 The four strokes to the bible
To have a motor running means a lot of parts have to be working correctly. We want to focus on the four strokes or cycles. To help complete a stroke there are two valves and the direction of a piston is going is involved with each stroke, which will be explained later. What are these strokes called? They are called the intake, compression, power and exhaust stroke. The two different valves that make a successful stroke work are called the intake valve and exhaust valve. These major parts have to be working in what we call the timing of the motor or those strokes will not function properly. These four strokes can be expressed in God’s word. We need to bring these four strokes into our spiritual walk of life. The four strokes have to function properly or the engine will either run rough or not at all. Intake Stroke What does it take to make an intake stroke to be complete? The piston has to be moving in a downward position and the intake valve has to be open bringing in the air and fuel mixture and the exhaust valve has to be closed. Naturally it’s the air we breathe and the food or water we eat and drink is our fuel. What would this look like for us spiritually? God breathed life into us. Genesis 2:7 “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” When we take in the word of God it’s like breathing a breath of fresh air. Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” We get fueled by the word because the word of God becomes alive in us. John 6:63 “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” Now, that we have consumed an air and fuel mixture we can go to the next stroke. Compression Stroke The compression stroke is accomplished by the piston moving in an upward direction and both intake and exhaust valves are now closed. This takes that air and fuel mixture and compresses it until it reaches the spark plug for the next stroke. Instead of compressing that air and fuel mixture, we take and build ourselves up with the word of God. Joshua 1:8 “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” We can also see this in Isaiah 28:9-10 “9) Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. 10) For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:” Now, when that piston reaches the top it compresses the air and fuel mixture and becomes ignited to create the power stroke. This is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Power Stroke In this stroke both intake and exhaust valves still remain closed. The spark plug ignites the air and fuel mixture and an explosion happens and forces the piston back down again. Our spark or explosion comes from the Holy Spirit. Matthew 10:19-20 “19) But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20)For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.” This is saying the Holy Spirit has got our backs when we get ready to speak. Now, it’s time for the last stroke of the 4 cycle engine. Exhaust Stroke The exhaust stroke is when the exhaust valve opens up and the intake valve remains closed. The piston is now going back up and letting out the remains of the burnt air and fuel mixture. This is like when we exhale or breathing the air out of our bodies. This has a spiritual significance for us and it’s called speaking out the word of God through our mouths. Now the living waters are being poured out of us. John 7:38 “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” Remember the Holy Spirit has our back so when we speak out it will be with boldness and with power. Boldness - Acts 4:41 “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” and Power - Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” We are now completing our fourth stroke with the word of God spiritually. Closing Let’s make certain our four spiritual strokes our functioning well or our spiritual walk won’t function too well either. If, we feel like we are not functioning well; get into pray or we need to get to know Jesus and become born again. Go to the Salvation page on the web and turn your life over to Jesus.
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