A central concept of thermodynamics is an object (matter) in relationship with its unperturbable environment. The kinship between finite and infinite.
You can actually tell how things are going to be in every-day life by watching your spiritual thermometer. If we truly understand that our carnal advancement and success depends on the health and well-being of our inner-man, we will check on him frequently and with consistent regularity. We wait for life's situations to decline, and often get out of control, before we do a reality check to determine the root of the problem. Surprise ! It is not our surroundings ...not the people ...not things ...not even the circumstances. Just "ME" out of balance, not enough spiritual strength to generate a proper reaction for "Today".
We need to be in possession of the persuasion of Romans 8:38-39.
Roma 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.The enemy deceives us into thinking that we have neither the time nor the energy to fill our spiritual "tank," when in truth all that is required is, "Father I need you today." A relationship with God that causes us to be "filled with the knowledge of His will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding" just makes for a better day !
John gives us a clue as to how this works in 3rd John:2..
3Joh 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."I pray that 'proportionately' you will prosper physically as you prosper spiritually." So what does that mean to me? My spiritual health should be my Number One priority.
The importance of our ears cannot be over-emphasized: "He that has an ear, let Him Hear" because: LISTENING TO OUR OWN TONGUE IS HOW WE TAKE OUR SPIRITUAL TEMPERATURE.
Traditionally, the thermometer was placed under the tongue. Modern technology uses an instrument in the ear. An interesting correlation. We need to Hear what we are Saying and consequently what others are Hearing! Physically we must listen so that we can spiritually discern. We owe it to our inner man to check his temperature and make sure he is healthy. The best way to do that is to LISTEN.
When we speak, our attitudes (the mercury indicator), rises according to the well-being of our spirits. If we are full of the Love of God, encouraging, positive, warm and kind words will be emitted. If we are carnally cold, we will be negative, bitter, impatient and uncaring.
There is a poignant chapter in the Bible that paints a very striking picture of this. So clear and vivid are the colors, so plain the message, that we tend to move on to more subtle and subdued pastel topics. Humanity exposed in James chapter 3.
It gives us a good check list:
What kind of water is coming from my fountain? Is it sweet, refreshing and drinkable? Or has the Creator already passed by and erected a warning sign: "Contaminated Water?" Do thirsty travelers on this road of life discuss your well and say its not dependable? "You never know how it will be; ..sometimes sweet, sometimes bitter. Definitely not consistent. Perhaps we should by-pass this one if we are really in need."
Consider the hungry passerby, looking for nourishment and thinking, "That's a strange plant. What kind of fruit is that?" You know, sometimes the fruit really looks appetizing. Other times, its obviously not going to pass inspection and be marketable.
For example: Our thermometer is not giving a proper reading if we say we love God but do not love our brother. We are part of a body ministry, one with each other "IN CHRIST."
This temperature gauge that we have, called the tongue, is small but mighty, capable of destroying our effectiveness. It is not what goes in ....Matthew 15:10,11.
A real good time to listen in is when we are talking to co-workers or family members. Sometimes in familiar territory we justify bad attitudes, reserving the sweet waters for new acquaintances. Remember its, "Out of the abundance of the heart" that we speak ..its the overflow Luke 6:45.
If you are hearing yourself and you don't like what you are hearing, get in contact with the water treatment centre located at the cross of Christ. Don't allow yourself to forget. Commune with Him. Recognize ...we can't, but HE CAN.
Keeping the "tree" in the "water" makes us acceptable. Exodus 15:25
We cannot make ourselves better (we cease from our labor. Heb.4:10) we pursue getting to "Know Him," to fall in love with Him, to make Him our focus.
Jesus saw the tree and beyond (Heb.12:2). We can be confident that all we do and say will be edifying if it is Him and not us. We are maturing. An artery is a tubular vessel. We are to be moving, living containers of the Spirit. If our temperature is dangerously low and we need warming, we only need get in the "SON", our Daystar that warms the world (ll Peter 1:19). According to the laws of thermodynamics we can be in thermal equilibrium, simply by drawing near. The Spirit will flow from Him to us until we are like Him.
God is constant. He does not change. He is the Source. He can give out without it affecting His temperature. Important for us is to always realize, initially we are containers, our goal is to be channels. We have a treasure in these vessels. We can bless others, but must be receiving in order to give out.
Sometimes we are not balanced, we give more than we have received, and we find ourselves drained and empty. Be mindful if the situation we are in is demanding. We need a lot of time-out for refueling. Logic tells us that the demand cannot exceed the supply! However, with growth and maturity, we become channels through which the Holy Spirit flows in an endless quantity ...a totally different concept. It comes through KNOWING HIM.
When our relationship with Him is balanced, we share certain properties: "If the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwell in us," it will make us alive unto God -- dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ.
To be an effectively functioning body, we have to be one with Him and through Him; one with each other. That is a law of thermodynamics!
People who want a suntan get in the sun, and when they do, it shows! This has the same effect spiritually (Acts 4:13). It was evident that they had been with Jesus. They exhibited power and wisdom. Knowing these were ordinary men incapable of such a high degree of excellence, the "hearers" were amazed.
Let your light so shine ...people will see and give Glory to God. Jesus was gone, but He was being seen, and heard, and felt simply by ordinary people having faith in His Name. (His Plan exactly!)
Their approach was simple, they told what they had seen and heard. What followed was that when they prayed, things happened. When they spoke The Word, it was with boldness. They were in unity of heart and soul, the result being, they experienced Great Power and Great Grace.
Be aware of technical difficulties such as Matt.15:8. He doesn't want Robotics but rather Aerobics.
Matt 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with [their] lips; but their heart is far from me.