My Worldview: A Personal Declaration of My Walk of Faith With God!
What Is Worldview?
What is worldview and why is it important? The question is, "What worldview do we hold?" Worldview is the way we perceive the world around us. It is the way we make sense of the world we live in. Our worldview explains our world. Worldview has often been described as the lenses we look through at our world. Often the way we perceive the world is based on our cultural upbringing, our family history, and what we have been taught; both intentionally and by unconscious influences! Everyone holds to some form of worldview which is usually so ingrained in us that we give little conscious thought to it. Yet our worldview impacts everything we think, feel and do! So seeking to examine our worldview, and to see it transformed, is what we are called to do as followers of Jesus Christ!
"Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."
(Romans 12:2 NLT)
"Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."
(Romans 12:2 NLT)
Why is Worldview Important?
Perhaps one of the best ways to show why worldview is so important is to share an illustration called a "worldview tree."
WORLDVIEW TREE!
Fruit = Behavior/Actions - What a person does!
Trunk = Values - What a person sees as valuable in life!
Roots = Beliefs - What a person believes or thinks to be true!
Soil = A Mixture of Truth and Lies - What feeds one's worldview!
Jesus Christ: "Just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions."
(Matthew 7:20 NLT)
Worldview Tree Explained!
One of the problems we face is the resulting conflict that occurs when our worldviews collide! One of the ways to work through conflict is to seek to understand each other's worldview! Understanding does not equate with agreement. Nor will understanding always come easily because we are very "ethnocentric;" which means we think our ways and beliefs are the best. We, however, must remember that we all have a mixture of truth and lies which have been fed to us through various ways throughout our lives. One of our life goals ought to be to nurture the soil of our lives so as to weed out the lies and cultivate the truth so that we may become people who bear good fruit! What we think and believe directly affects how we live; what we do! And what we do directly reflects what we truly believe to be true!
“A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart."
(Matthew 12:33-35 NLT)
An Attempt to Explain My Worldview
The topic of worldview is often discussed and taught in much greater complexity than I am addressing today. My purpose has been to illustrate that our behavior is based on what we believe to be true! I hope to share some of those beliefs to shed light on why I say and do what I do!
Biblical Worldview
The foundation of what I believe to be true is formed, and being formed, in the context of a biblical worldview. Again, the way we examine any worldview is to ask what are the beliefs? What values are produced by those beliefs? And what is the fruit produced in the lives of people as the result of those beliefs and values?
At this point, I am going to assume that I am primarily addressing a somewhat biblically literate audience; that is, you know the basic teachings of the Bible. I do desire, however, to share some of the deeper things the Holy Spirit has been revealing to me. The Apostle Paul talks about there being degrees of revelation of scriptural truth. He says,
"For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong."
(Hebrews 5:13-14 NLT)
He is not saying that truth changes, but rather that God reveals greater depths of revelation about His word to those who continue to pursue truth, and are becoming more mature in the process.
“There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me."
(John 16:12-15 NLT)
This is clearly not for "spiritual elite" but available and purposed for everyone who is a follower of Jesus Christ. Truth which has not affected change in a person has not become a part of their worldview! So then, am I saying that I am mature in Christ? All I can say is that I have witnessed the work of God in my own life. Who I am now is radically different than who I was even in the near past! I am still maturing, but I can testify, as can others who have witnessed my life, that God is transforming my life! That is not bragging! This is what humility means: that we recognize the work of God in our lives, and rightly give God all the credit, for I know better than anyone else besides God who I used to be!
Having given that testimony, allow me to share some things God has been revealing to me. In this you will understand better why I say and do what I do. One of the most profound revelations of truth has to do with the reason Jesus came to die on the cross, and to be raised from the dead. I will necessarily be brief. Jesus' primary purpose was not just to save us so we could go to heaven. Far too many people believe, as evidenced by the fruit of their lives, that Jesus only came to save us, and our work is to endure until we are taken to heaven!
What Jesus Did on the Cross
I again assume that we know that we could never have been saved by our efforts or decision alone. It is only because God first pursued us that we could even come to the place of receiving the revelation by Holy Spirit through God's word that we needed a savior. Faith and grace are both essential to salvation. If any of this DOES NOT make sense, please personally contact me and we can talk!
