The Biblical Worldview Test

The Biblical Worldview Test

A Biblical Worldview is based on the infallible Word of God. When you believe the Bible is entirely true, then you allow it to be the foundation of everything you say and do. That means taking seriously

God’s commands and principles and applying them to your life.

Do you have a biblical worldview? Answer the following questions, based on claims found in the

Bible and which George Barna used in his survey:

1. Do absolute moral truths exist?
2. Is absolute truth defined by the Bible?
3. Did Jesus Christ live a sinless life?
4. Is God the all-powerful and all-knowing Creator of the universe, and does He still rule it today?
5. Is salvation a gift from God that cannot be earned?
6. Is Satan real?
7. Does a Christian have a responsibility to share his or her faith in Christ with other people?
8. Is the Bible accurate in all of its teachings?

If you answered yes to all these questions then you have a Biblical Worldview. If you are unsure

or answered no then I suggest you identify the issues you are struggling with and bring them

before God. Our Lord promises this:

Matthew 7:7-8 TNIV

Ask, Seek, Knock

 "Ask and it will be given to you; Seek and you will find; Knock and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks receives; those who seek find; and to those who knock, the door will be opened.

Wisdom is something God will gladly deliver upon one’s asking. However, one must believe that

God will provide.

James 1:5-7 NIV

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. Those who doubt should not think they will receive anything from the Lord;

It is important that we trust God for ultimate truth. Here is one of the best reasons why:

Proverbs 3:5-6 TNIV

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.  

The reason why it is important to have a Biblical Worldview stems from the fact that we are being

bombarded by our culture with an enormous amount of non-biblical ideas through TV, movies,

newspapers, literature, advertising, co-workers, friends etc. We could also do more damage than good,

if by what we believe and do, causes other followers of Jesus to stumble in their faith. By being hypocritical

in lifestyle, by supporting a non-biblical worldview, is something we must each address if it is our desire

to become a disciple of Jesus. How are we going to be a good witness for the Gospel if are not able to fully

believe and explain what our faith encompasses? As a good witness for the Gospel we must be able to defend our faith (Apologetics). The way to become a good witness to the Gospel is to embrace a Biblical Worldview. The Bible inspires us to live for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31-33 NIV

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

Once we have embraced our Biblical Worldview it is important to stand firm in our faith.

1 Corinthians 16:13 TNIV 
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.

Galatians 5:1 TNIV
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let

yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Ephesians 6:14 TNIV 
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of 

righteousness in place,

Colossians 4:12 TNIV 
Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in

prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.

2 Thessalonians 2:15 TNIV 
So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you,

whether by word of mouth or by letter.

When we stand firm in our faith, where the reality that God and His Word are ultimate truth, we can live

abundantly no matter what the circumstances, and help others on along on their journey of faith.

The whole idea of having a Biblical Worldview is for the sake of personal and corporate transformation.

We are called to become disciples of Christ. Our mission is to help others do the same. Let’s analyze the

“Great Commission”:

Matthew 28:18-20 NIV

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

The question is, Are Churches making disciples?  

Disciple: A follower of Jesus who learns and adheres to His teachings, striving to be like Him.

The "Church" should ask itself, are we being successful in developing devoted followers or are we just adding to our numbers?

This is a big challenge we have to deal with in a God honoring way. I believe in order to go and make disciples one must first become a disciple. We must live by example, and our words and actions must be in line with God’s reality which are His principles of faith and action.

The first step to becoming a disciple is to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. God must then be at the top

of our priority list. Once Jesus becomes our Lord and Savior, everything we think and do take on new meaning and purpose. Our lives are now impacted by the supernatural way we stay in tune with the Holy Spirit. We can then have the strength and discernment to live a Godly life in an ever increasing ungodly world.

Think about where you are in relationship with God. Think about the changes you need to make in

order for Jesus become Lord and the authority and the driving force behind everything you do. This does

seem like a tall order to fill, but in light of eternity very, very important.

Luke 9:23-25 NLT

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?

