Parts and References

Parts

The articles, messages and portions of the book, are grouped into 3 parts and can be identified by the colour code: green for Part 1, blue for Part 2 and golden for Part 3. The colours are intended to portray different levels and contexts of development in our path of moral and spiritual development. The distinction is general and not meant to be mutually exclusive.

The colour green represents the trees which are found on the ground level, and portrays the earlier stage of our spiritual development, having found life and yet, our consciousness of things, our involvements and our preoccupations are still very much affected by the things of this world. It is also symbolized by spiritual flight at the lower level - the level of the trees.

The colour blue represents the skies and portrays our spiritual growth in striving to rise to a higher plane of living, experiencing some degree of freedom and power, but still affected to varying degrees by the things of this world and the desires of the self-life, and landing on earth from time to time. It is symbolized by spiritual flight at a higher level - the level of the skies.

The colour golden represents heaven and the realm of oneness with God, and portrays freedom, substance and stability of moral and spiritual character, a life in deep fellowship with God, leaving behind the things of this world, transcending the pulls and pressures of this world, and living as citizens of heaven while walking on earth. It is symbolized by spiritual flight at the highest level - beyond the clouds, and in the presence of God in heaven.

Part 1: Finding Life, is intended for all who are seeking to understand more about the meaning and purpose in life and the practical implications in daily life. It concentrates on the basic and major aspects of the Christian faith and is written bearing in mind those who may have little awareness of these issues. It is suitable for non-Christians who are seeking for meaning in life. It is also intended for Christians who desire to appreciate more clearly the fundamental aspects of their faith. The contents can be received and pondered over at different depths of meaning and application.

Part 2: Developing in Life, is intended for those who have become Christians and who are seeking to develop increasing quality in their faith. The issues considered are meant to help in learning to overcome the temptations in this world, the pressures and problems arising from the presence of the evil one, and the struggles within the heart because of the self-life.

Part 3: Transcendence in Life, seeks to consider areas that can help the serious Christian who is determined to stop at nothing to reach the goal of God's highest calling in the quality of being, to live beyond the entanglements of the things in this world and to live a life fully centred on what is in the heart of God. It concentrates on the development of purity of heart and oneness with God and His purposes, so that there will be abiding depth and quality of meaning in fellowship with God and service in His kingdom.

The three parts in a general sense correspond with what the apostle Paul expressed in Philippians 3: 10:

"To know Him"
 

"The power of His resurrection"
 

"The fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death"
 

As we come "to know Him" in the initial phase, we learn to grow by "the power of His resurrection", and as quality of being grows in us, we increasingly learn to participate in "the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death". This can lead us to a higher level of knowing Him and partaking more fully of the power of His resurrection, and entering more deeply into the fellowship of His sufferings. All these features can be experienced at different levels and in that sense they can be found in Part 1, Part 2 or Part 3. For the apostle Paul, these expressions arose from the depth of his heart after having fully given himself to the Lord and His purposes, and he lived at a high plane of spiritual meaning and reality. The meaning of "know Him" can also be appreciated as inclusive of "the power of His resurrection" and "the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death", and can be entered into at different levels and depths.

The three parts may also correspond with the expressions of the apostle John in 1 John 2: 12-14 with reference to different stages of development in our walk with God:

the initial response to Him, to know our sins forgiven and becoming a child of God, calling Him "Father" (as 'children'),
 

learning to be strong, becoming more stable in the principles of God's kingdom and overcoming the evil one (as 'young men'),
 

a deep oneness of heart with the eternal, holy, righteous and perfect God, the One who is "from the beginning" (as 'fathers').
 

References

The references used, which are indicated on each title page, and on each subsequent page on the top right-hand corner, specify: the topic, the series, the title number, the section it is from (A for articles, B for book, M for messages, S or songs), the revision number of the file, and which part it is (P1, P2, or P3). For the section on messages, Mw refers to the edited written messages , while Ms refers to the spoken messages in audio files. In the section on songs, Sw refers to the file with the words (lyrics) of the song, Sm refers to the audio file with music alone (the instrumental version), and Sv refers to the vocal version.

As an example of the references, the article, “Making friends”, has the following reference:

Similarly, the edited message, “Meaning of true repentance (1)”, has the following reference: