How can we produce Godly results from our natural desires? As Job says 'Who can produce a clean thing from an unclean thing? No one can' (Job 14:4). C.S. Lewis says: 'If you remain a thistle you won't grow figs. If I am a crab-apple tree all my apples will have the bitter crab taste. If you want to grow eating apples, I must allow myself to be turned into a different kind of tree. The real change must come at the roots, in the sap; it's not much good hacking away at the branches.' The change must go deeper than the surface. The Natural Self must be given to God. We must be plowed up and resown with the new Seed - Christ and His desires for you.
You can find the book here: http://www.amazon.com/Mere-Christianity-C-S-Lewis/dp/0060652926
(0:02) The introductory plowing poster is one from WW2. The caption read 'Food Comes First' (before victory), i.e. the farmers produce the food, that the army runs on, which produces the military advances. A good illustration of the Christian life. Christ is sown, and victories become possible in your life.
(1:50) Ten points if you recognise the old 90s computer game from which I grabbed the sound effect.
(2:33) As the conscience cleans up one area, in terms of motives, it expects the same standards in other dirty areas.
(4:04) Some of the innocent desires we have must be sacrificed, other innocent desires are sacrificed and are given back in a new, uncanny, exciting, and clean form. "For when God rules in a human heart, though He may often have to dismiss some of the native authorities, He often
continues some in office, and by subjecting their offices to Him, gives them for the first time a firm and durable basis". But not all your old talents are necessarily put under new management - some are dismissed. There is the testimony of two Christian women. One was allowed by Christ to carry on with her love, embroidery, and the other was not. The one forbidden asked the Lord why, and Lord spoke to her and said of the other Christian woman the difference is that 'She takes me into every stitch'. Their skill and passion took them away or closer to the Lord. Let God judge your passions, talents, interests, and desires and let Him give them back to you as He sees fit.
(4:43) Verses mentioned:
2 Corinthians 4.8-11 https://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/4-8.htm
Matthew 5.11 https://biblehub.com/matthew/5-11.htm
John 16.2 https://biblehub.com/john/16-2.htm
Hebrews 10.34 https://biblehub.com/hebrews/10-34.htm
Matthew 10.36 https://biblehub.com/matthew/10-36.htm
(5:43) The crossroads charge was made by the U.S. 101st Airborne Division, led by Dick Winters as shown in the series 'Band of Brothers'. Finding themselves in a position which would eventually lead to them being outflanked, outgunned, & surrounded, they abandoned the position & boldly charged across an open field. What seemed to be a dangerous and suicidal type charge was actually the safest option - it caught the Germans off guard. The SS unit & another Company fled at
the surprise attack & were destroyed or captured in what turned out to be an easy 'turkey shoot'. But the U.S. soldiers had first to 'lose their lives' & charge bravely, WW1-style, across open ground, in order to save their unit. Staying where they were in fear would have led to the complete destruction of their unit.
(5:54) The Southern route of that famous mountain is much steeper than that of the Northern route, but it turns out to be technically easier in the end. It's a lot like that with our metaphorical mountains or difficulties also.
(5:57) 'Funk' means to avoid (something) out of fear
The original broadcast had the following words italicised which add to understanding (shown in CAPS): 'ONE of the jobs', 'it will NOT have enough left', 'Give me ALL', 'I want YOU', 'I will give you MYSELF', 'the whole universe was made FOR Christ', 'us IN him', 'when WE are drawn in' and 'MORNING'.
Sub-titles in the Listener article: 'No Half-Measures' and 'The Whole of Christianity'.
A paragraph was improved from the original, but the original was still good: 'As Christ said, if you remain a thistle you won't grow figs. If I am a crab-apple tree all my apples will have the [bitter] crab taste. If you want to gow eating apples, I must allow myself to be turned into a different kind of tree. The real change must come at the roots, in the sap; it's not much good hacking away at the branches.'
The title and closing tracks are from David Meece's 1985 album "7": https://youtu.be/qF49oLjSZlI
