A Biblical Worldview

 

A paradigm is our personal representation of truth as we see it. We process and categorize everything, which occurs around us or to us, through this model of our reality. Our paradigm makes us feel secure and allows us to live an orderly life. We often shift our paradigm to adjust to the changes in our experience or our philosophy of life.

One of the greatest shifts in our paradigm occurs when we respond to the call of God to accept Jesus as our personal Savior and Lord. He transforms our lifestyle, thought processes and behavior. We no longer seek futile pursuits, our morals line up with the Word of God, our character takes on the nature of God, our soul is satiated with all the fullness of God and our spirit is renewed by the power of God (2 Peter 1:4; Ephesians 4:17-24; 1 Peter 1:13-15; Romans 12:1-2).

As we grow in our faith in God's faithfulness, we develop a Biblical worldview. Our paradigm takes on the values, prophetic encouragement and truth, as well as the hope, which God gives us in His Word. God's grace creates in us a clean heart and we repent of each instance of sin (Psalm 51:10; Acts 3:19). He regenerates our spirit, sanctifies our soul and promises to glorify us with an immortal body at the resurrection (Luke 21:25-28; 1 Corinthians 15:53; Philippians 3:21; John 5:28-29).

As the foundation for everything an Authentic Believer thinks and believes, the Bible affects how we view the world. We reject any ideas presented in printed, audio and visual media, which are contrary to Biblical principles. We refuse to allow these carnal concepts to conform us a worldly pattern, because God gives us everlasting life, and no one will ever snatch us out of His hand (John 3:16, 6:40, 10:28).

Prayer:

Father God, we find the answer to all of life's questions in the pages of the Bible, which You provided in order to give us hope and light in this troubled world in which we live. We refuse to take part of this world, because our citizenship is in Heaven (John 15:19; Philippians 3:20). We are no longer strangers and aliens, pilgrims who have no home, because we are now fellow citizens with the Body of Christ, and we belong to Your family as co-heirs with Christ of all that You possess (Eph 2:19; Romans 9:17). Your Spirit transforms us and renews our mind to God's Word (Romans 12:2; John 17:17).  Remind us to seek Your Kingdom first, because You always provide everything we need to sustain our life and to walk in serenity (Matthew 6:33; Philippians 4:7).

Thought for the Day:

Authentic Believers make a covenant with God to reject all carnal influences from the world and to focus on the pursuit of godliness. 

- 1 Timothy 6:11

Truth is a Person

 

Christians in this modern world attempt to prove the existence of God intellectually, using apologetics and philosophical reasoning. We endeavor to explain an infinite God with finite terms of human logic (Isaiah 55:8,9). We attempt to formulate approved doctrines and to explain the Word of God accurately. Yet, we rarely agree on either doctrine or interpretation.

We often get close to painting an accurate picture, and many are won to Christ by these attempts. However, the more questions we answer, the more questions are left unanswered (1 Corinthians 8:1-3). Humans will never figure out God or His ways, because He will simply jump out of the box we create for Him (1 Corinthians 2:10; Romans 11:33). There are too many Biblical “mysteries”, which defy human explanation.

Consider the Trinity, Christ as God and man, the relationship between Christ and the church as a marriage, the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven, God’s will, the Gospel of Christ, faith, the partial hardening of Israel until the time of the Gentiles is over, lawlessness at work, Christ abiding in us, immortality and that not everyone will die before Christ returns (Ephesians 3:8-9; Romans 16:25; 1 Corinthians 2:7; 1 Timothy 3:16).

Spiritually, as we surrender to God’s Truth, we come to trust His Spirit’s work within us for salvation. Then we trust the Spirit’s work through us. A branch does nothing in order to bear fruit. In this same way, God will put His thoughts in our mind to direct our actions, and His words in our mouth to comfort and encourage those around us. As we submit to His sanctifying work, He sets us apart from the world (1 Corinthians 1:18).

We may not see or feel His work in or through us, but we see the effects of it. God’s Spirit binds us to the Trinity within us and to our fellow Believers who live all over the world. The more intimate our relationship with God, the more rest we experience in our body, soul and spirit. We experience less stress in trials, because we know from experience that God always provides (Romans 8:28).

Prayer:

Father God, there is nothing on this earth that means more to us than knowing You (Philippians 3:8-10). Knowing You is eternal life (John 17:3). Jesus is the way, truth and life, and no one can come to You except through Him (John 14:6). You set us free by Your Son, who is our Truth (John 8:32, 36). Help us to make You our priority in life and to realize that we can argue doctrine all day long, but in the end, Jesus Christ is the only Truth.

Thought for the Day:

Who is wise enough among us to be the philosopher of our age? God makes man’s wisdom foolishness, because we do not know Him. - 1 Corinthians 1:20

Our Unwavering Hope

 

When we encounter an issue or trial, it causes us to pray about our situation. During this time of dialogue, we increase our unity with the Lord. We also serve as a living testimony to our friends and family. Our faith in God’s faithfulness proves to them that we consider the trail simply as a light and momentary inconvenience (2 Corinthians 4:17), because it does not devastate us as it would them. This causes them to question how they too can share in our faith in Christ.

