SQUARING THE CIRCLE

THE TENSION BETWEEN WHAT WE UNDERSTAND AND THE MYSTERIES OF GOD.

For a long time I considered truth to be a conveyer belt… eventually I will have full understanding. Just takes time. IE Benny Johnson passing away… why? That really troubled me. How did this happen?

Why did I think this:

GOD POSSESSES ALL TRUTH AND ITS NOT OPENLY AVAILABLE TO YOU

Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”

declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

1 Corinthians 2:9 What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love him

BUT HE CRAVES SHARING THEM WITH US AND HAVING US HUNGER FOR THEM

Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.

BUT!!!

GOD DECIDES WHEN AND IF TO REVEAL IT

2 Corinthians 12:7

Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,

My grace is enough; it’s all you need.

My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.

PAUL CAME TO APPRECIATE THE TENSION OF WHAT HE KNEW(HIS STRENGTHS) AND WHAT HE DIDN’T (HIS WEAKNESS)

There are things we don’t understand and through maturity He will reveal… and forge identity. THIS IS OUR TESTIMONY our IDENTITY

BUT there are things that are meant to be concealed from us. Baffle us… HE IS GOD, we are NOT.

It’s not a conveyor belt, its two sides of a roof.

IDENTITY = REVELATION GIVEN TO US

There are truths that are revealed to us that form IDENTITY

FAITH = ALLOWING SPACE FOR THE MYSTERY OF GOD

and there are truths that are purposed to be concealed from us to form FAITH

There are mysteries of life you will never know on this side of heaven

God LOVES this pressure

Jesus, fully man and fully God

Art and Science

Man andWoman

Square and Circle

SQUARING THE CIRCLE

Solving for Pie, finding its final digit would satisfy this tension of measurements.

Pie x Radius Squared

GOD LOVES THIS PRESSURE

These should lean on each other like a roof. Both applying pressure to stand.

This tension is so uncomfortable… ITS MEANT TO BE!

STORY OF ANGIE AND THE GLASS CUP

Had my identity not been firm, this may have sent me back to preschool. Instead God was using it NOT to increase my understanding but rather to SPIRITUALLY MATURE MY FAITH. OPEN MY EYES TO A WORLD THAT IS LARGER THAN MY IDENTITY.

Angie holds secrets and truths to God that are not yet revealed to me. Me striving to understand them will only yield FEAR and RESENTMENT… questioning my identity.

Truths not yet revealed that form FAITH

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

It’s not STRIVING THAT PRODUCES FAITH, BUT SURRENDER TO OUR TENSION.

When the pressure of the side of the roof that is challenging your understanding…

Press back with the God spoken IDENTITY and promises of God, your testimony.

God, we accept the seasons of life that we don’t understand what you are doing… we let go of striving to understand… we choose to live in the tension between knowledge and faith. We trust you.