1. A motto of the Roman soldier - "You may bend me, but you will never break me."

2. In the spiritual battle, we must develop spiritual flexibility, the ability to adapt, adust to pressures.

3. We must bend, but not break; adapt, but not compromise; flex without falling, shattering.

4. Without proper temper, a knife blade will snap. The same is true of people. Temper results from being heated and cooled. Principle: Heroes are forged in the furnace of adversity.

5. Both 1 Pt 1:6,7 and James 1:2-4 speak of the necessity of the fires of trial and adversity to develop flexibility.

6. Ph 4:11-13 is on of the greatest statements of spiritual flexibility.

7. There is a process of development in these versus

a. Learn (v.11) - From conditions and circumstances. Life is a great teacher if we are good students.

b. Knowing (v. 12) - Flexibility is developed by having to adjust to changes in life. Note the extremes here - poverty vs. prosperity, hunger vs. fullness, abundance vs. necessity.

c. Ability (v. 13) - Flexibility produces power, ability. Past experience produces confidence in Paul.

8. Spiritual flexibility begins with personal contentment (v. 11). This demands character, which comes from trial (Ro 5:3-5).

9. From inner contentment comes adaptability (v. 12). We are no longer threatened or intimidated by change. The issue is no longer what we have, but what we are.

10. This produces a tremendous power in our life (v. 13). From inner strength comes outer dynamic - but all comes from the priority of life, Jesus Christ.

11. God's ability is channeled through our availability.

a. Availability

b. Teachability

c. Adaptability

d. Stability

e. Invincibility

-- (bygrace@thru.faith), August 13, 2000

Answers

Bygrace:

While I may never practice the religion of christianity, I will always say that there are gems in the scriptures. You have brought several of them together nicely. Good start to the day. Thanks.

-- FutureShock (gray@matter.think), August 15, 2000.

FS - you're welcome. Glad it made a good start to your day. I just type what I've got....it's not "mine" per se, though I do believe it to be absolute truth. Nearly all of what I type is from the books or tapes of one man, but he doesn't mind.

-- (bygrace@thru.faith), August 15, 2000.

Yes, I needed some spiritual flexibility just to make it back to this Forum. Thanks, Grace, for this stuff. Thanks, Shock, for the road map to this thread.

-- Oxy (Oxsys@aol.com), August 15, 2000.

"bygrace"--

Don't know if you are male or female; younger or older; but your posts are great. Thanks.

-- Lars (lars@indy.net), August 16, 2000.