Christ in us draws them to Himself through the witness of our life. No one can see God unless they are Born Again. This occurs by His Spirit through repentance of our sin and belief in the saving work of Christ on the Cross (John 3:3). All Born Again Believers walk away from the practice of sin (1 John 3:9). Our salvation rebirths our spirit but also transforms our heart. We pass from death to life and we selflessly love the family of God in word and deed (1 John 3:14, 18).

God invests in us all the power of His Godhead, because Christ actually dwells in us by His Spirit. We do not have to fear people, because our warfare is against wickedness in heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). Christ gives us authority over powers and principalities (Ephesians 1:21), because of His work on Calvary’s cross (Colossians 2:15). We fear God, with the awe and respect due His name (Proverbs 1:7); however, we have no more fear of what man can do to us (Hebrews 13:6), or of the devil and his demons (James 4:7).

The Lord, in whom we now believe, forgives and sanctifies us once and for all on the day we repent and surrender our life to Him. He loved us first and drew us to Himself. Now He acts as our advocate and intercedes on our behalf before our Father (1 John 1:9, 2:1, 4:19). We are no longer sinners, but Saints in His eyes. He calls us to bring the gospel to and care for the destitute, hungry and imprisoned people who do not yet know Him (Matthew 25:35-36). In doing this, we prove our love to Him (Mark 12:30-31).

Prayer:

Father God, You always lift up everyone who falls and is discouraged and depressed. We look to You for our deliverance, which You always bring right on time. You open Your hand and satisfy our longing. You are near to everyone who calls on Your name with an honest heart. You place Your desires in the hearts of those who fear You, and You preserve everyone who loves You (Psalm 145:14-18).

Thought for the Day:

We make Christ the Lord on the throne of our heart and we are alert to give a gentle and reverent testimony of the hope He gives us. - 1 Peter 3:15

Possessing Divine Power

 

Salvation provides our divine union, but the secret of receiving spiritual power, which is resident within us, is to surrender our all to Christ and to be still as we wait on God. The fact that we abide in Christ, and that He abides in us, is the impetus for our whole life of service to Him. This fact motivates us through His divine life within us, and humbles us to serve our Living King as Christ sanctifies us for Himself.

God wants nothing less than complete consecration of our life to Him by laying down our goals and dreams, and daily taking up His cross. We do this by submitting every talent and physical resource we posses to the direction of God’s Spirit. We also see the reality of our union with Christ as we read His Word, and this makes us desire more of God, to enter a deeper spiritual realm and to take full possession of the power of the divine Christ within us.

This is our joyous, high calling in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14), and causes disenchantment with our human existence. The fuel for our union with Christ is prayer. Prayer enables us to walk in spiritual harmony with Christ in us. It opens communication with our Father and allows His Spirit to lead us in obedience to God’s will for our life. Prayer also expresses the pleading of our heart for oneness with the triune Godhead.

Prayer articulates the yearning of our soul to grow into the fullness of the stature of Christ (Ephesians 4:13). Daily, we confess our sins and ask for His absolution. This deeper union gives us more power in our prayers and ministry. We do not use prayer as a means to gain spiritual gifts for our self, but for the purpose of blessing the world around us. We enter the realm of effective, fervent prayer, which avails much (James 5:16).

If we dare to pray without first having this union with Christ, we end up spewing ineffectual words, which fall on deaf ears (John 9:31). However, as we abide in the Vine, the power of the Vine extends into us as His branches. We are one with the Father through the Son, hidden in God with Christ who is our life (Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3-4). We ultimately reap the rewards of our patient vigil of waiting on God’s will.

Prayer:

Father God, You answer our questions and provide for our needs as we spend time with You in prayer (Matthew 6:33). You make us one with Your Son by Your Spirit. We abide in Him and He abides in You, so that we can also flourish in our union with You (John 17:21). Teach us to pray according to Your will, so that we can ask for what we need in order to do Your work on this earth, and it shall be done for us (John 15:7).

Thought for the Day:

Attentive prayer is our greatest means of abiding more closely to our Maker’s heart.

 

Why is Jesus Waiting to Return?

(Published in Penned From the Heart - 2011)

Read: 2 Peter 3:4-10

“And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” - 1 John 2:28 (NKJV)

Those in Peter’s day had the same question people do today. When will Christ return? Scoffers like to ridicule faithful Christians about our predictions of this blessed event. Peter answered their question by explaining that time has no relevance for the Lord.

Newton may have discovered the laws of nature, but God set them all into motion. He even set up His calendar of events before the beginning of time (Titus 1:2). God sees the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10), and His Word predicts the damnable results of our human choices.

Therefore, His patience prevents Him from returning until the cup of His wrath is full (Revelation 14:10; Romans 2:5). He is actually unwilling for anyone to suffer the torments of hell forever. Now, when people complain to me that my God does not keep His promises, I remind them that God loves them too much to come too soon.

Prayer:

Lord God, thank You for Your inclusive patience and unfailing grace.
Teach us not to grow weary in doing good, but to look forward to
Your imminent return as we continue telling others about Your eternal love.

Thought for the Day:

God loves us the most when we deserve it the least.