How We Can Appropriate the Right Perspective
and Heart for God’s Purpose
My first point is that living in a
nation that is culturally and politically divided cannot begin healing until that
nation turns back to God. Regardless of what side of the aisle we may be on, and
how much we allow the culture to shape our thinking, a believer in Christ
ultimately must believe and acknowledge that only God owns the truth. Only by submitting to God can we know, understand,
and live out His commands and principles His way.
Followers of Jesus need Godly counsel,
the Holy Spirit and God’s Word to help guide them through life and to be able
to turn off the cultural and political mindsets for a while. If we search for the right channel to gain Godly
perspective, there is only one channel that can provide the right kind of
programming and information to guide us and keep on the right ministry path and
purpose God has designed for our lives to take. When we get distracted by
problems we cannot solve and find ourselves in situations that are out of our
control, we can easily feel powerless and fall into the trap of despair. Just
ask Jerimiah about the sorrow and anguish he felt while living during the
divided Kingdom of Israel and Judah and the exile to Babylon.
So as followers of Jesus we need to
ask ourselves, who is in charge, and what is the mission we are called to be
part of? The answer can always be found in God’s Word and the Holy Spirit has
gifted us in such a way so that we can fill a need in our Churches mission and
strengthen the body of Christ. We must hold on to the fact that in order to
bear fruit for God’s kingdom, we must be connected to the author and perfecter
of our faith. Jesus explains:
John 15:5 New International Version
5 “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.
Here are some ways that connect us to
God and His wisdom and perspective:
1. We must go to God in prayer:
Psalm 32:6-8 (NLT)
Therefore, let all the godly pray to
you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters
of judgment. For you are my hiding place; you protect me from
trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. The Lord says, “I will
guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and
watch over you.
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.
2. We must learn to trust God:
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and
he will make your paths straight.
3. Our Minds and Hearts must conform
to God’s ideas and principles:
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.
4. We must allow God's Word to equip
us and guide us. We must act on what God's Word is telling us to do:
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.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)
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.
James 1:22 New International Version
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive
yourselves. Do what it says.
Jesus gives us the "formula"
for getting Godly wisdom and perspective:
Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)
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; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door
will be opened.
Once we have received the wisdom from
God that He freely gives, we should then apply it to our situation. It could be
just that we need an attitude adjustment. Or it could be that in any situation
God wants us to use the difficulties to strengthen and grow our character and
faith. These passages below
help us understand about how our actions and attitudes can benefit us and
others when we allow God to shape our mind, heart and character through a new
spiritual mindset that comes from being a devoted follower of Jesus and led by
the Holy Spirit.
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.
James 1:2-4 (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.
The passage in James goes on to say
that if we lack wisdom we should ask God. What better way to approach any
difficult situation than to ask God for wisdom in how to handle any
circumstance.
James 1:5-8 (NIV) (Asking God for Wisdom)
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 he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who
doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should
not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man,
unstable in all he does.
Once we have Godly wisdom and perspective
to deal with any situation, we can approach a difficult situation with an opportunity
to honor God and reflect Christ-like character.
As a follower of Jesus, we know God desires
us to be more like Jesus. This is because the world is watching how we live and
how we handle ourselves. Christians and non-believers alike will decide if we
are living like hypocrites or living out the life we are preaching to others
about. We don’t want others to stumble in their walk with God based on our
words and actions. We don’t want someone who is considering hearing about the
Gospel to find out that God’s people are neglecting God’s command to live
changed lives set apart to Him.
5. God desires for us to be
transformed. God wants to use that transformation as a witness to His redeeming
power.
1 Corinthians 1:30 (NLT)
God has united you with Christ Jesus.
For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with
God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.
1 Thessalonians 4:7 (NASB)
For God has not called us for the
purpose of impurity, but in sanctification
1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NIV)
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your
whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
2 Timothy 2:20-21 (NLT)
In a wealthy home some utensils are
made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive
utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday
use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable
use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you
for every good work.
God wants us to use the time we have
been given on this earth to help bring others to Himself. Our Christ-likeness
will model to others a new perspective on hope because they will see in us that
God can change what seems unchangeable; the sinful, arrogant, and self-centered
human heart. When people ask us about the hope we have, we have something good
to tell them.
Philippians 2:3-5 New International Version
3 Do nothing out of
selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above
yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each
of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships
with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Galatians 5:19-24 New International Version
19 The acts of the flesh
are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry
and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition,
dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies,
and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this
will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of
the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against
such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ
Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
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,
2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)
For God has not given us a spirit of
fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Here is some great instruction on how
we can live out a God-centered life:
Colossians 3:12-17 (NLT)
Since God chose you to be the holy
people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness,
humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and
forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must
forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all
together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in
your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And
always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill
your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing
psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever
you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks
through him to God the Father.
6. When we keep our eyes focused on Jesus,
we will view our problems differently:
John 16:33 New International Version
33 “I have told you
these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will
have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Hebrews 12 (NIV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by
such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and
the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race
marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of
our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its
shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who
endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and
lose heart.
7. No matter what we are facing right
now we can take what Jesus says to heart:
John 14:1 (NIV)
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me.
Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV)
“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.
John 14:27 (NIV)
Peace I leave with you; my peace I
give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be
troubled and do not be afraid.
8. We can be confident that Jesus
understands and cares about what we go through in life:
Hebrews 4:14-15 (NIV)
Therefore, since we have a great high
priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold
firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable
to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in
every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.
We know Jesus cares about us because
He willingly suffered and gave His life so we can have life:
Romans 5:8 (NIV)
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.
We have an awesome God who we can turn
to under any circumstance. He can take any problem we are facing and help us
discern how to best handle ourselves in the situation at hand.
Will we trust Him today with the
circumstances we are facing?
Peter 5:7 (NLT)
Give all your worries and cares to
God, for he cares about you.
God promises this:
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
So do not fear, for I am with you; do
not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will
uphold you with my righteous right hand.
As followers of Christ, we can bank on
this:
Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)
For I am convinced that neither death
nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor
any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will
be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Any problem we face can become an
opportunity for us to apply Godly wisdom and put on a Christ-centered attitude.
When we display love to one another the world will see a real example of what
Jesus’ disciples are transformed to be. When we love, we let some of the air
out of a divisive and hateful world. So, we need to let supernatural love have
its way in us and through us. In our obedience to God’s Word, we speak love to
God as well.
God’s Word tells us:
Our attitude and perspective should be
the same as that of Jesus:
Philippians 2:1-8 (NIV)
Imitating Christ’s Humility
2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being
united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the
Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make
my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being
one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of
selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above
yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each
of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships
with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very
nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be
used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
So, in conclusion:
We can appropriate the right
perspective and heart for God’s purpose by having the same mindset as Jesus. With
this in mind, let’s strive to be Spirit led and live out God’s purpose and mission.
Let’s go out and make disciples and breathe life into this broken world. Let’s
continue to share the truth and love of Jesus that brings hope to those who
believe and follow Him.
Just
Sayin………………..Dave
