Teaching by: Pastor Jeff
Lesson on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4XpSYy6yHqM
We all struggle in some areas, do better in others, and wonder what that means in the context of our relationship with Jesus. Lately I've been researching and learning about marine diesel engines, and while doing that the Lord showed me how our lives operate in a similar system.
FUEL
The input is like the fuel. If we spend time in the Word of God, that is the best clean fuel. But there are so many other inputs - as television calls them - programming. They are changing us whether we realize it or not These impurities mess us up, just like dirty fuel is responsible for (an estimated) 90% of engine issues. Water, air, and dirty fuel all need to be delt with.
First we must consider what fuel we are putting in our tank. What we are letting in through our eye gates and ear gates. And, we must 'bleed' the air out of the system - a process where all the air is pumped out so only fuel is in the system.
2 Corinthians 11:1-4
Paul and the False Apostles
1 I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me! 2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
Bad fuel exists both inside the church, and in the world around us. We need to carefuly consider our spiritual diet, and what fuel we are consuming.
PRIMARY FILTER
Next, we have a primary filter or 'water separator.' This takes the big impurities and water out of the fuel. This is an important step, and something we experience a lot when we are new followers of Jesus. But be careful, because 'new' doesn't mean 'a short time.' There are lots of folks in the Body of Christ that have never moved past this step! Even if we've been following Jesus for a while and have developed in some areas we may be 'new' in our development in others.
Matthew 16:1-8
The Demand for a Sign
1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.
2 He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ 3 and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.
The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees
5 When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. 6 “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
7 They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.”
8 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread?
The primary filter takes out the yeast or leaven - the 'major impurities' in the fuel - the idolatrous and sinful things from what we watch and listen to that influence and teach or program us.
LIFT PUMP
A lift pump is the next stop, and it is responsible for pulling fuel from the tank, through the primary pump, and pushing it forward. This is like the Holy Spirit. He pulls the fuel from the Word of God, and as the major impurities are worked out, He pushes it forward to the fuel pump.
2 Corinthians 11:21-29
21 Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
FUEL FILTER
The fuel filter in a diesel engine takes out dust, tiny pieces of metal, and other impurities that would create issues in the engine. As our relationship with Jesus develops in areas we gain understanding, the Wisdom of Christ which is imparted to us. This is where we are refined by the Fire of the Holy Spirit, and the fuel that comes from the Lord is purified within us for use.
In Luke we see the first two of the baptisims. It is sequential. Once we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit fuses Himself to us. When we are ready for the second baptism, we are baptized by the Fire of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 3:15-17
15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
INJECTION PUMP
The next stop is the injection pump where the fuel is presurized for use. In an engine this might be a jerk or inline pump, or a distribution pump, or other types. Regardless, the fuel can be over 20,000 psi! Within us the Word of the Lord becomes an even more powerful force! The truth of Jesus that came from our time spent in the Word, was filtered from the old man, elevated by the Spirit, purified by divine Rhema knowledge, and is now presurized for use. At this stop we are ready to explode the light and love of the Kingdom of Heaven into someone's life.
1 Peter 1:3-7
Praise to God for a Living Hope
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
COMBUSTION AND OUTPUT
Relationships are the most valuable thing in this world. Money holds no value compared to this. In a diesel engine, the injection of the fule into highly compressed air that is over 1,000 degrees F, 538 C, burns. Here we literally see the light and fire of Jesus in our metaphore. Jesus is the Light, and His Holy Spirit is the Fire! When we are obedient to Him, our acts of love toward others bring the Kingdom into this world. May His Kingdom come and His Will be done, here as it is in Heaven!
1 Corinthians 15:58
58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
We see the output of an engine as horsepower turns the propeller and moves the boat forward. We see this same thing in the fruits of our labor for the Kingdom. None of this is done in vain.
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