Let’s live a Christ-centered life over the temptation to live a self-centered one. We have a great opportunity

right now to share our hope and faith in the “Good News” with the world. The Biblical Worldview we stand firm on will make a positive difference in the way we live and communicate to others who are investigating a life with Christ. While we ourselves are transformed from the inside out, others will benefit from our Christ-likeness. Instead of a hypocritical and legalistic approach to our faith, one will see God’s grace, love and power lived out in us as we live fully devoted lives to the true God of the Bible.  The fruit produced from this relationship with Jesus will have a positive impact on a world that is putting faith in all the wrong things. Those who desire success in life should re-evaluate what this really means. True success is loving God and ones neighbor. True success is leaving a Godly legacy for families and friends.  True success is becoming a fully devoted follower of Jesus. True success is being known by God and being called to serve His kingdom. True success is humility before God. True success is surrendering ones will and living a life of obedience to the Lord. Remember - Surrender is victory in God's kingdom. 

True followers of Jesus will embrace God’s Word in order to become motivated and inspired. 

To help us represent Christ in a fallen world we must appropriate the teachings of Christ, live Spirit filled lives, and seek God's will and Glory in everything we say and do.  The Bible says this:

John 15:5 TNIV 
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;

apart from me you can do nothing.

Ask yourself, Does my Church support a Biblical Worldview?

If God has given us the mission to go and make disciples, then we should adhere to a Biblical Worldview and embrace God's principles of life with authentic devotion and faithfulness. This will help us with our ministry to send the right message to those we encounter who are on a journey for ultimate truth. We are the salt and light to a fallen world. Let’s continue to tell others about the length that God went to show His love and grace. Let’s show them what it means to be a new creation in Christ. Let’s love our neighbor and pray that our devotion to Jesus and God’s Word sets the example to help others find the path to truth and a new life in Christ. When a Church does not support a Biblical Worldview it muddies the waters of God's truth, even to the point of corrupting the holy Word of God. Teaching that does not adhere to God's truth can cause much damage to a persons understanding of who God is and the the power of the Gospel.   

Here is the truth about the power of God's Word:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 New International Version 1984 

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,rebuking, correcting and training in 
righteousness,   so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Hebrews 4:12 New International Version 1984 

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

So what is our challenge?

Take to heart this passage from James.  

James 1:22-25 NIV

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

The Bible is truth:

Psalm 119:160 New International Version 1984  

 All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal

John 17:17 New International Version 1984  

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth

May God be lifted up by your love for Him and by the way you are living out the truth of His Word. 

Do everything for the glory of God. Embrace a Biblical Worldview.

 Just Sayin………………..Dave   

How Does One Love God?

How Does One Love God?

The Bible speaks of ways we can show love to God. If you find you are experiencing problems in your

relationship with the Heavenly Father, consider doing what the Bible says in order to maintain and deepen

your relationship with Him. Sin will always be our greatest stumbling block when it comes this relationship

and we must deal with the sin in our lives if we want to stay close to God. For our purposes now, let’s

focus on our understanding of love and ways we can show love to God.

First of all, the only way we can love God is to be loved by Him first. We need to understand what God’s

love is in order for us to respond accordingly.

1 John 4:19 NIV
We love because he first loved us.

1 John 4:10 NIV
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an 

atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Ezekiel 36:25-27 NIV

I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

Deuteronomy 30:6 NIV 
The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, 

so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.

Deuteronomy 10:14-16:

To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. Yet the Lord set his affection

on your forefathers and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations, as it is today. Circumcise your hearts,

therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer.

1 John 3:16 NIV
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay 

down our lives for our brothers.

John 3:16-17 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

We can better respond in love when we get a sense of what it is to be loved. The way God loves us is

Supernatural (forces or phenomena which are not subject to natural laws, and therefore beyond verifiable measurement). In a Supernatural way, the Holy Spirit working in us, brings about this supernatural understanding of love and helps us respond back to God in the same way. This change in our attitude toward  God and others can only come by believing Christ’s sacrificial love will save us through our decision to receive Him as Lord and Savior. Only through Jesus do have we the ability to see others through a God filter and love in a supernatural Christ-like way. In order to have this “God Filter” one must renew their mind, then put on the new self which is how we are conformed to the image of Christ.

