We Can Do This
Greetings and good morning, brothers and sisters This is Dr. James Perry continuing with our series where we seek to explore the deeper meanings of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Over the years, the heavenly Father has revealed many revelations of spiritual truth to me, and I want to share them with you. This morning we seek to understand how with the heavenly Father we can do all things.
And now, sit back and listen to today's message.
We Can Do This
"Verily, verily I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth these also doeth the son likewise. John Chapter 1, Verse 19
Brothers and sisters, in today’’s broadcast, we shall discuss the partnership of God through His Son, Jesus. This partnership functions in the mortal life. We know that there are many occasions in this life where this partnership is active, and we are also aware of the many occasions where we have failed to be aware of this partnership or have not participated in it. This morning we hope to increase our awareness and become more cooperative in partnership with the Father. To do this, we again resort to a material analogy.
In the material life, there are occasions where we function in partnership with another. One of the great partnerships of material life is the union of marriage. In this relationship, we find two people who are very different from each other but who are joined together for the purpose of self maintenance, self gratification, and self perpetuation. Self maintenance is a lifetime challenge, for we must maintain ourselves-- we must have food, shelter, and the means by which to procure these essentials. The problem of self perpetuation is ongoing and requires many years of raising the offspring from this union. It has been said that once you become a parent, you always remain a parent, and this is true. The only thing that changes is the role. At each stage of the parenting, there is a corresponding shift in the function. The function of a parent in relationship to an infant is markedly different to the relationship of an adolescent, and still markedly different from an adult child. But the parental concern though different still remains. There are the years where the adult child--having his own family--seeks the wisdom and counsel of his parents as the intricate and sometimes confusing choices of life come into existence.
““This ideal of true pair marriage entails self-denial and therefore does it so often fail because one or both of the contracting parties are deficient in that acme of all human virtues, rugged self-control." Self-control means both persons have to learn to adjust their own personal aspirations for the good of the partnership to be successful. Self-control is not an easy thing to always display, especially when one or both have long-cherished desires. But growth allows for enhanced self-control as the partnership progresses. There also must be a commitment based on something other than the fleeting attractiveness of sexual attraction. Sexual attractiveness can never hold two people in partnership when either one or both are selfish because selfishness overrules sexual desire (as many couples have found). But commitment without loyalty is without staying power. There must be commitment, loyalty, towards the success of the partnership. Commitment and loyalty always excludes choices and attitudes that are inconsistent with being in partnership.
Spiritual partnership begins with the creation of the soul. This is the first joint decision between the divine spirit and the material mind. This first decisions brings about an offspring, the soul. The soul comes into existence under a tremendous handicap. Like an infant it must grow and develop. This soul lacks experience and wisdom but plays an essential and necessary part in the partnership. Indeed this partnership between the soul and the divine spirit is to continue eternally. In this great partnership, through His Son, Jesus, "God agrees to do everything; man only agrees to believe God's promises and follow his instructions.””
This newly created soul is the vehicle for comprehending quality (divine love, truth, beauty and goodness). And here a division begins. The self begins to move away from selfishness towards unselfishness (reflective of divine attributes). This creates quite a bit of conflict, which is similar to the conflict inherent in marriage, where the selfish needs of the self are subordinated to the greater needs of the partnership.
This partnership is designed to take the soul through this life and on to the next life. And at each step of this process, the soul must remain committed and loyal. The material self is still in play while this process continues, and it makes itself known by creating a drag on the process. Commitment and loyalty overcome any drag. As the soul gears up for its moral and spiritual struggles, sometimes the self is staggered by the immensity and difficulty of the pursuit and wonders if it can do it. When the soul is caught up in the terrible suspense of waiting, when it is despairing and can’’t see its way and is filled with psychic pain, it cries for God. God responds by saying, "Here I am; we can do this!"
When the soul feels like it does not have the wherewithal to master the seemingly overwhelming moral and spiritual challenges, when the emotions of the bewildered material mind threaten to run amok, when the material self shouts to the soul to turn back and forget about the divine partnership, pointing the finger at the soul for causing this mess, saying you only go around once, the divine spirit imparts tranquility.
In every moral and spiritual crises, the divine spirit says, "Here I am; we can do this. Just be patient, be committed, and be loyal.”” The divine spirit soothes the soul and reassures with hope, trust, and faith. No matter what the crisis is, the divine spirit always responds with, "Here I am, and we can do this.”” And if the soul remains committed and loyal, it will follow the divine spirit who agrees to do everything.
This commitment and loyalty translates into discipline, so that even when the soul cannot see its way, it continues to follow the divine spirit. Though every stage of its existence within the material mind, the soul follows the divine spirit even to and through the last material battle. It remains fixed. And this partnership continues to yield greater and greater moral and spiritual values. The character begins to take on the attributes of the spirit and the viewpoint of its heavenly Father. It increasingly begins to project confidence born of adversity and struggle. The soul has been given a vision of what it shall be——perfect. And it is committed to going all the way. And the voice of the divine spirit keeps saying. "Here I am; we can do this. We can do this!" And finally the soul hears the divine spirit and responds: "Yes I see you, and we can do this!"
This concludes today's message on understanding how we the heavenly Father, we can do all things. We hope you find something in this message to ponder and pray about as you go about your day.
Until next time, this is Dr. James Perry.
Your Kingdom Come; Thy Will Be Done!
We Can Do This
Inspirational Messages
By Dr. James Perry
