Saturday, August 12, 2006
This summer or I read Waking the Dead by John Eldredge. In this book the author focuses on the importance of the heart. It is almost as if this book grew out of a word study on "heart". Proverbs 4:23 says "watch over your heart with all diligence, for out of it come the streams of life." John Eldredge uses this book to teach us again how to live with our heart.
The idea that helped me the most was his explanation of what it means to have a broken heart. I've always thought of a broken heart as having hurt feelings, disappointment or pain over some relationship or something which happened in the past. The author points out, however, that a broken heart is much more than that. The things that hurt us often also "break" us. In other words these unhappy experiences damage us and damage our hearts, making it impossible for our hearts to function as God intended. When Jesus stated his mission in Luke chapter 4, one significant aspect is that he came to "heal the brokenhearted".
When I read Waking the Dead, for the first time I realized that my heart was damaged or broken. Some things that have happened in my childhood causes damage to my heart and have made it difficult for me in my adult life and also in my walk with the Lord. As I prayed, God brought to my mind incidents that I had long forgotten. The memories were vivid and I could clearly see how they had "broken" my heart. I asked God to heal my broken heart, and I believe that he has.
Mr. Eldredge teaches that there are four streams which need to come together into a great river, if we are to experience the abundant life that Jesus intended for us. The first stream is the stream of discipleship, learning to follow Jesus. The second stream is the stream of counseling, whereby we uncover the areas in our life that are broken. The third stream is a stream of healing, where we bring these broken areas to Jesus and allow him to heal us. The fourth stream is the stream of spiritual warfare, whereby we continue to stand in the victory that we have in Christ, and daily experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit, appropriating all the blessing God has bestowed on us in Christ Jesus.
I agree with the author, and wholeheartedly believe that these four elements are crucial to experiencing the abundant life Jesus has promised to us. It is impossible to experience the fullness of Jesus, or live the Christian life if you have a lot of broken areas in your life. It is difficult for most people to uncover the causes of their brokenness, without counseling of some sort. I believe that a small group of sensitive believers is probably all the counseling that most people need. In such an intimate community people have the safety to explore their past and discover their brokenness. A Christ centered group will support them, but will also call on Jesus for healing and expect that he will bring wholeness into their lives. Learning to follow Jesus, discipleship, is then much more fruitful because you are not constantly dealing with sin caused by brokenness in the life.
Many churches I know now include "New Life camps" in the discipling process. New people are invited and encouraged to attend weekend retreats, where they can explore and discover brokenness in their life and ask God for healing. Unholy agreements or bonds are discovered and dealt with, and the work of Christ in his death, resurrection and ascension are clearly taught and applied to the lives of the believers. Uncovering this brokenness and experiencing healing prepares new people for the discipleship process, and their spiritual growth is usually rapid. Part of that discipleship training would also include teaching them how to stand in Christ and resist the evil one who wants to destroy their life and walk with the Lord. People who go through a process like this are born "running" and do not seem to have the constant "up and down" struggle that many other Christians experience.
This book has impacted my life and I'm very grateful for it. I highly recommend it and encourage you to get a copy and read it.
You can purchase Waking the Dead here.
The idea that helped me the most was his explanation of what it means to have a broken heart. I've always thought of a broken heart as having hurt feelings, disappointment or pain over some relationship or something which happened in the past. The author points out, however, that a broken heart is much more than that. The things that hurt us often also "break" us. In other words these unhappy experiences damage us and damage our hearts, making it impossible for our hearts to function as God intended. When Jesus stated his mission in Luke chapter 4, one significant aspect is that he came to "heal the brokenhearted".
When I read Waking the Dead, for the first time I realized that my heart was damaged or broken. Some things that have happened in my childhood causes damage to my heart and have made it difficult for me in my adult life and also in my walk with the Lord. As I prayed, God brought to my mind incidents that I had long forgotten. The memories were vivid and I could clearly see how they had "broken" my heart. I asked God to heal my broken heart, and I believe that he has.
Mr. Eldredge teaches that there are four streams which need to come together into a great river, if we are to experience the abundant life that Jesus intended for us. The first stream is the stream of discipleship, learning to follow Jesus. The second stream is the stream of counseling, whereby we uncover the areas in our life that are broken. The third stream is a stream of healing, where we bring these broken areas to Jesus and allow him to heal us. The fourth stream is the stream of spiritual warfare, whereby we continue to stand in the victory that we have in Christ, and daily experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit, appropriating all the blessing God has bestowed on us in Christ Jesus.
I agree with the author, and wholeheartedly believe that these four elements are crucial to experiencing the abundant life Jesus has promised to us. It is impossible to experience the fullness of Jesus, or live the Christian life if you have a lot of broken areas in your life. It is difficult for most people to uncover the causes of their brokenness, without counseling of some sort. I believe that a small group of sensitive believers is probably all the counseling that most people need. In such an intimate community people have the safety to explore their past and discover their brokenness. A Christ centered group will support them, but will also call on Jesus for healing and expect that he will bring wholeness into their lives. Learning to follow Jesus, discipleship, is then much more fruitful because you are not constantly dealing with sin caused by brokenness in the life.
Many churches I know now include "New Life camps" in the discipling process. New people are invited and encouraged to attend weekend retreats, where they can explore and discover brokenness in their life and ask God for healing. Unholy agreements or bonds are discovered and dealt with, and the work of Christ in his death, resurrection and ascension are clearly taught and applied to the lives of the believers. Uncovering this brokenness and experiencing healing prepares new people for the discipleship process, and their spiritual growth is usually rapid. Part of that discipleship training would also include teaching them how to stand in Christ and resist the evil one who wants to destroy their life and walk with the Lord. People who go through a process like this are born "running" and do not seem to have the constant "up and down" struggle that many other Christians experience.
This book has impacted my life and I'm very grateful for it. I highly recommend it and encourage you to get a copy and read it.
You can purchase Waking the Dead here.