Romans 12:2 NIV

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Ephesians 4:22-24 TNIV

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

   

Renewing of the mind:

• Understanding the length God went to redeem His people.
• Understanding the depth of God’s love, mercy, forgiveness and grace.
• Transformation due to the filling of the Holy Spirit.
• Sanctification (God helping us to become Christ-like in Character) as part of our daily walk with God.

• Gratitude for all God has done.
• Living in awe, reverence and humility toward God.
• Applying God’s principles from His Word to help in our transformation.

Because of the indwelling Holy Spirit and God’s life changing Word, we can have a heart attitude that

transcends the bounds of this world and brings about in us the Christ-like qualities that can only be found

in the Lord Himself. This is the way God has designed the “New Self” (the new creation in Christ) to be:

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV 
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Jesus alone reconciles us back to God. Because of Jesus we have a new life and a new heart attitude.

Because of Jesus’ work and ministry can we better understand the purpose behind God’s creation of mankind.  God loves His people and He desires that they love, serve and fellowship with Him for eternity.

We must also remember that God commands us to Love Him and others. Even though loving God and

others comes primarily from a response in our gratitude for the love Jesus had for us through His work on the

cross, it is also the greatest Commandment from God. Followers of Jesus are called to respond obediently to

this command to love God, obey His Word and abide by Jesus’ teachings.

Mark 12:30 NIV
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind 

and with all your strength.

Galatians 5:14 TNIV 
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 

John 14:15 NIV
If you love me, you will obey what I command.

John 14:21 NIV
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father,

and I too will love him and show myself to him.

John 14:23 NIV
Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we

will come to him and make our home with him.

John 15:10 NIV
If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.

1 John 2:5 NIV
But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we 

know we are in him:

1 John 5:3 NIV
This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,

2 John 1:6 NIV
And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the 

beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

By following God’s command to Love others we show love to God and

prove we are His disciples.

John 13:34 NIV
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

John 13:35 NIV
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

John 15:12 NIV
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

1 John 4:7 NIV
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has 

been born of God and knows God

1 John 4:12 NIV
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is 

made complete in us.

Having a healthy fear of God is another way we show our love and respect to our Creator. It is also a

mindset that helps deter us from the trappings of sinful behavior. Fear of the Lord, which can also defined

as reverence and respect to Him, is the path to wisdom and understanding. When we take into account

God’s holiness and sovereignty we are more likely to abide by His principles and walk in His ways.

Psalm 111:10 NIV  
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.

Deuteronomy 10:12-13:

And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God

to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?

A big part of loving God is living a life of praise, worship & dedication to Him. We must daily keep in mind

all He has done and respond back, revealing our gratitude by exposing the true condition of our heart. Some

Christians only apply this principle on Sunday. We are called to live a life of worship.

Hebrews 12:28 NIV 
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship

God acceptably with reverence and awe

1 Peter 3:15 NIV 
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

Deuteronomy 10:17-22:

For the LORD your God is God of gods and LORD of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt. Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. He is your praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes. Your forefathers who went down into Egypt were seventy in all, and now the

LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky.

John 4:23-24 NIV 
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

Psalm 96:1-4 NIV

Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.

Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.

Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.

Psalm 98:4-6 NIV

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;

make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing,

with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn— shout for joy before the LORD, the King.

 Psalm 100 NIV

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.  Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Our desire to be Holy and conform to the image of Christ also shows God we are serious about

about pleasing Him.

Romans 12:1 NIV

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,

holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual  act of worship.

1 Peter 1:14-16 NIV

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

Fulfilling God’s command to go out and make disciples proves we care about God, His Kingdom,

and those who are lost and designated to receive everlasting life.

Matthew 28:18-20 NIV

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Acts 1:8 NIV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,

and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Some people have difficulty showing God love because they respond to Him in the same manner they

respond to other human beings. They base their love on what God is providing at the time. This 

performance based love does not bode well in light of eternity. But with the Holy Spirit at the helm of our lives, we can have a much different perspective on God. The Holy Spirit can open the doors to our hearts and minds. We can then love God in a deep and intimate way based on the knowledge given and gratitude we feel for having been saved from our sin. This kind of Love can be coined as a “supernatural response to a supernatural God”. What is the most important is that we love God first and foremost. Let’s approach each day and make our best attempt to love our Lord through our actions, our thoughts and our obedience to His Word.

