Life of Christ: When to Strike, When to Wait

I want to bring the balance between a few of my recent posts, in particular, Strike While The Iron is Hot and Living Your Spiritual Life Out in the Soul. In one I say when the Spirit is moving, move. In the other I say we can’t presume that just because we know the Will of God we also have the immediate mandate to move. This seems contradictory. Here’s why they perfectly join hands together: The Life of Christ.

Life of Christ – His Timing

The Will of God determines the timing of the moving of the Life of Christ in me. While God lets His children in on what He is doing, this doesn’t necessarily mean that we know how or when. Nope, just because I know what is going to happen doesn’t mean I know when. Look at Christ’s return, for instance. We know neither the day nor the hour but as His children, we are privy to the season. While I can’t make Christ return, I do know He is returning, because He said He would. I believe this is applicable to all of our lives in Him. God’s Ways and His timing is always His to reveal.

This causes much upset in the ranks. It’s like a big ole bear hug from His sovereignty and Ways.  And there’s a death in this because it’s a cross that I have to bear. The wind of the Spirit blows where it wills and this makes us utterly dependent on Him. I must follow, not direct, His Life as He lives it through me.

Life of Christ – Moving of the Spirit

When the Spirit is moving in me, it is the Life of Christ moving in me. This is striking when the iron is hot. He moves and I move; we move together in tandem and I get to watch His Life in me. This is very different than presuming on the Will of God. The soul will trick us, tempting us to run ahead of the Life of Christ. “I know, so therefore I do!” Whoa, Nelly! This isn’t how the Life of Christ works.

Life of Christ – There is a process of death and resurrection in Christ’s Life. There is relationship with Him and His Will and faith which is required. Knowing doesn’t make it so. And the Lord may tell me His Will yet not enact His Will in that moment. He might be inviting me to pray, to wait with Him for His timing, or just stand in faith. Again, this is a death. But it’s also a delight if I see all of the Life in light of knowing Him and not just getting things done.

Five Alarm Fire or the Life of Christ

My urgency is never His directive. My zeal doesn’t determine His timing. The Spirit of Christ looks for my agreement and then often requires my surrender to reveal His timing. He gets to determine when His Life will manifest. This goes both ways: when He strikes and when He waits in me.

It is hugely about motivation. If I am motivated to please Him, then my knowing His Will builds excitement not ambition. If I start to fret, I can be assured of my will over His. Zeal, joy, and excitement precipitate His Will. Even if the Will is judgment, there is an excitement for His revealing of Himself.

Remember this Life is about His Life in me. As I always say, “Christ’s life as my life is His life in my life, and that’s not my life as His life, it’s HIM.” He is in control of the Life and the expression of His Will. His timing is always best and I choose to surrender rather than presume.

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9 AMPC