Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: In The Kitchen - deadline 7-19-12 @ 9:59 AM NY Time (07/12/12)
-
TITLE: "Can't take the heat....". | Previous Challenge Entry
By Doug Laird
07/17/12 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
But what encouragement is there for those who choose to remain in the kitchen, no matter to what degree the heat may rise?
The heat generated within many culinary kitchens is simply a bi-product of whatever means is in use to prepare the food.
It is in the culinary kitchens that meals are prepared to provide its dependents with daily nourishment.
In the spiritual realm, the kitchen is also the source of nourishment, but of a spiritual nature.
Spiritual malnutrition is the leading cause of apostasy.
As born again believers we have two competing forces of influence seeking control of our thoughts and actions (Romans 7). It will be the one we choose to nurture that will win this battle.
In the day and age in which we live, our spiritual “kitchen” can be a traditional pulpit in a local assembly, or it can be one of the many means of communication that have made an imminent fulfillment (Matthew 24: 14) of the Church’s mission (Matthew 28: 19, 20) a realistic possibility within our life time.
The means of communication is not important. What is important is the quality and the quantity of the information that is being communicated.
The devil and the Ephesians 6:12 forces of evil have a long history of putting an alterative spin on what God had and has to say, dating back to the Garden of Eden.
The spiritual combat of the Church Age dispensation has always been a war of accurate vs. inaccurate information. “For as he thinks within himself, so he is (Prov. 23:7).”
The devil and the Ephesians 6:12 forces of evil continue to have considerable success, distorting, and/or adding to what can be Biblically substantiated.
Every thought of a spiritual nature has its roots in one of two schools of thought. There is divine viewpoint revealed in the, “mind of Christ (1Cor. 2:16)”, and there is evil revealed in the mind of the devil (John 8:44). Fallen Man, by nature, concurs (Romans 8:7) with the devil.
The one and only tangible source of spiritual edification for the believers of the Church Age is the unadulterated Word of God.
The most detrimental form of evil is promoted in the name of religion (2Cor. 11: 14, 15).
The heat in the spiritual kitchen is the result of the inevitable friction generated whenever these two opposing sources come into conflict with each other, pressuring an advancing disciple to choose one source, and in doing so, reject the other.
Human beings are creatures of habit and are resistant to change, especially change that invites conflicts within the closest of human relationships (Luke 14: 26).
The intake of spiritual food often calls for an overhaul of the former digestive system in order for it to be metabolized into spiritual energy (Luke 5: 37-39).
To consider that one’s present source(s) of spiritual edification is/was either totally false (Psalms 96:5), corrupted (1Timothy 4:1), or inadequate (Heb.12: 5-14) is a concept that most folks lack the courage to explore.
Fleeing the heat of the kitchen will alleviate the immediate pressure to address a spiritual issue, but leaves the issue unresolved and destined to return.
If the issue is being raised by God the Holy Spirit, the advancing disciple can go no further in his walk with God until the present issue is resolved.
The lack of appetite for natural food is an indication that something is going amiss with our natural health. Failing to develop and to maintain an appetite for the spiritual nutrition of the Word of God (1Peter 2:2) is an indication that something is amiss in one’s spiritual life.
Satan not only knows when and in what environment to best tempt us with his junk food, he presents it with an aroma that is appealing to the fallen nature within all of us.
By turning up the heat of conflict, the devil is able to take what could and should be an environment of fellowship and thanksgiving around the kitchen table into one of hostility, tyranny and rebellion.
The heat in the kitchen is a necessary element in the process of preparing food, but must be managed properly in order to maintain a productive environment.
The advancing disciple, as Christ‘s ambassador (2Cor. 5:20), must master the art of diplomacy.
Diplomacy allows a needed message to be conveyed without escalating a potentially hostile environment in the kitchen.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
Are you, by any chance, a preacher? If not, I wonder if maybe you should be :-) The content in this is superb; this is one of those essential messages that we all need to hear, whether new in our faith or spiritual veterans.
I especially love the analogy of the heat of the kitchen compared to spiritual heat. I wonder, could the p/graph explaining this friction be placed a little higher up? I found it helped to form a picture in my mind that set me up for the rest of the message.
Can I share one tip that was given to me a while ago on this forum? When we write with messages that are intended to convict the spirit, it's good to use inclusive language. IE: instead of "you, your" etc, try and write in such a way that shows that you, the author, are just as affected as the reader by using, "our, ours" etc. I hope I've explained that well enough? If not PM me, or hopefully someone else can clarify on here.
From a purely written perspective, I did find your sentences a little punchy; lots of short, sharp and shiny points with little flow between them. It reminded me a little of my bible college sermon notes, (hence my previous question).
Whoever "you" are you have a powerful message and your enthusiasm was conveyed clearly and so very well. I am so glad that I read this and wait with baited breath to discover your identity (so I can read your other entries!). God bless, and thanks so much for your conviction and boldness to preach the Word of God so powerfully. (And sorry I wrote so much :-) ).
Here's an example.
It is in the culinary kitchens that meals are prepared to provide its dependents with daily nourishment.
In the spiritual realm, the kitchen is also the source of nourishment, but of a spiritual nature.
These two sentences could be joined together to create flow and to show that the two thoughts belong together.
It is in the culinary kitchens that meals are prepared to provide its dependents with daily nourishment, yet in the spiritual realm, the kitchen is also the source of nourishment. I'm talking about nourishment of a spiritual nature.
There are other sentences which don't seem to flow with the next, like you are jumping from one thought to another.
Just some things to think about as you put all your powerful thoughts together. You have some great things to say and have already impacted others with this entry. Thanks for sharing it.
You may want to narrow it done to just one or two bits of scripture so as to not overwhelm the reader, especially if the reader is someone new to Christianity. It's a sad fact that many people will skim over an article that has a lot of scripture in it. So by expanding on just one or two points hopefully will help the reader want to pick up her Bible and explore the topic more.
I think the way you compared a culinary kitchen to a spiritual one was quite clever. It made me stop and think. I have no doubt how Satan turns up the heat in my kitchen! I imagine different people have different triggers. What is wonderful is Jesus is right there waiting for our call to cool off. Good job.