Just one after thought. The fact that we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior is the proof that we love God

because it shows that we are trusting God with our lives and with our eternity. Our faith in God is what sustains us in this life. In fact, this life is our preparation for our eternity with God. How we use our time, talent and resources, will shed light on our love and devotion to God. I pray that we will continue to love God by focusing on the mission to help all people become fully devoted followers of Jesus. By giving God the best of our time, talent and resources, we will play a significant role in the lives of those God sends our way. What a privilege it is to serve our Heavenly Father as we play a role in advance of His kingdom here on this earth.

So, as we try to live a life of worship, as we try to show love for God, let’s remember that He is worthy

of whatever sacrifice we need to make to put Him first. It is interesting to note that many people have

experienced their greatest sense of peace while in deep relationship with God.

Matthew 11:28-30 TNIV

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Followers of Jesus have a lot to be thankful for. The fact that we have a new eternal purpose and

perspective on life can easily help us live with resounding joy. We have hope. We can be at peace

with God. We can love sacrificially. We can live by faith knowing God will keep His promises.

We have the Holy Spirit to guide us every step of the way. We can trust God with our lives and believe

His Word to help us live a life worthy of His calling.   

It is easier to love someone knowing how much they love you. God has gone to great lengths to show

us how much He loves us.

John 3:16-17 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

We have an awesome God worthy of our deepest affection.

 Just Sayin………………..Dave     

Our Greatest Source Of Comfort

Our Greatest Source of Comfort

There is a lot of pain and suffering in this world. Back in my younger more wilder days, I used to deaden the source of my pain with things that I thought would offer relief from the emptiness, suffering and anxiety that I was experiencing. I kept indulging myself with things that could only temporally block out my suffering but the truth was they could never cure the source of it. At the time I felt like this was an acceptable solution to my inner source of pain problem plus, in reality, I just didn't wan to face reality. I wanted to live in my own surrealistic Utopian dream. I did not know at the time that the real source of my pain was the God sized hole that could only be filled by Him. I spent most of my time trying to fill this hole with other things.

You see back then I didn't have any frame of reference that would indicate that calling out to God and being in relationship with Him would fill the void in my life. In fact, I was always running from God even though I did not understand that's what I was doing at the time. 

Later on I began to let God in the back door of my life. This was a halfhearted attempt to get God to answer my self-centered prayers and provide for me materialistically along with the desires that I had to live a

comfortable life. I also had issues with sin and still refused to let go of my old self and old ways of thinking.. The problem was this, I wanted to live my life with me at the center of my universe. I still wanted to do life my way and even worshiped everything but God. This verse from Romans can explain what my life looked life before my real relationship with God. 

Romans 1:21-23 NLT

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began

to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.

Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.  And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.

Yes, I knew about God but refused to acknowledge Him as Lord of my life. In fact, when I was in College I did everything I could to mock Him and dishonor His name.

Many years later after “wandering through the desert for about 40 years” I read the Bible and was convinced

that Jesus was the Messiah for the Gentiles and the Jews. For me this was the beginning of my new life, a life of change and transformation. Instead of living my life dedicated solely for my own pleasure, I had this new desire to set myself apart to God and live for His pleasure. The Holy Spirit was the source of my transformation and becoming a follower of Jesus meant that the Holy Spirit was my new source of wisdom and comfort as well. I no longer desired to live as I did in the past. I had a new life, a new self, a new hope, and the promises of God. I had been saved, rescued from myself, forgiven by God's amazing grace. 

Looking back I used to think that my comfort was based on the environment I lived in, and the lifestyle I was accustomed to. 

My comfort is now is not based on how I feel, but the level of my faith and trust in God and His promises.

My comfort is knowing that God loves me, has forgiven me and has promised me an eternity full of joy free from pain and suffering.  

So now I can say to others that my greatest source of comfort has come through my relationship with Jesus. Through Him I have received the Holy Spirit who is my Counselor, my Teacher and my Comforter. 

