Show notes
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Summary
This conversation focuses on moving from striving in the soul and mind into the rest of God that is already available through Christ. The speakers emphasize that believers do not have to work their way into God’s presence because Christ has already opened the way to the Father. The struggle comes when the mind and soul try to understand, control, or produce what only the Spirit can bring forth. The discussion points to a simple, childlike trust in the Father. Instead of constantly striving to know the Lord by human effort, there is also the truth that the Father wants to know us and reveal who we are in Him. Mary and Martha are used as examples of the difference between being distracted by many things and being focused on ministering to what is on the Lord’s heart. The conversation closes with the thought that this is a growth process, where the Father forms us as His workmanship and brings forth the new creation within us.Show Notes
Living from the Spirit, Not the Soul Ken opens the conversation by pointing out that the mind and soul life are not where believers truly live now. The real place of life is in the spirit. Christ Has Opened the Way to the Father Mike emphasizes that Jesus’ purpose was to bring us into the same relationship with the Father that He has. Through the cross, that door has already been opened. Rest Is Already Available The speakers bring out that rest is not something we struggle to attain. Because Christ is already in the Father’s presence, believers have access to that rest now. Moving Beyond Striving Ron talks about the long-standing drive to know the Lord, but also points out the other side of the relationship: the Lord wants to know us. True relationship with God is not built by anxious effort, but by trust and rest. The Simplicity of a Child Ron describes relaxing in the Lord like a child. A child does not carry the burden of trying to figure everything out, but simply lives and trusts. Mary and Martha Mike uses Mary and Martha to show the difference between distraction and true ministry to the Lord. Mary focused on what was needed in the moment, while Martha was pulled in many directions. Becoming His Workmanship Ken closes by describing this as a growth process. The Father works uniquely in each person, bringing forth the new creation as the old nature is laid down.Quotes
“Your mind is not your friend. Your soul life is not your friend. The spirit is where we live now, not on the soul plane.” — Ken
“Jesus’s drive was to get us to the Father.” — Mike
“It’s not a struggling and striving, trying to get there.” — Mike
“We have access to His rest anytime we want it.” — Mike
“The Lord loves us right where we’re at.” — Ron
“There’s a flip side of that coin. The flip side is the one we always ignore, is that He wants to know us.” — Ron
“How do I relax? Like a child.” — Ron
“People don’t know how to rest.” — Ron
“Are we gonna be a Mary or a Martha?” — Mike
“You just have to do the number one thing, is trust.” — Ken