send the Linebacker to knock you out, but sometimes it’s the sneaky play that’s subtle that you don’t notice at first. We should be able to read the enemy’s line-up, like he reads ours. We (the church) our team we need to support one another in prayer, so we can learn the plays together, each other’s roles and positions and communicate and encourage effectively. Like the “huddle”, aka weekly service where we come and discuss the plays for the week.

Touchdowns
I think at least as Americans we like to think of life as one touchdown after another. Graduating, getting married, getting that promotion, house, having children…but what if those aren’t touchdowns at all? True all of those are good things and important life events, but don’t they are have to be walked out as well? If you get promoted but don’t maintain your work ethic that got you there, does it “undo” that touchdown? The message also was talking about how our mentality needs to shift from “me” to “we”…what if our team touchdowns come when our community changes? For example, a societal shift from hiding in our respective lodgings to communicating and being involved socially in our neighborhoods. What if touchdowns are not measured by personal, individual progress, but by communal and collective progress? It’s literally not even about winning, the overall “game” is set and already won by Jesus!
That’s all I have for now…

Contact info: Twitter @aperta_occultis or Email occultisaperta1@gmail.com

rivus

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Water

The water itself has many microscopic nutrients. This made me think of 1 Corinthians 3:2, “I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready” that we need the flow of the Spirit and the nutrients from the Word. He said we need to avoid the runoff of the world into the streams of the Lord. Just like in the natural, runoff is dangerous to ecosystems and kills off vital nutrients. The more of the world in a church, the less vitality from the Lord. 

Some churches flow deeper than others, just like in the river there are deep parts and shallow parts. And He said some get hung up on the rocks of opinions and theology like in Galatians 4:10-11, “You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.” Or it could be illustration of Matthew 21:44 “And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” 

The sound of the water is like the sound of heaven (Acts 2:2), and just as the water creates a greater, more forceful noise when more of it comes together, so the church will have a greater voice in the Earth when we come together in unity. And there is unity represented in the water. You cannot separate one droplet of water from another once combined. Perhaps this is a fulfillment of Christ’s prayer in John 17:23, “I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”

Animals/Plants

The fish in the water represent the “schools” of the Spirit. Just like there are different sized fish, there are different sized ministries and the different types of fish represent their different anointings (ie. healing vs worship, etc). The schools also made me think of disciples like in Matthew 28:19, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” Also, fish swim together and are safer that way, same as we as believers are reminded to “not forsake the gathering of the saints” in Hebrews 10:25.

At the bottom of the riverbed are oysters and clams clinging to the rocks.This made me think of two things: 1) these creatures clean the water just like deliverance ministries “clean” the church and 2) they must stay attached to rocks sort of like Matthew 7:24, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” 

Turtles are like those who hide from change and refuse to join the flow of the Spirit in this generation.

The birds of prey, like Ospreys and Eagles, represent the devil trying to snatch away the 1 that’s wandered from the 99 (Luke 15:4-5) like it says in 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Other birds, like song birds represent the worship leaders/teams. Each church and each worship group has a unique song to sing unto the Lord (Psalm 96:1). 

Water lilies represent the fragrance of the Spirit like 2 Corinthians 2:15, “ For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing…”

I felt like bugs and insects such as water skimmers, mosquitos, etc are like the distractions the devil uses to draw us away like it says in Matthew 13:7; Mark 4:7; and Luke 8:7.

Snakes also live near water, these to me represent the wolf among sheep parable Jesus spoke of in Matthew 7:15.

Frogs or “peepers” (as some people call them) represent the prophets crying out to the world, but! there are also toads or false prophets and we must discern the difference 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21, “Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.”.

Finally, all animals need water. We as the church are supposed to be attracting the outside world to come and drink Matthew 11:28-30.

Atmosphere

Obviously the atmosphere is my favorite. 🙂 As we partner with heaven and pray, our prayers release rain, and the rain falls, and increases the flow rate of the river; it also increases the depth of the river. As I said before, it makes the water tricker to navigate so like Proverbs 3:5-6 says we must rely on the Lord (Holy Spirit) to guide us.

Contact info: Twitter @aperta_occultis or Email occultisaperta1@gmail.com

debitum

To listen as a podcast click here: https://anchor.fm/occultisaperta/episodes/debitum-e635ft

We ask God is there a lie I believe about you? What is the Truth?
It’s like we have a wallet full of credit cards and each card has the name of a lie on it and God shows us the name of each one. Interest of each of them compounds on your life and the devil well he WANTS you to go bankrupt (John 10:10). He will offer us “low interest rates” or “0% interest” with seemingly no consequences, when reality is quite the opposite. The devil preys on your need for instant gratification: your lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and pride of life (1 John 2:16). He tries to deceive us telling us that our debts are normal, and everyone is using them, doesn’t God want you to have fun and enjoy your life? he whispers in your ear.
The goal is to get out of debt, but like most debt it’s almost impossible to get out once you’ve buried yourself deep within. Fortunately there’s another character in this story…the Master banker. He knew of your debt from of old (1 Peter 1:20) and already has a debt consolidation loan for you. Yes He already knows you have it, it’s pointless to hide or try to forget. God has a different take on our debt. He will trade you the credit cards for His debit card if you will allow Him. The name on your new card, is your new name like it says in Rev 2:17. His card debits from the blood of Jesus. The credit cards steal from your future whereas God’s debit card pays interest into your destiny. When you hand all your debt to God, your total balance transfers to Jesus’ account and He cancels the debt as He’s already paid all the payments.
And how might you repay this loan you might ask? Is it a burden just like in the past? Not so my friend, for in God’s bank the currency is love and grace. The only ask of you is to serve Him and seek His face.

Contact info: Twitter @aperta_occultis or Email occultisaperta1@gmail.com