Christian Living

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The Painting of the Parable

A parable: The Parable of the Painting
Some people want to associate everything that happens in their lives as if:
God is painting the picture
Life is the canvas
And we are the paint
As God strokes His brush across the canvas, our life, lifestyle, livelihood is designed, lived and completed. If God adds color, our lives are filled with joy. As He brushes shades of darkness, tumult follows and in the end God brushes the final stroke and we are gone.

But that’s not how it really is. Here’s how it really is:
We are painting the picture
Life is the canvas
God gives us the tools; the palette, the brush, instruction and an endless supply of paint to work with.
But what is being painted is being painted by you and I - with God’s grace, of course - with God’s gifts, of course - with God’s intervention, absolutely, but we are doing the painting.

Sometimes we paint what we want to be.
Sometimes we paint what we are.
Sometimes we paint an experience or a special memory.
Sometimes we paint a dream.
Sometimes we paint something beautiful.
Sometimes we paint something ugly.
Sometimes we paint riding a motorcycle.
Sometimes we paint a vacation, or a new home, or a child.
Sometimes a new relationship.

But we are doing the painting, you and I and the neighbor next door and those across the world - the righteous, the evil, the uncertain and the spiritual guru, the dictator and the saints all painting.

Understanding who we are and how God works in our lives are the two most important quests that we will ever seek. Understanding who we really are and how God really works in our lives are essential - if the truths that emanate from God are to ever find their way into our heart and our home.

This is how it really is in God’s universe:
In the beginning, God...God always had, has, and always will have, all the components of the universe to use at His will.
God creates mankind - God gives us limited components to use at our will.
Mankind creates a lifetime (paints their picture) - Using these components.

In essence who we are is a combination of what God created, (us) with what we create, (a lifetime) thereby co-creating who we are, what we are, and what we are to become. We know this from scripture, validated through experience.

If God calls us, talks to us, reveals things to us, shows us the way, teaches us and commands us, then the way we respond is what we become - In other words:
God gives us the tools; the palette, the brush, instruction and an endless supply of paint to work with. What we paint on the canvas of life is up to us. Even though what is on the canvas is not only what we painted, what we paint on the canvas of life is up to us.

Once we understand that we are doing the creating, (painting) of our own picture, (life) and that picture, (life) is integrated with that of everyone else, (On the canvas of life) then, and only then:
We can know more clearly how God operates in us and through us.

We can hear God more succinctly and understand what God is saying.
We can love God more perfectly because we stop blaming God for our situations and circumstances and learn to place the blame where it belongs.
We can serve God more willingly because we understand how our relationship with God is one of co-operation.

Picture this - We are still in our parable.
We are painting a week of leisure with money to spend at our favorite vacation spot and someone comes along and paints in more work that only you can do and your picture gets changed. As you and I are painting, so is every one else.

Maybe you were painting a scene of reunion with a loved one and someone comes along and paints on your canvas with greed and riot, meanness and destruction.

Have you ever painted a short term goal:
* Maybe shooting a basket from across court at the last minute of a game to win the championship.
* Maybe make a sale that puts your sales team at the top of the sales teams for the year.
* Maybe win a tennis tournament or start a bible study in your trailer park.
Only to see your plans/life, (your painting) painted over, by someone or some thing that wasn’t in your plan.

How about long term goals:
* Maybe singing or performing for thousands of loving fans.
* Maybe owning your own business.
* Maybe seeing your child or your grandchild grow up.

Maybe you are painting, putting money away to send your kids to college or to build financial security so you can enjoy a few years without the pressure of having to make money.

Only to see your plans/life, (painting) painted over, re-arranged or altered.

We don’t seem to mind too much when we are painting a foggy, gloomy day and someone comes along and splashes on some bright colorful paint, money, blessing, a raise, a kind word, a bit of wisdom or love).

But, when we have painted a beautiful picture of how we think it should be and someone comes along and paints over our beautiful picture with something vile and verbose like, (robbery, cheating, lying) we cringe.

And that is not enough, to add to the story, some of the picture is being painted (generated) by natural law, nature itself, the fall of man, and even demonic activity.)

We need to know who we are, who God is and how the big picture, (painting) works.

How does God intertwine the brush strokes of one with another?
In this study, together we will learn how to:
Pick up the brush, (our will)
Grab a palette of paint, (our gifts, talents, skills and instructions along with the tools to work with)
And paint over, (create a new version of life)

OK - end of parable.

Now the meaning of the parable.
There’s no place for defeat in the Christian’s life.
Knocked down, yes.
Beaten, yes.
Broken, yes.
Traumatized, sometimes.
Hurt, yes.
Torn, yes.
Discouraged, sometimes.
But never defeated.

There’s five truths (five paints) that if we incorporate them into our life we will never be defeated again.

1 From now on I am going to take charge of my life.
2 I will never turn back.
3 I will never play church again.
4 I am going to commune with the people of God and share with those who are not, the truths that I have learned.
5 I will receive from God all that God has to offer.

Ephesians 5:6-17
V6 “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. V7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
V8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
V9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
V10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
V11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
V12 For it is a shame even to speak of those which are done of them in secret.
V13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
V14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
V15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise. V16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
V17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”

Ephesians 6:10-18
V10 “Finally, brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.
V11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
V12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
V13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. V14 Stand therefore, having your loins gird about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
V15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; V16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
V17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God:
V18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in

Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

From now on I am going to take charge of my life.