About Salvation
Let me share this point about salvation that has been very helpful to me: When we are "saved" our spirit is instantly transformed from our "old nature" bound in sin, to our new nature in Christ! We literally become a "new creation" in Jesus!
"My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me." (Galatians 2:20 NLT).
Also Paul writes, "As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation." (Galatians 6:14-15 NLT).
Though our spirit is instantly transformed, our body and soul (mind, will and emotions) are being restored to God's original intentions for man! That is why there is still a process of maturity as believers.
"Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."
(Romans 12:2 NLT)
"Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful." (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 NLT).
"My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me." (Galatians 2:20 NLT).
Also Paul writes, "As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation." (Galatians 6:14-15 NLT).
Though our spirit is instantly transformed, our body and soul (mind, will and emotions) are being restored to God's original intentions for man! That is why there is still a process of maturity as believers.
"Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."
(Romans 12:2 NLT)
Saved Into the Kingdom
Okay, we have trusted God for the forgiveness of our sins! Now what? We are called into the Kingdom of God having been instantaneously transformed in our spirit into sons or daughter's of God! We enter into a new family and new identity with wondrously new inherited rights and responsibilities! We are restored in relationship with God, and through Him, to others as well!
"Everything heaven contains has already been lavished upon us as a love gift from our wonderful heavenly Father, the Father of our Lord Jesus--all because he sees us wrapped into Christ. This is why we celebrate him with all our hearts."
(Ephesians 1:3 TPT)
"Everything heaven contains has already been lavished upon us as a love gift from our wonderful heavenly Father, the Father of our Lord Jesus--all because he sees us wrapped into Christ. This is why we celebrate him with all our hearts."
(Ephesians 1:3 TPT)
"May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins."
(Colossians 1:11-14 NLT)
"But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir."
(Galatians 4:4-7 NLT)
One of the most damaging half-truths Satan has planted in the minds of followers of Jesus is that we are just saved for heaven. Until we apply the truth that we are saved for more than ourselves, the Body of Christ will continue to be anemic, powerless, and fruitless for the Kingdom of God! It is imperative that we see ourselves as children of the King, dwelling in the Kingdom of God, who have been given power and authority to co-rule and reign with Jesus Christ; always submitted to His Lordship, but nonetheless having responsibility to restore God's original intentions that man take dominion over all the earth. Our work is to take back territory which Satan has wrongly stolen from man at the garden! God's purpose through the cross was to restore His original intentions as spoken over man at the garden. He has created us to have dominion over the earth; and that means we are to work to take back all the enemy has stolen through usurped authority!
And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth."
(Revelation 5:9-10 NKJV)
"One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick."
(Luke 9:1-2 NLT)
"The Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8 NLT)
"When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!”
“Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven."
(Luke 10:17-20 NLT)
"I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church."
(Ephesians 1:19-22 NLT)
"For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus."
(Ephesians 2:6 NLT)
"See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are."
(1 John 3:1 NLT)
"For it pleases the Holy Spirit and us that we not place any unnecessary burden on you..."
(Acts 15:28 TPT) [Notice the communication that took place between man and Holy Spirit!]
How is it possible for us to walk in the same way Jesus did while He was on earth? When Jesus came to earth he became a man, though remained fully God; a mystery we don't understand with our human mind. BUT, the scriptures say that Jesus laid down his divine attributes; that is, though he was both God and man, he did not operate as God while on this earth. He fully understood his identity but he did not use his divine power while on earth.
"And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs."
(Mark 16:20 NLT)
"God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose."
(Hebrews 2:4 NLT)
"God's various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God's Spirit. God's various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God's Spirit. God's various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful:
wise counsel (word of wisdom)
clear understanding (word of knowledge)
simple trust (gift of supernatural faith)
healing the sick
miraculous acts
proclamation
distinguishing between spirits
tongues
interpretation of tongues.
All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when."
