BREWING IN ME

Philippians 2:12-18 (NIV)
¹²Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³ for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. ¹⁴ Do everything without complaining or arguing, ¹⁵ so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe ¹⁶ as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. ¹⁷ But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. ¹⁸ So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

 

I heard a preacher say he drank tea instead of coffee to preserve his voice for the many times he would have to speak to the multitudes as a part of his life's calling and profession to proclaim the Word of God. One morning as he was preparing for such a speaking engagement, he sat down to have a cup of tea and he heard the Lord say to him, “Let that tea bag preach to you.” His incredulous response was, “Lord, a tea bag? How is a tea bag going to preach to me?” The response was the words the Spirit of God infused in this pastor’s heart through the illustration of the tea bag which were, “You cannot use what is in me, until you place me in the hot water for it to be drawn out!”

As ridiculously silly as this episode may seem, the reality is it is very true when you consider what God must do at times to perfect the work He has begun in us. If we only experienced the cool thirst quenching of “southern sweet tea days” that may only have a twist of the sourness of lemon or a slight bitterness from the strength of the tea, we will only experience one type of refreshment. But there are times when we need to experience the heat of a moment or a season where it is unbearably hot and uncomfortable, essentially that which caused the brewing. And in these times we must allow the Spirit of God within us to permeate through the very filter of our fleshly nature which often will stifle or suppress the true essence of the healing properties provided by the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised He would impart to all who believe and follow Him.

Without the heat of the boiling water the tea bag is placed within, there would be no infusion of the flavors and the aromas the tea bag has to offer up. Think about what happens if you place a tea bag in cold water… not a whole lot or it is a very slow process for the infusion to take place. Most times when people do place tea bags in cold water, they sit the container in the sun in order for it to be heated and the infusion process to be initiated. Whether you are going to allow the heat of the circumstances GOD has allowed in your life or the light and heat of the SON  to accelerate the infusion process in your life, it is necessary for God to perfect the work He has begun in you and you to work out your salvation with fear, of God and God alone and NOTHING else, and trembling, in awe of the divine power of God where it makes you quake to your core.
 

Be encouraged by Philippians 2:12-18 how God requires us to be obedient in trusting what He may use to bring about the end result He has preordained for our lives. In the end, may your desire be to be poured out like a healing, soothing cup of tea, a drink offering to those in need for His divine will and good purpose.

 

Verse 13 … for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.