Biblical Discipleship 2

6.2. Explore Problems and Develop Sensitivity to Sin

Perspective

( John 14:26 ; Eph. 5:18 ; Isa. 55:8-9 ) At the point you choose to stop perpetuating
self-interest and begin to consider the interest of others before your own, God's wisdom, strength and ability will enter into your spirit to do those things that are pleasing to God. Only in the power of the Holy Spirit are you able to live the abundant life. You cannot live according to God's design in your own way or by your own wisdom.

The Holy Spirit will help the believer through the trials of life by teaching him all things: the words and life of Christ, the Truth and the Life, the Word and how to live, the theory and the practice, the principles and the conduct, the morality and the behavior of Christian existence.

Hope

( Heb. 4:16 ; James 1:5-8 ; James 1:22-25 ; Phil. 4:13 ) It is a question of faith. You believe God's word, you respond to it, (whether you feel like it or not), to what God says. You turn over your intellect and will to God, allowing God to direct your faculties, your passions, and to refurbish your memory. God intervenes through you into the situation or circumstances to resolve the problem in God's way, and to reconstitute your very being in order to establish His kingdom and His will on earth.

( Matt. 7:1-5 ; Gal. 6:1-5 ; 2 Cor. 1:3-4 ; 1 Cor. 11:28-31 ) Practicing God's word
begins with judging ourselves and removing sinful obstructions from our own lives. Since we have no righteousness of our own, our only worthiness is Jesus Christ. The only time we could be counted worthy would be when we are walking in constant fellowship with Him. This means that we are to be actively thinking upon and talking with him through confession, repentance, praise and request. Thus, our hope is in Him who brings us to fruition and fulfillment.

( 1 John 2:3-6 ; 2 Pet. 1:3-11 ; John 16:33 ; John 15:10-11 ) You must obey God's
word consistently to grow increasingly into godliness and to realize true peace and joy. The Lord's joy and glory was doing the will of God and looking ahead to the joy and glory of eternity with His Father and His followers. Likewise, the joy of believers is the joy of Christ Himself reigning within their hearts. And this joy is fulfilled as believers study His word, the promises and commandments which He made.

Change

( Luke 17:10 ; John 14:5 ; 2 Cor. 5:15 ; 2 Cor. 10:5 ; Col. 3:1-7 ; Col. 1:10 ) In
order to mature (grow up) in Christ, you must persevere in doing what is good in the
Lord's sight: by being obedient to Scripture, disciplining your thought life, speaking in a manner that is helpful to others, and loving others in a biblical manner.

Patience, kindness, goodness embodies the standard by which we are to live. We belong
to Him totally. It is our duty as His ambassadors, to serve Him, to increase in the
knowledge of Him, and to fulfill our roles as His disciples.

( Gen. 4:7 ; Isa. 26:3 ; Luke 11:28 ; John 15:10-11 ; Matt. 7:21 ) Your
contentment in all situations is dependent upon your obedient response to God in your
thoughts, words and actions. This brings forth a tranquility of mind, a purity of memory, a composure, a peace that is calm in the face of bad circumstances and situations. By obeying the Lord in your daily walk, a person becomes bound, woven and joined together with himself, with God, and with others. We are naturally inclined to maliciousness and to retaliation. Accordingly, as a constant, check yourself to determine what spirit you are manifesting in all encounters ( Luke 9:53-55 ).

( 1 John 1:9 ; Matt. 3:8 ; 2 Cor. 7:9-11 ; James 4:8-10 ; Eph. 4:31-32 ) Confess
your sins to the Lord and, when appropriate, confess sins to others whom you have
offended. Honor the Blood that washed away your sins, by 'acting forgiven'. To fall into despair or self-pity is to honor the enemy. No matter how many times you fall into sin, honor the Cross and Blood of Christ by getting up, confessing, repenting, and starting over again.

As a basic guideline, judge yourself in the areas of failing to be patient, failing to be kind, and failing to exercise goodness in contrary situations. To do this, list your failures, formulate a specific plan to change, and begin to implement the plan.