(1 Corinthians 12:4-11 Message)
There are a huge amount of references about spiritual gifts and the manifestation of those gifts by the disciples. So why is it that we so often refuse to acknowledge this precious reality in the Kingdom of God? I read one explanation that made some sense to me. In the past, when christian leaders tried to exercise the gifts and nothing happened, they chose to create doctrines that denied this truth instead of pressing into God in prayer and humility, confessing their lack of faith. Regardless of whether one believes the cause, it is evident that supernatural intervention has not been evident in our society in large part. Again, we must examine our worldview! Is this based on truth, or upon cultural and/or spiritually wicked influence? I give witness that the Holy Spirit still gives spiritual power and authority when we humble ourselves, seek for the gifts He wants to give to us and to others, and trust Him to lead us in how and when to use them. Jesus also said that we would do the same works He did, and even greater works! This is again evidence that we must mix truth with faith in order to walk fully in God's ways!
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."
(John 14:12-14 NLT)
One of the gifts Jesus gave to the Body of Christ through the Holy Spirit is that of Prophet! We read in Ephesians 4: 11-13,
"Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ."
(Ephesians 4:11-13 NLT)
I choose, by faith, to believe that these gifts are still relevant for the Body of Christ today! There is no evidence that God has taken them away. So, if prophets are gifts from God, shouldn't we be alert to how God might be speaking through such people? Certainly we are called to test the spirits, to seek discernment, and to test all things by the Word of God, but we do irreparable harm to the function and health of the Body of Christ when we deny such reality. Same goes for the other equipping gifts God has given for the benefit and maturing of the Body!
Regarding prophecy, the Apostle Paul strongly encouraged everyone to seek to exercise the gift of prophecy. This is not speaking our own words to others, but receiving words for others from the Holy Spirit! It's not that's it's wrong to encourage one another in our own understanding, but the Holy Spirit can speak into the deep needs of a person which only He knows. There is spiritual power when we are willing to be used in this way!
"Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire (earnestly desire; desire zealously) the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious. But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.
I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened."
(1 Corinthians 14:1-5 NLT)
"The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But some of you do not believe me." (Jesus)
(John 6:63-64 NLT)
Even as I work on this, God showed me this: There are differing ways of prophesying. Some prophecy does speak forth about future events. Some prophecy is more personal; one to one. There are differing degrees of authority given in each gift. Some will prophecy over nations; others over individuals or smaller groups. All are an important part for the health of the Body of Christ.
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.
(1 Corinthians 12:4-7 NKJV)
Knowing the scriptures is not enough in and of itself to be a disciple of Jesus! The scriptures say that even demons believed the truth and trembled. Jesus also said of the Pharisees and teachers of the law (who, by the way, knew the scriptures available at that time better than anyone else),
“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life."
(John 5:39-40 NLT)
"You can believe all you want that there is one true God, that's wonderful! But even the demons know this and tremble with fear before him, yet they're unchanged--they remain demons."
(James 2:19 TPT)
They (the religious leaders) did not mix the revealed truth with faith, and they missed the very one they were hoping for!
"For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it."
(Hebrews 4:2 NKJV)
How, then, should we search the scriptures? Do we simply try to figure out in our own understanding what the scriptures mean? Or do we ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and understanding? Is our dependence upon our own intellect, or upon the Spirit of God? Any time we approach the scriptures we should do so in a spirit of humility, acknowledging our dependence upon Holy Spirit for illumination and spiritual understanding. Prayer is the safeguard against pride!
“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth...
"I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you."
(John 14:15-17, 25-26 NLT)
"But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth."
(John 4:23-24 NLT)
What sorrow for those who say
that evil is good and good is evil,
that dark is light and light is dark,
that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.
What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes
and think themselves so clever.
(Isaiah 5:20-21 NLT)
So how do we think about truth? How do we determine what is true? From a biblical perspective, truth is not primarily about something we know, but rather SOMEONE we are in process of knowing; Jesus Christ! Jesus declared this about himself: “I am the way, the truth, and the life." (John 14:6). Truth, then, is not so much about pursuing informational knowledge as it is about encountering relational knowledge of Jesus Christ! Jesus is the embodiment of truth! That which is true is always discovered in the context of relationship with God through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of Truth! Allow me to give an example which the Spirit just brought to my mind. Would you say that 5 + 2 = 7 is a true? From a human perspective this seems to be true. However, if we seek to answer this from a biblical perspective the truth is that 5+ 2= more than 5000!
