Sunday Re Cap (3rd Jan 2010)

Lessons from the Tower of Babel-Resting and Not Striving

How do we ensure that our plans and God's plans are the same?

Gen 11:1-9

There are some powerful lessons that we can learn from this passage. Even though it seems negative, we believe the Holy Spirit put it in the Bible for very positive reasons. This passage gives us an idea of what happens when we push and strive with our own works and what happens when we rest and follow God's plans for our lives.

When the people attempted to build the tower that speaks of our goals, plan our focus. However, there can only be ONE TOWER in our lives. The NAME OF THE LORD IS A STRONG TOWER! Psa_18:2; Psa_61:3; Psa_144:2; Pro_18:10;

Instead of trying to build a tower, let us focus on the TOWER that has already been built! Run to the tower and REST in that tower. The effect will be completely the opposite of what was experienced by the people who tried to build the tower of Babel.

Let's look at this example and see what happens when we REST in the FINISHED TOWER of the NAME of the LORD instead of striving to BUILD THE TOWER with our own works.

When they followed their own plans:

1. Their language was confused. They could not understand each other.
   
   1. When we try to push our plans and strive, we will find confusion.
      
   2. God reversed this in the book of Acts. They were of the same mind, in one accord. Acts 2:1. The spoke the language of heaven, the language of the Father, TONGUES!
      
2. They were scattered. There was no longer any unity.
   
   1. When we are not speaking the same language that happens. In Ps 133 it says that when we are in unity, God commands a blessing. What is it that brings about this unity? In Ps 133:2. It was the precious oil, the Holy Spirit, as was in the book of Acts.
      
   2. The bible also says we are to "Endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace". This means that only the Holy Spirit has already given us unity. We are to NOW endeavour to KEEP IT! Anytime there is strive between us, we reset our relationship to default mode; that is UNITY! This is what the Holy Communion is all about; a reminder that we are united in Christ in His finished work.
      
3. They could not reach their goal.
   
   1. We find ourselves frustrated and unable to achieve our goal. Whether it be healing, finances, salvation for our family members.
      
   2. When we REST in the FINISHED TOWER, the finished work of Jesus on the cross, we are able to receive our inheritance. We need not strive any longer!
      

Conclusion

When we focus on the right tower, which is the NAME of the LORD, which speaks of everything that was accomplished on the CROSS through the Name of Jesus then there no longer be confusion as the Holy Spirit will UNITE our hearts and help us RECEIVE our inheritance through that finished work. Let us not strive to build our own tower but instead rest in the "finished" tower of the CROSS.

Samuel Hari © GROW BM