Ways in which I receive comfort from the Holy Spirit:

The Holy Spirit Confirms God’s Love:

Romans 5:5 NIV

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

The Holy Spirit encourages us when we are weak:

Romans 8:26 NIV

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but

the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

The Holy Spirit fills us with hope:

Romans 15:13 NIV

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit gives us supernatural rest, fellowship and reminds us about the things Jesus said

Matthew 11:28-29 New International Version 1984 

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

2 Corinthians 13:14 NIV

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

John 14:26

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

The Holy Spirit inspires Joy and helps us receive the message of the Gospel:

1 Thessalonians 1:6 NIV

 You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message

with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit guides us, teaches us and enlightens us with God’s Truth:

John 16:13-16 NIV

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

1 Corinthians 2:12-13 NIV

We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

The Greatest Source of Comfort: The Peace of God

Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

So comfort is more like a reassurance from God that He loves us and has a great plan for our lives

now and for all eternity. Only through a real relationship with Jesus will we experience this supernatural

kind of comfort. 

Just Sayin………………..Dave     

Waiting On God

Waiting On God

Have you ever asked God this kind of question?
“God, what do you want me to do with my life?” 

Well I have. 

In fact, everyday I seem to say, "God, please show me what you want me to do. Please make it clear to me on how to proceed with my life." Being that sometimes I am impatient, through a changed life, I have been able to make it a habit to wait on God's revelation on how to live in sync with His plan, and make my next move accordingly.

What I have observed from my past is that God had brought me to a particular crossroads in my life where I sensed something was about to change and I knew God was going to tell me about it and show me what action I needed to take. I was able to confirm with what I believed God was telling me through my connection to the Holy Spirit, prayer, God's Word, Church Sermons, interviews with wise Godly men, books and articles by people of faith, worship, and songs and confirmation through a sense of peace about what I was about to do. So even with my desire to act, what I needed to remember was I had to wait on God because through experience I knew His timing was always perfect. 

Interestingly enough, I began to realize that God puts the desires for change in my mind and my heart. This change includes character, desire, behaviors, work, obedience, maturity, faith etc.  I myself like to stay comfortable yet I realize change in God's kingdom means I check out of the comfort zone motel. you see, God is always trying to get me to step out in faith and trust in Him. This is a hard thing to do because through His process of sanctification, I  have to rid myself of the sin that hinders me or do something that stretches me, going beyond in what I think I am capable of doing. For many reasons I believe that God has the power to do anything. Too many times I have put God in a box thereby setting limits on what I think is possible. A big lesson for me is that God can do the impossible!

So when God is ready to move in my life I know I need to be prepared to walk through whatever change or door He has opened for me. This idea of preparation is a process by which I  have to grow in my faith and trust in God. The more I trust God the more I am prepared to act.. The cool thing is God strengthens me and equips me for everything He has called me to do. This is my confirmation that He wants me to do something. He also puts the passion in my heart and gives me the strength and ability to accomplish His purpose.

So many of these changes I have actually gone through have had to do with character, integrity, spiritual growth, habits, worldview, and service to God. So when God is moving in my life, preparing me for personal changes, or ministry, there will be evidence of sanctification and equipping topped off with lots of passion and excitement about what lies ahead for me.

As far as ministry is concerned It is great to be used by God! It could be everything from helping those in need spiritually to using the resources I have been given to care for those really struggling to survive.  Whatever it is, it is an honor and a privilege to know that God allows me to be part of His plan to help others find hope in a fallen world.

Since I am human I still have my own desires and passions that I have that I still feel a desire to pursue. This is where the Human perspective comes into play. There are times I want to change my job, my housing situation, find a new state to live in, find new avenues of service to God, and increase my level of comfort. Leaning on my own perspective and desire I have sort of planned my own new reality and circumstances by which I would like to live in.  However, these days I  always realize find out God has the master plan. 
To help me get a bigger picture about God's plan I seek out His Word to confirm what
His purpose is.

The Bible tells us that God has a purpose and plan for our lives:

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.

Romans 8:28 NIV

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been

called according to his purpose.

Philippians 1:6 NIV  1984
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion 
until the day of Christ Jesus.