Jesus said: “How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out.”
They came back and reported, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish.”
Then Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of fifty or a hundred.
Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share. They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish. A total of 5,000 men and their families were fed from those loaves.
(Mark 6:38-44 NLT)
Why do I use this example? My entire premise for searching for truth is that we must not look at things merely from a human perspective, but rather search for truth in the person of Jesus Christ! We look at things from what we see, or what others say, but we often neglect to first ask God what his perspective is in a situation! We base our definition of truth on human reasoning and understanding. What do the scriptures say about this? When Jesus was speaking, he prefaced what he was about to say with, "I tell you the truth." He is the standard of truth!
Proverbs 3:5-7 says, "Trust the Lord completely. And do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on him to guide you and he will lead you in every decision you make. Become intimate with him in whatever you do, and he will lead you wherever you go. Don't think for a moment that you know it all, for wisdom comes when you adore him with awe and wonder..." (Prov. 3:5-7a, TPT)
Notice, that in this scripture, Jesus states that becoming his disciple results in a person being able to bring "gems of truth" into the open!
Then [Jesus] added, “Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old."
(Matthew 13:52 NLT)
Once again we see that the Holy Spirit leads us into ALL truth! We cannot discern truth apart from Holy Spirit! Clearly, our search for truth can come only as we seek God in all things!
“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you."
(John 14:15-19 NLT)
The Holy Spirit dwells in us and we are to seek him for all revelation of truth!
"...the truth lives in us and will be with us forever."
(2 John 1:2 NLT)
"But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ."
(1 John 2:27 NLT)
Jesus connects "remaining in him" and "being his disciple" with the ability to know the truth.
'Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."'(Colossians 1:11-14 NLT)
"But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir."
(Galatians 4:4-7 NLT)
One of the most damaging half-truths Satan has planted in the minds of followers of Jesus is that we are just saved for heaven. Until we apply the truth that we are saved for more than ourselves, the Body of Christ will continue to be anemic, powerless, and fruitless for the Kingdom of God! It is imperative that we see ourselves as children of the King, dwelling in the Kingdom of God, who have been given power and authority to co-rule and reign with Jesus Christ; always submitted to His Lordship, but nonetheless having responsibility to restore God's original intentions that man take dominion over all the earth. Our work is to take back territory which Satan has wrongly stolen from man at the garden! God's purpose through the cross was to restore His original intentions as spoken over man at the garden. He has created us to have dominion over the earth; and that means we are to work to take back all the enemy has stolen through usurped authority!
And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth."
(Revelation 5:9-10 NKJV)
"One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick."
(Luke 9:1-2 NLT)
"The Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8 NLT)
"When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!”
“Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven."
(Luke 10:17-20 NLT)
"I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church."
(Ephesians 1:19-22 NLT)
"For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus."
(Ephesians 2:6 NLT)
"See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are."
(1 John 3:1 NLT)
Learning to Listen to God
One of the most fundamental aspects of relationship is the ability to communicate back and forth with one another! In our relationship with God learning to discern the voice of God is essential to all we are becoming and all we do in the family and Kingdom of God! This is, again, an area where much of the Body of Christ has not understood nor practiced as fully as God has purposed for us! Yes, God does speak to us through the Bible, the Word of God, but even that is dependent upon us intentionally seeking to listen to Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the one who interprets the scriptures for us. Without His work we cannot understand the real intention of God's Word!
* The Logos Word of God: There are two different meanings in the NT when the "word of God" is used. One is logos which primarily refers to the written word, the Bible.
*The Rhema Word of God: The rhēma word of God refers to the spoken word of God. "Whereas logos often designates the Christian proclamation as a whole, rhēma usually relates to individual words and utterances."
One way to consider this is that the logos is God's written word given to all people. The rhēma word is God speaking to us individually or elaborating on the logos word! This is simplistic but hopefully communicates that God did not just communicate through the Bible then left us to figure things out on our own. Rather, He continues to communicate with us giving us understanding of the Bible interpreted by the Holy Spirit, but also speaking into our lives in a more personal manner through the Holy Spirit! One of the phrases most used by Jesus was, "Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand." (Matthew 11:15 NLT).