* I will recognize that I am responsible for making something out of my life, worthy of God’s blessing.
* I will understand that nothing will get done until I do it.
* I will take charge or my life - No longer do we blame others for our shortsightedness.
* I will discipline myself to work hard to accomplish my goals.
* I will learn to make decisions that steer my life to get where God wants me to go.
* I will answer God’s call
* But I will wait on everything else until I get a clear and distinguishable go from God.

It’s simple, I am going to take charge of my life. Amen???

The next truth that I am going to incorporate into my life so that I will never be defeated.

2. I will never turn back.

Luke 9:62
“And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Jeremiah 7:23-24
“But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.
V24 But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.”

I will never turn back.

I will never turn back to my old ways.
I will never turn back to my old habits.
I will never turn backwards in my walk with God.
I will never go back to where I once was.

I will never turn back.

The next truth that I am going to incorporate into my life so that I will never be defeated.

3. I will never play Church again.

Hebrews 5:12
“For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.”

2 Timothy 3:15
“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

* I will not accept watered down preaching.
* I will not accept middle of the road teaching - relationship without commitment.
* I want to be in God’s presence and will accept nothing less than what God has for me.
* I know it should be a joy to go to Church, and when it is no longer a joy, I promise to go somewhere else.
* As a believer I know I am an equal to all in the Church, (the body of Christ), including the ministry leaders and the pastor.
* I will read my bible and allow God to teach me the truth.
* I will pray and learn how to pray in a way that gets answers and glorifies God.
* I will be accountable to others and allow others to be accountable to me.

I will never play Church again.

The next truth that I am going to incorporate into my life so that I will never be defeated.

4. I am going to commune with the people of God and share those who are not, the truths that I have learned.

Acts 2:42-47
V42 “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
V43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
V44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
V45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
V46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
V47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

Ephesians 2:19-22
“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
V20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone;
V21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
V22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

* I will study the first century Church and find out for myself if there is some credulity to doing it this way.
* Others around me are going to take a greater interest in my life because I operate in the knowledge that I have of Christ, and set an example as one who follows Christ.
* I am going to find out what I can do to help make the dreams of others around me come true.
* I will make the Church a place where I can share my triumphs and my valleys, knowing that I will be lifted up and not condemned.
* I will trust others and believe that they trust me also.
* I will share my gifts, talents and skills in a way that will enhance the lives of others.
* The Church will be a pleasant place to me where I can be renewed and rejuvenate, inspired and built-up.
* The Church will be to me a place of refuge, of comfort and solace.
* I will make the Church a place that proves to the world that the very best can always be found in the house of God.

I am going to commune with the people of God and share those who are not, the truths that I have learned.

Before I go to the fifth truth that I am going to incorporate in my life, so that I will never be defeated.

Let’s go back to our parable for just a moment.

• We are painting a picture
• Life is the canvas
• God gives us the tools; the palette, the brush, instruction and an endless supply of paint to work with.
• God teaches us how to paint.
• He doesn’t leave us on our own.
• God co-paints with us, but God does not paint the picture.

Many believe that because God is sovereign that we have little to do with our destiny. But that is just not true. We have everything to do with our destiny. Don’t let this moment pass you by. If you have never submitted to God and joined together with God to fulfill His plan in your life, do it now. You have no idea if tomorrow will offer you the same perfect moment as today.

We have everything to do with our destiny.
You can reach that goal.
You can have that vacation.
You can buy that house.
You can see your children come to the Lord, every one.
You can win that tournament.
You can get that new motorcycle.
You can have peace in your heart.
You can build that fitness center.
Just get out the paint, ( God’s tools) and start painting. Paint over that old picture.

Have you been waiting for the right time to paint your picture?
Have you been waiting for your spouse to paint your picture?
Have you been waiting for your boss to paint your picture?

Don’t wait. If you don’t paint it someone else will and when someone else does, get out some new paint and share with God what’s on your mind, and let Him show you how to paint it right.

Paint over the marks and mistakes.
Get some fresh paint and get to work.
Know you can with God’s help and with God’s tools.
Begin to paint what you want to see the rest of your life and you will never be defeated.

The next truth that I am going to incorporate into my life so that I will never be defeated, and probably the most important reason we are never going to be defeated.

5. I will receive from God all that God has to offer.

Matthew 21:22
“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”

John 1:11-12
V11 “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.
V12 But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.”

I will be saved.
I want to receive all that God has for me and now is the time.
I will be filled with all that God has for me.
I will follow the Son of God.
I will receive God into my temple.
I will be empowered by God.
Is God talking to you right now?
I will obey God’s voice.
I will be made righteous.
I will love the brethren.
I will receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
I will receive the blessings God has for me.
I will receive His power.
I will let God change me.
I will draw nigh (as close as I can get) to God.
I will receive all that God has to offer.

We will never be defeated if we accept (God, the Father) by accepting (God, the Son) as our Savior and follow Him.

We must be open and honest with God.

If God is tugging on your heart to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior?

You can enjoy the many blessings that God has provided, (So that you can learn to paint the picture of life that you would like to see).

If you have not asked Jesus to come and make His home with you, you need to.

If you have fallen backward and let down your guard against your real enemy, you need to turn it around.

If you want to apprehend every spark of light that God sends out from His essence, just say YES to what God has to offer.

God is here and knows each of us.
God wants you and I to accept the free gift of salvation that Jesus died for.
If God is calling you to say yes to Him.
Come up here where we can join with you and celebrate with you the greatest moment in time.

If this is where God is calling you, you need to receive what God is giving.
Freedom from the past.
Forgiveness for all sins.
Heirs to the kingdom of God.
And some new paint to get started with the rest of your life.
Pastor Keith - crownoflifeonline.org

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