By: Jeshua Vazquez
đź“– Key Verse
Philippians 3:14
“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
🌊 1. Surfing and the Spiritual Life
Before a surfer can ride a wave, they must paddle hard—sometimes against strong currents—to reach the right spot. This initial effort is crucial for positioning themselves where the waves are best.
Spiritual Application:
In our spiritual lives, there are also moments of disciplined effort—times when we must “paddle” against the currents of the world to position ourselves where God can use us best.
🌪️ 2. What Is a Spiritual Current?
To reach the right spot, a surfer must often paddle against the current.
📖 Ephesians 2:2–3
“In which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”
💡 Definition of “current”:
The movement of a fluid, or a trend or ideological, artistic, or aesthetic movement.
Characteristics of worldly currents:
- Trends shaped by the prince of the power of the air.
- Our flesh enjoys living in the current.
- So do our thoughts.
❤️ 3. Why Do We Go Against the Current?
📖 Ephesians 2:4–5
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ…”
Answer:
Because of God’s love and mercy, He gave us new life. That new life cannot follow the same current we once did.
🛠️ 4. Practical Application
Now that we have life in Christ, we must go against the current of the world.
Pro Tip:
The best way to avoid being pulled by the current is to stay far from it.
🔎 5. Personal Reflection
What worldly “currents” are trying to pull me away from my purpose in God?
We recognize spiritual disciplines—such as prayer, Bible study, and Christian community—as the tools needed to paddle toward where God wants us to be.
🧰 6. Tools to Overcome the Current
- Consecration: Avoid fellowship with opposing currents.
- Spiritual Strength: Regular communion with God.
Hope and Faith: Keep your eyes on the goal (Philippians 3:14).