Communicating with God is one of the most precious gifts He has given us through His Spirit! Consider this: If the Holy Spirit communicated with people in the OT, how much more ought we live in communion with Holy Spirit now in the New Covenant relationship we have with God through Jesus Christ?
"The old way, with laws etched in stone, led to death, though it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life."
(2 Corinthians 3:7-8 NLT)
"But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—
these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ."
(1 Corinthians 2:9-16 ESV)
* The Logos Word of God: There are two different meanings in the NT when the "word of God" is used. One is logos which primarily refers to the written word, the Bible.
*The Rhema Word of God: The rhēma word of God refers to the spoken word of God. "Whereas logos often designates the Christian proclamation as a whole, rhēma usually relates to individual words and utterances."
One way to consider this is that the logos is God's written word given to all people. The rhēma word is God speaking to us individually or elaborating on the logos word! This is simplistic but hopefully communicates that God did not just communicate through the Bible then left us to figure things out on our own. Rather, He continues to communicate with us giving us understanding of the Bible interpreted by the Holy Spirit, but also speaking into our lives in a more personal manner through the Holy Spirit! One of the phrases most used by Jesus was, "Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand." (Matthew 11:15 NLT).
Communicating with God is one of the most precious gifts He has given us through His Spirit! Consider this: If the Holy Spirit communicated with people in the OT, how much more ought we live in communion with Holy Spirit now in the New Covenant relationship we have with God through Jesus Christ?
"The old way, with laws etched in stone, led to death, though it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life."
(2 Corinthians 3:7-8 NLT)
"But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—
these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ."
(1 Corinthians 2:9-16 ESV)
But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'
(Matthew 4:4 NLT)
"But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice."
(John 10:2-5 NLT)
"Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him."
(Mark 9:7 NLT)
"Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven."
(Hebrews 12:25 NLT)
“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches."
(Revelation 2:7 NLT)
"As it is written in the Scriptures, ‘They will all be taught by God. ’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me."
(John 6:45 NLT)
"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
(Romans 10:17 NKJV)
"For it pleases the Holy Spirit and us that we not place any unnecessary burden on you..."
(Acts 15:28 TPT) [Notice the communication that took place between man and Holy Spirit!]
Our Work in the Kingdom
Only as we come to the place of knowing the work God has given us in the Kingdom do we begin to live as God intended us on earth. We are called to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth, in accordance with how Jesus taught us to pray! Particularly in the western world, we witness the barrenness of the Body of Christ from what God intended. The "western church," in large part, has abandoned the power made available to us by the Holy Spirit for "a form of religion denying it's power." This occurred when secularism infiltrated the teachings of the church, which came as a result of the church being assimilated into the culture rather than being cultural influencers as God intended all along for His people! The good news is that God never gives up on the Church, the "being prepared" Bride of Christ! He continues to woo us back to Himself, restoring and reviving his people when they cry out to him! We are clearly living in a new season of God beginning to restore his Body to a place of power and authority.
How is it possible for us to walk in the same way Jesus did while He was on earth? When Jesus came to earth he became a man, though remained fully God; a mystery we don't understand with our human mind. BUT, the scriptures say that Jesus laid down his divine attributes; that is, though he was both God and man, he did not operate as God while on this earth. He fully understood his identity but he did not use his divine power while on earth.
"You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross."
(Philippians 2:5-8 NLT)
The reason Jesus gave up his divine privileges was because his purpose was to model for all people the life that is possible by walking in the Spirit, trusting God for all things! In the same way Jesus trusted God while on this earth, so we can do likewise! That is why Jesus was also able to say we would do the same works as him, and indeed even greater works!
So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does."
(John 5:19 NLT)
So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I Am he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me."
(John 8:28 NLT)
So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does."
(John 5:19 NLT)
So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I Am he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me."
(John 8:28 NLT)
"The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."
