KEY SCRIPTURE: Various
RELEVANCE The word Inspiration in the Bible means breathed by God or the breath of God. It's the same root as when God breathed life into Adam. Inspire is the opposite of expire. It gives life rather than taking it.
When we get saved, one of our jobs is to inspire people toward Christ. To charge or recharge the determination to follow Jesus Christ as Paul did.
And we need to know what inspires us to become more like Jesus because NONE of us can do without inspiration.
But it's first good to know the mechanics of inspiration.
Does it win wars? NO! Games? NO! Races? NO!
Does it help? YES!
Only 3% of inspiration comes from external sources—other people, billboards, comments, books, and magazine articles.
97% comes from within ourselves, driven by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
We've heard people say to us, "C'mon, you can do it!"
"YOU can do it!¨
Coaches seeks to generate or regenerate drive within the athlete, but that is all they can do. The rest is up to the athlete.
INSPIRATION EXAMPLES
Inspiration triggers a thought, but we make the decision.
Someone helps to push a car. But the engine is the only thing that will get it to its destination.
We can lead a horse to water, but ITS OWN DESIRE makes it drink.
In a horserace, the jockey's slight taps with a whip are the inspiration, but the passion for winning comes from within the heart of the horse!
The inspiration for a firepit, wood stove, or BBQ is the match. But if the fuel doesn't light, we eventually walk away.
Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation comes from another, but the lungs must work for that life to continue.
Likewise, rescuers can only pump the heart temporarily. I've performed CPR on a dead person, both pumping the heart and breathing into lungs; I know how useless inspiration is on a dead heart.
Inspiration is vital because it fans the flames of our own zeal. But it is only a fan. The zeal-fire to overcome every obstacle in our path comes from inside.
The foolish virgins survived on the fan of inspiration until the midnight call. When their time came to use their own storage of oil, they had none. They let the fire go out.
We need Zeal for everything in life, but what comes first?
Matthew 6:33 informs us to Seek ye FIRST the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness;
the Kingdom of God,
and his righteousness;
John 18:36-37 says The Kingdom is not of this world, and our Lord Jesus is the King. Matthew 13:45-46 says those who see the Kingdom will use all their collateral, driven by their zeal for their Saviour, to gain possession of this Pearl.
Therefore, our primary zeal is for kingdom-minded desires and right living. For this reason, Satan attacks both the inspirer and the inspired to kill passion by dousing the flames. He creates conficts like irritations before attending Church or gatherings to get us out of the spirit so we don't inspire anyone, and we're too grumpy to be inspired.
Does the Word of God Inspire You?
2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that All scripture is given by INSPIRATION of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: This inspiring or God breathing into our lives through scripture is the reason why morning and evening reading and prayer are critical.
What does that inspiration provide?
Job 32:8 states, But there is a spirit in man: and the INSPIRATION of the Almighty giveth them UNDERSTANDING. God inspires or gives us life, and understanding comes through that. When we understand something, new doors of knowledge open unto us. Every few words, we find topics and ideas linking scriptures together. It's like our minds and hearts inflate with gems of thoughts to the extent that we can hardly contain them. Our being comes alive with joy and excitement.
With God's inspir-ation coupled with our words and actions, the Church grows together in peace, joy, and wonderment, not apart.
But for every action, there is a reaction. Satan, too uses inspiration.
Inspiration is also an idea, a seed. Therefore, knowing the source of our inspiration is essential. Satan plants seeds with whispers to do wrong.
"Do it. No one will know."
"One glance won't hurt."
"Have a drink. You can control it."
"Everybody in Church hates you, so call your old friends. They love you."
"I don't like the Pastor's haircut. I'm going somewhere else."
If a thought is unbiblical or un-Christlike, it's not of God. Even if something sounds a bit odd, research it or enquire. Covertly, you can soon find yourself bamboozled or following another religion. 1 mm off course at the start is a kilometre off course at the finish.
So how can we inspire others to seek the Kingdom and overcome their roadblocks?
Develop maturity. Grow in our abilities and discipline, leaving childish things behind.
Build up those around us. Give purposeful encouragement. Think first.
Show enthusiasm. Show up inspired. We're individuals but a collective. We may be the small breath that re-ignites someone's coals to flame again.
Be virtuous. Do what needs to be done openly and honestly.
Be compassionate. Empathetic, not sympathetic. God takes us through experiences to KNOW someone else's trials and burdens.
Maintain positivity. Not over-the-top. Be real but talk up, not down. God wins!
Exercise an attitude of gratitude. Create a life of thanksgiving and praise. Our lives can always be worse.
Stand firm. Show we TRUST God in prayer, events. and through trials.
We all need inspiration, but, we cannot live on other people's breath. So show that your life is inspired and driven by the Holy Spirit, then share with others, and be prepared to receive it.
PRAYER Dear Lord, I have learned a lot about the value of inspiration, but I realise now that others' inspiration won't sustain me, it is merely a push in the right direction. Please help me be inspirational and encouraging to others, but allow me to accept it with gratitude and humility.
Photo by Drew Beamer