We originally did this book as a series of monthly papers that we mailed out. The importance of being Balanced and Established in God seemed to be so necessary at a time when it seemed a great number of God's people were being carried away with every new and exotic thing that would come along. Many, just looking for some "deeper" truth, some heavy revelation, which would stir their emotions yet, leaves them unchanged. Yet, we realize all of this is a part of our humanity, which must be dealt with by the Spirit and overcome. The truth is every generation has had the need to be Balanced and Established. Every generation has had those who's only desire was to get something that made them feel good and look good. They would feel good as their emotions were so stirred as to make them lose any sense of reality. They looked good, as they appeared to be "spiritual" with all their newfound wit.
We also realize we have not by any means exhausted this subject. Our feeble words will in no wise help anyone except the Spirit of the living God breathe on them and make them life. Such is our prayer not only for those who read these lines but also for ourselves. Our desire is to not only speak and write words that sound good, but to find ourselves in a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ that is a living reality in our everyday lives. We no longer wish to be moved upon by the Spirit in some gathering and be emotionally stirred and yet remain unchanged when we go home. We no longer desire to gain more knowledge that makes us feel superior to others and all the while still live a defeated life. WE LONG FOR THE FULL REALITY OF HIS LIFE IN US. WE LONG FOR HIM. Such reality will cause us to be Balanced and Established in Him.
What do we mean when we say, "Balanced and Established?" Simply this. We no longer run off on some tangent with the latest teaching going around. We no longer go to extremes with every new teaching. We become "Balanced" when we hear with both ears what the Spirit is saying to the church. We have to have a hearing that is not influenced by the flesh and by the Spirit. We must hear by the Spirit alone.
We become "Established" as we become obedient to the Lord and walk in the everyday realities of His Word. Living the Christian life is not how much we can talk about God, about Jesus. It's not how much we can declare but how much do we live. The Kingdom of God is not in word but in demonstration. We will speak not only words, but our everyday life will be the declaration of the Kingdom of God.
Established means we will live the kind of life God intended for us and we will not be moved by our circumstances. While things are going good, then we believe in prosperity. When we are well, we believe in divine health and healing. Being "Established" means we believe in God's Word, what He has spoken to us, no matter what we see or hear. We become unmovable, fixed in God. Not bull headed. Being bull headed means we are not moving period. We don't move in God. We take our stance and won't hear another word about it. This is what we believe and that's the way it is. Daddy believed it. Grandpa believed it, and that settles it.
Established means we can't be moved out of God but we can be open to new understanding, new truths about the Kingdom of God and not be shaken or threatened by them. We can also stand in the face of deception and not be afraid. Satan attacked Jesus with a portion of scripture (Mt.4:5-6) and could have convinced many to jump from the pinnacle. Jesus, being "Balanced" brought forth more scripture to show what the scriptures were truly saying. Being "Established" He was not moved from His relationship with or His position in God.
May we be so "Balanced" in God's Word we are not deceived by every use of scripture used by those who would twist them to their own destruction. May we be so "Established" in God we don't jump into every religious high, emotional experience, the devil may bring our way.
Come with us now as we look to Jesus as the Pattern for everyone who would be a mature son of God. Jesus is the Standard of a "Balanced and Established" life.