Balance

Today was a good day at church. Each week, I'm really enjoying the presence of God in the worship and preaching. I love how Pastor Sid brings the Word.

Today the thing that kept coming back to me is balance. (This is not at all what he preached about.) We are unashamedly a Pentecostal Church and we allow the Spirit of God to minister to God's people. We are led by the Spirit of God and allow him to speak. But that in itself is not enough to sustain us. We have to have the Word. Neither the Spirit or the Word replace each other but both parts are equally essential to spiritual growth.

This is a balance that we have to have not only in the church but also in our lives. There are so many lopsided Christians.

When we depend too much on God's spirit and felt presence and neglect the Word, we become emotion driven and not grounded in anything. These Christians enjoy great highs of Christianity and devastating lows when they go through a spiritual desert, feeling neglected by God and not knowing the truth of God's word that could sustain them through the valley.

On the flip side, Christians who spend hours in Bible study but deny the power of the Holy Spirit limit God. The truth they know is not allowed to become anything more than knowledge. To know God, we have to experience him in a real and personal way. Denying God the ability to interact with us as he desires denies ourselves of the benefit of that personal relationship.

Worship is more than the songs we sing at church, it is a lifestyle and it too, needs to be balanced. Jesus said that God is looking for worshippers who will worship in spirit and truth. Worshipping in spirit is allowing the Spirit of God to worship God through you according to what God desires. Worshipping in truth is studying God's word as a part of your worship, seeking out the truth. God's word is truth.

God, help me stay balanced and focused as I draw closer to you, so I can be useful for your kingdom according to your plan for me!