(John 14:10-14 NLT)
Gifts of Holy Spirit
When we talk of gifts of the Holy Spirit, we need to recognize that these are exactly that: spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit which are always a manifestation of supernatural, spiritual power. They are never just demonstration of our own abilities or knowledge. Therefore, as we consider each gift of the Spirit, we need to view it as a supernatural impartation which is always outside of man's natural abilities. For example, the gift of a "word of knowledge" is not simply being able to study and learn something about another person. It is a supernatural revelation given by Holy Spirit about another person which cannot be known by that person otherwise. It usually reveals something only the person receiving this gift would know. The purpose is to show the person that God knows them intimately, and that He understands what their deepest needs are. It is never given to harm a person or "expose" something about them which could be shameful or harmful in any way. It is always to encourage, build up, and reveal the heart of God to them! It is always so God can bring healing into a person's life! Remember, these are GIFTS to be given to others in the power and leading of the Spirit of God!
A good example of the spiritual gift of a "word of knowledge" is found in the story of the woman at the well in John 4:1-30. [I would encourage you to read this passage with this perspective; and then begin to read all of the scriptures asking Holy Spirit to show you what He is doing!] As Jesus interacts with her, he says:
“Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her.
“I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied.
Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth."
(John 4:16-18 NLT)
He was given supernatural knowledge of this woman as a means of revealing the power and love of God to her. He did not use this knowledge to condemn her, but to stir in her a hunger for truth! True spiritual power from the Holy Spirit will always lead into a deeper revelation of spiritual truth, ultimately to Jesus! As a result of this encounter, not only did the woman discover who Jesus is, but the whole village come to hear and respond to the gospel!
When the foundations of biblical truth have been eroded in a nation, the power of God becomes essential. Why? When truth alone is no longer accepted on it's own merit, the power of God as revealed through the gifts given by Holy Spirit become a means of displaying the love of God which cannot be denied! This demonstration of love through power will break down walls of resistance to the truth of the Gospel; in fact, confirming the message of God's love to all. It is also a means of spiritual warfare demonstrating that God is sovereign over all of creation, and that the enemy is defeated!
A good example of the spiritual gift of a "word of knowledge" is found in the story of the woman at the well in John 4:1-30. [I would encourage you to read this passage with this perspective; and then begin to read all of the scriptures asking Holy Spirit to show you what He is doing!] As Jesus interacts with her, he says:
“Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her.
“I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied.
Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth."
(John 4:16-18 NLT)
He was given supernatural knowledge of this woman as a means of revealing the power and love of God to her. He did not use this knowledge to condemn her, but to stir in her a hunger for truth! True spiritual power from the Holy Spirit will always lead into a deeper revelation of spiritual truth, ultimately to Jesus! As a result of this encounter, not only did the woman discover who Jesus is, but the whole village come to hear and respond to the gospel!
When the foundations of biblical truth have been eroded in a nation, the power of God becomes essential. Why? When truth alone is no longer accepted on it's own merit, the power of God as revealed through the gifts given by Holy Spirit become a means of displaying the love of God which cannot be denied! This demonstration of love through power will break down walls of resistance to the truth of the Gospel; in fact, confirming the message of God's love to all. It is also a means of spiritual warfare demonstrating that God is sovereign over all of creation, and that the enemy is defeated!
(Mark 16:20 NLT)
"God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose."
(Hebrews 2:4 NLT)
"God's various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God's Spirit. God's various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God's Spirit. God's various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful:
wise counsel (word of wisdom)
clear understanding (word of knowledge)
simple trust (gift of supernatural faith)
healing the sick
miraculous acts
proclamation
distinguishing between spirits
tongues
interpretation of tongues.
All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when."
(1 Corinthians 12:4-11 Message)
There are a huge amount of references about spiritual gifts and the manifestation of those gifts by the disciples. So why is it that we so often refuse to acknowledge this precious reality in the Kingdom of God? I read one explanation that made some sense to me. In the past, when christian leaders tried to exercise the gifts and nothing happened, they chose to create doctrines that denied this truth instead of pressing into God in prayer and humility, confessing their lack of faith. Regardless of whether one believes the cause, it is evident that supernatural intervention has not been evident in our society in large part. Again, we must examine our worldview! Is this based on truth, or upon cultural and/or spiritually wicked influence? I give witness that the Holy Spirit still gives spiritual power and authority when we humble ourselves, seek for the gifts He wants to give to us and to others, and trust Him to lead us in how and when to use them. Jesus also said that we would do the same works He did, and even greater works! This is again evidence that we must mix truth with faith in order to walk fully in God's ways!