The Bible tells us that God wants us to become more like Jesus:

Romans 8:29 New Living Translation

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

Ephesians 4:22-24 New International Version 1984 

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Trusting God while I wait for His direction: 

Even though I have dreams and desires for my life I fully trust my Heavenly Father for charting the course of my days. He knows what’s best for me and may have other plans for my life that serve a greater purpose than the ones I desire for myself. There are times when I ask my self, “What is God trying to do here”? From a worldly human perspective, waiting on God doesn't make sense since we are told over and over again by the prevailing culture to follow our dreams. I am glad God does not always give me what I desire. Some of my desires/dreams would not have been beneficial to me nor the kingdom of God. What we have to remember is that waiting on God becomes even harder when we focus our energy on figuring out what God is up to.

The Bible tells us that there is a reason why it is so hard to figure out what God is up to:

Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV 
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Patience:

Even though I trust God, I still struggle with being patient with Him. I am so conditioned to get things done quickly that waiting for God to act is somewhat unsettling. However, God's timing is always perfect. He does have a plan and I need to live with great expectation that He will act for His greater purpose. It is good to know that God will use periods of time to test our faith and obedience. During these times God desires that while we wait, we worship. That while we wait we trust that He desires to do good in us and through us. That while we wait we come to Him in prayer, and completely open up our hearts to Him. This is the kind of personal relationship He desires.

The Bible explains the spiritual importance of coming before God with our daily requests and concerns:

Philippians 4:6-7 New International Version 1984 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I am also thankful that God continues to be patient with those who still have not received the Gospel. Many in my family have yet to become followers of Jesus.

There is a very important reason why God is so patient:

2 Peter 3:9 NIV 
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Historically speaking God had to be really patient with me because of my many years of rejection and lip service directed toward Him. I am forever grateful for God's unfailing love, mercy, and grace sprinkled with tons of patience.

We have to consider while waiting on God for whatever reason, we still have a purpose

that is primary to a meaningful existence. While we are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, we are also to love our neighbor. This means that one of the greatest acts of love we could do while we wait on God is to reach out to the unsaved. A great part of our purpose is to share the hope we have though Jesus' work on the cross.

The Bible reminds us to set ourselves apart to Christ especially when we fulfill our mission to share the Gospel with others:

1 Peter 3:15 NIV 
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

When we are set apart to God and trust Him with our lives we should be willing to wait for His affirmation and biblical wisdom before we act or make important decisions.

Lamentations 3:24 NIV 
I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."

Psalm 27:14 NIV 
Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

Psalm 130:5 NIV 
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.

Isaiah 40:31 New King James Version 
But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; 
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Lamentations 3:22-25 New International Version 1984Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassion's never fail.They are new every morning;  great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,to the one who seeks him;

When we wait for God we ultimately pronounce His worthiness to lead and guide our lives especially when we are going through difficult circumstances. By persevering we are allow God to continue His work in us and through us.

James 1:2-5 NIV

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Hebrews 10:35-36 NIV

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

Romans 5:3-5 NIV

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

So even when it becomes difficult to wait on God to change our circumstances, or even answer our prayers, we can be confident that God is continuing to work for the good of those who love Him who have been called according to His purpose. Remember, God will work to perfect us by even allowing our prayers to go unanswered and to keep us in our circumstances for a time in order for us to learn something about ourselves and to test our faith and trust in Him. 

What will help us in this time of anticipation is to remember believers have the awareness to experience God's perfect timing and to experience just how amazing the mind of God really is. With that realization, we understand how blessed we really are to part of God's family and that gratitude that permeates from within our heart has the potential to change us from the inside out.

We are assured that anyone who is truly a follower of Christ has been changed.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

So while we wait, let us live the way God intended, set apart to Him on the road to Christ-likeness.

With patience comes blessing.  

Isaiah 30:18 NIV

Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion.
For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

Jesus promises us that He will one day return to bring us to our heavenly home. With this promise we can live this life with hope and with confidence, waiting on the Lord to fulfill this eternal blessing.

John 14:1-4 NIV

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

Waiting on God is worth the wait!

Just Sayin………………..Dave