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."
(John 14:12-14 NLT)
Prophets and Prophecy
"Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ."
(Ephesians 4:11-13 NLT)
I choose, by faith, to believe that these gifts are still relevant for the Body of Christ today! There is no evidence that God has taken them away. So, if prophets are gifts from God, shouldn't we be alert to how God might be speaking through such people? Certainly we are called to test the spirits, to seek discernment, and to test all things by the Word of God, but we do irreparable harm to the function and health of the Body of Christ when we deny such reality. Same goes for the other equipping gifts God has given for the benefit and maturing of the Body!
Regarding prophecy, the Apostle Paul strongly encouraged everyone to seek to exercise the gift of prophecy. This is not speaking our own words to others, but receiving words for others from the Holy Spirit! It's not that's it's wrong to encourage one another in our own understanding, but the Holy Spirit can speak into the deep needs of a person which only He knows. There is spiritual power when we are willing to be used in this way!
"Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire (earnestly desire; desire zealously) the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious. But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.
I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened."
(1 Corinthians 14:1-5 NLT)
"The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But some of you do not believe me." (Jesus)
(John 6:63-64 NLT)
Even as I work on this, God showed me this: There are differing ways of prophesying. Some prophecy does speak forth about future events. Some prophecy is more personal; one to one. There are differing degrees of authority given in each gift. Some will prophecy over nations; others over individuals or smaller groups. All are an important part for the health of the Body of Christ.
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.
(1 Corinthians 12:4-7 NKJV)
Prophecy about Future Events
During this time some prophets traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up in one of the meetings and predicted by the Spirit that a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman world. (This was fulfilled during the reign of Claudius.) So the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could. This they did, entrusting their gifts to Barnabas and Saul to take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem. (Acts 11:27-30 NLT)
Notice what happened: Agabus gave a prophecy so that the church could be prepared, take action, and be a blessing in the situation! And the prophecy occurred as prophesied!
Prophecy to an Individual
Another form of prophecy is what is known as a "word of prophecy" as outlined in 1 Cor. 14:3. This is when the Holy Spirit gives a word through a person to another which is supernatural in origin with the purpose of encouraging, edifying or comforting them. What I believe Holy Spirit just showed me is that such prophetic words are also expressions which are speaking truth about the future. [I need to pray through this more, but I think it is of the Spirit for most, if not all, prophetic words]. What I believe God is showing me is that prophetic words are, at least sometimes, spoken not just about a person in the moment, but rather a declaration of who God intends them to be in the fullness of their identity and destiny as His child! The example that comes to mind is that of Peter.
Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it."(Matthew 16:17-18 NLT)
Jesus prophetically spoke by the power of the Holy Spirit declaring, not who Peter was at that moment in time, but who he would become in the future! Prophetic words will encourage people to see themselves from God's purposes and intentions rather than from their own limited one. Again, the gifts from the Holy Spirit are used to reveal who God is, and call us to a deeper walk of faith with God!
Searching the Scriptures
Knowing the scriptures is not enough in and of itself to be a disciple of Jesus! The scriptures say that even demons believed the truth and trembled. Jesus also said of the Pharisees and teachers of the law (who, by the way, knew the scriptures available at that time better than anyone else),
“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life."
(John 5:39-40 NLT)
"You can believe all you want that there is one true God, that's wonderful! But even the demons know this and tremble with fear before him, yet they're unchanged--they remain demons."
(James 2:19 TPT)
They (the religious leaders) did not mix the revealed truth with faith, and they missed the very one they were hoping for!
"For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it."
(Hebrews 4:2 NKJV)
How, then, should we search the scriptures? Do we simply try to figure out in our own understanding what the scriptures mean? Or do we ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and understanding? Is our dependence upon our own intellect, or upon the Spirit of God? Any time we approach the scriptures we should do so in a spirit of humility, acknowledging our dependence upon Holy Spirit for illumination and spiritual understanding. Prayer is the safeguard against pride!
“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth...
"I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you."
(John 14:15-17, 25-26 NLT)
“There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me."
(John 16:12-15 NLT)
"But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth."
(John 4:23-24 NLT)
Determining What is True!
In an age of postmodernism and relativism where the motto is, "You believe what you want to believe, and I will believe what I want to believe" or "I create my own reality," how does one address the issue of truth? The Bible refers to the way of thinking so prevalent in the world today!
What sorrow for those who say
that evil is good and good is evil,
that dark is light and light is dark,
that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.
What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes
and think themselves so clever.
(Isaiah 5:20-21 NLT)
So how do we think about truth? How do we determine what is true? From a biblical perspective, truth is not primarily about something we know, but rather SOMEONE we are in process of knowing; Jesus Christ! Jesus declared this about himself: “I am the way, the truth, and the life." (John 14:6). Truth, then, is not so much about pursuing informational knowledge as it is about encountering relational knowledge of Jesus Christ! Jesus is the embodiment of truth! That which is true is always discovered in the context of relationship with God through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of Truth! Allow me to give an example which the Spirit just brought to my mind. Would you say that 5 + 2 = 7 is a true? From a human perspective this seems to be true. However, if we seek to answer this from a biblical perspective the truth is that 5+ 2= more than 5000!
Jesus said: “How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out.”
They came back and reported, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish.”
Then Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of fifty or a hundred.
Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share. They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish. A total of 5,000 men and their families were fed from those loaves.
(Mark 6:38-44 NLT)
Why do I use this example? My entire premise for searching for truth is that we must not look at things merely from a human perspective, but rather search for truth in the person of Jesus Christ! We look at things from what we see, or what others say, but we often neglect to first ask God what his perspective is in a situation! We base our definition of truth on human reasoning and understanding. What do the scriptures say about this? When Jesus was speaking, he prefaced what he was about to say with, "I tell you the truth." He is the standard of truth!
Proverbs 3:5-7 says, "Trust the Lord completely. And do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on him to guide you and he will lead you in every decision you make. Become intimate with him in whatever you do, and he will lead you wherever you go. Don't think for a moment that you know it all, for wisdom comes when you adore him with awe and wonder..." (Prov. 3:5-7a, TPT)
Notice, that in this scripture, Jesus states that becoming his disciple results in a person being able to bring "gems of truth" into the open!
Then [Jesus] added, “Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old."
(Matthew 13:52 NLT)
Once again we see that the Holy Spirit leads us into ALL truth! We cannot discern truth apart from Holy Spirit! Clearly, our search for truth can come only as we seek God in all things!
“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you."
(John 14:15-19 NLT)
The Holy Spirit dwells in us and we are to seek him for all revelation of truth!
"...the truth lives in us and will be with us forever."
(2 John 1:2 NLT)
"But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ."
(1 John 2:27 NLT)
Jesus connects "remaining in him" and "being his disciple" with the ability to know the truth.
(John 8:31-32 NLT)
As the Bible is how God has revealed himself to us, we look to it as our source of truth, and that which we use to test all teachings. Nothing that is true will contradict what the scriptures have already revealed about God; Father, Son and Spirit. However, as I have already written, the scriptures must be interpreted by the Holy Spirit in order for us to receive the revelation of divine truth. They cannot be understood from a human perspective! In our search for truth about anything, we must earnestly seek the Holy Spirit and the word of God together! Thus we are also exhorted that we will be people who worship in spirit and in truth! Worship is a life devoted to God, therefore we cannot expect to walk in the truth unless we are living in this place of devotion!
That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. And the people of Berea were more open- minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men.
(Acts 17:10-12 NLT)
Conclusion (for now)
I am ending this blog now because I would like to get it posted, and we have too many things happening right now for me to finish the way I would like. There are numerous other "beliefs" which have an influence on the way I interact with the world. I hope by posting this that you might, not only get to know me a bit better, but that this might also challenge us to continue to examine what we believe, and why! My hope is that the Spirit of truth will continually be free to lead us into a Kingdom worldview where we seek to live out our beliefs that the Kingdom would come and God's will would be done in our lives joyfully and freely!
Toward an ever increasing Kingdom of God's rule and reign on earth as it is in heaven!
"For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up."
(Romans 14:17-19 NLT)
Ray Farris
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